Hearts Under the Sword

by Jonathan Aubrey

When the brilliant but volatile artist Ray Martin walks out of prison after more than a decade, he enters a world more dangerous than the one he left behind. Championed by Leonard Hirsch—the world’s richest painter and an enigmatic patron of the arts—Ray is offered refuge on Lennie’s opulent estate and entry into an intoxicating new world combining wealth, high society, the equestrian life, and esoteric martial arts.

But the promise of renewal is a mirage. Haunted by his violent past and tormented by his own destructive impulses, Ray struggles to maintain control. When Lennie’s stunning young wife, Nora, becomes his muse, passions simmer and hidden agendas converge.

Set in a pre-digital era of wealth, talent, and primal desire, Hearts Under the Sword is a sharply drawn and darkly comedic psychological drama—a modern fable about ambition, obsession, and the redemptive (or ruinous) power of love and attraction.

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2025

About the author

Jonathan Aubrey is an author who writes about manners and menace, often through a lens of dark comedy. His debut novel, Hearts Under the Sword, explores the glittering surfaces and dangerous undercurrents of privilege, desire, and betrayal. He lives on the East Coast and publishes through Quarterdeck Press.

Reviews

[Dee Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearts Under the Sword is an intense, stylish, and atmospheric psychological drama. Jonathan Aubrey weaves a story of art, obsession, and self-destruction. Discovering Ray Martin through the eyes of James Bradley kept the story interesting as we watch the dynamic betwen Ray, Leonard, and Nora. The writing is sharp and darkly funny at times. While some of the character motivations could have been explored with a bit more depth, the novel as a whole is bold, unsettling, and difficult to put down. A compelling read for anyone who enjoys stories of ambition and temptation.

Thank you Goodreads and Jonathan Aubrey for the e-copy.

[Read, Run and Rescue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won am this book from a Goodreads giveaway it just showed up in Kindle and I was like ok let’s give it a go. I am a dark romance smut reader through and through so this was not my typical genre. The story was slow at first but our author was setting the scene so to speak . The characters were pragmatic and flawed as all good ones are. They were described in such a manner they felt real and authentic. They faced real life situations with complications and well I don’t want to ruin to much so just go in blind I promise you will be floored by the time you finish.

[Crystal Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an really good book.i enjoyed all the twists in it right up to the ending .it's an must read book.i won this book in a giveaway on goodreads.