Silenced (The Forgotten Boys, #1) (2024)

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: Hades/Persephone retelling
Angst: 😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥

"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐'𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵."

Cassie has been drugged, isolated, and abused by the man that swore to have and to hold her. Now she's being hunted by those who want her blood as payment for the misdeeds of the same man. Just when it looks the most dim, she's rescued, but once she's in the hands of the Monster he decides he's not giving her back. Nicolai is the mute Pakhan who has agreed to rescue Cassiopeia Rundel as a favor to a friend. As soon as he sees her, he knows she is different. She is his light in his darkness. His 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘯𝘺𝘴𝘩𝘬𝘰. The possessiveness he feels completely sideswipes him, but the only thing he can think is, "mine".

"𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘴."

Holy WOW! What a fantastic introduction to this new series! It has a well written storyline that is both interesting and intricate in nature, setting the stage for the series as well as revealing seeds had been sewn for this story in earlier books in the Five Points Universe. As usual, Serena's character development is awesome from the main characters to the side characters. Nikolai (Niko) is everything we want him to be and a total caveman for Cassie. Slight her and 🔪. Look at her funny and 🔪, 🙈. He is extremely loyal and will do anything and everything for the people he loves and takes care of in his life. Kinda like a hellish version of Peter Pan, with how many souls has collected (alive and dead), lol. Cassie is fantastic as well. She's had to deal with body image issues and issues from PCOS, all while trying to survive her ex. She's confused by how Niko, who is a monster and keeping her against her will, makes her feel safe enough to become a mouthier, stronger version of who she's meant to be. An all around great read that will leave you wanting more of this universe and these characters!

⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers

Nikolai can get it

on a serious note, i absolutely ate this up. i mean how can you not when it has:
•br33ding
•c🥛m f3+ish
•plus size heroine
•PCOS Rep
•mute hero
•hades/persephone retelling
•touch her & i’ll feed you to my pet 🐊
•obsessive & possessive hero
•found family

like c’mon nowwww

this was a great first book to begin a new series from our m@fia romance queen. everything was so new and fresh. i dont usually read retellings, BUT if there’s any author I would read retellings from it’s def serenä.

i had an absolute blast reading this book & im so excited for the other characters introduced and ones that we’ve met before. absolutely loved!

So this is advertised as a new standalone series that adjacent to the authors previous series, but I just found it confusing AF. The plot was kinda all over the place. The amount of detail into the mafia roles and places and leadership was so f*cking confusing, I needed like a chart to try and keep track. Seriously. I read a lot of mafia romance and I've never read one as detailed and confusing as this one.

The characters were meh. Cassie was like, written well in some parts and then confusing in others. Again I feel like I missed an entire book that set her character up and I was given the bare minimum. Niko was a typical possessive and dangerous mafia guy, but add the aspect of being somewhat of a mute and communicating mostly thru sign language.

This book is extremely spicy and we spend the majority of the book on it. We have an extreme breeding kink, and a lottttt of cum play.

All in all, I don't think this series is for me. I feel like if I continued I'd need to go back and read the previous series, but also, the authors writing didn't really capture me and make me want to continue.

Silenced

The Forgotten Boys - Book 1

When Niko rescues Cassie from her abusive ex-husband, she becomes his. That’s the only plot information I’m going to give about this book.

It is a very well written Hades/Persephone retelling that has a strong plot, great character development of not just the main characters but supporting characters as well. Nothing about this relationship is normal. But that doesn’t make the story any less beautiful. With some cameo’s of characters from Serena’s previous books, this story inserts a whole new cast into the Five Points world. Focused in other areas geographically, this story takes place around the same time as the Filthy f*ck duet. Setting us up for some more amazing romance from the Queen herself.

If you’ve read this far, you really want to know if the spice level is what we are used to seeing from Serena. All I can say is without a doubt. You will not be disappointed if spice is what you’re after.

And if you’re still reading, I promise, after the Sinners, the Five Points and the Sicilians, Serena still has it in her to give us a different story still full of drama, plot twists, intrigue and steam.

I would recommend this book to anyone over the age of 18 who can handle the TW.

Nikolai the strong silent Bravtva mafioso and Cassiopeia his sun, his light.
He wants her, he needs her and if any one hurts her, they will pay.

This book!!! THIS BOOK!!
Cassiopeia had been through hell, and Nikolai, although entrenched in the Underworld, wants to bring her to light. We allllll need a Nikolai in our lives😍 (I mean who wouldn't want a fat shaming shop owner fed to alligators??) He worships Cassiopeia, he will do anything for her, and for her, that's exactly what she needs ❤️

"Only when he's lining one of my alligators stomachs, Cassiopeia, will I stop hunting him, he'll pay for what he did to you" OMG swoon!!!!! This man!! 😍

Nikolai takes 'touch her and d!e' to a whole new level and I AM HERE FOR IT!!!!! Cassiopeia has been led to believe that her size, and issues make her unworthy of the right man. Despite his obvious 'proclivities' 😄, Nikolai is this man for her. He helps her to see her as he does, his little sun ❤️

Opening up an entirely new series with Easter eggs from our previously beloved universe (iykyk) this book has given me everything! I got angry for our characters, I cried!!!! I cheered (yes even when certain people got fed to alligators and I'm not even sorry!) And I fell in love!! Nikolai is the Hades to Cassiopeia's Persephone and this whole story has me NEEEDING the next book.
Add it to your TBR, get your hands on it as soon as you can and thank me after 😉

So so good!!!! I absolutely loved everything about this. I (mistakenly) thought Maxim was the only Russian I needed to know about in this world. Oh boy! I was so wrong!!! Big brother was more amazing than I could have ever imagined! Learning about their pasts, everything he did for them, everything he did for his Sun. Just absolute perfection! 💜

I am so glad Serena Akeroyd has blessed us with an entirely new mafia series and this time they are the Russian kind. Silenced is the first book of the series The Forgotten Boys, and Nikolai has already stolen my heart with his silent and possessive nature. Every single character we meet in the book is either related to The Five Points’ Mob or new comers whom we’ll get to read about I think. This was such an intense and intriguing story with lots of off the charts smex to melt you away. Especially when Nikolai is taking care of his solnyshko’s personal grooming and what not… wowza… This is definitely one series all mafia lovers should jump right in without a second glance, I tell you.

P.S: what the what?! with the Vasily😬 and his feasts… shivering 🥶

Silenced by Serena Akeroyd is the start of her Forgotten Boys series and follows the Russian Mafia. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy this one and this review might contain spoilers. I don’t want to hate on Serena here as I love her Five Points Mob but this just wasn’t good for me. I just didn’t believe in the romance, there was so much insta lust and insta love which I despise in romance books.
1. At 11% in Nikolai just decides he wants Cassie to be his forever and there was no reason other than being attracted to her for why he wanted her.
2. Cassie is a victim of abuse and whilst I know every victim behaves differently at 13% in Cassie sees Nikolai’s erection and “the sight does strange things to her”.
3. Nikolai just didn’t do it for me as a hero, he said never wants women just a puss* and that is just disgusting to me.
4. Cassie decides she is better off with Nikolai (a man she doesn’t know anything about) than her previous life.
5. Cassie describes herself as fat and hairy and tbh I’m just over heroines with self esteem issues. Cassie’s characterisation was not consistent, one minute she was confident the next she was so low and it took Nikolai’s praise for her to become confident again.
6. There was also breeding kink in this but it just didn’t work for me because Nikolai wanted Cassie to have his children when he knew nothing about her and I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. It all felt so forced.
7. This was a hades and Persephone retelling but that is so overdone in the dark romance/mafia genre, I’m tired of it.
8. This didn’t feel like a stand-alone to me. I’ve read every book in this universe and this had quite a bit of Russian information that was from the last 2 books of the five points mob. Also some crossover characters that I personally think if you haven’t read the last 2 books in the five points mob won’t make much sense.
9. I’ve mentioned this in another review before but I’m tired of nearly all the heroines in Serena’s books having been abused in some form. Some of them have been abused by their father or husband but others have been sexually slaves. Whilst I know abuse is so prevalent in real life, I don’t want to read it in every heroine I read because it starts to be monotonous and as a reader I start to not care anymore because it is the same thing all over again.
10. Cassie and Nikolai had no personality, I honestly can’t say one thing about these 2 characters other than Cassie is plus size or fat cut Nikolai loves how she looks and thinks she is beautiful. Unfortunately that doesn’t make a book.
11. Also, I don’t know why Nikolai was made to be in his forties, it just felt forced in the book.

Therefore, I don’t think I’ll be reading every new release by Serena nor the next book in this series. The next one is Dmitri and Sofia’s story and I don’t care about them. I really don’t like how Serena drags her stories out. Readers have been waiting on Maxim’s story for at least a year now and that might not come for another year considering where we are in the timeline and how many books are to come in other series’. I think the reason why Serena’s books other than the bikers and five points mob don’t work for me is because the other series’ (Russian and Italian) just don’t have the same banter and I just am never made to care about the characters or romance. It all just feels so forced. I also don’t like how Russia is portrayed in these dark romance books. There are just so many stereotypes used about Russia that I’m just not sure if a British author should be writing those. I am in no way trying to hate on Serena, this is just my opinion and I’m going to be very selective in the future in which books I read from this author. Therefore, I am giving this 2 stars because I feel pretty similar to the way I felt about Dangerous Innocence by Cora Reilly. The book isn’t a bad book but I didn’t enjoy it at all. It’s probably a 3 stars in terms of content.

Wonderful retelling

OMG! I loved this first book in the Forgotten Boys Series. Nikolai's story once you finally get to the full telling of it as to why he doesn't speak is heartbreaking. There is so much depth to the character besides him being the Packan in Miami. His background and how he became the man he is today really pulls on your heartstrings. If you haven't fallen in love already, you will once you learn about what he did to survive the streets in Russia.
Cassiopeia has been living her life in Hell. She is rescued from a very dire situation, drugged, beaten, and cuffed to a bed. She doesn't trust Niko because he insists on doing everything for her. She doesn't believe that he could see her as a beautiful woman. She has suffered from PCOS all her adult life, and this has caused her to be overweight, hairy, and other unwanted problems. Niko called her his 'sun' and worshipped her. He treated her like a goddess.
Don't take the way he treats her to mean he's soft, far from it. Anyone who mistreated Cassie became food for 'Vasily', his favorite alligator. He was ruthless when it came to business and his solnyshko, brothers, and son.
I have to say that this author has once again built a world with characters I want to get to know more about. It was wonderful to see a few of our Five Points friends as well. I'm looking forward to more in the future with Maxim, Misha, Luka, and Dimitri.

Silence the forgotten boys this is a standalone series from Serena Akeroyd. And Wow what a great start to a series. This is the story of Nikolai and Cassiopeia

Nikolai is The Pakhan in Miami and he has the respect of many of his men. He’s not had an easy life. He grew up in an orphanage in Russia, where he made two very good friends Misha and Maxim and when an unforeseen accident happened to the orphanage, he fled with Misha and Maxim were they lived on the streets. while they were living on the streets, Misha and maxim brought more boys to Nikolai where he put them up and fed them. Nikolai found Dmitri hiding behind a big bin he had been beaten by his father who was very high up in the Krestniy Otets but his father, tracked him down, took him back. Nikolai manage to save enough money to get them out to Russia and just before they left. Dmitri found them again, and he has been beaten by his father again and they smuggled him on board and brought him to the USA with him.

Cassiopeia or Cassie for short had a loving family until her father passed, and then her life spiralled out of control. Her mother went into a deep depression, and Cassie felt lost. She met Harvey and married to him and her life changed into fear and pain from the abuse she suffered from Harvey. Until she accidentally bumped into Savannah in a cake shop.We’re savannah helped her to leave Harvey But Cassie left and Harvey found her again savannah was worried about her and asked Misha for a favour to help find her friend, and that is how Nikolai comes into Cassie life.

In the story, we also get to see the relationship between Nikolai and Dimitri. They have a father-son relationship and I absolutely loved it, especially when he was dancing Cassie an offer to help her leave. If Nikolai I was hurting her. I also loved that two characters from out of the filthy series, made a short appearance in the book. I can’t wait to find out more about Dimitri Misha and maxim story.

I have to say that towards the end of the book I cried a lot, and I couldn’t put the book down. I absolutely loved the story. and loved the characters I can’t wait to read more about them all

OMG MY FREAKING GOODNESS, YOU SERENA START WITH A BANG AGAIN, THIS NEW SERIES!!!!

The first book in the Forgeten Boys is about Nicolai ,the Bratva Pakhan also known as Mute the man in the darkness everyone fear,and without words can make everyone to disappear🔥🔥
He is the savior of Cassiopeia,her knight in shining armor, or rather hers dark knight, who is absolutely utery drawn from the beginning toward her,and dangerously obsessed.🤧🥹🥹

What to say without to spoil something I don't know, but in mine heart right now is totally mess. Niko make me like a mush, he was the total neanderthal,but definitely in the sweetest way possible!!
The way he will do anything for he's Cassiopeia make me speshles.
Cassiopeia in other hand suffered trough so much horrible things, that break my heart, but gratefully to Nikolai she finally find the happiness she deserves, in this grumpy man,who will do anything to her!!
So much more I wat to say,but I will finish my review now ,because this book need to be readen no matter what!!🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻highly recommended to these who love OTT possessiv russian hotty, with sassy and crazy in love Cassiopeia!

Best start to a new series!

Oh my gosh, what an amazing start to a new series!! This is a superb modern retelling of Hades and Persephone.
Nikolai ‘Mute’ is the pakhan in Miami and he rescues Cassiopeia ‘Cassie’ from her abusive husband. Nikolai is very possessive and will punish anyone who disrespects his woman! Look out for Vasily….
The story is spicy, intriguing, addictive and intense. It is one of the best Russian Bratva Mafia stories I’ve read.
I just know I’m going to love all of The Forgotten Boys.

Dnf

Love this author. This was terrible. Tried to stick it out but it's just stupid. An abused woman who's completely controlled and kept naked by her savior because he loves her???? Humiliation is not love

A Hades/Persephone retelling and the start of a new series, this was a solid read and has me interested in reading more.

Nikolai is the Pakhan and was sent to rescue Cassie, Savannah O’Donelly’s friend. Savannah and Cassie first appear in the Filthy series, and I think it’s possible to read this book without having read Savannah’s story. When Nikolai meets Cassie though, he recognizes her as his little sun, and from there their romance ensues.

Cassie is a survivor of abuse and tends to retreat into her shell when threatened, but she blooms and becomes herself whenever she is around Nikolai. She can be headstrong and sassy but also has a big heart and doesn’t shy away from others’ eccentricities and will embrace them wholeheartedly. We see her grow throughout the book into a more confident person and one that brings Nikolai comfort and strength.

Nikolai has sacrificed a lot growing up in order to take care of his adoptive son, Dimitri, and his adoptive younger brothers, Maxim and Misha. He speaks little due to trauma as a child but is no less a large and revered presence among his men. He will move mountains for those he cares about, even if it hurts himself, and while we see little emotion on his face, he goes through a rollercoaster of emotions in this story.

The two of them are a couple you care for with their different antics around each other and even though Niko is not very conversational, he shows Cassie just what he feels for her and vows to keep her safe. He definitely displays “touch her and die” vibes. Cassie in turn makes Niko a happier man and becomes his rock through the challenges they face in this story. The two of them have good banter and interactions.

Along with that we get to know others like Maxim, Mischa, and Dimitri and how this unit makes up a family. We also meet Vasily and the love this family shares for the alligators (Zub!). There are a lot of character names thrown at you in the beginning though, so there might be some confusion, especially if you wonder whether some characters appeared in the author’s previous works, but as the story progresses you are able to place them in their roles. I also felt at times the story slowed, but overall it was solid with suspense, action, romance, humor, sadness, and heart. I look forward to seeing what’s next.

Hades and Persephone had nothing going on compared to what is between Nikolai and Cassiopeia or Cassie as she is known to her friends. This story is as hot as can be with a filthy "talking" Russian and a woman who learns he is her safety net. He shows her that she is worthy of love, her curves are to be worshipped and celebrated, and he will protect her at any cost. As you read, there will be curse words, tears, gasps of delight and shock, panting as the heat builds, and sighs of love. Get yourself comfy and dive in for the ride of your life!

Nikolai "Mute" Veles, the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva, was sent by a certain NYC Irish Mob leader to Kentucky to rescue a woman named Cassiopeia Rundel. He finds Cassie tied to a bed, unsure if she is alive. Left behind in the grubby motel by her ex-husband while he went to score some Viagra, Niko and Dmitri, his second in command, stepped in to prevent another faction from taking her. If Nikolai hadn't seen her foot move, they would have left her for dead. Up close, he becomes mesmerized by her golden hair and beauty, calling her "Solnyshko," meaning little sun. Niko quickly spirits her to his private jet and flies her to his home, Nav, in the Florida Everglades. His infatuation leads him to keep Cassie locked in his room, devoid of clothing, and feed her from his hand as she recuperates. Cassie can communicate with the mute Nikolai using ASL (American Sign Language), a skill she learned as a child. Slowly, their situation turns the tide into a relationship. Instead of being afraid of the big Russian, she feels safe sitting in his lap. To earn treats, Cassie must negotiate with her Russian. Was this Stockholm syndrome or love in its beginning stages?

This is the first book of what is sure to be an exciting series. This author is known for her world-building capabilities, having beloved characters make cameo appearances, and introducing the reader to new characters to fall in love with. I'm looking forward to meeting more of these hot-blooded Russians. Just one word to the wise, beware Vasily!

Complex, Compelling and Carnal

You will not get a better start to a series than this! Silenced had me laughing, crying, breathless, swooning, and rooting for these characters from the get-go!

Nikolai Veles is the Pakhan in Florida, he has been asked to find Cassie as a favour.

Cassiopea (Cassie), on the run from her abusive husband has been left drugged and barely alive when she is rescued from under the Albanian noses by Nikolai and his crew.

As soon as he saves her, she becomes his and he swears to protect her forever...

"I’ve saved her.
Mine.
I will keep her.
MINE.
I will protect her.
M.I.N.E.
No one will hurt her.
Ever.
Again."

The Moscow backstory had me in tears. What Nikolai suffered through for his 'found' family, really hit me in the feels. He was the father figure and protector first and foremost, and he saw this as his raison d'etre.

Cassiopea, too has not had an easy adult life, she is riddled with all her Insecurities, suffered through abuse.and made to feel unworthy. Then there were the revelations about her secret family background!

She managed to be the perfect woman offering the comfort and stability that her Niko needed to drown himself in and feel.

Nikolai, complex and tortured knew that once he found his "little sun, his solnyshko" that he could never let her go. He totally had the "touch her and die" vibes.

"With every passing day of the eternity she’ll spend by my side, it’s only a matter of time until she realizes she has the upper hand simply by existing."

I loved that amongst the turmoil, Nikolai found an inner peace, that he craved

This is a complex, beguiling story that albeit with violent Bratva inter-fractions, is essentially about family and love.

The dynamics were spot on, I felt that I was truly there in the moment, just loved it. I'm so excited to read more of these Forgotten Boys. Bravo Serena Akeroyd 👏

This is the first book in a new series, The Forgotten Boys. It is a fabulous, Standalone, MF, Curvy Girl, Captive, Russian Mafia, Hades and Persephone Retelling, that I seriously loved and could not get enough of.

Nikolai is the Pakhan of the Florida Russian Mob who rescues Cassiopeia from an abusive situation and then claims her as his own. His to protect and his to keep, whether she agrees or not.

Niko and Cassie are incredible characters. Their chemistry is sizzling and their steamy scenes are hot enough to light your blood on fire! I loved how their story unfolds. I also loved how their story intertwines with other characters from the Five Points Mob Universe.

As always with this author, the writing, character development, storytelling, flow, relationship development, and world building are all superb. One of the things I love most about this author is how easy she makes it to fall in love with not only the main characters, but the secondary characters as well. The secondary characters, who I absolutely want to know more about and will hopefully see more of in future stories, are all amazing!

I would definitely highly recommend this book and I am very excited for the new stories to come in this amazing series and Universe.

With each book , this author manages to captivate all my attention , having devouring each and every word. She has made me once again fall in love with the MMC he his everything I love in a guy and so much more. He will have you blushing , gushing and so much more. Niko is unlike anyother MMC I've read before. Cassiopeia (FMC) I loved , she is sassy and so relatable that you can't help but love her. I love the relationship between the two of them , the way that Niko makes her feel like she's the most beautiful woman in the world , that just makes me swoon. Although he is really sweet with her he definitely has his moments in and out of the bedroom , this book is HOT. If you love a good Mafia romance then this book is for you.

There's obsession and then there's OBSESSION! Nikolai was totally obsessed with Cassie from first glance. One look and he's a goner. I loved how over the top he was! Look at her wrong..you die. Say the wrong thing..you die. Touch her..you definitely die. That level of possessiveness is **chefs kiss**!

I loved that even though technically he took her, Nikolai made Cassie feel like she wanted safe. She never really wanted to leave even though it's nuts. I loved how she flourished and how strong she was for standing up for herself. Her negotiating skills were on point!

I loved the family dynamic between Nikolai and Dmitri. Dmitri was the PITA that you can't help but love. It also warmed my heart when Nikolai was around his brothers. I can't wait to see more of The Forgotten Boys!

✮🖤✮ Favorite quotes ✮🖤✮

“You take me like the good girl you are, Cassiopeia. My good girl.”

“There’ll never be a world where I don’t come for you, solnyshko. Whether it’s this one or the next.”

To say it was overwhelming was an understatement. There are so many characters involved here and I lost track of who's who. Also, the issues here I think were somehow related to the other books of this author. I'm so confused most of the time and it was hard to follow the story.

Nikolai and Cassiopeia met when he and his men were looking for Cassie's ex-husband. Said ex-husband wasn't there but Cassie was, half naked on a dirty floor and passed out cuz she was drugged. Nikolai saw her and something snapped inside him or he felt an emotion for the first time. Right there and then he decided Cassie will be his and he brought her with him back to his home.

Nikolai (mid forties) was a Pakhan and he was also mute, but by choice. He saw how his mother was killed and this traumatized him until he stopped talking. He can still talk but only a few words. He prefers to communicate through ASL. I wouldn't say he's a manwhor* but he has a steady number of mistresses. Before he met Cassie he had two mistresses, but one look at Cassie he immediately kicked out those women from their apartments saying he doesn't need them anymore. It pissed me off how he views women as disposable once he's had enough of them. So his sudden 180 about keeping Cassie was so goddamn out of the blue. For the life of me I couldn't understand his fixation with her. While reading this book I still don't get why he was hell bent on keeping her, saying she's his light and all.

Cassie (thirties) was married for a decade to her abusive husband. According to her he wasn't like that at the beginning but when they found out he's impotent and the reason why they can't have children, he changed and started abusing Cassie. I'm not sure if they were divorced or that it wasn't mentioned, yet she kept calling him ex. But then there was also a part where Cassie said she was on the run trying to hide from him, so I'm not sure if they're still married but wants to act and treat him like her ex.

This was ridiculous but then again this is fiction. After a day of being Nikolai's captive Cassie immediately gave in to lust. They didn't have sex but they did fool around. I didn't understand how she could be mad knowing he took her but still slept with him. I just can't with her. She wasn't weak and a doormat but her hormones and body betraying syndrome always gets the best of her, and it was actually frustrating.

Tbf, Nikolai didn't help either. He was all over her every goddamn time and wouldn't give her privacy and space. He was like a helicopter parent when it comes to Cassie. Though I would say at times he listens to what Cassie wants and he always tries to give her things and experiences that'll make her happy. But there are times when he's impossible to deal with and it was irritating.

Like I said there were a lot of side characters and events that kept happening in this book.. I'm so lost at times that I kept wondering if I'm just too dumb to follow the flow. 😂 Maybe it's a me thing, but I won't be able to enjoy a book if I have to go back a few pages to make sure I understand what's going on. I lost track the number of times I had the urge to DNF this. I think this has potential but then again I'm overwhelmed by everything in it and it made me lose my interest while reading. This may work for other readers, it just isn't for me.

Safety warnings:
- No cheating
- Domestic abuse
- Violence
- Death of love one
- OW (not really drama but there are WOMEN who kept popping up in the story. Nikolai didn't give them any time of the day. I don't even know why they were thrown into the plot if they don't serve any purpose)

“The moment I set eyes on her, I knew what she was to me. My little sun. I lead a dark life…but she brings light to those shadows.”

Nikolai is the head of the Russian mob in Miami, Florida. He has gone to rescue Cassiopeia (aka Cassie) from being kidnapped by her abusive husband. Why? Because Misha, another Russian mobster in New York, asked him to. Since the two are like brothers, Niko agreed without question even though he knows nothing about the woman or her situation. As soon as he sees an unconscious Cassie, however, he is smitten, irrevocably claiming her as his. To keep her safe, he brings her back to his home and what ensues is an intense claiming by a possessive alpha male of the woman he wants more than anyone or anything. He was absolutely over the top jealous and possessive from his first glimpse of her and I AM HERE FOR IT! I was a melty, gooey mess for this anti-hero by chapter 7 and he only got better from there…

As expected from this author, the spicy scenes in this book are off the charts hot, the mafia world exciting and intriguing, and the side characters made you want more of their story, too, but what was unexpected was how swoon-worthy and sweet Niko is with his “little sun”.

“I never imagined you’d give me the sun as well as the stars, solnyshko.”

I mean. COME ON. All the heart eyes, amiright??

The loyalty Nikolai shows to his “brothers” and Cassie is unmatched. He will do ANYTHING for them, and this is proven not only by his past, but also by his actions in the current story. A man of VERY few words, his actions speak for him. A traumatic backstory left him with vocal cord difficulties, and he mostly signs to communicate, but it’s the enemies of his chosen family that are forever silenced.

So with a strong, dominating male lead like that, surely the heroine is a meek little doormat just waiting for her Prince Charming to rescue her, right?

WRONG.

Cassiopeia was oppressed by her horrible husband for so long that it would have been easy to believe weakness was all she was capable of anymore, but with Niko? This little sun burns BRIGHT and trust when I tell you, she is a FORCE in her own right. Homegirl doesn’t need to rely on her man for strength. The way she deals with other woman drama had me cheering! You just have to read it. SHE IS A QUEEN.

I am so excited to be back in this world that Serena has created. It blows my mind that she is able to keep the Irish/Russian/Sicilian/MC worlds so interconnected - I’m in awe!

Although Silenced, the first book in the Forgotten Boys series, is written as a stand-alone (for now) and it isn’t necessary to read the others, I HIGHLY encourage readers to read the whole shebang! All of the little Easter eggs and nuggets of information just make it so much more exciting to read. With that being said, I can’t tell you how much I love Niko and Cassiopeia! He is everything you would expect an alpha assassin mob leader to be. He literally has done and will do anything to make sure he protects those he loves. He is damaged of course but that makes him all the more human. He is hot and sexy and loves fiercely. Our plus size fmc Cassie is smart, talented, and fierce but after years of abuse she forgot that. Niikolai loving her, reminded her of all that. He allows her to be her while she is the Sun in his dark world!

Another -absolutely freaking love book! Здорово!

***AVAILABLE NOW***

4 STARS

What I loved:
1. I really loved Nikolai. It was interesting having him be a select mute, and the moments when he spoke to Cassie became special. How protective he is of her was amazing. I love that he wanted to save her.
2. Cassie is a plus sized heroine, and I know a lot of readers won’t like that she has no self esteem, but she was abused and degraded by her ex, so… It just seemed realistic that she would have those self esteem issues.
3. It is insta-love and Stockholm-ish, so if that isn’t your jam, this probably won’t be for you, but it worked for me. He never took from her and he spent time to show he he cared. I appreciated that he wanted her to rule beside him and be strong and he helped her to feel that power.
4. The breeding and snowball link was unexpected but provided excellent steam.
5. If a man won’t feed my enemies and his to alligators, is it love?
6. I loved the cast of characters.

What I didn’t like:
1. I struggled with the pacing of this one. There was a lot of information being dealt and I felt like it took away from the couple building / chemistry.
2. Beginning of the book was slow. I wanted to put it down and move on but I love Serena’s mafia series so I stuck it out. The pace got better as the book progressed.

Overall, great start to the series. I’m excited to see Dimitri.

DNF @ 36%. The premise of this book is amazing. The way the hero cares for the heroine is intense. He rescues her, bathes her, blow dries her hair, and taps his knee twice to get her to come close to feed her.

Why did I not like it? There's a constant mention of the heroine's ex-husband, even during sexy times. No thanks.

Rating: ⭐ ⭐⭐
Plot: Mute Pakhan of Florida, saves the daughter of a famous Russian assassin and inadvertently falls in love.
FMC: PCOS, Curvy, Low self-esteem, abused and battered
MMC: Mute, mysterious, dangerous and possessive
Angst: 1/5
Dark: 1/5
Spice: 🔥 🔥 🔥🔥

Please note: Before diving into this book, it's important to note that it is not a standalone in the traditional sense. You can expect (to a certain degree) to encounter the continuation of other characters' storylines from previous books, and it takes place within the world of the Five Points Mob, resulting in some crossover. For readers new to Serena Akeroyd's work, this may cause confusion.

Why did I think this was going to be Maxim and Victoria's book? God, I really want to read their story!

Pros:
• PCOS is finally getting some representation!
• The FMC isn't slim and utterly flawless.
• Maxim appears!
• I liked the found family aspect to this with Niko and the guys.

Cons:
• Another FMC who has been battered and abused and yet is perfectly fine with being held captive and naked?
• Why all the Albanian hate? and the Russia bashing? the author really plays on stereotypes here.
• Insta-love—Nikolai's reaction to seeing Cassie for the first time was more than just OTT, it was unbelievable.
• A serious lack of chemistry between the MCs in the first half—being horny ≠ love.
• Trying to get her pregnant right off the bat, not knowing the dude from Adam and she continues to engage with him??

I felt that this story lagged in places. Besides the initial action at the beginning of the book, things don't really pick up until well around the 70% mark. It was quite repetitive for me. Reading about Cassie going through the same routine with Niko was tiring. I found myself skimming quite a bit until things became interesting and held my attention again. I wanted plot and character progression so badly! As a standalone for this couple, it was quite disappointing in that, we only start to see some semblance of a romance/love for this couple near the end of the book; their HEA was quite rushed for me personally.

One aspect that bothered me about Cassiopeia's character was her complete lack of resistance against Niko in the initial stages (I am not talking about the stupid decisions she made in spitting at Niko or kicking him) Instead of putting up a fight, she simply embraced her role as a captive. It baffled me how she could just accept being left naked in a bedroom or safe room for weeks without protest. Even when he is actively trying to get her pregnant, she doesn't have much of a reaction or resistance to this. Considering her limited exposure to Niko, and him being a complete unknown to her, it frustrated me how she managed to forgive and accept everything solely due to her attraction towards him.

Despite the drawbacks, there were aspects of the book that I did enjoy. I found myself more interested in exploring the dynamic between Maxim and the other guys, as well as reading about their shared history. The main issue for me was the relationship between Niko and Cassie—it simply didn't feel convincing enough for me to become invested in their story.

Having said that, I was very much engaged in reading about Niko and the boy's past in Russia and although I wasn't a huge fan of Niko, his past certainly helped me understand him as a character more.

I was thrilled when I saw Maxim had a chapter, but to be honest, it was very short and we gleamed nothing from it in relation to his life or Victoria other than a quick mention of the hand being sent to Eoghan's place. I would have liked something more from the few lines we got as Maxim has been built up slowly over the last few Five Points books.

Verdict: If you're in the mood for a dark mafia book with a lot of breeding kink, then this is the perfect read for you. If you're a dedicated fan of Akeroyd's world and eager for its continuation, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. However, if you're seeking a decent romance/love story, there are better choices out there than Silenced.

The first in the series the forgotten boys this follow a group of Bratva who pull away and become The a forgotten Boys. Ruling New York and Miami and ready to take on the whole United States. Nikolai the Pakhan of Miami is asked to
help rescue a woman. Cassie has been terribly abused by her husband and is in dire need of help. When Nikolai arrives he fears he is too late. Nikolai takes her to
his compound and makes sure she heals and is safe. The characters in this book are so brave and valiant and stand for what is right. I fell in love with Nikolai right along with Cassie. Besides the romance and the steamy spice there is also plenty of adventure in the U.S. and Russia. Alliances and promises made and others destroyed. Love this series and where it is going!

Silent Perfection

I love a dangerous man. Nikolai is just that. Referred to as Mute he scares the pants off anyone he comes across. Except Cassiopeia. She isn’t sure why she feels so completely safe with this man. Or why he is so worried about keeping her safe. Their road to love looks different from others but it’s a perfect story that shows everyone is meant to be loved

It is no secret I love all of Serena’s books, and this is no exception. I loved every minute of it. I was for sure thinking we would see Misha or Maxim first in this new series since weve seen them previously but I’m not mad we started with Nikolai. This was such a change of pace having a MMC presented as neurodivergent/have physical disabilities in relation to traumatic events but then in the same hand still fierce and powerful, was excellent. So often if the the FMC with a strong MMC that guides them through this healing process but to see the process reversed was so amazing. Also the representation with ASL was perfect and flowed fine even though Nikolai was often signing, not physically speaking. I also loved Cassie, who was also a full figured woman with her own baggage and this couple just fit right in together. There is no dying need to read the Five Point Mob Collection in order to understand what is happening, since this is a brand new series, but the Easter eggs and character reappearances were delectable for the long time readers to see all the worlds overlap. This one isn’t as dark as FPM or Sinners (but I’m sure as the series continues it may get darker) but I would still say it’s a darker romance forsure. 100% a must read.

Heartbreaking and joyous and complex. I expect nothing less from Serena but Silenced was just that little extra. This is the first of the Forgotten Boys series. This can be read standalone but has ties and cameos that link with Serena's Five Points books. Cassie had a small part to play with Aiden's partner Savannah in Filthy King. This is her fleshed out and heart healing love story with Nikolai.

Cassie is the survivor of a mentally and physically abusive marriage. She becomes a pawn in the politics of her husband's bad decisions. Nikolai is sent to rescue her as a favour. One look and Nikolai is falling deeply for her. He knows without any uncertainty that they can heal one another and that they are meant to be.

Nikolai is a complex MMC. He has faced poverty, power struggles, loss and adversity. When he escapes a Russian children's home, he brings his 'brothers' with him. As the eldest, he protects and sacrifices for them. Nikolai is engaging as a lead as he processes differently and is largely mute. He communicates mainly via sign language and has obsessive tendencies towards Cassie and keeping her safe. Serena's written style reflects Nikolai's alternate view as it can be a little jarring and you almost feel Nikolai's silence at times.

Cassie finds her place alongside Nikolai. She is feisty and determined to be free and a better version of herself. Nikolai's obsession becomes a perfect fit for her broken parts. She heals within his arms and within his safe room. She finds comfort alongside his quirks and isn't lesser for becoming his partner. She faces him head on and learns to negotiate for what is important. And there is no doubt, he would lay down his life to protect her. A safety she hasn't had for a long time.

I could write all day about the beauty within this love story. Serena writes with sensitivity and detail. No woman in a Serena book is lesser for love. They are empowered and strengthened through finding their other half (kinks and all) and Cassie will fit just fine amongst the Savannahs and Aoifes of this world.

It’s the start of a brilliant new series from Serena Akeroyd and The Forgotten Boys is off to a flying start with Silenced, a Hades and Persephone retelling that splices Greek and Slavic mythology as mute Pakhan Niko rescues his ‘little sun’ Cassiopeia from certain hell at the hands of the Albanian mob. Set mainly in Florida with side trips to Moscow and New York, where some familiar characters from the Five Points series make an appearance. Silenced introduces the Forgotten Boys, young men forged in a brutal children’s home in Moscow and now about to change the face of the Bratva in the US as they throw off the shackles of their Russian overlords and declare war on the Krestniy Otets.

Niko is probably one of the most gentle heroes Serena has given us. The tender care he takes and patience he shows towards Cassie, who has spent years living in fear, being abused by her husband, is so beautiful but in contrast is the brutal retribution he wrecks on anyone who dares upset her – lets just say there are a lot of well fed alligators on his estate. He epitomises this line from the book ‘Don’t you just adore those assholes who’ll burn the world to the ground at your feet for you.” Their relationship might’ve started with a vibe of Stockholm Syndrome but it definitely ends with love. I can’t wait to read more from this series. They might start as the Forgotten Boys but by the end they’re going to be the Unforgettable Men.