The Don by Hazel Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Don is the first book of Hazel Storm’s Her Three Immortals series starring beautician Vanessa Maan and her sudden embroilment in the lives of three beautiful Gods— Grey, the Don of the Underworld, Aroz, a harbinger of love, and Raef, the sauve billionaire. Dark and sensual, Storm depicts a mortal world that Gods and Goddesses alike treat as their own personal playground while also intricately weaving details about the Upperworld and Underworld— the realms of the immortal and dead— into her story in a manner that isn’t hamfisted and jarring. By the end of the book, I had a clear understanding as to how these celestial worlds worked— from the operation of the afterlife down below all the way up to the complicated politics and tense relationships between the deities above the clouds. The way Storm brings these worlds to life through vivid descriptions and colourful characters- almost so much so that I believed they could be real— is an attestation to her expertise and talent.

Of course, a book revolving around three ‘sexy-as-sin’ Gods is only as good as the men themselves and The Don certainly delivers on all fronts, Grey, Aroz and Raef, despite being half-brothers, couldn’t be more wildly different from each other, thus making them unique and distinct. It’s undeniable that each of them are handsome, but their beauty isn’t just skin deep— they’re rich and interesting characters beyond a surface level and this is conveyed through Storm’s use of multiple perspectives throughout the book. Grey, Aroz and Raef all have chapters dedicated to telling the events of the story through their eyes, allowing readers to grasp how they specifically feel in the moment and to better discern their motives and circumstances. It’s a tool that Storm uses skillfully to drive the narrative forward and explore experiences and the world beyond Vanessa Maan.

This brings me to what is by far The Don’s greatest strength— Vanessa Maan herself. It’s no surprise why our heroine has captured the attention of some of the most attractive bachelors around- she is a truly kind and good soul whose goal in life is to bring a touch of joy and beauty into the lives of others and to assist her younger brother in any way she can. Storm crafts Vanessa in such a way that makes readers sympathise with her plight and root for her to find her happily ever after. That’s not to say that Vanessa is a meek wallflower— she is proactive and takes destiny into her own hands which makes her all the more compelling. Her tenacity, wittiness and heart is echoed and bolstered by the characters around her— from interactions with her adoring brother and mother to the banter with the old ladies that frequent her salon and her exquisite fashion sense, Vanessa’s vibrant personality shines. Picking up the second book is therefore a must if only to follow the next steps in Vanessa’s journey.

All-in-all, The Don is not a book to pass over. If you’re in the market for some steamy romance entangled in a web of feuding Gods and Goddesses, then this story will fill that quota.

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