Reign of Psychos

Empire of Carnage #3

by Ava Summers

Leaving might break us apart, but staying will be the death of us all.

My heart is shattered.

Just as I let my walls down and allowed my five broken princes in, I’m forced to push them away again.

Milo, my sweet nerd.

Landon, my future husband. Or so he thinks.

Kyril, my fierce protector.

Cassian, the man who gave up everything for me.

And Dario, my first love. His betrayal still hurts, but if I survive this, maybe we can find our way back.

These men all own a piece of my heart.

Knowing I might not return to them kills me inside. But the threats against us are too dangerous to ignore. And it’s not just my life on the line anymore - I have an unborn baby to think about.

My father won’t rest until he has me back under his thumb. Wed to a mafia boss. I have no choice but to end this once and for all.

Maybe then I can look to the future.

Maybe then I can finally be free to love the men who saved me from myself.

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*** This a completed why choose / dark mafia romance series ***

Thea will not have to choose between the men in her life (no MM) and this book has a happy ending. For content trigger warnings, please the note at the beginning of the book.

Tropes:

Obsessive / possessive MMCEnemies to loversHe falls firstWho hurt youTouch her and dieBadass FMCGolden retriever MMC

Genres: Dark Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Romance

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 2, 2025

About the author

Ava Summers is a dark romance author who loves reading about feisty females and morally gray alpha males. She prefers books with a healthy dose of spice. If the heroine doesn't have to choose between her guys, even better! When Ava's not reading and writing, she likes to paint and occasionally run 10ks. She also spends way too much time keeping her rescue cat entertained.

Reviews

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌶

I really enjoyed this trilogy! Loved all of the characters.

if you love Mafia, why choose (no MM) give it a go.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thea left her men behind because she knows if she stays her men could be killed. So she assumes a new identity. She is now Edna O'Brien. She's left London and is now in Italy. She needs to make sure her father doesn't find her yet. She will find him and delete him from the world.
She meets up with Dario's father and a confidente of her father, Fausto. There she learns that her father is in even more trouble than she knew. The money he got from the man he wanted her to marry went to the cartel he owed money to. If her dad repay the money to the cartel they will likely put out a hit on him. Hmmm maybe they'll do the work. Then even better news from Fausto..the cartel might come after her if her dad is taken out.
Milo, Landon, Kyril, Cassian, and Dario are trying their best to find Thea. They have a few leads. But then Dario has to leave after his father was murdered.Cassian has an interesting meeting with his father who is very upset with him.
While at his father's funeral he finds or Thea finds him. They meet and then spend the night together. He knows they are back where they should have been if he hadn't been so stupid. The next he looks at his cell then turns on the tv. When Thea comes out from the bedroom he shows her the tv. Her father has been arrested by the DIA. Dario's father had made sure if something happened to him the evidence he had collected and saved would reach the right people.
Once they know her father is out of circulation, they head back to London. Kyril is mad but happy his woman is back.
Life back with her men is more chaotic and challenging and totally enough to make her so darn angry. She doesn't have the energy for all the stuff they keep doing to her emotions. Being pregnant doesn't help either.
The men decide to pamper her. So ideas are tossed around.
Then Cassian is called home. He's going but he wants to rescue his mother from whatever clinic his dad stashed her in. The guys will help. Secrets that the guys and even Thea have kept from their respective families are slowly coming out.
Will anything be the same after the dust clears? Will Thea and her men continue to fight for their relationship and each other?
A great story in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joanne Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Reign of Psychos” is the third and final instalment in the “Empire of Carnage Series.” The story of Thea and her “boyfriend’s” - Landon, Kyril, Milo, Dario and Cassian continue. Thea realises that the only way that herself and Verity will ever be safe is for her father, Francesco di Luca and Torrance Asaro, her father’s chief enforcer, to be dead or incarcerated for life. There is many secrets that have come out - some will not surprise you, others will not. Will they all learn to trust each other and ALL have a future together? Will Thea finally be free to love the men that make her life complete?

The story is full of passion, intrigue, betrayal, vengeance, power, control, twists and turns around every corner - most of all love ♥️ There is never a dull moment - you will be hooked! The book goes through moments of the thoughts or possibilities that it could happen to, to extreme violence to the most beautiful tender moments! The heat between Theo and the boys is off the page. There is never a dull moment! This book is everything you expect from a dark mafia romance! I did not want it to end! From page to page, chapter to chapter, I could not put it down - you will metaphorically be on the edge of your chair! Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊

[°˖✧˚lindsay˚✧˖° · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 25%. It’s just not good. Everything’s described in over dramatized detail, but an important tertiary character’s car ‘blows up.’ Just like that. No fiery blast detailed nor immolation of her hopes and connection to them, etc. Just oopsie poopsie it blew up.

Then begins the sexfest, of course. Which is just… hard to get into when there’s no real stability in the overarching storyline. Why should we care about anyone’s pleasure when we are finding none here?

Her pregnancy due to not using protection, when she was obviously upset and adamant about that very thing the first time it happened? That’s another thing passed off as an oopsie when it’s really just awful.
It’s assault!

Then returning home & manhandled by the very man who did that just emphasizes the disparity in the power dynamics, negating everything that makes a successful reverse harem.

[Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This whole series was a wild ride. Since finishing this book, I do think this one and the previous one could've been combined because it made me feel like the previous book does suffer from middle book syndrome a little bit. After all, some big things happened in that book. I just wish some of the closure/finales had happened in that one to help pick that pace back up, because this book is on the shorter side of things, like the previous book, but had so much stuck on its shoulders since we were wrapping up so much. In the end, we have some things that I wish had more closure, mainly Kyril's drama. I feel like we left the whole mafia angle for him up in the air, and Milo unfortunately gets lost here. I love Milo, and he needed more love here.

[Vin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ava Summers - Book 3
Waste of time and money.
Mature subjects meant for mature audience 35 yrs and above.
Unable to comprehend why the target audience and characters are between 19 - 25 when the themes are for an older audience, who will be able to handle them without subjected to influence of the lurid details meant to shock and create emotional turbulence.
Book with potential let down by dark themes of drug use
Alcohol consumption
Sexual abuse
Unnecessary violence

Further tainted by revolving the story around the inclusion of another female, Eden, best friend, into the plot.

Reverse harem only works well with one main female character and multiple men.

[Kelly Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have literally been engrossed in this trilogy since i started! It is so well written, with amazing characters and a plot that had me hooked throughout. Thea and her harem of men are really put the ringer in this final installment, with so much drama, emotion and twists i couldn't put it down! I will definitely be reading more by this author and highly recommend, to any dark RH romance readers who want more than just steam.....this had it all!!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[amys.readsx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect ending.

I have absolutely loved this trilogy. I couldn't get enough. These are so well written and so well balanced.

I have enjoyed reading along, soaking in everything going on in this world. I love each and every character and the side characters. So much action and suspense. Full of secrets and turns you don't see coming. Everything ties up perfectly in neat little bows, and the spice is chefs' kiss! The ending was just what I needed. Highly recommend this series!

I'm off to stalk Ava Summers and find out if there's a book for Eden 🙏

[Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great conclusion to the Empire of Carnage series! So many people finally meeting karma (helped along the way by those who had a bone to pick), a lot of action, spice, suspense, … But most of all, I just love all the rivalry between the men. Seriously, if I was Thea my eyes would be roling all the time, but from an outside perspective it is absolutely hilarious. I loved this series, it was a great Mafia why choose storyline, and I can’t wait to dive into the next character’s storyline.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this series and this book summed everything up with a big red bow on top. We start right off after the huge cliffy from book two. Taking in a new identity to find and kill her father. Thea does this to protect her men. Nothing is as it seems and Thea’s men have their own dealings with death, searching and coming to terms with Thea gone. Spicy and delicious and oh so good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jessica Proulx · Rating 2 out of 5]

this felt sooo different to what the series started as & maybe that’s why it felt like torture to finish this book, or maybe it was just the cringey writing that i overlooked in the first book because i actually enjoyed that plot. this book felt like it simultaneously had eight different plot lines going on but also absolutely no plot at all. all in all, it’s a no thanks from me & i’m gonna immediately get started on something vastly different to cleanse my palate after this.

[KayCee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion of this series was perfect! I couldn't put it down. There was action, drama, tears, romance (well as well as Mafia boys can be romantic), and all kinds of mayhem. Thea and her 5 men have had nothing but trouble, but it's time to put an end to it all. One by one, Thea and her men have finally gotten revenge on everyone who has wronged them.

[Narelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Thea and her found family of five men (Milo, Landon, Kyril, Cassian and Dario) continues. Darkness, dramas, obsessive and possessive men, pregnancy, and overbearing family members. And you can't forget the oh so spicy shenanigans going on too. A great ending to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ties up this 3 book series perfectly. Thea and her men, Kyril, Milo, Landon, Cassian and Dario, are compelling characters, the book well paced, and the action and drama is intense. Sizzle, steam, twists, turns, and more, this book was a solid 5 star read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this series and these characters! Of course I'm a sucker for a strong FMC and slightly unhinged mmc's. I actually kind of liked the fact that Thea's guys weren't all "let's all play together all the time." They still had issues with Dario. Milo still had his issues. Landon...oh Landon. Haha! Kyril is SUUUPER possessive. And Cassian, the somewhat insecure leader.

This last book was a little slower but still good. The ending tied everything together and I'm looking forward to reading Ruined Princess!

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect ending

This was a perfect ending to Thea and her guys story, although I was disappointed at her constantly running off, in the end she realised they really were there for her and all the bad guys got their just desserts

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the third book in the series. Thea’s journey continues. It had my emotions all over the place. What a wild roller coaster ride. Loving this series. I got a copy of the book and voluntarily leaving this review.

[Susana Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thea tried to help Cassian, Landon, Dar, Kyril, and Milo with their problems because they were getting attacked from different sides. They just wanted to live their own lives and be happy with Thea. They were reaching their forever after and could be a big, happy family.

[Lara Gil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how it all ended, I suppose it's what you could call "happily ever after." This book was like the other one; it didn't have much of a plot, there were surprises here and there, but otherwise it was a great story just how their lives unfolded.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great continuation to the series. Loved it all. Still loved all the characters. Concluded very nicely !

[Lemon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: 3/5 • Smut: 4/5 ————> Unfortunately, this was so predictable it hurt. I saw everything coming. 😒 Smut was good.

[Amriel (Harli) Bang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wrapped up perfecly

I'm happy about the ending but also sad that it's over.
I want more. 😭😭

And I still want Edens story. And Declans. Lol

[Eli girard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf at 55%, this feels like its written by a cisman with a pseudonym, couldnt do it anymore

[Annie Boyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Liz Sturg · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a OK good. I think it could have been added on book 2.

[J4Ywalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars