Zijn Gebod

The Rite #1

by Natasha Knight

Ik leef in een wereld waar geheimen domineren.
In een samenleving gebouwd op macht, op rijkdom en op eeuwenoude dynastieën.
Waar mannen koningen zijn en vrouwen slechts pionnen.
Zolang ik me kan herinneren, droom ik ervan om te ontsnappen aan de verstrikkende verwachtingen.
Maar ontsnappen kan ik nu wel vergeten.
Want ik heb een fatale fout gemaakt en dat kostte me het kleine beetje vrijheid dat ik nog had.
Nu zit ik gevangen in een verhitte strijd met een man die de volledige controle over me heeft.
Hij is de beste vriend van mijn broer.
Hij is mijn vijand, mijn duivel en tegelijkertijd ook mijn troost.
Zijn woorden hebben de kracht om me te pijnigen.
Ik zit gevangen in zijn koninkrijk en zolang ik hier vastzit, heb ik geen keus.
Het enige wat ik kan doen, is het spel spelen volgens zijn regels.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, BDSM, Mafia Romance, Contemporary Romance

282 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2022

About the author

Natasha Knight is the USA Today Bestselling author of Romantic Suspense and Dark Romance Novels. She has sold over a million books and is translated into six languages. She currently lives in The Netherlands with her husband and two daughters and when she’s not writing, she’s walking in the woods listening to a book, sitting in a corner reading or off exploring the world as often as she can get away.

Write Natasha here:
natasha@natasha-knight.com

Check out her books here:
https://natasha-knight.com

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Reviews

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic Society story from A. Zavarelli and Natasha Knight!!!

Mercedes and Judge are two characters that intrigued me throughout the Society trilogy. The authors gave us just enough of them together to make us crave more of their story. I knew there had to be more to their characters than just what we were seeing from Santiago and Ivy's perspectives, and I wasn't wrong! They're both complex individuals shaped by their past trauma and fucked up families.



Before this book, Mercedes De La Rosa had very little of my sympathy, but while reading His Rule, my heart fucking bled for her! The authors did an amazing job of making me feel every single emotion that Mercedes felt. My stomach was in knots, and my chest hurt for the majority of the book. I wanted to beat the shit out of everyone that was causing her pain, and if I could go back in time, I would kick the shit out of the people that caused her heartache in the past, too.



Mercedes may be jealous and bitchy to Ivy, but it's partially because she's just so damn starved for love. The only person that has ever shown her the slightest amount of it sent her away to be locked up, punished, and "tamed" by his friend. She's stripped of her independence, freedom, and autonomy by the very person that's supposed to care for her most, and that's after she's already been forced to lead her entire life dictated by her family, the society, and her role in both.



Lawson "Judge" Montgomery consistently made me want to hug him and punch him in the dick. Not only does he let his paranoia about becoming his grandfather stand in the way of his happiness, he mistreats Mercedes, because she gets under his skin like no one ever has. Obviously, that's where the urge to destroy his dick comes in.



The "honorable" Judge is all about control, but when it comes to Santiago's little sister, he struggles to maintain it. Underneath his calm, collected appearance, he's a tortured mess. Like Mercedes, he's never known true unconditional love. He's only ever known manipulation, twisted psychological games, and cruelty, hence why the man needs a hug.



His Rule captivated me, enraged me, and broke my fucking heart. It was perfectly paced, fantastically written, and full of tension, angst, and emotion. I picked it up with the intention of reading a few chapters before watching Netflix, and instead, I finished the entire book in one sitting. I just couldn't pull myself away once I started reading. Mercedes and Judge's allure was too strong. Their spellbinding slow burn kept my eyes glued to the page, and the ending left me aching for more.



Dark, mafia romance, and Society fans, this one's for you!

*The Society trilogy is required reading before you dive into His Rule. Mercedes and Judge are seen throughout those books, and the events that take place within them are the reason Mercedes is with Judge in the first place. Not only that, reading the books out of order will spoil Santiago and Ivy's story if you ever plan to read it.* 

[bookaddict lass (kate) · Rating 4 out of 5]

why are all dark mafia romance books the same but i still keep reading and enjoying them? hopefully i'll never get tired of them and have a semblance of stability in my life in the form of having fun reading simple stories about made men/gangsters/underworld rulers who fall in love with bland bossy girls🤩

[Bibi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Underwhelming.

[✰ Liz ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a dark and suspenseful romance, then His Rule is definitely the book for you! A. Zavarelli and Natasha Knight have written a complex and engaging story that will keep you hooked until the very end.

His Rule is a follow-up novel to the blockbuster series The Society Series. In The Society Series, we met Santiago's sister Mercedes and his best friend Judge. Mercedes has made it her mission to stir up trouble wherever she goes and Santiago decides that she needs some guidance in order to get back on track! Santiago gives Mercedes to Judge in order to bring her back from a horrific sequence of events that has turned her world upside down. Mercedes is a firecracker and although she loves her brother fiercely the Society Rules and new events have pushed her to a new level of fury. Judge is loyal to Santiago and the Society and wants nothing more than to protect Mercedes. But when he's faced with her independent spirit and fiery temper, will he be able to keep his hands off her?
Told in dual POV, His Rule has characters that are well-developed and complex, and the plot is full of twists and turns. Mercedes and Judge are both damaged and together the fire between them is explosive. Ms. Knight and Ms. Zavarelli make a stellar storytelling team and the world they have created is addictive and darkly romantic.

Overall, His Rule is another standout creation by the great A. Zavarelli and Natasha Knight. Together they have created a dark and suspenseful world that is sure to keep you captivated from beginning to end. Although you can read this book as a stand-alone, I think it is imperative to read The Society Series first in order to really appreciate the full scope of the story and the characters! If you're looking for a new romance series to get hooked on then this is the read for you.


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Shaikha · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gahhhhhh, this book!!!! I went from having to stifle my yawns for almost 30% of the book to staying up wayyyyyyy past my bedtime and devouring it in one sitting.

Let’s not dwell too much on the fact that Ms. Knight and Zavarelli consciously named the MCs Mercedes (h) and Judge (H). Kind of outlandish, but oh-kay. The name Judge eventually grew on me, but I couldn’t get used to Mercedes, it made me wince everytime I read it.

“Lawson “Judge” Montgomery is an unyielding, razor-sharp beast of a man. He’s as cold-hearted as they come, and he lets it be known in the harsh way he delivers his verdicts, both in the courtroom and outside of it. ”

The small glimpses of Judge and Mercedes I got in The Society trilogy really intrigued me because there was something formidable about Judge, and Mercedes’s (how do I even pronounce this? Mercede-sis? 🥹😃) manipulating and cunning attitude made me curious to see how the authors would redeem her and what her relationship would be like with Judge.

Santiago (Mercedes’s brother) sends Mercedes, after she commits a murder, to Judge (Santi’s bestfriend) to tame and discipline her, to teach her to bend but not break , because he has a firm hand and he is infamous for taming wild animals unruly women of The Society.

I’m sure Santi had something very different, something very pure in mind when he entrusted Judge with the duty of controlling his sister, but maybe Santi was justifiably unaware of the sizzling sexual tension between these two (because there was none 🏃🏻‍♀️) and perhaps Santi discounted the fact that Judge would have a hard time controlling his uncontrollable libido every time he unnecessarily stripped Mercedes naked.

“Self-control. Discipline. Two traits I’ve worked hard to perfect in myself. I draw a deep breath in. Exhale. Getting hard at the mere sight of her is anything but controlled. She’ll be stripped bare more often than she’ll like, and I can’t get a fucking hard-on like some teenage boy every time I see her.”

I’m also sure that Santi didn’t consider that Judge’s idea of doling out punishment would entail getting Mercedes naked and whipping her ass (that always left her panting and dripping wet!?)and by making her clean the stables after which he gave her a shower and perversely sensually washed her body (which also left her panting and dripping wet!?) A punishment befitting the crime? I think not.

For almost 30% of the book I apathetically tolerated Judge’s and Mercedes’s interactions. A good part of the beginning was Judge trying to figure out who had given Mercedes scars and Mercedes trying to figure out the reason for Judge’s scars. At first it was like every other book I’ve read with a H who thinks himself alpha and dominant and dangerous.

It was disappointing because I expected better from Judge.

BUT

He redeemed himself later in the book and I was ALL for it.

And his possessiveness was ostensibly the best aspect of the whole book. It made my heart flutter. Typical, I know. 🧚🏻‍♀️

“Mercedes.” His voice is a warning, but I don’t care.
“I hope you enjoy it,” I bite out. “Because those shallow, empty encounters are all you’ll ever have. As for me, I’m going to marry a goddamn Sovereign Son, and you know what, Judge? I’m going to fuck his brains out every night for the rest of my—”
My words die in my throat as he snarls a curse and stalks toward me, dark and deadly. When his hand snakes out to grab my face, I flinch, and it makes him pause, but only for a second.”

Mercedes had trust issues and her fear of losing the only person who loved her— Santiago—deeply touched me. The authors tried to portray Mercedes as vulnerable but quiet honestly all I saw was a shamelessly horny woman who was always indecently and sometimes overtly lusting after Judge. There was nothing visceral or poignant about her predicament, at least not in the beginning. But I softened towards her when she was physically abused and harassed by Judge’s maid 👹Miriam👹 and it was after this incident that my feelings of indifference for Mercedes turned into empathy. That feeling only got stronger when Judge believed his maid over Mercedes.

“I’m still lying on the floor in a heap when Judge comes to my room two hours later. When I see him, relief floods over me, bringing tears to my eyes. That is until I notice the expression on his face.
“What the fuck have you done?” he clips out.
I stare up at him in confusion, and his eyes rake over me with contempt.”

This might have been the moment Judge redeemed himself in my eyes, because yes my K I N G show her that you don’t trust her! Hurt her. Make her hate you.

And when he made her take the virginity test? Priceless!

“You enjoy those,” she says and bends to slip the thong she’s wearing off. “Have these too,” she says, slapping them against my chest so hard she rocks on her heels when I don’t budge. I take them, her hand slipping through mine as she walks away and climbs up on my bed. “Bring the good doctor in,” she says, settling back against the headboard and setting her feet on her mattress, spreading them wide. “You can both have a good look at what you will never ever fuck.”

Since Mercedes belongs to the upper echelon she can’t give away her virginity unless she is married. Because if she does no man would ever marry her, she’d be ruined for other men, so naturally she’d have to marry the man who devirginizes (🤭) her.

This put Judge in a precarious position since his cynicism and his unshakable fear of turning into his grandfather (who was an abusive ass) had him dispelling all notions of ever getting married, but he couldn’t stand the thought of any other man touching Mercedes, and IF took her virginity he’d have to marry her.
What a conundrum. So, what did he do?

He took her virginity like he had every right to and said the magic words that had my heart singing…

”You got what you wanted,” he says coldly as he rises to his feet and stares down at me. “You’re a ruined woman now. Nobody will want to marry you. Not even Theron.”

I L O V E D how Judge stroked the empty space on Mercedes’s neck reserved for the family crest of the man she would marry. It was so endearing, so sensual and so innocently titillating. It showed that his feelings for her ran deeper than he let on.

“Then it occurs to me, that’s where my IVI tattoo is located. Like every other member, I have one. But that ink isn’t what Judge is quietly contemplating. He’s touching the empty space above it. The one reserved for my husband’s family crest when I marry.
I turn toward him, and our eyes clash, and abruptly, his hand falls away. He knows I know what he was doing. That he was thinking about it. And I can’t tell if he’s already mourning the loss of me, or if he’s thinking something else. Something that… could be.”

The sex:

After all the build up and their struggle not to cave to their desires their first time together was kind of lackluster and disappointing. It was over too quickly, there was no angst, no passion, no aggression, no ferocious hate fucking, and it was the thing I was looking forward to the M O S T! But that cliffhanger makes up for the lacking sex. It was unpredictable, I gotta give the authors that, but I think I can make a guess at what would happen next in Her Rebellion.

Before I wind up this review let me just tell you how much I ADORED my dear dark and deranged Theron.
I’m a whore for men who turn ruthless and vicious after they have been wronged or ousted by their families, there’s something so vulnerable about them. And I would happily and willingly forget that Theron stabbed Judge, if anything his betrayal made me love him more. Yes, I am totally immoral, what of it? I need more of him! If the authors don’t give him his book I’m throwing hands… 😠😠😠😠😠 but I’ll settle for the small glimpses of him I’ll get in Her Rebellion and Their Reign.

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

Stop fighting me,” I tell Mercedes. “I will never stop fighting you.” “Then you will never stop losing.”

I feel like I have waited forever for this story. FOREVER I tells you. And to finally have it in my grabby little hands is the most bittersweet satisfaction ever. Bittersweet because to be left with that cliff dang near killed me. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's talk His Rule.

The mere second that Judge appeared on the pages of The Society Trilogy, I was intrigued. When we saw the sparks fly between him and Santiago's sister, Mercedes, I was hooked. Mercedes was a character who was hard to love in the trilogy. She was standoffish, mean, cold, yet fierce. She loves her family and she'll do everything for them. Until her decisions and choices take a deadly turn and she brings consequences to her brother's door that he can't forgive her for. The punishment? Bring her to Judge's command.

Enough!” he roars, the blistering heat of his anger searing my lips. “You watch your goddamn mouth, Mercedes. I’m not going to tell you again.”
“Is that an order, your honor?” I purr against him. “What will your verdict be if I don’t?”

Judge is the man the society turns to in situations like this. He's known for his ruthless justice and ability and what better man to put Mercedes under. This book really peeled back the layers on all things Mercedes and showed her human side. We get to see what makes this woman tick and why she is how she is. And with each new revelation, I found myself more endeared to her and understanding her better. She loves her brother beyond reason, but she's also not the spoiled little debutant either. She won't bend to Judge's rule that easy. And I loved watching her give as good as she gets. And trust me, this woman gets a lot.

In true Zavarelli and Knight fashion, they give just enough to hook you while leaving you begging for more. For every answer we get, we have a hundred more questions. This book was just as deliciously dark and twisted as The Society Trilogy and I can't wait to see what the next installment brings. And if you haven't read The Society Trilogy yet, I highly recommend you read it before this trilogy to appreciated all the nuances that much more.

ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

Find me on:

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is depressing to me, because I see the romance between the characters but the way he treats her I don’t agree… it’s very dramatic and painful to see.
It’s worth the reading.

[Ainhoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you mean I have to wait to read part two and there is also a part three that I will have to wait ages? 😭

The whiplash Judge gave was something else. And I probably missed some things as it was my first “The society” book. But all in all, we love a good grunting and jealous angry man, and if his name has to be Judge, so be it.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ride is going to be craaaaaaaaaazy and I am here for it!

This is just the beginning and it already has be pining for more! The slow burn sexy chemistry is off the charts and the push/pull is incredible between Mercedes and Judge!! They sizzled from the very beginning!

There's not much about the storyline to share just yet to hook future readers, but the writing is once again flawless from these two authors. I am captivated, enthralled and can't wait to continue this journey soon!

[Melanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah! That hit the spot . . . and after devouring them all:

BOOK 1: 5 STARS!
BOOK 2: 5 STARS!
BOOK 3: 5 STARS!

The entire trilogy was sooo good!

For me, this was the goldilocks of dark romance; not too OTT with alphahole behaviour, but not too light on the twistedness of it all. Judge and his little monster, Mercedes, were delicious together and I loved the whole story hard.😍😍

[25 Readings Or More · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Santiago and Jericho were the real a$$oles (before their redemption obviously),
but damn!! Judge wins hands down the title of a$$ole of the year 😤😤

But let's start from the beginning...

I had many expectations about Judge and Mercedes' story, and Natasha Knight & A.Zavarelli not only fullfilled them, but they made everything even better!!

His Rules is a captivating story that gonna make your rage burn bright.
There’s so much angst and many evil characters that gonna make you murderous
🤬🤬
But that’s good because it means the book is so great you can’t help yourself but feel what the characters feel.

The biggest surprise for me in this story is Mercedes.
I always thought she was just a spoiled b*tch but there's so much pain in her heart.
No one has ever seen her for real,
they just see a rich Sovereign daughter.
The mask she put on every day is something she carefully created to not show her weakness,
her craving for sincere affection...
It made my heart ache for her.
And I loved her for her strenght and her weakness just the same.

On the other hand Judge's behaviour disappointed me, even if i'm starting to understand where it come from... his awful family 😤😤😤

The story is fast paced, and so easy-to-read it seems shorter than it is.
Just like in the Society trilogy, intrigues, secrets, forbidden passions make it impossible to put the e-reader down!
And the cliffhanger at the end??! 🤯
Let just say i'm dying to read the second book!!!

[ApoorvaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

rtc

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 5 out of 5]

***5 "Little monster!!!" stars***



"I take the Rite very seriously.
And you, little monster, need to be tamed."

How much I love this world that this duo had created!!! I am just craving more and more of this sweet poison than the authors are offering me...
I had taken a big dose of Mercedes and Judge on "The Society" trilogy and I was craving their story like a mad woman and here we are!!! And I can honestly tell you that Mercedes and Judge outrun Ivy and Santiago, even though their story was amazing as well!!!

"We both know he can't ever touch me. But does he want to?"

After a certain incident and while Mercedes is already with one foot into the Tribunal, Santiago is taking the decision to use the Rite on her and he is passing by her care to his best friend, Judge to keep her safe while she will be punished for her mistakes!!!
Mercedes is feeling abandoned and betrayed by her brother and she can not accept that she has to follow every rule that Judge is making for her...
Her life is about to become hellish and one handsome, but cruel man is the reason for that...

"He thinks he can break me, but I've already been broken. I just refuse to let the world know it."

Honestly, I don't know what more to say to you about this story...
Mercedes and Judge were intense and they were reeking sexiness when they were in the same room...
Judge was controled, cruel and demanding... He was very possessive even though he had no right to be, but darnnn I love him like that!!!
Mercedes was often a brat and she was provoking him all the time, even though she knew that they will follow some repurcussions when she wasn't following his rules...
He wanted her, but she was in his care and he couldn't touch her like that but often, his hands were wandering in places that they had no place to be and it was delicious to watch it happen!!!

"What the hell do you want from me?"
"What I want is for you to be the woman you try so fucking hard to hide."

I have to admit that I wasn't very fond of Mercedes in the society trilogy. She was making a big mess and she was making poor Ivy's life miserable, but in here, I fell for her and I understood her reasons why...
She was just lonely and the only man that she had ever by her side was slipping away through her fingers and she couldn't accept this... Plus, she had her own demons to face and I just wanted to hug her...
Judge didn't treat her right and still, she never bow her head to him...

"He has all the power, and I am merely a pawn."

Judge was strict, serious, broody and very controlling.... But his perfect control was slipping away little by little every time that he was in close proximity with Mercedes De La Rosa and he was feeling quilty after.
He has vowed to never get marry and he couldn't accept that he had the hots for his best friend's sister whom was in his care...
Judge made many cruel things to Mercedes in here!!! I think he was even more cruel than Santi back then, but when he was tender, I was melting over him!!!!
He had his own share of problems to deal with and he can't really see what's in front of him and I just wanted to hug him and kick him in the nuts at the same time!!!

"I cannot have her. Not the way I want. Not ever."

As you can understand, I am already obsessed with this story and after this cliffy, I am waiting impatiently for the next part...
This is a very intense and intriguing story... Fast paced, dark, cruel and sexy...
It is surely not for the faint of heart!!!
Mercedes and Judge are dysfuctional, but sooo yummy together...
I am wondering where the authors will lead us at the end....
I just would suggest if you would like to read this story, go first to read the society trilogy cause these both series deserves your attention and you will understand better Merceds and Judge!!!!

"Stop fighting me."
"I will never stop fighting you."
"Then you will never stop losing."

P.S. If you like this world as I do, Natasha Knight has written the "Pawn" duet which is set into the same world!!! Another one amazing story!!!

**I received an ARC for the exhcange of an honest review**

[Travelogged Blogs · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
“The rules are very simple, Mercedes. Good behavior earns you privileges. Bad behavior earns you consequences.”

This author duo always writes one of the best mafia romances and this book is another great addition to the society world. It was captivating, steamy, packed with sexual tension between Judge & Mercedes, well written and at the same time infuriating. Judge has some of his secrets that he won't share with Mercedes while he expects to know everything about her and gets mad about not knowing even the littlest details about her life lol. Mercedes is his best friend Santiago's sister which makes her strictly off-limits but there's something about her that always draws him in, he just doesn't want to admit it. This ends with a cliffhanger and I have no idea how am I going to wait untill the next book comes out. Overall, it was a solid read with some family conflicts and serious topics involved. I loved Mercedes, she just wanted to prove her loyalty to her brother but ended up being entangled in a mess that she regrets. She was resourceful, fearless and strong but so vulnerable. Judge on the other hand needs to step up and own up to his feelings. I'm wondering how would things turn out between them so I'll definitely be reading the next book because I'm already addicted to this world!

ARC received in exchange of an honest review

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just can't with these two authors ,everything they write is amazing. We met Judge and Mercedes in Requiem of the Soul. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen with these two. I couldn't stand Mercedes from that book, at one point I wanted to slap the heck out of her but her story finally comes out. I understand now where she was coming from with some of the stuff she did but I'm still a little mad at her. Now Judge woooo I always wanted to know him better and we finally get a look into his life. He is crazy, mean and has secrets but I can't wait for them to come out. I know he is going to be awesome. NOW TO THIS DANG CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!!!!!! I don't even know where to start with that, only these two authors better get to writing!!! Thank you for the ARC and taking me with you guys on this ride!

[PeaceOfGod]

Not my fav, trope - Enemies-to-lovers......... but she's a virgin so..... I might try.

[MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.8 Stars)
Lawson “Judge” Montgomery is here and he is everything we hoped for!! Mercedes De La Rosa did the unthinkable going against her brother Santiago and is about to be punished. Sent to his best friend to “tame her”, will Judge be able to control Mercedes or will she tempt him in ways he never thought possible? Get ready for this dark captive romance with a touch of BDSM. This takes place within the IVI society series and can be read as a stand-alone series however, if you are interested in her brother’s story, I recommend checking out his books too. Lovers of a slow burn, dark romance will devour this one and hope the next book comes soon as this ends in a cliffhanger. Told in dual POV.

[Coco.V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercedes and Judge's story kept me engaged and the ending on the edge of my seat....
I have to say that I was not a fan of the h when I met her in The Society Trilogy but now that I know more about her I find her likable. But to me, Judge is still a jerk in my eyes and I hope he will redeem himself in book two. I listen to the audio version and the narration was great.

[💜VGreedyReader🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

★4.75 little monster stars★

༯✷༯✷𝘈 𝘚𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 ༯✷༯✷

The Society world is back and its inhabitants are as evil as ever, its rules old fashioned and chauvinistic. It takes a strong no bullshits woman such as Mercedes de La Rosa to keep these ruthless men in check.

~𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆'𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒔, 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒆? 𝑴𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆? 𝑨𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒔. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔~

I was eagerly waiting for Mercedes and Judge’s story and this duo delivered a breathtaking angsty filled impossible to put down opus. Mercedes may appear unfazed and harsh but she hides vulnerability, a need to be loved, a painful past. The moment she lets her guard down she’s stricken again, this vixen will rise, it won’t take kindly to betrayal, those who hurt her will surely pay.

~𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌. 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒔~

Judge is the epitome of righteousness, his example and discipline something the Society uses to tame all the damsels who have lost their way. Shame he wasn’t prepared for the turmoil of passion his new charge brought. Temptation has never tasted so good, the cost however won’t be easy to pay, and payment is due especially where mistakes and made. It’s about time another Sovereign son gets a taste of his own medicine.

~𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑨 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔. 𝑻𝒘𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒋𝒂𝒘𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒔~

The story is told in dual POV, set in a world dominated by men, old rules, hypocrisy, corruption and money, this duo paints a rotten society that will capture your attention and irritate you with the unfairness of its laws. A fast paced narrative frames these two characters bound by hate/love, secrets and undisclosed desires. Woven into this net are old secrets and mysteries I cannot wait to unveil. The cliffy at the end of book one whipped me with no mercy.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Little Monster Stars

Mercedes and Judge's story! We met them at The Society Trilogy and I'm happy that they have their own saga. Their story had a lot of similarities with Santiago and Ivy's story, as it seems Sovereign Sons are a little heavy handed... the CLIFFHANGER though was a little predictable this time around. I would like to read the next book in the series.

P.S. The shoes in the cover are just AWESOME! I would like a pair for sure!

[Em (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should’ve waited for the series to be completed because wtf was that ending but it was worth it as it didn’t disappoint. Both Mercedes and Judge are strong and enjoyable protagonists to read about, with so many layers to them Also, the push and pull of these two provides such an intense build up. I really liked the angst, the chemistry, and the plot that kept me guessing until the very end.
Moreover, I loved and enjoyed it more than I thought i would because the story has so much more meat to speak than a HEA but at the same time I hate I hate it too because you I to wait for next books!! Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decadently dark and addictively alluring, His Rule is a triumphant and mesmerizing return to the Society World and the De La Rosa saga. Heart down in my stomach, chills down my spine, I’ve been hypnotized by the commanding magnetism of Judge Matthews and the volatile chemistry he shares with the feisty Mercedes De La Rosa. At long last, we begin their tumultuous story, and it is every bit as brilliantly gripping and darkly delicious as I expected. I’m a prisoner to their tantalizing begging- this book owned me, and I’m desperate for more.

I have been ravenously awaiting this pairing for what feels like forever. Ever since these two brilliantly twisted minds brought us the Society world and introduced us to the De La Rosa family, I knew Mercedes’ story would be an emotionally chaotic masterpiece. Even as secondary characters, the pull between Judge and Mercedes vibrated off the page. The tension, the hunger, their bravado. I knew Judge was a formidable, unyielding Society man; Mercedes a desperately manipulative, fiery and flawed Society elite. I knew these two would be explosive, I’ve been desperate to find out what happens behind closed doors- and NK and AZ do not disappoint. Judge and Mercedes are everything I wanted- and more. So much more.

So all that said, I HIGHLY recommend you read the Society trilogy first- not only because Santiago (Mercedes’ brother) and Ivy’s story is every bit as delicious, but because NK and AZ deliver a fantastic world building debut to the Society elite- and the happenings of that story (many of which referenced here) set the stage for this trilogy. Not only do you get the full picture of Judge and Mercedes' energy and Mercedes’ mistakes, but you also see these characters in a different light- through another heroine’s eyes. And that makes the story all the more interesting. Because both Judge and Mercedes do villainous things, unforgivable things- their antagonists, morally grey and harmful to characters we love. And how interesting- to come into this book with that backdrop. I loathed Mercedes, though I knew there was a method to the wreckage she wrought, that were brokenness behind her. And Judge intrigued me- his ruthless stoicism called to me. But they both acted out of love and loyalty to Santiago, even if that hurt sweet Ivy. And now AZ and NK do the miraculous, they cast them as our hero and heroine- or rather, anti-hero and anti-heroine. Because history is not rewritten, these characters still played the part they played, but now we see the brokenness, the scars physical and metaphysical, that make these two firecrackers tick. And soon I found myself lusty for Judge and rooting for Mercedes, heart breaking for her. This story begins in the midst of parts of the Society trilogy, as Mercedes' conniving machinations have backfired into life changing mistakes- and Santi has evoked the Society rites to put her under Judge’s care- to tame and punish her for her misdeeds. We find Mercedes tightly in his clutches, at his mercy….. Only she too holds him prisoner in ways we’ve yet to understand.

I’ve always loved how compellingly both of these authors write about the power dynamics between their controlling heroes and their sassily submissive heroines- the push and pull, the give and tack, the emotional tension and psychological battle of wit. And Judge and Mercedes are perhaps their most interesting exploration - because Mercedes is no delicate flower. She’s every bit as controlling and unyielding as Judge, but more emotional, at times petulant, sassy and resolved. This is now a powerless heroine finding herself in the clutches of a new master- Mercedes is a powerful and spoiled Society woman, a formidable opponent. And that’s where this story psychological intrigues - this is about breaking a powerful woman, without truly destroying her. And Judge walks such a fine line, because he too struggles with the danger of his power- he just has learned to restrain his impulsiveness much better than Mercedes- until she gets under his skin. And I loved how delicately he maneuvers that fine line- breaking her JUST enough, but not destroying her. The emotional tension creates all the adrenaline here as we watch them try to bend and break each other, trying to out maneuver the other, and while Judge holds all the conditional power, Mercedes finds herself finding a psychological power- only problem is, Judge starts to capture her interest. Only she’s forbidden to him in so many ways- and that makes her as dangerous to him as he is to her.

The burn is slower here for a lot of reasons, but my goodness is the literary foreplay rewarding. And the more we get to know these flawed and broken characters, the more baggage we need to unpack. The narrative approach is quite intimate and insulated- that forced capacity really situates the story in a way that immerses us fully in the tension between these two and their ever evolving dynamics. But along the way we get some additional characters with dubious motivations and plot twists, and a jaw dropping cliffhanger finale that made me gasp with desperation as I tried to find more pages.

I am hooked, addicted to these characters and their messed up attachment. And I can’t wait for more of their story!

[Shabby -BookBistroBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense chemistry set against the backdrop of thrumming danger, this book will keep your heart in your throat the entire time. Judge & Mercedes square off in this highly strung game of who submits first. Large energy fills the pages, you can FEEL the tension and sizzle whenever they're in the room together. Jud0ge holds her captive, to discipline her, teaching her the art of kneeling like a good Society Woman.

"Lawson “Judge” Montgomery is an unyielding, razor-sharp beast of a man.
Tasked to Get her under control. Tame her. Teach her to bend but do not break her."



Because at the end of the day she's a De La Rosa, Santiago sister. No matter how much his heart beats for her wildly or his dick jumps when she's next to his skin, he can't have her.
She's as wild and cunning as they come.
Judge has his work cut out for him, no doubt.

“I don’t want to see your face,” I choke out as I pry the collar off my neck and toss it onto the ground. “I don’t want to hear your voice. And if you touch me again, I will murder you too. So do us both a favor and just stay the hell away from me.”

He he he 😈 its great to see a headstrong and stubborn heroine bringing a giant of a man to his knees, gnashing his teeth in frustration. It's poetic.😁



As always Zavarelli and Natasha, being the Queens of mindfucking games, embellish the story with loads of passion and twists of cruel betrayals. There's families that would have you wishing for your enemies first, there's power corrupting the people who've supposed to care for you and then there's the ghosts emerging from the foggy pasts, all bubbling in a boiling couldron of jealousy & hatred.
Phew!!it got my temperature up and I can't wait to read more in the next book!
4.5 stars for the dreadful Cottage
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[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have I read other books that were practically the same? Yes.

But did I still eat up every word (to an extent 💀)? Also yes.

[Marta Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'M OBSESSED!!!!

Not long ago I've read His Rule ARC, and what a ride it was !!!! I knew it will be beginning of new trylogy.... and I know there are still 2 books to come, but Sweet Baby Jesusss!!!!! I'm ready to wait ! With His Rule Nastasha Knight and A Zavarelli are bringing breathtaking start of The Rite Trylogy ! I'm here for everything, feeling greedy more than ever!

Judge and Mercedes kept me on my toes from the first pages. His Rule is smth that any dark romance lover should read. It's twisted, hot and so angsty! Some people probably could have mixed feelings about Mercedes after meeting her in Santi's books, but Guys, You just wait ! Open Your heart and eyes, because this girl will destroy You, with force You don't expect. Jugde will have hard times with his best friend little sister, but.... Forbidden and stubbornness is everything what all dark romance readers love the most right? BRACE YOURSELF LADIES !!!!! These next 2 months will be like dying slowly from impatience lol, but im very beautiful way.

[Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally, it's a proven job that this collaborative authors' duo is doing for some time now, and it's also a very well known recipe for high angst, dub-con darkly mafia, where there's a thin line between the wanting to like the H and actually liking him, LOL
Well, I still have my doubts...
But all in all, the story kept me going, even though there were times I wished the outcomes and actions characters did, were just slightly bit different, hahaha...

[alexa | bookishbabez · Rating 5 out of 5]

“That’s mine, little monster. All. Fucking. Mine.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5|5
🌶️🌶️|5


heads up - this review may contain spoilers!!


GENRE: dark romance
TROPES: enemies to lovers // forbidden love // tortured hero
POV: dual
TW: death // bdsm // abuse
CLIFFHANGER: YES *crying*
HEA: we'll see

this book made me want to scream. in a good way or a bad way? both. It's a lot to unpack 😅 I NEED A MINUTE

When I first saw this trilogy, I was THRILLED. I've read a few books by A. Zavarelli and they were on my top reads of 2021. I also have wanted to read something from Natasha Knight, so I knew I had to read these. I wish I knew that there was a series that came before The Rite Trilogy - The Society Trilogy. I don't feel like you *NEED* to read it first, although you would understand the dynamic and situation between Mercedes, her brother and his wife better!

Lawson "Judge" Montgomery is your typical alpha-hole, but with a dark past. He IS the head bitch in charge and needs everyone to know it, but that's why we love him. also, the man says both Who did this to you? AND YOU. BELONG. TO. ME! he also has four Dobermans named after the four horsemen 😍 so, yeah, WE LOVE HIM.

Mercedes De La Rosa is THE Society daughter, but has many demons. Right at the beginning of this story she does something unforgivable and so her brother, Santiago, sends her to his best friend, Judge, to tame her. Judge knows he has his work cut our for him because Mercedes is sassy and strong-willed AND he wants her, but knows he can't.

People like to say time heals all wounds, but it's a lie. Wounds don't heal. They fester inside you, turning everything rotten.

Speaking of, I love a good push and pull, but the back and forth made me a little crazy at times. It was *almost* too much for me to handle 😅 On one hand, I get it. Judge is extremely meticulous and disciplined and innnnnn comes Mercedes, who pushes all his buttons. He was warring with himself throughout the whole book, going against a lot of what he believes and you felt his inner turmoil. Mercedes just wouldn't submit and while I loved that about her, especially when it came to that POS Miriam, she annoyed the fuck out of me at times. example- the whole scene with Theron, you know, THAT scene that led to that OTHER scene 😬😌 JUST, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, woman! And the ending. WHAT a cliffhanger to leave us on. Like how must we go on????

I WILL BE ✨IMPATIENTLY✨ AWAITING THE DAY FOR HER REBELLION TO BE IN MY HANDS


[I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions and words are my own.]

[Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS



Star Rating : 4.5/5 Stars

POV : Dual

Cliffhanger : Yes

Hero : Judge

Heroine : Mercedes

Pace of the story : Moderate

Angst Rating : 6/10

Heat Rating : 6/10

Triggers Involved : *will update after release

Plot Summary :
Mercedes has done it this time. She never had an easy past but when she makes a mistake that almost leads to the one person she loved dying. That mess up creates an even bigger mess which if uncovered, she would be punished with death. So her brother sends her away. To the one person she hates. His best friend. Her tormentor and the one person who will set her straight. Judge.

Having a family and being a normal guy was never in the charts for a man like Judge. He was always destined to rule and ruin. When his friend sent his innocent , younger sister to live with him, he was taken aback. Mercedes was a spoiled little girl who needed a firm hand and he was more than happy to provide that for her.

What he didn't expect was for her to have a hold on him. Mercedes had a depth that he had underestimated and that will be something which will be his ruin.

Overall Opinion :
Ever since I have read that teaser about these two in Santiago's book, I knew that their book will be downright explosive! I was so happy when I got to know that these two will be getting a trilogy and that meant more society books for me!!

Judge and Mercedes have an amazing start which will hook you in from the first page only and till the very end. I started this book as soon as it came on my Kindle and then had immediate regret as I had to suffer from a cliffhanger soon 😂

The storyline is crazy and doesn't even get me started on the steamy scenes. This trilogy feels like it will be a tad bit less dark than the previous society trilogy and I am fine with that because the chemistry is amazing. I am all for an age gap romance with a strict hero and a seemingly spoiled heroine. I feel like there is a lot of character progress for Mercedes and judge both. The story is in line with the last two books of Santiago's trilogy.

Definitely recommending this crazy ride to all the dark romance loving people out there. The cliffhanger is crazy but the ride is worth it.

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[Ms · Rating 1 out of 5]

This just keeps getting more disgusting. I mean seriously???? The MMC literally treats the FMC like a dog. He keeps stripping her naked and leaving her vulnerable to everything and everyone. He tosses commands at her and tells her to behave??? Yet the dumb bitch wants to fuck him!!!!!🤢 He later actually assaults her to take "her virginity" and discards her saying now nobody would want a ruined woman. What the actual fuck is this??? I wanna puke.Just ewww!!🤢🤮
I hate everyone in this damn book..💩 this is steaming pile of crap..

[Wobilba · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars