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Cardinal Sins
A self-destructive heiress. An unbreakable brotherhood. A secret. A legacy. A brutal, inescapable seduction.
There are things Zara Faire wishes she never knew about her father. After returning to New Rome in the wake of her mother’s funeral, an invitation to an elusive club introduces her to a sinister world of organized crime that she learns she belongs to by birthright.
There, she witnesses an execution at the hands of the Cardinals and becomes the perfect pawn in a vicious, deadly game.
The most feared men in the city, Pope, Wraith, Reaper, and Eros, have blood on their hands, and now that they have their poor little rich girl—they are never letting her go.
Some sins can't be forgiven.
*Cardinal Sins is a spicy dark Mafia romance, that contains mature content that may be triggering to some. TWs listed inside the book.
There are things Zara Faire wishes she never knew about her father. After returning to New Rome in the wake of her mother’s funeral, an invitation to an elusive club introduces her to a sinister world of organized crime that she learns she belongs to by birthright.
There, she witnesses an execution at the hands of the Cardinals and becomes the perfect pawn in a vicious, deadly game.
The most feared men in the city, Pope, Wraith, Reaper, and Eros, have blood on their hands, and now that they have their poor little rich girl—they are never letting her go.
Some sins can't be forgiven.
*Cardinal Sins is a spicy dark Mafia romance, that contains mature content that may be triggering to some. TWs listed inside the book.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2024
103 people are currently reading
850 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte House
2 books67 followersCharlotte House is a dark romance author who enjoys writing about highly-flawed women and morally gray men. She got her BA in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing at Trinity College. She lives in Los Angeles, CA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
March 14, 2024
I can take them all. And not in a fight.
Dynamic well rounded characters. Gorgeous writing. Believable darkness… this is the oneeeee mafia girlies, THIS IS THE ONE.
Dynamic well rounded characters. Gorgeous writing. Believable darkness… this is the oneeeee mafia girlies, THIS IS THE ONE.
April 16, 2024
—why choose
—dark romance
—debut novel
—first in series, this one ends on cliffhanger
A really good debut novel from Charlotte! It was dark, sexy, the chemistry was off the charts between the characters, and the plot was interesting enough to keep my attention. I’m definitely going to be reading book two because I absolutely need it.
If you’re in need of a dark why choose romance, this is a must read. Plus that cover!? STUNNING. Check TW and enjoy!
—dark romance
—debut novel
—first in series, this one ends on cliffhanger
A really good debut novel from Charlotte! It was dark, sexy, the chemistry was off the charts between the characters, and the plot was interesting enough to keep my attention. I’m definitely going to be reading book two because I absolutely need it.
If you’re in need of a dark why choose romance, this is a must read. Plus that cover!? STUNNING. Check TW and enjoy!
interested-in
May 29, 2024the cover is so pretty for a dark mafia romance😭
November 1, 2024
“Cardinal Sins” by Charlotte House
5⭐️/5⭐️
5🌶/5🌶
“We’re four grown men who live together. We share everything already, so why would it be weird for us to share you?”
-Last fall I had the incredible opportunity to read an early draft of this book. I tore through it, reading it in probably twenty-four hours, and upon finishing I immediately wanted to reread it. I was totally captivated by Zara and the MMCs, I knew when this book crept closer to its publication date I had to read it again. Again, I devoured this story, and I’m left with the same heightened feelings of enthrallment. I simultaneously didn’t want to stop reading, and didn’t want the story to end.
-This is a dark mafia, why choose romance, please check the content warnings prior to reading. Despite the heavy content, I never found the dark aspects gratuitous. I’ve read dark romances where it’s obvious the author added elements in order to shock readers, but in the end it added nothing to the overall story or the development of its characters. If anything it distracts from the crux of the story. That’s not the case in “Cardinal Sins”. Every intense scene serves a purpose, there’s a reason behind every cruel act. Often these scenes shine a light on the motivations and actions behind each character; this is especially seen in Zara’s downward spiral.
-I’ve read my fair share of why choose romances, and the big difference between the good and the bad is how well the author balances the individual relationship between each MMC and the FMC. Is there more emphasis on one MMC over the others? Is the FMC given enough time with each MMC so their relationship can develop in a realistic manner? I can emphatically say “Cardinal Sins” is the best why choose romance I’ve ever read. House expertly balances each of Zara’s relationships, one does not dominate the others, and the individual importance of that relationship is emphasized clearly.
-This is a masterful example of how to develop strong characters without feeding readers too much information. For me, some books instantly become cinematic reading experiences because of how clearly I can picture everything in my head: characters, scenes, settings, body language, facial expressions. But it goes beyond what’s written on the page, the author must convey the totality of the character subtlety. Every single line in this book registered as an image in my mind, which made the reading experience all the more enjoyable.
-Why choose romances will always contain more smut than the average romance book, but more smut doesn’t always equal good quality. I’m happy to say the smut in “Cardinal Sins”, while plentiful, is uniquely written and conveys the overall tone of the story without compromising the quality. The pacing is excellent, nothing feels rushed, and every interaction Zara has with each of the MMCs reads very authentic.
-The story ends on a big cliffhanger, with so many questions answered, but therefore leading to new questions arising. I’m itching to continue the series, I can’t even fathom how incredible the sequel will be (I can’t wait!). If you enjoy reading about flawed MCs in a high drama/angsty romance, you’ll love this book. “Cardinal Sins” releases March 26th on Kindle Unlimited!
5⭐️/5⭐️
5🌶/5🌶
“We’re four grown men who live together. We share everything already, so why would it be weird for us to share you?”
-Last fall I had the incredible opportunity to read an early draft of this book. I tore through it, reading it in probably twenty-four hours, and upon finishing I immediately wanted to reread it. I was totally captivated by Zara and the MMCs, I knew when this book crept closer to its publication date I had to read it again. Again, I devoured this story, and I’m left with the same heightened feelings of enthrallment. I simultaneously didn’t want to stop reading, and didn’t want the story to end.
-This is a dark mafia, why choose romance, please check the content warnings prior to reading. Despite the heavy content, I never found the dark aspects gratuitous. I’ve read dark romances where it’s obvious the author added elements in order to shock readers, but in the end it added nothing to the overall story or the development of its characters. If anything it distracts from the crux of the story. That’s not the case in “Cardinal Sins”. Every intense scene serves a purpose, there’s a reason behind every cruel act. Often these scenes shine a light on the motivations and actions behind each character; this is especially seen in Zara’s downward spiral.
-I’ve read my fair share of why choose romances, and the big difference between the good and the bad is how well the author balances the individual relationship between each MMC and the FMC. Is there more emphasis on one MMC over the others? Is the FMC given enough time with each MMC so their relationship can develop in a realistic manner? I can emphatically say “Cardinal Sins” is the best why choose romance I’ve ever read. House expertly balances each of Zara’s relationships, one does not dominate the others, and the individual importance of that relationship is emphasized clearly.
-This is a masterful example of how to develop strong characters without feeding readers too much information. For me, some books instantly become cinematic reading experiences because of how clearly I can picture everything in my head: characters, scenes, settings, body language, facial expressions. But it goes beyond what’s written on the page, the author must convey the totality of the character subtlety. Every single line in this book registered as an image in my mind, which made the reading experience all the more enjoyable.
-Why choose romances will always contain more smut than the average romance book, but more smut doesn’t always equal good quality. I’m happy to say the smut in “Cardinal Sins”, while plentiful, is uniquely written and conveys the overall tone of the story without compromising the quality. The pacing is excellent, nothing feels rushed, and every interaction Zara has with each of the MMCs reads very authentic.
-The story ends on a big cliffhanger, with so many questions answered, but therefore leading to new questions arising. I’m itching to continue the series, I can’t even fathom how incredible the sequel will be (I can’t wait!). If you enjoy reading about flawed MCs in a high drama/angsty romance, you’ll love this book. “Cardinal Sins” releases March 26th on Kindle Unlimited!
March 18, 2024
4.5⭐️ 3🌶️
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. And holy cow I devoured this book. As many people have mentioned, check the TWs — it’s heavy on PTSD, addiction and coping mechanisms. Cardinal Sins is a beautifully written dark romance. It’s weirdly refreshing to have an FMC with real issues and self destructive tendencies. I feel as though all of the characters and relationships were very well developed. The smut was more of a plot device than an indulgent throw in (not complaining either way!). This does end on a cliffhanger and I’m looking forward to the sequel!
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. And holy cow I devoured this book. As many people have mentioned, check the TWs — it’s heavy on PTSD, addiction and coping mechanisms. Cardinal Sins is a beautifully written dark romance. It’s weirdly refreshing to have an FMC with real issues and self destructive tendencies. I feel as though all of the characters and relationships were very well developed. The smut was more of a plot device than an indulgent throw in (not complaining either way!). This does end on a cliffhanger and I’m looking forward to the sequel!
January 2, 2025
I have come to associate ‘mafia romance’ with cringey writing and over the top scenes you can’t help but laugh at. This though? I didn’t know this was possible in this genre. If the book was paced a bit faster it would have been a 5/5 star read. And the cover art? What a beaut.
September 18, 2024
There was something about this dark mafia romance that just hit different. It could be because it was told in third person, or the writing was phenomenal for a debut novel, or the four men in this book…I don’t know but there’s something about it that has made it one of my favourite mafia romances 🥰
Our self-destructive, mafia-heiress FMC, Zara has returned to New Rome in the wake of her mother’s funeral, unaware of what her presence to the city means.
An invitation to the Chapel, the underground and elusive club introduces her to the sinister world of organized crime that she learns she belongs to by birthright 👑
Enter our MMC’s. 👀
The Cardinals: Pope, Reaper, Wraith and Eros.
After Zara witnesses an execution served by their hands, they do not let her walk free. They have no intention of letting her go, and as Zara navigates the world of organised crime, she learns that some sins can't be forgiven.
I normally dislike books written in third POV, but I loved it in this book. It suited the scenarios and the inner monologue of the characters. The character developments themselves had substance, with different complex layers and had their own distinguishable traits. They didn’t feel shallow, which is what I sometimes feel like happens in some RH’s.
I love Zara, she was chaotic, destructive. She was constantly on the receiving end of decisions that she had nothing to do with, and was constantly trying to keep her head above water. Charlotte does an amazing job at depicting Zara's actions and thoughts whilst coping with trauma. Her struggle with always needing to numb her mind whilst trying to not be like her mother was frustrating, but made for a real life depiction of active addiction.
If you love mafia romances with a bit more depth in terms of storyline and character development over smut, then this is the one for you 🖤
Tropes:
🖤 Reverse Harem
🔪 Touch her and 💀
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🔪 Found family
🖤 Criminal Underworld
🔪 FMC Mafia heir
🖤 Forced proximity
Our self-destructive, mafia-heiress FMC, Zara has returned to New Rome in the wake of her mother’s funeral, unaware of what her presence to the city means.
An invitation to the Chapel, the underground and elusive club introduces her to the sinister world of organized crime that she learns she belongs to by birthright 👑
Enter our MMC’s. 👀
The Cardinals: Pope, Reaper, Wraith and Eros.
After Zara witnesses an execution served by their hands, they do not let her walk free. They have no intention of letting her go, and as Zara navigates the world of organised crime, she learns that some sins can't be forgiven.
I normally dislike books written in third POV, but I loved it in this book. It suited the scenarios and the inner monologue of the characters. The character developments themselves had substance, with different complex layers and had their own distinguishable traits. They didn’t feel shallow, which is what I sometimes feel like happens in some RH’s.
I love Zara, she was chaotic, destructive. She was constantly on the receiving end of decisions that she had nothing to do with, and was constantly trying to keep her head above water. Charlotte does an amazing job at depicting Zara's actions and thoughts whilst coping with trauma. Her struggle with always needing to numb her mind whilst trying to not be like her mother was frustrating, but made for a real life depiction of active addiction.
If you love mafia romances with a bit more depth in terms of storyline and character development over smut, then this is the one for you 🖤
Tropes:
🖤 Reverse Harem
🔪 Touch her and 💀
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🔪 Found family
🖤 Criminal Underworld
🔪 FMC Mafia heir
🖤 Forced proximity
May 14, 2024
This book was awful. I had to DNF at 70% purely because I was depressed and miserable. I know what you’re thinking: ‘you should’ve read the TW ahead of time,’ and I’ll have to tell you that I don’t have a single problem with anything listed there. I read a lot of RH and dark romances in general. Violence, bullying, OW drama is all fine… I read this stuff because I like it in my entertainment. So this isn’t a case of someone wandering into the wrong genre and clutching their pearls.
What was so horrible about this? The poor FMC isn’t just weak, which can sometimes be worked into a manageable story, no she’s also useless. She has no purpose. I felt sad for her from the start and was sure that we would get to see her become something. Anything. If it happens, it happens after the 70% mark. I couldn’t take it anymore. The first two MMC in her ‘harem’ cheat on her and treat her like complete trash. She doesn’t even put up a token resistance. This isn’t just OW drama. It’s flat out cheating (my definition of cheating is any sexual act committed with OW after becoming sexually involved with the FMC). I’m genuinely miserable for this fictional person and I can’t take it anymore. I can’t relate in any way anymore because accepting this treatment is inconceivable to me.
The fun in the dark romances is found in the give and take between the FMC and MMCs. The fight has to be there. The ‘right’ thing has to come out on top in the end. I can’t stand to watch one person get shat on for hours on end. Weak or strong, the FMC must have self respect.
This book is probably the biggest fail I’ve ever come across in the genre. I’d rather quit a book out of boredom than watch this happen. I wish I could erase this experience from my mind. Yes, I’m that miserable.
What was so horrible about this? The poor FMC isn’t just weak, which can sometimes be worked into a manageable story, no she’s also useless. She has no purpose. I felt sad for her from the start and was sure that we would get to see her become something. Anything. If it happens, it happens after the 70% mark. I couldn’t take it anymore. The first two MMC in her ‘harem’ cheat on her and treat her like complete trash. She doesn’t even put up a token resistance. This isn’t just OW drama. It’s flat out cheating (my definition of cheating is any sexual act committed with OW after becoming sexually involved with the FMC). I’m genuinely miserable for this fictional person and I can’t take it anymore. I can’t relate in any way anymore because accepting this treatment is inconceivable to me.
The fun in the dark romances is found in the give and take between the FMC and MMCs. The fight has to be there. The ‘right’ thing has to come out on top in the end. I can’t stand to watch one person get shat on for hours on end. Weak or strong, the FMC must have self respect.
This book is probably the biggest fail I’ve ever come across in the genre. I’d rather quit a book out of boredom than watch this happen. I wish I could erase this experience from my mind. Yes, I’m that miserable.
March 13, 2024
I inhaled this book! I have been stalking Charlotte House’s Instagram page for months in anticipation of getting my hands on this. SO much angst, drama, and ends with a cliffhanger!
Pay attention to the trigger warnings.
**Review contains light spoilers**
First, let me say how much I truly appreciate the MCs not being ridiculous young. 🙏 It is incredibly refreshing not to have teenagers or MCs all in their early 20s, especially when they are in leadership roles in a mafia!
It’s also refreshing to read a book with a sexually empowered FMC where there’s no fixation on her virginity, which is rare in the romance genre.
I am always a bit hesitant with Reverse Harems or any time I see there’s more than 1 love interest because I either love them or hate them. I’m not sure that I’d qualify this as a RH given their relationships, but I can’t wait to see how things continue to develop and evolve in the next book!
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I would love to see some sharing or group activities in the next book(s). Sometimes the relationships with the Cardinals felt a bit too segmented. However, I appreciate the different dynamics with each guy, and let’s just say I already have my favorites🔥
Pros: spicy, moody, mafia romance, dark themes, main characters with flaws/room for growth, plot twist
Cons: the POV wasn’t always clear with the grammar, could be darker for a dark romance 😈
I can’t wait to learn more about Baron- I feel there’s a lot of potential for plot twists there. I’m also looking forward to seeing what happens to Zara. I would love to see her conquer her challenges and become a total badass.
Pay attention to the trigger warnings.
**Review contains light spoilers**
First, let me say how much I truly appreciate the MCs not being ridiculous young. 🙏 It is incredibly refreshing not to have teenagers or MCs all in their early 20s, especially when they are in leadership roles in a mafia!
It’s also refreshing to read a book with a sexually empowered FMC where there’s no fixation on her virginity, which is rare in the romance genre.
I am always a bit hesitant with Reverse Harems or any time I see there’s more than 1 love interest because I either love them or hate them. I’m not sure that I’d qualify this as a RH given their relationships, but I can’t wait to see how things continue to develop and evolve in the next book!
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I would love to see some sharing or group activities in the next book(s). Sometimes the relationships with the Cardinals felt a bit too segmented. However, I appreciate the different dynamics with each guy, and let’s just say I already have my favorites🔥
Pros: spicy, moody, mafia romance, dark themes, main characters with flaws/room for growth, plot twist
Cons: the POV wasn’t always clear with the grammar, could be darker for a dark romance 😈
I can’t wait to learn more about Baron- I feel there’s a lot of potential for plot twists there. I’m also looking forward to seeing what happens to Zara. I would love to see her conquer her challenges and become a total badass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2024
This was a wild ride that took so many twists and turns. Zara's life was turned upside down when she decided to go for drinks with a stranger after her mother's funeral. After a series of unfortunate events she finds herself living with four super hot mafia men. The truth bomb that was dropped at the end was huge and leave you with some many more questions. I can't wait for book two!
April 16, 2024
Wow, I devoured this. Thoroughly impressed by this book. If you love dark, RH, mafia romance this is a must read.
Need book 2 ASAP.
Need book 2 ASAP.
May 24, 2024
Intense rh mafia book. Well-rounded characters, engaging plot. Plus, a cute puppy. Ends on a cliffhanger and not sure when book 2 is coming out.
March 22, 2024
I need the sequel yesterday!
Charlotte House knocked it out of the ballpark with her debut album!
This dark romance is an adrenaline rush that will leave you begging for more!
Zara finds herself "trapped" and under the care of the four hot men at the head of the Cardinals. After the death of her mother, Zara's life becomes very complicated and dangerous in the world that she's more connected with than she ever realized. She finds relief in some unhealthy habits and the only one who can save her just might be the reason for her ultimate undoing.
Cardinal Sins is full of intrigue, suspense and spice!
Charlotte House knocked it out of the ballpark with her debut album!
This dark romance is an adrenaline rush that will leave you begging for more!
Zara finds herself "trapped" and under the care of the four hot men at the head of the Cardinals. After the death of her mother, Zara's life becomes very complicated and dangerous in the world that she's more connected with than she ever realized. She finds relief in some unhealthy habits and the only one who can save her just might be the reason for her ultimate undoing.
Cardinal Sins is full of intrigue, suspense and spice!
November 11, 2024
I'm 36% procent in and I have no clue whats going on. Its a description of all four guys and her goings, but nothing more. The story does not really draw me in.
The dialogues are a mess and do not contain information or feelings. It feels as filler.
Ok, finished and I'm glad its over. Nothing in the book seemed to keep my attention. It is no RH either. She was with 3 of the 4 men seperately but not together..
The dialogues are a mess and do not contain information or feelings. It feels as filler.
Ok, finished and I'm glad its over. Nothing in the book seemed to keep my attention. It is no RH either. She was with 3 of the 4 men seperately but not together..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2024
I couldn’t put it down!!!
It’s a mafia romance,why choose sign me up!!!
Wow wow Charlotte this was amazing the spice was so good the writing was so good I was so into it I think my favorite might be Will 👀🫢 also did I stay up till 2 am finishing this book yes yes I did and it was worth it
Omg this was so good I can’t wait for the next book 🤭
5⭐️
It’s a mafia romance,why choose sign me up!!!
Wow wow Charlotte this was amazing the spice was so good the writing was so good I was so into it I think my favorite might be Will 👀🫢 also did I stay up till 2 am finishing this book yes yes I did and it was worth it
Omg this was so good I can’t wait for the next book 🤭
5⭐️
July 18, 2024
DNF at 43%. Once they all like the FMC, there should not be OW and definitely not full-on cheating by multiple MMCs. I have no interest in reading further.
March 25, 2024
Dark romance is a genre that interests me but is hard for me to find a book that I really like. And this one did it for me!
I really like that the trigger warnings were mentioned from the beginning because phewww😅.
Mafia Romance, yup called my attention right away. While in real life i’m not of a fan of the mafia or cartels for that matter, I like to enjoy them fictionally. My guilty pleasure whoops.
Do you like a book where you don’t want to choose which one you want?😏 Well this is it. I do have a favorite.. maybe favorites.. can’t decide yet, but as you can tell, somehow I myself fell in love with Eros. I just aahhh. When you read this book you will tell why I wanted to scream at him at the same time. No spoilers here;)
ALSO not a spoiler because it’s talked about from the beginning, the cliffhanger!!!!! I will now patiently wait for the second book because I need, I deserve, to know what is going to happen next!! Also, I really want to read more about the men hehe. Bonus points because they’re grown men and not in their early 20s running a whole organization like this. There is also different levels of spice with each of them men;) so beware for that hehe.
The writing also kept me so invested, amazing work. Now I won’t say more because you, who is reading this, need to check the book out.🥳🥳🥳 p.s there’s a playlist along with the book!!!
I really like that the trigger warnings were mentioned from the beginning because phewww😅.
Mafia Romance, yup called my attention right away. While in real life i’m not of a fan of the mafia or cartels for that matter, I like to enjoy them fictionally. My guilty pleasure whoops.
Do you like a book where you don’t want to choose which one you want?😏 Well this is it. I do have a favorite.. maybe favorites.. can’t decide yet, but as you can tell, somehow I myself fell in love with Eros. I just aahhh. When you read this book you will tell why I wanted to scream at him at the same time. No spoilers here;)
ALSO not a spoiler because it’s talked about from the beginning, the cliffhanger!!!!! I will now patiently wait for the second book because I need, I deserve, to know what is going to happen next!! Also, I really want to read more about the men hehe. Bonus points because they’re grown men and not in their early 20s running a whole organization like this. There is also different levels of spice with each of them men;) so beware for that hehe.
The writing also kept me so invested, amazing work. Now I won’t say more because you, who is reading this, need to check the book out.🥳🥳🥳 p.s there’s a playlist along with the book!!!
October 3, 2024
I am really enjoying this book so far…but the museums scene is SENDING ME. For two people who have been educated in art history, Rembrandt’s the Storm on the Sea of Galilee has been MISSING FOR OVER 30 YEARS, and it would’ve been A HUGE FUCKING DEAL for any museum to have it let alone in a private show. It seems like the author just googles famous Rembrandt’s and added the first three works, which…when I also googled famous Rembrandt’s that’s what came up. If you’re gonna name drop paintings make sure you do a little more than surface level research.
Anyway, back to finishing this book.
Sincerely,
Person who was actually educated in Fine Arts in higher education
Anyway, back to finishing this book.
Sincerely,
Person who was actually educated in Fine Arts in higher education
March 13, 2024
WOW. I mean, I was chasing every page just to keep reading, I could not put this down. There was so much tension and build up and then the ending!! To leave us on a cliffhanger like that and questioning everything. I loved the character development, the story line, the spice, the thrill of it all. I cannot wait for the second book to continue on with Zara's story. Also have to just add in that my heart belongs to Will <3
March 29, 2024
This is a hard book to rate because it tells very specific kind of story, one where everyone is battling demons and no one seems to be making much progress. The closest comparison I can think of Nicky the Driver. If you liked that, you will probably enjoy this.
For me, I found it rather depressing. I love stories with complicated characters, but I want to see actual growth. And maybe that comes in the the next book, but this was 400+ pages of characters making self-destructive choice and self-destructive choice, with no clue how they can move forward. Then again, the first book in the the Lords of Forsyth U is like this and I loved that trilogy. So maybe I need to reserve judgement until the next book comes out. I don't know. I do think it would have helped if the author gave us a hint about where this all going to go. I also think this book could have been trimmed down quite a bit because the path the FMC's rock bottom went on a loooooong time. That sound be because there are four MMCs and there was a need to build individual relationships with each. But I found parts of it kind of a slog to get through.
So, will I read the next book? I'm uncertain. But read the content warnings carefully and realize that no one is happy in this book. I think their HEA will be hard fought and I'm curious about how long it will take.
For me, I found it rather depressing. I love stories with complicated characters, but I want to see actual growth. And maybe that comes in the the next book, but this was 400+ pages of characters making self-destructive choice and self-destructive choice, with no clue how they can move forward. Then again, the first book in the the Lords of Forsyth U is like this and I loved that trilogy. So maybe I need to reserve judgement until the next book comes out. I don't know. I do think it would have helped if the author gave us a hint about where this all going to go. I also think this book could have been trimmed down quite a bit because the path the FMC's rock bottom went on a loooooong time. That sound be because there are four MMCs and there was a need to build individual relationships with each. But I found parts of it kind of a slog to get through.
So, will I read the next book? I'm uncertain. But read the content warnings carefully and realize that no one is happy in this book. I think their HEA will be hard fought and I'm curious about how long it will take.
April 28, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, so here it is:
Rating: 5/5
What a debut novel! While the main character's emotional state can feel quite heavy at times and there's plenty of angst to go around, I just have so much fun with this book and it's characters. The author does a good job of making the love interests all feel very distinguishable and unique, which is so important in any reverse harem novel. The way each relationship forms in its own time and in completely different ways makes the book feel unpredictable and made me not want to put it down. Zara makes a great main character, as even when I felt frustrated with any of her decisions, there was also a deep understanding of why she acted the way she did or made the choices she made. All the characters felt complex and layered and made me love them while also wanting them to do better. And that cliffhanger! The second book of this series will definitely be a highly anticipated one, I can hardly wait! I really did love my reading experience of this book and I know it's one that won't leave my mind directly after reading it.
Please read the trigger warnings before reading.
Rating: 5/5
What a debut novel! While the main character's emotional state can feel quite heavy at times and there's plenty of angst to go around, I just have so much fun with this book and it's characters. The author does a good job of making the love interests all feel very distinguishable and unique, which is so important in any reverse harem novel. The way each relationship forms in its own time and in completely different ways makes the book feel unpredictable and made me not want to put it down. Zara makes a great main character, as even when I felt frustrated with any of her decisions, there was also a deep understanding of why she acted the way she did or made the choices she made. All the characters felt complex and layered and made me love them while also wanting them to do better. And that cliffhanger! The second book of this series will definitely be a highly anticipated one, I can hardly wait! I really did love my reading experience of this book and I know it's one that won't leave my mind directly after reading it.
Please read the trigger warnings before reading.
March 27, 2024
All I have to say is: Charlotte… woooo! I was not prepared for the feels this book gave me. First off, a relatable FMC who experiences trauma aand finds herself hitting the self destruct button. Second: Wraith, Eros, Reaper, and Pope. That is all. I fell in love with each of them as the story went on and then fell out of love (not in any particular order). Gosh, the emotional rollercoaster this took me on. Also, am I supposed to be obsessed with Will as much as I am? What does this say about me!?
This is my first dark romance read and she sold me on a whole genre in under 400 pages. I COULD NOT put this one down, I had to know how it ended. Just ask my poor husband who wasn’t allowed to talk to me until I finished the book haha.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Character Development: 5
Plot: 5
Writing Style: 4 *I found myself getting lost at times with the POV changes mid chapter.
Page Turner: 5
I am - unwell - from the ending and will be setting my alerts to know when the next Bound by Blood book comes out!
Go snag this one off the shelf on release day!! What an incredible debut novel! 👏🏽
This is my first dark romance read and she sold me on a whole genre in under 400 pages. I COULD NOT put this one down, I had to know how it ended. Just ask my poor husband who wasn’t allowed to talk to me until I finished the book haha.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Character Development: 5
Plot: 5
Writing Style: 4 *I found myself getting lost at times with the POV changes mid chapter.
Page Turner: 5
I am - unwell - from the ending and will be setting my alerts to know when the next Bound by Blood book comes out!
Go snag this one off the shelf on release day!! What an incredible debut novel! 👏🏽
July 9, 2024
Stay with me here!
I have to admit, at first I could not really warm up to the book…
I had some problems with the writing and the pacing, I felt kind of rushed, especially at the beginning.
In specific moments I really thought that it would have needed more time for us to relate to Zara, make us feel her boredom, her anxiety, her wariness towards the guys - it would have made the moments where Ben bonded with her, for example, more impactful.
Maybe that could have been achieved through a side project of hers (except cooking), like trying to figure something out, sniffing through the house or establishing some kind of friendship with anyone (a staff member for example).
Speaking about friendships, I think the bond with Liam could have been improved a lot.
First of all: He was introduced and then immediately disappeared after he’d done his service. She asks about him ONCE, even with him being responsible for dragging her into this world… why isn’t she more curious about him? More resentful maybe? Why did he approach her at the funeral?
Those questions are not really important but they could have been used to make either of their characters more complex.
Then she could have confronted him about the questions once they met again which could have made their second encounter much more interesting.
Also: why did she just accept that he was back? Why was she not wary about him? I would have loooved to see some more of their friendship. Because it didn’t feel like a friendship to me - it wasn’t earned. She did not confront him with his mistake, he didn’t try to make up for it, we didn’t see them slowly building trust and open up, we were just told about it.
I want to be there when the first crack in the wall appears, want to join them while they are developing trust!
That way, it would have been a real tragedy for us to find out, that he has been reporting back to Baron all the time.
In a nutshell I could say: show, don’t tell.
But - enough of the negative 💅let’s get to the good stuff
I really DEVOURED this book. Once I got over my initial issues, I started to really enjoy this story.
Also, I feel like some of the issues that I described up there were solved in the second half: Zara’s misery for example.
But let’s get this into chronological order:
I started to love her relationship with the guys (and holy shit some of the smut was hot, them teasing each other was ✨everything✨)
I didn’t really like any of them that much to be honest… Ben lost me with the drugs, Gabriel needs to get his shit together, Alex was… well he was Alex (didn’t care for him until he said „do you want my help, Zara?“ in the almost end and then he lost me again at the end) and then there is Will… okay I liked Will hehe😌
But you know who I liked? the BARON YES I LOVED HIM DON‘T COME FOR ME💅👨🍳
Like, yesssss finally someone saw through her shit and tried to look out for her… I see kind of a Rhysand situation here to be honest. Might be wrong but still… can we have an enemies to lovers in the next book Charlotte I beg you 😭
I got really annoyed with the guys at some point. Letting her throw a party IS NOT ENOUGH where is your concern and your love and your ambition (maybe they’ll realise their mistakes and true feelings once she is gone and they’ll make up for it in a really dramatic and meaningful way… I might even reconsider my stance towards them in that case 🦹♂️)
But that made the book really interesting for me because I kept waiting for someone to interfere and help her or for her to find a way out of the spiral, only for her to spiral deeper and deeper (and then the baron came in hehe🤭)
And in that case we FELT with Zara, we were showed and not told and it was painful but perfect.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and I’d give it 6 or 7 out of 10 stars 🧚♂️
Book 2 has a loooot of potential and I’m looking forward to it!
Oh and this is amazing for a debut btw. My critique still stands but I’m really not judgy about it especially considering that this is a first! 🌱lots of love :)
I have to admit, at first I could not really warm up to the book…
I had some problems with the writing and the pacing, I felt kind of rushed, especially at the beginning.
In specific moments I really thought that it would have needed more time for us to relate to Zara, make us feel her boredom, her anxiety, her wariness towards the guys - it would have made the moments where Ben bonded with her, for example, more impactful.
Maybe that could have been achieved through a side project of hers (except cooking), like trying to figure something out, sniffing through the house or establishing some kind of friendship with anyone (a staff member for example).
Speaking about friendships, I think the bond with Liam could have been improved a lot.
First of all: He was introduced and then immediately disappeared after he’d done his service. She asks about him ONCE, even with him being responsible for dragging her into this world… why isn’t she more curious about him? More resentful maybe? Why did he approach her at the funeral?
Those questions are not really important but they could have been used to make either of their characters more complex.
Then she could have confronted him about the questions once they met again which could have made their second encounter much more interesting.
Also: why did she just accept that he was back? Why was she not wary about him? I would have loooved to see some more of their friendship. Because it didn’t feel like a friendship to me - it wasn’t earned. She did not confront him with his mistake, he didn’t try to make up for it, we didn’t see them slowly building trust and open up, we were just told about it.
I want to be there when the first crack in the wall appears, want to join them while they are developing trust!
That way, it would have been a real tragedy for us to find out, that he has been reporting back to Baron all the time.
In a nutshell I could say: show, don’t tell.
But - enough of the negative 💅let’s get to the good stuff
I really DEVOURED this book. Once I got over my initial issues, I started to really enjoy this story.
Also, I feel like some of the issues that I described up there were solved in the second half: Zara’s misery for example.
But let’s get this into chronological order:
I started to love her relationship with the guys (and holy shit some of the smut was hot, them teasing each other was ✨everything✨)
I didn’t really like any of them that much to be honest… Ben lost me with the drugs, Gabriel needs to get his shit together, Alex was… well he was Alex (didn’t care for him until he said „do you want my help, Zara?“ in the almost end and then he lost me again at the end) and then there is Will… okay I liked Will hehe😌
But you know who I liked? the BARON YES I LOVED HIM DON‘T COME FOR ME💅👨🍳
Like, yesssss finally someone saw through her shit and tried to look out for her… I see kind of a Rhysand situation here to be honest. Might be wrong but still… can we have an enemies to lovers in the next book Charlotte I beg you 😭
I got really annoyed with the guys at some point. Letting her throw a party IS NOT ENOUGH where is your concern and your love and your ambition (maybe they’ll realise their mistakes and true feelings once she is gone and they’ll make up for it in a really dramatic and meaningful way… I might even reconsider my stance towards them in that case 🦹♂️)
But that made the book really interesting for me because I kept waiting for someone to interfere and help her or for her to find a way out of the spiral, only for her to spiral deeper and deeper (and then the baron came in hehe🤭)
And in that case we FELT with Zara, we were showed and not told and it was painful but perfect.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and I’d give it 6 or 7 out of 10 stars 🧚♂️
Book 2 has a loooot of potential and I’m looking forward to it!
Oh and this is amazing for a debut btw. My critique still stands but I’m really not judgy about it especially considering that this is a first! 🌱lots of love :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
~ARC Review~
There are spoilers below**
Zara is our blonde, green eyed FMC. We meet her at her addict mother’s funeral and her father had died prior to this. Now she’s alone her and doesn’t know what’s next but she’s got a lot of trauma already.
Then she meets and is taken under the care of The Cardinals, a crime organization who rival her fathers old group, The Apostles. She had no idea her father was a crime boss but they tell her the new boss does not want her around and they have to keep her safe!
So she lives with these four gorgeous men sworn to protect her:
Pope (Alex, the boss)- older, dark haired, rough around the edges, mysterious, cold
Eros (Ben)- blonde hair, golden retriever type, flirty, the face and communications guy who runs the clubs
Reaper (Will)- brother to Ben, master torturer of witnesses and snitches, tall Sandy blonde, has a caring side, went to med school, fighter
Wraith (Gabriel)- dark hair, enforcer type, quiet and distant, best friend of Ben & Will, a lot of guilt and trauma
They’re all best friends, grew up together so they protect her, kill for her, and obviously that turns her on 🥵 it’s kind of a Why Choose but not in a typical sense. They’re aware and ok with the situation but none of the men are ever together with her.
(I find it a bit hypocritical that she gets jealous if they see other women but she can do whatever she wants)
It starts a little slow, I was very confused because a lot happens but they eventually explained why they’d taken her. She mostly just mopes around the penthouse at first, cooks for them and drinks. Ben and her connect instantly and they spend their days watching movies and bad TV. She then kisses Will, after seeing him torture someone no less, and ends up sleeping with Gabriel when he takes care of her drunk-ass. They’re all dangerous criminals, it has touch-her-and-die energy, soft only for her, which is hot as hell!
~ I get the allure of the men don’t get me wrong! but it seems like she’s coping with trauma by throwing herself at them. She gets into drinking and pills and she really starts to spiral. I started feeling really empathetic for her, like someone please get her help!
The second part of the book is where it gets really good. There’s a lot of secrets and we find out the rival leader is Pope’s brother Byron. He starts whispering in Zara’s ear, following her, and putting doubt in her mind about her situation.
There is definitely a plot twist and cliffhanger at the end and it had me on edge!! I will definitely be reading the sequel and I was hooked by the end of it!
It’s just a lot to unpack, there is a lot of backstory that you find out slowly and it starts making sense! It’s also very descriptive writing so it feels like you’re right there seeing everything. I can picture Wills torture room, the penthouse, and the boys clear in my mind.
The spice scenes are too notch!! Not too graphic but very hot 🔥🔥
I did expect something to happen with Pope though and I was sad it never did. I wished she’d taken the opportunity because we love a hot mysterious crime boss
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
~ARC Review~
There are spoilers below**
Zara is our blonde, green eyed FMC. We meet her at her addict mother’s funeral and her father had died prior to this. Now she’s alone her and doesn’t know what’s next but she’s got a lot of trauma already.
Then she meets and is taken under the care of The Cardinals, a crime organization who rival her fathers old group, The Apostles. She had no idea her father was a crime boss but they tell her the new boss does not want her around and they have to keep her safe!
So she lives with these four gorgeous men sworn to protect her:
Pope (Alex, the boss)- older, dark haired, rough around the edges, mysterious, cold
Eros (Ben)- blonde hair, golden retriever type, flirty, the face and communications guy who runs the clubs
Reaper (Will)- brother to Ben, master torturer of witnesses and snitches, tall Sandy blonde, has a caring side, went to med school, fighter
Wraith (Gabriel)- dark hair, enforcer type, quiet and distant, best friend of Ben & Will, a lot of guilt and trauma
They’re all best friends, grew up together so they protect her, kill for her, and obviously that turns her on 🥵 it’s kind of a Why Choose but not in a typical sense. They’re aware and ok with the situation but none of the men are ever together with her.
(I find it a bit hypocritical that she gets jealous if they see other women but she can do whatever she wants)
It starts a little slow, I was very confused because a lot happens but they eventually explained why they’d taken her. She mostly just mopes around the penthouse at first, cooks for them and drinks. Ben and her connect instantly and they spend their days watching movies and bad TV. She then kisses Will, after seeing him torture someone no less, and ends up sleeping with Gabriel when he takes care of her drunk-ass. They’re all dangerous criminals, it has touch-her-and-die energy, soft only for her, which is hot as hell!
~ I get the allure of the men don’t get me wrong! but it seems like she’s coping with trauma by throwing herself at them. She gets into drinking and pills and she really starts to spiral. I started feeling really empathetic for her, like someone please get her help!
The second part of the book is where it gets really good. There’s a lot of secrets and we find out the rival leader is Pope’s brother Byron. He starts whispering in Zara’s ear, following her, and putting doubt in her mind about her situation.
There is definitely a plot twist and cliffhanger at the end and it had me on edge!! I will definitely be reading the sequel and I was hooked by the end of it!
It’s just a lot to unpack, there is a lot of backstory that you find out slowly and it starts making sense! It’s also very descriptive writing so it feels like you’re right there seeing everything. I can picture Wills torture room, the penthouse, and the boys clear in my mind.
The spice scenes are too notch!! Not too graphic but very hot 🔥🔥
I did expect something to happen with Pope though and I was sad it never did. I wished she’d taken the opportunity because we love a hot mysterious crime boss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2024
FMC Mafia Heir
Why Choose
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
Found Family
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: ️🌶️️🌶️️🌶️️
"She was a 1950's housewife with four psycho husbands."
Zara Faire is a self-destructive heiress to an empire she knows nothing about. She is an accidental witness to an execution, and the Cardinals (Pope, Wraith, Reaper and Eros) have taken her in and have promised to protect her. From who? She's unsure. All she knows is that there are people that will want her dead, and her family holds more secrets than she ever suspected.
If you enjoy mafia romances with a why choose edge, then you'll definitely love this book. The mafia world building and back story is fleshed out very well in the beginning. This isn't your typical Italian/Irish/Russian mafia, and the author takes the time to introduce us to how this mafia world works and who the key players are. We're not just tossed into the story and expected to find our way around. Charlotte eases us in, and while at times, it can be slow moving, the payout is worth the time spent developing the world, the characters and their relationships. The guys are easy to like and fall for even when they are diabolical. They are handsome, tortured souls and each have their own distinctive personality traits that drive Zara (and the reader) nuts. All 4 are lethal, and there is no question that they will kill anyone who threatens them or Zara. It surpasses where "touch her and die" tropes usually go (a lot more detail into the actual violence that takes place), and the level of violence that their world is immersed in is prevalent at all times.
There is a level of realness to this story that is very different from most other mafia books. It leans heavily into addictions as coping mechanisms to the point where it can be uncomfortable to read about, especially if you have any sort of background in the addiction world. That being said, although it may be uncomfortable at times, I appreciated the unapologetic truthfulness to the humanity in these characters. These are deeply troubled people. There is no innocence being lost here, and the author doesn't shy away from that. The spice between the characters was perfection. There was angst and longing, charm and heavily flirting, and pure unadulterated lust. It was fantastically written. This book ends on a cliffhanger so prepare yourselves. I cannot wait to see where Book 2 is going to lead us!
I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Why Choose
Forced Proximity
Enemies to Lovers
Found Family
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: ️🌶️️🌶️️🌶️️
"She was a 1950's housewife with four psycho husbands."
Zara Faire is a self-destructive heiress to an empire she knows nothing about. She is an accidental witness to an execution, and the Cardinals (Pope, Wraith, Reaper and Eros) have taken her in and have promised to protect her. From who? She's unsure. All she knows is that there are people that will want her dead, and her family holds more secrets than she ever suspected.
If you enjoy mafia romances with a why choose edge, then you'll definitely love this book. The mafia world building and back story is fleshed out very well in the beginning. This isn't your typical Italian/Irish/Russian mafia, and the author takes the time to introduce us to how this mafia world works and who the key players are. We're not just tossed into the story and expected to find our way around. Charlotte eases us in, and while at times, it can be slow moving, the payout is worth the time spent developing the world, the characters and their relationships. The guys are easy to like and fall for even when they are diabolical. They are handsome, tortured souls and each have their own distinctive personality traits that drive Zara (and the reader) nuts. All 4 are lethal, and there is no question that they will kill anyone who threatens them or Zara. It surpasses where "touch her and die" tropes usually go (a lot more detail into the actual violence that takes place), and the level of violence that their world is immersed in is prevalent at all times.
There is a level of realness to this story that is very different from most other mafia books. It leans heavily into addictions as coping mechanisms to the point where it can be uncomfortable to read about, especially if you have any sort of background in the addiction world. That being said, although it may be uncomfortable at times, I appreciated the unapologetic truthfulness to the humanity in these characters. These are deeply troubled people. There is no innocence being lost here, and the author doesn't shy away from that. The spice between the characters was perfection. There was angst and longing, charm and heavily flirting, and pure unadulterated lust. It was fantastically written. This book ends on a cliffhanger so prepare yourselves. I cannot wait to see where Book 2 is going to lead us!
I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2024
🖤 vibes 🖤
chaotic and varied, dramatic, caretaking, sexy vengeance, insecure, flawed main characters, m/f pairings (why choose)
ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ
This debut mafia why choose made me crave pasta, among other things. While in town for her mother’s funeral, Zara learns that her beloved late father was centrally involved in organized crime in New Rome. She has led such an isolated, unusual life, that when she ends up staying with a group of the Cardinals for her protection, it doesn’t feel like that much of a leap.
After a bumpy start (because of course!), Zara begins to form very varied relationships with her four housemates. Some friendly, some distant, and ultimately, I felt they all unfolded in interesting and realistic ways. The Cardinal men each have interesting backstories and interests, long-term friendships with each other, and I think there’s more there that is yet to be explored. It’s nice that they are in their 30s+. Meanwhile, Zara is a compelling, critical character, who openly reflects on her situation and sometimes destructive choices. I am rooting for her; she has so much on her plate! The plot alternates between bleak and exciting periods, which I think properly reflects the state Zara has found herself in, and is a great setup for the book’s ending.
One thing I really liked was the juicy, sensory forward details in the writing, from the meals to the house description to smells and the spice. I’d definitely like to see more of Theo, the Madonnas, and Baron in the next book. The final act of the book explores some elements that I think will make for an intriguing second book!! Cliffhanger warning!
Before I wrap up, here are some deets about the MMCs: Ben, a club owner and social butterfly, bonds with Zara over their tv watching sessions. She and Will, the torture guy, feel a strange pull to one another that they resist. It’s explosive, hot and cold, between Zara and Gabriel. All the while, the Cardinal’s leader, Alex, insists on keeping secrets and keeping her safe from his brother who now leads the group her father once headed.
🌶️ 3.5/5 ~ spice
☠️ 3.5/5 ~ darkness*
*Check out the Content Warning. I barely read dark romance, but this one skirts that territory.
chaotic and varied, dramatic, caretaking, sexy vengeance, insecure, flawed main characters, m/f pairings (why choose)
ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ
This debut mafia why choose made me crave pasta, among other things. While in town for her mother’s funeral, Zara learns that her beloved late father was centrally involved in organized crime in New Rome. She has led such an isolated, unusual life, that when she ends up staying with a group of the Cardinals for her protection, it doesn’t feel like that much of a leap.
After a bumpy start (because of course!), Zara begins to form very varied relationships with her four housemates. Some friendly, some distant, and ultimately, I felt they all unfolded in interesting and realistic ways. The Cardinal men each have interesting backstories and interests, long-term friendships with each other, and I think there’s more there that is yet to be explored. It’s nice that they are in their 30s+. Meanwhile, Zara is a compelling, critical character, who openly reflects on her situation and sometimes destructive choices. I am rooting for her; she has so much on her plate! The plot alternates between bleak and exciting periods, which I think properly reflects the state Zara has found herself in, and is a great setup for the book’s ending.
One thing I really liked was the juicy, sensory forward details in the writing, from the meals to the house description to smells and the spice. I’d definitely like to see more of Theo, the Madonnas, and Baron in the next book. The final act of the book explores some elements that I think will make for an intriguing second book!! Cliffhanger warning!
Before I wrap up, here are some deets about the MMCs: Ben, a club owner and social butterfly, bonds with Zara over their tv watching sessions. She and Will, the torture guy, feel a strange pull to one another that they resist. It’s explosive, hot and cold, between Zara and Gabriel. All the while, the Cardinal’s leader, Alex, insists on keeping secrets and keeping her safe from his brother who now leads the group her father once headed.
🌶️ 3.5/5 ~ spice
☠️ 3.5/5 ~ darkness*
*Check out the Content Warning. I barely read dark romance, but this one skirts that territory.
March 27, 2024
Thank you to the author, Charlotte House, for this e-copy in exchange for my honest review
Ratings:
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes:
Mafia romance
Touch her and die
Why choose
Morally grey
Summary:
Cardinal Sins is a spicy, dark Mafia romance and Charlotte House’s debut novel. Zara Faire discovers that her late father was the leader of a group called The Cardinals and that she is an heiress. She meets the 4 men (Pope, Wraith, Reaper, and Eros) that worked with her father and learns about the dark world her father used to lead. The men take in Zara for her protection and won’t let anything happen to her and no one hurt her. She enters the world she never thought had any correlation to her and witnesses the crimes firsthand, but will Zara be able to handle this sudden change?
My thoughts:
This was my first dark (and very spicy) mafia romance and while it’s not my cup of tea, I thoroughly did enjoy this book! It was an easy read and the story was unique and captivating. House really rocked the house (pun intended) with her debut novel! I loved that the FMC, Zara, had different dynamics with each of the men. Each of the main characters are flawed and imperfect in different ways, which makes them more believable and as if they are actual people you’d meet in real life.
The writing style is very detailed without being too wordy. Loved that there were multiple POVs, a total of 5 different perspectives of the MCs. The only thing that was confusing was figuring out whose POV I was reading. Zara was easy to figure out since she’s the only FMC, but sometimes the POV would change from one MMC to another. If I could change one thing, it would be to indicate at the beginning of the chapter whose POV we are reading. But again, I really enjoyed reading the story from different POVs.
The spice is VERY open-door, but written well! It was overwhelming for me, but only because I’m not used to reading spice like that. On top of the physical aspects, emotions are also mixed in, which adds more depth to the steamy scenes.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark mafia novels! (Check TW first)
Ratings:
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Tropes:
Mafia romance
Touch her and die
Why choose
Morally grey
Summary:
Cardinal Sins is a spicy, dark Mafia romance and Charlotte House’s debut novel. Zara Faire discovers that her late father was the leader of a group called The Cardinals and that she is an heiress. She meets the 4 men (Pope, Wraith, Reaper, and Eros) that worked with her father and learns about the dark world her father used to lead. The men take in Zara for her protection and won’t let anything happen to her and no one hurt her. She enters the world she never thought had any correlation to her and witnesses the crimes firsthand, but will Zara be able to handle this sudden change?
My thoughts:
This was my first dark (and very spicy) mafia romance and while it’s not my cup of tea, I thoroughly did enjoy this book! It was an easy read and the story was unique and captivating. House really rocked the house (pun intended) with her debut novel! I loved that the FMC, Zara, had different dynamics with each of the men. Each of the main characters are flawed and imperfect in different ways, which makes them more believable and as if they are actual people you’d meet in real life.
The writing style is very detailed without being too wordy. Loved that there were multiple POVs, a total of 5 different perspectives of the MCs. The only thing that was confusing was figuring out whose POV I was reading. Zara was easy to figure out since she’s the only FMC, but sometimes the POV would change from one MMC to another. If I could change one thing, it would be to indicate at the beginning of the chapter whose POV we are reading. But again, I really enjoyed reading the story from different POVs.
The spice is VERY open-door, but written well! It was overwhelming for me, but only because I’m not used to reading spice like that. On top of the physical aspects, emotions are also mixed in, which adds more depth to the steamy scenes.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark mafia novels! (Check TW first)
March 23, 2024
Definitely check trigger warnings before reading - PTSD, substance misuse, depression, and much more.
This is the one!! If you’re going to read a mafia romance, let it be this one. I am always cautious and ready to be disappointed whenever I pick up a dark romance. Too often the characters are flat, the plot is a mess, or the couple is ready to risk it all for each other within the first 5 chapters. None of that happens here. The characters are dynamic, troubled (in a realistic way), and understandable. At no point did I find myself rolling my eyes at character choices or cringey dialogue.
This book isn’t just a bunch of tropes smashed together in what feels like an AI generated, cookie cutter romance. There is an actual plot, that MAKES SENSE, and pulls you in without having to rely on smut to carry the story. There’s angst and yearning and tension. For once, the leaders of a crime syndicate are not barely legal caricatures of what a mafia leader would be. They are not tripping over themselves immediately to be with her. They might think she’s attractive but there’s no love in the first chapters. Which feels real and right for the first installment of a series. There is so much more to their story and so many places it could go.
The why choose aspect of the story doesn’t feel forced for me. There’s no weird fixation on her being a virgin and then sharing her and the usual way these stories go. She has a different bond with each guy which feels more realistic.
The dark aspects don’t feel like they’re shock value. I feel like dark romance authors often throw in random violence just to drive home that it’s a dark romance but it feels cheap. This is not the case here. Despite there being scenes of death and literal torture, it never felt like a made for tv movie. The addition of Baron really added a layer of tension that was not expected. I can’t wait to see if we can trust him or not.
And the ending!!!! What an ending! I’ve had to go back and re-read it just to make sure I read what I thought I read. It’s been in my mind for daaaaays. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series in the future!
This is the one!! If you’re going to read a mafia romance, let it be this one. I am always cautious and ready to be disappointed whenever I pick up a dark romance. Too often the characters are flat, the plot is a mess, or the couple is ready to risk it all for each other within the first 5 chapters. None of that happens here. The characters are dynamic, troubled (in a realistic way), and understandable. At no point did I find myself rolling my eyes at character choices or cringey dialogue.
This book isn’t just a bunch of tropes smashed together in what feels like an AI generated, cookie cutter romance. There is an actual plot, that MAKES SENSE, and pulls you in without having to rely on smut to carry the story. There’s angst and yearning and tension. For once, the leaders of a crime syndicate are not barely legal caricatures of what a mafia leader would be. They are not tripping over themselves immediately to be with her. They might think she’s attractive but there’s no love in the first chapters. Which feels real and right for the first installment of a series. There is so much more to their story and so many places it could go.
The why choose aspect of the story doesn’t feel forced for me. There’s no weird fixation on her being a virgin and then sharing her and the usual way these stories go. She has a different bond with each guy which feels more realistic.
The dark aspects don’t feel like they’re shock value. I feel like dark romance authors often throw in random violence just to drive home that it’s a dark romance but it feels cheap. This is not the case here. Despite there being scenes of death and literal torture, it never felt like a made for tv movie. The addition of Baron really added a layer of tension that was not expected. I can’t wait to see if we can trust him or not.
And the ending!!!! What an ending! I’ve had to go back and re-read it just to make sure I read what I thought I read. It’s been in my mind for daaaaays. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series in the future!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2024
4.75 ⭐
The cover caught my attention. The description made me curious. This is my first experience with this genre. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. But then again, I loved The Sopranos and Sons of Anarchy. The vibe of those shows mesh with this genre nicely.
The intro hooked me on a personal level. I lost my father when I was barely in high school. My mother lost her way for a while and I almost lost her too. I took a lot on my shoulders and retreated socially. “She grew thorns, unfurled into her own small world that was easier than the real one.” From that moment on, I cared about the FMC (Zara). Another way to my heart is food. I could taste the meals Zara made for the group. I was excited when she started training too. But it fizzled shortly after an incident. Hopefully the following book(s) venture back down this path.
Each character was distinct. Eros was fun. Reaper was scary. Wraith was mysterious. And Pope was in control. Merge them into one being and you’d have the perfect specimen. They had one thing in common, her. Infatuation, lust, love. I was unsure how I’d feel about the “why choose” trope. The author handled it nicely in my opinion. The relationships were distinct, and genuine.
I haven’t personally witnessed someone in a deep spiral as portrayed in this book. I hope I never have to. Reading about a fictional character was enough. I hope there is light at the end of this dark tunnel.
More page time needed for Baron, of course. And Theo, his second. She appeared less than a handful of times, but I want her character arc to expand. Another strong female to balance against all the testosterone maybe?
Massive cliffhanger on this one. I can’t wait for the next book.
The cover caught my attention. The description made me curious. This is my first experience with this genre. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. But then again, I loved The Sopranos and Sons of Anarchy. The vibe of those shows mesh with this genre nicely.
The intro hooked me on a personal level. I lost my father when I was barely in high school. My mother lost her way for a while and I almost lost her too. I took a lot on my shoulders and retreated socially. “She grew thorns, unfurled into her own small world that was easier than the real one.” From that moment on, I cared about the FMC (Zara). Another way to my heart is food. I could taste the meals Zara made for the group. I was excited when she started training too. But it fizzled shortly after an incident. Hopefully the following book(s) venture back down this path.
Each character was distinct. Eros was fun. Reaper was scary. Wraith was mysterious. And Pope was in control. Merge them into one being and you’d have the perfect specimen. They had one thing in common, her. Infatuation, lust, love. I was unsure how I’d feel about the “why choose” trope. The author handled it nicely in my opinion. The relationships were distinct, and genuine.
I haven’t personally witnessed someone in a deep spiral as portrayed in this book. I hope I never have to. Reading about a fictional character was enough. I hope there is light at the end of this dark tunnel.
More page time needed for Baron, of course. And Theo, his second. She appeared less than a handful of times, but I want her character arc to expand. Another strong female to balance against all the testosterone maybe?
Massive cliffhanger on this one. I can’t wait for the next book.
April 2, 2024
Ok so like I KNOW authors don’t usually read Goodreads reviews, but if you see this charlotte KEEP GOING! This shit is nourishing my soul in a way I haven’t felt in forever. Your writing is medicine for my mind and as a debut novel this was INCREDIBLE.
Getting to the end of this book I was like… so why are the boys still fucking other people and why do I kinda like Baron?? But then I GOT IT and I understand why their arcs took so long to crest, why there really was no “ok boyfriend girlfriend why choose sort of monogamy with 4 guys” vibes at all. Like I was so mad at Ben for so long for Marissa, and Gabriel for being a dick but I’d be absolutely GUTTED if I found out what Zara did at the end. Like usually in these books she’ll start sleeping with one, add another one or two and then by the end they all are happy and you know.. having foursomes or whatever. But she never slept with Alex and as much as that hurt my absolute soul when it happened I GET IT NOW.
And the addiction aspect of this? I felt Zara’s crippling mind in the depths of my soul. I felt her anxiety and panic and it made me wanna puke half the time. In a good way 😌 but her doing blow with Ben at the end broke my soul a little bit because none of them paid attention to her obviously crippling pill and alcohol addition?? Like get tf out of here with that bullshit.
I literally CANT tell who I’m rooting for in the next book but I’m so SO excited to see what happens. Like baron isn’t as awful (in some ways) as he’s made out to be and maybe he’s endgame?? But I loved Ben and Will so fucking much. Alex just needs to be straight up with her and they all need to stop lying. Some shit is gonna go down.
Overall SO GOOD LIKE SUCH A GOOD BOOK. I love actually being able to feel things when I read 😌😌
Getting to the end of this book I was like… so why are the boys still fucking other people and why do I kinda like Baron?? But then I GOT IT and I understand why their arcs took so long to crest, why there really was no “ok boyfriend girlfriend why choose sort of monogamy with 4 guys” vibes at all. Like I was so mad at Ben for so long for Marissa, and Gabriel for being a dick but I’d be absolutely GUTTED if I found out what Zara did at the end. Like usually in these books she’ll start sleeping with one, add another one or two and then by the end they all are happy and you know.. having foursomes or whatever. But she never slept with Alex and as much as that hurt my absolute soul when it happened I GET IT NOW.
And the addiction aspect of this? I felt Zara’s crippling mind in the depths of my soul. I felt her anxiety and panic and it made me wanna puke half the time. In a good way 😌 but her doing blow with Ben at the end broke my soul a little bit because none of them paid attention to her obviously crippling pill and alcohol addition?? Like get tf out of here with that bullshit.
I literally CANT tell who I’m rooting for in the next book but I’m so SO excited to see what happens. Like baron isn’t as awful (in some ways) as he’s made out to be and maybe he’s endgame?? But I loved Ben and Will so fucking much. Alex just needs to be straight up with her and they all need to stop lying. Some shit is gonna go down.
Overall SO GOOD LIKE SUCH A GOOD BOOK. I love actually being able to feel things when I read 😌😌
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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