All wars are different. Some are lost with words unsaid.
Rachel Van Dyken
Eulogy
Format:
ebook & audiobook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
All is lost, I shall not be found.
I don’t recognize myself in the mirror anymore.
My thoughts are filled with hatred and dripping with rage. I’ve lost my soul. She took it to the depths of Hell with her and haunts me with images of what could have been.
Sixty lives are mine to take.
Sixty lives stand in the way of my vengeance.
Sixty lives plus one more.
Mine.
When the last drop of their blood falls — mine will be spilled. Only one person stands in the way. She doesn’t realize I’ll kill her too. I don’t own a heart. And even if I did — I wouldn’t fall prey to its lies again.
I am Chase Abandonato. Heir to a legacy of betrayal. And I will kill them all. Even if it means pointing the gun at myself.
A life for a life.
A soul for a soul.
Now I lay me down to sleep… I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Blood in. No out.
Point of view:
1st Person. Alternating perspectives by chapter.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
This is my absolute favorite of the Eagle Elite books. Because it’s the culmination of so many events across the series, I disagree that it’s a “standalone”. Rachel Van Dyken does give a little bit of background info and you might be OK only reading this – but minimally, I’d read Entice, Empire, & Enrage. Van Dyken has a reading order on her website.
I appreciate this book the most because it completely leaves the NA element behind bringing all characters into full adulthood. Chase is so broken but determined in this one – a true “anti-hero” while Luciana brings a naivete that proves to be a balm to his battered soul. There’s no denying that while their road is fraught with danger, Chase & Luc are so perfect for each other.
This book is also provides a bit of a set up for Debase, the first book in a spin-off series, Elite Bratva Brotherhood.
Narration:
I am incredibly disappointed. One of my favorite things about the recordings for this series is that each character has his/her own narrator. Pretty much throughout the books. Until now. These narrators were in the last book (Enrage) but playing different characters. Which kills the cohesion achieved up to this point. Most of the chapters are told from Chase (David Brenin) or Luciana’s (Scarlett Chase) POV. But there are chapters by Nixon, Phoenix, Tex, Andrei & Trace. Nixon, Phoenix, & Andrei are still narrated by David Brenin but Tex is narrated by Rob Shapiro and Trace is narrated by Kit Swann.
I’m especially disappointed that Scarlet Chase was cast again. I love her as a narrator (Blacktop Cowboys series is phenomenal), but she definitely has a “mature” voice which doesn’t fit with the 19-24yo characters she keeps narrating.
At the beginning of each chapter is a little “blurb” that’s a quote from “Agent P”. I really wish they’d chosen a narrator just for these quotes. Even having read & listened to the book several times, it’s kind of confusing to know who is talking because it changes depending on who is narrating that particular chapter. (See above about narrator roulette).
Probably the most distracting thing about the recording is that Scarlet Chase pronounces Luciana as “loo-chee-ah-na” and her nickname “Luc” as “Luke”. The book specifically describes “Luc” to be pronounced “Luke”. While David Brenin pronounces Luciana as “loo-cee-ah-na” and the nickname as “loose”. Considering Luciana/Luc appears in the book over 150 times ~ this is a HUGE oversight and incredibly annoying.
To be clear, it’s not the narrator’s specific performances I have an issue with – it’s the overall production of the audiobook. Definitely buy the book, but I’d encourage you to pass on adding the audiobook to your library.
Trigger Warnings (possible spoilers):
This is mafia. There are murders, torture, and other violence. Mention of miscarriage.
About the author:
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and, adorable son.
You can connect with Rachel Van Dyken here:
My Favorite Quotes
All wars are different. Some are lost with words unsaid. Eulogy by @RachVD #Mafia #Romance #EagleElite
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You can’t hate someone wearing a headband. You just can’t. Eulogy by @RachVD #Mafia #Romance #EagleElite
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Safe isn’t real. You know that, right? It’s just what we tell people so they feel better about their shitty lives and actions. Eulogy by @RachVD #Mafia #Romance #EagleElite
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Rellim Reads 