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Seduce & Destroy
Laney Ravencroft has always lived in the shadow of her powerful, criminal family—a life of gilded cages, haunting loneliness, and a relentless search for freedom.
When her beloved grandfather vanishes, and her ruthless father seizes control of the Ravencroft Estate, Laney’s world spirals into a dangerous web of secrets and betrayal. Forced to relocate to the eerie village of Great Tenor, where dark memories and old enemies linger, Laney’s life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Kenna, a mysterious and captivating enforcer.
Kenna Whether is everything Laney has longed for—confident, enigmatic, and strangely familiar.
But as the two women are drawn together, Laney’s feelings for Kenna deepen into something more than she ever anticipated. Amidst the looming threat of a family war and the chilling echoes of the past, Laney must unravel the truth behind her grandfather's death, confront her father’s brutal ambitions, and navigate a forbidden attraction that could either save or destroy her.
In a world where loyalty is everything and love is a luxury few can afford, Laney faces an impossible to follow her heart or to uphold the legacy of a family steeped in blood and vengeance. Will she uncover the secrets buried in the ruins of her past before it’s too late, or will her quest for truth lead to a destiny she never imagined?
All she knew was that she needed her.
This is a Carmilla retelling; knowledge of the original text is not necessary to understand this book. This 80k dark romance novel is a second chance, lesbian romance with a gothic setting, betrayals, secrets, enemies-to-lovers, obsession, deception and forbidden elements. Warnings for violence with weapons, dub-con, death of family members, death, gore, crude language and other mature themes. See website for a complete list.
Contains sexually explicit material. Intended for mature audiences only.
When her beloved grandfather vanishes, and her ruthless father seizes control of the Ravencroft Estate, Laney’s world spirals into a dangerous web of secrets and betrayal. Forced to relocate to the eerie village of Great Tenor, where dark memories and old enemies linger, Laney’s life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Kenna, a mysterious and captivating enforcer.
Kenna Whether is everything Laney has longed for—confident, enigmatic, and strangely familiar.
But as the two women are drawn together, Laney’s feelings for Kenna deepen into something more than she ever anticipated. Amidst the looming threat of a family war and the chilling echoes of the past, Laney must unravel the truth behind her grandfather's death, confront her father’s brutal ambitions, and navigate a forbidden attraction that could either save or destroy her.
In a world where loyalty is everything and love is a luxury few can afford, Laney faces an impossible to follow her heart or to uphold the legacy of a family steeped in blood and vengeance. Will she uncover the secrets buried in the ruins of her past before it’s too late, or will her quest for truth lead to a destiny she never imagined?
All she knew was that she needed her.
This is a Carmilla retelling; knowledge of the original text is not necessary to understand this book. This 80k dark romance novel is a second chance, lesbian romance with a gothic setting, betrayals, secrets, enemies-to-lovers, obsession, deception and forbidden elements. Warnings for violence with weapons, dub-con, death of family members, death, gore, crude language and other mature themes. See website for a complete list.
Contains sexually explicit material. Intended for mature audiences only.
- GenresLesbianDark RomanceDark
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 26, 2025
first of all … sapphic mafia romance ??? you already know i SCREAMED when my book bestie recommended this to me 😍
this is a dark carmilla retelling, sapphic (FF), mafia romance, strong and powerful characters, dark secrets, hidden identity, isolation, plot driven, hacking / computing, rivals, reincarnation of laura and carmilla inspired, mental health, grief, duo pov, and standalone 🖤
“She was everything I wanted to be and everything I feared I would never be. My heart ran marathons in her sightline, but despite my fear, I always wished her eyes would find me as mine did hers, but they never did.”
this was a bit chaotic but is till ate it up 👏🏼 at some points i felt like it was a bit too dragged on. it kind of lost the plot for a bit but then picked back up again. if you’re looking for a smut filled book … this isn’t it. this is definitely more plot and character driven. from the very beginning i knew what i was getting into. i never read carmilla but after this i want to so bad omg 😩 even though i didn’t read it i still understood what this book was about and where it was going !!
“Then seduce and destroy me, baby. I’m all yours.”
this is a dark carmilla retelling, sapphic (FF), mafia romance, strong and powerful characters, dark secrets, hidden identity, isolation, plot driven, hacking / computing, rivals, reincarnation of laura and carmilla inspired, mental health, grief, duo pov, and standalone 🖤
“She was everything I wanted to be and everything I feared I would never be. My heart ran marathons in her sightline, but despite my fear, I always wished her eyes would find me as mine did hers, but they never did.”
this was a bit chaotic but is till ate it up 👏🏼 at some points i felt like it was a bit too dragged on. it kind of lost the plot for a bit but then picked back up again. if you’re looking for a smut filled book … this isn’t it. this is definitely more plot and character driven. from the very beginning i knew what i was getting into. i never read carmilla but after this i want to so bad omg 😩 even though i didn’t read it i still understood what this book was about and where it was going !!
“Then seduce and destroy me, baby. I’m all yours.”
June 19, 2026
Probably closer to 2.75 stars for me personally.
I don’t usually write such long reviews on books I’m on the fence with but it felt important to point out. This is absolutely no hate on the author or the book. This is my personal opinion and I couldn’t be completely wrong, we can’t love every book. I’m definitely excited to see what else this author does because I love dark/mafia romances and for a debut novel this is good and has so much potential to be great!
There are some grammar and spelling errors but it wasn’t too much that it took me out the story. There were some parts though at the start of the book that could have benefited from more description or explanation as I felt a little lost, especially when new side characters were introduced. I know this is a debut novel, so that stuff comes with practice and didn’t make me enjoy the book any less.
I will say though, the more I went on, the more confused I got. Like I kind of understood where the plot was going, that was clear. The rival family’s, revenge, mafia families. But it just felt “off”, like I didn’t seem to fully understand the underlying conflict 🤔 I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. It had so much potential. The front of the book says it’s “A Dark Mafia Carmilla Retelling” but then inside the book it says “This is a loose Carmilla retelling. Knowledge of the original text is not necessary to understand this book.” I haven’t read the original but I’ve read a couple retellings and I know the story broadly. I didn’t get a single “Carmilla” vibe from this book 🤣
I felt there were times a character would say something, maybe about their history/back story and it seemed random or lacked explanation so it didn’t help in making me feel a little lost.
We definitely needed more of Kenna and Laney’s chemistry on page because we got parts of it but it felt rushed, same with the spice. Not that it needed to be heavily spicy. It just needed pushing a little more so that we could truly get invested in this pair as a couple.
Written in First Person with 2x POV’s. Dark Romance, Sapphic Mafia, Carmilla Retelling? Grieving From Loss, Revenge. 3x Spicy Scenes.
I don’t usually write such long reviews on books I’m on the fence with but it felt important to point out. This is absolutely no hate on the author or the book. This is my personal opinion and I couldn’t be completely wrong, we can’t love every book. I’m definitely excited to see what else this author does because I love dark/mafia romances and for a debut novel this is good and has so much potential to be great!
There are some grammar and spelling errors but it wasn’t too much that it took me out the story. There were some parts though at the start of the book that could have benefited from more description or explanation as I felt a little lost, especially when new side characters were introduced. I know this is a debut novel, so that stuff comes with practice and didn’t make me enjoy the book any less.
I will say though, the more I went on, the more confused I got. Like I kind of understood where the plot was going, that was clear. The rival family’s, revenge, mafia families. But it just felt “off”, like I didn’t seem to fully understand the underlying conflict 🤔 I don’t know, maybe it’s just me. It had so much potential. The front of the book says it’s “A Dark Mafia Carmilla Retelling” but then inside the book it says “This is a loose Carmilla retelling. Knowledge of the original text is not necessary to understand this book.” I haven’t read the original but I’ve read a couple retellings and I know the story broadly. I didn’t get a single “Carmilla” vibe from this book 🤣
I felt there were times a character would say something, maybe about their history/back story and it seemed random or lacked explanation so it didn’t help in making me feel a little lost.
We definitely needed more of Kenna and Laney’s chemistry on page because we got parts of it but it felt rushed, same with the spice. Not that it needed to be heavily spicy. It just needed pushing a little more so that we could truly get invested in this pair as a couple.
Written in First Person with 2x POV’s. Dark Romance, Sapphic Mafia, Carmilla Retelling? Grieving From Loss, Revenge. 3x Spicy Scenes.
September 1, 2024
♥️ British Mafia
♥️ Mutual pining
♥️ Betrayals & deception
♥️ Gothic setting
♥️ Lesbian romance
♥️ Obsession
♥️ Second chance
♥️ Forbidden
MFC Laney Ravencroft the mafia princess has always lived in the shadow of her powerful, criminal family…
Kenna is the Enforcer, the chemistry between both characters was written really well..
This book was full of angst, also some funny moments too.
It’s also a bit spicy too and I’m all for it..
"YOU HAVE TO BE WITH ME, LOVING ME. UNTIL THE END:
ME AND STILL BE WITH
ME. HATING ME THROUGH EVERY THING
IDHARENCE ISNT AN OPTION FOR ME"
♥️ Mutual pining
♥️ Betrayals & deception
♥️ Gothic setting
♥️ Lesbian romance
♥️ Obsession
♥️ Second chance
♥️ Forbidden
MFC Laney Ravencroft the mafia princess has always lived in the shadow of her powerful, criminal family…
Kenna is the Enforcer, the chemistry between both characters was written really well..
This book was full of angst, also some funny moments too.
It’s also a bit spicy too and I’m all for it..
"YOU HAVE TO BE WITH ME, LOVING ME. UNTIL THE END:
ME AND STILL BE WITH
ME. HATING ME THROUGH EVERY THING
IDHARENCE ISNT AN OPTION FOR ME"
September 7, 2024
Arc review
I enjoyed reading the book when I got into it after six chapters. It was really good though at times I was confused on what the plot was and what was happening. When it became aware, I understood every plot twist before it happened.
The characters sometimes made decisions that had me grip my head and I’ll be like WOWW WHYYYY LANEY. WHYYYYY KENA.
But when they are together, their spark is palpable and their connection amazing. LANEY deserved so much better than her trash of a father who treats her like she’s breakable. I’m glad she was able to find a happy family in kena and get their trust.
I enjoyed reading the book when I got into it after six chapters. It was really good though at times I was confused on what the plot was and what was happening. When it became aware, I understood every plot twist before it happened.
The characters sometimes made decisions that had me grip my head and I’ll be like WOWW WHYYYY LANEY. WHYYYYY KENA.
But when they are together, their spark is palpable and their connection amazing. LANEY deserved so much better than her trash of a father who treats her like she’s breakable. I’m glad she was able to find a happy family in kena and get their trust.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2024
“i want to be with you, near you, breathing you in every day. i’m tired of pushing you away, it was never what i wanted.”
this was a bit all over the place, and it took me a while to get into the story. not that the writing was bad, but at times it felt like the author was more concerned about the retelling aspect of the book than the overall plot itself and the story suffered from it. still, i did enjoy the references to carmilla, i mean, what lesbian wouldn’t? that callback to blood sucking and boobs was the perfect nod. but i wanted the characters to have more depth and dimension to themselves without them feeling just like adaptations of the originals. and the “will they, won’t they” was very enticing at first, feeding the forbidden atmosphere, but by the end of the book i was over the neverending back and forth, along the way it lost its power because there was no tension. i do like them as a couple, but i wish there was more to their past “together” that made this an actual second chance romance; would have loved if the author leaned more into the supposed hallucinations and sprinkled some flashbacks throughout the book.
* i was sent an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review
this was a bit all over the place, and it took me a while to get into the story. not that the writing was bad, but at times it felt like the author was more concerned about the retelling aspect of the book than the overall plot itself and the story suffered from it. still, i did enjoy the references to carmilla, i mean, what lesbian wouldn’t? that callback to blood sucking and boobs was the perfect nod. but i wanted the characters to have more depth and dimension to themselves without them feeling just like adaptations of the originals. and the “will they, won’t they” was very enticing at first, feeding the forbidden atmosphere, but by the end of the book i was over the neverending back and forth, along the way it lost its power because there was no tension. i do like them as a couple, but i wish there was more to their past “together” that made this an actual second chance romance; would have loved if the author leaned more into the supposed hallucinations and sprinkled some flashbacks throughout the book.
* i was sent an arc by the author in exchange for a honest review
December 24, 2024
this being marketed as a carmilla retelling is actually criminal because apart from the name you would need a magnifying glass to identify which parts of this come from carmilla.
also the editing in this book is awful and there are actual editors notes left in the actual text of the book. i’m also pretty sure that there are chapters in this book which are out of order of parts of the story that are out of order.
also the editing in this book is awful and there are actual editors notes left in the actual text of the book. i’m also pretty sure that there are chapters in this book which are out of order of parts of the story that are out of order.
August 26, 2024
“Then seduce and destroy me, baby. I’m all yours.” — i love laneykenna so much. i could take them both and i don’t mean in a fight. anyway, laneykenna r princesses and you should all read them. dark sapphic books i love you so much!
“Walking hand in hand, I revelled in the stomp of her boots and the clink of my mini heel. This was us.”
p.s. the epilogue is so cute.
p.p.s thank you so much poppy for the arc!!!
“Walking hand in hand, I revelled in the stomp of her boots and the clink of my mini heel. This was us.”
p.s. the epilogue is so cute.
p.p.s thank you so much poppy for the arc!!!
September 6, 2024
arc review 🫶🏻
4,5/5 ⭐
Two women in love but separated by circumstances.
In this book we have Laney who is a mafia princess with skills in both computer security and knives and Kenna a mysterious and charismatic girl.
Life gave them the chance to meet again after years of distance and since this book is a retelling of Carmilla I like the thought that they could be the reincarnation of Laura and Carmilla who meet again nowadays 🖇️
Personally I have always wanted to read Carmilla but even if it is not necessary to do so to fully understand the text, it made me want to.
🖤 "Blindly following my teenage phantom as she led me into the darkness"
Poppy knows how excited I was for this book to come out and in fact I told her how I had dreamed about it before I even knew I was getting the arc 💭🗝️
The setting was one of my favorite things, but I also loved the romantic story as much as the rivalry and revenge part. I also really liked how Laney, despite having always lived her life locked up at home, spoke at the age of 14 about this girl and her crush/admiration for her in a totally natural way as it would be nice if everyone could do it ❤️🩹
And in general the vibes in this book were immaculate, the descriptions made you always feel there with them at Great Tenor 🏘️
🖤 "Then seduce and destroy me, baby. I'm all yours."
We have representations of mental health, of grief in different forms, of isolation and hope, and how you can find a home even in a single person.
You can see the study behind writing this story that uses a very poetic language sometimes but at the same time raw. At the beginning I must say that I was a bit confused in some aspects that I did not find too clear but then everything makes sense as you continue reading.
🖤 "But why'd she have to do it like that? Like a strategy. Seduce and destroy."
I would like to get down on my knees in front of these two beautiful women, as strong as they are fragile, for whom I have developed a huge crush but who I would especially love to hug 🫂
4,5/5 ⭐
Two women in love but separated by circumstances.
In this book we have Laney who is a mafia princess with skills in both computer security and knives and Kenna a mysterious and charismatic girl.
Life gave them the chance to meet again after years of distance and since this book is a retelling of Carmilla I like the thought that they could be the reincarnation of Laura and Carmilla who meet again nowadays 🖇️
Personally I have always wanted to read Carmilla but even if it is not necessary to do so to fully understand the text, it made me want to.
🖤 "Blindly following my teenage phantom as she led me into the darkness"
Poppy knows how excited I was for this book to come out and in fact I told her how I had dreamed about it before I even knew I was getting the arc 💭🗝️
The setting was one of my favorite things, but I also loved the romantic story as much as the rivalry and revenge part. I also really liked how Laney, despite having always lived her life locked up at home, spoke at the age of 14 about this girl and her crush/admiration for her in a totally natural way as it would be nice if everyone could do it ❤️🩹
And in general the vibes in this book were immaculate, the descriptions made you always feel there with them at Great Tenor 🏘️
🖤 "Then seduce and destroy me, baby. I'm all yours."
We have representations of mental health, of grief in different forms, of isolation and hope, and how you can find a home even in a single person.
You can see the study behind writing this story that uses a very poetic language sometimes but at the same time raw. At the beginning I must say that I was a bit confused in some aspects that I did not find too clear but then everything makes sense as you continue reading.
🖤 "But why'd she have to do it like that? Like a strategy. Seduce and destroy."
I would like to get down on my knees in front of these two beautiful women, as strong as they are fragile, for whom I have developed a huge crush but who I would especially love to hug 🫂
September 7, 2024
💀 Seduce & Destroy - 3.5 ⭐️💀
This book was exactly what I needed—another dark, emotionally intense mafia romance but with lesbians! 🤤🤤 I finally feel seen 😏 Because diving headfirst into betrayal, violence, and obsession is awesome right? Throw in a U-Haul van and you’ve got the lesbians covered 😅
Who doesn’t want to live vicariously through a mafia queen who can break bones and hearts with equal precision? 💋✨ It’s like The Godfather but with more sexual tension, zero time for therapy and gaydar. ❤️🔥
The Sapphic romance…? 🤤🤤 Let’s just say it makes your average love story look like a casual coffee date. 🔥 If you’re into powerful, morally grey women who fall in love while shooting (literally and physically 😜), this one’s for you!
Kenna is just 🤤🤤 dark haired with a leather jacket and dominating HELLO!! Completely LOVED her! The way she just wants to protect Laney and do anything for her but then completely destroys her in the bedroom!! Oh Lordy, talk about tingle! It nearly popped! 💦
❤️🔥 “Then seduce and destroy me, baby. I’m all yours.” ❤️🔥
I did struggle initially getting into it as i struggled to keep up, and at points throughout but i managed to navigate my way through the plot. Some parts seemed random without conjecture so I found myself questioning myself if I’d missed something. ☠️
The written chemistry between the characters is fantastic, Poppy has some great talent, I really enjoyed the book and it’s amazing to see a Sapphic representation in the dark mafia world and especially with Carmilla vibes 😍
I’d certainly recommend this book as a read 📖
❤️🔥💦❤️🔥💦❤️🔥💦❤️🔥💦❤️🔥💦❤️🔥💦❤️🔥💦❤️🔥💦💦❤️🔥💦❤️🔥
September 3, 2024
A retelling of Carmilla, I jumped right in at that point! This is the story of Laney and Kenna, both Mafia princesses, in completely different lights. Kenna grew up with a harsh hand, with knowledge of betrayal, and was raised with revenge at the forefront. Laney was raised being both sheltered and ignored, unaware of her proper place in the family, and raised with a distorted version of her family history.
Well, Kenna, oh god, yes! She is strong, dominant, and takes control of a situation in her leather jacket and cocky attitude. Laney needs that strength to bring herself forward; along with being brave; she is a kind soul who is pushed beyond her moral choices for family honour. The chemistry between these two certainly got me hot, I found myself reaching for my vibrator on a few occasions while reading this book!
I loved the storytelling. The plot was refreshing and original, and it kept me absorbed from start to finish. The character development was on point. The relationship between the two women was incredibly well-written, and I loved them together.
If you love a feisty female main character alongside another female main character with spicy scenes that make you wonder if you need a man, this book is for you!
Well, Kenna, oh god, yes! She is strong, dominant, and takes control of a situation in her leather jacket and cocky attitude. Laney needs that strength to bring herself forward; along with being brave; she is a kind soul who is pushed beyond her moral choices for family honour. The chemistry between these two certainly got me hot, I found myself reaching for my vibrator on a few occasions while reading this book!
I loved the storytelling. The plot was refreshing and original, and it kept me absorbed from start to finish. The character development was on point. The relationship between the two women was incredibly well-written, and I loved them together.
If you love a feisty female main character alongside another female main character with spicy scenes that make you wonder if you need a man, this book is for you!
September 16, 2024
3.5⭐️
This was my first Dark Romance FF book.
I've never read Carmilla, so I had a pretty open mind.
Laney is a sheltered Mafia princess who has always felt alone and isolated. Despite this she’s quite a strong person, she exudes confidence and power, shes heavily involved in the empire but she's longing for that girl she encountered while attending a short time at school however she does find herself questioning if that girl was even real.
Kenna, she's strong, fiesty and dominant, exactly the kind of person Laney needs. Kenna harbours a secret that will destroy Laney but what Laney has been told of her family history is not entirely accurate. Secrets are unveiled, hidden identities are exposed and a war that redefines Laney's life and all that she holds dear.
This book took me longer than I had planned. At times I struggled with what was happening, there was content added in that had me thinking I had overlooked parts of the story and I had to re-read chapters.
It's a plot driven book, lots of detailed information on the inner workings of the syndicate, and their strategies.
If you love a mafia read that's more plot than spice - this is a good read.
Please familiarise yourself with the content before reading.
This was my first Dark Romance FF book.
I've never read Carmilla, so I had a pretty open mind.
Laney is a sheltered Mafia princess who has always felt alone and isolated. Despite this she’s quite a strong person, she exudes confidence and power, shes heavily involved in the empire but she's longing for that girl she encountered while attending a short time at school however she does find herself questioning if that girl was even real.
Kenna, she's strong, fiesty and dominant, exactly the kind of person Laney needs. Kenna harbours a secret that will destroy Laney but what Laney has been told of her family history is not entirely accurate. Secrets are unveiled, hidden identities are exposed and a war that redefines Laney's life and all that she holds dear.
This book took me longer than I had planned. At times I struggled with what was happening, there was content added in that had me thinking I had overlooked parts of the story and I had to re-read chapters.
It's a plot driven book, lots of detailed information on the inner workings of the syndicate, and their strategies.
If you love a mafia read that's more plot than spice - this is a good read.
Please familiarise yourself with the content before reading.
August 31, 2024
Arc Review:
Kenna and Laney’s journey was captivating, marked by the forbidden nature of their relationship, the web of lies and secrets, and a touch of angst. The writing skillfully brought their characters to life, with their depth and complexity impressively portrayed. The plot was equally engaging. As a debut work, this novel is a very good read.
Kenna and Laney’s relationship was both rich and dynamic, featuring a perfect blend of banter, chemistry, trust, and love. I particularly appreciated the evolution of Kenna’s feelings—from wanting revenge against the Ravencroft family to fall in love with the Ravencroft Girl
Laney was an amazing character: brave, strong, and kind-hearted—traits that are rare in books. The duality of her character was compelling. And, it’s worth reading, And Kenna? Omg she was hot, I'd be lying if I denied.
And thank you for the ARC. I'm looking forward to read the new work from you in the near future.
Kenna and Laney’s journey was captivating, marked by the forbidden nature of their relationship, the web of lies and secrets, and a touch of angst. The writing skillfully brought their characters to life, with their depth and complexity impressively portrayed. The plot was equally engaging. As a debut work, this novel is a very good read.
Kenna and Laney’s relationship was both rich and dynamic, featuring a perfect blend of banter, chemistry, trust, and love. I particularly appreciated the evolution of Kenna’s feelings—from wanting revenge against the Ravencroft family to fall in love with the Ravencroft Girl
Laney was an amazing character: brave, strong, and kind-hearted—traits that are rare in books. The duality of her character was compelling. And, it’s worth reading, And Kenna? Omg she was hot, I'd be lying if I denied.
And thank you for the ARC. I'm looking forward to read the new work from you in the near future.
August 29, 2024
Laney Ravencroft is a self proclaimed 'mafia princess'. Her Grandfather is the ruler of one of the biggest crime families in the UK and his sudden demise leaves her father in charge. Due to the suspicious circumstances around her grandfathers death, Laneys father uproots his whole operation from the centre of London to the countryside and hires extra security to guard them and their operations.
As the head of security for the family, Laney helps train the new recruits and there is one cadet in particular that Laney is interested in - Kenna.
Despite all the war, loss and generally unsavoury goings on - Laney and Kenna grow closer and although there are doubts between the new companions and insecurities on Laney's part as a sheltered creature, a relationship blossoms.
But all is not as it seems as Laney's world is torn apart. Was it all a ploy??
As the head of security for the family, Laney helps train the new recruits and there is one cadet in particular that Laney is interested in - Kenna.
Despite all the war, loss and generally unsavoury goings on - Laney and Kenna grow closer and although there are doubts between the new companions and insecurities on Laney's part as a sheltered creature, a relationship blossoms.
But all is not as it seems as Laney's world is torn apart. Was it all a ploy??
September 4, 2024
A stellar debut from Poppy Mercer and a great addition to the Mafia genre!
300 pages of: London Mafia, isolation, loss, past secrets, hidden identity, attraction, desire, deception, FF, two bad ass FMC’s, friendship, found family, revenge, war, stargazing and marshmallows.
I’ve read a few FF romances but this was my first FF Mafia read and I really enjoyed it! The story follows Mafia Princess Laney and one of her father’s enforcers, Kenna. We see how their worlds become intertwined, the feelings that they discover and the unraveling of hidden secrets.
This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions as I was drawn into it. It was well paced and I really love how descriptive Poppy’s writing is! She tells the story of her characters so well and the world-building is so detailed. I’m excited to see what else she has planned for future works.
300 pages of: London Mafia, isolation, loss, past secrets, hidden identity, attraction, desire, deception, FF, two bad ass FMC’s, friendship, found family, revenge, war, stargazing and marshmallows.
I’ve read a few FF romances but this was my first FF Mafia read and I really enjoyed it! The story follows Mafia Princess Laney and one of her father’s enforcers, Kenna. We see how their worlds become intertwined, the feelings that they discover and the unraveling of hidden secrets.
This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions as I was drawn into it. It was well paced and I really love how descriptive Poppy’s writing is! She tells the story of her characters so well and the world-building is so detailed. I’m excited to see what else she has planned for future works.
October 31, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars!
AN FF MAFIA ROMANCE WITH AN ACTUAL PLOT? IM SAT.
this was a debut novel but istg i could not tell. laney and kenna were the sweetest thing ever, im telling you!
“I want to be with you, near you, breathing you in every day. I’m tired of pushing you away, it was never what I wanted.” Somehow, my declaration didn’t feel like a betrayal of our families, but more in the spirit of honouring them. “I love you.”
My heart fluttered, but she just smiled as she
leaned closer, mouthing promise at the same time as me before our lips touched. The kiss heated and I moved myself to be on top of her.
“I love you.” I whispered.
“I know, princess,” she said, smug.
I slapped her arm, but I was smiling.
I would never wonder again if I was alone in this world, because I never was. She was always there. I held her tighter as I fell into a peaceful sleep. Sans migraines.
I was loved.
AN FF MAFIA ROMANCE WITH AN ACTUAL PLOT? IM SAT.
this was a debut novel but istg i could not tell. laney and kenna were the sweetest thing ever, im telling you!
“I want to be with you, near you, breathing you in every day. I’m tired of pushing you away, it was never what I wanted.” Somehow, my declaration didn’t feel like a betrayal of our families, but more in the spirit of honouring them. “I love you.”
My heart fluttered, but she just smiled as she
leaned closer, mouthing promise at the same time as me before our lips touched. The kiss heated and I moved myself to be on top of her.
“I love you.” I whispered.
“I know, princess,” she said, smug.
I slapped her arm, but I was smiling.
I would never wonder again if I was alone in this world, because I never was. She was always there. I held her tighter as I fell into a peaceful sleep. Sans migraines.
I was loved.
August 27, 2024
4.5
This was my first Dark Romance FF book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The forbidden romance and emotional longing between Laney and Kenna were written beautifully. The struggle of being part of a mafia family was described well and I liked how descriptive the author was with tactical talks and planning. Poppy Mercer's writing hooks you from the opening line and they do a good job of ensuring all your attention is focused on the plot and wanting to know what happens next. This was an incredibly well-written debut, and I am excited to read the author's future works.
Thank you to Poppy Mercer for giving me a free copy in return for an honest review.
This was my first Dark Romance FF book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The forbidden romance and emotional longing between Laney and Kenna were written beautifully. The struggle of being part of a mafia family was described well and I liked how descriptive the author was with tactical talks and planning. Poppy Mercer's writing hooks you from the opening line and they do a good job of ensuring all your attention is focused on the plot and wanting to know what happens next. This was an incredibly well-written debut, and I am excited to read the author's future works.
Thank you to Poppy Mercer for giving me a free copy in return for an honest review.
September 6, 2024
I'm so thankful I had the chance to read this book as an ARC reader! I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first because I had never read an FF Romance before, but I ended up loving this book so much! The tension between Laney and Kenna had me blushing and giggling at 3 a.m. on a freaking Monday. Their connection was beautifully portrayed right from the start.
I mean, we have a smart mafia princess and her stunning phantom on a mission for revenge—do I even need to say more?
Poppy hooked me on these two from the very first chapter and did not disappoint in keeping me invested in their story. I can’t wait to read more of her work!
I mean, we have a smart mafia princess and her stunning phantom on a mission for revenge—do I even need to say more?
Poppy hooked me on these two from the very first chapter and did not disappoint in keeping me invested in their story. I can’t wait to read more of her work!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2024
What a debut this is! This is a FMC x FMC mafia princess dark romance and I am here for it.
It’s incredibly detailed and beautifully written, you would absolutely not know this was a debut.
There are so many twists and turns in this and it kept me guessing throughout the entire book as to where it was going which I really enjoyed!
There characters were absolutely fantastic and again, the detail that Poppy gives here characters is amazing. It’s dual POV so you get the lovely Laney and Kenna’s side of the story too.
If you like a slow burn, mafia dark romances and FMC x FMC stories, I would definitely recommend this.
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
It’s incredibly detailed and beautifully written, you would absolutely not know this was a debut.
There are so many twists and turns in this and it kept me guessing throughout the entire book as to where it was going which I really enjoyed!
There characters were absolutely fantastic and again, the detail that Poppy gives here characters is amazing. It’s dual POV so you get the lovely Laney and Kenna’s side of the story too.
If you like a slow burn, mafia dark romances and FMC x FMC stories, I would definitely recommend this.
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
August 19, 2024
first of all, thank you Poppy for giving the opportunity to be a part of this book, i love you.
i love reading dark sapphic books!! WE NEED MORE OF THESE!!
this was such a quick read and it is good for being debut novel! originally it was going to be a 3.7 star read BUT reading the epilogue is definitely a 4 star.
i got so stressed during this book LMAOOOOO i almost wanted to punch kenna for a second but i love lenay and kenna so much. THE TENSION BETWEEN THEM AT THE BEGINNING 😫😫
now if you ask me about my favorite scene if this book uhhh… i can’t tell you that. (the gun scene. it was 100% the gun scene.) i ate this book up.
honestly, i will be re reading and you’ll see me back
once again, thank you Poppy for everything and IM IN THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AISHENSBAAAAAAA
i love reading dark sapphic books!! WE NEED MORE OF THESE!!
this was such a quick read and it is good for being debut novel! originally it was going to be a 3.7 star read BUT reading the epilogue is definitely a 4 star.
i got so stressed during this book LMAOOOOO i almost wanted to punch kenna for a second but i love lenay and kenna so much. THE TENSION BETWEEN THEM AT THE BEGINNING 😫😫
now if you ask me about my favorite scene if this book uhhh… i can’t tell you that. (the gun scene. it was 100% the gun scene.) i ate this book up.
honestly, i will be re reading and you’ll see me back
once again, thank you Poppy for everything and IM IN THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AISHENSBAAAAAAA
September 2, 2024
✨ARC Review✨
4 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️
It took me a few chapters to get into this but once I was fully immersed I enjoyed this Dark Mafia FF Romance.
I would totally recommend this to those who enjoy a Mafia Romance with plenty of description ☺️
- British Mafia
- Lesbian romance
- Mutual pining
- Betrayals & deception
- Obsession
- Forbidden Romance
- Second chance
4 ⭐️
🌶️🌶️
It took me a few chapters to get into this but once I was fully immersed I enjoyed this Dark Mafia FF Romance.
I would totally recommend this to those who enjoy a Mafia Romance with plenty of description ☺️
- British Mafia
- Lesbian romance
- Mutual pining
- Betrayals & deception
- Obsession
- Forbidden Romance
- Second chance
October 12, 2024
I was bored..almost the entire way. I’m not sure if that’s because I caned the mafia ff and had enough or it just wasn’t my cuppa.
There’s some strong parts, but some really really weak character building. I didn’t connect with either of them.
There’s some strong parts, but some really really weak character building. I didn’t connect with either of them.
January 1, 2025
the storyline was so strange? it felt like the characters focused on several things at once and only actually answered the very first thing they started with. i’m still not entirely sure what the story was about. not in a it’s confusing type of way, but a not much connects together way.
August 31, 2024
3.5
Some part where really good for me and others where just meh I just don’t think this book was for me.nothing wrong with it I just personal couldn’t get into it
Some part where really good for me and others where just meh I just don’t think this book was for me.nothing wrong with it I just personal couldn’t get into it
September 2, 2024
I truly enjoyed this book! The mystery and banter were my favorite parts, can’t wait to read more from you!
October 25, 2024
This book is so perfect oml
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews