Domino They say I’m a monster. Cold. Unfeeling. A man born to rule with bloodstained hands. They’re not wrong. I don’t feel guilt when I kill—only euphoria. There’s nothing like the rush of holding someone’s life in my hands, knowing I control the exact moment it ends. Life is weak. Fragile. Death is the only truth.
Then I meet Remi Cain. Quiet. Obsessed with the beauty of death, just like me. The second I see him, I want him. Not just his body, but his darkness—the parts no one else sees. I want to own him, break him, bind him to me with blood. I want him breathless in my grasp, heart pounding, knowing I could take him apart piece by beautiful piece and he’d let me. I’ll destroy anyone who tries to come between us.
Remi Life has always felt temporary, fleeting. People lie. Moments fade. But death? Death never changes. It’s permanent. Unyielding. The only thing you can trust. That’s what I’ve always believed—until Domino DeMarco came crashing into my world.
He’s terrifying. Brutal. Beautiful in a way that should make me run. But I don’t. I can’t. Domino doesn’t just thrive in chaos; he is chaos, and I crave it more with every beat of my heart.
We are bound by blood and obsession. In a world ruled by violence and betrayal, love is as deadly as death itself. But for us, maybe that’s exactly what makes it beautiful.
I was so excited for this book to release and in the end I had to force myself to finish it. There was just….a lot going on. I feel like there were some parts that were unnecessary and could have been left out completely (especially the Casius storyline). And the style of writing didn’t match the story line. It was written in a very heavy prose and that just didn’t match these characters or their story. These boys are cold, calculating, ruthless, and rough around the edges. They are cold blooded killers, and they enjoy what they do. They are not poetic or very wordy. But the book was overly descriptive. And the author REALLY wanted us to know that Remi and Domino are obsessed with each other. So she proceeded to tell us THIRTY FOUR times. There are only 32 chapters including the epilogue….
I do like how dark the book was. Remi and Domino revel in their darkness and I’m so here for that. I just think this book would have been better if it was about 100 pages shorter.
3.5 ⭐️ Domino + Remi 🖤 Instant obsession | Morally black | Murder as foreplay
I don't know y'all. I really enjoyed a lot of this but there was so much repetition and redundancy and I feel like it could have been very easily wrapped up in a 100-150 pages less than what it was.
*I'll come back and add quotes later
⚠️potential spoilers below in detailed tropes and trigger warnings
Tropes: Strangers to lovers Instant obsession Stalking Touch him, look at him or breathe in his general direction, and die Mafia Morally black Blood play Knife play Breath play Murder and torture as foreplay Marking marking marking Biting Exhibitionism Public claiming First kiss "Little lamb" Revenge Strict roles Gifting body pieces as a love language (e.g. bone necklace)
TWs: Non-con (not between mcs - Domino forces a cops son to blow him as a form of torture for the cop, then cums all over his face. Happens before MCs are together or even know about each other) Graphic torture Death of loved ones Murder Kidnapping Stalking Manipulation Burning someone alive Making someone eat their own tongue piece by piece (backstabbing bitch deserved it) Rarely used lube (or anything that resembles lube) and sometimes didn't even prep and just rammed it in there, forcing it. Like serious injury and ER visit in real life type of shit 😬 Cutting taint to use blood as lube Non consensual violence between MCs (at one point Dom nearly succeeds in killing Remi because he thought he was lying) Domino brands Remi by carving his name into his back during sex
This book has many trigger warnings. Knife play, breath play, dub con, non con, and so many more. Please read with caution.
I read this book as an ARC. I have so much to say. First off yes I knew what I was getting into and the 2 stars is not because of the content of the book. It's the way the book was written. There are so many gaps in the story that at times I thought I had missed something and had to go back a few pages just to make sure. One second your in a graveyard and Remi is dying then the very next line with no context or warning they are at home and Remi is fine.
The bring in Casius out of no where made absolutely no sense. Even with the ending the books gives it still made no sense.
Also there is no descriptors at all. The world building was lacking so bad. Like the war between the 2 families was lacking to say the least. There was just no climax to the fighting. Then all of a sudden there are fires and burning bodies but we don't know how it happened. The city, nightclub, and houses etc had no descriptions. It was like they were just in empty space. I love being able to see what they see and vision what is going on. There was no of that in this book. I felt lost. The graveyard would have been so fun to read about or more of the night club but it just felt over looked and rushed.
This book was just a mess. It has great potential but it fell very short. And the over use of "His eyes were blown out" was unnecessary. They are many more ways to describe the eyes being dilated then just that one phrase.
I honestly don't think I will be reading the rest of the books as they come out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Self note: the first chapter one of the MCs forces some guy to give him head. It is a trigger that’s in the very end of the book 🙄. I read the scene all the way and he ends up finishing on the guys face.
"We were bonded on a deeper, darker level. We were obsession, sin, and death incarnate."
Hmmmm... I don't know how I feel about this one. It was dark and gloomy... the revenge plot was good, but dragged... I loved how ridiculously obsessed they were with each other... Dominos presents were creepy n sweet. Remis art was... cool, but man. Their whole "my darkness calls to his" and "my monsters want to play with his" every other dang page got old real quick.
I'm not a pain kink lover, so all the hardcore, hateful sex wasn't doing it for me...like...cutting dudes taint and using his blood for lube. 😬 not yuckin yums BUT OUCHHH. I need a lil tender love& aftercare in my romances.
No cheating. No sharing. No OM drama .... Opening page before the mcs even meet. Domino is forcing his dick down some random dudes throat. It was gross.
DNF 12% Where do I find dark books that are written well? Or at least mediocre? This book is awful and feels like it’s written by a seriously depraved 13yo.
The MC kills a guy, rights his clothing and THEN wipes his hands clean.
His inner monologue is a continuous jerk fest about how great he is. I can’t stand it. I really can’t 😂
ARC REVIEW I'm starting this off with if you're going to read this one. Check the triggers for the book because this one is dark.
Domino and Remi are two very dark souls that, without a doubt, are meant for each other. Just when you think they can't get any darker or unhinged, they will throw you a curve ball. The story itself is very well written. There's a lot going on in this one, but you never feel lost in any of it. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a very dark MM book
I read this and was very interested in the characters, their darkness, their relationship and how it worked, but the repetition drove me a little mad. The eyes. The lip biting. Min. He’s mine. Mine. That had me stopping to count how many times I read that word. But overall, other than that it was a good story. Could it have been better sure. But I finished it and enjoyed remi an domino
When Domino ended someone‘s life in an alley in a bloody way, Remi stood and watched, not one bit afraid. Domino was intrigued and spontaneously obsessed with the guy. Everyone is deadly afraid of Domino and his power, but not Remi.
Remi is drawn to Domino’s darkness, it resonates with his own soul. Domino rules the town, he has enemies. Let the story surprise you of the real enemy.
“Here, I was judge, jury, and executioner.” True that!
Domino claimed Remi as his, and Remi willingly agreed. Domino is violent, dark, and ruthless, as Remi’s body shows.
Okay, if you love pitch-dark stories stop right now, this one did go beyond my expectations. If you want less bloody scenes and some romance, keep walking.
It was a dark, DARK, bloody, violent story, (almost too bloody and violent for me), full of obsession and possessiveness, claiming and hurt. Overall a powerfully written story, consistently dark and well crafted.
Skyla Raines takes possessive and obsessive to a whole new level in this story. I could feel it in my bones. This book is not for the faint of heart, so be sure to check the triggers carefully!
Though dark and depraved, Domino and Remi's story is also beautiful in its own disturbing way. You can feel their desperation for each other in their every breath. Demented and completely unhinged, but somehow absolutely perfect for each other.
I love how utterly gone Domino is for Remi and how Remi can only survive on Domino. They are categorically consumed by each other.
It certainly feels like there is more to their story, particularly for Domino and his family and empire, and I'm looking forward to seeing where Skyla takes us with the rest of the series.
This was dark and unhinged and I loved it! There is nothing sweet between Remi and Domino and they are rarely gentle. Their connection is primal, brutal and feral. Their possessiveness and obssessiveness is something else. There is so much happening, so many secrets and lies, but also a lot revenge that Domino and Remi enact. Remi being an artist, makes an artform out of making an example of people going after him or Domino. Remi is so creative in his methods. There is so much darkness, so please don't go into this looking for sweet moments between these two, because that is not what they like. The primal nature of their connection is beautiful to watch though. Despite the length, the book is fast paced and the story was very interesting. I'm curious to see whose story will we get next.
If you love dark romances with possessiveness galore then this is the book for you.
The love I have for these men should be illegal, but whelp, here I am. This was my first book of Skyla Raines and I'm very much intrigued to read more from her. The writing style in this book was very different from the usual MM Romances I read, more... poetic I guess? Still an enjoyable read. I will say tho, I haven't read that many pitch black romances aside from Sick Bargain from Nordika Night, so there were moments in this book that made me feel a little bit sick and unsettled, but it still had some funny moments in between that I could stomach the sick stuff.
Also, I want a book about Ghost, he was truly the most interesting side character. I want more of him, please!
Obsessed to say the least here about this book. I was instantly pulled in from the first page and couldn’t put it down. I loved how unapologetic Domino is and how much I loved Remi and how he was. This was super dark and unhinged and I loved all of it
Love a dark romance and this one was so good. Dude obsessed with death meets unaliver, match made in the deepest darkest depraved depths of hell.
This was so dark . The two of them are obsessed with each other immediately que the possession and obsession❤️🔥 Domino will give remi whatever he asks for and Remi will be anything and do anything Domino wants.
The touch him and 💀 vibes were 😮💨 This was so Unhinged and twisted, and I was here for it all.
The Beautiful Dead by Skyla Raines is a masterpiece of dark romance that has completely ruined me in the best way possible.
I know it’s early in 2025, but I’m calling it now this book is already on my list of top reads for the year. It didn’t just surpass my previous dark romance favorites; it obliterated them. The obsession between Domino and Remi is beyond anything I’ve ever read. Their love is twisted, possessive, and raw to the point where “soulmates” doesn’t even begin to describe them. This is the kind of dark, all consuming romance I live for, and Skyla Raines delivered it flawlessly.
The writing? Absolutely cinematic. Every scene played out so vividly in my head, it felt like I was watching an intense, beautifully shot movie. The tension, the emotion, the sheer madness of their connection it was intoxicating. I was hooked from page one, and by the end, I was wrecked. Wrecked.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but let me just say: Domino and Remi are the ultimate power couple, and I will accept no arguments. Their dynamic is everything I crave in a dark romance, and I need more. Immediately.
That said, please check the trigger warnings. This book isn’t for everyone, and the content should be taken seriously. But if dark, obsessive love stories are your thing, The Beautiful Dead is a must-read. 🖤🖤🖤
I’m already mourning the fact that I’ll never get to experience this book for the first time again. Hangover incoming. 👀
It could’ve been so good but I was confused a majority of the time. There were no timeline references. It references things that happened off page that IMO should’ve been major things happening on page. The world building was good but the characters weren’t developed enough, no depth, little background. Many of the characters that should’ve been main features just fell off. Have you killed them and not updated us? Or did I miss it in the ramblings about how perfect the two of you are for each other. Like we know, you’ve only talked about it every chapter.
The killing and raw non-lubed fucking didn’t bother me at all. The story just kept jumping around and at 72% there was still 3 hours left and I just couldn’t anymore.
I honestly don't know how to start to describe what this book and this story did to me. I loved it so much and it instantly hooked me ❤️🔥
This is a very dark book with very much dark topics and graphic t0rture scenes.
Domino is the perfect antihero, he is a very dangerous man and his life is very violent. Remi is twisted in his own ways. When both of them meet, there is an immediate connection.
Well is book was definitely on my top reads this year so far. The level of unhinged, twisted, toxic and dark was perfect.
This book was darker than the previous reads from her that I have read and it was perfect! Domino was brought up to be an emotionless killer and Remi had been going through life, almost unseen. That is until they meet and that’s when Domino truly sees Remi.
There is an instant connection and the chemistry between the two is off the charts. This book had me all up in my feels and I couldn’t put it down. I’m sad that it’s over because I think I could read thousands more pages of these two.
Let me just start by saying: if this book were a cocktail, it would be one part blood, two parts trauma, shaken over ice with a twist of psychological chaos, and served in a broken glass rimmed with salt and repressed emotions. And I drank every drop like I had trust issues to drown. (Spoiler: I do. And so does everyone in this book.)
Skyla Raines has not written a story so much as committed literary arson—burning down every comfort zone, dancing in the ashes, and then smirking while you beg for more. The Beautiful Dead is dark, twisted, and so violently unhinged it should come with a safe word. (It doesn’t. And honestly? Good.)
Let’s talk characters—but not by name, because spoilers are off-limits and I respect the code. We’ve got the morally bankrupt antihero with the charm of Lucifer in leather and the emotional stability of a live grenade. He doesn’t walk—he stalks. This man makes murder look like foreplay and cruelty feel like a fine art. Do you want to hate him? Yes. Will you fail spectacularly and thirst anyway? Also yes.
Enter our other lead—a walking storm cloud with a sketchbook and more walls than Versailles. Think quiet, broody, and possibly one sarcastic remark away from snapping and becoming a legend. The chemistry between these two? It’s not a spark; it’s a goddamn house fire. Unhealthy? Absolutely. Do we care? Not even a little.
The writing? Lush, lyrical, and laced with venom. Raines doesn’t just paint a picture—she stabs it into the page, grinds it down with the heel of her boot, and calls it art. And you know what? It is art. Macabre, mesmerizing, and full of moral decay. Every sentence has teeth.
Trigger-wise? Buckle up. This book doesn’t tap dance around trauma; it high-kicks it in the face. There are heavy themes, and Raines pulls no punches. If your coping mechanism is reading morally corrupt characters making ethically bankrupt decisions with poetic flair—congratulations, you’ve found your soulmate.
To sum it up: The Beautiful Dead is not for the faint of heart. It’s for the readers who like their fiction pitch black, their villains messy, and their prose so sharp it draws blood. If that’s you, step inside and embrace the madness. If not? Run.
Final rating: 5 out of 5 blood-slicked stars. Would commit crimes for a sequel. Or at least mild tax fraud.
This book, omg my gosh wow! This book is long but I promise you are hooked the whole time. From the beginning to the end. I am not going to tell you at times I was "drooling from the month" 😂
You have the darkest MC I have read about which name is Dominique. Let's start off with that name is completely sexy and I love it. Then you have what he looks like on the cover. My gosh and he is a protective oh what is his. When I tell you this is a REAL. You touch him and I will unlive you. No question on that! This man is unhinged.
I do have to say with all the spicy and the back and forth with the story at times I was a little confused but then it hooked me right back in and I got on track very fast.
So a little about the plot: You have a mad man Dominique that helps unlive people for his father's company. A man sees him doing his job and doesn't say anything. Right then and there Dominique finds his soul mate. Rumi falls into the lap of Dominique's crazyness to be sucked into his world. Have I told you Rumi is just as crazy but with Dom teaching he is perfect for him. Oh and he paints!
This book really has it all. Dark, page turner, spicy that brings the heat and so much more. Right before this book I read butcher & Blackbird which I loved by this book put that one to shame. Some makes that book look like a Romance book.
If you love dark romance and MM this is a book you need to add to your most read.
!! Please read the trigger warnings, this book is definitely dark. !! Oh my so i absolutely loved it. Their morbidity is literally the cutest thing ever. Which is odd I know but I loved how their relationship just bloomed in the dark and you can just see how much they match each other. Domino is honestly my fav, his commanding presence and how honest he is , is simply just refreshing. It’s like as soon as this man arrives everyone just knows who is boss. His personality just pairs perfectly with Remi who needs someone with such a strong personality and voice. I loved watching their story unfold. It was utterly stunning. And even though Dominos love is wrapped in darkness and such a possessive nature, you can tell Remi just thrives in it. He deserves everything that domino gives him. (especially his sweet little presents). The only thing I truly had an issue with was the time jumps, they didn’t translate well for me. And I would get a bit lost. Otherwise I definitely enjoyed it so much. It was truly beautiful and I love Skylas writing so much. Her words are just simply stunning.
This book isn't for the faint of heart. It’s dark, and there are a lot of triggers, so please check them before reading. Now that I've said that, I friggen loved this book. Skyla took obsessive and possessive to a whole new level. When I hear dark romance, this right here is what I'm talking about. I totally loved Domino and Remi, and I ate up every unhinged thing they did. The insanity starts right from the beginning and just keeps growing throughout the book. Both Domino and Remi are morally black, depraved, and unhinged but their love for each other is beautiful, and the spice was off the charts. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Liam DiCosimo and Zachary Zaba, and wow, they both did such an incredible job. They gave Domino and Remi the perfect voices, and they truly brought the crazy.
Okay, so I fancied something dark and murdery .. and this did not disappoint!
It was go go go from the first page & I was hoooked. It was dark and twisted and freaking awesome.
Domino & Remi, ahh man what can I say about these guys .. they were obsessed with each other… they were both dark and twisted & their souls called to each other from the first moment they met, their darkness matched, One who liked to kill & the other who found beauty in death.
Well this was the dark mafia story that I've been craving!! Remi and Domino had me from the outset, loved these two boys and the down right disturbing craziness they bring to the party. They are 100% codependent and completely psychotic, but so perfect and sweet for each other. I mean, body parts as romantic gifts? Swooooon 🫶 Skyla's writing is absolutely poetic. I don't think I've ever highlighted so many quotes in my kindle reading life! It did feel a little repetitive at times, but from a poetry standpoint, I can see the desired effect Skyla was going for. The smut had me hooked, that coupled with the gore (usually directly), aghhh. Unlocked a kink I didn't know I needed. Check the triggers if you need them and enjoy!!! This book is a ride 😮💨
First and most important please make sure to check your trigger warnings. This book was pretty descent and had me hooked from the first chapter. My obsession with Domino was instant and Remi quickly followed. This is definitely not your average dark romance and is jam packed with spice and unhinged scenes that will make any dark romance reader giddy. This was my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed the way that she writes. The way she paints scenes is so delicious and makes you feel that you are actually in the scene. I will definitely be checking out more of her work.
The only downfalls to this book in my opinion were the fact that the time jumps happened without any clear explanation on how we got there and it made parts of the story confusing. The other down fall was that the language got very repetitive so the fire between Domino and Remi kind of lost its flare the further I got in the book. If unhinged MMC’s are your jam then I definitely recommend checking this book out.
The Beautiful Dead is a dark, MM, mafia romance. Remi has come to town to have his estranged family take care of his dying mother. They take his mother in but kick him to the curb. Homeless and jobless, he goes to a diner and ends up meeting Domino, a mafia boss’s son, and someone feared in the community. Domino is pysochotic and loves to torture and kill people. Remi is obsessed with death and is fascinated by violent ends. The two bring out the best(worst?) in each other! Both psychotic and obsessed with blood and torture.
Fun, delicious listen! Great narration! The book is dark and seductive and make you question yourself! 🤣
ARC REVIEW: Now this is how you write a dark romance. The Beautiful Dead had me on a chokehold from beginning to end. Skyla Raines really surprised me with this book. The way this book was written was so compelling and hauntingly poetic. Domino and Remi was addicting. Their obsession with each other was intoxicating and on another level. I loved how they were both unhinged and completed each other very well. This book was brutal, dark and full of twist and turns and it was everything I wanted in a dark romance. Domino and Remi is definitely one of my favorite couples Skyla Raines has written. Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC to read an review. Since this is a dark romance please make sure to check the trigger warnings.