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Architect of Ruin
Neither of them was meant to survive.
Not the woman with a haunted name.
Nor the man who built a shadow empire from silence, surveillance, and surgical rage to keep her tethered to him.
Killian Thorne doesn’t rule with guns.
He rules with information, code, and strategy.
A billionaire, control-coded genius with a past soaked in blood. He's evolved beyond the crime syndicate that created him.
He doesn’t play the game. He reprograms it.
Not for power. Not for revenge.
Because he’s bored.
Ada Murphy was rewritten. Renamed. Repackaged.
Once a satin shoe wearing piano prodigy, now a trauma-coded DJ—held together by ink, bass drops, and the lies she tells herself about being fine.
She left him in the pursuit of self-discovery. For a lie she believed—that she could exist in the light. Away from the abyss of his shadow.
He let her think that meant something.
But now encrypted systems are pinging. Names that were meant to stay buried are surfacing. And the past Ada was hidden from is clawing its way back, right alongside the buried ghosts of Killian’s past.
This isn’t love. It’s obsession with a kill count. It’s a bond forged from violence, silence, and blood.
And when someone threatens her, There is no negotiating.
Only ruin.
Not the woman with a haunted name.
Nor the man who built a shadow empire from silence, surveillance, and surgical rage to keep her tethered to him.
Killian Thorne doesn’t rule with guns.
He rules with information, code, and strategy.
A billionaire, control-coded genius with a past soaked in blood. He's evolved beyond the crime syndicate that created him.
He doesn’t play the game. He reprograms it.
Not for power. Not for revenge.
Because he’s bored.
Ada Murphy was rewritten. Renamed. Repackaged.
Once a satin shoe wearing piano prodigy, now a trauma-coded DJ—held together by ink, bass drops, and the lies she tells herself about being fine.
She left him in the pursuit of self-discovery. For a lie she believed—that she could exist in the light. Away from the abyss of his shadow.
He let her think that meant something.
But now encrypted systems are pinging. Names that were meant to stay buried are surfacing. And the past Ada was hidden from is clawing its way back, right alongside the buried ghosts of Killian’s past.
This isn’t love. It’s obsession with a kill count. It’s a bond forged from violence, silence, and blood.
And when someone threatens her, There is no negotiating.
Only ruin.
- GenresDark RomanceCrime
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
17 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Tamar Shaw
1 book29 followersTamar Shaw is an Art History major who writes dangerous love stories for readers who fall for villains—not despite the darkness, but because of it.
Her characters are morally black, bound by code, chaos, and obsession masquerading as love. She likes writing real women—and the only kind of men who can keep up with them.
Her stories are plot-heavy, twist-laced, high-stakes, and emotionally explosive—because she writes with a simple question in mind: What fresh havoc should my characters suffer today?
When she’s not orchestrating murderbonding, romantic terrorism, or writing soft, savage, broken, brutal women and morally bankrupt antiheroes with god complexes, she’s playing Xbox, watching anime, reading manhwa, or hanging out with her husband and two dogs—the only creatures she hasn’t traumatised (yet), and who remain deeply suspicious of her Google history.
She believes “happily ever after” should come with scars, at least three bodies, and a few unmarked graves.
Her characters are morally black, bound by code, chaos, and obsession masquerading as love. She likes writing real women—and the only kind of men who can keep up with them.
Her stories are plot-heavy, twist-laced, high-stakes, and emotionally explosive—because she writes with a simple question in mind: What fresh havoc should my characters suffer today?
When she’s not orchestrating murderbonding, romantic terrorism, or writing soft, savage, broken, brutal women and morally bankrupt antiheroes with god complexes, she’s playing Xbox, watching anime, reading manhwa, or hanging out with her husband and two dogs—the only creatures she hasn’t traumatised (yet), and who remain deeply suspicious of her Google history.
She believes “happily ever after” should come with scars, at least three bodies, and a few unmarked graves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 27, 2025
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! 🥵💔
This book is a masterclass in payoff. It doesn’t rush straight into the spice, and thank god for that, the story, the worldbuilding, the characters… all of it builds so deliberately that when things finally ignite, it hits harder. Every page feels intentional.
The FMC is an absolute badass. Smart, capable, and emotionally complex without being exhausting. And the childhood story of Killian and Ada? Genuinely heartbreaking in the best way. Those moments added so much weight to everything happening in the present. Watching who they were become who they are now was beautifully done.
The relationship dynamics are next-level. The way the characters’ backstories line up perfectly with how they speak to each other, react, protect, and love? Genius writing.
Small moments completely wrecked me:
him unlacing her combat boots,
“I love you” & “I’m aware”,
that simple “Easy” that instantly calms her because he knows her so well,
even the way a quiet “hmm” somehow carries so much meaning.
Killian as an MMC is lethal in the best way. Shadow government, information warfare, stocks, officials, power moves... it’s mafia energy but smarter, colder, and more dangerous. And when he does choose violence? It’s ruthless and devastating. The possessiveness is feral: not just “touch her and die” but “look at her, think about her, breathe her air and die.”
The writing itself is perfectly balanced, rich and detailed without dragging, immersive without ever becoming boring. The emotional beats land. The tension holds. The chemistry is suffocating. And yes… the “my love,” “good girl,” “behave,” and “come for me” moments? Impeccable.
This book doesn’t just tell a story, it builds a world, a history, a bond you can feel in your chest. One of those reads where you close the book and just sit there for a minute.
Highly recommend. This one stays with you. PHYSICAL COPY A MUST🖤
This book is a masterclass in payoff. It doesn’t rush straight into the spice, and thank god for that, the story, the worldbuilding, the characters… all of it builds so deliberately that when things finally ignite, it hits harder. Every page feels intentional.
The FMC is an absolute badass. Smart, capable, and emotionally complex without being exhausting. And the childhood story of Killian and Ada? Genuinely heartbreaking in the best way. Those moments added so much weight to everything happening in the present. Watching who they were become who they are now was beautifully done.
The relationship dynamics are next-level. The way the characters’ backstories line up perfectly with how they speak to each other, react, protect, and love? Genius writing.
Small moments completely wrecked me:
him unlacing her combat boots,
“I love you” & “I’m aware”,
that simple “Easy” that instantly calms her because he knows her so well,
even the way a quiet “hmm” somehow carries so much meaning.
Killian as an MMC is lethal in the best way. Shadow government, information warfare, stocks, officials, power moves... it’s mafia energy but smarter, colder, and more dangerous. And when he does choose violence? It’s ruthless and devastating. The possessiveness is feral: not just “touch her and die” but “look at her, think about her, breathe her air and die.”
The writing itself is perfectly balanced, rich and detailed without dragging, immersive without ever becoming boring. The emotional beats land. The tension holds. The chemistry is suffocating. And yes… the “my love,” “good girl,” “behave,” and “come for me” moments? Impeccable.
This book doesn’t just tell a story, it builds a world, a history, a bond you can feel in your chest. One of those reads where you close the book and just sit there for a minute.
Highly recommend. This one stays with you. PHYSICAL COPY A MUST🖤
December 11, 2025
“And yes, I would survive this. But no one would survive me. Not without her. If Ada and her smile could exist in this marsh of meaninglessness we called a world, I would let it continue to exist—for her.”
Architect of Ruin delivers exactly what it promises—and then goes a step further. Killian is the definition of unhinged: a psychotic, brilliant criminal mastermind with the most intense *touch-her-and-die* energy I’ve ever read. He cares for absolutely nothing and no one… except her. A self-made billionaire who trades in information on the darkest edges of the underworld, he’s built an empire simply because his genius needed something to do.
And then there’s our FMC, Ada—a soft but determined DJ carving out her own place in the world through music. She’s unapologetically herself, the calm in Killian’s chaos, the center of his universe, and the only thing that tethers him to any kind of peace.
I won’t give away spoilers, but this book is non-stop action, twist after twist, and a perfect blend of tension, obsession, and deliciously crafted spice.
I’m beyond excited (and so grateful!) to dive into book two as an ARC in the coming weeks. I cannot wait to watch Ada grow—and to watch Killian burn the world down to protect her.
Architect of Ruin delivers exactly what it promises—and then goes a step further. Killian is the definition of unhinged: a psychotic, brilliant criminal mastermind with the most intense *touch-her-and-die* energy I’ve ever read. He cares for absolutely nothing and no one… except her. A self-made billionaire who trades in information on the darkest edges of the underworld, he’s built an empire simply because his genius needed something to do.
And then there’s our FMC, Ada—a soft but determined DJ carving out her own place in the world through music. She’s unapologetically herself, the calm in Killian’s chaos, the center of his universe, and the only thing that tethers him to any kind of peace.
I won’t give away spoilers, but this book is non-stop action, twist after twist, and a perfect blend of tension, obsession, and deliciously crafted spice.
I’m beyond excited (and so grateful!) to dive into book two as an ARC in the coming weeks. I cannot wait to watch Ada grow—and to watch Killian burn the world down to protect her.
August 31, 2025
“I will put a bullet in her myself before I let you take her anywhere.” - this line was special, never in a dark romance book has a line smacked me like this one did.
It took me ages to write this review because I had so many feelings about this book.
I had trouble getting into it at the start because so much was happening and it was one of those context clues books but I am so glad I stuck it out. The story was so interesting - we have mafia, government, murder and mystery.
All the side characters and their relationships were good to read about! There were hackers, enforcers and assassins who are vital to the story and they all have their own role in this little family, I very much look forward to reading their books.
The absolute all consuming possessive love between the 2 main characters was so worth the wait to get to. Killian Thorne is the most obsessed and possessive man, Ada is his whole life and nothing and no one can touch her. We bounced between timelines to give a full backstory which helped you get a full picture of the different levels of their relationship over the years.
This story is definitely plot heavy, a lot more plot heavy than I am used to and a few random POV were thrown in which I think threw me at first. Low spice but when it happened it was goooood.
This book didn’t end on a cliffhanger per se but I am still very keen for some answers in the second book.
It took me ages to write this review because I had so many feelings about this book.
I had trouble getting into it at the start because so much was happening and it was one of those context clues books but I am so glad I stuck it out. The story was so interesting - we have mafia, government, murder and mystery.
All the side characters and their relationships were good to read about! There were hackers, enforcers and assassins who are vital to the story and they all have their own role in this little family, I very much look forward to reading their books.
The absolute all consuming possessive love between the 2 main characters was so worth the wait to get to. Killian Thorne is the most obsessed and possessive man, Ada is his whole life and nothing and no one can touch her. We bounced between timelines to give a full backstory which helped you get a full picture of the different levels of their relationship over the years.
This story is definitely plot heavy, a lot more plot heavy than I am used to and a few random POV were thrown in which I think threw me at first. Low spice but when it happened it was goooood.
This book didn’t end on a cliffhanger per se but I am still very keen for some answers in the second book.
December 27, 2025
This book completely pulled me in and refused to let go. From the opening chapters, you’re thrown straight into a dark, dangerous world filled with power, crime, and constant tension. While it takes a moment to settle into the story, once it clicks, there’s no turning back.
Killian is a morally grey character pushed straight into pitch-black territory—cold, obsessive, and shaped by loss and rage. He’s the kind of man the world fears, yet his devotion to Ada is absolute. He doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t soften for anyone else, and would burn everything down without regret to protect what’s his. That level of obsession is intense, unsettling, and completely addictive.
Ada is messy, chaotic, and deeply human. Beneath her strength lies anxiety, trauma, and a tragic past that slowly unfolds throughout the story. She’s vulnerable yet fierce, and her inner struggles make her incredibly relatable. Watching her navigate a world she was never meant to survive—while piecing together who she really is—adds an emotional depth that stayed with me long after finishing.
Their connection is raw, consuming, and built in the middle of chaos. In a world ruled by danger and enemies, they become each other’s refuge. The balance between action, drama, romance, and spice is well done, keeping the pacing tight and the stakes high. Just when you start to feel safe in their bond, the story reminds you that danger is always close.
Emotional, intense, and impossible to put down, this book left me completely obsessed and desperate for more. If you love dark mafia romance with obsessive devotion, morally black heroes, and high stakes that keep you on edge, this is absolutely worth reading.
Killian is a morally grey character pushed straight into pitch-black territory—cold, obsessive, and shaped by loss and rage. He’s the kind of man the world fears, yet his devotion to Ada is absolute. He doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t soften for anyone else, and would burn everything down without regret to protect what’s his. That level of obsession is intense, unsettling, and completely addictive.
Ada is messy, chaotic, and deeply human. Beneath her strength lies anxiety, trauma, and a tragic past that slowly unfolds throughout the story. She’s vulnerable yet fierce, and her inner struggles make her incredibly relatable. Watching her navigate a world she was never meant to survive—while piecing together who she really is—adds an emotional depth that stayed with me long after finishing.
Their connection is raw, consuming, and built in the middle of chaos. In a world ruled by danger and enemies, they become each other’s refuge. The balance between action, drama, romance, and spice is well done, keeping the pacing tight and the stakes high. Just when you start to feel safe in their bond, the story reminds you that danger is always close.
Emotional, intense, and impossible to put down, this book left me completely obsessed and desperate for more. If you love dark mafia romance with obsessive devotion, morally black heroes, and high stakes that keep you on edge, this is absolutely worth reading.
November 24, 2025
I am completely obsessed. From start to finish, this book grips you by the heart and doesn’t let go. He’s a man shaped by anger, loss, and numbness—a force of nature the world fears—yet for her, he is everything: protection, passion, and devotion. She’s strong, unyielding, and fierce, and together they are unstoppable.
Their bond is consuming, raw, and utterly addictive. The way he builds a path for her through a world of chaos and danger, and the way they become each other’s solace, is breathtaking. Even in a world ruled by power, crime, and enemies, their connection feels untouchable… though the final chapters make it clear danger is never far away.
This book is thrilling, emotional, and impossible to put down. It’s a perfect balance of intensity, romance, and suspense, leaving me desperate for the next installment. If you love dark, dangerous, and utterly compelling romance with stakes that will keep you on edge, this is a must-read.
**Book 2 cannot come soon enough.**
Raquel (The Ink Addicts Reads)
Their bond is consuming, raw, and utterly addictive. The way he builds a path for her through a world of chaos and danger, and the way they become each other’s solace, is breathtaking. Even in a world ruled by power, crime, and enemies, their connection feels untouchable… though the final chapters make it clear danger is never far away.
This book is thrilling, emotional, and impossible to put down. It’s a perfect balance of intensity, romance, and suspense, leaving me desperate for the next installment. If you love dark, dangerous, and utterly compelling romance with stakes that will keep you on edge, this is a must-read.
**Book 2 cannot come soon enough.**
Raquel (The Ink Addicts Reads)
December 12, 2025
It took me a few chapters to really get into it , but once i got into it , I was right into it !
If you love a good dark mafia romance this one is for you .
The MMC is your morally grey pretty much black , obsessive who’s not afraid to burn the world down for one woman .
The FMC is oh so messy and chaotic, but so loveable and in a way relatable. ( for those who have anxiety, you’ll see what I mean ;) ) she has a tragic past , and we’re still putting together the pieces.
I can’t wait for book two ! I need to know what’s going to happen next !
September 25, 2025
A fast-paced, action-packed dark romance that kept me turning pages until the very end. It’s good to find a book that balances romance (and smut) with action. Well done to the author! Can’t wait for book 2.
October 2, 2025
Wow, this was an intense, gripping and dark ride with a delicious amount of spice! Killian and Ada made such a passionate and sweet couple! I loved the mafia and crime world details, they felt real and the book had a lot of suspense. If you're into dark romance with steamy scenes and a possessive mmc, this book is for you!
December 21, 2025
Architect of Ruin pulled me in fast and never really let up. From the first chapters, the story is intense, sharp, and full of nonstop action that kept me turning pages. What stood out most was the look inside powerful crime families and how loyalty, control, and survival shape every decision. The hacker element adds another layer, showing how money, data, and influence quietly run the world behind the scenes. I also liked how the book exposes corruption across the legal system, politicians, and law enforcement without feeling preachy.
Killian is a fascinating and unsettling character, especially in how his world revolves around Ada. One line that really captures that intensity is, “Because all of you is still all mine.” It perfectly reflects the possessive, dangerous bond at the center of the story. The contrast between extreme wealth, freedom, and total lack of consequences makes the world feel darkly realistic. This was a gripping, high-energy read, and I’m fully invested in where the story goes next.
Killian is a fascinating and unsettling character, especially in how his world revolves around Ada. One line that really captures that intensity is, “Because all of you is still all mine.” It perfectly reflects the possessive, dangerous bond at the center of the story. The contrast between extreme wealth, freedom, and total lack of consequences makes the world feel darkly realistic. This was a gripping, high-energy read, and I’m fully invested in where the story goes next.
December 28, 2025
Here’s my review of “Architect of Ruin” by Tamar Shaw ☺️
Plot-Driven: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (yes that’s 6 stars for you watching at home!)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Honestly? No notes. This is an EXCEPTIONALLY well-written book. If action movies were like this book then I would watch them all of the time 😂. This book gets 6 stars from me because
1) I am not one to reread books but I could very easily see myself picking this up a few months from now and rereading it. Everything is just THAT good. And 2) I think this book could stand on its own and be a five star book even without the spicy scenes because the plot is THAT riveting. But honestly the spice is just *chef’s kiss* so I’m glad it’s not going anywhere.
Killian is probably my favorite sociopathic MMC that I’ve ever read, full stop. His devotion to Ada knows no bounds and the way he loves her without being able to really “love” her?! So well-written and satisfying. The spicy scenes were unbelievably sexy and the banter between all of the characters was top notch. Shaw could very easily be a script writer for a multimillion dollar spy movie but selfishly I want her to keep writing books for me to devour, and devour I will. (Ghosts of Wrath, the sequel to Architect of Ruin, will be published very very soon! 😍)
I would recommend this book to anyone that has a pulse, a desire to read for enjoyment and the capacity to procure this novel. If this recommendation is vague it’s because YOU NEED TO GO GET IT RIGHT NOW NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE! 💕
Plot-Driven: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (yes that’s 6 stars for you watching at home!)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Honestly? No notes. This is an EXCEPTIONALLY well-written book. If action movies were like this book then I would watch them all of the time 😂. This book gets 6 stars from me because
1) I am not one to reread books but I could very easily see myself picking this up a few months from now and rereading it. Everything is just THAT good. And 2) I think this book could stand on its own and be a five star book even without the spicy scenes because the plot is THAT riveting. But honestly the spice is just *chef’s kiss* so I’m glad it’s not going anywhere.
Killian is probably my favorite sociopathic MMC that I’ve ever read, full stop. His devotion to Ada knows no bounds and the way he loves her without being able to really “love” her?! So well-written and satisfying. The spicy scenes were unbelievably sexy and the banter between all of the characters was top notch. Shaw could very easily be a script writer for a multimillion dollar spy movie but selfishly I want her to keep writing books for me to devour, and devour I will. (Ghosts of Wrath, the sequel to Architect of Ruin, will be published very very soon! 😍)
I would recommend this book to anyone that has a pulse, a desire to read for enjoyment and the capacity to procure this novel. If this recommendation is vague it’s because YOU NEED TO GO GET IT RIGHT NOW NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE! 💕
October 6, 2025
Okay, what do I say about this book other than... WOW!
From page 1 Tamar Shaw had me sitting on the edge of my seat following Killian the MMC (and my new book boyfriend I might add). He's just so BAD. I loved how dark he is. And Ada, the FMC is such a perfect match for him. The chemistry between them is combustible. The story is intense. It pulls you along and barely gives you a chance to take a breath. There's so much to say about this story, but I'm not going to give any spoilers. Read it for yourself, I promise, you won't be disappointed.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for more in this series. Highly, highly recommend.
From page 1 Tamar Shaw had me sitting on the edge of my seat following Killian the MMC (and my new book boyfriend I might add). He's just so BAD. I loved how dark he is. And Ada, the FMC is such a perfect match for him. The chemistry between them is combustible. The story is intense. It pulls you along and barely gives you a chance to take a breath. There's so much to say about this story, but I'm not going to give any spoilers. Read it for yourself, I promise, you won't be disappointed.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for more in this series. Highly, highly recommend.
October 1, 2025
I think I have a new favorite dark romance! This was fast paced and creative, with great spice. The plot was plotting with lots of intrigue and amazing action sequences. The MMC is possessive in the best way while still treating the FMC like a queen, and my favorite part was the FMC. She was lovely, complex, and wonderfully flawed.
October 10, 2025
If you like spicy, dark romance novels with a possessive MMC, you will love this book! It is plot driven with storylines intertwining mafia and government, along with a trusty hacker who can make all sins digitally disappear without a trace - a must for these characters! It is fast paced and spicy! Very entertaining
October 23, 2025
I ate this book up 🥵 the relationship between Ada and Killian is everything and I need a Killian of my own! I loved how the story developed throughout and there genuinely wasn’t a character I disliked which is a big thing for me!
The writing was captivating and flowed beautifully. I didn’t feel bored once and was left feeling very satisfied!
The writing was captivating and flowed beautifully. I didn’t feel bored once and was left feeling very satisfied!
December 18, 2025
This is not normally the genre that I choose but this book has made me change my mind. I was hooked really quickly and pretty much binge read it. The main characters are deeply complicated and drawn to each other in an almost darkly obsessive way but with a tenderness that makes this a real love story. The drama becomes really tense and it is written so well I found myself holding my breath. I highly recommend this and I’m very excited for the sequel.
December 24, 2025
Holy. Fcking. Sht. THIS BOOK. Omfg. The storvline🤌🏻 the world building🤌🏻 the SPICE 🔥🔥🔥 KILLIAN GD DMN THORNE🥵🥵🥵
This book was incredible in every sense of the word. I was hooked the second I started reading and couldn't put it down. There was suspense there was action there was violence.
I literally have so many questions and I am squirming to get my hands on book 2. I HIGHLY recommend
This book was incredible in every sense of the word. I was hooked the second I started reading and couldn't put it down. There was suspense there was action there was violence.
I literally have so many questions and I am squirming to get my hands on book 2. I HIGHLY recommend
December 21, 2025
This book was a bit of a slow starter for me, and it took a few chapters before I was truly hooked. However, I’m so glad I stuck with it! I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. I especially loved that the FMC had a backbone and wasn't afraid to stand her ground. Her chemistry with the other characters (and Killian ofc!!!) was amazing! I can’t wait to read more about the beginning of Killian and Ada’s story ❤️
December 23, 2025
This story was so different from what I usually read (but with all the smut still lol) and I loved it!!! I have been diving into different parts of the book world and I am loving it all. The different authors I have found by branching out is incredible and Tamar Shaw is in my top favorite reads for 2025!!! I can't wait to read the second one! I am invested now..
December 14, 2025
I got this a a digital ARC. It was a great read, I enjoyed the relationship between Ada and Killian. Her understanding and compassion for him is crazy. And he loves her the only way he knows how.
December 10, 2025
wow
So it started slow for me to where in the beginning I wasn’t fully invested but as I kept going and the characters grew and learned more I started to get into it. The story itself has me interested but ummm excuse me I need book 2 please and thank you
So it started slow for me to where in the beginning I wasn’t fully invested but as I kept going and the characters grew and learned more I started to get into it. The story itself has me interested but ummm excuse me I need book 2 please and thank you
December 29, 2025
Architect of Ruin by Tamar Shaw is the first book in the Shadow Gods duet and it’s a fast paced, spicy, dark romance! Once this book grips you it doesn’t let go! Set in a crime/mafia environment, we have Killian our morally gray, dark, dangerous and sexy MMC. Our FMC, Ada is equally as badass and was taken in by Killian’s family as an orphan when she was a little girl.
This book is action packed and had so much going on. I loved the characters, the way we got to know them and how their relationships developed. I can’t wait for book 2, what a wild ride this book is!
This book is action packed and had so much going on. I loved the characters, the way we got to know them and how their relationships developed. I can’t wait for book 2, what a wild ride this book is!
December 7, 2025
I enjoyed this read - it was a good balance of action, drama and romance (with a little spice). It was a bit hard to follow since you were dropped into the story immediately from the beginning, but their dynamic had me intrigued so I kept reading.
Fave quote: “You are the storm in my sky”
Fave quote: “You are the storm in my sky”
October 31, 2025
This is not the sort of book I usually pick up… and yet from page one I was absolutely hooked, clutching my Kindle like it owed me protection money. Tamar Shaw has crafted a dark, addictive world where loyalty is dangerous, secrets breed in shadows, and power isn’t held by the one with the biggest gun—but by the one with the sharpest mind.
Killian Thorne is raised in a mafia-esque dynasty, but forget the stereotypical mobster vibe. No drugs, no guns—he doesn’t need them. Killian weaponises intelligence. With a keystroke, he can collapse empires and dismantle lives. Brutal, clinical, and devastatingly effective—complete ruin without the mess. And yet, for all his cooperation with the authorities, he’s far from a hero. He thrives in the grey, where morality is a flexible suggestion and retribution is an art form.
That said, if necessary? He will get his hands dirty. Painfully. Creatively. Vividly.
Especially when it comes to Ada.
Ada—abandoned at his family’s doorstep as a child—has always been Killian’s gravity. His obsession. His red line. Hurt her, upset her, breathe incorrectly in her vicinity? Congratulations, you’ve just bought yourself a first-class ticket to suffering. She’s strong, smart, and capable, yet deeply vulnerable in ways that feed right into Killian’s dominant, possessive nature. Their connection is intense, their bond immovable, and the Dom/sub dynamic between them practically crackles off the page.
Speaking of crackle—this book is spicy. Like, “open a window and turn on a fan” spicy. The chemistry between Killian and Ada is electric, magnetic, and at times almost feral—in the best way.
The twists? Relentless. The secrets? Deliciously layered. The unresolved threads? Have me absolutely feral for book two. I’m still processing and yet somehow also already impatient.
Final verdict: If you love morally grey masterminds, fierce heroines with vulnerabilities that make them real, explosive chemistry, and plots full of twists and whispered danger—prepare to be obsessed. I cannot wait for the next installment.
Killian Thorne is raised in a mafia-esque dynasty, but forget the stereotypical mobster vibe. No drugs, no guns—he doesn’t need them. Killian weaponises intelligence. With a keystroke, he can collapse empires and dismantle lives. Brutal, clinical, and devastatingly effective—complete ruin without the mess. And yet, for all his cooperation with the authorities, he’s far from a hero. He thrives in the grey, where morality is a flexible suggestion and retribution is an art form.
That said, if necessary? He will get his hands dirty. Painfully. Creatively. Vividly.
Especially when it comes to Ada.
Ada—abandoned at his family’s doorstep as a child—has always been Killian’s gravity. His obsession. His red line. Hurt her, upset her, breathe incorrectly in her vicinity? Congratulations, you’ve just bought yourself a first-class ticket to suffering. She’s strong, smart, and capable, yet deeply vulnerable in ways that feed right into Killian’s dominant, possessive nature. Their connection is intense, their bond immovable, and the Dom/sub dynamic between them practically crackles off the page.
Speaking of crackle—this book is spicy. Like, “open a window and turn on a fan” spicy. The chemistry between Killian and Ada is electric, magnetic, and at times almost feral—in the best way.
The twists? Relentless. The secrets? Deliciously layered. The unresolved threads? Have me absolutely feral for book two. I’m still processing and yet somehow also already impatient.
Final verdict: If you love morally grey masterminds, fierce heroines with vulnerabilities that make them real, explosive chemistry, and plots full of twists and whispered danger—prepare to be obsessed. I cannot wait for the next installment.
December 14, 2025
Architect of Ruin is the kind of story that doesn’t simply grip you - it consumes you, bones first, then heart, then whatever sense of emotional stability you thought you had before opening page one. It is a dark, brilliant, exquisitely destructive love epic that rewrites what obsession, loyalty, and intimacy can look like when two people have been carved from the same ruin.
This is not a “mafia romance” in the usual sense. It is a psychological symphony: sharp, intelligent, and devastatingly intimate. If most dark romances flirt with obsession, this one anatomises it.
At its core stand Ada and Killian: a woman fractured by a past she cannot remember, and a man defined by a silence so lethal it becomes its own language. Together, they are inevitability — gravity wearing human skin. They are what happens when trauma and tenderness grow up side by side and refuse to let go. Raised in the same shadows, drawn to one another long before they had names for themselves, their bond is not instalove, not lust, not trauma packaged as romance. It is the kind of connection that forms before personality, before memory, before self - a blueprint through which both of them understand the world.
Ada is messy, talented, heartbreakingly human - a prodigy trying to outrun the hollow ache of not knowing who she is, a stunning portrait of a woman navigating identity, artistry, and the echo of a life erased.
Killian is something else entirely. He is not your typical morally grey MMC. He is feral genius, sharpened intellect, and weaponised silence.
A quiet catastrophe wrapped in precision - a man whose love is felt in the shadows he dismantles and the empires he is willing to collapse just to keep her breathing. He is the antagonist of the world and the sanctuary of one woman, and the author writes him with such elegant menace that every moment he’s on the page feels electrically charged.
Their relationship is one of the most compelling dynamics I’ve read in the genre. Layered, unsettling, tender in a way that feels earned, and devastating in the way only inevitability can be. Their intimacy is not just physical, it’s psychological, ancestral, bone-deep. The kind of closeness that makes every separation feel like a cosmic error.
The prose is a weapon. Lyrical without ever losing its edge. Cinematic without ever sacrificing character. Every page bleeds tension, history, longing, and a kind of affection so sharp it borders on mythic.
The intimacy? Holy hell! It’s not spice, it’s annihilation.
And the plot? A perfectly calibrated slow spiral: danger rising, secrets surfacing, identity cracking open. The worldbuilding around intelligence, surveillance, and the criminal undercurrent is immaculate - understated, clever, chillingly believable.
It delivers sharp intrigue, a looming past, and a gathering storm of danger. But make no mistake - the true masterpiece here is how the author threads emotional ruin with intellectual brilliance, crafting a romance that is as cerebral as it is carnal.
And through it all, Killian remains unforgettable:
A man with an eidetic mind, a predator’s patience, and a heart that knows only one home: Ada.
Call it dark romance, call it obsessive romance, call it whatever you want, but Architect of Ruin is in a league of its own.
Six stars. And I’d give it my soul if Goodreads would let me.
This is not a “mafia romance” in the usual sense. It is a psychological symphony: sharp, intelligent, and devastatingly intimate. If most dark romances flirt with obsession, this one anatomises it.
At its core stand Ada and Killian: a woman fractured by a past she cannot remember, and a man defined by a silence so lethal it becomes its own language. Together, they are inevitability — gravity wearing human skin. They are what happens when trauma and tenderness grow up side by side and refuse to let go. Raised in the same shadows, drawn to one another long before they had names for themselves, their bond is not instalove, not lust, not trauma packaged as romance. It is the kind of connection that forms before personality, before memory, before self - a blueprint through which both of them understand the world.
Ada is messy, talented, heartbreakingly human - a prodigy trying to outrun the hollow ache of not knowing who she is, a stunning portrait of a woman navigating identity, artistry, and the echo of a life erased.
Killian is something else entirely. He is not your typical morally grey MMC. He is feral genius, sharpened intellect, and weaponised silence.
A quiet catastrophe wrapped in precision - a man whose love is felt in the shadows he dismantles and the empires he is willing to collapse just to keep her breathing. He is the antagonist of the world and the sanctuary of one woman, and the author writes him with such elegant menace that every moment he’s on the page feels electrically charged.
Their relationship is one of the most compelling dynamics I’ve read in the genre. Layered, unsettling, tender in a way that feels earned, and devastating in the way only inevitability can be. Their intimacy is not just physical, it’s psychological, ancestral, bone-deep. The kind of closeness that makes every separation feel like a cosmic error.
The prose is a weapon. Lyrical without ever losing its edge. Cinematic without ever sacrificing character. Every page bleeds tension, history, longing, and a kind of affection so sharp it borders on mythic.
The intimacy? Holy hell! It’s not spice, it’s annihilation.
And the plot? A perfectly calibrated slow spiral: danger rising, secrets surfacing, identity cracking open. The worldbuilding around intelligence, surveillance, and the criminal undercurrent is immaculate - understated, clever, chillingly believable.
It delivers sharp intrigue, a looming past, and a gathering storm of danger. But make no mistake - the true masterpiece here is how the author threads emotional ruin with intellectual brilliance, crafting a romance that is as cerebral as it is carnal.
And through it all, Killian remains unforgettable:
A man with an eidetic mind, a predator’s patience, and a heart that knows only one home: Ada.
Call it dark romance, call it obsessive romance, call it whatever you want, but Architect of Ruin is in a league of its own.
Six stars. And I’d give it my soul if Goodreads would let me.
September 26, 2025
4.2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
And i'll start with why before i gush about this - - cuz aside from the 2 main characters pov, we got 2 additional ones and i was a little off about that.. again not cuz the chapters were bad.. in fact one of them was insane - that elevator scene was mad.. but i like the pov's limited..
OK nuf said about why i docked a bit from a full five stars...
Now....
MMC is a criminal genius, my therapist is on speed dial, and I love it here.
Me the second I met Killian Thorne:
Private intelligence empire?
Owns satellites??
6'5, green eyes, tattooed? Yes!
Emotionally disconnected with a God complex and no time for feelings??
But secretly married her and calls her my love!
✨ I am not normal about this man. ✨
And Ada?? Soft? Pierced? DJ? Deadpan? Down for murder?
A classical pianist turned DJ with a FACE full of metal and a personality that says “I will help you hide the body but I’m doing it in boots and eyeliner.”
She’s not your typical FMC. I thoguht she was a real ass human woman. Flaws and all. she lets him be unhinged because she’s not trying to fix the monster. She fell in love with the monster.
Be warned: like there is no redemption arc here.. not bad guy turned good.. more like.. we can be wicked together vibes..
Tropes:
💀 Grumpy psycho x emotionally grounded softie
💍 Secret marriage
🧠 Psychologically complex, not just hot-for-plot
🧷 Piercings in strategic places
💣 Bodyguards, enforcers, attempted abductions
🛰️ Satellites. Not a joke.
🖤 Control disguised as care
🔪 “You’re mine” but make it absolutely terrifying
The side characters were class! I mean, hackers, assassins, and queer enforcers that names their knives! gag! Apparently spin-off, stand alones for a few of them! yes, i'm eager to read their books..
Final Verdict:
✔️ Low spice but so emotionally tense it’s basically foreplay
✔️ Not mafia-lite, this is mob politics and Inter warfare...
✔️ Plot-heavy, trauma-soaked, morally dark, and ferociously romantic
✔️ Not for the faint of heart or the emotionally stable
If you’re here for men who love in silence and violence and women who don’t need to be loud to be lethal… this is a good read.. i mean.. one of those dark romances that was less smut more plot and i kinda loved the newness of it!!!!
And i'll start with why before i gush about this - - cuz aside from the 2 main characters pov, we got 2 additional ones and i was a little off about that.. again not cuz the chapters were bad.. in fact one of them was insane - that elevator scene was mad.. but i like the pov's limited..
OK nuf said about why i docked a bit from a full five stars...
Now....
MMC is a criminal genius, my therapist is on speed dial, and I love it here.
Me the second I met Killian Thorne:
Private intelligence empire?
Owns satellites??
6'5, green eyes, tattooed? Yes!
Emotionally disconnected with a God complex and no time for feelings??
But secretly married her and calls her my love!
✨ I am not normal about this man. ✨
And Ada?? Soft? Pierced? DJ? Deadpan? Down for murder?
A classical pianist turned DJ with a FACE full of metal and a personality that says “I will help you hide the body but I’m doing it in boots and eyeliner.”
She’s not your typical FMC. I thoguht she was a real ass human woman. Flaws and all. she lets him be unhinged because she’s not trying to fix the monster. She fell in love with the monster.
Be warned: like there is no redemption arc here.. not bad guy turned good.. more like.. we can be wicked together vibes..
Tropes:
💀 Grumpy psycho x emotionally grounded softie
💍 Secret marriage
🧠 Psychologically complex, not just hot-for-plot
🧷 Piercings in strategic places
💣 Bodyguards, enforcers, attempted abductions
🛰️ Satellites. Not a joke.
🖤 Control disguised as care
🔪 “You’re mine” but make it absolutely terrifying
The side characters were class! I mean, hackers, assassins, and queer enforcers that names their knives! gag! Apparently spin-off, stand alones for a few of them! yes, i'm eager to read their books..
Final Verdict:
✔️ Low spice but so emotionally tense it’s basically foreplay
✔️ Not mafia-lite, this is mob politics and Inter warfare...
✔️ Plot-heavy, trauma-soaked, morally dark, and ferociously romantic
✔️ Not for the faint of heart or the emotionally stable
If you’re here for men who love in silence and violence and women who don’t need to be loud to be lethal… this is a good read.. i mean.. one of those dark romances that was less smut more plot and i kinda loved the newness of it!!!!
October 29, 2025
Obsession… no, MAKE that obsessive obsession. Whatever word you pick, I’m low on vocabulary because this book absolutely blew me away. What a thrill to devour. I loved the entire damn thing.
The world Shaw builds is dark, dangerous, and utterly addictive — the kind of place you simultaneously want to flee and dive deeper into. And the characters? Unforgettable. Take Kilian and Ada. I swear, I was sweating through multiple scenes. The tension, the powerplay, the raw edges—they never let up and you just want more of it all, right now.
The tone fits like a leather jacket with broken studs: dry sarcasm in the right cut-through-the-"silence" moments had me smirking while clasping my book hostage. And yes... there’s steam. But more than that: substance. The kind that hits you in the gut while you’re also turning pages with a grin.
Listen, if you don’t pick this up, you’d be missing something special. The emotional stakes, the twisted ties, the “I-can’t-believe-she-said-that” lines... it all comes together. Obviously 5/5 stars from me.
Get this book. Trust me.
The world Shaw builds is dark, dangerous, and utterly addictive — the kind of place you simultaneously want to flee and dive deeper into. And the characters? Unforgettable. Take Kilian and Ada. I swear, I was sweating through multiple scenes. The tension, the powerplay, the raw edges—they never let up and you just want more of it all, right now.
The tone fits like a leather jacket with broken studs: dry sarcasm in the right cut-through-the-"silence" moments had me smirking while clasping my book hostage. And yes... there’s steam. But more than that: substance. The kind that hits you in the gut while you’re also turning pages with a grin.
Listen, if you don’t pick this up, you’d be missing something special. The emotional stakes, the twisted ties, the “I-can’t-believe-she-said-that” lines... it all comes together. Obviously 5/5 stars from me.
Get this book. Trust me.
December 20, 2025
This book is fantastic, nothing is rushed. Story evolves at a good pace without dragging it out trying to fill pages. Lots of drama, action and smut. Can’t wait for Ghosts of Wrath so we can get the answers we need. Morally black villain or morally black Robin Hood? Killian’s not going around all willy nilly destroying lives and deleting people. There’s a method to his madness and it generally seems to work it for the greater good even if he isn’t intending for everyone else to benefit from his actions. He’s an overly possessive, massively obsessed, touch her die MMC who will burn the entire world and everything in it to keep Ada by his side. Ada is head over heels in love with Killian who seems to be emotionally unavailable to everything. I’m wondering if he will finally realize in book 2 that the way he feels with Ada is in fact love, or at least his version of it. Killian and Ada deserve answers and their HEA.
And as usual, check the trigger warnings
And as usual, check the trigger warnings
December 29, 2025
Y'aaalll! I did not expect to get this hooked on this book! A few chapters in, Ada and Killian had me in a chokehold.
Architect of Ruin is dark and absolutely not here to be gentle. The atmosphere is thick with dread, the stakes are cruel, and nothing comes without a cost. Killian is morally gray, dragged straight into pitch-black territory 🔥 Cold, obsessive, and fueled by loss and rage. Ada is strong, resilient, unapologetically herself, and gives absolutely no fucks.
Their bond is CHEF'S KISS ! Obsessive and impossible to escape. He clears a path for her through power, violence and chaos, and they are absolutely each other’s anchor throughout it all. Killian would burn the world down for her, and Ada would hand him the match.
I also loved all the supporting characters—Mont and Luc especially brought depth, humor, and chaos to this wild ride.
Not a comfort read...this one bites (iykyk 😉) I finished it in awe and already craving the next one.
Architect of Ruin is dark and absolutely not here to be gentle. The atmosphere is thick with dread, the stakes are cruel, and nothing comes without a cost. Killian is morally gray, dragged straight into pitch-black territory 🔥 Cold, obsessive, and fueled by loss and rage. Ada is strong, resilient, unapologetically herself, and gives absolutely no fucks.
Their bond is CHEF'S KISS ! Obsessive and impossible to escape. He clears a path for her through power, violence and chaos, and they are absolutely each other’s anchor throughout it all. Killian would burn the world down for her, and Ada would hand him the match.
I also loved all the supporting characters—Mont and Luc especially brought depth, humor, and chaos to this wild ride.
Not a comfort read...this one bites (iykyk 😉) I finished it in awe and already craving the next one.
September 30, 2025
Architect of Ruin is a gripping, addictive read that pulls you straight into a world of shadows, secrets, and tension. Dark, fast-paced, and brimming with intrigue, it’s the kind of story that keeps you on edge in the best way!
The writing is sharp and immersive, striking the perfect balance between compelling atmosphere and propulsive pace. Ada and Killian’s dynamic is electric - equal parts sharp tension and undeniable chemistry. The explosive chemistry between them had me flipping pages almost faster than I could read, and the addictive plot and high-stakes twists made sure I never got too comfortable.
Moody, compelling, and layered with just the right mix of danger and desire, this debut hooked me from start to finish. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Tamar Shaw writes next!
The writing is sharp and immersive, striking the perfect balance between compelling atmosphere and propulsive pace. Ada and Killian’s dynamic is electric - equal parts sharp tension and undeniable chemistry. The explosive chemistry between them had me flipping pages almost faster than I could read, and the addictive plot and high-stakes twists made sure I never got too comfortable.
Moody, compelling, and layered with just the right mix of danger and desire, this debut hooked me from start to finish. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Tamar Shaw writes next!
December 31, 2025
Architect of Ruin by Tamar Shaw took a little while to get going for me - the beginning felt slow and I had to settle into the world - but once it picked up, it REALLY picked up. From that point on, I was completely captivated.
The heart of this book is Killian and Ada. Their relationship is complicated, layered, and at times frustrating in the best possible way. The push and pull between them, the tension, and the emotional depth made their dynamic feel intense and incredibly well done. It’s messy, it’s powerful, and it works.
Overall, this was a strong read with excellent character dynamics and a storyline that rewards your patience. Definitely worth sticking with, and I’m keen for Book 2!!
The heart of this book is Killian and Ada. Their relationship is complicated, layered, and at times frustrating in the best possible way. The push and pull between them, the tension, and the emotional depth made their dynamic feel intense and incredibly well done. It’s messy, it’s powerful, and it works.
Overall, this was a strong read with excellent character dynamics and a storyline that rewards your patience. Definitely worth sticking with, and I’m keen for Book 2!!
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