Carved in Ruin

by Valeria Fox

For years, she’s waited for him, longed for her best friend to return, to love her again. But when he comes back to her, he’s no longer that boy. He’s a man—powerful, dark, and full of the scars of the past. They’re caught in a dance that burns with both fire and ice. One moment he’s everything she’s ever wanted, the next he’s a stranger, determined to hurt her. There’s too much betrayal between them, too much pain. Love. Hate. Neither can survive without the other. And when she dares to try and break free, he’ll drag her back. Every single time. They are each other’s salvation and damnation, carved in ruin.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Dark, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Second Chance

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 12, 2025

Reviews

[cajareads · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5⭐️

First of all, can the woman please stop calling other woman bimbo. And overfilled duck lips? Really? Especially when the said “bimbo” hasn’t done anything awful to her. This fmc is calling women bimbo yet can’t stop gushing over the mmc who’s seen with different “bimbos” all the time because apparently he doesn’t go out with the same woman more than two times, parading them around in front of her.

And then there’s the womanizer mmc. And you guessed it; of course he’d say “nothing compares to you, they’re just distractions, you’re the one I ever wanted” bla bla bla… 😒😒 and oh wait, he fucked the maids too which the fmc gets the front row of knowing that info since one of them casually telling the mmc he can find her later on to hook up. How lovely. I get that they haven’t seen each other since they were children and they weren’t romantically involved before but please spare me the “always been you” BS and please, for someone so hell bent on wanting a revenge, why is he behaving like a manchild…. It’s not only with the fmc but also with his right hand, he’s literally like a sulking child throwing tantrums when people don’t agree with him.

And where’s OMD where you need it.. in the other book, the author makes the fmc whose married by the way, kissed another guy so I’m actually hoping it’d happen in this book where it’s actually more relevant but of course it doesn’t happen….

This book feels so wattpad-ish. The cringy ones. The writing could have been better. Some sentences were choppy. It’s the same as the previous book I read from this author. Listen, I don’t mean to come across as rude. I really don’t. I like the plot and honestly, the storyline could actually been one of my fav trope (chilhoodfriend to enemies to lovers with mafia setting). And then he fucked things up with her, comes the betrayal and she starts to become indifferent to him? Oh YES PLEASE. But it’s hard to become one with the book or truly immerse myself in the story when the writing becomes the major problem. And I hope next time the author could hire better proofreader.

As for this book itself; I thought I would like it. The mafia setting was only in the background and I honestly to god don’t know how on earth this mmc manage to become a pakhan with being so reckless and so immature. And 60% in and I’m getting pissed at the nonstop mentions on how many women he fucked. “It was easy, convenient and they all meant nothing” that’s what he said and honestly, it’s better for him to just shut the hell up at this point. And oh of course the fmc is untouched, a virgin and has no experience with sex or with other men and I can’t help but rolling my eyes when he spouted nonsense like “you’ll adjust to the only man your body will ever know. Every inch of you will belong to me” bla bla bla when he takes her virginity 🥱 and oh that’s not all, he also said she’s the best he ever had lmao fuck him seriously

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the worst books I've ever read, I wish I could erase every single word from my brain even tho I skip-read it and didn't read every single word. I hope my short term memory loss doesn't fail me and actually do me some good and make me forget this awful experience.

I hated everyone but Anatoly.

[Alina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This could have been a fantastic book

But it was a basic virgin fmc x a " it's always been you except i fucked every girl that was willing even my own maids to forget you but i swear it's always been you
He didn't even fire the maids after they married, not untill one of them disrespects the fmc and offers him sex infront of her AND SHE WAS THE ONE WHO FIRED HER not him

So this author made the fmc from veiled vows cheats on the most perfect man ever
But the manwhore mmc who fucked everything that moved gets an "untouched" virgin fmc who PURPOSELY saved herself for him?
It pissed me off even more when always justified it as him wanting to forget her and going for women who looked nothing like her on purpose. DO YOU WANT ME TO THROW UP?
if you're gonna do this at least give is some omd and jealousy from the mmc ffs

Safety:
Safe in terms of no cheating
Owd with the maid and women wanting him
His past sex life is always brought up, he also has several dates on his arm in the start of the book

[Ruby · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book was awful to read, deeply bizarre at times, and generally dogshit.

[numa alam · Rating 3 out of 5]

ehhh kind of toxic but quick read i guess

[G Tabije · Rating 3 out of 5]

She did it!!! I am so happy for the author!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Before I got the book, I readied myself for my favorite kind of torture. Valeria Fox creates the perfect stories but with terrible execution. The errors, the inconsistencies, the way everything is rushed. I hated and loved it.

But when I first opened the book, I thought to myself, “wow, this is a longer one, hopefully the mistakes don’t slap me in the face”. But surprise surprise, the mistakes were very minimal. The execution felt rushed but still slow which for me is a good thing because it shows how exciting the book is.

One of the reasons I like reading the author’s books is because she creates strong heroines and heroes who kneel before their women. Mila and Rafael did not disappoint. Mila was a doormat at first, sure, but when she got hurt, she burned Rafael’s world to the ground just by doing nothing. And I bleed for the h being indifferent to the H trope! Anything that man did against our h bit him in the ass! Lol

Readers, Rafael would be one of your favorite unhinged men, I’m sure of it.

[Chiara B · Rating 1 out of 5]

It had the makings of a great story, but it fell flat for me. Unfortunately the writing wasn’t fleshed out enough imo. I feel like the author forgot certain things that happened in the past, or just completely disregarded it. Even the FMC- it was like she was jumping from one trope to another. It felt like mafia trope boxes were just being ticked, even if they didn’t work with what we had been told about the characters. It was a quick read but it would’ve been much better with better story planning, character depth and just depth in general.

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

I fucking hated this. The beginning was good ngl, but towards the end? And the fact that he was quite fucking obsessive for stupid shit took me out. Plot based on smut- ew. Like how many times do i get to read those basic ass positions?

[Amredith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wtf is this?!!
DNF’d, the writing is sooo bad, nothing makes sense, the sentences are giving cringey watpad vibes…

[sloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh it was fine. The writing was ok. A little juvenile but I didn’t mind it. The 3rd act breakup felt forced and kinda unnecessary.

Summary:
Mila and Rafael were childhood best friends until a fire in the bratva house kills Rafael’s dad. 14 years later Rafael wants to take revenge on Mila’s dad who caused the fire. He also wants to take revenge on Mila herself since she’s technically the one who started the fire even though she had no idea what she was doing. Rafael asks for Mila’s sister’s hand in marriage to hurt her and she accepts. They begin to plan the wedding and Mila tries her best to act unbothered but she’s still very much in love with him. He sees how unaffected she is and decides to take her for himself. He marries her and she starts living with him. One day when shes back in her own home getting some things she left behind she finds out that her father is a perv and has been taking pics of her since she was a little girl. And he killed her mom when she found out. Mila kills him and goes insane and tries to kill herself. She shoots herself and wakes up a few days later. After she’s completely healed she tells Rafael that she needs a break and freedom. He agrees to give her one month but in one of his apartments with his guards. She goes to her masters program and makes friends. A few weeks later though they get back together. Epilogue is at Mila’s graduation and she tells him she’s off birth control just as she promised him. He apparently wanted babies from a long time before then. HEA

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was beautiful. It definitely has triggers, but the raw pain and emotions you get from this story broke my heart. The MMC is absolutely unhinged and o was HERE FOR IT!!!! His obsession with her was pure madness. The FMC struggled with her emotions and mental and she learned how to get through her trauma.

[Hadeel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the writing style, interesting plot but at times it was creepy

[jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“put a fucking bullet straight through my heart before you put it through yours. kill me first. i can’t imagine a world without you in it.” 😭😭😭

[Rosa Ascenso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. RA

It was a great movie read without all its gore. Its more on how its so wrong for young kids with all its power. Must read. beuitful love story.

[Maria Karlsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow

What would we all do without booktock?
After seeing a Stockton post about this book I got really excited, and I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! I finished this book in one sitting,haven't been able to put it down.


With bags under my eyes I really really recommend this book. I wish though that the book was longer , I wanted to devour more, hopefully Valeria will do bonus chapters or even a second book.

Well done Valeria for a fantastic book once again .

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was definitely entertaining and quite an interesting read. I initially picked up this book because I had seen a TikTok video that referenced one of the scenes in this book, where Rafael (the MMC) crashes Mila's (the FMC) meeting with a guy (her professor), thinking she's on a date and is moving on from him. This really had me hooked, as I love an MMC who's super possessive and gets all caveman when it comes to her, which he certainly did for the majority of this book. This book was giving Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas, except I feel like it wasn't executed as well.

Starting with Rafael, he definitely was SUPER possessive and obsessed, to the point where I was concerned and thought he needed some good therapy. In the beginning, he came off as indifferent and uncaring. However, as we go through the book, I honestly could not believe just how DOWN BAD this man was for her. He first became angry that she didn't care about him marrying her sister, then became angry at seeing her with another man, and finally became angry that she flat-out didn't want to marry him or be with him. Rafael was seriously just pining and yearning for her the entire damn book, which I LOVED.

I also enjoyed seeing his secret hobby, which is sculpting. It allowed us to see the gradual obsession he had for Mila and just how much more crazy he became, from only sculpting her face in the beginning to full on making detailed sculptures of her body, down to her curves. This man was seriously losing his sanity, and I wasn't even mad. The fact that he got mad at every and I mean EVERY man who was in her vicinity, from his own henchman Antoly, to the professor Elliot, to even her gay friend Sam, no guy was spared from Rafael's jealousy and wrath.

I did not like how it was mentioned over and over again that he had hooked up with several women, despite Rafael trying to make it abundantly clear that "it had always been her" and that "none of the others mattered." BULLSHIT. If none of them mattered, why even think or mention them in the first place? Also, I can't believe that this man fucked that many of his maids that he said he had to "send the rest off after having Irina dismissed." SIDE NOTE, how are you gonna let your wife, who you supposedly love and is the only one for you, get disrespected in front of your people and not stand up for her yourself?! For Mila to have to essentially stand up for herself and fire the maid all on her own made me shocked, because what do you mean Rafael didn't outright kick her out for disrespecting Mila like that.

Regardless if he told Irina back in Russian that Mila was enough for him and that her "services" were no longer needed, he said it TOO casually. Apparently, Mila was not the "only one" for him because if she was, he wouldn't be out here fucking so many girls and his own maids. That statement about his feelings towards her just made me laugh, as there is seriously no way he said that after all the women he was with, claiming they were all "distractions," "ways to TRY to forget Mila," etc. It didn't help when he said that he was only with tall blondes or anyone else who didn't look like her because he didn't in turn, "want to forget or replace her." UGH. That wasn't it either.

Let's not forget the hypocrisy on his end along with the miscommunication. First of all, how are you going to get all caveman and mad at Mila for her being around these men, knowing she told you it wasn't anything and that she was either just friends with them or she was simply talking to them. Mila was better than me because if I was her, I would've dropped kicked him ages ago. This man had no right to even try to go batshit crazy on her when he had his own track record. Then onto the miscommunication. I say this all the time, especially when it came to the EOD trilogy, but I WISHED he had just tried talking to her about what happened to him all those years ago in the fire. Don't even get me started on the face that when he found out about the fact that her dad manipulated her on top of he fact that she was ONLY 9 YEARS OLD when it happened, an impressionable child who didn't know any better, he refused to be any more lenient or understanding to her circumstances. This guy seriously had me mad and contemplating if I could even continue this book despite the sheer hypocrisy.

Mila was such an unbothered queen the entire book. She literally stood on her ground and never let anyone or anything stop her from doing what she wanted. I loved how despite her feelings for Rafael, she wasn't the "obedient" and "pliable" girl for him, living her own life by her own terms and choice. I also loved how she never let ANYONE disrespect her, including that raggedy maid Irina. She always spoke her truth and refused to be bullied or forced into submission, never letting Rafael fully run her life and have control over her. She really did change him a lot, to the point that by the end of the book, he's learned to at least trust her and let her do as she wishes. I also loved how she said if Rafael ever slept with another woman during their marriage, she'd sleep with two of his guards as revenge. ICON. SHE IS THAT GIRL.

Mila was such a strong and resilient FMC despite everything that happened to her. From her father to trying to commit suicide over the guilt and pain, she managed to overcome both obstacles and lived her life the way she wanted, free from restraints. My jaw did drop when she actually shot herself in the shoulder (missing her heart), basically sending herself into a coma. I was not expecting her to actually try to take her own life as I assumed Rafael would successfully intervene, but of course, she managed to do so and basically learned that she needed to start living her life for herself, away from everything. I loved seeing her in that month she was away from Rafael; seeing her thriving and making friends of her own was the best chapters in this entire book.

This book was surprisingly an entertaining read, but it would've been a higher-rated book if Rafael wasn't a walking contradiction with his "it's always been you" but then proceeds to have a colourful past with several women and not limited to his own staff. It would've also been higher had it not just been for the hypocrisy on his end when it came to Mila and her proximity to other men, as if her simply talking to other men was as bad as what he did in the past.

I was actually suprised to learn I had actually read this book before, but I DNF'd it around the time Rafael had his whole plan to marry Layla (Mila's sister) to make Mila jealous, all for it to backfire and fail as Mila obviously couldn't give zero fucks and took that as the opportunity to let herself have interactions with other men, knowing Rafael would get pissed. After reading the Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori, I became adjusted to the idea of a man engaged to one sister to end up with the other, so I was better able to read this book.

Overall, this book definitely gave Kill Switch vibes with the flashbacks sprinkled in between and just the scenario they were in, but was lacking the emotional angst that came with Damon and Winter, Mila having some form of trauma and pain, while Rafael's story failing to give a glimpse to that trauma that shaped him, leaving us to just see this unhinged mafia man who'd do anything to get the girl.

[Ashley Lauffer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The storyline was sooo good and a plot that I haven’t read before. The twists were good but not impacting. It was too rushed. There needed to be more to be able to connect with the characters and the give those twists a more impactful part in the story.

One sentence she loathes him and literally the next she’s at his feet. And NOT in a good enemies to lovers trope, I mean literally the next sentence. She ends up trying to commit suicide and then the next she’s asking to be off on her own? She wants a normal life and you can see she’s thriving but then folds after 2 weeks? Just goes back without him evening saying he can try to give her a somewhat normal life outside the darkness of the mafia. Shows up like a psycho (not giving normal) and runs right back? No fight, no good conversation. She magically feels clearer after shooting herself in the chest? Again not impossible I suppose, but we needed MORE insight and time to have it make sense.

His obsession is dark which is fine but that’s truly all it is. He “loves” her but it doesn’t come across that way in the book at all. Even people around him see it and say it but there is never a “come to Jesus” moment. We don’t get to read that or get to read too much into his obsession and his internal thoughts. One minute he’s treating her like a possession on a leash and all of a sudden is the epilogue and he suddenly is treating her like a person.

And I swear to god if I heard “I’ll burn the whole world down” one more time I was going to lose it.

Overall this was a good storyline but execution was not there.

[Lina K · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t hate it, but don’t like it too. Their dialogues were so bad. Only flashbacks povs were good and cute. I don’t understand how their feelings had been bloomed again. At one point they hated each other, at the next one they loved eo. This book is lack of logic 🫢

[Kiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carved in Ruin was about 28-year-old Rafael Ivanov, the Pakhan of the Russian Bratva based in New York, and 23-year-old Mila Jovanovich, the eldest daughter of the Don of the Serbian Mafia, also located in New York.

Author's Trigger Warnings:
Dubious Consent → Ambiguous or Coerced Sexual Consent, Non-Consent → Sexual Violence or Assault, Violence → Graphic Depictions of Physical Violence, Suicide → Themes of Self-Harm and Suicide, Death → Explicit or Graphic Depictions of Death, Gun Use → Firearm Usage or Gun Violence, Murder → Homicide, Pedophilia → Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Stalking → Obsessive and Invasive Behavior, Manipulation → Psychological Manipulation or Gas-lighting, Torture → Infliction of Severe Physical or Psychological Pain, Incest → Inappropriate Familial Relationship

Rafael and Mila used to be childhood friends, but when she was 9 and Rafael was 13, his father was killed and Rafael disappeared from her life. Although they saw each other at various events over the next 14 years, he never acknowledged her, barely glancing her way each time. When they all attended the most recent party, a fight broke out that had bullets fired, and Rafael protected Mila, even though he had brought a date. Soon after, her father had him over for dinner to thank him for saving his daughter. A few days later, she ran into him again. They slowly started becoming friends again. But that was not to last. While Mila thought they were getting closer, Rafael was making plans to break her.

In a matter of days, Mila's world fell apart when Rafael asked her father...for her sister's hand in marriage, and it was agreed upon between her father, her sister, and Rafael. Mila pretended to be okay with the situation, endured her sister's "happiness", and watched as the man she loved planned to marry her sister. (Even though her sister didn't love Rafael, Layla believed marrying him was the only way to get out from under the control of their father. But what she didn't realize was that she was a pawn being used by Rafael so he could exact his revenge on their family...and destroy them all.)

During the celebration dinner, Mila did so well pretending to be excited about the wedding that it angered Rafael. She wasn't acting the way he expected her to. It was when he confronted her about her non-reaction that Rafael revealed that he blamed her for his father's death. He said because she did her father's bidding that she was just as responsible as her father was for starting the fire that took his life, and that of many other Russian Bratva members. But things didn't go the way Mila thought. Rafael ended up forcing HER to marry him...not her sister.

Things took an unexpected turn (at least for me) with a plot twist that was only partly figured out. The readers need to be prepared for what happens in this book. Pay close attention to the trigger warnings posted above, but also have a box of tissues handy for the teary-eyed sections as well.

This book was full of angst, drama, heartache, plot twists, push/pull, and controversy. The emotional rollercoaster was in full effect with all of the twists and turns many readers (me included) love to read about.

Both main characters were fully developed, and mature, and did plenty of growing up as the story progressed. It was a pleasure to see how these two changed as quickly as their relationship did. They truly only had eyes for each other.

Were there areas that needed work? Sure, just like most stories, this book had its fair share of errors. However, unlike some, the errors in this book didn't detract from the flow of the story. Perhaps it needed a little more tweaking here and there, but the mastery of the twists and turns kept the reader glued to the pages and not focused on the grammatical errors. That's rare.

I gave this book a full five-star rating. It was just as enjoyable to read as Veiled Vows, and it will also be added to my Keeper for the Shelves collection. I can't wait for the next book by Valeria Fox!

[Kim Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an old lost friendship resurfaces, Mila finds herself facing her darkest demons.

Rafael walked out of Mila’s life when she was a child. Despite growing up in the same circles, he treated her like she didn’t exist for years. Now he is back, and while Mila struggles with her growing feelings for him, she finds herself caught in the crossfire of his revenge. On the other hand, consumed by his own demons, Rafael seems determined to destroy her.

“You are the goddess of light, of innocence, of pureness, and I am the devil kneeling at your feet.”

Let me start off by saying that I cried buckets of tears while reading this book. I did not expect the flood of emotions that hit me page after page. The journey from friends to strangers to enemies to lovers absolutely destroyed me. There are only three books that have made me feel this deeply, and now this is the fourth so it was definitely a profound read for me.

My heart bled for Mila. She was an incredibly strong FMC, determined to make the best of a horrible situation and I admired her for her convictions, especially in the aftermath of Rafael’s betrayal. She was an incredibly relatable character and her softness shone through on every page. The struggles she faced with her mental health in the second half were so raw and gut-wrenching that it broke me and it was Mila’s fight between her self-respect and the pull of her heart that tied the narrative beautifully.

Rafael on the other hand is a Pakhan with immense power but completely powerless when it comes to his love for Mila. He was cruel, no doubt, and some of his actions were inexcusable. Yet his realization of the toxicities in his behaviour and the lengths he goes to make amends were unforgettable. The groveling in this book is top-tier and the angst is unmatched but so worth it.

“I don’t care if we destroy each other. I’d rather burn with you than live without you.”

It is baffling to me that some reviews are so harsh. Disliking a book is one thing, but hating it simply because the characters are not perfect feels unfair. People are not perfect. They are messy, flawed, and, at times, destructive and that’s why we read these books. This imperfection is precisely what Valeria Fox brings to life in her books. Her characters love deeply, hurt others, and often make terrible choices, but they grow. They redeem themselves.

I loved everything about this book. The raw emotions, the intricate characters, the topic of mental health, and the push and pull between Rafael’s thirst for vengeance and his undeniable love for Mila kept me hooked.

Valeria Fox’s ability to evoke such strong emotions is unparalleled. Her portrayal of the marriage-in-crisis trope in Veiled Vows was remarkable, but Carved in Ruin truly showcases her growth as a writer. The nuanced storytelling, character depth, and gripping tension highlight her talent.

This book will stay with me for a long time. I am already planning a reread and will recommend it to my bookish friends. For me, it is a masterpiece. I urge others to give it a chance and not let a few frivolous reviews deter them.

[Cynthia Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG y’all, this is my FIRST EVER review because I am far too in love with this book not to talk about it! like, my soul is permanently tattooed by this story. Spoiler warning, besties, because I’m spilling all the tea!

Okay, so two mafia families—Russian and Serbian—were allies until a fire tore everything apart. Rafael, our broody MMC, loses everything at thirteen: his dad (the Pakhan of the Bratva) dies, the Bratva is weakened, and it's just tragic. But this boy doesn’t quit. He claws his way to the top and becomes the new Pakhan. Meanwhile, Mila, our FMC, loses not just her best friend Rafael after this (Russians think her father, the leader of the serbain mafia, had something to do with the fire), but later her mom abandons her and her sister. Years pass, but even though Mila never moves on from Rafael, he’s out here parading women around like he’s forgotten she exists… UNTIL he’s forced to protect her during an altercation.

They start getting closer, and you’re thinking, okay, maybe they’ll get back together? Nope. Plot twist—he PROPOSES TO HER SISTER. Sir, WHAT?! You can see he’s doing it just to hurt Mila. And when she promises herself to move on, he’s LIVID. He wants her obsessed with him forever. Toxic, right? Well, it gets worse—Mila finally calls him out, and Rafael admits SHE caused the fire. Excuse me, what?! Then, because he’s determined to keep her tied to him, and so she can never forget what she did, he marries her against her will. And in his POV, it’s obvious he’s a mess—he wants her but doesn’t know how to let go of the past.

Despite the chaos, there are moments when you see him trying. Like when he buys her a half-a-million-dollar bracelet because she was watching Dubai Bling and he didn’t want her feeling less than those women. Rafael is dark, but he has his moments of “I’ll burn the world for you” energy. And Mila? She’s a queen. There’s this one scene where she puts another woman in her place, and I had to take a minute because WOW. Mila is not to be messed with.

Then the real heartbreak—Mila finds out her mom didn’t abandon her. She actually died protecting Mila from her monster of a father. I sobbed. Ugly cried, full-on tissues and everything. It breaks her, and she spirals so badly she tries to end it all. When she recovers, she decides she needs space. Rafael? Yeah, he gives her a month. ONE month of space, and he’s already losing it. She tries to move on, makes friends, focuses on herself… until she brings a MALE friend to her apartment, and Rafael flips. He storms in, makes her see stars (LOUDLY), and tells her to be louder so her friend hears. I was blushing so hard I almost had to look away.

In the end, they talk, put the past behind them, and learn how to live in the present. Mila and Rafael are messy, chaotic, toxic, but perfect in their own way. If you’re into possessive, obsessive MMCs and strong FMCs who rebuild themselves, this book is for you. 10/10, I’ll be rereading it every time I need to feel something.

[CeCe Tongate · Rating 5 out of 5]

**minor spoilers, but if you read any of this PLEASE read the very end of my review**

Carved in Ruin is one of those stories that digs under your skin and refuses to let go. It’s a childhood-best-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance that’s messy, devastating, and so deeply emotional you feel every word.

Rafael and Mila’s story is complex and beautifully broken. Rafael definitely did her wrong—he manipulated her emotions, desperate to make her hurt the way he did after what he believed was her betrayal that had led to his parents’ deaths. His pain twisted into anger, and his love became obsession. But underneath that intensity was devotion that never wavered.

The emotional climax hits when Mila overhears her father’s horrifying phone call—revealing not only his predatory obsession with her since she was a child, but also that he killed her mother for confronting him about it. That revelation completely reframes everything, especially Rafael’s need to protect her and his darkness that mirrored her own trauma.

Rafael’s obsession began in childhood and grew into a love that was consuming, possessive, and unconditional. Mila’s eventual forgiveness wasn’t easy—it was earned. Watching Rafael prove his devotion and seeing Mila reclaim her power made the ending so satisfying.

The spice isn’t constant, maybe 3 smut scenes, but every scene feels purposeful and emotional rather than gratuitous—solid 3/5 spice.

Carved in Ruin is unforgettable—darkly romantic, raw, and achingly human. It’s about love born from ruin, obsession shaped by trauma, and the kind of forgiveness that feels like freedom.

** DECEPTIVE NEGATIVE REVIEWS: I mean they just irritate me so much because how are you mad in any at MMC and acting as if the he cheated on FMC? They weren’t in each other’s lives at the time he was sleeping with other women, and he was seen with so many because he was attempting to get over Mila. She was the enemy in his eyes anyway, and he was attempting to get over his feelings for her, which is very understandable. He genuinely did have feelings the whole time he had slept with other women.

[𝓐𝓪𝓼𝓱 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Carved in Ruin by Valeria Fox

Carved in Ruin is a whirlwind of dark romance that plunges you into the tumultuous lives of Rafael Ivanov and Mila Jovanovich. Once childhood friends, their bond shatters after a devastating fire and years of betrayal. Rafael, now the formidable Pakhan of the Russian Bratva, is a brooding force of nature, while Mila, the resilient daughter of the Serbian Mafia’s Don, grapples with abandonment and loss. Their reunion is anything but simple, entangled with toxic love, revenge, and a power struggle that keeps you on edge. Fox masterfully crafts a narrative where love and hate intertwine, making it impossible to look away from the chaos that is Rafael and Mila’s relationship. If you’re into morally gray characters and a plot that doesn’t shy away from the dark and twisted, this one’s for you. 

Trigger Warnings:
• Dubious consent 
• Non-consent 
• Graphic violence 
• Suicide and self-harm
• Death
• Gun violence
• Murder 
• Pedophilia 
• Stalking
• Manipulation 
• Torture 
• Incest 

Tropes:
• Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
• Mafia romance 
• Forced marriage 
• Revenge and betrayal
• Possessive/obsessive male lead 
• Strong female protagonist
• Dark pasts 
• Power dynamics 
• Emotional turmoil
• Redemption arcs

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions, not for the faint of heart, but utterly captivating for those who dare to dive in.

[Nelly Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first mafia dark romance that I’ve read that had actual character growth for both the fmc and the mmc. In almost all the other ones that I’ve read, the man is all “you belong to me” and “no one else can touch you” WHICH I love, don’t get me wrong, but it gets to a point where it’s like you’re already married so if you still don’t trust your wife to shake hands with a guy without going feral..that’s maybe something to work on.
The mmc had a lot of changing to do obviously and honestly the fmc did too. I’m so glad she focused on herself before making it all about her man.
I am also EXTREMELY happy she didn’t get kidnapped. Every other mafia book is about a man telling his girl “oh I would never let anything happen to you babe” “I’ll die before anyone hurts you” 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨and then she gets kidnapped and tortured for a week(and the mmc doesn’t even unalive himself proving that all men are liars😒). It’s become tiring so this was a really refreshing read.
The spicy scenes were a little awkward but I skim them anyway so it didn’t really matter to me.
Something that struck me as a little weird though is how she pewpewed 🔫 herself and missed? Bro had one job. And aiming for the chest? I don’t knoooww.
Still really enjoyed it which is not surprising because I live for any dark romance but mafia stuff is just *chefs kiss*

[Corazón · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't understand why Valeria Fox isn't more famous; she is so underrated it genuinely hurts. I have loved every book I’ve read from her so far, but this one, in particular, is amazing. The plot, the angst, the banter—everything about it is fantastic. I wish she would write more books. I wish she would write a whole series which would be amazing, but I'm contented with the standalones, a girl can dream.🤷‍♀️

The writing is exceptional. You get engrossed in the story right from the beginning. The feelings that Mila and Rafaele have for each other, feelings they've shared for years, are palpable. I appreciated how they worked through their relationship challenges in order to be together. Honestly, the first half of the book was really good but also a bit creepy. The second half felt like an emotional rollercoaster. There were times I strongly disagreed with both main characters, but then the next scene would dissolve my anger.

I love the angsty trope, and Valeria Fox writes it so well that you can feel it deep within. I felt overwhelmed by the raw emotions of the characters. I'm hoping for an extra epilogue and more remarkable books like this one, especially in terms of plot and emotional intensity. I don't know when her next release is, but I can't wait for it!

[Britany | SouthernAsianReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deceptive Negative Reviews

I almost didn’t read this based on the comments about him sleeping around even though he’s always loved her. Thankfully I jumped in and I feel like that should be explained more. Yes they were childhood friends. However when she was 9 she helped start a fire that killed his family. After that she was the enemy in his eyes. Yes he loved her but it was unthinkable. So him sleeping around even though he loved her is understandable. It’s not like they were around each other anymore. They had stopped being friends. She’s a mafia princess so the fact that she was pure wasn’t surprising either.

Another complaint was the fact that he had slept with his maids. When one in particular propositioned him he rebuffed her. People are upset that Mila fired her and he doesn’t. He doesn’t ignore what’s happening. He lets her assert her power over her home. I do think he should have gotten rid of all his past lovers in his house. BUT at that time he was still battling with punishing her.

Overall this was a good enemies to lovers mafia romance for me.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, suckered in by social media to read this one.

Grovel = H is so mad at h from something she did as a child of 9 years old. Because, you know, children at 9 are criminal masterminds and have vast understandings of consequences. So of course, H must destroy and dismantle the h's life. h even agrees that she was tots responsible for what occurred and knows she deserves it....I know, I know...it's fictional but it just left a sour taste for me. h becomes so depressed after she "deletes" her own dad for his nefarious deeds which included manipulating her at 9 that she shuts down and tries to "delete" herself. That is the catalyst for the H to do whatever he can to show the h his love and remorse...I just could not find anything to like about the H or the h. They both annoyed me.

Mafia-Bravta = H and h's dad heavily involved

Maybe it was just my mood, but I was not a fan. Could be a me thing, but you can check it out.

[Rawan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This premise of this book is good but the execution isn't, I write this review knowing there is a good chance the author will read it, I won't be mean but I won't sugar coat things either.

The idea of this book was good, childhood estranged friends, mafia, what's not to love?

However, there was practically no plot development, no foreshadowing, no nothing, there wasn't even time to get to know the characters, major decisions were made and finished in the span of 1-2 sentences, multiple characters were professing their love for each other without actually speaking two words to one another.

This book felt like it was written just to get from one plot point to the next and the reader ended up with nothing, every good romance book I've read gave the reader time to understand, feel and live with these characters.

The author has good ideas, she just needs to work on her writing.

[Ann cash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings

I have mixed feeling on this book since the 3 stars.
Mila, the FMC, is a quiet girl. She leads a sheltered life complements of her dad who is a mafia boss. Her love interest is the MMC Rafael. They were friends when they were younger but now he absolutely hates her family & espically her as she killed his father.

What I liked; the authors description of Mila's thoughts. Even though Mila marries Rafael ( she has loved him all her life) he wants to break her & break her he does!

What I didn't like; Rafael. This man is the definition of a Red Flag 🚩🚩. Coercive Control. Destruction. Jealousy. Hateful mind games.

I had seen this book promoted on Tik Tok & while catching its also very very toxic. But you have to read to draw your own opinions on it 🍀🇮🇪

[Alee · Rating 3 out of 5]

New author for me but I will definitely keep and eye out for more.
It took me a few chapters to get into this story but once it got going I couldn’t put it down, it does gets to a dark point with some serious themes so do check ur TWs on this one, but I felt that the portrayal of the fmc’s struggle was very well written and we see her character develop so much throughout the story.
There were also a couple side plot issues that I felt could have been given more time.
I’ll be honest and say the mmc I found irritating at times it was a bit like just make ur mind up, but again we see him develop over the later chapters aswell and he did grow on me.
Overall it’s a good read with some darker themes but definitely worth checking out.