Violent Secret

Blackrose Brotherhood #2.5

by Ariana Nash

Aiko believes every member of the Blackrose Brotherhood has secrets, even their leader Mikalis. Especially Mikalis. But Aiko’s secret is the worst of all.

Kill all blood-sucking nyks, and never care. Those are the rules the brotherhood live by. It’s been that way for millennia.

Aiko doesn’t make waves, he follows orders—and as Mikalis’s personal no-questions-asked assassin, he takes pride in his work. But with Mikalis back in London, and a new order to clear-out Chinatown, Mikalis skirts too close to Aiko’s secret.

What if Aiko did care, and what if the man he cared about was a vicious, sociopathic, yet painfully alluring nyk? A nyk who runs the east end’s most notorious gang?

Aiko didn’t ask to love the enemy. It turns out, the red string of fate has other ideas.

Violent Secret is a novella that takes place in the Blackrose Brotherhood world. It can be read as a standalone, but ideally should be read after Book 2 in the series. Please note: Violent Secret was previously published in the Fated Mates anthology.

Genres: M M Romance, Dark, Paranormal, Novella, Mystery, Vampires, LGBT

109 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 26, 2023

About the author

Born to wolves, Ariana Nash only ventures from the Cornish moors when the moon is fat and the night alive with myths and legends. She captures those myths in glass jars and returning home, weaves them into stories filled with forbidden desires, fantasy realms, and wicked delights.

Her debut novel Silk & Steel hit Amazon's:

#1 LGBT Bestsellers Horror
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Fantasy
#1 LGBT Fantasy Hot New Releases
#1 LGBT Horror Hot New Releases - for 3 months!

Join her Goodreads group here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

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Reviews

[Lucie V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an e-copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

✅ Characters
✅ 2 POVs
✅ Friends to lovers to enemies
✅ Vampires
✅ Pace and action
✅🆗 Development of the romance

This novella can be found in Fated Mates: an MM Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology, written by a selection of wonderful MM romance authors. All royalties will be donated to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU's Drag Defense Fund.

Kill all blood-sucking nyks, and never care. Those are the rules the brotherhood live by. It’s been that way for millennia.

This novella follows Aiko, a quiet and secretive member of the Blackrose Brotherhood. Two centuries ago, Aiko lost someone very dear to him when he joined the Brotherhood, his long-time friend and lover Kota. When Mikalis sends Aiko on a mission to find the leader of the Yasuka leader who’s been gathering nyks and kill him, the last thing Aiko expects is to come face to face with his long-lost love.

While this novella could be read as a standalone, I strongly recommend reading the first 2 books of the Blackrose Brotherhood series before to get a good idea of what the world-building is like and who the characters are. There are also a few mentions of characters and events that happened in the first 2 books of the series so it is definitely more enjoyable if you know the backstory.

“Fight or fuck, Aiko? What do you want from me? You were going to kill me in that car, then you attack with a kiss? So which is it, koibito?”

This is a violent and angsty love/hate romance between two lovers who lost each others centuries ago, only to find each other again on opposite sides of a war. Aiko must kill Kota, or be killed by Mikalis for betraying the Brotherhood, and Kota needs to kill Aiko to protect himself and his nyks from the Brotherhood.

I am sad that this was only a novella, as I would have loved to see more of Aiko and Kota, and a slower, more detailed development of their romance. It was greatly done in this novella, but I just feel that there is so much potential with them, it would have make an amazing book. There is much tension and feelings that need to be addressed between them, and I just feel that the reunion and getting together part was too quick, because this is a novella.

Still, this is a fast-paced and engaging novella that you are sure to enjoy if you liked the previous books in this series.


1. Violent Desire ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Violent Mistake ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Follow me on Instagram 🙂

[Ariana Nash]

Violent Secret ~ Out NOW!



750 years ago

Aiko enclosed Kota’s fingers with his and watched the Sakura blossom twirl from the trees like lazy, pink snow. There was no place more beautiful than this, he was sure of it. Nor, was there anyone more beautiful than the man who lay in the long grass beside him. Kota would have laughed to hear such things, so fierce was the bushi warrior. Fierce to all but Aiko.

He looked over now, and the setting sun flared in Kota’s dark hair, making it shine with strands of gold. Kota smiled the precious smile he only gave Aiko, his gift. So soft, yet so strong too, and his fingers tightened with Aiko’s. No, nowhere was more beautiful than this.

Darkness rolled over the orchard and a vicious wind swirled the Sakura blossom. Aiko knew what came next. It was the same every time, and he could never stop it. He didn’t shout, didn’t close his eyes. He’d tried. But nothing changed the past.

Kota’s fingers fell from Aiko’s, and all at once, the cold was inside Aiko, encasing his heart.
Kota sat up, and like he did every time, he tipped his face to the churning skies. His lips moved, but Aiko never did hear those final words before the arrow punched into Kota's chest, an arrow that had surely been meant for Aiko. An arrow that changed everything.



-- DRAFT, Violent Secret, Blackrose Brotherhood #2.5

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No, he’d never told Mikalis how he’d loved a nyk, but what he felt for Kota was much more than that. Love was too small a word. They were destined, they were bound, they were soul mates."

Violent Secret by Ariana Nash is book 2.5 in her Blackrose Brotherhood series of quasi-standalone books focusing on a different couple each time but set in the same universe, with an underlying thread tying them all together. I would suggest you read them in order for that reason. This novella is Aiko and Kota's story and you'll find it in the Fated Mates: an MM Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology out on 1 September 2023.

Recall, we have a group of vampires essentially policing their own species (and the bloodthirsty killer nyks in particular) in an attempt to maintain some semblance of control, to keep the line between humans and the supernatural world separate and blurred. Secrecy is paramount. And a member of the Brotherhood being in love with a nyk - absolutely forbidden....

I loved being back in this world and I adored the passion and the betrayal and the violence woven into Aiko and Kota's story but I really do dislike novellas - they always feel so incomplete and so much more of these boys' story needs to be told! We can but hope Ariana Nash gives us more of the good stuff in time....

Love this taster and adore the world!

5 stars

[patrícia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just loved this story Aiko and Kota are exactly the kind of couple I love to read about. Friends to lovers to enimies to lovers—awwwwww pure perfection.

Allied to this is the fact that they are Japanese and vampires. That's it; that was enough for me!

In this book, we understand a little more of Aiko's story and the reason for his being so isolated but deadly. With samurai swords and blood licking...

Too bad it's just a novella and we won't have more about them, that left a lot to be desired in the story... We have two people who have been separated for over seven hundred years, with a lot of wounds still open, but everything ends up very quickly. ... no great depth to this reunion, unfortunately. And that takes away that star.

The writing and development in Ariana's hands are perfect, but we needed more from such huge characters. 😥

[Elaine White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in the Fated Mates: an MM Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology.

To start with, I'll say that I'm seeing some common themes in this series that aren't my cup of tea. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if the problem is with the author and I not being to each other's taste - which is fine, because not every author is going to work for me - or if the issues are confined to this series and its subject matter. I can't tell.

Let's start with the positives:
Aiko and Kota are interesting characters and they have a great chemistry together. I liked the beginning, where it went back 700+ years ago, to see where Aiko's story began. I liked how strongly he held onto his past, his control over his inner monster, and his love for Kota. I also enjoyed the dual POV, in that we got to see the internal struggle in Kota.
The length of the story was great. It covered approximately 100 pages, which meant you got some meat to the plot. It didn't feel excessively long, but neither did it feel like a typical short story. It was the right length to tell the story it did.

I enjoyed the continuing plot of the series, but found that it didn't really ADD anything to that. There's still too much mystery and uncertainty, and constant talk about the nykelios growing stronger and larger in numbers. I realise it's all leading up to a big revelation, probably related to Mikelos' past, but WHEN?? How long is it going to take? Maybe once the entire team is paired off with a super-special person? That would mean at least 3 more stories before the problem is resolved.

Okay...negatives:
* Again, there are small editing issues throughout (a ",." or "Noting mattered").
* We've got a nykelios - Aiko this time - who has been sent n a mission that is about to go wrong. Just the same as every other story so far.
* It has the same trope of the person he's hunting being the one he falls in love with, and that they're somehow "special" to the Brotherhood.
* We have the misleading blurb, though I won't say why because that would spoil part of the story.
* Again, there's some dub/non-con involved, and that's something I hate to come across without warning, so that annoyed me that it's in EVERY book in this series so far, just in varying degrees. There's also a serious lack of respect for consent between the characters. And, I get it, they're "morally grey", but seriously...does it need to be in EVERY book??
* I hate when a dream sequence isn't separated from real life, because even if it reads obvious, sometimes it's not and I feel tricked into believing something that's just a dream or a memory. I hate that, so please don't do it.

----

This story was included in the Fated Mates anthology, as I said above. It began and ended at 37%, but because the anthology is so large, I've also marked that it began at PAGE 513 and ended at 616, so that's a solid 100+ pages of story, which makes for a good length.

Side Note: I wasn't a fan of how the anthology was advertised. For a "limited time" availability, there were no mention of how long that would be. There was no list of which stories in the anthology were linked to on-going series (like this one is) and that bothers me. This story is smack in the middle of an ongoing series and there's no way you could possibly read it and understand it without having read the other books in the series, so why it was chosen for an anthology, I'm not entirely sure.

[Sailor Neptuno · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ★

“I loved you,” Kota said. “Somewhere in my cold, hollow heart, I love you still, even now.” He breathed in and his cool exhale stroked Aiko’s cheek. “But I hate you more.” He pulled back.

Aiko was one of the Brotherhood members that I was most intrigued about. I mean I love characters with secrets and I didn’t imagine what he was truly hiding. Even though this is a short story, I think the story development was managed well. It helped that Aiko and Kota had a long history together.
We also got a little bit of development of the main plot, so I recommend reading it before jumping into book 3. Gotta said that I didn’t expect some reactions from Mikalis in this installment.





*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*

[Bookloversofantastic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, just amazing, I love the Blackrose Brotherhood series and this novella was just soooo great.
This novella is part of the Fated Mate Anthology and I received an ARC copy from the author, this is my honest review.

Aiko is one of the most secretive member of the Brotherhood, he wants to prove to Mikalis that he is trustworthy and will clean London from all the Nyk. But he wasn’t ready to face the love of his life that he betrayed and supposedly killed when he joined the Brotherhood, despite seeing him again, he knows that he must do his duty even if it will break his heart all over again.
After centuries, Kota is finally facing Aiko again, hating the Brotherhood and Mikalis, he is determined to end it all.

Between fights, resentment, love, they will have to face each other, their mistakes and will they be able to go beyond all of it and face the consequence.

This book is the 2,5 in the series and it was all that I needed 😍 can’t wait for the next book !!!

[Tiago Kietzmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm devouring the 'Blackrose Brotherhood' series and just finished 'Violent Secret.' I confess I have conflicting feelings about it.

It's a fair addition to the series, maintaining the same dark fantasy vibe, the conflicted feelings of the Brotherhood members, the anguish of the impossible decisions they have to make, and the anti-heroic nature of our heroes.

However, it becomes overly sentimental; Akaio and Keto's relationship was described in an almost sappy way, bordering on tacky romance. There are conflicts, for sure, but the way they think and act is overly saccharine. And the overly happy pink ending was almost nauseating. Nevertheless, they are not shallow characters.

PROS

Great dark fantasy MM vampire scenario.
The complexity of anti-heroic heroes. I hate every single member of the Brotherhood from the bottom of my heart; I would love to see them suffer and fall! Especially Mikalis! And I can't stop reading the series because of that.
Finally, one of the books has a nice cover!
CONS

Overly sentimental, sappy scenes. Saccharine happy ending.
The Brotherhood members put Mikalis in check here and there, but it should be more elaborated.
All in all, for those enjoying the series, I recommend this book. It's a nice story and a good addition to the series

[Demian Grimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella stands well on its own, but diving into the first two books of the series enhances the experience, offering a deeper understanding of the world-building and character dynamics. References to past events and characters from earlier instalments make it more enjoyable for those familiar with the backstory.

The story centers around Aiko, a mysterious member of the Blackrose Brotherhood who carries the weight of a tragic loss from centuries ago. When Mikalis assigns Aiko to track down the leader of the yakuza faction, who's been amassing nyks, Aiko is thrust into a confrontation with his own past. What unfolds is a gritty, emotionally charged tale of love and conflict between two souls torn apart centuries ago, now reunited on opposing sides of a war.

Without giving away too much, the novella delves into a turbulent romance characterised by violence and angst. While I wished for more exploration of Aiko and Kota's relationship, the novella handles their complex dynamics admirably within its limitations.

This novella offers a fast-paced and engaging read, especially for fans of the series.

[Thea™]

21-02-2024 nog steeds xnpsnrklbr.

[Tena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - This may be short compared to the others in the series, but it packs an additional punch, an emotional one. For the first time in the series, a scene moved me to tears.

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 or 2.5 stars

This started out promising, but everything just moved too fast and needed more emotion. I wish it had just been a full-length book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad to finally read about Aiko!

[☾⋆⁺ Nurse After Dark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The monster within him thrashed and roared, like a beast on a chain. He wanted to rage at the world, to burn London down, to fill the gutters with blood. He didn’t want to hurt Aiko, but also—he did.

With the release of Violent Demand, I found myself wanting to get Aiko's story under my belt as a way to re-immerse myself in the Brotherhood universe before picking up the new release! I ended up reading this novella-length story via the Fated Mates: an MM Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology on KU.

Honor and control were the bedrock of the Brotherhood. Kota was about to take both from Aiko. And a Brotherhood member without those was one feeder away from being just another nyk.

The angsty history between Aiko and Kota was centuries in the making and really elevated this read despite its short length! The cameos from several of the other Brotherhood members and Mikalis helped set the stage again for Octavius and Saint's story next - I can't wait. :D

[juli✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

✨ aiko, who had become so much more than just a friend, more than a brother-in-arms, more than the stars or moon. 🌙

what gave kota and aiko the right to keep me up all night reading?!?


so far, i think these two are my favorite brotherhood couple. i loved the way their love story had a hint of tradgey and centuries long pining woven in. it may have been a little to on the nose, BUT the romeo and juliet comparison did ring true.


if anything, i wish nash would have gone all in on the concept. or, maybe she could have gone all in on the “red string of fate” concept ( as it was mentioned a few times).


another thing Violent Secret did? make me even MORE curious about mikalis like, how do you pronounce his name? is he the one who founded the brotherhood? is his love interest hopefully gonna tease him about how doom and gloom he is? when will everyone give mikalis a giant group hug? the questions are never ending …


all in all, i think name of the game with this book is … i liked it! i wish it was longer but i’m just happy we got aiko’s story at all!! him and kota better live out the rest of their days being stabby stabby together and having picnics under cherry blossom trees 🌸


~i was provided an arc by the author, this is my honest review 😉

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Violent Secret by Ariana Nash is a new novella in the Blackrose Brotherhood series. Aiko has been hiding a secret from his brotherhood, even his leader Mikalis. The choices from his past are now coming to head as he is assigned to take out the new leader of the Yakuza in London’s chinatown. Aiko is not ready to come face to face with the man who had every piece of his black heart, Kota. With loyalties being tested both Aiko and Kota will have to decide if the past can be built into a future together.

Aiko has been presented as a bit of a mystery so getting his history was nice. He doesn’t want to appear soft but Kota brings out the softness Aiko has been pushing away for years. Aiko’s struggle with loyalty to the brotherhood is mirrored by Kota’s to his new ruling of the Yakuza. The two have intense and passionate chemistry but question if a future is possible when the past is so complicated. With a friendly face showing up to “help” Aiko this is a fun novella filled with action, blood and steam.

4 stars for Aiko and Kota’s paths colliding in blood and love.

[Kristel (hungryandhappy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

<>

I felt, too. A lot. Aiko's fractured heart, his emotions, raw and right in your face. I hurt for him, for Kota, for the what-ifs. Second chance romance stories aren't always for me because I get jealous knowing what they've been through while they were apart. It's a problem, okay? But with this story of a second chance beginning with a hatred filled with love? I was all in from the start. They wanted to kill each other, they get really close to it, I wanted them to kiss and make peace right away, like good boyfriends do. Their reunion after two centuries is definitely not all sakura blossoms and sake; it's fireworks, though. Beautiful, lighting the sky, inevitable. The love, their fated love, the red string binding them, can't be denied no matter what, even if they are in opposite sides of a war. I love them so much, I cry.

This series has been playing with my heart since the first book and I thank it for it.

[K.B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review

This was surprisingly sweet. For at least half of the story, I couldn't possibly see how Aiko and Kota would reach their HEA, so it kept me on my toes. As usual for an Ariana Nash novel, the setting was as much a character as any other, so richly described you could easily imagine yourself there - whether it was Japan 700 years ago or modern day Chinatown.

There were some things I felt could have been expanded upon more: I'm still not clear what happened the day Kota 'let go'...let go of what? Why was he in that position to begin with? Why would anyone assume he had died when only venom kills nyks? but I thoroughly enjoyed the little story and am more curious than ever about Mikalis. I cannot WAIT to see how he melts into a puddle over whoever his lover turns out to be.

[Rian Durant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Destined to love, and destined to die, over and over.

Ok, I’m always all in for this kind of stories and moreover I couldn’t miss an instalment of the Blackrose Brotherhood, no matter it isn’t a full novel. It had everything I wanted in a book though - intriguing story, emotional connection between the main characters - Aiko and Kota, who are trapped in an endless cycle of love and death, beautiful descriptions and spectacular fights on the streets of London’s Chinatown.
It’s not a secret I like Ariana Nash’s style, especially urban fantasy so it was a pleasure to read. Also Aiko is one of my favourite character of the Blackrose Brotherhood and now I like him even more.
Violent Secret can be read perfectly well as a standalone but beware if you haven’t read the previous books in the series, there’s a high chance you’d want to read them.

[Sofia Boquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

“They were free to love, free to live, and free to choose their fates. Together for eternity.”

This was such a nice little short story to read in between! It was interesting to get to know Aiko and his life history as well as some extra romance.

[Jacquie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being back in the Blackrose Brotherhood world was a treat! I would say that this will be necessary reading for the series going forward because of revelations, and while it can be read as a standalone, I got more enjoyment out of it because I knew the backstory.

Aiko and Kota were lovers, then they were changed, stuff happened (keeping to vague for spoilers) and Aiko became a member of the Brotherhood.

Now, he’s in London and being sent after a Nyk that is running the yakusa and bringing more Nyks to his side. Unfortunately, that is Kota.

Neither can see a way out. The other has to die, but they are tied by fate.

Violent, with a great steamy scene, Violent Secret was a fast-paced novella that made me want to dive back into the Brotherhood.

[Kendra Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Originally read in Fated Mates anthology]

We return to the world of the Blackrose Brotherhood in this novella, starring Aiko, who was hitherto a minor character. As a Japaniphile, I enjoyed the cultural references, and was excited to read Aiko's story.

Since this was originally written for a novella, it was only around 100 pages long, unlike the previous two Brotherhood books. The story would have benefited from being longer, and I wish Aiko and Kota could have gotten the same attention as Zaine, Eric, Kazi, and Felix. A lot was crammed into a hundred pages.

But nevertheless, it was a solid read, and Nash still managed to tear my heart and then put it back together. The story didn't fail to deliver a good punch.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Aiko story, the story starts with Aiko is dreaming of his time with his lover, that was 750 years ago. Then the events that happened 200 years ago, he was part of the Yakuza and they he decided to join the Brotherhood. The brotherhood are vampires that goes after nyks also vampires but they don’t follow the rules and are a treat to humanity. The leader of the Brotherhood send Aiko to investigate the new leader of the yakuza, he soon realizes that the new leader is his lost lover Kato. I loved this serie and this was a great addition, the story between Aiko and Kato was great and we discover new revelations, I can’t wait for whats coming next for this serie!!

[Teeny · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars... and it hurts me to do it.

Lovers to enemies to lovers and second chance should have been a recipe for a story full of feels right? Well to me, Aiko and Kota's story was a dud... No chemistry between them AT ALL! There was nothing enthralling, nothing that kept me turning the pages fascinated. It was a plain OK read.

Love the cover though!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[MM Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything Ariana Nash touches becomes an incredible story. Of course, the Blackrose Brotherhood is one of my favorite series. And I’ve been dying for the third book. Violent Secret is a great holdover until the third full novel is released.

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends to lovers to enemies to lovers again! What a beautiful heart-wrenching action-packed tale of love, hate, betrayal, and hope. I loved this emotional story part of the Blackrose Brotherhood Series (can be read as a stand-alone but best enjoyed with the rest of the series)

[Simera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Aiko and Kato's story. It started over 700 years ago. Aiko is part of the Blackrose Brotherhood.
He is tasked to clear out Chinatown of all nyks.
Kato just happens to be the leader of the nyks and an enemy of the brotherhood.
Aiko and Kato have alot to over come before they get a HEA.

[Yasemin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This felt too short I need more of them 😭❤

[Zane Kage · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars