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Twisted Devotion: Book 1 of The Legacies of Sin Series
She was soft, quiet, and utterly breakable. So naturally, he had to have her.
Akari Tanaka never wanted to be noticed. A timid, bookish girl just trying to survive high school, she found herself trapped in a waking nightmare—relentlessly tormented, ridiculed, and left to fend for herself in a world that devoured the weak.
But someone noticed her.
Adrianu di Salvo—cold, untouchable, heir to one of the most feared mafia families in the world. With ice in his veins and blood on his hands, he ruled the halls with silent brutality. Emotionless. Empty. Until her.
The moment their worlds collided, something inside him cracked. She was terrified of him. She should be. He liked it that way.
Because now she belonged to him.
Her bullies? Gone. Her peace? Stolen. Her soul? Marked.
He was her protector.
Her tormentor.
Her obsession.
And when the line between devotion and destruction shatters—when his darkness grows too violent to cage. He’ll become the very thing she should run from.
But it’s too late.
Because the girl who never wanted to be noticed?
Now she can never be free.
Akari Tanaka never wanted to be noticed. A timid, bookish girl just trying to survive high school, she found herself trapped in a waking nightmare—relentlessly tormented, ridiculed, and left to fend for herself in a world that devoured the weak.
But someone noticed her.
Adrianu di Salvo—cold, untouchable, heir to one of the most feared mafia families in the world. With ice in his veins and blood on his hands, he ruled the halls with silent brutality. Emotionless. Empty. Until her.
The moment their worlds collided, something inside him cracked. She was terrified of him. She should be. He liked it that way.
Because now she belonged to him.
Her bullies? Gone. Her peace? Stolen. Her soul? Marked.
He was her protector.
Her tormentor.
Her obsession.
And when the line between devotion and destruction shatters—when his darkness grows too violent to cage. He’ll become the very thing she should run from.
But it’s too late.
Because the girl who never wanted to be noticed?
Now she can never be free.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 23, 2025
I love a MMC who has a stutter and is somewhat Mute.
This was a very face paced story and loved hearing the MMC talking to himself in his head of what he was doing was wrong or somewhat stalkerish but at least he was aware of it.
Kyle is the devils spawn and I’m glad he got his ending. Just ‘chefs kiss’
I did finish this in one sitting but didn’t update in time so one day read I fine too ahha
I’m excited for the rest of the series
This was a very face paced story and loved hearing the MMC talking to himself in his head of what he was doing was wrong or somewhat stalkerish but at least he was aware of it.
Kyle is the devils spawn and I’m glad he got his ending. Just ‘chefs kiss’
I did finish this in one sitting but didn’t update in time so one day read I fine too ahha
I’m excited for the rest of the series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2025
finished this in 1 sitting and oh my god, I need more. I thought mikhail and Hannah would get together, I guess not! that was so cute, akari and adrianu are the cutest, thank the holy lord they killed Kyle I hated that mf since he was mentioned! and I knew something was wrong with Ellie because of the way she was acting on the call, ellies odd. Anyways, next book out when
July 19, 2025
I read this book in one day because I just couldn’t put it down! And it ends with a major cliffhanger, which I can not wait to read the second book.
There are a lot, and I mean a lot of twist in this story, which you do not expect. It is well written and pulls you into the story which I love.
There are a lot, and I mean a lot of twist in this story, which you do not expect. It is well written and pulls you into the story which I love.
July 27, 2025
I devoured this book. Dark, addictive, and emotionally intense. It had me hooked from page one. Akari’s vulnerability and Adrianu’s chilling obsession make for a twisted, unputdownable dynamic that toes the line between protector and predator in the most compelling way. And that ending?? I’m still recovering. Especially that page after the epilogue, no spoilers, but trust me, it changes everything. I need the next book immediately.
If you like morally grey antiheroes, obsession, and mafia romance with a psychological twist, this one's for you.
If you like morally grey antiheroes, obsession, and mafia romance with a psychological twist, this one's for you.
June 9, 2026
The hook and Catch
You have to love the stories you can read in one sitting. So much drama, layered I danger. That puedo mafia thing. I thought at first it was giving a "Carrie" vibe but then not really.
In school there s always a bully, and he is her living nightmare all through school. How lucky is Akari, has her very own bully and stalker.
A bit angsty, A few bits of fun. Some twisties. Heat here and there. Definitely need this I your life, get to know the Princes. The entitled. The lonely. Feel the dark. The edgy, the heartbreak. The love and rejection.
You have to love the stories you can read in one sitting. So much drama, layered I danger. That puedo mafia thing. I thought at first it was giving a "Carrie" vibe but then not really.
In school there s always a bully, and he is her living nightmare all through school. How lucky is Akari, has her very own bully and stalker.
A bit angsty, A few bits of fun. Some twisties. Heat here and there. Definitely need this I your life, get to know the Princes. The entitled. The lonely. Feel the dark. The edgy, the heartbreak. The love and rejection.
April 11, 2026
Brilliantly heavy
This book is intense. Fast. Very fast actually. I read this book in a few hours, read your trigger warnings, cause this book will trigger you, but if you like dark to black mafia books, this one is a good place to start. On to next.....
This book is intense. Fast. Very fast actually. I read this book in a few hours, read your trigger warnings, cause this book will trigger you, but if you like dark to black mafia books, this one is a good place to start. On to next.....
October 23, 2025
What an easy, fast paced reads. Lots of twists and turns but plenty to keep you interested. Would recommend to any dark romance lovers who are looking for a something easy but still intriguing. Somewhat predictable but still some good twists and turns. Cant wait for the next book.
March 23, 2026
I loved this book! I finished it in a day, the ending!! Wow what a cliffhanger, I am so excited for what is going to happen next
August 11, 2025
This book was literally so good!! I finished it in one night. Akari and Adrianu are the cutest!
July 19, 2025
I loved this book so much
October 1, 2025
This was my first dark romance read , and omg did it start something dark with in me ,
Devoured this book ,
Devoured this book ,
May 26, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this book and can’t wait for the next one! Many times I was left on cliff hangers so it was hard to put it down. Very well written and a must read!
September 10, 2025
Read a few months ago (only just made a Goodreads account), but devoured this book in a single sitting, then stared at the wall afterwards wondering what to do with my life.
Wont give any spoilers, but if you want a dark f/m, mafia romance with heartache, twists and turns, a rollercoaster of emotions, that you don’t want to put down, this is the book for you.
Wont give any spoilers, but if you want a dark f/m, mafia romance with heartache, twists and turns, a rollercoaster of emotions, that you don’t want to put down, this is the book for you.
May 17, 2026
This was my first time reading NZ author Ashleigh Hawke’s work, and I was genuinely surprised by how quickly I became invested in the story. Despite the darker themes throughout, the writing style was incredibly easy to read and flowed so well that I constantly found myself wanting to read “just one more chapter” to see what would happen next.
Adrianu immediately stood out to me from the very beginning. That cold, dangerous, mysterious mafia heir energy absolutely worked for me, and I loved the intensity he brought to every scene he was in. There was something really addictive about trying to figure him out, especially with the glimpses into his loyalty and the relationships he had with the children of rival mafia families. Those dynamics added an extra layer of intrigue to the story that I really enjoyed and hope gets explored even more moving forward.
Akari, on the other hand, frustrated me quite a bit at times, particularly when it came to her childhood bully. The warning signs were blaring from the beginning, so watching her forgive and trust him so easily had me internally screaming at her more than once. At the same time though, I could still understand that need to forgive and move on and hope for a better future for herself.
I also really appreciated the darker protective and obsessive elements surrounding Adrianu. The line between protection and possession was heavily blurred throughout the story, which created a tense atmosphere that kept me hooked. While some moments were definitely intense, I found the overall plot really engaging and loved the way the story unfolded.
By the end, I was completely invested and eager to start the next book immediately because I need to know where these characters go from here.
Adrianu immediately stood out to me from the very beginning. That cold, dangerous, mysterious mafia heir energy absolutely worked for me, and I loved the intensity he brought to every scene he was in. There was something really addictive about trying to figure him out, especially with the glimpses into his loyalty and the relationships he had with the children of rival mafia families. Those dynamics added an extra layer of intrigue to the story that I really enjoyed and hope gets explored even more moving forward.
Akari, on the other hand, frustrated me quite a bit at times, particularly when it came to her childhood bully. The warning signs were blaring from the beginning, so watching her forgive and trust him so easily had me internally screaming at her more than once. At the same time though, I could still understand that need to forgive and move on and hope for a better future for herself.
I also really appreciated the darker protective and obsessive elements surrounding Adrianu. The line between protection and possession was heavily blurred throughout the story, which created a tense atmosphere that kept me hooked. While some moments were definitely intense, I found the overall plot really engaging and loved the way the story unfolded.
By the end, I was completely invested and eager to start the next book immediately because I need to know where these characters go from here.
May 27, 2026
Fast Paced Dark Romance
I would consider this a “what you see is exactly what you get” book /gen.
CW/TW’s are accurate; book moves along at a quick pace (I read it in abt 1.5hrs incl. distractions); characters are fleshed out. My sole focus was the portrayal of ASPD, and it didn’t disappoint, as a solid amount of references/points made within about it, are both clinically and lived experience-wise correct.
Definitely a “hits several dark/red flag smut content tropes” book for the book girlies though; the pacing and cadence reflects our BookTok era (not a bad thing) and this is exactly what I’d expect to see recommended on a FB reel for books abt getting stalked and NSFW’d by a ridiculously hot and overprotective mafia boss.
I would consider this a “what you see is exactly what you get” book /gen.
CW/TW’s are accurate; book moves along at a quick pace (I read it in abt 1.5hrs incl. distractions); characters are fleshed out. My sole focus was the portrayal of ASPD, and it didn’t disappoint, as a solid amount of references/points made within about it, are both clinically and lived experience-wise correct.
Definitely a “hits several dark/red flag smut content tropes” book for the book girlies though; the pacing and cadence reflects our BookTok era (not a bad thing) and this is exactly what I’d expect to see recommended on a FB reel for books abt getting stalked and NSFW’d by a ridiculously hot and overprotective mafia boss.
June 8, 2026
Akari and Adrianu
Oh wow! This was my first book by Ashleigh, and it definitely won’t be my last.
I went in completely blind, but I do recommend checking the TWs before reading. I absolutely loved the pacing of the story it had me hooked from the start and quickly became a one-sitting read.
I loved Akari and Adrianu together. Their chemistry was incredible. At times, Akari did frustrate me a little, but that just shows how invested I became in the characters and their journey.
This was a slow burn, but the build-up to their love story made every moment worth it. I can’t wait to read the next book.
Oh wow! This was my first book by Ashleigh, and it definitely won’t be my last.
I went in completely blind, but I do recommend checking the TWs before reading. I absolutely loved the pacing of the story it had me hooked from the start and quickly became a one-sitting read.
I loved Akari and Adrianu together. Their chemistry was incredible. At times, Akari did frustrate me a little, but that just shows how invested I became in the characters and their journey.
This was a slow burn, but the build-up to their love story made every moment worth it. I can’t wait to read the next book.
November 7, 2025
Gosh I wasn't sure at the start when the book begun with teenage bullying but boy did it get good 😁 I couldn't put it down and absolutely devoured it in a single sitting as it was that great! The characters were complex and interesting, the storyline had plot twists that kept me hooked and even the spice had the sparks 🤩🎉
The ending was epic and I really loved the epilogues 💖
Can't wait for the next book!!!
The ending was epic and I really loved the epilogues 💖
Can't wait for the next book!!!
November 7, 2025
I read this book earlier this year and only just realized i never reviewed.
I absolutely loved this book!! Im normally so hesitant to try debut novels by authors but i have no regrets reading this one an absolute 5☆ read for me there was spice and plot and loads of twist and turns! Ashleigh I'm still so mad at you about Nicoló!
If you love a fast paced spicy mafia book this is the book for you!
I absolutely loved this book!! Im normally so hesitant to try debut novels by authors but i have no regrets reading this one an absolute 5☆ read for me there was spice and plot and loads of twist and turns! Ashleigh I'm still so mad at you about Nicoló!
If you love a fast paced spicy mafia book this is the book for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2026
The Rabbit and Her Wolf
This book was a great introduction to the Legacy of Sins Series. Craving the stories of the others.
You get a strong sense of who the characters are and watch them become the adults they are.
Things I loved:
*I love when an underdog becomes the top b*tch!
*I love that the MFC went from victim to victor and her revenge. (This rabbit bites!)
*I love that we see the MMC be intense and void of emotions, unless it comes to HIS girl!
This book was a great introduction to the Legacy of Sins Series. Craving the stories of the others.
You get a strong sense of who the characters are and watch them become the adults they are.
Things I loved:
*I love when an underdog becomes the top b*tch!
*I love that the MFC went from victim to victor and her revenge. (This rabbit bites!)
*I love that we see the MMC be intense and void of emotions, unless it comes to HIS girl!
March 12, 2026
Twisted Devotion
The story was decent enough, but there was something lacking with the writing. Not grammar or anything just... off.
I just wasn't enthralled with it. It lacked feeling, I think.
Anyway 3 stars for me.
The story was decent enough, but there was something lacking with the writing. Not grammar or anything just... off.
I just wasn't enthralled with it. It lacked feeling, I think.
Anyway 3 stars for me.
May 25, 2026
WTH did I just read??
I love a dark romance... this is not that.
I rolled my eyes so much at the weak attempts to make the dark psycho sexy... didnt work.
The plot has more holes than my husbands undies and it all just moves so fast.
Nope!
I love a dark romance... this is not that.
I rolled my eyes so much at the weak attempts to make the dark psycho sexy... didnt work.
The plot has more holes than my husbands undies and it all just moves so fast.
Nope!
June 8, 2026
Looking for a dark romance......?
Akari and Adrianu's dark and traumatising story was very well written and I enjoyed this short read. So much so, I would have liked it to be longer and delving into more of their story. Hence only 4 🌟
Akari and Adrianu's dark and traumatising story was very well written and I enjoyed this short read. So much so, I would have liked it to be longer and delving into more of their story. Hence only 4 🌟
May 26, 2025
This Author had me hooked at the begining!!! Lots of twists and one huge one!! Wont spoil it but YOU NEED TO READ THIS!!!!
Read
July 9, 2025i WILL read this once I find its epub💔
May 4, 2026
3.25 ⭐
June 13, 2026
This story was wild! Like holy rollercoaster of traits twists and turns. This was so good. I absolutely devoured this bad boy in one sitting. And that cliffy! Can't wait for the next one.
June 28, 2026
We love a consent king. Adrianu & Akari are a perfect match and it’s so funny to see how much history repeats with Aya and Dimitri in Sinful Rivalry
June 22, 2026
I liked the book; it was very reminiscent of many of my favorite authors and tropes. Quick read and a great starting point for the connective series to come!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews