Marked for Life: A Dark Romance

by E.B. Fox

He’ll kill to keep her.

As their dark, twisted bond deepens, Hannah realizes there is no world beyond Dante’s walls. He’s the only man who has ever truly seen her. But the cost of his obsession is far more than she could have ever imagined. She belongs to him now—body and soul.

In this unhinged, electrifying romance, love doesn’t come with roses. It comes with chains. And when the lines between love and madness blur, there’s only one Dante will never let her go.

This is a dark romance that explores intense themes of obsession, possessiveness, and control. For mature readers only.

Genres: Dark Romance

164 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2025

Reviews

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hannah's existence continues in Dante's world, where control looks like devotion and obsession feels like love. She’s forced to live under his rules, his touch, and his version of forever, as he slowly unravels her resistance, piece by piece. Now pregnant with Dante's child, the fight inside Hannah starts to fade after months under his obsessive control. Dante doesn’t just want her body. He wants her mind, her heart, her soul. Every choice is stripped away until surrender no longer feels like defeat. It's survival. It's twisted affection. It's something darker. Hannah transforms from captive to something more complex in a disturbing and fascinating relationship, as her confusion and fear slowly shift and she starts to see her captor differently. Dante is terrifying and captivating all at once. His obsession isn’t masked as love, it is love to him, and that makes their journey even more intense. Every move he makes is calculated, every word deliberate. A steamy, dark, psychological romance, exploring blurred notions of trauma bonding and love, captivity and connection, survival and transformation, obedience and identity, power and control, surrender and consent, isolation and dependency. It questions what love looks like when free will is taken out of the equation, surrender becomes survival, and obsession evolves into something almost tender.

[Brenda A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very upsetting

I can't say that the book was bad but the subject matter was so disturbing. An older man takes a 19 year old girl isolates her. She can't even say thank you to a delivery man without being punished by tattoos put in a room for 2 weeks with no windows. More disturbing than anything is the fact that she finally begins to accept this isolation and abuse as part of being normal. I kept waiting for things to change with the MMC but they never did. This book left me feeling mad and empty. The so-called happy ending was her accepting to be an isolated prisoner for the rest of her life even after she became pregnant. There's nothing romantic about mental torture and abuse. I would not recommend it.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to articulate the emotional aftermath of finishing this trilogy. Deep down, we always knew where this story was heading—but knowing doesn’t lessen the blow. I was still stunned. And disturbingly... relieved, even, dare I say, happy. Hannah’s journey was never going to end with triumph or escape. From the beginning, her fate was drawn in blood and steel. We admired her strength, her resistance. But there were only ever two ways out of Dante’s hell: death or surrender. And Dante, ever the strategist, found a new chain to bind her—a child. The most terrifying bond of all. Because he knew. He knew that once she was pregnant, she would never walk away, not from an innocent life. Not from his child. And when that final trap is sprung, when he tightens his grip and takes control in ways more disturbing than ever before, it’s not with rage or violence—it’s with cold, calculated precision. Her body becomes the proof of his victory. A living, breathing testament to his claim. Yet, in his attempt to conquer her, he gives her something new: a reason to fight. For a while, she builds a fragile sanctuary, a bubble of hope for her unborn child. But that hope—like all things Dante cannot control—must be crushed. “Good. Fear. Fear is honest. Fear is reverence,” he says, and in those chilling words, we see the truth: for Dante, love is domination. Devotion is ownership. Fear is proof of loyalty. Still, there are moments—twisted, tender moments—where you catch a glimpse of something deeper beneath Dante’s obsession. “You’re carved into my soul, Hannah.” And when she whispers, “You’d destroy yourself for me?” he answers, “Without hesitation,” it becomes heartbreakingly clear: this isn’t just captivity. It’s a bond so consuming it devours the line between love and possession. When Hannah tries to resist, to assert even the smallest piece of herself through silence, we hold our breath. But like every act of defiance, it’s met with relentless control. A new tattoo. A new claim. A new scar etched in ink. Until she begins to question whether there’s anything left of her that still belongs to her. Dante leaves no room for doubt. Every look, every whisper among his staff, every flicker of curiosity is punished. “Curiosity about Hannah… is a death sentence.” He doesn’t just want her love. He wants her thoughts, her reactions, her very essence. And the worst part is… her body responds. It may be muscle memory. Reflex. Conditioned desire. But to Dante that’s progress. Though never enough. So, he takes more. He ensures she can never leave. He tracks her. Watches her. Owns her, body and mind. But then—one confession, raw and unguarded, cracks something open. Not through power or pain or coercion. Through vulnerability. And that, more than anything, shakes Hannah to her very core. Because she starts to feel something back. Not fear. Not hate. Something far more dangerous. She’s not just trapped anymore—she’s a willing captive. And when she finally runs, it’s not from him. It’s from herself. The question that lingers like smoke after a fire is, has Dante finally broken her? And does Hannah really care?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dante and Hannah. This part starts with two pink lines. How can she bring a child into a world where they will be nothing but a possession? But he has unwittingly given her power. The baby has given her strength to fight for their protection. He notices the change in her. Sometimes he reveals things to her like how she makes him feel and not just a possession, things that could give her power over him. He thinks about the man he used to be. She’s confused about how she feels. Her last defense is to not speak. He has taken everything else from her he will have to take her speech. Will not speak unless spoken to. She’s punished. She’s still silent. He overhears a guard and kitchen worker talking about his wife. He eliminates them and anyone they have talked to innocent or not. He’s absolutely insane. He’s going to be watching and more vigilante about her habits to see if planning an escape. Maybe her silence is in preparation. She notices the isolation from all the staff as though she’s a ghost. He’s going to inject a military grade tracer in her. He still doesn’t own her thoughts. Her responses are now hollow. Automatic. He’s obsessed with ink. On Hannah and himself. It’s a claiming. There are no words to his behavior except madness. Every page he drops lower into madness. You cant help be be drawn into his mind and wonder OMG what will this lead to. It feels like he wants to absorb her into his body and mind. It’s never enough. He always has tests. Saying the last one and then not. Then he does something that breaks both of them. Its like he’s finally cracked and she finally sees. After three books and absolutely hating this man .. my heart breaks for him. And then he doesn’t really change its Hannah who understands now. Although he did open himself up to her. And now she’s having doubts. She’s confused. She runs. She forgets the tracker. And Dante is back. He punishes her till she see’s what she feels is real. You get glimpses of him then find out he’s doing it to control. She thinks he’s softening. I guess you could say there’s a twisted, demented, dark, intense HEA. My heart was sad through the trilogy. It certaintly was a twisted rollercoaster of emotions. This last book kind of dragged on but I had to see what happened. I tried not to give a lot away and believe me there is so much more. Its time to read something uplifting LOL.

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

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’ll kill to keep her.

As their dark, twisted bond deepens, Hannah realizes there is no world beyond Dante’s walls. He’s the only man who has ever truly seen her. But the cost of his obsession is far more than she could have ever imagined. She belongs to him now—body and soul.

This contemporary dark billionaire romance is page-turning with exceptional world-building that is engulfed by darkness, danger, violence, and grit, and characters that are a virgin, an alpha, exuding power, dangerous, obsessed, possessed, violent, captivating, ruthless, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with being marked for life, explicit romance that is consumed by steamy, sizzling passion, lust, desire, and spice with all the feelings to leave readers breathless and begging for more, captive/kidnapping, suspense that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, heartfelt emotions, deception, drama, unhinged, electrifying romance, love doesn't come with roses, it comes with chains, lines between love and madness, blur, there's only on truth; Dante will never let her go, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with being marked for life and explicit romance that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wildly lustful, dangerous, and unforgettable.

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

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not call this series romance -at all. I'm a fan of the captive/captor, forced marriage tropes, but this, wasn't that. There is very little spice in these books and not much of anything happens through the 3 books in this series. I continued, because I wanted to know how the author would end this, but this bares little to no resemblance to any of the other captive/captor, forced marriage romances I've read previously. The fmc NEVER stops fighting, NEVER truly comes to love the mmc. Oh she says she does in the end, but it wasn't believable. Nothing in the pages of this book will lead you to believe that she truly does love him when she says she does. The author did not make believe it.

This series felt like an exercise in what total ownership of another human being might look like. That's it. Very little spice and no plot beyond that. Nothing between the main characters that could be considered love at the end of it all. Just obsession, control and a fmc that finally decides to stop fighting because its pointless.

3 stars because I read all three books, but this could have been so much better than it was.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might want to make sure to double check that you are buckled up, dangerous men, alpha’s personified, possessive, oh, gorgeous, brooding all the makings of a story consisting with three D’s (dark, delicious, and dirty) 😊. There will be suspense, betrayal, death, darkness, secrets reveled, violence, hope, forgiveness, and maybe even love along the way. Okay we kind of knew how this was going to end or so we thought but didn’t expect Hannah to have been on a journey her fate well was determined from the beginning, and we were along for the ride she is one of the strongest fighting for herself especially living with Dante but in a way, he made her stronger. Dante a man of ultimate control decides to give her a baby to ensure she never walks away from him he wants to trust in love but as we know his past well it left a lot to be desired, so the control is the only way he knows to prove or show his love. But when he opens just a tiny bit allows her to him not through fear, control, danger, just him all him, have they learned to work together, and will we have the ending we want?

[Kavitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this book was good and I was able to finish it in one sitting. I would categorize this as something dark but not particularly romance as I personally feel that there are some unanswered / unresolved themes as we come to the end of the trilogy. However, I think the author captured the essence of captor/captive relationship in a more realistic way, which is refreshing.

Along the storyline, anticipation as to what is going to happen, will there be light at the end of the tunnel, etc where some of the questions that came up, so I think the author captured those elements well.

Anyone who is not easily triggered and seeking for something dark in a realistic way should definitely read this book.

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

[Malini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Staying by MeemsAngel82

This was another great piece of writing! The story is a third part that we have been waiting for and is an interesting take on the captor scenario. The story is dark in a way but gives you better insight to the fear of her being with this man.

The deal they struck was set and he wouldn't let her go.

I do wish he had softened more. He feels obsession with her but takes it too far for me. He literally harms staff that are trying to be nice with her. I feel like she was hardened in her heart to him for too long. Understandable because he didn't soften, so at the end to feel completely submissive is too quick and sudden considering the pacing of the story for me. Great writing but I expected him to be worthy of her and to become someone more worthy of her love.

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

[Mafia Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final book of the trilogy. He took her, obsessed over her, possessed her and made her his. A full sensual assault, he takes her over mind, body and soul. She finally relinquishes control and accepts her fate with the man who would burn everything down to have her. A pregnancy is the final tie to bind her to him completely. This was well written, a dark and very morally gray story. Told in three volumes they have to be read in order to get the story. It will drag you through the wringer, and this story is definitely not for everyone. You can’t decide if she loves him or simply submits. There is fire and passion, manipulation, dark and dangerous actions, and complete ruin, if that works for you, this might be a story for you.

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

[Shifty Bugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

I loved reading this book I couldn't get enough of this story, this is book three of Marked for him, series and the final story with Dante and Hannah. Dante never stopped being obsessing, possessive, manipulating, kaniving with his little twist he finally got what he wanted something to take into the future. Hannah has always felt like a prisoner but when she finds out what he had done to trap her she needed space to think and she left. Dante ended up turning back into the monster an aggressive man, while he and some of his men watched over her while he was waiting for her to come back for him, and hopefully before the water burst.

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

[Earth Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if I want to cry or sigh! My heart crys for Hannah. And don't even get me started on Dante. Love is what it is. And his is deep, possessive and obsessive. I believe mostly he wants to be loved in return. And hers is learned acceptance that finally sets her free. This book sent me through a rollercoaster of emotions. This story is captivating. I couldn't stop reading, wanting to know, hoping, holding my breath, slowly witnessing her breaking, accepting, falling, loving. E. B. Fox is one of the best Dark Romance writers I have read. I highly recommend this book and the trilogy that needs to be read from 1 to 3 to know the full story. I so look forward to her next book.

[J.p · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last of the trilogy. Escaping Dante is futile, she is his possession, obsession and the woman he will burn the world for. My heart broke for Hannah, she is confused by her feelings but to be honest he will never change or compromise so not sure why she feels what she feels. He did show some vulnerability but it was just a fleeting moment. This was a very well written and gripping story with a disturbing and dangerous MC and a trapped FMC, it certainly was dark but I didn’t find any romance. The ending was unexpected, whether it was the wrong or the right one it’s up to interpretation. Gripping though.

[Brandy Alamari · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I feel about all of that? This is a good question. The first book was about Dante's taking possession of Hannah and establishing control
The second book was more about tightening control and manipulation. You also see how Dante's obsession is starting to take a toll on his businesses.
This final book you see how Dante's obsession has grown into something that is effecting him much more than he thought it would, and you see how Hannah's road to acceptance. They will use the word "love" but we all know that it is not genuine emotion of love.

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

[Whitnie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers!!!


I definitely got more into this one just hoping that the trauma bonding and Stockholm Syndrome would take place and yay for it ever! Hannah tried to escape a few more times and Dante being the ever possessive Daddy (oh yes! I most definitely would call him that) punished, cherished, possessed, claimed, and owned her in every way. If you don’t have any triggers I would definitely read even if you think you do with certain things at least try the series! I can’t wait to read more! Ugh I honestly don’t want to wait!

[Narelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do not read this book without reading the first two in this trilogy!!

Dante and Hannah's story concludes with the unhinged man determined to force his control on Hannah by just about any means necessary. "You’re my obsession. My addiction. My everything.” I would've loved to see another chapter or epilogue about their future after the arrival of the baby, but it does end in a rather fitting way given how the story played out.

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

[LeMiliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading the Marked for Him Trilogy. This final book did not disappoint. The trilogy is Stockholm syndrome at its finest. It is not a love story; it's dark and tells how she is forced to give in to all of his demands and accept her fate, and how in the process she falls for him. If this isn't your sort of story, do not download it. That said, it is well-crafted and makes you think - what if?.

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

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite an intriguing an book. I found myself constantly anticipating Dante's next level of cruelty. I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Don't get me wrong, I am so not into this level of darkness. Nor do I get off on pain. Nope, nada. I do not like Dante's so called punishments. If I were kidnapped by someone like that, I know exactly where I'd put my foot. Every. Chance. I. Got. Seriously, what is going on in his head?
I recommend this series and this book, because it is a interesting, well written storyline.

[Michelle Peralta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark. Disturbing. Addictive.
This final book in the trilogy is a haunting descent into obsession, control, and survival disguised as love. Hannah, now pregnant and emotionally unraveled, stops fighting Dante—not because she’s free, but because surrender feels safer than resistance. His love is possessive, consuming, and terrifying… yet somehow magnetic.

This isn’t a romance—it’s a psychological war.
Beautifully written, brutally honest, and impossible to look away from.
E.B. Fox doesn’t write love stories—she writes emotional captivity. And it’s unforgettable.

[Jovie Howland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. I loved the story, but felt like there was a lot unresolved with it. There were a lot of hint at Dante’s life before Hannah and with his family that are never explored and was never addressed after, and none of Hannah’s questions or fears about the baby’s future in the household were ever answered.

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

[Jamie Calhoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio-This trilogy was insane. I don't have triggers but it all pissed me off...lol The entire trilogy was forced everything on Hannah. EVERYTHING. Total control and possession for the whole thing. What a disgusting man Dante is. Ick. Not a good trilogy for anyone that has triggers for SA and DV. I still liked them all and may have rated a little higher had I physically read instead of listening with virtual voice so if you're gonna take the plunge read don't listen.

[Chrishae · Rating 2 out of 5]

was not good

This series was literally a repetition. Omg 3 books and she’s locked up. The book was literally about her being locked up, having sex, and getting marked. I literally wasted my time, we didn’t find out anything about her family after she was taken, or her even maybe reconciling with her father. It would have been nice to see Dante redeem himself & make amends with his colleagues and staff and focusing on work again.

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not a romance.
I have a number of complaints about this book series but none more so than this is not a romance. This is not a dark romance. It’s just not no matter what the literal title says.

If this had been marketed as a thriller/psychological horror (and had some serious editing bc omg was it repetitive, also perhaps condensed into one book), it would easily have been at least 4 stars.
If you want to read this, I recommend going in with the expectations of a thriller.

[Thea Kubicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marked for Life

Dante and Hannah

Book 3 continues with Dante's extreme obsession of Hannah. Hannah starts to show signs of Stockholm Syndrome. This is one of the few series that I was glad it ended. Needs to come with a warning: READER BEWARE!.

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

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the brilliant conclusion of Hannah and Dantes story. I loved the first book I loved the second book but this one just blew me away. I am now a fan of this author no doubt. I can't want to read more from her.

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

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd and final book of the series with Dante and Hannah. The story was well-written and quite thrilling and intriguing. This book had lots of different emotions, twists and turns, with suspense and secrets.

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

[Kelsey Ibarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This whole series is dark and I did not want it to end. I still hate Dante even once the series is over and I wish Hannah got everything she deserved. I feel like the ending did complete the series in a way but it also left things kind of open and I would have loved to see what life was like after the baby was born and if Dante got any better or if things just continued getting worse

[Merry Jelks-Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the conclusion to Dante and Hannah's story. It is just as dark as the other and but this book blows the other one out of the water and kept me glued to it from start to finish. It is dark and filled with intense themes.

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

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t expect that ending…

Good writing, and easy reading, it is a dark romance as stated. This trilogy could have finished in a few different way, though I didn’t figure on this ending. I see what the author’s vision held, so I am happy I read through all three books.

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

[BusyM3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book in this trilogy. As the twisted, dark, obsession bond deepens between Hannah and Dante, Hannah realizes that this is her world. Dante is the only man or person that truly sees her for her. The cost of his obsessions is so much more than she thought. She belongs to him now fully. He will never let her go and she must accept it now.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.