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Hunted Kingdom #2
Ember
From USA Today bestselling author Naima Simone comes a new scorching dark mafia romance in The Hunted Kingdom series in which a modern-day Cinderella must fight against the stepbrother who inherited her legacy—but he wants more than just the family he wants her.
He’ll burn it all to keep her.
Her fire will consume his soul.
Today, my father gave me the perfect he died.
But he left my legacy, the multibillion drug empire, to pure evil—my stepbrother, Asad Prince.
Petty even in death? Two can play that game.
As the last Cross, I’ll leave it all behind. And I will have the last laugh I’ll take the formula for the drug I created with me.
It’s the perfect plan until Asad makes his final move—marry him, or everyone I love dies.
A deal with the devil. Until he reveals his secrets.
His obsession might have always been my freedom.
Now, Asad might rule with fire.
But I'll light the match.
EMBER is a dark mafia romance that explores themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.
Enemies to lovers
Arranged marriage
Forced proximity
Touch her/him and die
Morally grey MMC/FMC
Fairy tale reimagining
A Macmillan Audio production from Bramble Books
He’ll burn it all to keep her.
Her fire will consume his soul.
Today, my father gave me the perfect he died.
But he left my legacy, the multibillion drug empire, to pure evil—my stepbrother, Asad Prince.
Petty even in death? Two can play that game.
As the last Cross, I’ll leave it all behind. And I will have the last laugh I’ll take the formula for the drug I created with me.
It’s the perfect plan until Asad makes his final move—marry him, or everyone I love dies.
A deal with the devil. Until he reveals his secrets.
His obsession might have always been my freedom.
Now, Asad might rule with fire.
But I'll light the match.
EMBER is a dark mafia romance that explores themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.
Enemies to lovers
Arranged marriage
Forced proximity
Touch her/him and die
Morally grey MMC/FMC
Fairy tale reimagining
A Macmillan Audio production from Bramble Books
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2026
About the author
Naima Simone
173 books2,295 followersPublished since 2009, USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone loves writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly, and described as balancing “crackling, electric love scenes with exquisitely rendered characters caught in emotional turmoil.”
She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.
She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
July 15, 2026
3.75⭐️
Ember and Assad were honestly made for each other. THEY BOTH WAS CRAZY AF. Michelle made my skin crawl… and Ember’s father may he rest in hell actually gave my girl a blessing in death. Giving what she was owed to her stepbrother only for that stepbrother to want what her father made…….. HER. At first I wasn’t feeling him because I don’t play that bully shit butttttt when the pieces clicked. He was alright with me. If you are going into this looking for ROMANCE. Just note it’s not much of it. But the story was very entertaining
Ember and Assad were honestly made for each other. THEY BOTH WAS CRAZY AF. Michelle made my skin crawl… and Ember’s father may he rest in hell actually gave my girl a blessing in death. Giving what she was owed to her stepbrother only for that stepbrother to want what her father made…….. HER. At first I wasn’t feeling him because I don’t play that bully shit butttttt when the pieces clicked. He was alright with me. If you are going into this looking for ROMANCE. Just note it’s not much of it. But the story was very entertaining
February 16, 2026
naima simone you are crazy in the best way
July 14, 2026
I have very mixed feelings about this book and what my rating should be, but ultimately I’m settling on 3.75⭐.
For me, this book started off STRONG. A mafia Cinderella retelling? Taboo stepbrother romance? A nerdy FMC who’s secretly a total badass? I was VIBINGG! 🙌🏽 The audiobook narration was also top tier. This was my first time listening to Trei Taylor and Myles Washington, and they absolutely crushed it.
Unfortunately, that vibe didn’t last. I found myself pushing to finish and not because the book was bad, but because it stopped holding my attention. The ending also felt a bit abrupt, and the overall wrap-up left me wanting more.
Overall, I don’t think this is a bad book at all. I honestly think my mood may have played a role in how it landed for me. I can definitely see myself giving it a reread someday to see if my feelings change. It just wasn’t the one for me this time but it might be for you.
For me, this book started off STRONG. A mafia Cinderella retelling? Taboo stepbrother romance? A nerdy FMC who’s secretly a total badass? I was VIBINGG! 🙌🏽 The audiobook narration was also top tier. This was my first time listening to Trei Taylor and Myles Washington, and they absolutely crushed it.
Unfortunately, that vibe didn’t last. I found myself pushing to finish and not because the book was bad, but because it stopped holding my attention. The ending also felt a bit abrupt, and the overall wrap-up left me wanting more.
Overall, I don’t think this is a bad book at all. I honestly think my mood may have played a role in how it landed for me. I can definitely see myself giving it a reread someday to see if my feelings change. It just wasn’t the one for me this time but it might be for you.
July 13, 2026
✨ A dark Cinderella retelling… but make it mafia. 🖤
Ember isn’t sitting around waiting for a prince to rescue her. She’s ruthless, incredibly smart, and the real brains behind her late father’s criminal empire—including the creation of the infamous “glass slipper.”
Between two stepbrothers, a manipulative stepmother, and a godfather, her life is anything but a fairy tale. Then she’s pushed into an arranged marriage with Asad Prince, the dangerously obsessed, completely unhinged heir to her father’s empire.
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Arranged marriage
🖤 Obsessive MMC
🖤 Strong, intelligent FMC
🖤 Mafia romance
🖤 Twisted Cinderella retelling
🖤 Step-siblings
Ember was easily my favorite part of this book. She wasn’t just a strong FMC she was clever, strategic, and never the one needing to be saved. And Asad? Absolutely unhinged in the best way..
Ember isn’t sitting around waiting for a prince to rescue her. She’s ruthless, incredibly smart, and the real brains behind her late father’s criminal empire—including the creation of the infamous “glass slipper.”
Between two stepbrothers, a manipulative stepmother, and a godfather, her life is anything but a fairy tale. Then she’s pushed into an arranged marriage with Asad Prince, the dangerously obsessed, completely unhinged heir to her father’s empire.
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Arranged marriage
🖤 Obsessive MMC
🖤 Strong, intelligent FMC
🖤 Mafia romance
🖤 Twisted Cinderella retelling
🖤 Step-siblings
Ember was easily my favorite part of this book. She wasn’t just a strong FMC she was clever, strategic, and never the one needing to be saved. And Asad? Absolutely unhinged in the best way..
July 8, 2026
I liked the first book in the series, and this was also a good read. This is a Cinderella reimagining, and it had all the dark, diverse, morally grey romance vibes. We have the fmc who is mistreated by her stepmother after the death of her father. She meets her stepbrother, who is a ruthless mafia billionaire, and instantly they have that enemies-to-lovers vibe with all the forbidden sexual tension and violence that only a dark romance can bring. Both MCs are so crazy; I was shocked by how unhinged and chaotic some of the behaviors were. I liked the family business plot, and all the characters were grappling with being in power and taking control. I liked the stakes in this book. It felt like everyone had something to lose, which made it fast-paced. There is a lot of spice in this book, and though it's a slow burn, the chemistry was off the charts. I definitely recommend this one for lovers of forbidden romance.
Read for:
-Bully romance
-Billionaire romance
-Mafia themes
-Step siblings
=Enemies to lovers
-Morally grey characters
Read for:
-Bully romance
-Billionaire romance
-Mafia themes
-Step siblings
=Enemies to lovers
-Morally grey characters
March 10, 2026
This doesn’t happen often, but the second book in this series was better than the first! I really enjoyed this story line! Also just love Naima and her crazy self! :)
April 15, 2026
“A love story forged in fire, ash, and obsession.”
From the very first line, Ember doesn’t ask for your attention—she demands it. And once you step into her world? There’s no escaping the flames.
Ember as an FMC is everything. Calculated, fierce, unapologetically powerful—she’s not trying to survive the game, she’s rewriting the rules while holding the match. Her voice is sharp, her choices are bold, and every move she makes feels like it could either crown her… or destroy everything.
Then there’s Asad Prince—obsessive, dangerous, and completely unhinged in that dark-romance way we secretly crave. The tension between him and Ember? Absolutely feral. This isn’t your typical enemies-to-lovers—it’s a battlefield where desire and dominance collide, and neither of them is willing to surrender.
🔥 Chemistry that burns through the pages
🔥 Power plays that keep you on edge
🔥 A romance that feels equal parts toxic and irresistible
The arranged marriage trope is done so well here—it’s not just forced proximity, it’s forced vulnerability, forced confrontation, forced truth. Every interaction between them is loaded, layered, and dangerously addictive.
And the Cinderella reimagining? Twisted, dark, and brilliant. Ember isn’t waiting for rescue—she is the reckoning. The glass slipper doesn’t fit softly here… it cuts.
What truly stood out is how deeply emotional this story is beneath all the intensity. Ember’s fight for her legacy, her autonomy, and her identity adds real weight to the story, making every moment hit harder.
Final verdict:
This book is dark, addictive, and completely consuming.
🖤 Read it for Ember—the FMC who refuses to bow.
🔥 Stay for the obsession and power struggle.
👠 Leave slightly emotionally damaged… but wanting more.
From the very first line, Ember doesn’t ask for your attention—she demands it. And once you step into her world? There’s no escaping the flames.
Ember as an FMC is everything. Calculated, fierce, unapologetically powerful—she’s not trying to survive the game, she’s rewriting the rules while holding the match. Her voice is sharp, her choices are bold, and every move she makes feels like it could either crown her… or destroy everything.
Then there’s Asad Prince—obsessive, dangerous, and completely unhinged in that dark-romance way we secretly crave. The tension between him and Ember? Absolutely feral. This isn’t your typical enemies-to-lovers—it’s a battlefield where desire and dominance collide, and neither of them is willing to surrender.
🔥 Chemistry that burns through the pages
🔥 Power plays that keep you on edge
🔥 A romance that feels equal parts toxic and irresistible
The arranged marriage trope is done so well here—it’s not just forced proximity, it’s forced vulnerability, forced confrontation, forced truth. Every interaction between them is loaded, layered, and dangerously addictive.
And the Cinderella reimagining? Twisted, dark, and brilliant. Ember isn’t waiting for rescue—she is the reckoning. The glass slipper doesn’t fit softly here… it cuts.
What truly stood out is how deeply emotional this story is beneath all the intensity. Ember’s fight for her legacy, her autonomy, and her identity adds real weight to the story, making every moment hit harder.
Final verdict:
This book is dark, addictive, and completely consuming.
🖤 Read it for Ember—the FMC who refuses to bow.
🔥 Stay for the obsession and power struggle.
👠 Leave slightly emotionally damaged… but wanting more.
January 26, 2026
4.25 stars!
naima did not come to play with ember!! the cinderella inspiration was incredible. ember was a strong fmc, and asad, our mmc, was NOT intimidated by that. and the ending??? i did not see that coming. this kept me hooked from beginning to end!
tropes:
• cinderella retelling
• step siblings
• arranged marriage
• touch him/her and 💀
naima did not come to play with ember!! the cinderella inspiration was incredible. ember was a strong fmc, and asad, our mmc, was NOT intimidated by that. and the ending??? i did not see that coming. this kept me hooked from beginning to end!
tropes:
• cinderella retelling
• step siblings
• arranged marriage
• touch him/her and 💀
July 13, 2026
✨ALC Review✨ - 1 ⭐️
I’m so disappointed to say this because I was so excited about this book, but this was a really rough read. The blurb completely sold me, and even the author’s note at the beginning was cute and funny.
At first, I actually thought Ember’s inner thoughts were hilarious. They felt so real, and I was genuinely laughing out loud. Unfortunately, after the first few chapters, everything started going downhill.
Because of all the glowing reviews, I kept convincing myself it had to get better. Instead, it felt like torture to get through, and by the end, I could confidently say I should’ve DNF’d it. There honestly wasn’t anything I ended up enjoying.
My biggest issue was the MMC. I know this is a dark romance, and I’m completely fine with morally gray characters, violence, and even murder when it serves the story. That’s not what bothered me.
What bothered me was the way he viewed women.
He refers to women as “bitches,” 🚩🚩 fantasizes about violently killing or torturing them over the smallest inconveniences, and spends nearly every interaction with the FMC thinking about having sex with her in the most graphic, degrading, and sometimes violent ways imaginable. At one point he outright admits that he regularly daydreams about fucking and killing her. Somehow I’m supposed to root for this man as a romantic lead? I just couldn’t.
Every time he looked at her, we got another internal monologue about how badly he wanted to fuck her. It got to the point where it felt like he didn’t even see her as a person, just an object he wanted to possess.
What made it even stranger was that every once in a while he’d randomly say something surprisingly progressive, like arguing that women deserved positions of power in the organization or saying that a woman’s value comes from her ambition, courage, and perseverance rather than her appearance. Those moments felt completely disconnected from the character we’d spent the rest of the book with. It was like two entirely different men had been mashed together.
Because of that, the romance never worked for me. I wasn’t rooting for them, I was wondering why she even wanted him. The relationship felt built almost entirely on lust, and by the end, it just seemed like a really toxic situation between two excessively horny people rather than two people genuinely in love.
The spicy scenes didn’t help. There were a few moments that were genuinely sexy, but most of the dirty talk and euphemisms just made me cringe.
“I promise you, the only thing imma bully is that pussy.”
“I bet that shit’s so thick and creamy.”
“Beating that pussy up.”
“Pussy creaming.”
Then there were the comments about her vagina supposedly being shaped like his dick afterward (that’s… not how anatomy works), and her referring to losing her virginity as getting “broken in.” 🤮
At this point, girl needs to invest in a vibrator, or at least spend a few minutes with her hand, because oh my god, every other thought was about wanting this man.
The FMC frustrated me in other ways too. The trauma she experienced was awful, and I truly felt for her, but eventually it felt like every chapter circled back to the same thoughts without much growth or action. She spent so much time dwelling on what happened that it started feeling repetitive.
And can we please stop acting like everyone can see how wet she is through her clothes every time she looks at him? At some point I started wondering if she was just peeing herself.
There were also quite a few smaller issues that kept pulling me out of the story. The author’s favorite word is apparently aberration because I don’t think I’ve ever heard it used so many times in one book.
I also wasn’t a fan of the male narrator. His voice didn’t really match how I pictured the character, and the constant pauses between every few words made the dialogue feel unnatural.
The pacing didn’t do the book any favors either. It dragged for long stretches where it felt like nothing was really happening, and by the time the secret villain was revealed, I’d already figured it out long before. Never doubt a woman’s intuition.
And I have to admit, when the FMC says, “God, there must be something fundamentally wrong with me,” my immediate thought was, “Finally, we agree on something!”
Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I don’t have a problem with dark romance, morally gray characters, or even outright villains. What I do have a problem with is a romance built on misogyny and objectification. You can absolutely write a dark romance without making the MMC view women as pieces of meat, and unfortunately, that’s where this book completely lost me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to this one early.
I’m so disappointed to say this because I was so excited about this book, but this was a really rough read. The blurb completely sold me, and even the author’s note at the beginning was cute and funny.
At first, I actually thought Ember’s inner thoughts were hilarious. They felt so real, and I was genuinely laughing out loud. Unfortunately, after the first few chapters, everything started going downhill.
Because of all the glowing reviews, I kept convincing myself it had to get better. Instead, it felt like torture to get through, and by the end, I could confidently say I should’ve DNF’d it. There honestly wasn’t anything I ended up enjoying.
My biggest issue was the MMC. I know this is a dark romance, and I’m completely fine with morally gray characters, violence, and even murder when it serves the story. That’s not what bothered me.
What bothered me was the way he viewed women.
He refers to women as “bitches,” 🚩🚩 fantasizes about violently killing or torturing them over the smallest inconveniences, and spends nearly every interaction with the FMC thinking about having sex with her in the most graphic, degrading, and sometimes violent ways imaginable. At one point he outright admits that he regularly daydreams about fucking and killing her. Somehow I’m supposed to root for this man as a romantic lead? I just couldn’t.
Every time he looked at her, we got another internal monologue about how badly he wanted to fuck her. It got to the point where it felt like he didn’t even see her as a person, just an object he wanted to possess.
What made it even stranger was that every once in a while he’d randomly say something surprisingly progressive, like arguing that women deserved positions of power in the organization or saying that a woman’s value comes from her ambition, courage, and perseverance rather than her appearance. Those moments felt completely disconnected from the character we’d spent the rest of the book with. It was like two entirely different men had been mashed together.
Because of that, the romance never worked for me. I wasn’t rooting for them, I was wondering why she even wanted him. The relationship felt built almost entirely on lust, and by the end, it just seemed like a really toxic situation between two excessively horny people rather than two people genuinely in love.
The spicy scenes didn’t help. There were a few moments that were genuinely sexy, but most of the dirty talk and euphemisms just made me cringe.
“I promise you, the only thing imma bully is that pussy.”
“I bet that shit’s so thick and creamy.”
“Beating that pussy up.”
“Pussy creaming.”
Then there were the comments about her vagina supposedly being shaped like his dick afterward (that’s… not how anatomy works), and her referring to losing her virginity as getting “broken in.” 🤮
At this point, girl needs to invest in a vibrator, or at least spend a few minutes with her hand, because oh my god, every other thought was about wanting this man.
The FMC frustrated me in other ways too. The trauma she experienced was awful, and I truly felt for her, but eventually it felt like every chapter circled back to the same thoughts without much growth or action. She spent so much time dwelling on what happened that it started feeling repetitive.
And can we please stop acting like everyone can see how wet she is through her clothes every time she looks at him? At some point I started wondering if she was just peeing herself.
There were also quite a few smaller issues that kept pulling me out of the story. The author’s favorite word is apparently aberration because I don’t think I’ve ever heard it used so many times in one book.
I also wasn’t a fan of the male narrator. His voice didn’t really match how I pictured the character, and the constant pauses between every few words made the dialogue feel unnatural.
The pacing didn’t do the book any favors either. It dragged for long stretches where it felt like nothing was really happening, and by the time the secret villain was revealed, I’d already figured it out long before. Never doubt a woman’s intuition.
And I have to admit, when the FMC says, “God, there must be something fundamentally wrong with me,” my immediate thought was, “Finally, we agree on something!”
Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. I don’t have a problem with dark romance, morally gray characters, or even outright villains. What I do have a problem with is a romance built on misogyny and objectification. You can absolutely write a dark romance without making the MMC view women as pieces of meat, and unfortunately, that’s where this book completely lost me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to this one early.
July 13, 2026
Naima Simone, I like the way your wicked mind works.
Cinderella retelling with a Mafia princess that has been kept a secret from some and is a chemist cooking up some lethal drugs? With one of the drugs being called the Glass Slipper? Let's F.... Go!!
Ember is the second book in The Hunted Kingdom world and it has everything I would want in a morally grey fairytale retelling. Dark and cunning characters that step up. Ember's father suddenly dies and he leaves the Cross business to her evil stepmother and her sons, leaving his badass daughter to still have a small stake in the company, but not what she had imagined. She is his blood afterall. Shouldn't she get more? But she's a woman, and her misogynist father obviously counts her out. But don't you worry. Ember is one badass FMC who is strong, lethally smart and calculated in her actions.
Asad is the stepbrother who has been handed the reins of the powerful Cross business. He is dangerous and 100% unhinged. He's the man in charge and if you don't like what he has to say, he will take you out. When he and Ember have a battle of the wills, he comes up with the plan of marriage. But these two are step siblings and have anything but love for one another. They are at each other's throats from the beginning. But where there's sparks, there will be fire. And there is a thin line between love and hate and it explodes with these two.
Simone created a unique and dark world that had me from the first sentence. I loved the feel of the setting and how ruthless the characters were. Not only was Asad this morally grey character, but Ember matched his vibe in all the ways. She is no one's fool, although when it comes to her body and Asad, she lights up. This was apparent when listening to the audio which was narrated by Myles Washington and Trei Taylor. They killed their performances. You could feel their strength and the way they loved to hate one another. Their chemistry was unmatched and a bit unhinged, and exploded right off the pages.
If you like your romances on the dark side with 2 characters that challenge each other and a "princess" that does not need a prince to save her, Ember is going to satisfy your needs.
Read if you like:
Dark Fairytale retelling
Forbidden
Mafia Vibes
Step Siblings
Enemies to Lovers
Touch Him/Her and D!e
Thank you to Macmillan audio for my ALC!!
Cinderella retelling with a Mafia princess that has been kept a secret from some and is a chemist cooking up some lethal drugs? With one of the drugs being called the Glass Slipper? Let's F.... Go!!
Ember is the second book in The Hunted Kingdom world and it has everything I would want in a morally grey fairytale retelling. Dark and cunning characters that step up. Ember's father suddenly dies and he leaves the Cross business to her evil stepmother and her sons, leaving his badass daughter to still have a small stake in the company, but not what she had imagined. She is his blood afterall. Shouldn't she get more? But she's a woman, and her misogynist father obviously counts her out. But don't you worry. Ember is one badass FMC who is strong, lethally smart and calculated in her actions.
Asad is the stepbrother who has been handed the reins of the powerful Cross business. He is dangerous and 100% unhinged. He's the man in charge and if you don't like what he has to say, he will take you out. When he and Ember have a battle of the wills, he comes up with the plan of marriage. But these two are step siblings and have anything but love for one another. They are at each other's throats from the beginning. But where there's sparks, there will be fire. And there is a thin line between love and hate and it explodes with these two.
Simone created a unique and dark world that had me from the first sentence. I loved the feel of the setting and how ruthless the characters were. Not only was Asad this morally grey character, but Ember matched his vibe in all the ways. She is no one's fool, although when it comes to her body and Asad, she lights up. This was apparent when listening to the audio which was narrated by Myles Washington and Trei Taylor. They killed their performances. You could feel their strength and the way they loved to hate one another. Their chemistry was unmatched and a bit unhinged, and exploded right off the pages.
If you like your romances on the dark side with 2 characters that challenge each other and a "princess" that does not need a prince to save her, Ember is going to satisfy your needs.
Read if you like:
Dark Fairytale retelling
Forbidden
Mafia Vibes
Step Siblings
Enemies to Lovers
Touch Him/Her and D!e
Thank you to Macmillan audio for my ALC!!
July 16, 2026
Review of ARC received from Publisher & Netgalley.
I usually don't gravitate toward bully romances, but Asad completely changed my mind. This man was absolutely, unapologetically obsessed with Ember, and somehow I ate up every second of it.
Ember was such a strong female lead, and her father? He can rest in hell. Seriously. He was weak, selfish, and responsible for so much of the chaos. I will say, though, he made one decision that ended up changing everything.
This book had me constantly thinking, "What the HELL is happening?!" Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, something darker or more shocking happened. It's easily one of the darkest , one of the spiciest books I've read this year.
My only real complaint was the chapter length. They felt a little too long for my taste, and at times the pacing dragged because of it.
Overall, this was a wild, addictive, dark romance that kept me hooked. If you're into taboo romance, obsessive antiheroes, mafia drama, morally gray characters, and high spice, you'll probably have a great time with this one.
The Vibes:
✔️ Stepbrother taboo romance
✔️ Mafia romance
✔️ Boss-bitch FMC
✔️ Touch Her & Die energy
✔️ Spicy 🌶️🥵
I usually don't gravitate toward bully romances, but Asad completely changed my mind. This man was absolutely, unapologetically obsessed with Ember, and somehow I ate up every second of it.
Ember was such a strong female lead, and her father? He can rest in hell. Seriously. He was weak, selfish, and responsible for so much of the chaos. I will say, though, he made one decision that ended up changing everything.
This book had me constantly thinking, "What the HELL is happening?!" Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, something darker or more shocking happened. It's easily one of the darkest , one of the spiciest books I've read this year.
My only real complaint was the chapter length. They felt a little too long for my taste, and at times the pacing dragged because of it.
Overall, this was a wild, addictive, dark romance that kept me hooked. If you're into taboo romance, obsessive antiheroes, mafia drama, morally gray characters, and high spice, you'll probably have a great time with this one.
The Vibes:
✔️ Stepbrother taboo romance
✔️ Mafia romance
✔️ Boss-bitch FMC
✔️ Touch Her & Die energy
✔️ Spicy 🌶️🥵
July 15, 2026
I seriously need more of Ember and Asad. I could easily read 1000 more pages of them. Asad is someone who will burn the whole world down for Ember while she watches Hell she might even join in.
Following the death of her father she finds out he has only given her a small portion of her inheritance: a Fashion house and Mafia Empire that she’s willing to walk away from. You see; Ember is the one designing for House Cross and the chemist making the drugs they push, she can easily start over but her step brother Asad who was also given part of her inheritance has other plans. Which is to marry her. Asad knows Ember is brilliant he wants House Cross and of course her….
Listen if you love when both characters are morally gray and touch her and die vibes you will eat this up. Ember is a total badass, smart and fierce she is not someone to underestimate. Asad is confident, protective, powerful and quick. HE DOES NOT PLAY ABOUT EMBER!!!! And if you’re are wondering if it’s spicy it is! Asad has a dirty mouth! The banter is A1 and the plot gagged me!
Lastly, the audio is so amazing it just elevated the story for me even more, I felt like both Myles Washington and Trei Taylor really captured the essence of the characters! They need an Emmy for their performance.
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for this ALC
Following the death of her father she finds out he has only given her a small portion of her inheritance: a Fashion house and Mafia Empire that she’s willing to walk away from. You see; Ember is the one designing for House Cross and the chemist making the drugs they push, she can easily start over but her step brother Asad who was also given part of her inheritance has other plans. Which is to marry her. Asad knows Ember is brilliant he wants House Cross and of course her….
Listen if you love when both characters are morally gray and touch her and die vibes you will eat this up. Ember is a total badass, smart and fierce she is not someone to underestimate. Asad is confident, protective, powerful and quick. HE DOES NOT PLAY ABOUT EMBER!!!! And if you’re are wondering if it’s spicy it is! Asad has a dirty mouth! The banter is A1 and the plot gagged me!
Lastly, the audio is so amazing it just elevated the story for me even more, I felt like both Myles Washington and Trei Taylor really captured the essence of the characters! They need an Emmy for their performance.
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for this ALC
Read
July 4, 2026EMBER 🦋
Written by Naima Simone
🎧Narrated by Myles Washington, Trei Taylor
📚The Hunted Kingdom
✏️Interconnected Standalone
Adult • Dark Mafia Romance
📖15h 53m
🗓️July 14
🦋enemies to lovers
🦋arranged marriage
🦋forced proximity
🦋touch her/him and die
🦋morally grey MCs
🦋Cinderella reimagining
🦋step siblings
It’s dark. It’s twisted. It’s a bit crazy.
It’s a Cinderella retelling, but one that asks you to imagine the fairy tale with teeth. Honestly, tell me who wouldn’t be intrigued by a darker spin on such a beloved classic.
Ember and Asad are unhinged in the best possible ways, and somehow they fit together with a kind of chaotic precision. The fact that they were/are step‑siblings adds a delicious layer of forbidden tension I never shy away from.
Their chemistry is effortless, addictive, and the reason this story sticks. The power struggle surrounding the family business gives the whole book an entertaining, high‑stakes backdrop that makes every interaction feel charged.
Written by Naima Simone
🎧Narrated by Myles Washington, Trei Taylor
📚The Hunted Kingdom
✏️Interconnected Standalone
Adult • Dark Mafia Romance
📖15h 53m
🗓️July 14
🦋enemies to lovers
🦋arranged marriage
🦋forced proximity
🦋touch her/him and die
🦋morally grey MCs
🦋Cinderella reimagining
🦋step siblings
It’s dark. It’s twisted. It’s a bit crazy.
It’s a Cinderella retelling, but one that asks you to imagine the fairy tale with teeth. Honestly, tell me who wouldn’t be intrigued by a darker spin on such a beloved classic.
Ember and Asad are unhinged in the best possible ways, and somehow they fit together with a kind of chaotic precision. The fact that they were/are step‑siblings adds a delicious layer of forbidden tension I never shy away from.
Their chemistry is effortless, addictive, and the reason this story sticks. The power struggle surrounding the family business gives the whole book an entertaining, high‑stakes backdrop that makes every interaction feel charged.
July 8, 2026
ALC Review-
I ended up softly DNFing this one—for now.
I really wanted to love it because the premise checked so many of my boxes, and I’m always excited to dive into a dark romance. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t connecting with the story or the characters the way I’d hoped, so I decided to set it aside instead of forcing my way through.
That said, this is completely a me thing. The writing wasn’t the issue; I just don’t think it was the right book for me at this moment. I may come back to it later because the concept is still incredibly intriguing, and I’m hoping it resonates more when I’m in a different reading mood.
I ended up softly DNFing this one—for now.
I really wanted to love it because the premise checked so many of my boxes, and I’m always excited to dive into a dark romance. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t connecting with the story or the characters the way I’d hoped, so I decided to set it aside instead of forcing my way through.
That said, this is completely a me thing. The writing wasn’t the issue; I just don’t think it was the right book for me at this moment. I may come back to it later because the concept is still incredibly intriguing, and I’m hoping it resonates more when I’m in a different reading mood.
July 12, 2026
Thank you NETGALLEY for the Arc of this awesome Book! Naima Simone has put something special in this series… because it is irresistible!
This Cinderella retellling is dark, mysterious, haunting, diverse, mysterious and contain morally grey characters that you will LOVE and will have you hating characters all at the same time.
Ember has always been cast aside.. first by her misogynist father since she was born a girl and deemed unworthy to inherit his fashion empire. And then after his new wife comes in the picture she spent her life regularly mistreated, abused and taken advantage of… you come to learn the House of Cross is more than meets the eye and Ember will have to overcome her past and endure the plot for her future.. it’s a good thing she is also more than meets the eye!!!
This Cinderella retellling is dark, mysterious, haunting, diverse, mysterious and contain morally grey characters that you will LOVE and will have you hating characters all at the same time.
Ember has always been cast aside.. first by her misogynist father since she was born a girl and deemed unworthy to inherit his fashion empire. And then after his new wife comes in the picture she spent her life regularly mistreated, abused and taken advantage of… you come to learn the House of Cross is more than meets the eye and Ember will have to overcome her past and endure the plot for her future.. it’s a good thing she is also more than meets the eye!!!
July 15, 2026
Honestly pulled me out of a bad reading slump! So freaking good
July 4, 2026
Naima Simone knew exactly what she was doing with this one because I ate it up. I love a good mafia romance, and this checked every box for me. The writing was gorgeous, the audiobook was incredible, and I flew through it.
Ember was brilliant, Asad was toxic in the way only dark romance readers can appreciate, and the chemistry between them was absolutely ridiculous.
Dark, spicy, morally gray chaos? Yes, please. This one was so much fun and reminded me exactly why I love this genre.
Ember was brilliant, Asad was toxic in the way only dark romance readers can appreciate, and the chemistry between them was absolutely ridiculous.
Dark, spicy, morally gray chaos? Yes, please. This one was so much fun and reminded me exactly why I love this genre.
February 23, 2026
Now this is a true villain origin story.
I don't know how Mrs. Simone does it, but I laughed, cried, and clutched my pearls all within 383 pages. Loved every raunchy, diabolical minute of this story.
Asad Prince is hands down the best character ever. The character development on him needs to be studied. I went from hating him, to fearing him, and then understanding him.
Ember Cross also needs to be studied. She's sick and depraved, but I totally understood it. Maybe that makes me sick and depraved too.
I'm ready for the next dark mafia fairytale reimagining. Will it be Beauty and the Beast? I, for one, vote for Princess and the Frog. Voodoo, the bayou, and a splash of the mafia? Sounds like a time to me.
I don't know how Mrs. Simone does it, but I laughed, cried, and clutched my pearls all within 383 pages. Loved every raunchy, diabolical minute of this story.
Asad Prince is hands down the best character ever. The character development on him needs to be studied. I went from hating him, to fearing him, and then understanding him.
Ember Cross also needs to be studied. She's sick and depraved, but I totally understood it. Maybe that makes me sick and depraved too.
I'm ready for the next dark mafia fairytale reimagining. Will it be Beauty and the Beast? I, for one, vote for Princess and the Frog. Voodoo, the bayou, and a splash of the mafia? Sounds like a time to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Bramble for the gifted copy
💉Cinderella reimagining
💙Toxic AF MMC
💉Forced proximity
💙Step siblings
💉“Marry me or else”
💙Enemies to lovers
Following the death of her father and the loss of her legacy, Ember Cross finds herself forced into a deal with her step brother and childhood tormenter Asad Prince
‘Asad does the unthinkable. The most profane, terrible thing he’s done to me so far. He closes the gap between us, grasps my upper arms in an implacable grip, and tugs me forward . . . And presses the softest kiss to my forehead.’
🔥 Listen if you love when the MMC takes control and says the foulest sexiest things then you just found your next book boyfriend cause he talked her through it!!! 🥵 I’m begging for some audio cause I just know listening will take this to a whole new level 🙏🏾
But yall these people really played in Ember’s face smh whole time she could have just created a little something and it’s lights out for them 😵 nothing like a woman in stem 😌💅🏾
Ember is a standalone in The Hunted Kingdom series, and just like with Huntsman Naima had a magical way of putting a spin on a retelling ❤️
If you love when both MC’s are morally grey and touch her/him and 🪦 vibes then grab this one
I can’t wait for my preorder to come in with the final edits ❤️
‘But when it comes to you, I’ve never been blind or stupid. Nah, you’ve been my dedicated field of study for years.’
💉Cinderella reimagining
💙Toxic AF MMC
💉Forced proximity
💙Step siblings
💉“Marry me or else”
💙Enemies to lovers
Following the death of her father and the loss of her legacy, Ember Cross finds herself forced into a deal with her step brother and childhood tormenter Asad Prince
‘Asad does the unthinkable. The most profane, terrible thing he’s done to me so far. He closes the gap between us, grasps my upper arms in an implacable grip, and tugs me forward . . . And presses the softest kiss to my forehead.’
🔥 Listen if you love when the MMC takes control and says the foulest sexiest things then you just found your next book boyfriend cause he talked her through it!!! 🥵 I’m begging for some audio cause I just know listening will take this to a whole new level 🙏🏾
But yall these people really played in Ember’s face smh whole time she could have just created a little something and it’s lights out for them 😵 nothing like a woman in stem 😌💅🏾
Ember is a standalone in The Hunted Kingdom series, and just like with Huntsman Naima had a magical way of putting a spin on a retelling ❤️
If you love when both MC’s are morally grey and touch her/him and 🪦 vibes then grab this one
I can’t wait for my preorder to come in with the final edits ❤️
‘But when it comes to you, I’ve never been blind or stupid. Nah, you’ve been my dedicated field of study for years.’
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25/5. Releases 7/21/26.
Heat Index: 8/10
The Basics:
When Ember's father, head of a drug empire, dies he screws her over royally—by leaving the bulk of it, even control over Ember's shares, to her stepbrother Asad. Ember hates Asad, and she hates his mother, Michelle, even more. With good reason! But she's not down for the count, and she has a trick up her sleeve: the formula for a drug she created. Unfortunately, Asad isn't that easily played, and he threatens to kill everyone Ember loves… unless she marries him. SO.
The Review:
The thing about a lot of tradpub dark romances of late is that a lot of them aren't actually that dark. It's like "I'm stalking you in a fun and cute way!" "I'm a serial killer, but only as a jape."
Naima Simone doesn't fuck with that. Her characters are brutal, ruthless, and hungry. And that isn't limited to the heroes. So many dark romances give us these sunshiney saviors or cowering milquetoasts. Like Eshe before her (in Huntsman, which you don't have to read to enjoy this one, but should because it's a ride), Ember isn't one to be toyed with. From the start, we see a cool, prepossessed woman. She knows exactly who she's playing with. She just doesn't always expect Asad to go as far as he does…
This is a true enemies to lovers romance, but it's clear so quickly that Asad WANTS Ember. He's starving for her (a Naima Simone hero is always starving, even if he doesn't want to be). But here's a quick tip, y'all: There's a big difference between instalove and instalust. Just because Asad wants Ember doesn't mean he loves her. In fact, he basically wants to crush her underfoot.
Until they get to know each other, of course.
This is an intense book, both in terms of what's at stake, the violence, and frankly, the entire drug setting. I find it incredibly smart (and not the usual) for Simone to set the story around a drug empire. It made me think quite a bit of some real families we're dealing with now.
The thing is, Asad and Ember's story is ultimately one in which he falls for her because she one-ups him. He plays the game, and she plays it just as well, if not better. It tempers his lust with admiration and genuine respect. Game recognizes game.
And for all their diabolical deeds… Yeah, I believed in those crazy kids because of that.
The Sex:
SCORCHING. Less bloody than what you get in Huntsman, but no less unhinged. Asad is a classic Naima Simone dirty talker. He pushes Ember a bit, but not so much that I found it uncomfortable. Like… quite the opposite. The sex in this book is rough, but it's great to see it grow as they fall further in love.
And you do have to slow burn it a bit! Not too much. Just a tad.
The Conclusion:
Happily morally gray, fully enemies to lovers, and ready to give homage to Cinderella, Ember is ride and a half. Naima Simone is doing dark romance right!
Thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for giving me this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Heat Index: 8/10
The Basics:
When Ember's father, head of a drug empire, dies he screws her over royally—by leaving the bulk of it, even control over Ember's shares, to her stepbrother Asad. Ember hates Asad, and she hates his mother, Michelle, even more. With good reason! But she's not down for the count, and she has a trick up her sleeve: the formula for a drug she created. Unfortunately, Asad isn't that easily played, and he threatens to kill everyone Ember loves… unless she marries him. SO.
The Review:
The thing about a lot of tradpub dark romances of late is that a lot of them aren't actually that dark. It's like "I'm stalking you in a fun and cute way!" "I'm a serial killer, but only as a jape."
Naima Simone doesn't fuck with that. Her characters are brutal, ruthless, and hungry. And that isn't limited to the heroes. So many dark romances give us these sunshiney saviors or cowering milquetoasts. Like Eshe before her (in Huntsman, which you don't have to read to enjoy this one, but should because it's a ride), Ember isn't one to be toyed with. From the start, we see a cool, prepossessed woman. She knows exactly who she's playing with. She just doesn't always expect Asad to go as far as he does…
This is a true enemies to lovers romance, but it's clear so quickly that Asad WANTS Ember. He's starving for her (a Naima Simone hero is always starving, even if he doesn't want to be). But here's a quick tip, y'all: There's a big difference between instalove and instalust. Just because Asad wants Ember doesn't mean he loves her. In fact, he basically wants to crush her underfoot.
Until they get to know each other, of course.
This is an intense book, both in terms of what's at stake, the violence, and frankly, the entire drug setting. I find it incredibly smart (and not the usual) for Simone to set the story around a drug empire. It made me think quite a bit of some real families we're dealing with now.
The thing is, Asad and Ember's story is ultimately one in which he falls for her because she one-ups him. He plays the game, and she plays it just as well, if not better. It tempers his lust with admiration and genuine respect. Game recognizes game.
And for all their diabolical deeds… Yeah, I believed in those crazy kids because of that.
The Sex:
SCORCHING. Less bloody than what you get in Huntsman, but no less unhinged. Asad is a classic Naima Simone dirty talker. He pushes Ember a bit, but not so much that I found it uncomfortable. Like… quite the opposite. The sex in this book is rough, but it's great to see it grow as they fall further in love.
And you do have to slow burn it a bit! Not too much. Just a tad.
The Conclusion:
Happily morally gray, fully enemies to lovers, and ready to give homage to Cinderella, Ember is ride and a half. Naima Simone is doing dark romance right!
Thanks to Bramble and NetGalley for giving me this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Pub Date: July 14th
Premise:
After Ember's father, the CEO of a fashion empire and a more covert drug empire dies, her wicked stepbrother Asad takes over with one caveat: he has sixty days to marry, and he wants to marry Ember, not only because she's the genius behind the drugs they manufacture, and also because he's always wanted her.
My review:
The most batshit, horniest, and darkest Cinderella-inspired romance I've ever read and I mean all those words in a complimentary sense. In a time when even mafia romances are starting to feel sanitized, Naima Simone goes all-in on BOTH a hero and heroine who are morally-grey, fucked up, and twisted... which makes them perfect for each other.
In many ways, this feels like such a classic mafia romance because daddy's dead, there's a criminal empire succession crisis AND marriage contract to be fulfilled... which is how Ember is coerced into an engagement with her hot evil stepbrother and childhood tormentor Asad. Where Ember differs from your standard mafia romance heroine is that she's willingly taking part in the organized crime element— she puts her multiple degrees to good use by creating the designer drugs that fund her family's empire. Her test subjects are... deserving, and she isn't afraid to put more lethal compounds to good use. In that sense, she's Asad's perfect counterpart, even though she hates his guts FOR GOOD REASON. He was her bully growing up, and his mother, the wicked stepmother of this story, abused her. I think the dark romance of it all allows you to buy into Ember falling in love with Asad despite this, though it does take a minute— AS IT SHOULD.
Naima Simone writes moments of violence with genuine shock factor where Asad is concerned, and in a way, it feels refreshing (see: what I said earlier about sanitized mafia romances). On the other hand, he's actually pretty damn down-bad for Ember from the start, even though he kind of(?) tries to push her away... with death threats. And despite their initial enmity, his devotion to Ember almost never wavers. Almost.
The sex:
If there's one thing mafia romances love, it's a virgin and, I guess, a surprise virgin, so the sex is actually more tender than you think... dare I say, ROMANTIC, as far as sex between two stone-cold killers go, and the dirty talk is off the charts insane— I'm telling y'all, Naima is a romance author who is So Good at writing dirty talk in a way I'm seeing less and less these days.
Overall:
You want something fun (and funny!) and dark and hot, this is your book, and I would highly highly recommend you try Huntsman as well as Ember.
Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Heat Level: 4/5
Pub Date: July 14th
Premise:
After Ember's father, the CEO of a fashion empire and a more covert drug empire dies, her wicked stepbrother Asad takes over with one caveat: he has sixty days to marry, and he wants to marry Ember, not only because she's the genius behind the drugs they manufacture, and also because he's always wanted her.
My review:
The most batshit, horniest, and darkest Cinderella-inspired romance I've ever read and I mean all those words in a complimentary sense. In a time when even mafia romances are starting to feel sanitized, Naima Simone goes all-in on BOTH a hero and heroine who are morally-grey, fucked up, and twisted... which makes them perfect for each other.
In many ways, this feels like such a classic mafia romance because daddy's dead, there's a criminal empire succession crisis AND marriage contract to be fulfilled... which is how Ember is coerced into an engagement with her hot evil stepbrother and childhood tormentor Asad. Where Ember differs from your standard mafia romance heroine is that she's willingly taking part in the organized crime element— she puts her multiple degrees to good use by creating the designer drugs that fund her family's empire. Her test subjects are... deserving, and she isn't afraid to put more lethal compounds to good use. In that sense, she's Asad's perfect counterpart, even though she hates his guts FOR GOOD REASON. He was her bully growing up, and his mother, the wicked stepmother of this story, abused her. I think the dark romance of it all allows you to buy into Ember falling in love with Asad despite this, though it does take a minute— AS IT SHOULD.
Naima Simone writes moments of violence with genuine shock factor where Asad is concerned, and in a way, it feels refreshing (see: what I said earlier about sanitized mafia romances). On the other hand, he's actually pretty damn down-bad for Ember from the start, even though he kind of(?) tries to push her away... with death threats. And despite their initial enmity, his devotion to Ember almost never wavers. Almost.
The sex:
If there's one thing mafia romances love, it's a virgin and, I guess, a surprise virgin, so the sex is actually more tender than you think... dare I say, ROMANTIC, as far as sex between two stone-cold killers go, and the dirty talk is off the charts insane— I'm telling y'all, Naima is a romance author who is So Good at writing dirty talk in a way I'm seeing less and less these days.
Overall:
You want something fun (and funny!) and dark and hot, this is your book, and I would highly highly recommend you try Huntsman as well as Ember.
Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Series: The Hunted Kingdom, Book 2
Format: Audiobook (ALC)
Narrators: Myles Washington; Trei Taylor
Release: July 14
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC 🌹
🔥 Tropes
- Dark romance
- Cinderella retelling
- Villainous stepbrother
- Power struggle
- Survival heroine
- Morally dark cast
- Enemies to lovers
🎧 Narration — A Truly Cinematic Experience
Shout‑out to Macmillan Audio because this production is exceptional. I genuinely felt like I was listening to a movie the atmosphere, the clarity, the emotional layering, the pacing… everything is elevated. It’s a cinematic experience I think every audiobook listener should enjoy.
I follow Trei Taylor and Myles Washington on social media and already love their work, but what they delivered here? 🔥
Trei fully embodied Ember. Whatever she ate before recording, please eat it again. She gave Ember depth, vulnerability, strength, fear, determination all of it. I fell in love with Ember because of her performance.
Myles Washington brought a grounded, controlled intensity that made every scene land. His delivery made the morally dark characters feel intentional, layered, and deeply unsettling in the best way.
And yes even the spicy moments were handled with full emotional commitment and character integrity. Nothing felt exaggerated or out of place. They embodied the entire story from beginning to end.
Together, they delivered:
✨ 10s. 10s. 10s across the board. ✨
🌹 And this audiobook deserves its flowers!
🖤 My Thoughts
I’m not a dark‑romance girly, so when I say I liked this book? I mean it. For me to enjoy a dark romance, it has to be GOOD and this one is. Naomi Simone gives us a Cinderella retelling that’s familiar enough to hook you but far enough removed to feel fresh, sharp, and new.
Ember’s world is genuinely dark. Her stepbrother Asad has tormented her for her entire life, and now that her father is gone, he’s trying to force her into marriage to secure controlling shares of the family empire. These characters aren’t morally gray they’re morally dark, and Ember is surviving them with wit, cunning, and sheer will.
And yes… she gets her glass slipper at the end. She may do something nefarious with it 👀 but she gets it.
For my dark‑romance folks, for my fairytale‑retelling folks this is it.
For me personally, the audio is what took it to the next level. I don’t know that I would’ve loved it as much on the page, but in audio? It hits.
Format: Audiobook (ALC)
Narrators: Myles Washington; Trei Taylor
Release: July 14
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC 🌹
🔥 Tropes
- Dark romance
- Cinderella retelling
- Villainous stepbrother
- Power struggle
- Survival heroine
- Morally dark cast
- Enemies to lovers
🎧 Narration — A Truly Cinematic Experience
Shout‑out to Macmillan Audio because this production is exceptional. I genuinely felt like I was listening to a movie the atmosphere, the clarity, the emotional layering, the pacing… everything is elevated. It’s a cinematic experience I think every audiobook listener should enjoy.
I follow Trei Taylor and Myles Washington on social media and already love their work, but what they delivered here? 🔥
Trei fully embodied Ember. Whatever she ate before recording, please eat it again. She gave Ember depth, vulnerability, strength, fear, determination all of it. I fell in love with Ember because of her performance.
Myles Washington brought a grounded, controlled intensity that made every scene land. His delivery made the morally dark characters feel intentional, layered, and deeply unsettling in the best way.
And yes even the spicy moments were handled with full emotional commitment and character integrity. Nothing felt exaggerated or out of place. They embodied the entire story from beginning to end.
Together, they delivered:
✨ 10s. 10s. 10s across the board. ✨
🌹 And this audiobook deserves its flowers!
🖤 My Thoughts
I’m not a dark‑romance girly, so when I say I liked this book? I mean it. For me to enjoy a dark romance, it has to be GOOD and this one is. Naomi Simone gives us a Cinderella retelling that’s familiar enough to hook you but far enough removed to feel fresh, sharp, and new.
Ember’s world is genuinely dark. Her stepbrother Asad has tormented her for her entire life, and now that her father is gone, he’s trying to force her into marriage to secure controlling shares of the family empire. These characters aren’t morally gray they’re morally dark, and Ember is surviving them with wit, cunning, and sheer will.
And yes… she gets her glass slipper at the end. She may do something nefarious with it 👀 but she gets it.
For my dark‑romance folks, for my fairytale‑retelling folks this is it.
For me personally, the audio is what took it to the next level. I don’t know that I would’ve loved it as much on the page, but in audio? It hits.
May 13, 2026
Naima really took a classic story structure and dragged it through obsession, grief, tension, and emotional chaos in the BEST way possible because Ember had me locked in BAD.
This book was sharp. Heavy. Intense. Everybody was carrying secrets, power plays, unresolved hurt, and enough tension to set the whole story on fire. And honestly? I loved every second of it.
Ember our FMC was exactly what I needed. Smart. Angry. Guarded. She wasn’t written to be soft just to make other people comfortable, and I appreciated that. She moved like somebody who had already survived too much and learned how to weaponize silence, intelligence, and restraint. I never felt like she lost herself inside the romance either.
Now Asad…
That man was a problem from beginning to end.
Possessive. Calculated. Completely committed to making everybody miserable except Ember. The tension between them carried this constant “I shouldn’t want you, but I refuse to let you go” energy that kept me turning pages nonstop. Every conversation felt loaded. Every interaction felt like a challenge. Nobody was backing down.
And listen…Naima knows how to WRITE tension. Not just physical chemistry either. Emotional tension. Power tension. The kind where two characters are constantly testing each other to see who folds first.
What I loved most was that the story never felt one-sided. Ember matched his energy every single time. Even when the situation around her tried to strip her of control, she still found ways to reclaim pieces of herself. That balance made the relationship work for me.
Also…the atmosphere of this book? Rich people behaving horribly while dressed beautifully will always do it for me. Add in the family mess, manipulation, legacy drama, obsession, and emotional instability? Yeah. Exactly my kind of chaos.
And that ending! Absolutely not. I need to discuss it immediately because ma'am lol.
Overall, Ember was addictive, emotionally reckless, and impossible to put down finished in three days. Definitely one of my favorite darker romance reads this year.
Tropes:
• dark romance
• fairytale-inspired storyline
• arranged marriage
• enemies-to-lovers
• forced proximity
• morally gray characters
• obsessive love interest
• complicated family dynamics
• emotional tension
• power struggle romance
Thank you to NetGalley and Naima Simone for the advanced copy of Ember.
This book was sharp. Heavy. Intense. Everybody was carrying secrets, power plays, unresolved hurt, and enough tension to set the whole story on fire. And honestly? I loved every second of it.
Ember our FMC was exactly what I needed. Smart. Angry. Guarded. She wasn’t written to be soft just to make other people comfortable, and I appreciated that. She moved like somebody who had already survived too much and learned how to weaponize silence, intelligence, and restraint. I never felt like she lost herself inside the romance either.
Now Asad…
That man was a problem from beginning to end.
Possessive. Calculated. Completely committed to making everybody miserable except Ember. The tension between them carried this constant “I shouldn’t want you, but I refuse to let you go” energy that kept me turning pages nonstop. Every conversation felt loaded. Every interaction felt like a challenge. Nobody was backing down.
And listen…Naima knows how to WRITE tension. Not just physical chemistry either. Emotional tension. Power tension. The kind where two characters are constantly testing each other to see who folds first.
What I loved most was that the story never felt one-sided. Ember matched his energy every single time. Even when the situation around her tried to strip her of control, she still found ways to reclaim pieces of herself. That balance made the relationship work for me.
Also…the atmosphere of this book? Rich people behaving horribly while dressed beautifully will always do it for me. Add in the family mess, manipulation, legacy drama, obsession, and emotional instability? Yeah. Exactly my kind of chaos.
And that ending! Absolutely not. I need to discuss it immediately because ma'am lol.
Overall, Ember was addictive, emotionally reckless, and impossible to put down finished in three days. Definitely one of my favorite darker romance reads this year.
Tropes:
• dark romance
• fairytale-inspired storyline
• arranged marriage
• enemies-to-lovers
• forced proximity
• morally gray characters
• obsessive love interest
• complicated family dynamics
• emotional tension
• power struggle romance
Thank you to NetGalley and Naima Simone for the advanced copy of Ember.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you netgalley for the arc
Ember • Naima Simone
Hunted Kingdom #2
One phrase: Cinderella with a match and a mafia empire 🔥👠
Naima Simone did NOT come to play with this one.
Ember is dark, addictive, scorching, and honestly even better than book one. This is a Cinderella reimagining, but do not expect soft gowns, glass slippers, and waiting around for rescue.
Ember is not waiting for anyone.
She is the fire.
Her father dies and leaves her legacy, a multibillion dollar drug empire, to her stepbrother Asad Prince. Petty even in death? Absolutely. But Ember is not the kind of FMC who quietly accepts being erased. She is calculated, furious, brilliant, and ready to burn the whole thing down before letting anyone take what belongs to her.
And Asad?
That man is dangerous, obsessive, morally gray, and completely unhinged in the best dark romance way. He does not shrink from Ember’s power. He meets it. Challenges it. Wants it. Wants her.
The tension between these two was FERAL.
This is not a soft enemies to lovers. This is power plays, threats, secrets, forced vulnerability, arranged marriage, and two people trying to outmaneuver each other while the chemistry burns through every page.
What I loved most was how Ember refuses to bow. She is fighting for her legacy, her freedom, her identity, and her future. Asad may rule with fire, but Ember is the one holding the match.
The Cinderella inspiration was twisted in the best way. The glass slipper does not fit softly here. It cuts.
And that ending???
I did not see it coming.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🔥 dark mafia romance
👠 Cinderella reimagining
💍 arranged marriage
⚔️ enemies to lovers
🖤 morally gray FMC
😮💨 obsessive MMC
🔗 forced proximity
💀 touch him or her and die
👑 power struggle
🩸 family empire drama
🔥 step sibling tension
💔 secrets and betrayal
📚 Read this if you like:
Dark mafia romance, fairy tale retellings with teeth, powerful FMCs, obsessive morally gray men, arranged marriage chaos, and couples who turn every conversation into a battlefield.
Ember is not the damsel. She is the reckoning.
#Ember #NaimaSimone #MafiaRomance #DarkRomance #BookReview @tor @entangled
Ember • Naima Simone
Hunted Kingdom #2
One phrase: Cinderella with a match and a mafia empire 🔥👠
Naima Simone did NOT come to play with this one.
Ember is dark, addictive, scorching, and honestly even better than book one. This is a Cinderella reimagining, but do not expect soft gowns, glass slippers, and waiting around for rescue.
Ember is not waiting for anyone.
She is the fire.
Her father dies and leaves her legacy, a multibillion dollar drug empire, to her stepbrother Asad Prince. Petty even in death? Absolutely. But Ember is not the kind of FMC who quietly accepts being erased. She is calculated, furious, brilliant, and ready to burn the whole thing down before letting anyone take what belongs to her.
And Asad?
That man is dangerous, obsessive, morally gray, and completely unhinged in the best dark romance way. He does not shrink from Ember’s power. He meets it. Challenges it. Wants it. Wants her.
The tension between these two was FERAL.
This is not a soft enemies to lovers. This is power plays, threats, secrets, forced vulnerability, arranged marriage, and two people trying to outmaneuver each other while the chemistry burns through every page.
What I loved most was how Ember refuses to bow. She is fighting for her legacy, her freedom, her identity, and her future. Asad may rule with fire, but Ember is the one holding the match.
The Cinderella inspiration was twisted in the best way. The glass slipper does not fit softly here. It cuts.
And that ending???
I did not see it coming.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🔥 dark mafia romance
👠 Cinderella reimagining
💍 arranged marriage
⚔️ enemies to lovers
🖤 morally gray FMC
😮💨 obsessive MMC
🔗 forced proximity
💀 touch him or her and die
👑 power struggle
🩸 family empire drama
🔥 step sibling tension
💔 secrets and betrayal
📚 Read this if you like:
Dark mafia romance, fairy tale retellings with teeth, powerful FMCs, obsessive morally gray men, arranged marriage chaos, and couples who turn every conversation into a battlefield.
Ember is not the damsel. She is the reckoning.
#Ember #NaimaSimone #MafiaRomance #DarkRomance #BookReview @tor @entangled
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ember is a dark Cinderella retelling set in the world of the Black mafia, and it was such a fun twist on a classic story.
From the very beginning, Ember is a heroine you can't help but root for. She's spent her entire life being overlooked by her father simply because she was born a woman, despite being the person most capable of carrying on his empire. She's brilliant, determined, and refuses to let the people around her define her worth. I loved that she wasn't just surviving...she was fighting back.
And then there's Asad...
This man is the definition of a walking red flag. Morally gray? Absolutely. Completely obsessed? Without question. The chemistry between him and Ember is intense from the start, and I was hooked on their push-and-pull dynamic. The tension, the family secrets, the betrayals, and the constant power plays made this incredibly easy to binge.
One thing Naima Simone does really well is the family drama. Every chapter seemed to reveal another secret or shift the balance of power, and I never felt like I fully knew who could be trusted. Michelle, in particular, was a villain I absolutely loved to hate.
That said, I did have one major issue with the romance.
I love a "burn the world down for her" hero, but I have a much harder time when some of that damage is directed at the heroine herself. There were moments where I didn't feel like Asad fully earned Ember's forgiveness, and I struggled with how some of his past actions were explained away. Because trust is such a huge part of romance for me, I wanted a little more accountability before they reached their happily ever after.
The pacing also slowed a bit in the middle. There were stretches with a lot of conversations and maneuvering behind the scenes where I wanted the plot to move a little faster. Thankfully, the final act more than made up for it because things take a much darker turn than I was expecting.
Overall, this was dramatic, messy, emotional, and completely addictive. If you love dark romance with morally gray characters, obsessive love interests, family betrayal, high-stakes power struggles, and plenty of spice, I think you'll have a great time with this one. It's also my first Black mafia romance, and it definitely won't be my last Naima Simone book.
From the very beginning, Ember is a heroine you can't help but root for. She's spent her entire life being overlooked by her father simply because she was born a woman, despite being the person most capable of carrying on his empire. She's brilliant, determined, and refuses to let the people around her define her worth. I loved that she wasn't just surviving...she was fighting back.
And then there's Asad...
This man is the definition of a walking red flag. Morally gray? Absolutely. Completely obsessed? Without question. The chemistry between him and Ember is intense from the start, and I was hooked on their push-and-pull dynamic. The tension, the family secrets, the betrayals, and the constant power plays made this incredibly easy to binge.
One thing Naima Simone does really well is the family drama. Every chapter seemed to reveal another secret or shift the balance of power, and I never felt like I fully knew who could be trusted. Michelle, in particular, was a villain I absolutely loved to hate.
That said, I did have one major issue with the romance.
I love a "burn the world down for her" hero, but I have a much harder time when some of that damage is directed at the heroine herself. There were moments where I didn't feel like Asad fully earned Ember's forgiveness, and I struggled with how some of his past actions were explained away. Because trust is such a huge part of romance for me, I wanted a little more accountability before they reached their happily ever after.
The pacing also slowed a bit in the middle. There were stretches with a lot of conversations and maneuvering behind the scenes where I wanted the plot to move a little faster. Thankfully, the final act more than made up for it because things take a much darker turn than I was expecting.
Overall, this was dramatic, messy, emotional, and completely addictive. If you love dark romance with morally gray characters, obsessive love interests, family betrayal, high-stakes power struggles, and plenty of spice, I think you'll have a great time with this one. It's also my first Black mafia romance, and it definitely won't be my last Naima Simone book.
July 16, 2026
ARC & ALC Review
📚 Book Title: Ember
✍🏽Author: Naima Simone
🎙️Narrator(s): Trei Taylor & Myles Washington
📕 Format: 🎧&📱
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶 Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🕑Quick Take:
As the legitimate heir to the House of Cross and The Cross Corporation, Ember Belle Cross was betrayed by her father, Marcus Cross, who died and left his estate and multibillion-dollar company to her stepbrother, Asad Grayson Prince. He was her bully, her arch nemesis and remains her mortal enemy.
Asad is happy Marcus is out of the way and will do anything to protect what he believes belongs to him. HE was Marcus’ right-hand man. He will go for blood…literally! He is crafty and strategic, but there is one more demand he has up his sleeve Ember must marry him in one month!
✨ Tropes:
- Cinderella Fairy Tale Reimagining
- Enemies to Lovers
- Arranged Marriage
- Touch Them & Die
- Morally Grey MCs
🎭 Narration:
Trei Taylor and Myles Washington never disappoint! I believe they were the best pairing for this novel. Myles delivered as Asad, and I loved Tre’s energy and playful delivery as Ember. Their performance was absolutely stellar!
⚠️ Heads Up:
- Mature Themes (18+)
- Drug Manufacturing & Recreational Drug Use
- Childhood Abuse, Neglect, & Bullying (off-page)
- Human Experiments
- Mental Health Rep: Intermittent Explosive Disorder
💭Final Thoughts:
This was my most anticipated summer read and it didn’t disappoint. After finishing Huntsman last year, I was so excited for Ember. I enjoy reimagined fairy tales, and Simone always delivers. Like Huntsman, it was engaging, with action, suspense, romance, and justifiable murder. 🤷🏽♀️ The mafia scenes were vivid. The banter was bantering, and the tension was palpable. Asad is really that dude—BDE, unhinged, and a true boss. Ember was complex, guarded but brilliant. Simone skillfully integrated every aspect of Cinderella—from mice to the glass slipper. Highly recommend to fans who love dark mafia romances and reimagined fairy tales.
Thanks to @brambleromance and @Macmillan.Audio for the ARC and ALC!
#Ember #NaimaSimone #TreiTaylor #MylesWashing
📚 Book Title: Ember
✍🏽Author: Naima Simone
🎙️Narrator(s): Trei Taylor & Myles Washington
📕 Format: 🎧&📱
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶 Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🕑Quick Take:
As the legitimate heir to the House of Cross and The Cross Corporation, Ember Belle Cross was betrayed by her father, Marcus Cross, who died and left his estate and multibillion-dollar company to her stepbrother, Asad Grayson Prince. He was her bully, her arch nemesis and remains her mortal enemy.
Asad is happy Marcus is out of the way and will do anything to protect what he believes belongs to him. HE was Marcus’ right-hand man. He will go for blood…literally! He is crafty and strategic, but there is one more demand he has up his sleeve Ember must marry him in one month!
✨ Tropes:
- Cinderella Fairy Tale Reimagining
- Enemies to Lovers
- Arranged Marriage
- Touch Them & Die
- Morally Grey MCs
🎭 Narration:
Trei Taylor and Myles Washington never disappoint! I believe they were the best pairing for this novel. Myles delivered as Asad, and I loved Tre’s energy and playful delivery as Ember. Their performance was absolutely stellar!
⚠️ Heads Up:
- Mature Themes (18+)
- Drug Manufacturing & Recreational Drug Use
- Childhood Abuse, Neglect, & Bullying (off-page)
- Human Experiments
- Mental Health Rep: Intermittent Explosive Disorder
💭Final Thoughts:
This was my most anticipated summer read and it didn’t disappoint. After finishing Huntsman last year, I was so excited for Ember. I enjoy reimagined fairy tales, and Simone always delivers. Like Huntsman, it was engaging, with action, suspense, romance, and justifiable murder. 🤷🏽♀️ The mafia scenes were vivid. The banter was bantering, and the tension was palpable. Asad is really that dude—BDE, unhinged, and a true boss. Ember was complex, guarded but brilliant. Simone skillfully integrated every aspect of Cinderella—from mice to the glass slipper. Highly recommend to fans who love dark mafia romances and reimagined fairy tales.
Thanks to @brambleromance and @Macmillan.Audio for the ARC and ALC!
#Ember #NaimaSimone #TreiTaylor #MylesWashing
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into this book completely blind and honestly? That made the experience even better. I was initially a little disappointed when I realized it wasn’t directly interconnected with the first book, but that feeling disappeared almost immediately once Ember and Asad took over the page.
Naima has a gift for writing fiercely independent women, and Ember might be one of my favorites yet. She’s sharp, relentless, and refuses to break under the weight of the world around her. Whether she’s protecting her business, defending her legacy, or standing toe-to-toe with monsters in tailored suits, she commands every scene she’s in.
But Asad? That man was spiraling in the best way possible.
Because the story is told through dual POVs, we get a front-row seat to the absolute chaos happening in his mind whenever Ember is involved. His devotion is dark, obsessive, and borderline destructive—but there’s something deeply captivating about watching a man completely lose himself over a woman who refuses to be owned.
The arranged marriage trope was executed perfectly here. It wasn’t just forced proximity—it was forced honesty, forced vulnerability, and two people being pushed into confronting parts of themselves they’d rather keep buried. Every conversation felt sharp-edged and emotionally charged, and the tension between them was addictive from beginning to end.
I also loved the Cinderella reimagining woven throughout the story. The references were subtle enough to feel clever rather than gimmicky, while still adding an extra layer of depth to the darker mafia setting. This isn’t a soft fairytale, though. Ember isn’t waiting to be rescued she is the reckoning. And the glass slipper? Here, it cuts.
Underneath all the violence, power plays, and intensity is a surprisingly emotional story about identity, autonomy, grief, and love twisted into something dangerous. Both Ember and Asad experience genuine internal growth, and watching them choose each other despite all the damage was one of the strongest parts of the book.
Naima has a gift for writing fiercely independent women, and Ember might be one of my favorites yet. She’s sharp, relentless, and refuses to break under the weight of the world around her. Whether she’s protecting her business, defending her legacy, or standing toe-to-toe with monsters in tailored suits, she commands every scene she’s in.
But Asad? That man was spiraling in the best way possible.
Because the story is told through dual POVs, we get a front-row seat to the absolute chaos happening in his mind whenever Ember is involved. His devotion is dark, obsessive, and borderline destructive—but there’s something deeply captivating about watching a man completely lose himself over a woman who refuses to be owned.
The arranged marriage trope was executed perfectly here. It wasn’t just forced proximity—it was forced honesty, forced vulnerability, and two people being pushed into confronting parts of themselves they’d rather keep buried. Every conversation felt sharp-edged and emotionally charged, and the tension between them was addictive from beginning to end.
I also loved the Cinderella reimagining woven throughout the story. The references were subtle enough to feel clever rather than gimmicky, while still adding an extra layer of depth to the darker mafia setting. This isn’t a soft fairytale, though. Ember isn’t waiting to be rescued she is the reckoning. And the glass slipper? Here, it cuts.
Underneath all the violence, power plays, and intensity is a surprisingly emotional story about identity, autonomy, grief, and love twisted into something dangerous. Both Ember and Asad experience genuine internal growth, and watching them choose each other despite all the damage was one of the strongest parts of the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars!
I picked this one up because I'm a complete sucker for modern fairy tale retellings, and Naima Simone absolutely commits to transforming Cinderella into something dark, violent, and completely unhinged.
My first piece of advice?
Read the trigger warnings.
Seriously.
I knew this would be dark, but I still wasn't fully prepared for just how morally questionable these characters would be. I initially assumed Ember would be the quiet, broken heroine simply trying to survive years of abuse and neglect.
I could not have been more wrong.
Ember is just as dangerous and unpredictable as Asad, and once I realized that years of abuse, neglect, and trauma had shaped them both into deeply damaged, morally unhinged people, I had a much better time settling into the story.
The strongest aspect of this book is easily the chemistry.
Asad and Ember bounce between fantasizing about killing one another and ripping each other's clothes off, and somehow Naima makes that emotional whiplash work. Their enemies-to-lovers tension is incredibly hot, and Asad's obsession with Ember becomes more compelling the deeper you get into the story.
I also loved how many Cinderella elements Naima wove into the plot. From the evil stepmother to the ball and even the missing glass slipper, there are plenty of clever nods to the original fairy tale while still making this story feel entirely its own.
Where the book fell a bit short for me was the depth.
The power struggle surrounding the family's criminal empire, the fashion business, and even the designer drug storyline all had interesting potential but mostly stayed in the background. Likewise, I found myself wanting more exploration of Ember's psychological state and Asad's criminal world rather than simply watching events unfold.
The ending also wrapped up much faster than I expected, though I appreciated that the story reached a satisfying conclusion instead of ending on a cliffhanger.
*I received an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I picked this one up because I'm a complete sucker for modern fairy tale retellings, and Naima Simone absolutely commits to transforming Cinderella into something dark, violent, and completely unhinged.
My first piece of advice?
Read the trigger warnings.
Seriously.
I knew this would be dark, but I still wasn't fully prepared for just how morally questionable these characters would be. I initially assumed Ember would be the quiet, broken heroine simply trying to survive years of abuse and neglect.
I could not have been more wrong.
Ember is just as dangerous and unpredictable as Asad, and once I realized that years of abuse, neglect, and trauma had shaped them both into deeply damaged, morally unhinged people, I had a much better time settling into the story.
The strongest aspect of this book is easily the chemistry.
Asad and Ember bounce between fantasizing about killing one another and ripping each other's clothes off, and somehow Naima makes that emotional whiplash work. Their enemies-to-lovers tension is incredibly hot, and Asad's obsession with Ember becomes more compelling the deeper you get into the story.
I also loved how many Cinderella elements Naima wove into the plot. From the evil stepmother to the ball and even the missing glass slipper, there are plenty of clever nods to the original fairy tale while still making this story feel entirely its own.
Where the book fell a bit short for me was the depth.
The power struggle surrounding the family's criminal empire, the fashion business, and even the designer drug storyline all had interesting potential but mostly stayed in the background. Likewise, I found myself wanting more exploration of Ember's psychological state and Asad's criminal world rather than simply watching events unfold.
The ending also wrapped up much faster than I expected, though I appreciated that the story reached a satisfying conclusion instead of ending on a cliffhanger.
*I received an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ember is book two in the Hunted Kingdom series. This is a dark mafia romance that releases July 14, 2026, and while each book in the series can technically be read as a standalone, I am once again going to mind your business and tell you to read them all. I do not care what order you choose. Just read them, ‘cause who does not love forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and morally gray chaos on both sides? Fools. That’s who.
Naima, your creativity in this series is unreal. The way you take fairy-tale elements and twist them into something this unhinged, this modern, and this addictive has made a fiend outta me. The worldbuilding continues to eat. Designer drugs like Glass Slipper, Fairy Dust, and HEA. A mafia empire built on power, control, and calculated chaos. And in the middle of it all, Ember stands as both product and architect of that world.
At this point, I need the whole rainbow. We got red. We got blue. I am grateful, but I am also greedy. Keep them colors coming. PLEASE!
Now let’s talk about Ember.
Ember’s layers demand you pay attention. Living with Intermittent Explosive Disorder since childhood, everything about her reactions, her emotions, and her control is intentional and real.
And then we have the romance dynamic.
This is an enemies-to-lovers, tangled up in desire and resentment that never fully cancel each other out. The slow burn had me simpering because the tension is constant. But GOTDAMN... the revelation that your tormentor might also be your protector does a lil’ sum’n sum’n extra to a reader like me.
Now, my favorite trope of them all. Found MFing Family. Gus. Perla. Jaq. The loyalty, the support, the ride or die energy. It grounds the story.
This book leans fully into darkness, but it never loses its emotional core. Under all the rage, the power plays, and the obsession, there is healing. There is protection. There is someone choosing you, even when everything is messy and complicated and a little bit toxic, too.
So, Naima. Here I am, again, asking for the rest of the rainbow.
Naima, your creativity in this series is unreal. The way you take fairy-tale elements and twist them into something this unhinged, this modern, and this addictive has made a fiend outta me. The worldbuilding continues to eat. Designer drugs like Glass Slipper, Fairy Dust, and HEA. A mafia empire built on power, control, and calculated chaos. And in the middle of it all, Ember stands as both product and architect of that world.
At this point, I need the whole rainbow. We got red. We got blue. I am grateful, but I am also greedy. Keep them colors coming. PLEASE!
Now let’s talk about Ember.
Ember’s layers demand you pay attention. Living with Intermittent Explosive Disorder since childhood, everything about her reactions, her emotions, and her control is intentional and real.
And then we have the romance dynamic.
This is an enemies-to-lovers, tangled up in desire and resentment that never fully cancel each other out. The slow burn had me simpering because the tension is constant. But GOTDAMN... the revelation that your tormentor might also be your protector does a lil’ sum’n sum’n extra to a reader like me.
Now, my favorite trope of them all. Found MFing Family. Gus. Perla. Jaq. The loyalty, the support, the ride or die energy. It grounds the story.
This book leans fully into darkness, but it never loses its emotional core. Under all the rage, the power plays, and the obsession, there is healing. There is protection. There is someone choosing you, even when everything is messy and complicated and a little bit toxic, too.
So, Naima. Here I am, again, asking for the rest of the rainbow.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and author Naima Simone, for providing me with the ALC of “Ember”.
Firstly, this is DARK, with a huge capital. So please go to the triggers and make sure you can handle it. Proceed with caution on my thoughts, there will be spoilers!
💭My Thoughts
I had a moment where I was going to DNF at the beginning. One thing I don't like is animal torture, but then Ember described who she was torturing and I was sold. So this is me telling you, to give it a moment before really deciding. Not everything is as it seems in the beginning.
Let's talk about it. Asad, is made to be ruler of the mafia but he could use a lesson or two about manipulation. The mom, she's got to go ... ... (IYKYK). I was screaming through this audiobook about not liking that women. Anyway, I really liked his character and how he showed his perspective on the abuse Ember went through in her earlier years.
Ember, our sweet (not really) girl. She went through it, like no under, no reprieve she went through it from 12 to now. And if she hadn't turned out to be the bad@ss I don't know how she would have survived. I ate up every second of her and her journey to get out ... and then for what happens when she's still in.
I would love a novella for these two, maybe a spicy little holiday scene years later. Just saying, I would read it!
🎙️Myles and Trei did an amazing job with this story. The tone, cadence and overall yes was there for this audio. I highly recommend the audiobook or immersive reading this one. The spice alone is so much better with these two in your ears.
❣️Tropes❣️
DARK Romance
Mafia
Retelling
Enemies to Lovers
Arranged Marriage
Forced Proximity
Morally Black MMC & FMC
Touch Her And Die
Forbidden: Step Siblings
Virgin FMC
🩵RATING🩵
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
🎧 Dual Narration 10h 18m at 2x
🎙️Myles Washington and Trei Taylor
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Firstly, this is DARK, with a huge capital. So please go to the triggers and make sure you can handle it. Proceed with caution on my thoughts, there will be spoilers!
💭My Thoughts
I had a moment where I was going to DNF at the beginning. One thing I don't like is animal torture, but then Ember described who she was torturing and I was sold. So this is me telling you, to give it a moment before really deciding. Not everything is as it seems in the beginning.
Let's talk about it. Asad, is made to be ruler of the mafia but he could use a lesson or two about manipulation. The mom, she's got to go ... ... (IYKYK). I was screaming through this audiobook about not liking that women. Anyway, I really liked his character and how he showed his perspective on the abuse Ember went through in her earlier years.
Ember, our sweet (not really) girl. She went through it, like no under, no reprieve she went through it from 12 to now. And if she hadn't turned out to be the bad@ss I don't know how she would have survived. I ate up every second of her and her journey to get out ... and then for what happens when she's still in.
I would love a novella for these two, maybe a spicy little holiday scene years later. Just saying, I would read it!
🎙️Myles and Trei did an amazing job with this story. The tone, cadence and overall yes was there for this audio. I highly recommend the audiobook or immersive reading this one. The spice alone is so much better with these two in your ears.
❣️Tropes❣️
DARK Romance
Mafia
Retelling
Enemies to Lovers
Arranged Marriage
Forced Proximity
Morally Black MMC & FMC
Touch Her And Die
Forbidden: Step Siblings
Virgin FMC
🩵RATING🩵
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
🎧 Dual Narration 10h 18m at 2x
🎙️Myles Washington and Trei Taylor
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
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