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Memento Mori #3
Emperor of Lust
To protect everything I love, I’m forced to marry a monster.
I made a huge mistake, and caught the attention of a lethally beautiful villain.
Damian Nikolayev is brutality incarnate. A psychopath wrapped in tattooed muscle and tailored charm.
Heir to a Bratva empire built on blood and control.
And now, I’m his. His fiancée. His plaything. His obsession.
He owns my darkest secret.
And he’ll keep it, for a price:
All of me.
Now, Damian has me bound to him, in more ways than one.
The harder I fight, the tighter his ropes ensnare me.
But his games are getting darker.
The line between lust and darkness is blurring.
And I’m starting to realize, there’s only one thing more dangerous than fake marrying a monster:
Really falling for one.
Emperor of Lust is a standalone dark mafia romance with a smart, untamable heroine, and an ultra possessive psycho hero with "look at her and I'll unalive you" energy. Readers are STRONGLY advised to read the TW inside. No cliffhanger; HEA included.
I made a huge mistake, and caught the attention of a lethally beautiful villain.
Damian Nikolayev is brutality incarnate. A psychopath wrapped in tattooed muscle and tailored charm.
Heir to a Bratva empire built on blood and control.
And now, I’m his. His fiancée. His plaything. His obsession.
He owns my darkest secret.
And he’ll keep it, for a price:
All of me.
Now, Damian has me bound to him, in more ways than one.
The harder I fight, the tighter his ropes ensnare me.
But his games are getting darker.
The line between lust and darkness is blurring.
And I’m starting to realize, there’s only one thing more dangerous than fake marrying a monster:
Really falling for one.
Emperor of Lust is a standalone dark mafia romance with a smart, untamable heroine, and an ultra possessive psycho hero with "look at her and I'll unalive you" energy. Readers are STRONGLY advised to read the TW inside. No cliffhanger; HEA included.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2024
2771 people are currently reading
2905 people want to read
About the author
Jagger Cole
72 books5,480 followersA reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.
Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.
When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside—rain or shine.
You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com
Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter! -> https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd
Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.
When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside—rain or shine.
You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com
Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter! -> https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 511 reviews
December 23, 2025
this book was so delicious 😋 it’s definitely my favourite in the series.
Hana is a loyal Yakuza daughter willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family. She is confident, intelligent, and composed, able to hold her own as a leader who stands her ground in both mafia politics and moments of fierce romantic tension. Beneath her polished exterior, she carries past trauma and guarded secrets that quietly shape her strength and her growing connection to Damian.
Damian is an unhinged, psychopathic heir to a powerful Bratva empire, yet beneath that exterior he is a lovesick puppy he had me blushing 🤭. Despite his ruthless edge, his loyalty runs deep, especially toward the people he cares about. Beneath the violent surface, he’s capable of gentler emotions: tenderness, humor, and vulnerability, particularly as his relationship with Hana deepens.
I loved Damian and Hana’s relationship, they were just perfect together. Their banter was so much fun, and the chemistry between them was electric. Damian’s obsession with Hana was everything. He’s possessive and ready to destroy anyone who dares to threaten her. The emotional moments they shared hit deep in the heart. Both of them had so much trauma, but together they were dark, possessive, and incredibly steamy. Watching Damian help Hana heal from her trauma was so tender he knew exactly how to push her buttons to break her out of her shell. ugh, I just love them they’re an unstoppable, smoking hot duo.
Hana is a loyal Yakuza daughter willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family. She is confident, intelligent, and composed, able to hold her own as a leader who stands her ground in both mafia politics and moments of fierce romantic tension. Beneath her polished exterior, she carries past trauma and guarded secrets that quietly shape her strength and her growing connection to Damian.
Damian is an unhinged, psychopathic heir to a powerful Bratva empire, yet beneath that exterior he is a lovesick puppy he had me blushing 🤭. Despite his ruthless edge, his loyalty runs deep, especially toward the people he cares about. Beneath the violent surface, he’s capable of gentler emotions: tenderness, humor, and vulnerability, particularly as his relationship with Hana deepens.
I loved Damian and Hana’s relationship, they were just perfect together. Their banter was so much fun, and the chemistry between them was electric. Damian’s obsession with Hana was everything. He’s possessive and ready to destroy anyone who dares to threaten her. The emotional moments they shared hit deep in the heart. Both of them had so much trauma, but together they were dark, possessive, and incredibly steamy. Watching Damian help Hana heal from her trauma was so tender he knew exactly how to push her buttons to break her out of her shell. ugh, I just love them they’re an unstoppable, smoking hot duo.
February 18, 2025
3 Stars ✨ Alright, buckle up because this one was a ride, and not always in the best way. I was honestly torn on how to rate this, mostly because of that super uncomfortable opening scene (hello, God of Malice flashbacks). It totally set the wrong tone for me, and I really feel like this could’ve been way better. Hana deserved SO much more! Like, she’s been through the ringer, and I just wanted her to shine, y'know? ✨
✧ Enemies to Lovers (ish) 💘
✧ Fake Engagement 💍
✧ Dark Mafia Romance 🖤
✧ Possessive Psychopath Hero 💋
✧ Tortured Heroine 💔
✧ Forced Proximity 💗
✧ Bondage/Restraint ⛓️
✧ Found Family Vibes 🫂
✧ Touch Her and Die Energy 🔪
Okay, Damian... what happened to that dark and delicious vibe? You went from brooding, dangerous to... a little too unhinged, and honestly, kinda sloppy. 😬 Also, can we PLEASE talk about the endless “f**k toy” and “cm slt” lines? UGH. 🙄 I’m all for a little dirty talk, but Cole seriously overdid it here. It’s fine in moderation, but this? Too much. I’ve loved how Cole handled consent in past books (hey Cillian 👀), but here? It just didn’t feel as clear. Damian really needed more depth. I KNOW Cole can give us lethal, layered MMCs, but this time? It fell flat.
As for Hana—girl, you started off strong in previous books, but I needed to see you rise above the trauma more. You’ve got SO much potential! You deserved better than this.
Plot-wise? I gotta admit, the action was wild, and that twist toward the end? Didn’t see that coming. Points for that! 🙌 But honestly, this felt more like a setup for something bigger. It was a stepping stone rather than a moment to shine.
But let’s get to the real talk: Isaak and Kai. I NEED their book—like, yesterday. 😩 I’m still holding out for Takeshi’s story (broody samurai vibes, yes 🖤), but Isaak and Kai? They’re gonna ruin me, and I’m SO ready for it.
CW:
- SA and past trauma
- Bondage/restraint themes
- Graphic violence
So yeah, Emperor of Lust wasn’t my fave from Jagger Cole, but if you’re into darker romance with intense steam, you might enjoy it. As for me? I’m holding out for the next books and praying Isaak and Kai finally get their time to shine. 🥲
✧ Enemies to Lovers (ish) 💘
✧ Fake Engagement 💍
✧ Dark Mafia Romance 🖤
✧ Possessive Psychopath Hero 💋
✧ Tortured Heroine 💔
✧ Forced Proximity 💗
✧ Bondage/Restraint ⛓️
✧ Found Family Vibes 🫂
✧ Touch Her and Die Energy 🔪
Okay, Damian... what happened to that dark and delicious vibe? You went from brooding, dangerous to... a little too unhinged, and honestly, kinda sloppy. 😬 Also, can we PLEASE talk about the endless “f**k toy” and “cm slt” lines? UGH. 🙄 I’m all for a little dirty talk, but Cole seriously overdid it here. It’s fine in moderation, but this? Too much. I’ve loved how Cole handled consent in past books (hey Cillian 👀), but here? It just didn’t feel as clear. Damian really needed more depth. I KNOW Cole can give us lethal, layered MMCs, but this time? It fell flat.
As for Hana—girl, you started off strong in previous books, but I needed to see you rise above the trauma more. You’ve got SO much potential! You deserved better than this.
Plot-wise? I gotta admit, the action was wild, and that twist toward the end? Didn’t see that coming. Points for that! 🙌 But honestly, this felt more like a setup for something bigger. It was a stepping stone rather than a moment to shine.
But let’s get to the real talk: Isaak and Kai. I NEED their book—like, yesterday. 😩 I’m still holding out for Takeshi’s story (broody samurai vibes, yes 🖤), but Isaak and Kai? They’re gonna ruin me, and I’m SO ready for it.
CW:
- SA and past trauma
- Bondage/restraint themes
- Graphic violence
So yeah, Emperor of Lust wasn’t my fave from Jagger Cole, but if you’re into darker romance with intense steam, you might enjoy it. As for me? I’m holding out for the next books and praying Isaak and Kai finally get their time to shine. 🥲
December 4, 2024
Emperor of Lust by Jagger Cole
5/5 stars
I just finished this exciting and delicious book and I absolutely loved it from start to finish. It's no secret I am a huge Jagger Cole fan. He just writes these addictive books in an easy going writing style that suck you in straight away and keep you glued to the pages right until the end. And I just inhaled Emperor of Lust, and embraced the addictiveness of this book and the entire Memento Mori series.
In this book we follow Hana and Damian. Hana is The Kitsune, she launders money for criminals without her family knowing about it. But while doing so she is stealing clientele from Damian. And Damian isn't going to let that slide. When Hana is in a business meeting, things go awry and Damian bursts in and saves her, killing the men who tried to hurt her. Instantly things heat up and they dance in an all consuming fire.
Their family empires got united by the marriage between Kenzo and Annika in the first book. And now the family wants to spread that empire to Tokyo. And Hana will lead that charge. But Tokyo is a very traditional city with traditional businesses. And she must enter a fake engagement with Damian so the legit businesses want to work with them. And that is what kick starts this insanely hot story.
The heat between Hana and Damian grows fierer as the story progresses. But that is not only what this story is about. It's about the struggles that come with entering a new territory. It's about the past hunting you down. It's about figuring out what the other one holds close to his heart. It's about honesty and learning to trust one another.
But it's also about lust. A lust that burns you from top to bottom. And here is a little snippet of how HOT this book is:
"Enjoy your meetings, Kitsune. When you're sitting there trying to make deals with my c*m seeping out of your p**** and into your panties all morning, I want you to remember something."
Heat floods my face as my eyes dart to his. "What," I mutter quietly.
"You're mine."
I absolutely loved this book. Hana and Damian have a special place in my heart and I just adore their journey. I love how fierce, brutal and loyal their love turns out to be.
And I love how the second epilogue sets up Takeshi story in the fourth book in this series. Cannot wait to read his story and see him fall in love.
* - * - *
The only thing that annoys me a little bit. And it has nothing to do with the book itself. Is that I absolutely hate the bonus content you only get to read if you sign up for a newsletter. If it is written beforehand, then just put it in the bloody book. I hate this trend that you need to sign up for this and that in order to read the full story. I really hope it stops. Just give us completed stories with all the content you wrote about your characters. And not force things upon your readers. For me personally it results in blatantly refusing to do it and just carrying a sad feeling with me that it's another book/author/publisher who wants to force you to do this.
5/5 stars
I just finished this exciting and delicious book and I absolutely loved it from start to finish. It's no secret I am a huge Jagger Cole fan. He just writes these addictive books in an easy going writing style that suck you in straight away and keep you glued to the pages right until the end. And I just inhaled Emperor of Lust, and embraced the addictiveness of this book and the entire Memento Mori series.
In this book we follow Hana and Damian. Hana is The Kitsune, she launders money for criminals without her family knowing about it. But while doing so she is stealing clientele from Damian. And Damian isn't going to let that slide. When Hana is in a business meeting, things go awry and Damian bursts in and saves her, killing the men who tried to hurt her. Instantly things heat up and they dance in an all consuming fire.
Their family empires got united by the marriage between Kenzo and Annika in the first book. And now the family wants to spread that empire to Tokyo. And Hana will lead that charge. But Tokyo is a very traditional city with traditional businesses. And she must enter a fake engagement with Damian so the legit businesses want to work with them. And that is what kick starts this insanely hot story.
The heat between Hana and Damian grows fierer as the story progresses. But that is not only what this story is about. It's about the struggles that come with entering a new territory. It's about the past hunting you down. It's about figuring out what the other one holds close to his heart. It's about honesty and learning to trust one another.
But it's also about lust. A lust that burns you from top to bottom. And here is a little snippet of how HOT this book is:
"Enjoy your meetings, Kitsune. When you're sitting there trying to make deals with my c*m seeping out of your p**** and into your panties all morning, I want you to remember something."
Heat floods my face as my eyes dart to his. "What," I mutter quietly.
"You're mine."
I absolutely loved this book. Hana and Damian have a special place in my heart and I just adore their journey. I love how fierce, brutal and loyal their love turns out to be.
And I love how the second epilogue sets up Takeshi story in the fourth book in this series. Cannot wait to read his story and see him fall in love.
* - * - *
The only thing that annoys me a little bit. And it has nothing to do with the book itself. Is that I absolutely hate the bonus content you only get to read if you sign up for a newsletter. If it is written beforehand, then just put it in the bloody book. I hate this trend that you need to sign up for this and that in order to read the full story. I really hope it stops. Just give us completed stories with all the content you wrote about your characters. And not force things upon your readers. For me personally it results in blatantly refusing to do it and just carrying a sad feeling with me that it's another book/author/publisher who wants to force you to do this.
January 19, 2025
»You're mine now, Kitsune. I'd get used to that if I were you.«
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
She is one of my favorite women by Jagger Cole. I appreciated her loyalty, her sassy character and her intelligence. She is relatable and I liked reading her pov.
❥ 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒂𝒏 ࣪⋆✮
A big, psychopatic bratva heir with a soft spot for his girl. Loved him!! Deep down he was so cute and caring towards Hanna and I ate this up.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
Another top tier mafia romance book by Jagger Cole. The plot was action filled, with a lot of mafia politics and family dynamics. There were secrets and plot twist I didn‘t see coming. It was a fun read and kept me glued to my kindle all morning.
Hanna and Damian are perfect! I loved both of them equally and their tension was just wow. Both have a tragic back story and I liked how they opened up to each other and learned to trust their partner. The fake engagement was a nice trope and I enjoyed the „you‘re mine“ trope. Damian is pretty possessive and I giggled a lot! To be honest I didn‘t expect to love these two this much but they‘re my favourite couple in this series.
I adored the little glimpses we got from Isaak and Kai (wish they get their own book).
Overall this was an enjoyable and entertaining dark mafia book which you should definitely read (if you check the trigger warnings).
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Absolutely!!
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 5/5
spice: 4/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, instant attraction, mafia romance, morally dark man, touch her and die, arranged marriage, „my fiancée“, enemies to lovers, secrets and lies, jakuza princess x bratva heir, one bed, fake engagement
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: both in their late twenties I think
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: bdsm
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Emperor of Wrath ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Emperor of Rage ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 Emperor of Lust ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 Emperor of Havoc ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
❥ 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
She is one of my favorite women by Jagger Cole. I appreciated her loyalty, her sassy character and her intelligence. She is relatable and I liked reading her pov.
❥ 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒂𝒏 ࣪⋆✮
A big, psychopatic bratva heir with a soft spot for his girl. Loved him!! Deep down he was so cute and caring towards Hanna and I ate this up.
✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
Another top tier mafia romance book by Jagger Cole. The plot was action filled, with a lot of mafia politics and family dynamics. There were secrets and plot twist I didn‘t see coming. It was a fun read and kept me glued to my kindle all morning.
Hanna and Damian are perfect! I loved both of them equally and their tension was just wow. Both have a tragic back story and I liked how they opened up to each other and learned to trust their partner. The fake engagement was a nice trope and I enjoyed the „you‘re mine“ trope. Damian is pretty possessive and I giggled a lot! To be honest I didn‘t expect to love these two this much but they‘re my favourite couple in this series.
I adored the little glimpses we got from Isaak and Kai (wish they get their own book).
Overall this was an enjoyable and entertaining dark mafia book which you should definitely read (if you check the trigger warnings).
𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Absolutely!!
𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 5/5
spice: 4/5
humor: 4/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes
𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, instant attraction, mafia romance, morally dark man, touch her and die, arranged marriage, „my fiancée“, enemies to lovers, secrets and lies, jakuza princess x bratva heir, one bed, fake engagement
𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲
ages: both in their late twenties I think
cheating: no
sharing: no
kinks: bdsm
𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Emperor of Wrath ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Emperor of Rage ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 Emperor of Lust ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 Emperor of Havoc ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 21, 2025
Jagger Cole Beyefendi ne yapıyorsunuz?! Ayda bir kitap çıkara çıkara karakterlerin katmanlarını koymayı unutmuşsunuz?! Cümle içinde Damian psikopattır diyince olmuyor..Hana daha fazlasını hakediyordun.
Bratva' nın varisi Damian ile Yakuza' dan Hana' nın sahte nişanlanması gerekir ve olaylar gelişir..
Damian kitabın ilk yarısında tam bir mağara adamıydın o kadar saçma sapan davrandın ki, yaptığın şantaj, gel deme git demen her şeyinle soğuttun kendinden.
Hana.. İlk kitaptaki soğukluğun ve mükemmel görüntünün altından bir Control freak cıkacağını bekliyordum ama çıkmadı... Harika playlist, Jagger Bey' in aksiyon yazma becerisi ve Turna Hanım hikayesi, Kitsune olayı vs oraları beğendim. Japonya' nın da köpeğiyiz.
Kitabın özeti: Asla asla deme. 🌟️️️️️️🌟️️️️️️🌟️️️️️️
Bratva' nın varisi Damian ile Yakuza' dan Hana' nın sahte nişanlanması gerekir ve olaylar gelişir..
Damian kitabın ilk yarısında tam bir mağara adamıydın o kadar saçma sapan davrandın ki, yaptığın şantaj, gel deme git demen her şeyinle soğuttun kendinden.
Hana.. İlk kitaptaki soğukluğun ve mükemmel görüntünün altından bir Control freak cıkacağını bekliyordum ama çıkmadı... Harika playlist, Jagger Bey' in aksiyon yazma becerisi ve Turna Hanım hikayesi, Kitsune olayı vs oraları beğendim. Japonya' nın da köpeğiyiz.
Kitabın özeti: Asla asla deme. 🌟️️️️️️🌟️️️️️️🌟️️️️️️
December 8, 2024
Jagger Cole manages to create perfect male psychopaths, which is my weak point.
I adore all stories with such MMC.
This story is no exception.
It just lacked something in the whole story for complete delight.
I adore all stories with such MMC.
This story is no exception.
It just lacked something in the whole story for complete delight.
January 19, 2025
the non consent made me really uncomfortable and ruined the rest of the book for me- yeah she may have enjoyed it later on but she said ‘no’ and it was not regarded at all by the MMC - other than that, I was no longer surprised by the kidnapping in this book (happens every book of this series I swear) but ig they were cute later on in the book🤷🏻♀️
December 5, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I have been highly anticipating Damian's romance since he was introduced in the first book of this series, and he did not disappoint. He is described as a psychopath, but he was such a loveable one that he didn't seem that bad. He is one sexy mafia hero who is super lethal. Damian Nikolayev may be one of my favorite Jagger Cole heroes. I loved how he had a condition that left him with pale blonde skin and violet eyes...so sexy!!!
Hana Mori is the dutiful daughter with a big secret she has been hiding from her brothers. Unfortunately, Damian discovers her secret when he finds her in a dangerous and risky situation. Damian decides to blackmail her, and he will take whatever he wants from her to keep her secret. Things heat up real fast between these two. In a way, Jagger Cole knows how to do so well. Things get even more intense when they are forced into a fake engagement to appease the old-fashioned Yakuza in Tokyo now that Hana is trying to establish a Mori-kai presence in that territory. There is a lot going on in Tokyo with new allies and enemies.
Hana's past is coming back to haunt her, and she is still dealing with the trauma she suffered when she was in college. She has issues being bound from that experience. However, she actually enjoys it when Damian ties her up. This man is so dominant, possessive, and he loves using Shibari. The chemistry was fire as always in a Jagger Cole book, but I also loved how they opened up to each other. There were some sweet and intimate moments between them, and I was completely feeling their connection.
There were so many twists and turns in this book. Jagger always gives an intense and exciting mafia plot that captivates me till the end. I am so excited to get to Takeshi's book, and I am very intrigued by the Ishida-kai family.
Thank you to Valentine PR for providing the ARC.
TW: Previous attempted SA, PTSD, trauma, murder, torture, dubcon
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I have been highly anticipating Damian's romance since he was introduced in the first book of this series, and he did not disappoint. He is described as a psychopath, but he was such a loveable one that he didn't seem that bad. He is one sexy mafia hero who is super lethal. Damian Nikolayev may be one of my favorite Jagger Cole heroes. I loved how he had a condition that left him with pale blonde skin and violet eyes...so sexy!!!
Hana Mori is the dutiful daughter with a big secret she has been hiding from her brothers. Unfortunately, Damian discovers her secret when he finds her in a dangerous and risky situation. Damian decides to blackmail her, and he will take whatever he wants from her to keep her secret. Things heat up real fast between these two. In a way, Jagger Cole knows how to do so well. Things get even more intense when they are forced into a fake engagement to appease the old-fashioned Yakuza in Tokyo now that Hana is trying to establish a Mori-kai presence in that territory. There is a lot going on in Tokyo with new allies and enemies.
Hana's past is coming back to haunt her, and she is still dealing with the trauma she suffered when she was in college. She has issues being bound from that experience. However, she actually enjoys it when Damian ties her up. This man is so dominant, possessive, and he loves using Shibari. The chemistry was fire as always in a Jagger Cole book, but I also loved how they opened up to each other. There were some sweet and intimate moments between them, and I was completely feeling their connection.
There were so many twists and turns in this book. Jagger always gives an intense and exciting mafia plot that captivates me till the end. I am so excited to get to Takeshi's book, and I am very intrigued by the Ishida-kai family.
Thank you to Valentine PR for providing the ARC.
TW: Previous attempted SA, PTSD, trauma, murder, torture, dubcon
January 7, 2025
While this book was enjoyable, it didn’t capture my attention the way Emperor of Rage did. Unfortunately, it lacked the depth and intrigue I was hoping for. The storyline followed the classic enemies-to-lovers trope, but without much originality or a compelling plot to set it apart.
That said, the dynamic between Damien and Hana was great chemistry and moments of tension. However, the overall story felt repetitive, as if it had been copied and pasted from other bookss. Additionally, the pacing felt rushed, leaving little room for meaningful development.
In the end, it was a decent read, but it fell short of leaving a lasting impression.
Spice 🌶🌶🌶/5
That said, the dynamic between Damien and Hana was great chemistry and moments of tension. However, the overall story felt repetitive, as if it had been copied and pasted from other bookss. Additionally, the pacing felt rushed, leaving little room for meaningful development.
In the end, it was a decent read, but it fell short of leaving a lasting impression.
Spice 🌶🌶🌶/5
February 18, 2025
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4 / 5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : None
Hero : Damian
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 5/10
Heat Rating : 5/10
Overall Opinion :
Damian is here! We got a lot of glimpses of Damian in the past books and even though we got to know him in a light way with his family , the author never missed a chance to show his reckless nature as well which always made me think that he would be a force to be reckoned with in his own book and I was right lol.
This one is a standalone with some great chemistry and a plot line that kept me hooked. Jagger Cole has somewhat of the same skeleton for his books and a part of me is so tired of reading the same standalone books again and again. I really hope that we get some series by this author because then he will be able to give the best plot twists and scenes that I have read from him. Lately it has been all the same books for me. I picked this one up because the angst and chemistry from the characters keeps me hooked and I think if you’re a first time reader for this author then you might like this one more but now it all feels the same so this one was a one time read for me.
Recommending this one to all the dark romance loving people out there. Also just like all of the other books by this author, this one also has a lot of triggers that you should keep in mind before picking it up.
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December 4, 2024
I received an ARC for an honest review.
This book was so effing good. This year hasn't exactly been super great when it's come to reading, so this was a really great book to help round out the year and finish strong.
This is one of the best representation of a culture in a book I've ever read. I don't know if Jagger Cole is Japanese himself or if he just did a sh!t ton of research, either way it showed. Everything from names to places and most importantly the Japanese culture. It added so much to the book, I was really impressed.
Damian and Hana were a great couple. Damian was textbook boy falls first and I freaking love that trope. He was obsessed with Hana. Hana herself was great too, she was so strong. The way she ran her family business and was at equal footing with her brothers. I loved that.
Damian went through hell all in the name of love and I was here for it. I liked the way Jagger Cole set up the next book in the series, Takeshi's book. I liked him and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for it.
The only bad thing about this book is that as a Stiles lover, I was slightly traumatised by the word kitsune lol.
This book was so effing good. This year hasn't exactly been super great when it's come to reading, so this was a really great book to help round out the year and finish strong.
This is one of the best representation of a culture in a book I've ever read. I don't know if Jagger Cole is Japanese himself or if he just did a sh!t ton of research, either way it showed. Everything from names to places and most importantly the Japanese culture. It added so much to the book, I was really impressed.
Damian and Hana were a great couple. Damian was textbook boy falls first and I freaking love that trope. He was obsessed with Hana. Hana herself was great too, she was so strong. The way she ran her family business and was at equal footing with her brothers. I loved that.
Damian went through hell all in the name of love and I was here for it. I liked the way Jagger Cole set up the next book in the series, Takeshi's book. I liked him and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for it.
The only bad thing about this book is that as a Stiles lover, I was slightly traumatised by the word kitsune lol.
December 11, 2024
Another dark and delicious mafia read!
- bratva X yakuza
- enemies to lovers
- grumpy/sunshine
- arranged marriage
- possessive and psychotic hero
I love when an FMC has an active role in the mafia and Hana was such a baddie with the Yakuza. Damien is the psychotic heir to the Bratva. These two hate each other and end up in an arranged fake engagement situation for business purposes. The tension between these two was so intense and I love how obsessive and possessive Damien is. One thing Jagger never misses on is the spice, and I promise you that you won't want to skip this one. Highly recommend!
- bratva X yakuza
- enemies to lovers
- grumpy/sunshine
- arranged marriage
- possessive and psychotic hero
I love when an FMC has an active role in the mafia and Hana was such a baddie with the Yakuza. Damien is the psychotic heir to the Bratva. These two hate each other and end up in an arranged fake engagement situation for business purposes. The tension between these two was so intense and I love how obsessive and possessive Damien is. One thing Jagger never misses on is the spice, and I promise you that you won't want to skip this one. Highly recommend!
December 5, 2024
One thing about Jagger Cole, he always delivers on his mafia romance books. And trust me when i say this: No one on the writers world does it like him.
We get psycho falling for sunshiny girl all the while pretending to be engaged in the mafia world???? Colour me hooked
I think this might be my favourite book in the series, both Damian and Hana have amazing character developments and you can see how the relationship develops. I loved that we have a great suspense plot.
And the dialogue between this two??? Absolutely delightful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you Valentine Pr for the arc
We get psycho falling for sunshiny girl all the while pretending to be engaged in the mafia world???? Colour me hooked
I think this might be my favourite book in the series, both Damian and Hana have amazing character developments and you can see how the relationship develops. I loved that we have a great suspense plot.
And the dialogue between this two??? Absolutely delightful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you Valentine Pr for the arc
December 4, 2024
I LOVED this book!! Damien is a dark romance girlie’s wet dream and honestly so is Hana. This was the dynamic we were waiting for and didn’t even realize it.
I was sucked in from the first chapter, which is pretty normal for me when it comes to Jaggers books. My growing collection of paperback copies is proof of my addiction to his mafia worlds.
This can absolutely be read as a standalone even though it is the third book in the series but I highly recommend reading the others just because they are so good.
Damien is a psycho with a unique condition that makes his hair white and his eyes a purplish color. He’s brutal and means it when he says he’s going to do something. He is also hilarious and always the sarcastic one.
Hana is always dressed to perfection, never a line out of place, except when she goes undercover as the Kitsune and deals with some of the dirty business players in Japan. She held onto some trauma from her past and it’s beautiful to watch how Damien, in his crazy ways and with his rope fetish, helps her start to heal.
Their story was so fun and I never wanted it to end! The banter, the fake engagement, the power dynamic, and the spice, were all so perfect!
I was sucked in from the first chapter, which is pretty normal for me when it comes to Jaggers books. My growing collection of paperback copies is proof of my addiction to his mafia worlds.
This can absolutely be read as a standalone even though it is the third book in the series but I highly recommend reading the others just because they are so good.
Damien is a psycho with a unique condition that makes his hair white and his eyes a purplish color. He’s brutal and means it when he says he’s going to do something. He is also hilarious and always the sarcastic one.
Hana is always dressed to perfection, never a line out of place, except when she goes undercover as the Kitsune and deals with some of the dirty business players in Japan. She held onto some trauma from her past and it’s beautiful to watch how Damien, in his crazy ways and with his rope fetish, helps her start to heal.
Their story was so fun and I never wanted it to end! The banter, the fake engagement, the power dynamic, and the spice, were all so perfect!
September 1, 2025
Finished this pretty much in one go but sat on writing a review. Damian's my favorite type of hero; J/P but so protective of Hana. I loved the initial animosity between he and Hana; well, more from the latter but it was so spicy. This was non-stop exciting and I wished there was a little more of an epilogue.
What pushed this to 5⭐ was how Damian used a classical Japanese folk story (Tsuru no Ongaeshi) that I remember reading growing up, as a symbol of how he felt about Hana. Well done, Mr. Cole.
What pushed this to 5⭐ was how Damian used a classical Japanese folk story (Tsuru no Ongaeshi) that I remember reading growing up, as a symbol of how he felt about Hana. Well done, Mr. Cole.
January 3, 2025
I told myself I wouldn’t continue this series because it was written by a man.. yet here I am.
You know I love a fake engagement though.
You know I love a fake engagement though.
December 4, 2024
Jagger Cole continues to push the envelope with his characters and I bloody love it. He’s delivered another book full of outlandish characters, twists and turns and erotic romance.
This one follows Damian and Hana. Hana is moonlighting as a money launderer and in fact is stealing Damian’s clients which as we can assume, doesn’t go down well. Hana’s family are working on establishing their connections and business empire further afield so are seeking an alliance and in order to do that, Hana must be engaged. She is willing to do whatever it takes to secure her families future. Enter, Damian.
I have read a lot of Jagger Cole books now, and I will admit that this one hasn’t been my favourite. I did have high expectations of what I was expecting from Hana’s character based on the first two books in the series and she was bit of a miss for me. I did quite like Damian, I mean only Jagger Cole could find you rooting for the psychopath right? There were a few surprisingly sweet moments and I wish we got more!! I did enjoy how obsessed he was with her, and how she slowly but surely unbolted the door that held Damian’s black heart. They were absolutely fire together! His Kitsune 🦊centres him and he will do absolutely anything for her. The origami cranes were a beautiful touch and their hidden meaning was so powerful.
Overall, though this was not my favourite JC book, it was still an amazing read full of suspense, mystery, epic spice (🪢 shibari anyone?) and some really dry jokes, courtesy of our resident psycho, Damian.
Add to your tbr if you like:
- dark, mafia romance
- yakuza x bratva
- Enemies to lovers
- Fake engagement
- Blackmail
- Touch her and die
Thank you Valentine PR for the opportunity to read early.
This one follows Damian and Hana. Hana is moonlighting as a money launderer and in fact is stealing Damian’s clients which as we can assume, doesn’t go down well. Hana’s family are working on establishing their connections and business empire further afield so are seeking an alliance and in order to do that, Hana must be engaged. She is willing to do whatever it takes to secure her families future. Enter, Damian.
I have read a lot of Jagger Cole books now, and I will admit that this one hasn’t been my favourite. I did have high expectations of what I was expecting from Hana’s character based on the first two books in the series and she was bit of a miss for me. I did quite like Damian, I mean only Jagger Cole could find you rooting for the psychopath right? There were a few surprisingly sweet moments and I wish we got more!! I did enjoy how obsessed he was with her, and how she slowly but surely unbolted the door that held Damian’s black heart. They were absolutely fire together! His Kitsune 🦊centres him and he will do absolutely anything for her. The origami cranes were a beautiful touch and their hidden meaning was so powerful.
Overall, though this was not my favourite JC book, it was still an amazing read full of suspense, mystery, epic spice (🪢 shibari anyone?) and some really dry jokes, courtesy of our resident psycho, Damian.
Add to your tbr if you like:
- dark, mafia romance
- yakuza x bratva
- Enemies to lovers
- Fake engagement
- Blackmail
- Touch her and die
Thank you Valentine PR for the opportunity to read early.
November 27, 2024
As our FMC would say…That fucker Damien.
He’s a psychopath. Albeit a playful one.
I opened the ARC and was not expecting the FMC that it was so I was shocked but excited.
She is always in control but Damien disrupts that.
She holds a big secret but now Damien knows exactly who she is and what she does so what does he do? Blackmails her. Even more, they have to get fake engaged to further their organization into another area of Japan.
Damien is OBSESSED and playfully unhinged. Some of the jokes that come out of this man’s mouth had me 🤭. Also the ORIGAMI CRANES. With the yarn…I can’t. Truly a great detail.
Jagger Cole has given us another fantastic book with epic twists and erotic romance.
WHAT YOU GET :
- Dark
- Mafia
- She has a secret
- He is a playful psychopath
- She likes control but he disrupts that
- Fake Fiance
- Blackmail
- Enemies to Lovers
- Shibari (hot)
- Origami
- Battery Operated Associates
- Good girl
- 🍑👋🏼
- Hand Necklace
- Dirty Talk
- Multiple Plot twists
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for sending the ARC.
He’s a psychopath. Albeit a playful one.
I opened the ARC and was not expecting the FMC that it was so I was shocked but excited.
She is always in control but Damien disrupts that.
She holds a big secret but now Damien knows exactly who she is and what she does so what does he do? Blackmails her. Even more, they have to get fake engaged to further their organization into another area of Japan.
Damien is OBSESSED and playfully unhinged. Some of the jokes that come out of this man’s mouth had me 🤭. Also the ORIGAMI CRANES. With the yarn…I can’t. Truly a great detail.
Jagger Cole has given us another fantastic book with epic twists and erotic romance.
WHAT YOU GET :
- Dark
- Mafia
- She has a secret
- He is a playful psychopath
- She likes control but he disrupts that
- Fake Fiance
- Blackmail
- Enemies to Lovers
- Shibari (hot)
- Origami
- Battery Operated Associates
- Good girl
- 🍑👋🏼
- Hand Necklace
- Dirty Talk
- Multiple Plot twists
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for sending the ARC.
January 4, 2025
Jagger never misses 👏🏻
What to expect:
Dark romance
Mafia
Enemies to lovers
Forced marriage
Touch her & ☠️
Just what I expected from jagger and more!
Damien was ALL ALPHA and I was here for it. One look at Hana and he knew she was forever his.
The spice in this book was SPICIN! From the b0ndage play to all the “you’re mine” vibes - just so good 😮💨
if you love dark mafia romance, jagger is a MUST read 🙌🏻
Spice: 4 🌶️
What to expect:
Dark romance
Mafia
Enemies to lovers
Forced marriage
Touch her & ☠️
Just what I expected from jagger and more!
Damien was ALL ALPHA and I was here for it. One look at Hana and he knew she was forever his.
The spice in this book was SPICIN! From the b0ndage play to all the “you’re mine” vibes - just so good 😮💨
if you love dark mafia romance, jagger is a MUST read 🙌🏻
Spice: 4 🌶️
December 14, 2024
Incredible. Amazing. Always 5 stars from jagger. This one is super action/plot heavy and the plot just kept twisting!!
eARC review 🖤
5 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
I say it every time, the man does 👏🏼 not 👏🏼 miss 👏🏼
This is book 3 of the Memento Mori series and it was Hana’s turn!!! 😍
She’s so fiery and confident while still being composed and demure when required to be. There’s so many layers to her and I absolutely loved them.
The chemistry and tension between her and Damian is palpable. They can’t hardly stand each other, but there’s a pull between them. And when they have to get married for the sake of alliances? Oooooh 😮💨 it’s SO good.
One of the best parts about E to L for me, is when they turn to lovers. And it was so sweet to watch unfold in this story.
Jagger never fails to give us the heavy action/plot twists and turns and I was on the edge of my seat the whole last 25-30%!!
Tropes: dark mafia • Bratva x Yakuza • fake fiancé • morally grey x 2 • grumpy x sunshine • romantic suspense
eARC review 🖤
5 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
I say it every time, the man does 👏🏼 not 👏🏼 miss 👏🏼
This is book 3 of the Memento Mori series and it was Hana’s turn!!! 😍
She’s so fiery and confident while still being composed and demure when required to be. There’s so many layers to her and I absolutely loved them.
The chemistry and tension between her and Damian is palpable. They can’t hardly stand each other, but there’s a pull between them. And when they have to get married for the sake of alliances? Oooooh 😮💨 it’s SO good.
One of the best parts about E to L for me, is when they turn to lovers. And it was so sweet to watch unfold in this story.
Jagger never fails to give us the heavy action/plot twists and turns and I was on the edge of my seat the whole last 25-30%!!
Tropes: dark mafia • Bratva x Yakuza • fake fiancé • morally grey x 2 • grumpy x sunshine • romantic suspense
February 13, 2025
i was scared this was going to disappoint me, much like freya’s book ended up doing, but this was a pleasant surprise. i wasn’t expecting to like damien as much as i did. or for his story to take the turns it did. did i think he was going to resemble hades? yes, but i’m glad i was wrong. him and hana were an odd pairing that completely made sense. the fact that he was the one to get his heart broken, that he almost died again, like at the start of this series, but this time around for her rather than for the bratva – poetic. and again, i appreciated the different portrayal of a badass female lead, now seemingly unassuming.
October 17, 2025
malisimo, muy aburrido, el drama me dio dolor de cabeza en vez de entretenerme, todo mal!
December 5, 2024
I was very intrigued by Damian so I was super excited for his book!! I felt like we knew very little about him so I loved getting his backstory!! Hana seemed to have it all in the prior books but boy did this girl have some secrets!!! I loved all the twist and turns of this book! As always, Jagger Cole delivering with all the spice from beginning to end 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
January 26, 2025
3.75⭐ / 4🌶️
[📱] ebook
— vibezz
🦊 fake engagement
🪢 blackmail
🦊 forced proximity
🪢 touch her and i'll cut off your fingers
🦊 he leaves her gifts
mini blurb — ✍🏻
Hana represent the legal business part of her family and as the Mori-kai expand their influence in Tokyo, they soon have to deal with a more traditional society. The engagement with Damian Nikolayev is only beneficial to the business, it has nothing to do with the secret he threatens to divulge to her family or the fact that more time they're forced to spend with each other, the less fake their relationship seems to be.
//
I was really torn between to give it 4 full stars or stop at 3.75, I liked the book, more that the previous ones for sure, but what's bugging me is the "overworking" of the villain side I'm noticing in Jagger Cole's books.
Look, if the villain in question is stabbed to death, a building collapsed over him and a fire burned the rest of it, omg please I'm begging you on my knees LET THEM STAY DEAD, we're not in a marvel universe and they're not SJM's characters.
Instead I found them livin' 'n breathing 85% into the plot throwing yet another plot-twist that we could have done without.
BUT— thinking about this one is not totally over-dramatized, .
That said, I SO MUCH appreciated Damian's character, omg finally we have a psychopath acting like they preach 🙏 from his introduction at the beginning and his little "present" 💐 he was such a gentleman 🥹
Loved how Hana hold her own with him, she proved to be a Girlboss and did not disappoint one bit.
[📱] ebook
— vibezz
🦊 fake engagement
🪢 blackmail
🦊 forced proximity
🪢 touch her and i'll cut off your fingers
🦊 he leaves her gifts
mini blurb — ✍🏻
Hana represent the legal business part of her family and as the Mori-kai expand their influence in Tokyo, they soon have to deal with a more traditional society. The engagement with Damian Nikolayev is only beneficial to the business, it has nothing to do with the secret he threatens to divulge to her family or the fact that more time they're forced to spend with each other, the less fake their relationship seems to be.
//
I was really torn between to give it 4 full stars or stop at 3.75, I liked the book, more that the previous ones for sure, but what's bugging me is the "overworking" of the villain side I'm noticing in Jagger Cole's books.
Look, if the villain in question is stabbed to death, a building collapsed over him and a fire burned the rest of it, omg please I'm begging you on my knees LET THEM STAY DEAD, we're not in a marvel universe and they're not SJM's characters.
Instead I found them livin' 'n breathing 85% into the plot throwing yet another plot-twist that we could have done without.
BUT— thinking about this one is not totally over-dramatized, .
That said, I SO MUCH appreciated Damian's character, omg finally we have a psychopath acting like they preach 🙏 from his introduction at the beginning and his little "present" 💐 he was such a gentleman 🥹
Loved how Hana hold her own with him, she proved to be a Girlboss and did not disappoint one bit.
December 3, 2024
4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫. Rounded to 5
Tropes:
💜 mafia
🖤BDSM
💜possessive MMC
🖤touch her n die 💀
💜anti-hero
🖤forced proximity
💜multi cultural
🖤blackmail
💜enemies to lovers
Jagger Cole has done it again. This latest book, Emperor of Lust set in his Memento Mori world, definitely takes us on a ride. While technically you can read this as a standalone for a better reading experience it’s better read in order. This is Damien and Hana’s story.
Hana, is our FMC and part of the Mori-Kai family. Headed to Tokyo to expand the business, Hana must not only handle the business but also fake engagement to Damien Nikolayev, a ruthless psychopath who is blackmailing her. Hana, has a very painful past and is harboring these dark secrets that she’s shared enough one other than her brother. She has hidden behind a tough shield until Damien slowly starts breaking through her armor even as she fights it.
Damien Nikolayev, is our MMC and man was he 🔥. He had his own secrets, these secrets that no body else knows and made him to be this ruthless man. But even as psychotic as he is, deep down he’s fiercely loyal, possessive of Hana and man the mouth on him…
Together these two were Amazing and such fire and how Damien went to great lengths to protect Hana. These two both had so much baggage and trauma but together they were dark, possessive and oh so steamy.
Jagger with his dark twisted men, crazy plot twists and steam has again taken us on a ride and I am here for it all.
Thank you to Jagger for letting me be a part of your team.
Tropes:
💜 mafia
🖤BDSM
💜possessive MMC
🖤touch her n die 💀
💜anti-hero
🖤forced proximity
💜multi cultural
🖤blackmail
💜enemies to lovers
Jagger Cole has done it again. This latest book, Emperor of Lust set in his Memento Mori world, definitely takes us on a ride. While technically you can read this as a standalone for a better reading experience it’s better read in order. This is Damien and Hana’s story.
Hana, is our FMC and part of the Mori-Kai family. Headed to Tokyo to expand the business, Hana must not only handle the business but also fake engagement to Damien Nikolayev, a ruthless psychopath who is blackmailing her. Hana, has a very painful past and is harboring these dark secrets that she’s shared enough one other than her brother. She has hidden behind a tough shield until Damien slowly starts breaking through her armor even as she fights it.
Damien Nikolayev, is our MMC and man was he 🔥. He had his own secrets, these secrets that no body else knows and made him to be this ruthless man. But even as psychotic as he is, deep down he’s fiercely loyal, possessive of Hana and man the mouth on him…
Together these two were Amazing and such fire and how Damien went to great lengths to protect Hana. These two both had so much baggage and trauma but together they were dark, possessive and oh so steamy.
Jagger with his dark twisted men, crazy plot twists and steam has again taken us on a ride and I am here for it all.
Thank you to Jagger for letting me be a part of your team.
December 3, 2024
4/5⭐️
3/5🌶️
thank you valentine pr and literary management for this arc! this book will release on december 5th, 2024!
per typical jagger cole, this was another very spicy and action packed book! i have been eagerly awaiting damien’s story since we first met him, and for the most part, this book met my expectations. my biggest joke to pick was that i was more psychopath tendencies from damien, he honestly just seemed like all of the other men in this series who are just extremely protective and possessive of their significant other and i just wanted a bit more from him. besides that, i really loved the incorporation of japanese culture into this story. i liked hana a lot and respected how she protected herself and her family for so long. the tension and spice between damien and hana was really well done and i liked how they were able to support each other despite their past baggage. i loved the enemies to loved and marriage of convenience trope! i loved getting to see the characters from the other books in this series as well! overall, another well done book by jagger cole!
“let’s make sure we are on the same page. while we’re here in tokyo, you will be my fiancée, in every definition of the word. publicly and privately.”
3/5🌶️
thank you valentine pr and literary management for this arc! this book will release on december 5th, 2024!
per typical jagger cole, this was another very spicy and action packed book! i have been eagerly awaiting damien’s story since we first met him, and for the most part, this book met my expectations. my biggest joke to pick was that i was more psychopath tendencies from damien, he honestly just seemed like all of the other men in this series who are just extremely protective and possessive of their significant other and i just wanted a bit more from him. besides that, i really loved the incorporation of japanese culture into this story. i liked hana a lot and respected how she protected herself and her family for so long. the tension and spice between damien and hana was really well done and i liked how they were able to support each other despite their past baggage. i loved the enemies to loved and marriage of convenience trope! i loved getting to see the characters from the other books in this series as well! overall, another well done book by jagger cole!
“let’s make sure we are on the same page. while we’re here in tokyo, you will be my fiancée, in every definition of the word. publicly and privately.”
December 3, 2024
”No one touches you but me,” he growls, leaning down to bite my earlobe, making me cry out. “Not in this life, or the next. I’ll make sure every fucking inch of you thinks of me every time you fucking breathe.”
I’ve been curious about Damian since meeting him in the first two books and I 100% feel like he lived up to the hype. His and Hana’s relationship started out pretty intense and I feel like the fake engagement trope fit them really perfectly. But Damian’s possessive and obsessive nature over Hana is just… *swoon*. Hana puts on a brave face to her family — even Annika & Freya — and it was really nice to see her vulnerability and heart come through in this one. There’s a lot of action throughout this one that will definitely keep you on edge. Damian’s kink is bondage and while it was SEXY AF in the book, I loved that it helped Hana overcome the trauma of her past and help embrace her sexuality. Takeshi played a bigger role in this book as Hana’s twin and his story is definitely being set up for the next book with some breadcrumbs Jagger left. I cannot wait to continue this series!
I’ve been curious about Damian since meeting him in the first two books and I 100% feel like he lived up to the hype. His and Hana’s relationship started out pretty intense and I feel like the fake engagement trope fit them really perfectly. But Damian’s possessive and obsessive nature over Hana is just… *swoon*. Hana puts on a brave face to her family — even Annika & Freya — and it was really nice to see her vulnerability and heart come through in this one. There’s a lot of action throughout this one that will definitely keep you on edge. Damian’s kink is bondage and while it was SEXY AF in the book, I loved that it helped Hana overcome the trauma of her past and help embrace her sexuality. Takeshi played a bigger role in this book as Hana’s twin and his story is definitely being set up for the next book with some breadcrumbs Jagger left. I cannot wait to continue this series!
December 10, 2024
5 ⭐️
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️
First things first, Damian is a literal psychopath, but he’s MY psychopath 😌 also, did yall know he’s funny? Like sir got jokes, plus his purple eyes!? Like you have no business being so dang fine 😍
The love between Damian and Hana was definitely not something I had predicted, and Hana’s past! Omg I could’ve never imagined. I’m so happy Damian literally killed for her, like he loves her so much 🥹 The plot twist was actually kind of wild and the epilogue came so quickly 😭 but hey at least we know who’s next 🤩
“It’s my turn to kneel,” Damian growls.
He lowers himself to his knees in front of me, stealing the air from my lungs.
“I love you,” he growls quietly, his voice deep and steady. “You’re my light and my darkness, my chaos and my calm. You’re everything I never thought I deserved. And I will spend the rest of my life proving that I do.”
Tears blur my vision, my hands trembling as he holds the ring out to me.
“Marry me,” he murmurs. “For real. For forever.”
In his arms, I am home. Forever.
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️
First things first, Damian is a literal psychopath, but he’s MY psychopath 😌 also, did yall know he’s funny? Like sir got jokes, plus his purple eyes!? Like you have no business being so dang fine 😍
The love between Damian and Hana was definitely not something I had predicted, and Hana’s past! Omg I could’ve never imagined. I’m so happy Damian literally killed for her, like he loves her so much 🥹 The plot twist was actually kind of wild and the epilogue came so quickly 😭 but hey at least we know who’s next 🤩
“It’s my turn to kneel,” Damian growls.
He lowers himself to his knees in front of me, stealing the air from my lungs.
“I love you,” he growls quietly, his voice deep and steady. “You’re my light and my darkness, my chaos and my calm. You’re everything I never thought I deserved. And I will spend the rest of my life proving that I do.”
Tears blur my vision, my hands trembling as he holds the ring out to me.
“Marry me,” he murmurs. “For real. For forever.”
In his arms, I am home. Forever.
December 8, 2024
“You're mine now, Kitsune. I'd get used to that if I were you."
Emperor of lust is the third installment of Jagger Cole's modern, adult, dark, sexual, crime world romance trilogy, Memento Mori. This is the story of Hana Mori, a Yakuza daughter and corporate CEO, and Damian Nikolayev, the heir to the Bratva throne. When Damian discovers Hana's secrets—secrets so intricate that the lives of those she loves are in jeopardy due to her past transgressions—their romance takes a turbulent start. Damian doesn't want a relationship, but when he loses his heart to to the lady he is falling for, his life is about to get much more complicated. Intimate and edgy, the $ex scenes include some Japanese shibari rope play. Once more, as the series goes on, there is criticism around the heroes' hostility and rage towards the heroines, as well as questionable consent and actions.
I'm waiting for the next book.
Emperor of lust is the third installment of Jagger Cole's modern, adult, dark, sexual, crime world romance trilogy, Memento Mori. This is the story of Hana Mori, a Yakuza daughter and corporate CEO, and Damian Nikolayev, the heir to the Bratva throne. When Damian discovers Hana's secrets—secrets so intricate that the lives of those she loves are in jeopardy due to her past transgressions—their romance takes a turbulent start. Damian doesn't want a relationship, but when he loses his heart to to the lady he is falling for, his life is about to get much more complicated. Intimate and edgy, the $ex scenes include some Japanese shibari rope play. Once more, as the series goes on, there is criticism around the heroes' hostility and rage towards the heroines, as well as questionable consent and actions.
I'm waiting for the next book.
December 8, 2024
The last 20% of this book had me gripping my kindle extra hard. Jagger knows how to throw in a twist to blow your mind.
This is book 3 in the Memento Mori series. It’s a forced proximity & mafia romance between Hana and Damian and let me tell you their chemistry is off the charts 🔥
Our sweet Hana has a secret…
Hana is the perfect sibling always out together, never a hair out of place, and always doing what’s best for her family. What Hana wasn’t prepared for was Damian.
Damian is a beautiful psychopath, but a playful one. Violence is the norm for this man but when it comes to Hana he’s different. She centers him in a way nothing else has. He quickly discovers a protective instinct for his Kitsune and he will do ANYTHING to keep her safe.
Damian and Hana’s relationship was so sweet, which it is weird to call romance in a Jagger Cole book sweet, but the way Damian softens for her and cares for her is just so freaking SWEET! On another note, the spice in this was so good. The Shibari techniques that Damian used on Hana were hot af and the mouth on this man… RIP
This book was filled with suspense and spice. Two things you can always count on Jagger to deliver.
Thank you Jagger Cole and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy!
4⭐️|3.5🌶️
•fake engagement
•enemies to lovers
•shibari
•touch her and d!e
•mafia romance
•forced proximity
This is book 3 in the Memento Mori series. It’s a forced proximity & mafia romance between Hana and Damian and let me tell you their chemistry is off the charts 🔥
Our sweet Hana has a secret…
Hana is the perfect sibling always out together, never a hair out of place, and always doing what’s best for her family. What Hana wasn’t prepared for was Damian.
Damian is a beautiful psychopath, but a playful one. Violence is the norm for this man but when it comes to Hana he’s different. She centers him in a way nothing else has. He quickly discovers a protective instinct for his Kitsune and he will do ANYTHING to keep her safe.
Damian and Hana’s relationship was so sweet, which it is weird to call romance in a Jagger Cole book sweet, but the way Damian softens for her and cares for her is just so freaking SWEET! On another note, the spice in this was so good. The Shibari techniques that Damian used on Hana were hot af and the mouth on this man… RIP
This book was filled with suspense and spice. Two things you can always count on Jagger to deliver.
Thank you Jagger Cole and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy!
4⭐️|3.5🌶️
•fake engagement
•enemies to lovers
•shibari
•touch her and d!e
•mafia romance
•forced proximity
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