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Dynasty of Queens #2
Onyx Realm
He meant to take a pawn.
He got a wildfire instead.
Serena
I was taken… again.
Only this time, it feels different. This time, the fear never came.
He has eyes like a raging sea and hands that could break me—yet he hasn’t. Not even close. He’s all rough edges and unspoken pain, a monster forged by a brutal world… but when he looks at me, I don’t feel like his prisoner.
I feel like I belong.
I should want to escape.
But the truth is, I never want to go back.
Because the most dangerous thing he’s stolen… is my heart.
Markos
They brought me the wrong girl.
She wasn’t supposed to be part of this life—too soft, too innocent, too far from the shadows I rule. She wasn’t my bride. Hell, she wasn’t even on my radar.
But from the moment I laid eyes on her, nothing else mattered.
She challenged me. Matched me. Made me feel things I’d buried long ago.
She says she doesn’t belong here.
But I see it in her eyes—she was born for this darkness.
She’s hiding something... and when I finally uncover the truth, I realize she’s not just mine.
She was always mine.
And I’ll burn the world down before I let her go.
Onyx Realm is the chronologically second book of the Dynasty of Queens series, set in the Midwest Underworld. It’s a stand-alone darker mafia romance, with no cheating, a guaranteed HEA, and no cliffhangers. A morally grey romance, this book may not be suitable for everyone!
He got a wildfire instead.
Serena
I was taken… again.
Only this time, it feels different. This time, the fear never came.
He has eyes like a raging sea and hands that could break me—yet he hasn’t. Not even close. He’s all rough edges and unspoken pain, a monster forged by a brutal world… but when he looks at me, I don’t feel like his prisoner.
I feel like I belong.
I should want to escape.
But the truth is, I never want to go back.
Because the most dangerous thing he’s stolen… is my heart.
Markos
They brought me the wrong girl.
She wasn’t supposed to be part of this life—too soft, too innocent, too far from the shadows I rule. She wasn’t my bride. Hell, she wasn’t even on my radar.
But from the moment I laid eyes on her, nothing else mattered.
She challenged me. Matched me. Made me feel things I’d buried long ago.
She says she doesn’t belong here.
But I see it in her eyes—she was born for this darkness.
She’s hiding something... and when I finally uncover the truth, I realize she’s not just mine.
She was always mine.
And I’ll burn the world down before I let her go.
Onyx Realm is the chronologically second book of the Dynasty of Queens series, set in the Midwest Underworld. It’s a stand-alone darker mafia romance, with no cheating, a guaranteed HEA, and no cliffhangers. A morally grey romance, this book may not be suitable for everyone!
355 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2025
247 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 30, 2025
This was definitely atypical for a mafia romance, with the FMC Serena ending up working in a fishing village in the beginning before eventually getting involved in the MMC Markos' less legal business.
The earlier portion with Serena learning to help in the village was nice, but not especially compelling. Usually I have to resist the urge to get back to reading all day, but I didn't feel that drive until the plot moved forward. Things gradually picked up and I read fully engaged by the third act, but I wish the pushing had been improved by tightening up some of the plot so it wasn't so disjointed.
Some aspects I felt weren't handled as well as they could be. One of the reasons Markos decided to steal a wife was that he believed no woman would ever be legitimately interested in him based on his appearance. But when Serena finally sees his face for the first time, we're given barely any description of his appearance and she instantly moves past it. Despite that, Markos still laments in his POV that he's hideous and no one would choose to be with him, even after Serena does so.
I also found some of the characters thoughts and actions to be inconsistent. For example, the first time they kiss, Markos abruptly ends it. Serena takes that to mean he was disappointed in it and not interested in her. But when he finally kissed her again a few days later, she smirks like she knew he was interested all along.
Serena also swung wildly in terms of intelligence. On the one hand, she couldn't fathom how Markos could have found out about her brother, when she had just called said brother on a public phone a few minutes prior. But when she wakes up in Markos' condo with just a laptop and credit card to order food, she's smart enough to set up new email and service accounts using fake information, and to use Google Maps to figure out the address of the condo.
For his part, Markos fluctuated in terms of maturity. He often felt like a teenager rebelling against the stuffy adults and whining about shit, but then complained about how Iosif was still young and needed to grow up. I actually don't know if Markos age was ever established...
So overall, it was a mid-tier book. Nothing amazing, but it was enjoyable enough, especially by the end.
The earlier portion with Serena learning to help in the village was nice, but not especially compelling. Usually I have to resist the urge to get back to reading all day, but I didn't feel that drive until the plot moved forward. Things gradually picked up and I read fully engaged by the third act, but I wish the pushing had been improved by tightening up some of the plot so it wasn't so disjointed.
Some aspects I felt weren't handled as well as they could be. One of the reasons Markos decided to steal a wife was that he believed no woman would ever be legitimately interested in him based on his appearance. But when Serena finally sees his face for the first time, we're given barely any description of his appearance and she instantly moves past it. Despite that, Markos still laments in his POV that he's hideous and no one would choose to be with him, even after Serena does so.
I also found some of the characters thoughts and actions to be inconsistent. For example, the first time they kiss, Markos abruptly ends it. Serena takes that to mean he was disappointed in it and not interested in her. But when he finally kissed her again a few days later, she smirks like she knew he was interested all along.
Serena also swung wildly in terms of intelligence. On the one hand, she couldn't fathom how Markos could have found out about her brother, when she had just called said brother on a public phone a few minutes prior. But when she wakes up in Markos' condo with just a laptop and credit card to order food, she's smart enough to set up new email and service accounts using fake information, and to use Google Maps to figure out the address of the condo.
For his part, Markos fluctuated in terms of maturity. He often felt like a teenager rebelling against the stuffy adults and whining about shit, but then complained about how Iosif was still young and needed to grow up. I actually don't know if Markos age was ever established...
So overall, it was a mid-tier book. Nothing amazing, but it was enjoyable enough, especially by the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2025
From the very first page, this book had me hooked and not just because it dives into the shadowy world of the Greek mafia, a rare and intriguing twist on a familiar theme. Unlike the typical single-headed crime syndicate, this organization is not ruled by one don, but twelve powerful leaders—a council of equals (at least in theory). While they’re united in power, it quickly becomes clear that one man isn’t quite built for consensus: Markos. He’s a classic lone wolf—decisive, impatient, and unwilling to waste time on diplomacy. So, when his bold plan to forge an alliance by kidnapping and marrying the Bratva princess goes awry… things get interesting. Instead of his intended bride, a different woman ends up at his feet—bruised, defiant, and very much not who he was expecting. Yet from the moment he lays eyes on Serena, she ignites something in him. She’s small but fierce, her spirit unbroken despite the bruises from her captors. Her abduction, on her first solo adventure away from her suffocatingly protective brothers, was never part of her plan, but she handles the chaos with surprising steel. Serena hides her identity, and while I was surprised Markos didn’t dig deeper at first, it somehow fits his no-nonsense approach: what matters is who she is in the moment. And that woman is brave, sharp-witted, and sees through Markos’s scarred, intimidating exterior. Her description of him as a sea monster or pirate is spot-on—and strangely endearing. Markos’s world, rooted in an almost primitive fishing village, was an unexpected setting. It mirrors the duality of his character: brutal don and simple man protecting his community. Serena, surprisingly, thrives there; it gives her something she’s never had before: a sense of home and freedom. But don’t be fooled—this isn't just a romance wrapped in coastal charm. A war is brewing between rival syndicates, and dark secrets begin to unravel. There are gut-wrenching moments of loss and heartbreak that will leave you in tears. And just when it seems Serena and Markos might have carved out something real, she’s torn from him—forced to call her overbearing brothers for help. I wanted to scream at the way they dismissed her, refusing to hear her out. But if there’s one thing this story makes clear, it’s that nothing—not even blood ties—will stop Markos from reclaiming the woman who changed everything for him.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 18, 2026
She wasn’t the girl he meant to take. But now he’ll never let her go.
When Serena is abducted by mistake and dragged into the Greek underworld, escape should be her only goal. But Markos isn’t what she expects. He’s brutal, precise, terrifying in all the ways that should keep her running. Instead, something about him pulls her in. What starts as survival turns into something magnetic and dangerously real.
Markos thrives on control, but Serena crashes through every boundary he builds. She questions his rules, ignites his temper, and sees past his armor. He tries to hold her at a distance, but obsession doesn’t stay contained. When secrets surface and enemies close in, he offers her the only protection he knows, one that comes with a cost.
Serena doesn’t flinch. She learns the rules, bends them, and becomes something sharper. Her fire threatens to burn everything down, but Markos is already scorched. What began as power and resistance becomes something else entirely, raw, complicated, and impossible to fake.
Serena evolves from a woman trying to escape her past into someone who owns her place in a world of shadows. Markos unlearns the cold discipline that kept him safe and finds strength in vulnerability, loyalty, and the love he never thought he'd have. Together, they forge a bond that's dangerous, messy, and unbreakable.
A dark, steamy, enemies to lovers, blackmail marriage, Greek mafia romance with forced proximity, hidden identity, obsession, betrayal, and slow burn heat, exploring identity, control, vulnerability, trust, grief, survival, loyalty, and transformation. It's about two people shaped by violence and power who learn to trust, fight for each other, and choose love not as an escape but as something that demands sacrifice, earns redemption, and becomes the reason they both stay.
The Elevator Pitch: A brutal enforcer takes the wrong girl and finds the one woman who won’t break under his control. What starts as a mistake turns into an obsession neither of them can escape, tangled in secrets, power, and a marriage built on blackmail. Dark, emotional, and gripping, their story delivers high-stakes heat with a slow burn payoff.
When Serena is abducted by mistake and dragged into the Greek underworld, escape should be her only goal. But Markos isn’t what she expects. He’s brutal, precise, terrifying in all the ways that should keep her running. Instead, something about him pulls her in. What starts as survival turns into something magnetic and dangerously real.
Markos thrives on control, but Serena crashes through every boundary he builds. She questions his rules, ignites his temper, and sees past his armor. He tries to hold her at a distance, but obsession doesn’t stay contained. When secrets surface and enemies close in, he offers her the only protection he knows, one that comes with a cost.
Serena doesn’t flinch. She learns the rules, bends them, and becomes something sharper. Her fire threatens to burn everything down, but Markos is already scorched. What began as power and resistance becomes something else entirely, raw, complicated, and impossible to fake.
Serena evolves from a woman trying to escape her past into someone who owns her place in a world of shadows. Markos unlearns the cold discipline that kept him safe and finds strength in vulnerability, loyalty, and the love he never thought he'd have. Together, they forge a bond that's dangerous, messy, and unbreakable.
A dark, steamy, enemies to lovers, blackmail marriage, Greek mafia romance with forced proximity, hidden identity, obsession, betrayal, and slow burn heat, exploring identity, control, vulnerability, trust, grief, survival, loyalty, and transformation. It's about two people shaped by violence and power who learn to trust, fight for each other, and choose love not as an escape but as something that demands sacrifice, earns redemption, and becomes the reason they both stay.
The Elevator Pitch: A brutal enforcer takes the wrong girl and finds the one woman who won’t break under his control. What starts as a mistake turns into an obsession neither of them can escape, tangled in secrets, power, and a marriage built on blackmail. Dark, emotional, and gripping, their story delivers high-stakes heat with a slow burn payoff.
June 22, 2025
Onyx Realm is the second book in the Dynasty of Queens series.
We briefly met Serena in the first book Twisted Crown. She is the baby sister of Italian mafia’s Don Alessandro Mancini, who lives a very sheltered life…not by her choice. When she is given a rare opportunity to travel on her own she grabs it with both hands!
Marco is part of a Greek smuggling mafia syndicate. A very mysterious, scarred and brutal man. When he desides he needs a wife, he choses a russian princess and orders her kidnapping. He wants to strengthen their ties with the Bratva. But at the same time he thinks no woman could ever chose to love him so he will kidnap her and force her to marry him. No problem there, right? Until he is delivered Serena, bruised, battered and almost unconsious. Definitely not the Russian princess he expected. But one look in her eyes before she passed out, the bruises on her body, sign she fought as a true hell cat, her frail and small frame and he is a goner… he will not let her go! Those who dared hurt her will pay…
Serena being raised under the iron rule of her overprotective brothers, she was a prisoner long before Markos locked the door. But in his gilded cage, she finds something she never had before—freedom. Passion. Power.
Tropes:
- Hades and Persephone
- Hurt and healing / They found each other
- Forced proximity
- Blackmail marriage
- Ultra possessive and obessed MMC
- Scarred MMC hiding in the shadows
- Fierce and strong FMC
- Angst and loss of loved ones
- Surprise pregnancy and HEA
This is a standalone book, slightly interconnected with Twisted Crown, but you don’t need to have read it in order to be able to follow and enjoy this one. Alexa always makes sure of that!
Written in true Alexa style. Beautifully detailed and has the essence of a fairytale that i came to love in all of her books! I highly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone who would appreciate the tropes mentioned above!
We briefly met Serena in the first book Twisted Crown. She is the baby sister of Italian mafia’s Don Alessandro Mancini, who lives a very sheltered life…not by her choice. When she is given a rare opportunity to travel on her own she grabs it with both hands!
Marco is part of a Greek smuggling mafia syndicate. A very mysterious, scarred and brutal man. When he desides he needs a wife, he choses a russian princess and orders her kidnapping. He wants to strengthen their ties with the Bratva. But at the same time he thinks no woman could ever chose to love him so he will kidnap her and force her to marry him. No problem there, right? Until he is delivered Serena, bruised, battered and almost unconsious. Definitely not the Russian princess he expected. But one look in her eyes before she passed out, the bruises on her body, sign she fought as a true hell cat, her frail and small frame and he is a goner… he will not let her go! Those who dared hurt her will pay…
Serena being raised under the iron rule of her overprotective brothers, she was a prisoner long before Markos locked the door. But in his gilded cage, she finds something she never had before—freedom. Passion. Power.
Tropes:
- Hades and Persephone
- Hurt and healing / They found each other
- Forced proximity
- Blackmail marriage
- Ultra possessive and obessed MMC
- Scarred MMC hiding in the shadows
- Fierce and strong FMC
- Angst and loss of loved ones
- Surprise pregnancy and HEA
This is a standalone book, slightly interconnected with Twisted Crown, but you don’t need to have read it in order to be able to follow and enjoy this one. Alexa always makes sure of that!
Written in true Alexa style. Beautifully detailed and has the essence of a fairytale that i came to love in all of her books! I highly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone who would appreciate the tropes mentioned above!
October 3, 2025
ONYX REALM: A DARK MAFIA ROMANCE BY ALEXA MICHAELS
RATING: 3.75 / 5 STARS
Tropes:
- Hades and Persephone
- Hurt and healing / They found each other
- Forced proximity
- Blackmail marriage
- Ultra possessive and obsessed MMC
- Scarred MMC hiding in the shadows
- Fierce and strong FMC
- Angst and loss of loved ones
- Surprise pregnancy and HEA
Seeking an unconventional alliance, he has her kidnapped (but is it really her), intending to make her his bride. However, when she is availed, he realizes they brought the wrong girl. He has no idea who this girl is, but he is fascinated with her in a way he never thought he would be. When she realizes she has been kidnapped by the Greek mob she is initially angry (very rightfully so btw), but then she grows to appreciate their unique family and overall lifestyle. Even though her life is now headed towards a bit of a crazier path then what she had planned for herself.
She also grows to appreciate her captured life by the man who bought her, even though the love they are forming takes place in the unconventional type of way… something is starting to spark, as she becomes his bride! But she has secrets of her own that she hasn’t revealed to her new husband. secrets, which could bring danger to their door.
While there is complex mafia drama circling around them (per all mafia stories ever), they are also to different types of complex people who find love in the last place they would’ve expected. Their passion is steamy and their chemistry is sizzling. This was an unexpected find for me. It was a little different than the traditional, stolen bride trope. I enjoyed it much more than I originally thought I would. Well, the story is part of the series. It still functions as a complete standalone.
RATING: 3.75 / 5 STARS
Tropes:
- Hades and Persephone
- Hurt and healing / They found each other
- Forced proximity
- Blackmail marriage
- Ultra possessive and obsessed MMC
- Scarred MMC hiding in the shadows
- Fierce and strong FMC
- Angst and loss of loved ones
- Surprise pregnancy and HEA
Seeking an unconventional alliance, he has her kidnapped (but is it really her), intending to make her his bride. However, when she is availed, he realizes they brought the wrong girl. He has no idea who this girl is, but he is fascinated with her in a way he never thought he would be. When she realizes she has been kidnapped by the Greek mob she is initially angry (very rightfully so btw), but then she grows to appreciate their unique family and overall lifestyle. Even though her life is now headed towards a bit of a crazier path then what she had planned for herself.
She also grows to appreciate her captured life by the man who bought her, even though the love they are forming takes place in the unconventional type of way… something is starting to spark, as she becomes his bride! But she has secrets of her own that she hasn’t revealed to her new husband. secrets, which could bring danger to their door.
While there is complex mafia drama circling around them (per all mafia stories ever), they are also to different types of complex people who find love in the last place they would’ve expected. Their passion is steamy and their chemistry is sizzling. This was an unexpected find for me. It was a little different than the traditional, stolen bride trope. I enjoyed it much more than I originally thought I would. Well, the story is part of the series. It still functions as a complete standalone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2025
Seeking an unconventional alliance, he has her kidnapped, intending to make her his bride. However, when she is availed, he realizes they brought the wrong girl. He has no idea who this girl is, but he is fascinated with her in a way he never thought he would be. When she realizes she has been kidnapped by the Greek mob she is initially angry, but then grows to appreciate their unique family and lifestyle. She also grows to appreciate her capture the man who forces her to be his bride. But she has secrets of her own that she hasn’t revealed to her new husband. secrets, which could bring danger to their door. While there is complex mafia drama circling around them, they are also too complex people who find love in the last place they would’ve expected. Their passion is steamy and their chemistry sizzles. This was an unexpected find for me. It was a little different than the traditional, stolen bride trope. The family mafia structure was also different than I am used to including their bucolic village. I enjoyed it much more than I originally thought I would. Well, the story is part of the series. It still functions as a complete standalone.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 1, 2025
Yet another fantastic novel in the beautiful world that Alexa Michaels has created. Onyx Realm continues this bada$$ heroine series of the Dynasty of Queens. We remember her as Penny’s spicy sister in law, who finally won her freedom from her over-protective brothers and got to travel and live her life. Well, she ends up in deep waters, accidentally kidnapped - to the Greek “business” in Florida! Here we meet scary but playful Markos, who’s scarred and has given up on love, and scared to open his heart. Serena takes everything in surprising stride, her resolve to escape waning as she slowly falls for her pirate. I loved the ocean and the reference to mermaid and pirate throughout the book, the old gods, it was just so fascinating. Serena’s a great character, she’s feisty and not easily rattled, but soft underneath. Markos is interesting, he’s a baddie but he just wants to swim and chill lol. It’s sweet how they grow to love one another, there’s enough intrigue and drama to keep you turning the pages, and it ends in a great happily ever after. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
August 8, 2025
4.5⭐️
Onyx Realm by Alexa Michaels is the second book in the Dynasty of Queens series. I was looking forward to Serena’s book since she was introduced in Twisted Crown (Book 1). This plotline was interesting and gripping. I thought the crime syndicate was unique and I really loved how they operate. I read this book in one sitting. I could not put it down. I loved the Hades and Persephone themes imbedded in the storyline. I would highly recommend this book if you love mafia romances!
Serena was fierce, intelligent, and a strong FMC. I truly loved her character. I loved seeing her finally find herself. Markos was dark, broody, and morally grey! He was everything I love in a made man MMC. Markos and Serena totally gave Hades and Persephone vibes. I loved their dynamic a lot. Seeing Markos fall in love with Serena was everything. i loved how protective and supportive he was of Serena. He let her florish and I fell in love wih him even more for that. Serena and Markos had great chemistry!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
HAPPY READING
Onyx Realm by Alexa Michaels is the second book in the Dynasty of Queens series. I was looking forward to Serena’s book since she was introduced in Twisted Crown (Book 1). This plotline was interesting and gripping. I thought the crime syndicate was unique and I really loved how they operate. I read this book in one sitting. I could not put it down. I loved the Hades and Persephone themes imbedded in the storyline. I would highly recommend this book if you love mafia romances!
Serena was fierce, intelligent, and a strong FMC. I truly loved her character. I loved seeing her finally find herself. Markos was dark, broody, and morally grey! He was everything I love in a made man MMC. Markos and Serena totally gave Hades and Persephone vibes. I loved their dynamic a lot. Seeing Markos fall in love with Serena was everything. i loved how protective and supportive he was of Serena. He let her florish and I fell in love wih him even more for that. Serena and Markos had great chemistry!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
HAPPY READING
October 30, 2025
Another series that has drawn me in completely!
Book two has only gotten BETTER. Did I like Alessandro though? Not so much. His treatment of his sister drives me insane. Yes, I understand that there's always trouble when it comes to the mafia and being made men and all but gosh darn it, she needs to live too. Maybe I would think differently if I had been raised in the life but as it is, he has himself a wife who is NOT from this life and he's treating her better than he does his sister. It's abhorrent and I want to bop him upside the head for it.
Now on to Serena and Markos, who have (what I have to admit) the best connection ever. She's not afraid of him. That's the part that matters most. She's spent all this time around mafia men and seems to honest to goodness make him feel as though he's normal, rather than the scarred man he is. They're good for each other, even if they fight the deeper feelings every step of the way.
I loved it and to find out there's another in the series has only made me go gaga further because ON TO THE NEXT!
Book two has only gotten BETTER. Did I like Alessandro though? Not so much. His treatment of his sister drives me insane. Yes, I understand that there's always trouble when it comes to the mafia and being made men and all but gosh darn it, she needs to live too. Maybe I would think differently if I had been raised in the life but as it is, he has himself a wife who is NOT from this life and he's treating her better than he does his sister. It's abhorrent and I want to bop him upside the head for it.
Now on to Serena and Markos, who have (what I have to admit) the best connection ever. She's not afraid of him. That's the part that matters most. She's spent all this time around mafia men and seems to honest to goodness make him feel as though he's normal, rather than the scarred man he is. They're good for each other, even if they fight the deeper feelings every step of the way.
I loved it and to find out there's another in the series has only made me go gaga further because ON TO THE NEXT!
June 27, 2025
Onyx Realm
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
You have done it again with another amazing book! I absolutely loved this story not only for Serena finally being able to be “free” (somewhat) but for her it was the plot as a whole. Her wanting to be free, free from her gilded cage, free to experience life. And then you have Markos this man is everything. He wants to bring himself to the table and with that his guys take the wrong girl but with every passing glance he’s finding it harder and harder to get the right girl that his guys where supposed to take. In fact the right girl is the girl in front of him. Watching there love unfold was just perfect. Both fighting wars inside themselves but in the end their passion and chemistry won. This was packed with so much plot that every page had some new to say and I was completely here for it all. The ending made me cry! But of course only happy tears.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
You have done it again with another amazing book! I absolutely loved this story not only for Serena finally being able to be “free” (somewhat) but for her it was the plot as a whole. Her wanting to be free, free from her gilded cage, free to experience life. And then you have Markos this man is everything. He wants to bring himself to the table and with that his guys take the wrong girl but with every passing glance he’s finding it harder and harder to get the right girl that his guys where supposed to take. In fact the right girl is the girl in front of him. Watching there love unfold was just perfect. Both fighting wars inside themselves but in the end their passion and chemistry won. This was packed with so much plot that every page had some new to say and I was completely here for it all. The ending made me cry! But of course only happy tears.
September 26, 2025
This book grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go.
Serena is finally free, no more overbearing brothers, no more gilded cage. She’s out in the world, trying to live her life. But fate has other plans. One wrong turn and she’s kidnapped, bruised, and dropped at the feet of Markos, a Greek mafia enforcer who was expecting a Russian princess. What he gets instead? A hellcat with fire in her eyes and no intention of playing victim.
Markos is scarred, inside and out. He’s brutal, calculating, and convinced no one could ever love him willingly. So he planned to steal a bride. But Serena isn’t what he ordered… and she’s exactly what he needs.
Their dynamic is explosive. Serena challenges him at every turn, and Markos, despite all his walls, starts to unravel. The tension is thick, the chemistry is insane, and the emotional stakes are high. Alexa Michaels delivers a dark romance that’s equal parts gritty and gorgeous.
Serena is finally free, no more overbearing brothers, no more gilded cage. She’s out in the world, trying to live her life. But fate has other plans. One wrong turn and she’s kidnapped, bruised, and dropped at the feet of Markos, a Greek mafia enforcer who was expecting a Russian princess. What he gets instead? A hellcat with fire in her eyes and no intention of playing victim.
Markos is scarred, inside and out. He’s brutal, calculating, and convinced no one could ever love him willingly. So he planned to steal a bride. But Serena isn’t what he ordered… and she’s exactly what he needs.
Their dynamic is explosive. Serena challenges him at every turn, and Markos, despite all his walls, starts to unravel. The tension is thick, the chemistry is insane, and the emotional stakes are high. Alexa Michaels delivers a dark romance that’s equal parts gritty and gorgeous.
November 1, 2025
Onyx Realm
This story is about the Greek mafia! While this is a mafia story, it really touches on the part of Greek culture that is steeped in the old ways rather than a modern view of the same. The main male character in the story is badly disfigured on one part of his face and body due to having been tortured when he was younger. As a result, people shun him often calling him ugly, and a monster. As a result, none of his other associates would ever imagine him having a woman or getting married. When he inadvertently kidnaps the wrong woman he to force to marry him, he becomes increasingly shocked when the beautiful woman he ends up with actually falls in love with him! There are many twists and turns and shocking events as the story unfolds, making you want to return to reading the story until the very last page! This is not your usual mafia read, but one you will love if you give it a chance! I look foreword to reading other books by this author.
This story is about the Greek mafia! While this is a mafia story, it really touches on the part of Greek culture that is steeped in the old ways rather than a modern view of the same. The main male character in the story is badly disfigured on one part of his face and body due to having been tortured when he was younger. As a result, people shun him often calling him ugly, and a monster. As a result, none of his other associates would ever imagine him having a woman or getting married. When he inadvertently kidnaps the wrong woman he to force to marry him, he becomes increasingly shocked when the beautiful woman he ends up with actually falls in love with him! There are many twists and turns and shocking events as the story unfolds, making you want to return to reading the story until the very last page! This is not your usual mafia read, but one you will love if you give it a chance! I look foreword to reading other books by this author.
June 19, 2025
Dark and dangerous but what a story!
When Serena is taken, she isn't the right girl but captor Markos shouldn't want her anyway.
Mafia themed with a difference. Markos is very much the beast in this story but definitely loveable and caring. But Serena is stubborn, bratty almost and has secrets of her own. He shouldn't want her but needs her.
I loved the differences but also the way Serena gets accustomed to his world and wants to stay.
Very much a slow build romance that holds on and doesn't let go. Very mysterious and kind of complex, holding secrets and clues all the way through with twists and turns that keep you guessing.
I loved Markos and his complex character that his well with Serena but also compliments each other. I loved this couple and didn't want the story to end.
Highly recommended!!
When Serena is taken, she isn't the right girl but captor Markos shouldn't want her anyway.
Mafia themed with a difference. Markos is very much the beast in this story but definitely loveable and caring. But Serena is stubborn, bratty almost and has secrets of her own. He shouldn't want her but needs her.
I loved the differences but also the way Serena gets accustomed to his world and wants to stay.
Very much a slow build romance that holds on and doesn't let go. Very mysterious and kind of complex, holding secrets and clues all the way through with twists and turns that keep you guessing.
I loved Markos and his complex character that his well with Serena but also compliments each other. I loved this couple and didn't want the story to end.
Highly recommended!!
June 25, 2025
- Beauty and the Beast vibes
- Hades and Persephone vibes
- Dark romance
- M@fia romance
The one thing I can always count on for Alexa's books is that the FMC is sassy. And usually gets herself in trouble because of impulsivity. While Serena didn't initiate her journey to a Greek village in Florida, her mouth did not help her situation!
One of the 12 ruling members of the village, Markos has plans to expand. But he needs a place to do that. So he arranges for a m@fi@ princess to be brought to him to marry. However, good help is hard to find and he is instead brought Serena....
Markos doesn't know Serena's connections, but he is attracted to the spitfire. If only he could act on that attraction..
This story had many moving pieces and I found myself totally engrossed in the story. Another winner in my book!
- Hades and Persephone vibes
- Dark romance
- M@fia romance
The one thing I can always count on for Alexa's books is that the FMC is sassy. And usually gets herself in trouble because of impulsivity. While Serena didn't initiate her journey to a Greek village in Florida, her mouth did not help her situation!
One of the 12 ruling members of the village, Markos has plans to expand. But he needs a place to do that. So he arranges for a m@fi@ princess to be brought to him to marry. However, good help is hard to find and he is instead brought Serena....
Markos doesn't know Serena's connections, but he is attracted to the spitfire. If only he could act on that attraction..
This story had many moving pieces and I found myself totally engrossed in the story. Another winner in my book!
June 27, 2025
This Hades can take me to his Underworld...
This dark mafia romance swept me away to the delicious Midwest Underworld created by Alexa Michaels. I love her style of writing, it transports me to a place of excitement that I never want to leave. This is the second book in the Dynasty Queens series. It has all the Beauty And The Beast vibes.
Serena (FMC) is sweet and young but not meek. She has strength and intelligence I really admire about her character. She's a fighter though she's had a difficult life.
Markos he's our scarred mysterious MMC. He wants power and more of it. He takes what he wants and though Serena is the "wrong" bride he takes one look at her and knows he has to have her no matter the cost. He's the morally-grey anti-hero we love.
I just loved how their relationship unfolded. The banter, angst, the suspense, and the steam were all delicious.
This dark mafia romance swept me away to the delicious Midwest Underworld created by Alexa Michaels. I love her style of writing, it transports me to a place of excitement that I never want to leave. This is the second book in the Dynasty Queens series. It has all the Beauty And The Beast vibes.
Serena (FMC) is sweet and young but not meek. She has strength and intelligence I really admire about her character. She's a fighter though she's had a difficult life.
Markos he's our scarred mysterious MMC. He wants power and more of it. He takes what he wants and though Serena is the "wrong" bride he takes one look at her and knows he has to have her no matter the cost. He's the morally-grey anti-hero we love.
I just loved how their relationship unfolded. The banter, angst, the suspense, and the steam were all delicious.
July 23, 2025
This is an intriguing blend of mafia meets pirate romance. Markos is the scarred morally grey hero, and a an outsider even around his own people. Serena, who we met in the first installment of Dynasty of Queens, shows a much softer calmer side as she escapes her family. The chemistry is hot and passionate between them. There is action, drama, romance and loss packed into the book. The worldbuilding is extremely good as our the secondary characters Atlas is particularly intriguing as the head of the 12 families. In fact Alexa could easily do a spin off on this particular group. You ll prolly envy Serena for ending up in this paradise like home.
You only see a little of characters from the previous book which is a shame and I hope to see them more in Leo and Analiese s story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
You only see a little of characters from the previous book which is a shame and I hope to see them more in Leo and Analiese s story.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 30, 2025
Serena has been kidnapped twice in her life, but the second time around, it couldn't have been more right. She isn't the bratva princess they thought she was, and evne though she keeps her mafia princess status under the radar, she slides into this new sydicate flawlessly. She can not only protect herself but the people she has come to love. Until, the pattern repeats and she ends up in the last place she wants to be.
Markos never thought anyone could love him, so he hides himself physically and emotionally. But he breaks down bit by bit for her. He breaks all the rules for her and makes her feel cherished and not just a pampered girl who needs to be sheltered.
They empower each other in new ways and the bantar between them is endlessly fun.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Markos never thought anyone could love him, so he hides himself physically and emotionally. But he breaks down bit by bit for her. He breaks all the rules for her and makes her feel cherished and not just a pampered girl who needs to be sheltered.
They empower each other in new ways and the bantar between them is endlessly fun.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 8, 2025
Pirate and his mermaid
I absolutely loved this book! It was a good twist on a mafia read with loads of that pirate-y feeling thrown into the mix. I loved the concept of the Twelve, and how their kingdom was run. Serena and Markos were an absolute dream to read! Their chemistry was fire, and their banter was just as good! The overall story was great and kept me on the edge of my seat. Alexa knows how to write a man obsessed with his woman! Serena might also be my favorite FMC she’s written so far! Her character growth was just amazing to see unfurl. Overall, definitely recommend this one!
I absolutely loved this book! It was a good twist on a mafia read with loads of that pirate-y feeling thrown into the mix. I loved the concept of the Twelve, and how their kingdom was run. Serena and Markos were an absolute dream to read! Their chemistry was fire, and their banter was just as good! The overall story was great and kept me on the edge of my seat. Alexa knows how to write a man obsessed with his woman! Serena might also be my favorite FMC she’s written so far! Her character growth was just amazing to see unfurl. Overall, definitely recommend this one!
December 28, 2025
“Onyx Realm” is the second book of the “Dynasty of Queens Series”, set in the Midwest Underworld. It’s a stand-alone darker mafia romance. This book had me hooked from the start! Being a Mafia Romance story, it is dark in places, violent at times, passionate in places, full of secrets, loyalties tested and let’s not forget the heat between Markos and Serena. The chemistry between these two is off the page! A thoroughly enjoyable read from page to page, one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊
January 14, 2026
Okay, I liked this one a lot more than the first one. Markos sends his guys out to kidnap a Greek mafia princess. Instead they come back with an Italian one lol. How does that happen? But it was great that he fell for her almost immediately. Serena was so sweet. And I loved that she wasn’t afraid of him. These two were meant to be together. Clearly something intervened for his God to grab the “wrong” right girl. This book had me totally pulled in. And I was enjoying every bit of it. I loved the banter and the humor. The chaos and intensity.
This was really well written. Again, I loved the story, the characters, and above all, I loved both Serena and Markos.
This was really well written. Again, I loved the story, the characters, and above all, I loved both Serena and Markos.
July 5, 2025
This is Book 2 in the Dynasty of Queens Series by this author, and can be read as a standalone. It is a dark mafia romance between Markos and Serena. These flawed but likeable souls and the unique plot make for an interesting read. What starts out as a kidnapping turns into something more. It is a love story with drama and steam, danger and suspense, sexual tension and chemistry, and twists and turns, plus appealing secondary characters. An emotional ride.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 16, 2025
Onyx Realm is a dark enemies to lovers Mafia romance between Markos, a power driven leader who is part of the 12 associated with the Midwest criminal underground, and Serena, who is misidentified and kidnapped by his men as the Mafia princess Markos plans to wed. Their suspenseful relationship has banter, past traumas, secrets, unpredictable twists, and steamy passion. This is an enjoyable second book in the Dynasties of Queens Series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 16, 2025
Markos and Serena. These two OMG. Push pull. Shes strong willed and smart. Hes a force to be reckoned with. Together they are powerful. They are a balance between light and dark.
Theres love, loss, power, charecter evolement, chemistry hot as flowing lava, banter that keeps you entertained, twists and turns, action, suspense, drama with the story having great world building and a obsessive, arrogant, possessive, dark, delicious, and intriguing alpha.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Theres love, loss, power, charecter evolement, chemistry hot as flowing lava, banter that keeps you entertained, twists and turns, action, suspense, drama with the story having great world building and a obsessive, arrogant, possessive, dark, delicious, and intriguing alpha.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 25, 2025
Onyx Realm was a slow start for me as the beginning is an introductory to the family and their daily fishing life. It details Serena's adventure away from her controlling family and provides her with a different kind of life where she isn't just a pampered princess. It takes awhile for her to fully meet Markos, but the slow burn romance is worth the wait. I loved how nothing fazed Serena. She is such a strong character and a perfect match for Markos.
July 6, 2025
This Mafia romance has all the typical troupes like, OTT alpha male, dark, enemies to lovers romance. Markos has a woman kidnapped, unfortunately they brought him the wrong woman. The chemistry between the two is fascinating and spicy. Serena is sweet and innocent. The storyline is full of drama, action and spice, its easy and enjoyable to read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 27, 2025
What happens when you get the wrong girl kidnapped? Markos learns the hard way what happens and how hard it can be to let go of his sweet little prisoner. Serena isn't afraid of Markos and for the first time in a really long time she feel free and happy.
This book was a bit chaotic in the end and therfore I will only give it 3,5 stars. The ending could use some editing and this book would be amazing. It's still a good read and I'm not mad about having read it
This book was a bit chaotic in the end and therfore I will only give it 3,5 stars. The ending could use some editing and this book would be amazing. It's still a good read and I'm not mad about having read it
December 29, 2025
Alexa has done it again. I cannot put down the book and even turned on the text to speech to listen to it while out doing errands. The Dynasty of Queens series just keeps getting better with every book. The chemistry of Serena and Markos is explosive. I love how Serena is not afraid of Markos and is willing to challenge him.
This book is definitely a must read!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is definitely a must read!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 15, 2026
Please check CW and TW before reading this one. Kidnapping your seemingly future wife, check. Grabbing the wrong woman, check again lol. I couldn't help but chuckle when we get to find out that Markos stole the wrong woman and got the feisty Serena instead. Loved them together they had a special bond. But I especially loved the people in the town that we got introduced to. They made this story very emjoyable.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 23, 2025
Alexa once again wrote a book you just can't put down. In this book, you meet Serena and Markos. Serena has some unfortunate luck in life, but once Markos comes into her life, it seems to get a bit better. This book is filled with spicy men, funny banter, and so much more. You will swoon for days over the Greek men with beautifully scared souls.
June 30, 2025
Another wonderful story from Alexa Michaels.
The men were supposed to kidnap a Greek Bratva princess, but kidnapped Italian Serena instead. Sparks fly when she meets her kidnapper Markos.
This is a mafia story with a difference. I loved it.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and thank the author for such an excellent, interesting read.
The men were supposed to kidnap a Greek Bratva princess, but kidnapped Italian Serena instead. Sparks fly when she meets her kidnapper Markos.
This is a mafia story with a difference. I loved it.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and thank the author for such an excellent, interesting read.
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