4.5

"a beast is just like any other animal.. touch them just right, even they purr" Oh. My Hot. Daaaamn this book. oh this book... so let me start by saying i was very nervous to read this book, the age difference did kinda bother me when i read the synopsis, i was worried it would be a weird hero turned young infatuation situation, and in a small way i guess it was BUT with both POV and the letters it was may in a way that wasnt at all what i had feared. Lou was a flipping badass, she knew exactly what she wanted and she knew damn well life was too short to wait around for it come to her so she grabbed it by the horns and brought it to herself. i flipping love her. like she may be one of my favorite leading ladies, especially in the romance world. Zeus, the guardian monster.. i loved him in book one and i only loved him more and more in Welcome to the dark side. i could talk all day about him, because if King did make you swoon Zues sure as hell will. even if he crude as all get out and dirty as the devil he is. he loved Little Warrior so damn much is was impossible not to love them together. this story was much darker than the first book, so much more so, and i would be lying if i said i didnt ugly cry about 75% of the way in, because i flipping did, ooooh Darling did me dirty with that. that being said i LOVED this book, the story under all the steam was beautiful in a dark dreamer kinda way and the love story may have been a bit different but i loved it. i CAN NOT wait to see what comes next from this series!!!

** spoiler alert ** Reread. I'm enjoying this series more reading it a second time. I still cried like a baby when mute was killed. I wish he could of had his own happy ending and story Destiny struck when Loulou was seven when her guardian monster came into her life. It was interesting watching their relationship develop from being paternal into a romantic one. Which sounds odd but the way this was written made it beautiful.

Re-read (October 2021): The second I knew this was coming out on audio, I know I had to do a re-read. And boy was it such a great experience it was. I, somehow, enjoyed this book even more then the first time when I read it. This book will forever be one of my favorite books with my two favorite main characters! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Original Review: This book totally captivated me. And I can tell you I am 10000% obsessed with Zeus Garro and Louise (Lou). I was sucked in from the first page and didn't want to put it down until I finished reading the entire book. The action and suspense in this book is through the roof and that just made me flip through the pages even faster. It took me to the dark side. Everything about these characters, Zeus and Lou, are exactly what I look for in characters. Zeus is strong, dominant, a force not to be reckoned with and a ruler of all, except Lou of course. She has him wrapped around her pretty little finger. Louise is a sweet, caring, kind soul who is also a little firecracker and tells you where to go if you say the wrong thing to her. The way that these unique and engrossing characters are developed just made my reading experience like no other. I can tell that Giana Darling really loves to write. The amount of thought, effort and planning I'm sure it takes to flesh out all of these characters have paid off for her. I don't think that there is one phrase, word or character that was not methodically planned. Everything has a plan and a backstory and this world and all of the side characters, to be specific, are integrated in, so far, each of these books with a story that is easy to understand and keep up with everything that is going on. This series is a must read for any Motorcycle Club fan/lover, age gap and forbidden love. If you want to walk on the dark side, this is a read you should pick up. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5 STARS! ⭐️ NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! Holy fucking Jesus!That was so fucking hot, so HOT I...I—I FUHHHH *fanning my soaking dripping wet grandma panties* Daddy Zeus Garro 🥰🤤 rawrrrrrrrrr!! Warning! Do not ever, ever, never read The Fallen Men Series in public cause you won’t know what to do with your horny ass self in public. The sex scene was—oh God! Help me! 🤤🤤 When you think King Kyle Garro is romantic, full of alpha attitude wait till you meet his dad, Zeus Garro, he was BEAUTIFULLY PERFECT! A man that born to be beautiful just to moles women’s eyes. I think I just love The Garro’s Men. Not gonna spoiled this book but I love the storyline. I love when Lou braveness, I love her strong personality and her desires to tamed her monster. And, when the moster finally cave it was her turn who can’t resist the man charm. The Alpha man charm! Well! I couldn’t resist Garro’s Men too 😬😬 Highly super highly recommended! :)

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance Welcome To The Dark Side is the second book in the Fallen Men series. Its a book I have been eagerly anticipating on because this is Zeus's book. And I just adored his character in the first book. So I wasn't going to complain upon picking his book up so quickly. Now I knew that going into this book it would be full of triggers and it would have an uncomfortable age gap so I feel like that this is something you all should know before hand. This author doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable pairings or ones that are borderline 'taboo' in our society. And even though this author is so NEW to me I also knew that I could trust her to deliver a gold mine and she DID!! This book won my heart even though I was apprehensive before jumping into it. And I know it will easily win the heart of every one of it's reader's. Welcome to the Dark Side is a book that packs a punch that features: Zeus Garro-Fallen MC President, Single Father, Ex Convict, has a tough shell with a sweet heart, loyal to a fault and trusting Louise Margaret Lafayette-Battled Cancer, Bright, Passionate, Adventurous, and has a open heart Lou Lou was just seven years old when she met Zeus Garro for the first time. When there was an attack and her father acted like a coward that day, and with the rain of bullets that was raining around her, she caught the eye of the one man that would be her protector and she trusted him with her whole heart. But despite his brave actions that day in saving her life, it cost another man his life and so with his hate so high for the Fallen MC Club, Lou Lou's father made sure that Zeus spent some years in jail but while he was incarcerated, he and Lou Lou exchanged letters to each other and formed an unforgettable bond. Zeus knew how it seemed, but he couldn't seem to break ties with this strong girl who was battling cancer with little attention or love from her family and was determined to show her how beautiful her courage and warm heart is. But as she got older he knew he had to break ties fully with her, but he never counted on Lou Lou shrugging off the societal demands and forging her own future and fighting to have one with her Zeus. But their journey wouldn't be easy and would come with its own battles but through it all, Zeus and Lou Lou would find a breathtaking love that not many could match Betcha look pretty even without all that golden hair. You're too young to get this, maybe, but sometimes a person' got a soul so pretty it makes 'em glow prettier than anything else. Wlecome To The Dark Side was such a wonderful story and I couldn't put it down. The beginning just HOOKED me right in, and I have to say that I am starting to really love the writing style of Giana Darling. Her stories just come to life and wrap around your heart as easily as a blanket on a cold winter's night. This is a story I will admit that I was supremely nervous upon reading. I mean there is a nineteen year age gap, and the heroine is seventeen when they forge a romantic relationship so there are taboo elements but somehow it worked for me and that is evidence of the magic of this author's writing. Her style is also doesn't showcase MC romance how it can be showed with lots of crudeness about the culture and language and all. It is still more in the background so I feel like if you have issues with reading MC romance because of those reasons, then this one and really this whole series could really work out for you. All I could think about was racing to you, finding you already straddling your great metallic dragon, the rev of the engine like a warrior cry as we took off into the night. Not sunset. There are no sunsets for men like you and women like I am at the heart of me. Only inky night that clutches at you as you tear past, moving through the darkness like we own it, like we are only free inside the shadow vortex of it. The beginning of course is sweet to see this type of friendship that builds between Zeus and Lou Lou despite their age difference and just their language to each other in their letters and interactions was so precious and beautiful. You see how they each think so differently, but also have a deep connection that just builds over time. It is hard seeing them find their way back to each other after Zeus tries to break ties with her. He is trying to be the honorable one at that point and force her to find her own path, but Lou Lou has a spine of steel and isn't afraid to fight dirty to find her way to Zeus. Now this part of this story and what Lou Lou does at times, doesn't quite fit with her character which is probably my only complaint in the story. I understood she was trying to find her own way, but it just felt off center to me. Now Zeus I really liked his reaction to her antics at times, he is such a BEAR about it and it was hilarious. Boy does he have a temper, but Lou Lou gets kinda wild at times and needs that, someone to show her she needs to have limits. I'd made a deal with the devil, tasted his brand of sin in hell and as the fables always said, once you indulged in the food of the underworld, you were stuck in its depths forever. The romance that builds between them is just beautiful. It starts out with lots of chemistry but there is so much heart between them. And once they get through the angst of the relationship that was bound to happen, you see such a solid couple that you will root for. They both suffer in different ways and have various challenges that they have to face but through it all they stand by each other no matter what comes their way and I truly admired seeing their struggles and seeing what they do to overcome the conflicts. There are plenty of fun antics but there are also heartaches. And I don't want to spoil it but there is a loss in this book and it will break your heart but what I have learned from reading this author's writing, is that pain is a part of life and its through the pain you find the heart and you really see that in this book. You see the brotherhood, the family, the deep bond that they all have for each other. "This isn't about that shit. We deserve each other cause we get each other. I know the heart of ya and you know the heart of me. Deservin' or not deservin' had nothin' to do with it and it fuckin' can't 'cause if I get to thinking 'bout the question, I lose every time." Overall I found Welcome To The Dark Side to be a thrilling, edgy romance that will capture your heart in such a way that you won't want to let go of it. Its not going to be an easy journey, seeing Zeus and LouLou find their path, but its one that is packed with its unique twists, barrels of laughter and fight, and leaps and bounds of intimacy and joy.

** spoiler alert ** I loved it! It was a little uncomfortable at some points. Because of the age gap and the way he speaks too and about her. It felt icky. Omg killing Mute was brutal and uncalled for and HOW DARE YOU?! I loved him, I thought we were heading towards him getting a book, which would of been amazing. I've never read one with a love interest who has autism? Or a touch aversion like him, it would have been mind blowing and great and I'm mad I don't get that.

WOW I loved this book. This was pretty much my first foré into dark or MC romance, and though this is the second book in the series it can be read as a stand alone. I'm glad I started here because Zeus as the president of the Fallen MC is teaching the much younger LouLou the "ways" of the darkside of life and I felt like I was learning right along with her. Giana is honestly the queen of writing spicy romance scenes and I think this book has some of my favorite scenes ever. She also does a phenomenal job of writing taboo subjects like large age gaps without them feeling uncomfortable. She really establishes a solid foundation for the relationship to build off of before introducing the romantic aspect of it so even though it is taboo you feel good in the choice to route for the couple. Often with books that have a lot of hype they don't live up to my expectations but this honestly went above and beyond my expectations and was so good that I decided to start the series from the beginning and read them in order. Giana's writing instantly pulls you in and has truly converted me to a dark romance reader, just off of this one book.

Me encantan los romance de age gap, siempre y cuando no den paso a la pedofilia. Este libro es literalmente eso. Todo el asunto de conocerse cuando Louise tenía solo 7 años y Zeus tenía 26, es de por sí ya raro. Y a pesar de que todo era “platónico”, hay pensamientos de Zeus en un futuro que se hacen súper raros e incómodos. Como cuando están teniendo relaciones y él le dice a ella que esperó 10 años para eso. WTF? Y cuando dice que desde el primer encuentro (Louis de 7 y él de 26) supo que estaba hecha para él. Dude no, que asco. Pensé que esperaría a que tuviera al menos 18 años, pero no. Todo pasa con Louise teniendo solamente 17 años, la justificación para esto, es que la edad de consentimiento en ese lugar es de 16. Me gusta el age gap, pero hay cosas que no tolero. Louis era literalmente una niña y Zeus ya un hombre mayor que había experimentado la vida. Continué leyendo este libro únicamente por Mute. El hermoso y con alma tan torturada Mute. Aguante una historia llena de cosas raras y cuestionables por un único buen personaje, para descubrir que la autora se decía de él como si nada. Los personajes por separados no me molestan mucho, funcionarían si se ajustaran cosas y se le quitara lo incómodo al personaje de Zeus. Pero juntos como pareja, no funcionaron para mí. Tal vez si el age gap no fuera tan jodidamente grande, o si hubiera sido en edades diferentes, como Louis 22 y Zeus 41 (que aún así se me hace mucha diferencia) maybe hubiera funcionado. Pero en las edades en que fueron escritos y con tanta diferencia, sinceramente, se me hace muy desagradable.

I’m mad I wasted my time reading this. Booktok I’ll never forgive you

you know what i didn't even mind the age gap

There aren't many books out there that make me believe in soulmates, but this is definitely one of them. I'm not sure how Giana Darling was able to take a taboo age gap situation like this and make me believe with my whole heart that two people were destined to be together, but that's exactly what she did. This will forever be one of my most favorite books!

Loved Zeus in the first book but this was...not it

Best book out of the series yet I loved this book. I adored Zeus in the first and fifth book (read the fifth first), so when I knew Zeus was going to have his own story i was incredibly excited. It did NOT disappoint, i really think this is gonna be my favourite book out of the series, and possibly one of my top ten books. 10/10 recommend

Daddy Zeus - that is all. 🥵 Wow. This book gave me major daddy vibes. I loved the characters & the dynamic in this book so much. Zeus is a man of his word & doesn’t back down without a fight, which makes Lou absolutely the best co leading character. I loved her spirit & the fact that she knew what she wanted & went for it. I love their banter & how they affect each other so deeply. Highly recommended read!

4 stars... This was a good read, the heroine was a fighter since her childhood, and her guardian monster... As she called him since she was a kid was a dark, control in man.. yet awesome and brave The book had some really happy parts and some sad ones as well. And honestly they all mooved my heart and my feelings. And the part which has broken my heart so much was when Mute has died.. Since he had a really important role through the book and I'm pretty sure we all loved him and felt the same way.. In the end: I really wanna tell any one who ever had a cancer: be strong.. You can do it and get through every thing. Just focus on love and being better for those who will cherish and love you for ever.. Injoyed the book.

18+ 4.5/5 Stars 3.5- 4 /5 Spices heavy TWs Wow, this was a rollercoaster of a read. You know, when I first started reading this I was so concerned and almost DNFd it. It just didn't feel like my vibe for the first 8 chapters. Until I texted Tish (@thebooktheif28) and she told me that it was the hardest part to get through. God damn was I happy that I did. This book was amazing. One of those being because while also making me fall in love with Daddy Z and Lou, I absolutely fell in love with the side characters. It was beautiful and just made me so happy to read. Now this book definitely heavily follows the relationship aspect of the story compared to the MC and the problems arising. Which, especially for this relationship, definitely needed it. I gave this book 4.5/5 stars because I really enjoyed it and it was the first book to make me cry in a while. I also gave it 3.5 to 4 spices because of scenes with foreign objects and the places that it takes place. Giana is great at making me sweat while also having the ability to not drag it out. This book is definitely not something I would condone in real life, however, I think that Giana handled it well and kept it from being more like a "Grooming" age gap. It was amazing work.

This book was so hyped up I had to see what all the fuss was about & the hype was 100% necessary because this is a work of fucking ART. The way the story started at Lou being 7 years old was so fascinating to me. The moment we met her in the hospital I knew I was gonna love her bc her personality was so cute & sassy. Then to know how things would drastically change with her health at that age was also heartbreaking. Watching her grow and seeing her thoughts at different stages in her life over the years made you love her even more so as she became an adult. ZADDY ZEUS, holy fuck I was in love with him from book 1 in King & Queenies story. He just exudes STRENGTH, FAMILY, LOYALTY, HONOR & a whole fuck ton of BIG DICK ENERGY. He went through his own shit behind bars and having kids on the outside. I admired the pen pal relationship him and Lou had which strangely didn’t cross any boundaries. He was so damn swoony I couldn’t cope. When they finally came together? WHEW *chefs kiss*. This book was SCORCHING top level spice. Kitty butterflies all through. Now I was not prepared for the emotional toll this took on me towards the end I was not prepared AT ALL & I could cry right now just thinking about it. Pinky promise IYKYK. Quit wasting time and read this book.

3,5 🌟

this book ended me 🥲 idk if i’ll recover

This is hands down my new favorite romance book, I just loveeeee the relationship between the two MC, they are my new favorite couple Where do I sing for a life like this?

once again i really wanna marry into a biker gang

don't judge me

Started reading it for the smut but fell in love with the plot.