The Queen's Serpent

by A.L. Maruga

The

A thief, a liar, a villain. Shameless. Fate finally did me a solid by placing her in my sights. I stole an exquisite and priceless jewel right from underneath her powerful family’s noses.

The minute I laid my cruel and jaded eyes on her, I knew she would be mine, and no one would be able to stop me from having her.

I take what I want with no regrets, and my pretty broken doll has become an obsession, one that I can no longer live without, so I won't.

Isabella Stratford doesn’t know it yet, but she’s about to become my whole world, as my prisoner, and one day soon, as the woman who helps me control the cartels.

The

I was perfect on the outside, the picture of wealth, elegance, and privilege, but fractured and damaged on the inside. I am nothing but a beautiful tool for my family to use to grow our power and our empire. That is until an unhinged villain steals me right out from under their powerful grasp.

My survival is now dependent on a cruel and vicious man who would break me into smaller, jagged pieces in order to put me back together to rule his underworld kingdom at his side.

His obsession with me knows no restraints; his brand of affection is dangerous and deadly. Can I even survive his world, or will this be the end of me? What about the one I left behind? Will I ever see him again?

Will we both cut ourselves open on my sharp edges, or will we find a way of surviving against all the odds and this cruel world?

The Queen’s Serpent is a dark enemy to lovers, obsession, kidnapping with a love triangle romance. The FMC will add to her list of men (2) as the duet progresses.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Forced Proximity

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2024

Reviews

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously dark mafia romance. Diego is unhinged, obsessed, possessive, vicious and deadly. Issy is broken, trapped and consumed by him, and knows he will never let her go.
The story is violent, intense, traumatic and intoxicating.
This is part 1 of a duology and there are a ton of dark romance tropes to sink your teeth into.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen’s Serpent by @authoralmaruga
Book 1 in the Venom series

⚠️Triggers⚠️
Please check trigger warnings BEFORE reading.

Format: 📱

Tropes:
🖤Abuse
💙Addiction
🖤Blood Play
💙Breath Play
🖤Breeding
💙Contemporary Romance
🖤Dark Romance
💙Degradation
🖤Enemies-to-Lovers
💙Forced Proximity
🖤Kidnapping
💙Mafia Romance
🖤Non-Con
💙Obsession
🖤Possessive MMC
💙Pregnancy
🖤Primal Play
💙Somnophilia
🖤Squirting
💙Tattoos

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Review:
Isabella (Issy) Stratford is kidnapped by her possessive ex-lover Diego, the son of the head of the Cartel. Diego hides her away on a jungle island surrounded by armed men preventing her from leaving. Issy suffers through several stages of denial before ultimately “accepting” that Diego keeps as essentially a prisoner out of love.

Diego will have you questioning why you’re turned on by his despicable acts. There is no way around this - Accept your fate.

Perfect for readers who enjoy a jealous, morally pitch-black MMC with anger issues and a breeding kink.

Thank you to the author for an ARC of The Queen’s Serpent.

[ɢʀᴇʏッ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ 5 🌶️

"𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦. 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦. 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘪 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳."

"𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦. 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥.”

this is my 1st ✍🏽𝘈𝘓𝘔 book & WHEW!! that was DELICIOUS!! it was very well written & when she said it was dark...it was DARK!! which was exactly what i was looking for!! & dont even get me started on how spicy this was!! SC0RCHING😮‍💨🔥🔥this is the 1st book of 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 but it had spoilers from 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘱 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 so it was initially hard for me to understand. but it also had flashbacks & that gave me enough to grasp the characters & scenarios that i was able to purely enjoy this book. the twist in the end was a surprise & the cliffy?! obviously i will be coming back for more!! i swear... i can totally see this as THE NEXT 365 Days!!

[The_Book_Brat · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Menage
*Contemporary
*Multi-1st-PoV
*Dark Romance
*Mafia Themed
*Unhinged MMC
*Captive FMC
*Love Triangle
*Fast Burn
*Book 1/2
Twisted turmoil!
There’s plenty of dark tropes within this first book of the duet to keep the dark romance lovers happy (kidnapping, non-con, abuse) and there are some great kinks for the spice too 🌶️ 🔥 the story follows Issy who ends up being held captive by Diego and well he is completely obsessed and totally unhinged keeping his girl locked away in a jungle! There’s definitely enemies to lovers vibes but there’s only so much he can get away with 😖
There’s definitely character development in this book for Issy, she finds her strength through all Diego puts her through and the trauma she holds but can she hold her own enough to be who she was meant to be?! The element of Kai was an emotional one and will be interesting to see how that develops in the next book. Great start to this duet 😁

[Shedevilreads Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen’s Serpent by A.L. Maruga is a dark enemy to lover's romance. This is the first book in the Venom duet.

A.L. Maruga is an amazing author. She does an amazing job pulling me into her books and keeping me hooked until the very end. I will say I was not prepared for Diego and Isabella's story. It is completely unhealthy and toxic. I loved when he showed his tender moments. I loved getting Diego, Issy, and Santiago's points of views throughout the book. It really helped get inside their heads and seeing how messed up they both are.

The book ended on a great cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book in the series Venomous King to be released so I can get more of Issy's story.

I would recommend this book if you're looking for a dark romance, captive romance, enemies to lover's romance, or romantic suspense.

**Side Note**
I only have one complaint about the book, and it was the Spanish sentences that weren't translated in the book afterwards. I understand it makes the book more authentic with Deigo being from Columbia and he mostly spoke it when he didn't want Issy to know what he was saying so it does work in that aspect.

I was just glad I was reading in kindle so I could have it translated. I will say it made me put the book down a lot because I got frustrated. Especially when my device didn't want to work with me to get it translated.

[Katelin S · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to end your day asking yourself “Did that really turn me on? What is wrong with me?!” Then this is for you hahaha Holy story Batman! Spice IMMEDIATELY. So many dark & forked up things happen. But it’s utterly incredible. I was so excited for Diego & Issy’s story after the Casbury Prep trilogy.
Issy is so different from her grandmother and sister that we’ve previously met and watching her growth is inspiring. I mean we have Diego and his depraved ways to thank for that but.. semantics. These two are so toxic with each other, it’s like watching a car crash happen in slow motion but not being able to look away. You just know the entire middle is going to be explosive and boy is it ever.
So excited to see everything come to fruition in the next one and watch the story unfold.

[Katherine Cannone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy goodness!! I’m weak in the knees and begging for more Diego! I picked A.L.Maruga to read because I’m going to Sinner&Saints book convention in March. I thought why not let’s see what this is all about. I was blown away by this book. You want to read about ALL the dark sexual fantasies we never talk about out loud then this is the book for you!! I’ve just found my Absolute favorite author. Yes it’s 11pm right now and I am moving on to the next book as we speak.

[Books and Daisies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Issy is a mafia princess struggling with emotional turmoil, but through Diego, she discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. Diego? He’s a depraved, unhinged, and dangerously possessive mafia boss who will go to any lengths to keep her. He can’t live without her, and he’s proven just how far he’ll go to claim what’s his.

This is an intense captive/abduction romance, packed with dark themes and an all-consuming power dynamic. Check trigger warnings before diving in—this story isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you love obsessive MMCs, high-stakes tension, and raw passion, this one is for you! 🔥

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc reader review
First off, thank you so much for this opportunity! While I like to say I read a bit of everything, this one was out of the norm for me.
I'd rate this book 3.5 rounded up since it started out rough... (please pay attention to those trigger warnings ⚠️) but I really enjoyed the character development of our female heroine. I'm not usually a fan of this level of twisted male characters, but having both povs did make it easier to understand the reasons behind the insanity. Let's see what happens in book 2!

[Laura J (allbooksniceandspice) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Holy eff… that was utter filth and all kinds of depraved. It was dirty and I liked it!!

This was the first book of a duo and it rendered me speechless. I devoured this book in just over 24 hours. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down.

First read by the author and definitely not disappointed. Will be adding all her other works to my TBR!

I LOVED this, it had everything you could possibly want in a book with loads of extra stuff you didn’t know you needed and then more!

This is a DARK, mafia romance. I 100% recommend checking the TW/CW before starting this. The content, both on and off page, WILL not be for everyone. If you choose books based on the number of TW, this book is definitely for you.

I had very mixed feelings on Issy as I embarked on this emotional rollercoaster of a book; she basically gave me ick. That being said, I came to realise there was more to her than originally met the eye and I soon retracted my icky feelings with a huge wash of guilt for judging a character so quickly. This FMC was truly spectacular.
Diego is the ultimate psycho MMC, like literally. He’s obsessive and possessive to the highest degree. He’s completely deranged and unhinged but this just charms your pants right off. You will fall hard for this man, just accept it now. The things he does will leave you speechless but quite possibly panting too. He is the 100% morally black villain of the story.

Everything about this book was captivating; the plot, the writing style, the world building and the characters. All of it. Everything. The book was full of trauma but it was well written and added to the story. You felt emotionally invested whilst reading. One minute you were content, the next you were raging, two pages later you were ugly crying. It gave you ALL the feels.

🐍Mafia
🐍K!dnap
🐍Primal
🐍Obsession
🐍Enemies to lovers
🐍Breeding k!nk
🐍Forced Proximity
🐍D3gradation
🐍Bl00d k!nk

Would highly recommend to those on the search for a DARK mafia romance 🖤

[rogue_reads_romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen’s Serpent is a dark why choose mafia/cartel romance and is book one of two in the Venom Series. You can decide if you would consider the following tropes or triggers: enemies to lovers, forced proximity & relationship, he falls first, touch her and d!e vibes, obsession, k!dnapping, morally gray characters, man!pulation, breed!ing k!ink, bl00d k!nk, breath play, somn0philia, primal play, dub-c0n, degred@tion, and LOTS of “good girl”ing. Definite triggers include: gr@phic smexy scenes, phy$ical vi0lence, and drug @ddiction. If you’re interested in reading more about my rating scale and why I’m giving this book FIVE STARS and FIVE SPICE, please read on!

When I read, I am interested in the point of view (POV), the plot, and the spice. I prefer dual POV, I don’t want a predictable or bland plot, and I like my books spicy!

This story is told in first-person, dual POV, which I am incredibly thankful for, because the FMC (Isabella) and the MMC (Diego) both have a lot of emotional baggage to unpack throughout this dark and spicy tale. I kept thinking that I would see Isabella bleed into a weak FMC due to her history and times of self-doubt, but A.L. wrote her so well that I never felt pity for her, and she always held her own during Diego’s dark trials. Diego. Will some hate the man? Perhaps. He is an unhinged psychopath who is madly in love with Isabella and believe me, everyone knows it. I’m adding him to my list of book boyfriends!

I am going to give a brief plot summary because I think the blurb left us wanting a bit. First, there is absolutely no lack of action, spice, or suspense. I didn’t find the plot predicable at all. Isabella wakes to find herself the captive of her ex-lover. She is trapped in the jungle with him and members of his cartel while her ruthless grandmother, who is the head of a rival family, scours the world for her. The problem is that Diego doesn’t know everything about her past. Will she survive the trials he has in store for her? Will she shed her skin of insecurities and feelings of inadequacy, rising as the queen she was meant to be?

I’m giving this a 5/5 on the spice scale because A.L. wastes no time jumping into it and it is k!nky and HOT.

[wwgrn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 5 🌶️

"She doesn’t realize that there’s strength in her submitting to me. That from her knees, she actually holds power over me. The day that she does figure that out, I know that I’ll become her slave instead of her master."

"Fate has a funny way of giving you what you need most without you even knowing it. Fate makes no mistakes when it casts its weave. It’s up to you to pull on the correct thread.”

this is my 1st time reading an A.L. Maruga book but WHEW!! that was DELICIOUS!! it was very well written & when the author said it was dark...it was DARK!! which was exactly what i was looking for!! & dont even get me started on how spicy this was!! SC0RCHÍNG😮‍💨🔥🔥this is the first book of Venom Series but it had spoilers from Casbury Prep Series so it was initially hard for me to understand. but it also had flashbacks & that gave me enough to grasp the characters & scenarios that i was able to purely enjoy this book. the twist in the end was a surprise & the cliffy?! obviously i will be coming back for more!! i swear... i can totally see this as THE NEXT 365 Days!!

𝓓𝓲𝓮𝓰𝓸 𝓒𝓪𝓫𝓪𝓷𝓸 - OTT, unhíng3d w3åp0ns d3al3r; cárt3l boss, 0bs3ssív3/p0ss3ssívė, will unalivė any1 who messes with his princesa issy; very generous guy when it comes to hand necklaces. its his fave thing to give; he believes that only the strong survives in his world & thats why he needs to break issy so she can be reborn & embrace the inner strength he knows she has hiding in her

𝓘𝓼𝓪𝓫𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓪 𝓢𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓭 - heiress to her grandmother stella's empire & diego's 0bs3ssí0n; she has way too many contradicting, self-loathing/deprecating íntrūsivė thoughts; sometimes u juz wanna slap some sense into her. but i understand her past due to the high expectations tied to her name & constant comparison to her sister mia

will she finally be the stratford heiress every1 expects her to be? or will diego succeed & she emerges into some1 completely different? pls always check the trigger warnings provided by the author coz u would need it, unless ur like me who have none.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t say enough good things about this book! I couldn’t wait to read Issy and Diego’s story from Casbury Prep. I knew he was going to be ruthless, but I had no idea how dark and twisty he would be.

Issy has always felt she was never good enough. She felt that she was the weak link in the long line of strong and fierce Stratford women. She is riddled with self-doubt. Issy wants nothing more than to be like Mia and Stella but she can never live up to their standards. In her mind, they look down on her, especially Grandma Stella. Issy was forced to give up her first love, Kai, because she wanted Stella’s approval. Kai was a good man, but he didn’t come from the ‘right family’, the type of family that would further strengthen the Stratford lineage. And then Diego walks into her life and once again she is forced to do what is expected of her. After all, Diego is not the type of man that should be with a Stratford heir.

And Diego? Oh my dark serpent! He takes obsession and possession to new heights. His type of love for his Princesa is so completely over the top. He will truly burn the entire world down just to keep her by his side. Diego leads a brutal cartel of arms dealers. He’s controlling, domineering and ruthless. He gets what he wants no matter the cost, and he wants Issy.

The relationship between these two is toxic but at the same time I was rooting for them. They are both emotionally broken in their own way but only makes sense that they could heal each other.

The story line is fantastic, and the characters were everything I love in a dark romance. There’s action, suspense and so much heat! I loved seeing glimpses of Mia and her men, especially Carter. Love that man! Can’t wait to see how everything plays out in the final book of this duet.

Thank to to A.L. Maruga and Booksirens for the review copy. This is my honest opinion and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Booksbystarlightandshadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Casbury series but still have the last book to read; this has some mild spoilers but it's more about the absolutes forces of nature that Stella and Mia are rather than then content of those books. They are who Issy compares herself to and knowing their story adds a little more depth and context but doesn't detract from this still being Issy's book.

Diego is absolutely unhinged; from his POV you are given an insight into the method behind his madness but he goes to extreme lengths to break Issy. There are some parts which are hard to read; Issy goes through a lot, both mentally and physically, while Diego tries to build her up to be the queen he knows she is and wants to rule by his side. This is a dark book and although Issy comes out stronger at the end it is a hard route to get there; the post morphine scenes broke my heart as Issy hits rock bottom.

I didn't see this playing out the way it did and was really surprised at some of the twists and turns. Diego and Issy are toxic together but are like magnets; after that cliffhanger I can't imagine they will be apart for long but as Diego is already on the warpath I can imagine it will get worse before it gets better. And I can't wait for more of the mystery man from Issy past. I liked how protective Issy was of him but I love the idea of his lightness balancing out her darkness so there are sure to be some fireworks when Diego meets him!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read

[Josmely · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

This book has me all messed up rn. First let me say this is my first book by this author and its not gonna be the last. I liked her writing so im definitely gonna check out her other books.

Diego had my head spinning. As hot as this man was and yes Issy basically enjoyed everything he did to her I still wanted to punch him. I didn't like how he spend the entire book saying Issy was his entire world but was the main one hurting her. I just felt like no matter how unhinged you are If thats the person you truly love you would treat them with a little bit more care. And don't get me wrong he had his caring moments and his POV showed how obsessed and possessive with her he truly was. But his thoughts and actions weren't connecting most of the time.

As much as I wanted Issy to STAND UP I get it. She has been through A LOT and that was even before Diego got his hands on her. Shes lowkey as unhinged as he is ngl. She loved everything he did to her. She likes the pain he loves giving him. I need her to come into her own in the next book. She's probably one of the strongest characters I've read about and she spent the entire book talking crap about herself. I need her to start loving herself cause once she does that not even Diego is gonna be able to handle her.

Definitely recommend reading the TW before reading. All in all I enjoyed reading this one my biggest issue was Diego. As much as I tried to truly like him he was just too all over the place for me.

[Sammyll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Stalking Christmas by A.l. Maruga, I know her writing is detailed, gory and unhinged. But nothing prepared me for the obsessive, crazy, torturous Diego, he was a devil, but certainly not in disguise! I couldn't get enough, there was non stop action, gore, dark deprived forkery that left me glued to the pages. Diego takes Issy away from her family into his haven in the Jungle.

Issy is a strong female but she lacks the confidence to unleash it, as her Grandmother and sister are outwardly spoken and they act with vengeance. Issy doesn't feel she is like them, but she is, just doesn't show it in the same way. Diego is very possesive of Issy, but he also hurts her, trying to make her his queen, to show her that what he see's she is capable of. He doesn't really know how to show how he feels without this behaviour. He can't live without her, to the point he reacts in utter madness, his men think Issy puts them all in danger from other cartels and Issy's grandmother who is searchimg for Issy with everything in her. Issy also ahd a past love, a blue eyed kind man, fireworks will ensure once Diego finds out. He will not share his Issy!

A rollercoaster of a book, it had everything and so much more, the ending was brutal, I am going to dive straight into book two, hopefully it will be as dark as this one.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen’s Serpent by A.L. Maruga is EVERYTHING I wanted, needed, and more!!

Diego. Yes, he's Unhinged
Yes, he's obsessive. Yes, he's possessive. Yes, yes, yes!
But at the core of it all, in his soul, he just wants Issy to be strong, to survive in his world. However, he handles it like a true psychopath. The journey is a wild depraved ride, but also beautiful in the way he loves her.

Isabella. I see her side. How unappreciated, and unworthy she has felt all her life. Always feeling like nobody loves her for her. It's daunting, heartbreaking even. Nobody wants to live their life as a prisoner.
When that weak broken girl turns into a feral beast and unleashes her monster, be careful what you wish for!

The spice in this book is off the charts hot! There is A LOT of Spice, but there is also devastation, and trauma. No matter how toxic it might seem, a love story. Heart pounding action with gut wretching emotions.

To say I loved this book is not even close to an accurate description. It was beyond amazing, and deserves so much acknowledgment. A.L. Maruga slung my emotions around like a rag doll. My Dark Romance loving heart is full to the tippy top. I'm counting the seconds until I can get my hands on Venomous King. Which, I will be the first in line for!!!

[BookishBarbie (Annette) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read her Casbury Prep series, then you know exactly who these characters are and a little of their story. If you have not, then this read will snatch you right up and you will be adding that series to your tbr and loving it as much as I do!
Izzy is your weak, but strong-willed brat who has decided to call it quits with Diego. Finding herself on an island with only him and his soldiers, she is less than thrilled and will do anything to get away from him and back to her life in Manhattan. She lets her thoughts get the best of her but has no problem fighting back against her captor.
Then we get to know Diego. He is the son of the head of the cartel and has his eyes set on one blue-eyed beauty. Going to great lengths to make her his, he takes her out to the jungle to break her only to build her back up again as his Queen. But in the process of being so obsessed, he begins to lose parts of himself needed to rule next to his father's side.
This book had me obsessed. Getting to know these characters on another level had me reading until the end and then the cliffhanger pushed me over the edge. The intensity of the spice in this read is oh-so delicious and I expected nothing less from A.L. Maruga. I can not wait until the next book is available!!

[Gemma Fairway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book without reading the Casbury series first and even still I had no problem getting right into it.

We are introduced straight away into the obsessive world of Diego and his princesa Issy. Knowing that they had some history prior to this story for me didn’t hinder the depiction of Diego’s obsession this time round and just how far he would go to keep his Prize. Their relationship is toxic, suffocating and degrading and there is only one brief pause in the whole of this story where you see the compassionate side to these humans behind the masks they wear… the waterfall scene am I right 🥵
Fans of the spicier elements in dark romance books won’t be disappointed, each scene unique, but it’s not sunshine and roses with these two, more like fire and brimstone so be warned it isn’t pretty. The book kept a great pace and was action packed. The ending leaves you wanting to know how their story will end and I for one cannot wait for the second book.

If you like stories in timeline order make sure you read previous books first but I didn’t find it a necessity and am now looking forward to reading the other stories.

[Mariana | By Any Medium · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot/Storyline : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Editing (typos, grammar, etc.) : ✏️✏️✏️✏️

The Queen’s Serpent is a dark, enemies to lovers, obsession, captive romance that will progress in to a ménage. This story follows Isabella Stratford, an heiress and Diego Cabano, the ruthless son of a cartel boss.

I applied to receive an ARC (advanced reader’s copy) from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Y’all whatever you think you’ve read when it comes to an OTT (over the top), J/P (jealous/possessive), psychotic book boyfriend - Diego MotherF*cking Cabano told all of them to hold his damn beer and started beating the sh*t out of all the assholes for funsies. 😂

My anxiety was off the chart in some parts of this book with the dynamic between Diego and Issy. 😵‍💫 Talk about peak success of Britney Spears’ hit song “Toxic” levels. I didn’t know whether to cheer for their success or their demise. But one thing I do appreciate about A.L Maruga’s writing is that she is a realist; not everything is so cut and dry or black and white. She leaves lots of room for a gray area that encompasses all shades of dubious and depraved.

There are lots of smexy scenes. Literally, So. Much. S*x. which makes lots of sense because our alpha hole has a bre*ding kink. Speaking of which… so many kinks as well. I definitely needed to take some breaks to cool down hahaha

Characters inner monologues (struggles) is what gives the book its heart and soul. Learning more about Diego and Issy’s past is absolutely gut-wrenching but necessary to understanding why they react the way they do.

[Tricia Coker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once more A.L. Maruga brings us a Trigger Warning fest to delight readers who enjoy treading every dark and unhinged line. A masterful presentation of deeply disturbed characters in a rich landscape that still has the reader pining for more.

Diego is the book boyfriend you love, and loathe. He draws you in, even knowing he's bad for you. Everything he does to Issy in his pursuit of possessing her, has her wanting more, has the readers wanting more, even as we want to turn away. Its glorious!

Issy is a tinderbox waiting to happen and the readers will be on board waiting for her to catch on fire. She's got so much going on, its so easy to root for her to DO more and she doesn't. Knowing this is the first part of a duet, there's hope we're going to see this woman become something truly impressive because if it's one thing A. L. Maruga does well, it's write amazing female main characters. Keep an eye on this girl.

This book is a steamy, gripping build. Mind those trigger warnings as this is definitely not for the faint of heart but for those who like reading on the dark and wild side, buckle up!

[Whitney Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a dark romance that followed the absolutely toxic and tumultuous relationship of Issy and Diego. Issy is the heir of the Stratford family and the ex of Diego, the heir to a large cartel. Issy ends their relationship but Diego is unable to accept their end as he has already decided that Issy Stratford will be his wife.

This book starts out right after Diego has kïdnapped Issy and taken her to a remote area in the jungle far away from where her family can locate her. He is determined to break Issy so that she is forced to rebuild herself to be a stronger version of herself, a version that is more attuned to being the wife of the future head of a cartel.

The majority of the book is very dark. The author spared nothing when it came to showing how Diego broke Issy down. It was toxic, degrading, and unhinged (in the best way). Diego was way past being morally grey and I was here for it!

The book left me salivating for book two in this duet! I can't wait to see where things take Issy. Her character development was phenomenal. She was a different and stronger person by the end of this book. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and hungry for book two!

I had not read the Casbury Prep series prior to this, but I will be remedying that immediately! I enjoyed this book so much and absolutely recommend it if you are a lover of dark romance!

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

🔥Toxic Relationship
🔥Mafia/Cartel Romance
🔥Dark Romance
🔥BC Tämpering
🔥Primal Play
🔥Bl00d Play
🔥Kïdnåpping
🔥Forced Proximity
🔥Enemies to Lovers-ish
🔥Brëëding
🔥Morally Grey MMC
🔥Touch Her and ☠️

[Elizabeth W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was deliciously dark and twisted with all the lovely trigger words that made me jump to read it. This series is a continuation of characters from the Casbury Prep books and Rise of a Kingdom, so make sure you read those first!

Issy wakes up not knowing where she is and realizes she's been kidnapped. The fact that the madman is someone she knows intimately only makes it more confusing. Issy has always had imposter syndrome. Descending from a long line of strong women, she has always felt weak and inferior.

A Stratford never lets anyone hurt them," well maybe this Stratford likes pain. There is something about Diego that keeps her going back for more. Will she be able to find her inner strength?

Diego will stop at nothing to make Issy his fearless queen. The lengths he will go to, toe the line of insanity. He sees her as a broken doll that needs to be fixed, but he soon realizes he is the one that is shattering her fragmented pieces.

All Diego wants (according to him) is to make Issy strong enough to survive his world, be his queen and birth his children. Will his fixation with Issy push her away for good?

Embrace that inner darkness. You know you want to.

[Emmi (bookish_redpanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Please check the TW's prior to diving into this book. This one be dark.

This is a continuation of Maruga's "Casbury Prep" series, though you don't necessarily have to read that one to understand this.

Holy heck. I don't know where to start with the review on this one. This is dark, dirty, filthy and depraved. It makes you question what you're reading and if you're allowed to enjoy it. This is a toxic relationship at it's finest, but I couldn't pull myself away from reading it. Something about the jealous, possessive Diego and his need for Issy kept me reading, and has me wanting the next book in the duet, too.

Whilst it's dark, dirty and spicy, I feel there is also a good amount of character growth from Issy. There is intrigue and threads of plots that just keep you reading, wanting to know more.

If you're a fan of the morally grey - well, more black in Diego's case - and have no triggers, I definitely recommend going into this blind as it makes it just that more... questionably enjoyable.

[Cassandra Varney · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was such a wild and crazy ride!!! This book was one of the most deliciously unhinged and depraved books I have ever read. Now don’t get me wrong, trigger warnings are just a check list for me at this point but even some parts of this book had me questioning myself! Even more crazy, I absolutely looooved every second of it.

Diego has to be the darkest and the most depraved men I have ever had the pleasure of reading about! He is completely unhinged and insane but my goodness, does he have the sexiest, filthiest mouth! I would never go for him in real life but as a book boyfriend…. *fans self* delicious!

If you want to read this book, check the author’s website for the trigger warnings because your mental health matters. But if you are crazy like me and enjoy every trigger, read this book! It’s such a wild ride through darkness and depravity! But I found it ridiculously enjoyable and gratifying. I’m not sure what that says about my sanity but who needs that when you have books like this!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, what a storyline! My emotions were all over the place. It's definitely a dark romance. Diego is obsessed with Isabella, and when their relationship is denied by her Grandmother Stella, Diego takes matters into his own hands and kidnaps her. Isabelle is his, his plaything, his pet, to use and abuse when he wants and breed her to carry on the Cabano empire.

Isabella knows she is not as strong as the other women in her family, she is not strong enough to fight Diego. But there is a part of her that craves him, that dark part, that enjoys his obsession, his passion, that makes her come undone most deliciously. But is this obsession good? Will it end with her dying? Will 'The Serpent' uncoil and eventually snap, and his venom poison her. She needs to get away, but can she break free from his hold? can she eventually get her freedom back. Can she find the strength to get her life back?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The book leaves you on a cliffhanger and now desperate to read book two in the series, Her Venomous King.

[Jade Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start this review by saying you should read the CASBURY PREP series first. It isn't necessary but I promise it will enhance the experience.

Diego is... unhinged. And it's stunning! He is the psycho you will hate to love. I swear.

This is book 1 in a duet so there is that but it was so good! I have been waiting for this for quite some time and it didn't disappoint!

Issy is the character you want to throat punch in the beginning but you become so invested in her growth that you learn to love her for what she is becoming and now what she is. Darkness, spice, intrigue. There is so much about this book that will draw you in and keep you flipping the pages!

If you have triggers, please visit the authors' website and read through the list - there are over 40 - and make sure this is a safe read for you. If like me, you prefer to go in blind, hold on tight... this is going to be an unforgettable ride!

Diego live rent free in my head... oh well, the more the merrier!

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely loved reading this deliciously dark romance story, Isabella was treated of high standards in the wealthy society coming from the Stratford lineage. Diego is a ruthless, dominant, monster that is very dangerous being the head of the Cartel, Diego and his men live in the jungle and know every inch of the place. Diego was told to marry one of the Stratford sisters, he was rejected by the oldest sister, and now Isabella has been taken, her freedom has been taken away. All she has to do is obey but can be a brat, the dynamics between them was electrified and the dirty talking she loved. It was a love hate romance when things are good, Diiego would change and get possessive and when war comes he can't think of anything but her safety and hidden from the men that will kill his men to get to Isabella.

[Meredith Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤🖤🖤🖤🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
“Her skin calls to me to paint it red with the print of my hands. To leave all of my fingerprints across that porcelain surface, and to carve my name into her flesh so all who admire it, can see that she is mine. My property. My wh**e. My doll to play with.”

“This is the true him, the monster that lurks leashed inside a cage that he tries to contain…. My monster, my savage, my heart’s fucking desire.”

This is a DARK mafia romance y’all, that said it is also so f***ing HOT! Diego is completely obsessed, unhinged, and dangerous AF… basically a walking red flag MMC that can only be hot if he’s fictional. Issy is so very broken in so many ways, my heart broke for her, but I loved seeing her evolve and find herself and her strength.

AL Maruga is so freaking talented, her writing feels so completely immersive, almost all consuming, and so beautiful. I have not read the Casbury series and I do wish that I did, clearly I need to backtrack and check it out. My only complaint was that the beginning was a little bit slow, but damn if I didn’t enjoy the ride!

[Shawnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read the Author's Note and trigger warnings. This is a very dark, dark romance story.

A.L. Maruga, this book is insane. I think Diego Cabano can give Zade Meadows a run for his money. Diego's crazy obsession or love as he sees it for Isabell (Izzy)Stratford is off the charts.

I do wish some times that someone would hit him in the back of the head. He lets his jealousy and anger dicate how he handles Izzy. It doesn't go the way he wants it to. My heart goes out to her.

I can relate so much to Izzy. Wanting to be loved by her family or just anyone. Trying to be someone you're not. Battling personal demons. Just trying to survive Diego mood swings.

I feel you should get around of applause for the cliffhanger. I can only imagine what Venomous King will be like. December can't get here soon enough.