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Merciless Queen
Harlow
My Captor. My Devil. My Wife.
Vincenzo Mancini claims me as his own, his most valued possession.
And he’s made it clear. Only death can set me free.
That is, until she crashes into my life like a demon from Hell.
Caterina Moretti is powerful, malevolent, gorgeous.
She kidnaps me, intending to kill me to fulfill her vengeance.
I escaped one monster’s den, just to be forced into a gilded cage.
Just a pawn in a ruthless game of cat and mouse.
And then? She became my wife.
Caterina
My Enemy. My Obsession. My Wife.
I wear the crown, and Chicago bows at my feet.
Everyone knows not to cross the Moretti family.
Almost everyone...except Vincenzo Mancini.
When I catch wind of my enemy’s upcoming wedding, I take what matters most to him.
Harlow Lewis. An angel who mistakes me for her savior.
But I’m nothing more than another monster painted in a different color.
Her pain is palpable, and it’s clear she’s not the enemy.
And yet, I still keep her as my own.
Marrying her was never my intention. But now...she’s mine.
Merciless Queen is a dark mafia romance featuring a marriage of convenience, a grumpy, possessive hero, and a broken yet fiercely strong-willed heroine. This is book one of a gripping duet and ends on a cliffhanger. By the end of book two, our heroine will get the happy ending she deserves.
My Captor. My Devil. My Wife.
Vincenzo Mancini claims me as his own, his most valued possession.
And he’s made it clear. Only death can set me free.
That is, until she crashes into my life like a demon from Hell.
Caterina Moretti is powerful, malevolent, gorgeous.
She kidnaps me, intending to kill me to fulfill her vengeance.
I escaped one monster’s den, just to be forced into a gilded cage.
Just a pawn in a ruthless game of cat and mouse.
And then? She became my wife.
Caterina
My Enemy. My Obsession. My Wife.
I wear the crown, and Chicago bows at my feet.
Everyone knows not to cross the Moretti family.
Almost everyone...except Vincenzo Mancini.
When I catch wind of my enemy’s upcoming wedding, I take what matters most to him.
Harlow Lewis. An angel who mistakes me for her savior.
But I’m nothing more than another monster painted in a different color.
Her pain is palpable, and it’s clear she’s not the enemy.
And yet, I still keep her as my own.
Marrying her was never my intention. But now...she’s mine.
Merciless Queen is a dark mafia romance featuring a marriage of convenience, a grumpy, possessive hero, and a broken yet fiercely strong-willed heroine. This is book one of a gripping duet and ends on a cliffhanger. By the end of book two, our heroine will get the happy ending she deserves.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 18, 2025
3.5 ⭐️- this book won’t be for everyone.
One of the MCs (Harlow) is the victim of sex trafficking and was abused, tortured, and brutalized in unspeakable ways and the author doesn’t shy away from it on page and in flashbacks. It can be A LOT.
The mafia Boss MC (Cat) is a bit over the top but I can forgive it because I want Harlow protected, loved and avenged with every fiber of my being. A violent, powerful lesbian who hates men who hurt women is the perfect partner for our sweet baby angel Harlow and treats her like a princess. Watching her slowly heal and thrive is a balm to the soul.
Cons: Some of the internal dialogue gets a bit repetitive, the SA flashbacks are unflinching and hard to read and this book ends on a cliffhanger with book two not due until Sept2026.
Kindle Unlimited
One of the MCs (Harlow) is the victim of sex trafficking and was abused, tortured, and brutalized in unspeakable ways and the author doesn’t shy away from it on page and in flashbacks. It can be A LOT.
The mafia Boss MC (Cat) is a bit over the top but I can forgive it because I want Harlow protected, loved and avenged with every fiber of my being. A violent, powerful lesbian who hates men who hurt women is the perfect partner for our sweet baby angel Harlow and treats her like a princess. Watching her slowly heal and thrive is a balm to the soul.
Cons: Some of the internal dialogue gets a bit repetitive, the SA flashbacks are unflinching and hard to read and this book ends on a cliffhanger with book two not due until Sept2026.
Kindle Unlimited
September 24, 2025
Where do I start? Harlow's past is horrifying, but Smoke handles it with such care. You can feel the pain Harlow went through and still struggles with so easily. Cat is the perfect foil to that, putting up the front of a badass untouchable mafia queen. However, even her murder puppies know Harlow is special. Mind the heavy themes, but this book is amazing and I need book 2 ASAP!
February 15, 2026
Duel 1st Person POV. 5🌟 4🌶️. 353 pages
6.5 Spicy Scenes
Have I read this book 4 times? Yes! But Savage Queen was just released, which means this masterpiece deserves a fifth re-read! Everything and I mean everything about this book is perfect!
Merciless Queen follows Harlow, kidnapped with her mother as a kid and forced into a life of torture, torment and abuse at the hands of a man that claims to “love” her. Just as she is about to be forced to marry her abuser, Caterina Moretti swoops in and kidnaps her, with the belief that Harlow was with Vincenzo consensually and the idea that she would eventually kill her. When the truth is revealed Caterina makes the decision that Harlow will be her wife and under her protection. It’s a marriage of convenience and a journey of healing and while Harlow falls, Caterina falls harder.
This book tore me apart, put me back together, made me cry, had me fanning myself and eventually tore me apart again. Despite its darkness it is a love letter to healing from trauma, overcoming your demons and learning to love and trust someone again after you’ve been to hell and back. Oh, and there are murder puppies!
The book does deal with some very dark themes and sometimes describes them in detail, it also has a brutal cliffhanger, so be sure to not only check trigger warnings, but have the second book on standby.
TW: physical and mental abuse, SA and bodily torture, attempted suicide, murder, kidnapping
Read if you LOVE:
✨Dark Mafia Romance
✨Marriage of Connivence
✨Trauma Healing
✨Slow Burn
✨Mafia Dealings
✨MURDER PUPPIES!
✨Learning to Love
✨Touch Her & 💀
✨Revenge
6.5 Spicy Scenes
Have I read this book 4 times? Yes! But Savage Queen was just released, which means this masterpiece deserves a fifth re-read! Everything and I mean everything about this book is perfect!
Merciless Queen follows Harlow, kidnapped with her mother as a kid and forced into a life of torture, torment and abuse at the hands of a man that claims to “love” her. Just as she is about to be forced to marry her abuser, Caterina Moretti swoops in and kidnaps her, with the belief that Harlow was with Vincenzo consensually and the idea that she would eventually kill her. When the truth is revealed Caterina makes the decision that Harlow will be her wife and under her protection. It’s a marriage of convenience and a journey of healing and while Harlow falls, Caterina falls harder.
This book tore me apart, put me back together, made me cry, had me fanning myself and eventually tore me apart again. Despite its darkness it is a love letter to healing from trauma, overcoming your demons and learning to love and trust someone again after you’ve been to hell and back. Oh, and there are murder puppies!
The book does deal with some very dark themes and sometimes describes them in detail, it also has a brutal cliffhanger, so be sure to not only check trigger warnings, but have the second book on standby.
TW: physical and mental abuse, SA and bodily torture, attempted suicide, murder, kidnapping
Read if you LOVE:
✨Dark Mafia Romance
✨Marriage of Connivence
✨Trauma Healing
✨Slow Burn
✨Mafia Dealings
✨MURDER PUPPIES!
✨Learning to Love
✨Touch Her & 💀
✨Revenge
March 5, 2026
Merciless Queen
This will be for both books because I couldn't read just one and not jump right into the next. It's intense, gripping, very dark, and it keeps you on edge throughout.
Harlow has had a horrific life until she is kidnapped by Caterina. Cat not only helps Harlow heal, but also shows her how strong she truly is. In this mafia life, there are monsters that need to be slayed.
Please read the trigger warnings. This was a tough one for me to get through, but worth it for the HEA.
This will be for both books because I couldn't read just one and not jump right into the next. It's intense, gripping, very dark, and it keeps you on edge throughout.
Harlow has had a horrific life until she is kidnapped by Caterina. Cat not only helps Harlow heal, but also shows her how strong she truly is. In this mafia life, there are monsters that need to be slayed.
Please read the trigger warnings. This was a tough one for me to get through, but worth it for the HEA.
April 7, 2026
As much as I loved the story and had some tears leave my eyeballs, the writing was not the best. The healing and trauma were written beautifully and thoughtfully but everything else was meh in comparison.
November 5, 2025
no way i have to wait until NEXT YEAR for the next book 😭😭
March 2, 2026
♥️ Dark mafia romance
♥️ Marriage of convenience
♥️ Trauma healing
♥️ Murder puppies
♥️ Touch her & die
Wow 😩 This book was A LOT and completely broke my heart. Harlow was a victim of sex trafficking and endured such a terrifying, heartbreaking life and it hurt to read at times because she truly didn’t deserve any of it. Watching Cat kidnap her for revenge only to fall in love? Whew 😮💨
Harlow is a survivor. PERIOD 🤌🏽 I cried more than once because her story is so heavy, but the author told it beautifully. It’s been a long time since a book hit me this deep and this one will stay with me.
Cat mafia bad bitch is a savage and I lowkey loved her crazy self 😂 The spice was hot asfff but the story is what really wins here. The ending tho 😭 I hate cliffhangers but I can’t wait to read book two.
Please read the trigger warnings. This is not a light, fluffy read. But if you can handle it, it’s absolutely worth it.
♥️ Marriage of convenience
♥️ Trauma healing
♥️ Murder puppies
♥️ Touch her & die
Wow 😩 This book was A LOT and completely broke my heart. Harlow was a victim of sex trafficking and endured such a terrifying, heartbreaking life and it hurt to read at times because she truly didn’t deserve any of it. Watching Cat kidnap her for revenge only to fall in love? Whew 😮💨
Harlow is a survivor. PERIOD 🤌🏽 I cried more than once because her story is so heavy, but the author told it beautifully. It’s been a long time since a book hit me this deep and this one will stay with me.
Cat mafia bad bitch is a savage and I lowkey loved her crazy self 😂 The spice was hot asfff but the story is what really wins here. The ending tho 😭 I hate cliffhangers but I can’t wait to read book two.
Please read the trigger warnings. This is not a light, fluffy read. But if you can handle it, it’s absolutely worth it.
November 10, 2025
i love dark mafia romance
i am however concerned by the fact that this a trilogy and not a duology and how we’re going to make it last that long
i am however concerned by the fact that this a trilogy and not a duology and how we’re going to make it last that long
October 1, 2025
Well...wow. I loved this book and went through it in a few days. The themes are heavy, when its called dark it really is so mind that, there were times I had to put it down to process. That said I think that CL Smoke handles them well, Harlow and Caterina's story put me through every emotion and the ending I think stopped my heart. Its going to feel like a long wait for Savage Queen after that cliffhanger
December 13, 2025
Y’all, I decided to completely fucking WRECK myself for my birthday weekend with this read. What in the fuck what I was thinking to start this knowing damn well I would be sitting ruined for FAR too long in limbo. I decided I’m going to read it again, immediately.
Cat and Harlow are magnificent. This book is very dark, and I have felt like I was sitting in the car alongside them on this roller coaster, and all we’ve been able to do is crawl to the top of the first big hill. To be continued, right as you see the drop.
Very few books crawl into these darkest bits of me and pull me up to the surface, I couldn’t have made a better choice.
Cat and Harlow are magnificent. This book is very dark, and I have felt like I was sitting in the car alongside them on this roller coaster, and all we’ve been able to do is crawl to the top of the first big hill. To be continued, right as you see the drop.
Very few books crawl into these darkest bits of me and pull me up to the surface, I couldn’t have made a better choice.
March 7, 2026
i genuinely don’t know how to recover from merciless queen by c.l. smoke. 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠
first of all: if 12 year old me on wattpad at 3am had found this book??? oh it would have been OVER for me. 😭 she would have eaten this up, kicked her feet, screamed into her pillow and reread the same scenes twelve times. 💀💀💀 the only difference is that now adult me knows i’m a sapphic little fruitcake and i understand EXACTLY why this dynamic has me in a chokehold. 🤭🤭🤭
(ofc 12 year old me did not read sapphic romance... she read straight ass mafia romance on wattpad... BUT IF SHE WOULDVE KNOWNNNN GUYS- 🫠🫠🫠 SHE WOULDVE LOVED THIS!! 😭😭😭)
this book lowkey felt like the evolved, grown-up, actually well written version of those chaotic mafia wattpad stories we all secretly loved!!!! 🫶 AS A COMPLIMENT LIKE I PROMISE I'M SAYING HUGEEEEE COMPLIMENT 😭 it has same addictive vibes, but with real emotional depth, real trauma, real healing, and characters you genuinely care about.
and the devotion???? hello???? a terrifyingly powerful woman whose entire personality is basically: “my wife has suffered enough and i will personally rewrite the laws of the universe to keep her safe.” i was giggling. i was kicking my feet.
i was whispering “wow women” to myself every five minutes. 😭😭😭😭
BUT ALSO.
if the author charged one euro per tear she would be a billionaire because i CRIED. so. much. this book emotionally body slammed me repeatedly. the pain, the healing, the trust slowly being rebuilt it all hurts in the best way because you care so deeply about these characters. 🫠🫠🫠🫠
and for the sake of my personal emotional stability i have decided something very important 🤗🤗🤗🤗
the ending did not happen. 🤭😋✨️💝🤷♀️
i simply refuse it. (she says.. starting the 2nd book...) my brain has kindly locked that part away for my own safety and in my mind the characters are somewhere living their best peaceful life, being in love, cuddling their dobermans and nobody is suffering ever again. 🤗🤗🤗🤗
delusion? maybe.
self preservation? absolutely.
anyway this book ruined me emotionally, i loved every second of it, and i will now be staring at the ceiling thinking about it for the next three business days. 😭😭😭😭
🛐🛐🛐 wow. women 🛐🛐🛐
first of all: if 12 year old me on wattpad at 3am had found this book??? oh it would have been OVER for me. 😭 she would have eaten this up, kicked her feet, screamed into her pillow and reread the same scenes twelve times. 💀💀💀 the only difference is that now adult me knows i’m a sapphic little fruitcake and i understand EXACTLY why this dynamic has me in a chokehold. 🤭🤭🤭
(ofc 12 year old me did not read sapphic romance... she read straight ass mafia romance on wattpad... BUT IF SHE WOULDVE KNOWNNNN GUYS- 🫠🫠🫠 SHE WOULDVE LOVED THIS!! 😭😭😭)
this book lowkey felt like the evolved, grown-up, actually well written version of those chaotic mafia wattpad stories we all secretly loved!!!! 🫶 AS A COMPLIMENT LIKE I PROMISE I'M SAYING HUGEEEEE COMPLIMENT 😭 it has same addictive vibes, but with real emotional depth, real trauma, real healing, and characters you genuinely care about.
and the devotion???? hello???? a terrifyingly powerful woman whose entire personality is basically: “my wife has suffered enough and i will personally rewrite the laws of the universe to keep her safe.” i was giggling. i was kicking my feet.
i was whispering “wow women” to myself every five minutes. 😭😭😭😭
BUT ALSO.
if the author charged one euro per tear she would be a billionaire because i CRIED. so. much. this book emotionally body slammed me repeatedly. the pain, the healing, the trust slowly being rebuilt it all hurts in the best way because you care so deeply about these characters. 🫠🫠🫠🫠
and for the sake of my personal emotional stability i have decided something very important 🤗🤗🤗🤗
the ending did not happen. 🤭😋✨️💝🤷♀️
i simply refuse it. (she says.. starting the 2nd book...) my brain has kindly locked that part away for my own safety and in my mind the characters are somewhere living their best peaceful life, being in love, cuddling their dobermans and nobody is suffering ever again. 🤗🤗🤗🤗
delusion? maybe.
self preservation? absolutely.
anyway this book ruined me emotionally, i loved every second of it, and i will now be staring at the ceiling thinking about it for the next three business days. 😭😭😭😭
🛐🛐🛐 wow. women 🛐🛐🛐
September 18, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book! I love dark mafia romances and this is one of the best ones I have read so far.
Both Cat and Harlow are such lovable characters in every way. Harlow's trauma is so terrible, but seeing her growth and strength in overcoming it is so beautiful. Contrary to most romance books, there was no third act break-up and the characters did not struggle when finally admitting their feelings for the other. As someone who often thinks third act break-ups are unnecessary, I really appreciated that choice.
The spicy scenes did not disappoint. They were perfectly done. The way she wrote them to work with Harlow's trauma while still giving us the spice we all crave was lovely.
Dark romance is supposed to have characters that are very morally gray, and personally I love a good murderer in mine. Seeing Cat love torturing and killing her victims was great. I think CL Smoke really nailed that line between super f**ed, but also sexy as hell. She also really took "touch her, and you die" to a whole new level.
Overall, this was fantastic, and I can't wait to dive into CL Smoke's back catalog and for the next installment in this series. Especially after that cliffhanger!
Both Cat and Harlow are such lovable characters in every way. Harlow's trauma is so terrible, but seeing her growth and strength in overcoming it is so beautiful. Contrary to most romance books, there was no third act break-up and the characters did not struggle when finally admitting their feelings for the other. As someone who often thinks third act break-ups are unnecessary, I really appreciated that choice.
The spicy scenes did not disappoint. They were perfectly done. The way she wrote them to work with Harlow's trauma while still giving us the spice we all crave was lovely.
Dark romance is supposed to have characters that are very morally gray, and personally I love a good murderer in mine. Seeing Cat love torturing and killing her victims was great. I think CL Smoke really nailed that line between super f**ed, but also sexy as hell. She also really took "touch her, and you die" to a whole new level.
Overall, this was fantastic, and I can't wait to dive into CL Smoke's back catalog and for the next installment in this series. Especially after that cliffhanger!
November 8, 2025
Merciless Queen hit me harder than I expected. It’s raw, intense, and beautifully written — a story that doesn’t just revel in darkness but explores what it means to heal inside it. Harlow’s journey is both brutal and empowering, and I loved watching how her connection with Caterina became the unexpected light in all that chaos.
Their dynamic is magnetic — fierce, tender, and filled with a kind of emotional honesty that felt earned. The way they evolve together, meeting each other’s pain and need in equal measure, felt so natural. Nothing about it felt forced; it simply flowed.
C.L. Smoke does an incredible job balancing grit with vulnerability, violence with intimacy. My only complaint? That freaking cliffhanger. I wasn’t ready to be left hanging like that — but I’ll absolutely be coming back for book two.
A dark, addictive, and surprisingly healing read.
🌟 4.5
🔥 4
Their dynamic is magnetic — fierce, tender, and filled with a kind of emotional honesty that felt earned. The way they evolve together, meeting each other’s pain and need in equal measure, felt so natural. Nothing about it felt forced; it simply flowed.
C.L. Smoke does an incredible job balancing grit with vulnerability, violence with intimacy. My only complaint? That freaking cliffhanger. I wasn’t ready to be left hanging like that — but I’ll absolutely be coming back for book two.
A dark, addictive, and surprisingly healing read.
🌟 4.5
🔥 4
October 19, 2025
WOW! 4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
READ THOSE TRIGGERS PEOPLE. This is heavyyyyyyy
This book has some heavy topics, but the author handles it well. Caterina is a bada** babe who protects Harlow. The cliffhanger made me groan, but it's okay. I can wait for book two. Harlow deserves her happy ending and I cannot wait to read it!
READ THOSE TRIGGERS PEOPLE. This is heavyyyyyyy
This book has some heavy topics, but the author handles it well. Caterina is a bada** babe who protects Harlow. The cliffhanger made me groan, but it's okay. I can wait for book two. Harlow deserves her happy ending and I cannot wait to read it!
November 29, 2025
i have to wait until September of NEXT YEAR for book 2??? this cliff hanger was like a punch to the gut. ugh i might die 😭😭
such a devastatingly beautiful book about healing and accepting love. i was captivated by Cat and Harlow’s story and reading about their love growing by each chapter. i am so excited to continue their story and see Vincenzo taken the fuck out🔪
such a devastatingly beautiful book about healing and accepting love. i was captivated by Cat and Harlow’s story and reading about their love growing by each chapter. i am so excited to continue their story and see Vincenzo taken the fuck out🔪
December 11, 2025
It's a beautiful story. I thought the author was courageous to write this. There is a lot of dark throughout the book. But there is light, and that's what the readers hang onto. Plot development is pretty typical. Cliffhanger was also expected. The prose is repetitive. But I decided to give this 5 stars.
January 1, 2026
Great story…needs a lot of editing
LOVE THIS AUTHOR and I loved this story but the fact that it needs a lot of editing detracts from the overall quality. There are a lot of run on sentences and a lot of repetitive inner monologue happening. But, overall, I can’t wait to see how it ends.
LOVE THIS AUTHOR and I loved this story but the fact that it needs a lot of editing detracts from the overall quality. There are a lot of run on sentences and a lot of repetitive inner monologue happening. But, overall, I can’t wait to see how it ends.
February 28, 2026
Escaping darkness and healing. Can Cat be everything Harlow needs? Harlow's days are engulfed in healing and memories of torture since she was saved by Queen Morietti. Her healing is slow as she learns to trust herself again. Danger still lingers from Harlow's dark past. The cliffhanger is brutal. Buckle-up.
September 17, 2025
How do I describe this book? I laughed, I cried, I swooned.
I've never been on such an emotional rollercoaster in my life! the story was hard to read with certain points, but the romance and how Caterina helped Harlow was beautiful. The cliffhanger now? BRUTAL. I NEED BOOK 2 ASAP!!!
I've never been on such an emotional rollercoaster in my life! the story was hard to read with certain points, but the romance and how Caterina helped Harlow was beautiful. The cliffhanger now? BRUTAL. I NEED BOOK 2 ASAP!!!
October 4, 2025
What a warrior
Harlow is such a strong person and warrior who tries hard. Of course she stumbles and starts over. Caterina is awesome for essentially waking Harlow up and giving her a life! The ending…. I groaned.
Harlow is such a strong person and warrior who tries hard. Of course she stumbles and starts over. Caterina is awesome for essentially waking Harlow up and giving her a life! The ending…. I groaned.
October 17, 2025
Holy shit I fucking love sapphic Mafia books, this book got me hooked and didn't put it down until I had to do house chores 😆 my favorite part was when Caterina calls Harlow Bellissima I was a fucking mess ,that cliffhanger tho OMG 😱 can't wait to read book ✌🏻
April 10, 2026
Amazing!!! This story hit all topics and I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings because they are dark.
I absolutely love the two MC's stories and I'm looking forward to running into the other characters in the next books.
I absolutely love the two MC's stories and I'm looking forward to running into the other characters in the next books.
September 25, 2025
CL Does It Again!!
This book is amazing and got me hooked from page one. I love how CL creates her stories and the care and attention she takes in talking about her certain topics. I can’t wait to read book 2!
This book is amazing and got me hooked from page one. I love how CL creates her stories and the care and attention she takes in talking about her certain topics. I can’t wait to read book 2!
Read
October 19, 2025A real sickness... good lord. I have a feeling if she was a man, she would be no different. And that's sick.
April 5, 2026
dark and beautifully written
First time reading this author but it will not be last. Interesting, intelligent and raw. Can’t wait for the next book.
First time reading this author but it will not be last. Interesting, intelligent and raw. Can’t wait for the next book.
April 6, 2026
I loved this book! It held me in a vice grip and I could not put it down. That cliffhanger was rough and I could not get to the second book fast enough!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews