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Soulless Empire #1
King of Ruin
He’s the most dangerous man in Chicago—and I’m his newest obsession. Dark emerald eyes. Black tattoos. A killer’s smile… god, that smile…When I’m dragged to a secretive nightclub, the last thing I expect is to find myself in the owner’s back office. But after he rescues me from a drunken creep, that’s exactly where I end up. Alone with a heartbreakingly gorgeous man who says his name is Andrei Zherdev… though most call him Pakhan—leader of the Russian mafia. Next thing I know, I’m screaming his name. Then, I’m hiding beneath his desk as he’s called away on business. That’s how I learn my dark fate. Apparently, once you’ve slept with a Bratva boss, you’re his. Forever. There’s only one problem with that arrangement. I don’t belong to anyone. If only he agreed. *King of Ruin is a standalone Dark Mafia Enemies to Lovers Age Gap Stalker Forced Marriage novel with forced proximity, mature themes and a happily ever after. It is the first book of the Soulless Empire series.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2024
3667 people are currently reading
11795 people want to read
About the author
Sasha Leone
31 books1,039 followersSasha Leone writes dark, suspenseful romance novels about powerful mafia kings and the women who bring them to their knees. Join my mailing list at https://sasha_leone.ck.page/newslette...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 409 reviews
April 27, 2024
Negative stars. The characters are all over the place, the writing is atrocious, the story is just ridiculous, and it's full of typos.
This is unreadable. the cringe was so unbearable I just couldn't finish it. No one responds to anything in a realistic way. I feel insane trying to read this shit.
She goes from being a virgin to being fully bondage-roped in about a day. He says he wants to coat her 'angel wings' with cum. Boke.
He bangs her in a kitchen closet while a literal Italian Godfather is waiting for him in the next room. What?????
He calls her a little deer, then says she's actually a fox, then in the next sentence calls her a kitten.
She's so skinny she's visibly starving but she still has to practically beg for one of the many chefs of the estate to make her some fries and isn't allowed to eat too much until dinner.
Andrei's blood brother is sent to be her bodyguard, but it's explained that 'he runs his own team when he's not backing Andrei up.' These people are the dumbest mafiosos I've ever heard of. How is this acceptable? How is this not insanely insulting to Valentin?
Meanwhile her apartment has burned down, the fire department have apparently lost all ability to discern the source of a fire, but also managed to contain it purely to her own apartment (which has burnt to a crisp) and I guess there was no water damage from putting it out? No one seems to care how this happened.
Andrei says something about him wanting to burn her 'angel wings' and make her fall into his kingdom, but she doesn't question at all whether he could have ruined her life to force her to turn to him for help. She just randomly ponders if there is a connection between Nikolai and Andrei. Could they be connected?????? Who knows, better bang him again anyway.
Nikolai is also magic and doesn't need to breathe because he can just chill in a burning building having a grand old time. 'You can call me Nicky.' Super scary nickname, bro.
Is she even a student? She has this abstract NEED to study architecture for some unknown reason, and tries to mentally picture a page of her architecture textbook while she's at a club. She's only concerned about losing her laptop because that apparently stops her from studying architecture at all, but never seems to think about or need to go to any classes.
Andrei says Anatoly's soup would be better than her parents', but Anatoly is the butler. Is he also the cook????????
Every new page is dumber than the last.
This book made me actually angry with how stupid it is.
This book has TWO authors.
TWO!!!!
This is unreadable. the cringe was so unbearable I just couldn't finish it. No one responds to anything in a realistic way. I feel insane trying to read this shit.
She goes from being a virgin to being fully bondage-roped in about a day. He says he wants to coat her 'angel wings' with cum. Boke.
He bangs her in a kitchen closet while a literal Italian Godfather is waiting for him in the next room. What?????
He calls her a little deer, then says she's actually a fox, then in the next sentence calls her a kitten.
She's so skinny she's visibly starving but she still has to practically beg for one of the many chefs of the estate to make her some fries and isn't allowed to eat too much until dinner.
Andrei's blood brother is sent to be her bodyguard, but it's explained that 'he runs his own team when he's not backing Andrei up.' These people are the dumbest mafiosos I've ever heard of. How is this acceptable? How is this not insanely insulting to Valentin?
Meanwhile her apartment has burned down, the fire department have apparently lost all ability to discern the source of a fire, but also managed to contain it purely to her own apartment (which has burnt to a crisp) and I guess there was no water damage from putting it out? No one seems to care how this happened.
Andrei says something about him wanting to burn her 'angel wings' and make her fall into his kingdom, but she doesn't question at all whether he could have ruined her life to force her to turn to him for help. She just randomly ponders if there is a connection between Nikolai and Andrei. Could they be connected?????? Who knows, better bang him again anyway.
Nikolai is also magic and doesn't need to breathe because he can just chill in a burning building having a grand old time. 'You can call me Nicky.' Super scary nickname, bro.
Is she even a student? She has this abstract NEED to study architecture for some unknown reason, and tries to mentally picture a page of her architecture textbook while she's at a club. She's only concerned about losing her laptop because that apparently stops her from studying architecture at all, but never seems to think about or need to go to any classes.
Andrei says Anatoly's soup would be better than her parents', but Anatoly is the butler. Is he also the cook????????
Every new page is dumber than the last.
This book made me actually angry with how stupid it is.
This book has TWO authors.
TWO!!!!
February 2, 2024
it started getting so annoying after 40%… ugh
April 6, 2024
i’d rather hug a cactus than read this book again. two authors and this is what was made? crazy.
January 24, 2024
3,5 stars
Tropes : mafia romance, rich guy x poor girl, possessive H, Age gap
Ending : HEA (1 year later, married with a baby on the way)
Triggers : child abandonment, violence, gore, attempted SA
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Angst : 🔥🔥🔥/5
OM/OW drama : OM( guys that wanted to f the h/ touched h)
Kink: virgin h, bondage, spanking, a bit choking, rough sex, no condom, anal, oral
Hero : Andrei Zherdev (36)
Heroine: Natalya Datsyuk (22(?))
I still don’t understand why Natalya didn’t just tell Andrei about Nikolai. Her reasoning didn’t make sense and it was weak.
I skimmed from chapters 25-30ish. It was an okay book I enjoyed it for a bit, the ending was okay ish. Nothing exciting happened. But bcs I’ve been in a very picky mood, this one managed to interest me so I give this extra 0,75 star.
Tropes : mafia romance, rich guy x poor girl, possessive H, Age gap
Ending : HEA (1 year later, married with a baby on the way)
Triggers : child abandonment, violence, gore, attempted SA
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Angst : 🔥🔥🔥/5
OM/OW drama : OM( guys that wanted to f the h/ touched h)
Kink: virgin h, bondage, spanking, a bit choking, rough sex, no condom, anal, oral
Hero : Andrei Zherdev (36)
Heroine: Natalya Datsyuk (22(?))
I still don’t understand why Natalya didn’t just tell Andrei about Nikolai. Her reasoning didn’t make sense and it was weak.
I skimmed from chapters 25-30ish. It was an okay book I enjoyed it for a bit, the ending was okay ish. Nothing exciting happened. But bcs I’ve been in a very picky mood, this one managed to interest me so I give this extra 0,75 star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2024
4.5 STARS !!
March 31, 2024
don’t waste ur time
BORING. NOT WELL WRITTEN. annoying asf and he’s so controlling to the point where i don’t even see any chemistry. like at all. he never took her out on dates. there were never other people other friends. no. it was only them two the entire book and it got boring. just don’t waste ur time. what the summary says it’s all you get in this. u don’t even need to read this book
BORING. NOT WELL WRITTEN. annoying asf and he’s so controlling to the point where i don’t even see any chemistry. like at all. he never took her out on dates. there were never other people other friends. no. it was only them two the entire book and it got boring. just don’t waste ur time. what the summary says it’s all you get in this. u don’t even need to read this book
September 8, 2024
-1 Star (if only) - DNF 19%
I usually push to atleast 30% before I'm sure I'm gonna throw in the towel with my books but, well, there is always an exception. 😬
I tried. I did. I ignored the weird opening chapters, I didn't judge when I realized the heroine must be college aged (and doubtful it would've been the older side of college aged) and I even didn't judge when she kept referencing her ghetto upbringing, her being broke and essentially down on her luck. Or that she was with a group of rich friends who, despite being nice, clearly made her feel less than and very insecure just by being with them. I still kept trudging on. And when we finally met the hero and I didn't find him all that intriguing for a "supposed" hot Bratva boss I let it slide. Then everything fell apart piece by piece.
First, the heroine Natalya supposedly saw the hero Andrei had green eyes from all the way up on the dark balcony above the dance floor where he was looming over everyone. Girl must have the best eyesight ever.
Two, while I totally understand ones brain taking a moment to pause and appreciate a fine specimen of tall and tattooed male deliciousness I don't think it required for Natalya to simply forget how to coherently form full sentences. I mean this in the most literal way when I say the girl lost all ability to speak once she met Andrei. She stuttered and didn't finish one sentence or reply that didn't run in onto another. It was soooo embarrassing. Second hand cringe just watching it play out.
Three, Mr big bad Bratva boss actually tells the absolute stranger he's brought to his office to fuck that he is in fact a Mafia boss. Literally named himself as a Bratva boss and explained what a Pakhan was. 🤣 My dude....no. Who does that? Seriously!
Four, Andrei calls Natalya little deer ad nauseum and it was just awful to experience.
Five, Natalya viewed losing her virginity as something she "deserved" to do; as in why not get fucked when she was tired of life fucking her. Now, I get having a hard life but that made absolutely NO sense. Somehow I guess she thought the release and promise of pleasure was something she deserved after struggling so long? Truly it was ridiculous.
Six, Natalya naturally makes sure to keep extra quiet about her being a virgin. Despite fangirling over the size of Andrei's huge peen and how it'll fit she still insisted on not saying a peep about this being her first time. Instead she repeats a few times for him to be "gentle" with her. Too which he mostly replied that's not how he fucked and he would fuck her hard, and then the last time claims he'll be gentle. Honestly it was just really bad.
Seven, the sex scene was easily one of the worst I've ever read in my many, many years of romance/erotica/smut experience. I spent more time laughing and cringing than anything remotely close to feeling any type of way about the goings on. The descriptions were outright ridiculous and the amount of screaming the little deer made was absurd. Between Natalya repeating how painful it was, how her juices were running down her ass, how her hips were swaying and causing Andrei's cock to bend from side to side, to describing whatever this was: "Pieces of burning lust scatter from my core, melting into an agonizing euphoria that’s so addicting I try to push back into it."
To perhaps the most important part being that Andrei took her bare. And she let him. Sure, the boss man pulled out but still. No protection and no discussion. Then again Natalya forgot how to string more than three words together so why should I be surprised, right?
Eight, the fact the hero Andrei wasn't the least bit bothered or concerned for the obvious blood Natalya had on her after they were done. He literally says "It’s not the first time I’ve made a girl bleed. When you’re as big as I am, it happens."
Um no. Big nope. And little dumbass Natalya STILL doesn't say anything about it. Instead, she wanders around barely speaking and acting like she's in a daze from having her virginity hammered out of her from a big Bratva boss.
Nine, Andrei had this weird obsession with calling Natalya tiny every chance he got, which was alot. Like, every other paragraph he was calling something on her tiny. Hell, even Natalya called her own jaw tiny when telling us how "she wanted his huge hand and back on her tiny jaw" or something similar. I truly didn't understand the significance of the constant reminder that homegirl was small and scrawny from being too broke to eat well. Seriously, what was the point??
I literally only read nineteen percent but boy there was a lot to unpack here and I'm pretty sure I could find a few more things to list. 🤦🏻♀️😆
Well, I guess I'm not even going to bother with this author again. This was certainly an experience.
I can leave it on a positive note though. There were TWO whole quotes I enjoyed that I'll leave here.
“I’m the devil, baby. Welcome to hell. I think you’re going to like it here. In fact, I’ll make sure you do…”
“Look up at the ceiling if you want,” he says, descending to his knees. “But don’t you dare pray to any god. Me and him don’t get along.”
I usually push to atleast 30% before I'm sure I'm gonna throw in the towel with my books but, well, there is always an exception. 😬
I tried. I did. I ignored the weird opening chapters, I didn't judge when I realized the heroine must be college aged (and doubtful it would've been the older side of college aged) and I even didn't judge when she kept referencing her ghetto upbringing, her being broke and essentially down on her luck. Or that she was with a group of rich friends who, despite being nice, clearly made her feel less than and very insecure just by being with them. I still kept trudging on. And when we finally met the hero and I didn't find him all that intriguing for a "supposed" hot Bratva boss I let it slide. Then everything fell apart piece by piece.
First, the heroine Natalya supposedly saw the hero Andrei had green eyes from all the way up on the dark balcony above the dance floor where he was looming over everyone. Girl must have the best eyesight ever.
Two, while I totally understand ones brain taking a moment to pause and appreciate a fine specimen of tall and tattooed male deliciousness I don't think it required for Natalya to simply forget how to coherently form full sentences. I mean this in the most literal way when I say the girl lost all ability to speak once she met Andrei. She stuttered and didn't finish one sentence or reply that didn't run in onto another. It was soooo embarrassing. Second hand cringe just watching it play out.
Three, Mr big bad Bratva boss actually tells the absolute stranger he's brought to his office to fuck that he is in fact a Mafia boss. Literally named himself as a Bratva boss and explained what a Pakhan was. 🤣 My dude....no. Who does that? Seriously!
Four, Andrei calls Natalya little deer ad nauseum and it was just awful to experience.
Five, Natalya viewed losing her virginity as something she "deserved" to do; as in why not get fucked when she was tired of life fucking her. Now, I get having a hard life but that made absolutely NO sense. Somehow I guess she thought the release and promise of pleasure was something she deserved after struggling so long? Truly it was ridiculous.
Six, Natalya naturally makes sure to keep extra quiet about her being a virgin. Despite fangirling over the size of Andrei's huge peen and how it'll fit she still insisted on not saying a peep about this being her first time. Instead she repeats a few times for him to be "gentle" with her. Too which he mostly replied that's not how he fucked and he would fuck her hard, and then the last time claims he'll be gentle. Honestly it was just really bad.
Seven, the sex scene was easily one of the worst I've ever read in my many, many years of romance/erotica/smut experience. I spent more time laughing and cringing than anything remotely close to feeling any type of way about the goings on. The descriptions were outright ridiculous and the amount of screaming the little deer made was absurd. Between Natalya repeating how painful it was, how her juices were running down her ass, how her hips were swaying and causing Andrei's cock to bend from side to side, to describing whatever this was: "Pieces of burning lust scatter from my core, melting into an agonizing euphoria that’s so addicting I try to push back into it."
To perhaps the most important part being that Andrei took her bare. And she let him. Sure, the boss man pulled out but still. No protection and no discussion. Then again Natalya forgot how to string more than three words together so why should I be surprised, right?
Eight, the fact the hero Andrei wasn't the least bit bothered or concerned for the obvious blood Natalya had on her after they were done. He literally says "It’s not the first time I’ve made a girl bleed. When you’re as big as I am, it happens."
Um no. Big nope. And little dumbass Natalya STILL doesn't say anything about it. Instead, she wanders around barely speaking and acting like she's in a daze from having her virginity hammered out of her from a big Bratva boss.
Nine, Andrei had this weird obsession with calling Natalya tiny every chance he got, which was alot. Like, every other paragraph he was calling something on her tiny. Hell, even Natalya called her own jaw tiny when telling us how "she wanted his huge hand and back on her tiny jaw" or something similar. I truly didn't understand the significance of the constant reminder that homegirl was small and scrawny from being too broke to eat well. Seriously, what was the point??
I literally only read nineteen percent but boy there was a lot to unpack here and I'm pretty sure I could find a few more things to list. 🤦🏻♀️😆
Well, I guess I'm not even going to bother with this author again. This was certainly an experience.
I can leave it on a positive note though. There were TWO whole quotes I enjoyed that I'll leave here.
“I’m the devil, baby. Welcome to hell. I think you’re going to like it here. In fact, I’ll make sure you do…”
“Look up at the ceiling if you want,” he says, descending to his knees. “But don’t you dare pray to any god. Me and him don’t get along.”
dnf
August 7, 2025DNF @ 30%. Wanted a dark mafia and all this was giving was straight cheese. There was one scene that showed there’s potential for something more gritty but I just didn’t have the patience to keep going just to see. The writing was very immature.
March 15, 2025
HAHA.
December 16, 2024
This book was so bad it put me into a 3 week reading slump
December 5, 2025
“ 𝙄𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙢. 𝙄𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄’𝙢 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜.”
Do you like Dark Mafia Romance? Yes? Than don’t bother with this book 🫠
I would have DNF’d but it was a book in an annotation circle, so I suffered through it.
I did see some reviews afterwards where people really loved it, so to each their own as always. But I’ve read many dark mafia romances and this did not hit the mark.
I did not enjoy Natalya the FMC or Andrei the MMC. I rolled my eyes more times than I can count.
I did give this book 1 star because I did love a side character Valentin and the very short time where there was some action within the book.
It seems like Valentin will be book 2, and although I liked him, I will not be continuing the series. I did not enjoy the writing style or the plot. It didn’t flow nicely, juvenile almost, and like the 2 authors each took parts and just mushed it together without talking.
Do you like Dark Mafia Romance? Yes? Than don’t bother with this book 🫠
I would have DNF’d but it was a book in an annotation circle, so I suffered through it.
I did see some reviews afterwards where people really loved it, so to each their own as always. But I’ve read many dark mafia romances and this did not hit the mark.
I did not enjoy Natalya the FMC or Andrei the MMC. I rolled my eyes more times than I can count.
I did give this book 1 star because I did love a side character Valentin and the very short time where there was some action within the book.
It seems like Valentin will be book 2, and although I liked him, I will not be continuing the series. I did not enjoy the writing style or the plot. It didn’t flow nicely, juvenile almost, and like the 2 authors each took parts and just mushed it together without talking.
March 27, 2024
Crap on a Cracker!
I DNF'd at 53%. I had high hopes in the beginning that quickly fell flat. The character dialogue is beyond juvenile and so is the overall writing. What little storyline & plot that are alluded to are both obvious and the authors have no idea how to weave it into a coherent story. The spice is not well written. It's not the least bit sexy, choppy with no flow to it and no lead in to the scenes, boring and incoherent at times.
I'm totally disappointed.
I DNF'd at 53%. I had high hopes in the beginning that quickly fell flat. The character dialogue is beyond juvenile and so is the overall writing. What little storyline & plot that are alluded to are both obvious and the authors have no idea how to weave it into a coherent story. The spice is not well written. It's not the least bit sexy, choppy with no flow to it and no lead in to the scenes, boring and incoherent at times.
I'm totally disappointed.
July 26, 2024
DNF at 53%
I read this somewhere at some point, didn't like it, but I have no record of having read it, and I couldn't remember why I didn't like it.
I remember now. I hate these characters. Not only are they annoying, but they're inconsistent.
I read this somewhere at some point, didn't like it, but I have no record of having read it, and I couldn't remember why I didn't like it.
I remember now. I hate these characters. Not only are they annoying, but they're inconsistent.
April 23, 2025
dnf'd
wattpad vibes
not done right
very cringe
'little deer' and talking about how everyone is a wolf and he'll protect her from the bad wolves, and she gets scared of the said bad wolves and blabla very cringe, even shittier then some of the wattpad books.
wattpad vibes
not done right
very cringe
'little deer' and talking about how everyone is a wolf and he'll protect her from the bad wolves, and she gets scared of the said bad wolves and blabla very cringe, even shittier then some of the wattpad books.
January 16, 2024
Loved the story of andrei and natalya
Can't wait for chap 2
Can't wait for chap 2
October 30, 2024
It started out good but then it didn't. Just an okay read.
November 2, 2024
Not sure why I finished this book! Will definitely not be reading the next one!
June 3, 2025
»I'm giving you the world. My world. I've made up my mind. I'm not just preparing you for the sake of it, Natalya. I'm preparing you to be my wife. To be my queen.«
★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒂 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
She is brave, funny and intelligent. I liked her character and the way she stands her ground against Andrei.
❥ 𝑨𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒊 ࣪⋆✮
This man, I want one for myself. He is hot, rich and protective of his woman.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and entertaining to read. I read it in one sitting and had a good time.
The plot is interesting and thrilling with a lot of up and downs. The pace was good and the pages just flew by. Some twists were shocking, some were predictable. It was a good mix and it kept me glued to my kindle.
Natalya and Andrei are a great couple with good tension and entertaining dialogue. Their story was well written and I liked their dynamic. Andrei was head over heels in love with Natalyq and he was the typical possessive mafia boss.
To be honest I was a little shocked how big the age gap between Natalya and Andrei is. I discovered it near the end of the book and my jaw dropped to the floor. 17 years? Not a fan of that and I‘m kind of glad I learned this in the last 10% of the book. Otherwise I may have stopped reading, don‘t think it’s necessary to put in an age gap THAT big (when she is 19….).
In general this book was a typical dark romance mafia book. Nothing unique but a good entertainment for one evening.
Overall well done and I will definitely continue reading this series.
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes, a solid bratva romance with likeable characters.
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 4/5
spice: 3/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 4/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, instant attraction, bratva, opposites attract, touch her and die, from different worlds, stalker (kinda), good girl x bad boy, rich x poor, age gap, he falls first and harder, virgin fmc
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: Natalya (19) and Andrei (36)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 King of Ruin ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Lord of Wrath ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 God of Lies ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 Crown of Hate ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒂 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
She is brave, funny and intelligent. I liked her character and the way she stands her ground against Andrei.
❥ 𝑨𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒊 ࣪⋆✮
This man, I want one for myself. He is hot, rich and protective of his woman.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and entertaining to read. I read it in one sitting and had a good time.
The plot is interesting and thrilling with a lot of up and downs. The pace was good and the pages just flew by. Some twists were shocking, some were predictable. It was a good mix and it kept me glued to my kindle.
Natalya and Andrei are a great couple with good tension and entertaining dialogue. Their story was well written and I liked their dynamic. Andrei was head over heels in love with Natalyq and he was the typical possessive mafia boss.
To be honest I was a little shocked how big the age gap between Natalya and Andrei is. I discovered it near the end of the book and my jaw dropped to the floor. 17 years? Not a fan of that and I‘m kind of glad I learned this in the last 10% of the book. Otherwise I may have stopped reading, don‘t think it’s necessary to put in an age gap THAT big (when she is 19….).
In general this book was a typical dark romance mafia book. Nothing unique but a good entertainment for one evening.
Overall well done and I will definitely continue reading this series.
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes, a solid bratva romance with likeable characters.
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 4/5
spice: 3/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 4/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, instant attraction, bratva, opposites attract, touch her and die, from different worlds, stalker (kinda), good girl x bad boy, rich x poor, age gap, he falls first and harder, virgin fmc
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: Natalya (19) and Andrei (36)
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: no
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 King of Ruin ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Lord of Wrath ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 God of Lies ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 Crown of Hate ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 31, 2024
I ate this book up idk why I liked this 😭😭 this is one of those mafia books that barely made me cringe at all, and I liked the setting and the easy plot. Tbh if I picked this book on any other random day I would’ve hated it, but idk. I really couldn’t put it down. I didn’t really like Andrie at few points because of how hypocritical he was and sometimes Natalya would switch up so fast that it was confusing.
Also “little deer” was not it 😭😭😭 I hate these nicknames.
Also “little deer” was not it 😭😭😭 I hate these nicknames.
April 1, 2024
It was a great plot. Kept me on my seat. Not a huge amount of spice but the story made up for it.
October 17, 2024
Oh god, this was horrifically bad.
I'm getting better at DNFing when a book is terrible. Really, I am. But sometimes it's like watching a car wreck; I just can't look away.
Every character in this book was toxic and terrible. But worse than that? They were all stupid. It was just one dumbass decision after another. I think I could actually feel my brain cells dissolving away while reading this.
A good 95% of my knowledge of the mafia comes from reading mafia romance. I am very aware most of it is probably not realistic. But some mafia books just blow right past the boundaries of sane fantasy into pure ridiculousness. This was one of those books. None of the mafia descriptions and dynamics sounded even remotely believable in this book. And Andrei has to be the worst mob boss I've ever read about. He tells Natalya that he's the leader of the Russian mob approximately four minutes after meeting her, and after assaulting a man very publicly. He decides to build his new HQ across from City Hall. Wut?? How is this man not in prison? He's the least subtle criminal in the history of mafia literature. Also, the story constantly tells us how powerful and amazing and feared he is, without him actually ever doing anything to back these claims up. He actually seems like a shit leader.
And I'm not usually someone to bother commenting on the smut when I write a review, but holy shit was the smut in this terrible. Every scene was cringey and unrealistic. Natalya screams so much I'm shocked she still has functioning vocal cords. And like almost every FMC in romance, she is reduced to having three (3) brain cells anytime the MMC is touching/intimate with her. Is there some kind of law somewhere that I haven't seen? That romance FMCs have to turn into airhead nitwits just because they're attracted to someone?
Anyway, don't read this.
I'm getting better at DNFing when a book is terrible. Really, I am. But sometimes it's like watching a car wreck; I just can't look away.
Every character in this book was toxic and terrible. But worse than that? They were all stupid. It was just one dumbass decision after another. I think I could actually feel my brain cells dissolving away while reading this.
A good 95% of my knowledge of the mafia comes from reading mafia romance. I am very aware most of it is probably not realistic. But some mafia books just blow right past the boundaries of sane fantasy into pure ridiculousness. This was one of those books. None of the mafia descriptions and dynamics sounded even remotely believable in this book. And Andrei has to be the worst mob boss I've ever read about. He tells Natalya that he's the leader of the Russian mob approximately four minutes after meeting her, and after assaulting a man very publicly. He decides to build his new HQ across from City Hall. Wut?? How is this man not in prison? He's the least subtle criminal in the history of mafia literature. Also, the story constantly tells us how powerful and amazing and feared he is, without him actually ever doing anything to back these claims up. He actually seems like a shit leader.
And I'm not usually someone to bother commenting on the smut when I write a review, but holy shit was the smut in this terrible. Every scene was cringey and unrealistic. Natalya screams so much I'm shocked she still has functioning vocal cords. And like almost every FMC in romance, she is reduced to having three (3) brain cells anytime the MMC is touching/intimate with her. Is there some kind of law somewhere that I haven't seen? That romance FMCs have to turn into airhead nitwits just because they're attracted to someone?
Anyway, don't read this.
October 7, 2024
Thought I was being too harsh with the one star but based on other reviews, my feelings are valid.
These characters are all over the place. She’s somehow a student but isn’t in school? He “runs” the mafia but has public parties with the Italian mafia? Her apartment burns down but ONLY her single apartment that was covered in gasoline. Nothing else is the building was damaged… I won’t even start on the virgin to bdsm plot line. I was bored and confused and irritated at the same time.
These characters are all over the place. She’s somehow a student but isn’t in school? He “runs” the mafia but has public parties with the Italian mafia? Her apartment burns down but ONLY her single apartment that was covered in gasoline. Nothing else is the building was damaged… I won’t even start on the virgin to bdsm plot line. I was bored and confused and irritated at the same time.
February 15, 2024
3.75⭐️ !! Morally grey characters are the best kind of characters 😍
March 11, 2024
1 star
Ugh i tried but i cant. Might reread it again tho 😘
Ugh i tried but i cant. Might reread it again tho 😘
October 23, 2024
This book!!! Honestly I wasn’t sure that this book was going to be the ending I wanted but boy was I wrong! I couldn’t put it down! From the start I was drawn in and it just got better as it went on. It had me on the edge of my seat. Andrei and Natalya’s relationship was fun from the beginning. Sweet, sassy, innocent Natalya and powerful, handsome Andrei. I love a good enemy to lovers story and this one checked all the boxes. If you’re looking for a suspenseful, mafia romance this one is for you! Can’t wait to read more!
August 28, 2024
Good read
I liked the book the mmc was kinda back and forth between what he wanted the fmc for which was a little hard to follow him. But maybe that was the point. I didnt get much emotionally from the fmc she was kind of bland for me.
Pretty spicy
I liked the book the mmc was kinda back and forth between what he wanted the fmc for which was a little hard to follow him. But maybe that was the point. I didnt get much emotionally from the fmc she was kind of bland for me.
Pretty spicy
March 12, 2025
Oh I love Andrei
Ugh, I love a Bratva man. The dark and deliciousness that slides off them. Andrei is everything you want and more. The fire and heat between him and Natalya were so good. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Ugh, I love a Bratva man. The dark and deliciousness that slides off them. Andrei is everything you want and more. The fire and heat between him and Natalya were so good. I can't wait to see what happens next.
February 16, 2024
That was pretty annoying
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