Lilly [Hiatus due to School] 's Reviews > Gilded Agony

“Sometimes I think it’s impossible for two people to be so closely connected. Maybe we’ve met in a different life.”

Gilded Agony picks up two years after the events of Bloodbath; Dom has established himself as Mr Toro with his family by his side. He has commanded respect and control over his territory despite being in the Amazon jungle deep in foreign lands. However, despite living in what seems like their little slice of paradise, there’s discord and darkness. And when a shipment of guns fails to arrive, a snake enters their little heaven.

Dom works to protect Seth from getting his hands bloody. He spends his days cooking, working out, playing with their daughter, and living a life of relaxation and luxury. He has everything he could ever want (within reason), but materials aren’t enough to replace some things. Dom is working to provide for and protect his family. Everything he does is for them. However, as Dom sinks into his role as Mr. Toro, Seth feels like he’s lost his husband. Physically they’re together but emotionally separated.

I swear to god, if they just listened and really listened to one another, so much hurt could have been avoided. Dom lost himself in his role as protector and really hurt Seth. Some of the actions in his book were very hard to read. Seth began to fear him. Dom loves Seth so deeply, there is no doubt everything he does is for him and his family, but he forgets that Seth is also his equal.

Having almost lost him put things in perspective. Seth, who’d become such a constant in Domenico’s life, his safe haven, his home, no longer felt that same way about Domenico, and this dichotomy had Dom twisting and turning on the bed.

Despite his best intentions, he’d made the person who mattered to him the most, unhappy, and lying alone in bed drove that point home more physically than he’d even have imagined.

But once they get on the same page and reaffirm their love together, it’s beautiful. Seth is Seth, and he’s meant to stand by Dom’s side, not inside a cage.

Seth looked back at him with a smile, and no matter how much Domenico loved the Seth who fed chickens and made the best breakfasts, witnessing him in a different role felt more enticing than the sweetest waffles. Tonight, no matter how bloody, was bringing him back to the man he’d fallen in love with. Sweet but violent. Capable, but needy. Vulnerable, but so, so strong.

“Next time, we will talk it out. We are the only ones for each other, am I right? We can’t allow ourselves to grow apart again.”

I wanted to strangle Mark for most of the book. He’s so disrespectful and honestly just causes issue after issue and never seems to learn from his mistakes. He’s 20 years old now, but goodness, from his actions, you would think he was still a young teenager. He was utterly infuriating, but I did feel bad for him in the end and look forward to his book.

I also loved how their family has grown. Seeing Dom and Seth shower their daughter with so much love was wonderful to see.

Miguel and Nero! I can’t wait for their story.

Overall I really enjoyed Gilded Angoy and can't wait to read what is next for Seth and Dom.