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The Wicked Trilogy #2
Loving the Wicked
Win a free print copy of this book!
5 days and 13:20:29
15 copies available
U.S. only
DELUXE EDITION–featuring gorgeous deep turquoise sprayed edges!
The next exciting novel in Rebecca Johnpee's Wicked trilogy where dark steamy mafia romance meets heist thriller.
Elio
They say obsession is a weakness. But I’ve never been stronger. No distractions. No softness. No Zahra.
Until she returns.
She’s trouble wrapped in a fantasy, and even as she threatens everything I've built, I find myself falling.
And for the first time in my life, I don’t want to stop.
Zahra
I’ve waited years for this.
Every lie, every con, every stolen secret has led me to the endgame.
Just as everything begins to fall into place, a ghost from my past appears. Now the clock is ticking. And if I make the wrong move, I won’t just lose the man I’m falling in love with.
I’ll lose everything.
Loving The Wicked is slow burn mafia meets heist romance that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.
Loving the Wicked
*Second chance
*Revenge
*Who did this to you?
*Touch her/him and die.
*Morally gray MMCs
*Found Family
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The next exciting novel in Rebecca Johnpee's Wicked trilogy where dark steamy mafia romance meets heist thriller.
Elio
They say obsession is a weakness. But I’ve never been stronger. No distractions. No softness. No Zahra.
Until she returns.
She’s trouble wrapped in a fantasy, and even as she threatens everything I've built, I find myself falling.
And for the first time in my life, I don’t want to stop.
Zahra
I’ve waited years for this.
Every lie, every con, every stolen secret has led me to the endgame.
Just as everything begins to fall into place, a ghost from my past appears. Now the clock is ticking. And if I make the wrong move, I won’t just lose the man I’m falling in love with.
I’ll lose everything.
Loving The Wicked is slow burn mafia meets heist romance that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.
Loving the Wicked
*Second chance
*Revenge
*Who did this to you?
*Touch her/him and die.
*Morally gray MMCs
*Found Family
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Rebecca Johnpee
7 books399 followersUSA Today Bestselling author, Rebecca Johnpee, has been daydreaming epic, too-good-to-be-true scenarios since she discovered the magic in imagination. Once she found the art of putting those vivid scenarios on paper, she set out to make sure her characters found a home in the hearts of readers. Today, she writes romance across multiple genres, letting whichever story calls to her lead the way.
When she’s not busy crafting new worlds, Rebecca is planning her next adventure to island countries, where she can indulge in her love for the ocean, meet new people, and immerse herself in different cultures.
When she’s not busy crafting new worlds, Rebecca is planning her next adventure to island countries, where she can indulge in her love for the ocean, meet new people, and immerse herself in different cultures.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ For Elio, Zahra remains trouble and paradise, his greatest weakness...and she continuous to threaten everything he's built, including the mental walls that he's secured for years with ease. Yet he finds these walls starting to develop cracks and chipped paint...it's only a matter of time before his walls are completely shattered and there is a point of no return for him. She is his ENDGAME.
Loving the Wicked picks up with the cliffhanger that made my jaw drop at the end of book one. The story continues but on a much DARKER notes that I was NOT ready for! It carries all the elements of book one but with more pulse and twisted, hidden agendas that in my opinion were so cruel, dangerous and shocking...this book consumed me. The drama in this book is simply complicated and it only amplified the emotional stakes. The heist becomes really dangerous... not just physically dangerous but emotionally damaging and obsessive for both Elio and Zahra--the best way to literally compare it to--is that to a deadly volcanic eruption but followed by a tsunami. Just when you think you can relax and process all the dark themes, you are once again engulfed by another storm. That last REVEAL messed with my head!
AN AUDIOBOOK is the way to go with this series. You really need to hear the FERVOR in Marcio Catalano's voice and his rhythms and tones and pitches and his whispers..my goodness it's so distinctive and REALLY elevates the experience. He's like the Teddy Hamilton of Fourth Wing/Iron Flame and the Antony Palmini of ACOTAR and Quicksilver. His narration style is emotion-heavy and all the spice, steamy scenes .. NO NOTES.
Jaclyn Kelso who reads Zahra.. girl you need an award for how MORALLY GRAY you are...seriously.. Zahra's character is on another level. She's kind of the bad girl-turned-vigilante in this book but still emotionally damaging. I love them together. They are so toxic for each-other but at the same time they deserve to be together because they are like MOTHS TO A FLAME. Despite everything that happens along the road...they are crawling back to eachother.
You are not ready for HOW book 2 ends...
Narrators: Jaclyn Kelso, Marcio Catalano
Duration: 12 hours 52 min
Speed 1.5x
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Rebecca Johnpee for an early ALC!
Publication date: June 9, 2026
Loving the Wicked picks up with the cliffhanger that made my jaw drop at the end of book one. The story continues but on a much DARKER notes that I was NOT ready for! It carries all the elements of book one but with more pulse and twisted, hidden agendas that in my opinion were so cruel, dangerous and shocking...this book consumed me. The drama in this book is simply complicated and it only amplified the emotional stakes. The heist becomes really dangerous... not just physically dangerous but emotionally damaging and obsessive for both Elio and Zahra--the best way to literally compare it to--is that to a deadly volcanic eruption but followed by a tsunami. Just when you think you can relax and process all the dark themes, you are once again engulfed by another storm. That last REVEAL messed with my head!
AN AUDIOBOOK is the way to go with this series. You really need to hear the FERVOR in Marcio Catalano's voice and his rhythms and tones and pitches and his whispers..my goodness it's so distinctive and REALLY elevates the experience. He's like the Teddy Hamilton of Fourth Wing/Iron Flame and the Antony Palmini of ACOTAR and Quicksilver. His narration style is emotion-heavy and all the spice, steamy scenes .. NO NOTES.
Jaclyn Kelso who reads Zahra.. girl you need an award for how MORALLY GRAY you are...seriously.. Zahra's character is on another level. She's kind of the bad girl-turned-vigilante in this book but still emotionally damaging. I love them together. They are so toxic for each-other but at the same time they deserve to be together because they are like MOTHS TO A FLAME. Despite everything that happens along the road...they are crawling back to eachother.
You are not ready for HOW book 2 ends...
Narrators: Jaclyn Kelso, Marcio Catalano
Duration: 12 hours 52 min
Speed 1.5x
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Rebecca Johnpee for an early ALC!
Publication date: June 9, 2026
June 15, 2026
⋆✮ 𝗣𝗥𝗘-𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 ✮⋆
Omg how am I just seeing this?! There’s a title already?! I CAN’T WAIT!!
⋆✮ 𝗣𝗥𝗘-𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 ✮⋆
Oh my God, It’s happening! I finally get to read this!? How awesome is that!
❮❮❮❮ 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 ❯❯❯❯
"𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥."
IMMEDIATELY YES!
“𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯.”
Trust me I AM PREPARED! Give me EVERYTHING!
🚨𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 🚨
Spoilers ahead‼️You should stop reading here if you have not read this book. I did NOT hold back with my thoughts!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
❮❮❮❮ 𝗠𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗢, 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 ❯❯❯❯
Can we talk about the prologue??
What sort of manipulation was that??
God, his father is evil.
The way he managed to deflect from a very serious situation and somehow make it all about Elio is INSANE.
He is depressed. SO WHAT?! Leave him tf alone! What an abusive, manipulative fucker!
That man has his claws in Elio so bad, it is heartbreaking to see.
I am sad and enraged!
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗙𝗜𝗔 𝗕𝗢𝗦𝗦 ❯❯❯❯
One of the things I love about Elio is how powerful he is and how graceful he is with it.
His power is silent but deadly.
He doesn’t need to threaten you with words, he just fucking does it.
It is so freaking hot, it has me putty in his hands. Like damn!
His silence and aura do the talking.
He doesn’t have to do too much, but rest assured everyone is trembling in fear.
I can fucking feel it through my Kindle.
I am amazed. The Wicked fr🔥
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢, 𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
So, my ruthless mafia boss wanted to cuddle.
CUDDLE.
He wanted to cuddle Zahra but didn't because.. she doesn't cuddle??
Oh my God. My baby🥺
Zahra, go cuddle that man RIGHT NOW.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
Elio is so fucking cute, man.
(I don’t think he’s going to appreciate me using this word to describe him but whatever!)
That man spent an ENTIRE NIGHT brooding over his relationship status with Zahra.
All. Fucking. Night.
Bro was fighting demons because he wanted to put a label on things.
Bloody hell.
I need a man like E😭💖
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢, 𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗔𝗗 𝗦𝗔𝗗 𝗕𝗢𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
E is such a sad sad boy
Bad things always happen to him on his birthday.
Always.
So now he just... anticipates it?
Like bad things happening on his birthday is a scheduled event??
Oh, my heart 💔
Rebecca, you need to pay for my therapy 😭
❮❮❮❮ 𝗜 𝗔𝗠 𝗨𝗡𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 ❯❯❯❯
Chapter 30 broke me.
My baby has been suffering for so long.
The torment he endured.
God 💔
He has been going through so much and keeping it all to himself.
Something is happening in my chest. I think I'm having heartburn. Or is it my heart breaking?
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗥𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
Zahra is so freakin hot.
She is literally a goddess who knows her onions, I can't get enough of her.
That dance scene was TOP TIER.
I love everything about it.
I can practically imagine Elio's veins popping out of his forehead.
So messy.
I love it!🤭🤭
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗖𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
It is how Zahra refers to mafia men as "Cassie" and "Angie."
Does she secretly laugh after calling them that?
Because there's no way 😂😂
The disrespect.
I am crying.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 ❯❯❯❯
With Zahra, you have no peace of mind.
I can't fucking blink for a second without her doing some crazy shit.
Like, what are you doing again??
She keeps me on my fucking toes.
I'm scared of her and for her at this point.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔 𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 ❯❯❯❯
Zahra is MOTHER.
An absolute badass and a force to be reckoned with.
She gets shit done and should not be messed with.
She had Elio on his knees.
That man called her ma'am. IN BED.
She is so mommy.
She stimulated him to the point he used his safe word and said:
“𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦.”
The irony😂
I will never recover from the red scene!
❮❮❮❮ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡 ❯❯❯❯
Elio is known as The Wicked.
But he calls Zahra a wicked woman because she indeed is.
The Wicked and his Wicked Woman.
Yeah. I'm obsessed.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔 𝗚𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗘𝗦 ❯❯❯❯
With Zahra, I genuinely do not know what is true and what is not.
That girl had me doubting everything.
EVERYTHING.
She gave me trust issues.
Talk about being a complex baddie with layers upon layers.
Will we ever get to peel them all?
At this point, I don't know whether to trust her, fear her, or admire her.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗭𝗬 𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗖𝗛 ❯❯❯❯
Can we talk about when Zahra thought she got cheated on and was so upset she went to find the girl??
I was CRYING.
It was so fucking funny.
But I was also scared.
Because Zahra is one crazy bitch.
With her, funny situations can become dangerous in the blink of an eye!
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
My heart bleeds for Zahra.
The horrors that girl has been through...
Manuel belongs to the hottest place of hell.
The lives of these characters are just so sad it is ripping my heart out.
Why do bad things happen to people? Why do people have to live this way?
I wish I could fix everything for them, and take their sadness and hurt away.
Oh my baby.
You deserved so much better💔
❮❮❮❮ 𝗢𝗛, 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
It is so satisfying when an aloof mafia boss is rattled by an FMC.
When he so desperately wants to forget her but cannot for the life of him stop thinking about her.
When there is tension in the air and everyone around him is tiptoeing because they can sense something is wrong and no one wants to risk setting the bomb off.
It is so cuteee 😭 I am laughing at the expense of Elio's misery but I can't help it.
And it is even more satisfying because Zahra is the same.
They are in their own worlds, doing their own thing, yet they cannot stop thinking about each other and almost everything becomes a reminder of each other.
So adorable. I ate it up.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 ❯❯❯❯
There are times when I feel so serene and happy while reading this.
Like I want to keep reading forever and never run out of pages.
For instance, when he broke his rule and kissed her?
I WAS IN HEAVEN. There is no feeling greater than this.
It was fucking perfect.
Ahhh 🤭🦋💖
❮❮❮❮ 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗥𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 ❯❯❯❯
One thing I really loved was watching them try.
Despite everything they believe. Despite everything they have been through. Despite every reason not to.
They still try.
I love how Elio ignores his instincts and chooses Zahra instead. Something he normally would never do.
And Zahra does the same.
You can clearly tell they are new to this whole ‘committed relationship’ thing.
They discover new things about themselves. They make mistakes. They get into arguments.
But most importantly? They resolve them like adults.
I loved that.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
I would like to say again that I LOVE the way they communicate.
Whenever there is conflict, they talk. Whenever there is a problem, they work through it.
Like adults.
Do you know how refreshing that is??
This is a healthy relationship and I love them so much 😭💖
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗢, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗥𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
Protective Elio is to die for.
But jealous and possessive Elio? A fucking dream🤭
It is so cute how 𝘛𝘏𝘈𝘛 𝘔𝘈𝘕 irritates him and he doesn't even want to hear his name (Iykyk)
And can we talk about how far Elio went to protect Zahra? Even from her own damn team.
The man was keeping secrets. Taking risks. Making sacrifices.
All for Zahra.
She is constantly at the forefront of his mind. She always comes first.
He’s so thoughtful and attentive, I CAN’T.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔 𝗖𝗥𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
I love how Elio doesn't play when it comes to Zahra.
One moment Zahra is crying. The next moment someone's entire life is being ruined.
Lesson of the day: Don't make Zahra cry.
And, Elio is so intense, he scares me sometimes.
By now, everyone should be aware that touching or hurting Zahra equals death.
Don't even breathe too close to her or Elio is going to unalive you.
Zahra isn't even allowed to hurt herself. It is THAT serious.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠 𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
A moment for this scene, please.
In fact, let me go reread it.
My babies🥹❤️
❮❮❮❮ 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦, 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗥 ❯❯❯❯
These two are soulmates.
Imagine two tortured souls meeting.
Two broken, sad people.
And somehow they make each other's lives better. They understand, choose and find comfort in each other. No matter what happens, they still find their way back home.
And if that isn't soulmate behavior, then I don't know what is✨
❮❮❮❮ 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗥𝗢 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗟𝗢, 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
Can we discuss these two for a second? The PINING. Omg
One is completely obsessed, the other is oblivious. And the tension was tensioning.
Keep feeding us, Rebecca! I can’t get enough🤭
❮❮❮❮ 𝗥𝗘𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗖𝗔, 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡 ❯❯❯❯
Dear Rebecca, I have a gentle request to make.
Can I get Book 3? Like RIGHT NOW?!
Because what was that ending???
I am expected to go about my day with a cliffhanger like that? To continue functioning and be a productive member of society?
I think NOT.
I've reread the last chapter multiple times like it was going to magically generate an extra chapter. It did not.
I checked.
December 1st can’t come fast enough!
°❀⋆. 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦: 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 °❀⋆.
This book is everything and more. I am obsessed. I am under a spell I do not wish to be freed from.
From the first page to the last, I had no peace. It was like a fucking marathon. The suspense, the schemes, the twists, the lies... I kept on questioning everything. I didn’t get a break. Every time I thought I had figured something out, I was proven wrong.
I think everyone should experience this book at least once.
When I think of dark or mafia romance, this series immediately comes to mind. It is one of those books that reminds me why I love reading. I love when I can’t pry my hands away from a book, when I keep saying "just one more chapter" until suddenly it's 3 a.m. and I'm questioning my life choices.
But beyond the suspense and chaos, it was the characters that had me in a chokehold.
Elio and Zahra are everything.
Elio is my perfect boy. Beneath all that power and ruthlessness is someone who has endured so much pain in silence. I want to wrap him in my arms and protect him from the world. Watching him learn to trust, love, and let someone in healed something in me.
Zarah is amazing. My beautiful menace. She is a badass FMC who can hold her own, and keeps everyone on their toes. But beyond that, she is just a girl🥺
Together, they are iconic. I loved watching them navigate their feelings, work through conflict, and choose each other over and over again. No matter what they faced, they still found their way back home.
I also appreciate the humor woven into this story. The sprinkle of humor amongst all that heartbreak; to balance things out. It was clever and I enjoyed it. One moment my heart is breaking. The next moment I am laughing. Then I am sad again. Then laughing again. It is emotional whiplash, but make it enjoyable.
After the last page, I was left staring at the wall.
In other words, my jaw was on the floor and my heart was in my throat.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be counting down the days until Book 3.
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Dark Romance
Mafia romance
Found Family
Mental Health
Second Chance
Abuse
Secrets
Trauma
Street Queen X Mafia Boss
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧🎧🎧🎧
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Omg how am I just seeing this?! There’s a title already?! I CAN’T WAIT!!
⋆✮ 𝗣𝗥𝗘-𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 ✮⋆
Oh my God, It’s happening! I finally get to read this!? How awesome is that!
❮❮❮❮ 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 ❯❯❯❯
"𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥."
IMMEDIATELY YES!
“𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯.”
Trust me I AM PREPARED! Give me EVERYTHING!
🚨𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 🚨
Spoilers ahead‼️You should stop reading here if you have not read this book. I did NOT hold back with my thoughts!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
❮❮❮❮ 𝗠𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗢, 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 ❯❯❯❯
Can we talk about the prologue??
What sort of manipulation was that??
God, his father is evil.
The way he managed to deflect from a very serious situation and somehow make it all about Elio is INSANE.
He is depressed. SO WHAT?! Leave him tf alone! What an abusive, manipulative fucker!
That man has his claws in Elio so bad, it is heartbreaking to see.
I am sad and enraged!
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗙𝗜𝗔 𝗕𝗢𝗦𝗦 ❯❯❯❯
One of the things I love about Elio is how powerful he is and how graceful he is with it.
His power is silent but deadly.
He doesn’t need to threaten you with words, he just fucking does it.
It is so freaking hot, it has me putty in his hands. Like damn!
His silence and aura do the talking.
He doesn’t have to do too much, but rest assured everyone is trembling in fear.
I can fucking feel it through my Kindle.
I am amazed. The Wicked fr🔥
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢, 𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
So, my ruthless mafia boss wanted to cuddle.
CUDDLE.
He wanted to cuddle Zahra but didn't because.. she doesn't cuddle??
Oh my God. My baby🥺
Zahra, go cuddle that man RIGHT NOW.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
Elio is so fucking cute, man.
(I don’t think he’s going to appreciate me using this word to describe him but whatever!)
That man spent an ENTIRE NIGHT brooding over his relationship status with Zahra.
All. Fucking. Night.
Bro was fighting demons because he wanted to put a label on things.
Bloody hell.
I need a man like E😭💖
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢, 𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗔𝗗 𝗦𝗔𝗗 𝗕𝗢𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
E is such a sad sad boy
Bad things always happen to him on his birthday.
Always.
So now he just... anticipates it?
Like bad things happening on his birthday is a scheduled event??
Oh, my heart 💔
Rebecca, you need to pay for my therapy 😭
❮❮❮❮ 𝗜 𝗔𝗠 𝗨𝗡𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 ❯❯❯❯
Chapter 30 broke me.
My baby has been suffering for so long.
The torment he endured.
God 💔
He has been going through so much and keeping it all to himself.
Something is happening in my chest. I think I'm having heartburn. Or is it my heart breaking?
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗥𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
Zahra is so freakin hot.
She is literally a goddess who knows her onions, I can't get enough of her.
That dance scene was TOP TIER.
I love everything about it.
I can practically imagine Elio's veins popping out of his forehead.
So messy.
I love it!🤭🤭
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗖𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
It is how Zahra refers to mafia men as "Cassie" and "Angie."
Does she secretly laugh after calling them that?
Because there's no way 😂😂
The disrespect.
I am crying.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡 ❯❯❯❯
With Zahra, you have no peace of mind.
I can't fucking blink for a second without her doing some crazy shit.
Like, what are you doing again??
She keeps me on my fucking toes.
I'm scared of her and for her at this point.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔 𝗜𝗦 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 ❯❯❯❯
Zahra is MOTHER.
An absolute badass and a force to be reckoned with.
She gets shit done and should not be messed with.
She had Elio on his knees.
That man called her ma'am. IN BED.
She is so mommy.
She stimulated him to the point he used his safe word and said:
“𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦.”
The irony😂
I will never recover from the red scene!
❮❮❮❮ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡 ❯❯❯❯
Elio is known as The Wicked.
But he calls Zahra a wicked woman because she indeed is.
The Wicked and his Wicked Woman.
Yeah. I'm obsessed.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔 𝗚𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗘𝗦 ❯❯❯❯
With Zahra, I genuinely do not know what is true and what is not.
That girl had me doubting everything.
EVERYTHING.
She gave me trust issues.
Talk about being a complex baddie with layers upon layers.
Will we ever get to peel them all?
At this point, I don't know whether to trust her, fear her, or admire her.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗭𝗬 𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗖𝗛 ❯❯❯❯
Can we talk about when Zahra thought she got cheated on and was so upset she went to find the girl??
I was CRYING.
It was so fucking funny.
But I was also scared.
Because Zahra is one crazy bitch.
With her, funny situations can become dangerous in the blink of an eye!
❮❮❮❮ 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔, 𝗠𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗕𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
My heart bleeds for Zahra.
The horrors that girl has been through...
Manuel belongs to the hottest place of hell.
The lives of these characters are just so sad it is ripping my heart out.
Why do bad things happen to people? Why do people have to live this way?
I wish I could fix everything for them, and take their sadness and hurt away.
Oh my baby.
You deserved so much better💔
❮❮❮❮ 𝗢𝗛, 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
It is so satisfying when an aloof mafia boss is rattled by an FMC.
When he so desperately wants to forget her but cannot for the life of him stop thinking about her.
When there is tension in the air and everyone around him is tiptoeing because they can sense something is wrong and no one wants to risk setting the bomb off.
It is so cuteee 😭 I am laughing at the expense of Elio's misery but I can't help it.
And it is even more satisfying because Zahra is the same.
They are in their own worlds, doing their own thing, yet they cannot stop thinking about each other and almost everything becomes a reminder of each other.
So adorable. I ate it up.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 ❯❯❯❯
There are times when I feel so serene and happy while reading this.
Like I want to keep reading forever and never run out of pages.
For instance, when he broke his rule and kissed her?
I WAS IN HEAVEN. There is no feeling greater than this.
It was fucking perfect.
Ahhh 🤭🦋💖
❮❮❮❮ 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗥𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 ❯❯❯❯
One thing I really loved was watching them try.
Despite everything they believe. Despite everything they have been through. Despite every reason not to.
They still try.
I love how Elio ignores his instincts and chooses Zahra instead. Something he normally would never do.
And Zahra does the same.
You can clearly tell they are new to this whole ‘committed relationship’ thing.
They discover new things about themselves. They make mistakes. They get into arguments.
But most importantly? They resolve them like adults.
I loved that.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗫𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
I would like to say again that I LOVE the way they communicate.
Whenever there is conflict, they talk. Whenever there is a problem, they work through it.
Like adults.
Do you know how refreshing that is??
This is a healthy relationship and I love them so much 😭💖
❮❮❮❮ 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗢, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗔𝗥𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
Protective Elio is to die for.
But jealous and possessive Elio? A fucking dream🤭
It is so cute how 𝘛𝘏𝘈𝘛 𝘔𝘈𝘕 irritates him and he doesn't even want to hear his name (Iykyk)
And can we talk about how far Elio went to protect Zahra? Even from her own damn team.
The man was keeping secrets. Taking risks. Making sacrifices.
All for Zahra.
She is constantly at the forefront of his mind. She always comes first.
He’s so thoughtful and attentive, I CAN’T.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗭𝗔𝗛𝗥𝗔 𝗖𝗥𝗬 ❯❯❯❯
I love how Elio doesn't play when it comes to Zahra.
One moment Zahra is crying. The next moment someone's entire life is being ruined.
Lesson of the day: Don't make Zahra cry.
And, Elio is so intense, he scares me sometimes.
By now, everyone should be aware that touching or hurting Zahra equals death.
Don't even breathe too close to her or Elio is going to unalive you.
Zahra isn't even allowed to hurt herself. It is THAT serious.
❮❮❮❮ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠 𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
A moment for this scene, please.
In fact, let me go reread it.
My babies🥹❤️
❮❮❮❮ 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦, 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗥 ❯❯❯❯
These two are soulmates.
Imagine two tortured souls meeting.
Two broken, sad people.
And somehow they make each other's lives better. They understand, choose and find comfort in each other. No matter what happens, they still find their way back home.
And if that isn't soulmate behavior, then I don't know what is✨
❮❮❮❮ 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗥𝗢 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗟𝗢, 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 ❯❯❯❯
Can we discuss these two for a second? The PINING. Omg
One is completely obsessed, the other is oblivious. And the tension was tensioning.
Keep feeding us, Rebecca! I can’t get enough🤭
❮❮❮❮ 𝗥𝗘𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗖𝗔, 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡 ❯❯❯❯
Dear Rebecca, I have a gentle request to make.
Can I get Book 3? Like RIGHT NOW?!
Because what was that ending???
I am expected to go about my day with a cliffhanger like that? To continue functioning and be a productive member of society?
I think NOT.
I've reread the last chapter multiple times like it was going to magically generate an extra chapter. It did not.
I checked.
December 1st can’t come fast enough!
°❀⋆. 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦: 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 °❀⋆.
This book is everything and more. I am obsessed. I am under a spell I do not wish to be freed from.
From the first page to the last, I had no peace. It was like a fucking marathon. The suspense, the schemes, the twists, the lies... I kept on questioning everything. I didn’t get a break. Every time I thought I had figured something out, I was proven wrong.
I think everyone should experience this book at least once.
When I think of dark or mafia romance, this series immediately comes to mind. It is one of those books that reminds me why I love reading. I love when I can’t pry my hands away from a book, when I keep saying "just one more chapter" until suddenly it's 3 a.m. and I'm questioning my life choices.
But beyond the suspense and chaos, it was the characters that had me in a chokehold.
Elio and Zahra are everything.
Elio is my perfect boy. Beneath all that power and ruthlessness is someone who has endured so much pain in silence. I want to wrap him in my arms and protect him from the world. Watching him learn to trust, love, and let someone in healed something in me.
Zarah is amazing. My beautiful menace. She is a badass FMC who can hold her own, and keeps everyone on their toes. But beyond that, she is just a girl🥺
Together, they are iconic. I loved watching them navigate their feelings, work through conflict, and choose each other over and over again. No matter what they faced, they still found their way back home.
I also appreciate the humor woven into this story. The sprinkle of humor amongst all that heartbreak; to balance things out. It was clever and I enjoyed it. One moment my heart is breaking. The next moment I am laughing. Then I am sad again. Then laughing again. It is emotional whiplash, but make it enjoyable.
After the last page, I was left staring at the wall.
In other words, my jaw was on the floor and my heart was in my throat.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be counting down the days until Book 3.
𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
Dark Romance
Mafia romance
Found Family
Mental Health
Second Chance
Abuse
Secrets
Trauma
Street Queen X Mafia Boss
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧🎧🎧🎧
🌶️🌶️🌶️
May 27, 2026
What in the what???
I… ugh… I am speechless. Someone explain to me why I didn’t realize this was a trilogy and not a duet??? I am SHOOK. I don’t know what to do with myself because that freaking ending was BRUTAL!!!!
This series has had my emotions all over the place. I started it thinking this absolutely was not going to be my kind of book at all. Both Elio and Zahra are characters you don’t truly understand until you get deeper into the story and start peeling back their layers.
Now? I’m obsessed with Elio. He is such a unique MMC and everything about him is fascinating. Zahra on the other hand is one of the most complicated, secretive FMCs I’ve ever read. The farther you get into the series, the more layers and secrets unravel, and every new piece of her story somehow breaks your heart even more.
This series completely blindsided me in the best possible way. It’s NOTHING like I expected. All I can say is: do not DNF this series early because you truly don’t understand what kind of story you’re reading until you get farther in.
I… ugh… I am speechless. Someone explain to me why I didn’t realize this was a trilogy and not a duet??? I am SHOOK. I don’t know what to do with myself because that freaking ending was BRUTAL!!!!
This series has had my emotions all over the place. I started it thinking this absolutely was not going to be my kind of book at all. Both Elio and Zahra are characters you don’t truly understand until you get deeper into the story and start peeling back their layers.
Now? I’m obsessed with Elio. He is such a unique MMC and everything about him is fascinating. Zahra on the other hand is one of the most complicated, secretive FMCs I’ve ever read. The farther you get into the series, the more layers and secrets unravel, and every new piece of her story somehow breaks your heart even more.
This series completely blindsided me in the best possible way. It’s NOTHING like I expected. All I can say is: do not DNF this series early because you truly don’t understand what kind of story you’re reading until you get farther in.
July 7, 2026
I NEED BOOK 3 RIGHT NOW
June 6, 2026
holy cliffhanger
Want to Read
December 9, 2025Absolutely love the 1st book can't wait for the next 2
Read
April 2, 2026Somehow found my way around leaving a review even before the book is out.
I have a strong feeling that we're gonna get the infamous
"Fck zahra, red! RED!"
In this one (giggles deviously)
I have a strong feeling that we're gonna get the infamous
"Fck zahra, red! RED!"
In this one (giggles deviously)
Want to Read
June 26, 2026After really enjoying the first book in the series, I went into Loving the Wicked with high expectations. While there were definitely aspects I enjoyed, this installment didn't quite hit the same mark for me.
Let's start with the audiobook because it deserves some love. Jaclyn Kelso continues to be one of my favorite narrators. She always brings so much emotion and personality to her performances, and this book was no exception. Marcio Catalano was equally impressive, perfectly capturing Elio's intensity and quieter moments. Together, they made for a fantastic listening experience and elevated the story even when I found myself frustrated with the characters.
And frustrated I was.
Zahra absolutely drove me up a wall. She's fearless to the point of recklessness and seemed to barrel headfirst into every situation without considering the consequences. I appreciate morally gray, chaotic characters, but there were so many moments where I wanted to reach through my headphones and tell her to stop making everything harder than it needed to be.
Elio, on the other hand, was much easier to root for. He's certainly no saint, but his brand of crazy felt calculated rather than impulsive. His decisions made more sense to me, and I found myself invested in his side of the story far more often.
The plot twists were genuinely well executed, and Rebecca Johnpee knows how to keep readers guessing. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another surprise would come along. However, much of the conflict hinged on miscommunication that felt entirely avoidable. So many problems could have been solved with a single honest conversation, and after a while it became more frustrating than suspenseful.
Overall, this was still an entertaining mafia romance with compelling twists, found family, and plenty of tension. It just didn't capture me the way the first book did. I'll absolutely continue the series because I'm invested in the world, and I'm hoping the next installment brings back the magic that made me fall in love with book one.
Let's start with the audiobook because it deserves some love. Jaclyn Kelso continues to be one of my favorite narrators. She always brings so much emotion and personality to her performances, and this book was no exception. Marcio Catalano was equally impressive, perfectly capturing Elio's intensity and quieter moments. Together, they made for a fantastic listening experience and elevated the story even when I found myself frustrated with the characters.
And frustrated I was.
Zahra absolutely drove me up a wall. She's fearless to the point of recklessness and seemed to barrel headfirst into every situation without considering the consequences. I appreciate morally gray, chaotic characters, but there were so many moments where I wanted to reach through my headphones and tell her to stop making everything harder than it needed to be.
Elio, on the other hand, was much easier to root for. He's certainly no saint, but his brand of crazy felt calculated rather than impulsive. His decisions made more sense to me, and I found myself invested in his side of the story far more often.
The plot twists were genuinely well executed, and Rebecca Johnpee knows how to keep readers guessing. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another surprise would come along. However, much of the conflict hinged on miscommunication that felt entirely avoidable. So many problems could have been solved with a single honest conversation, and after a while it became more frustrating than suspenseful.
Overall, this was still an entertaining mafia romance with compelling twists, found family, and plenty of tension. It just didn't capture me the way the first book did. I'll absolutely continue the series because I'm invested in the world, and I'm hoping the next installment brings back the magic that made me fall in love with book one.
June 8, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
Read
May 2, 2026Dark Romance
Mafia Romance
Enemies to lovers
Second chance
Found Family
Dual POV - 1st person
Dual narration - Jaclyn Kelso & Marcio Catalano
Wonderful voices.
Book #2 The Wicked Trilogy
*read in order*
Ellio & Zahra are such an intriguing couple. Their story spans across three books so be aware there are cliffhanger endings. Their story is captivating and twisty. Loving this trilogy so far. If you enjoy a gripping, twisty, spicy, and a little mysterious story then you will enjoy this book, but start with book 1 The Wicked.
Overall, this is a good book and I am looking forward to book 3.
Mafia Romance
Enemies to lovers
Second chance
Found Family
Dual POV - 1st person
Dual narration - Jaclyn Kelso & Marcio Catalano
Wonderful voices.
Book #2 The Wicked Trilogy
*read in order*
Ellio & Zahra are such an intriguing couple. Their story spans across three books so be aware there are cliffhanger endings. Their story is captivating and twisty. Loving this trilogy so far. If you enjoy a gripping, twisty, spicy, and a little mysterious story then you will enjoy this book, but start with book 1 The Wicked.
Overall, this is a good book and I am looking forward to book 3.
July 6, 2026
Oh, the cliffhanger this left me on! I can’t wait to read the next book. I was so hooked that I didn’t want to put it down. There was so much action, deception, and so many lies. The lies Zahra has been weaving, especially with her friends and family, had me on edge the entire time. I hate that she feels like she has to do it all alone to save the people she loves. It broke my heart the way she talked to her crew, but I understood why she did it. And what she found out about Elio… my goodness, that must have hurt so much.
June 17, 2026
I misjudged this book.
About halfway through, I found myself bored because it was way too similar to the first one and then somewhere around the 200 page mark, the book absolutely took off and I couldn’t put it down. My heart broke in 1 million pieces multiple times and wow there’s so much depth in this book.
Cannot wait for the third one.
About halfway through, I found myself bored because it was way too similar to the first one and then somewhere around the 200 page mark, the book absolutely took off and I couldn’t put it down. My heart broke in 1 million pieces multiple times and wow there’s so much depth in this book.
Cannot wait for the third one.
July 6, 2026
4/5 stars
Oh my where do I even start.
The last page PLS. I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER FOR BOOK 3.. I WANT THE ARC PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
This book is so well written it’s so hard to put down. Trust me if I didn’t have school, got sick, and work I would’ve finished in 2 days!
Oh my where do I even start.
The last page PLS. I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER FOR BOOK 3.. I WANT THE ARC PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
This book is so well written it’s so hard to put down. Trust me if I didn’t have school, got sick, and work I would’ve finished in 2 days!
June 10, 2026
RAAAHHH ik ben zo obsessed
June 13, 2026
what an absolute mess of a book
July 8, 2026
I couldn’t put this book down even if I tried
Read
May 27, 2026Thank you Tor for the Netgalley arc!
Full review to come but if you’re looking for found family, heist, a watching two TRULY toxic people fall for each other, you don’t want to miss out on this series!
Full review to come but if you’re looking for found family, heist, a watching two TRULY toxic people fall for each other, you don’t want to miss out on this series!
June 19, 2026
Absolutely brilliant!!!!!! I need more books like this. Plot, yearning, heart breaks, humour and spice
June 19, 2026
There was so much that happened in this book and now the ending has left me speechless. This book will make you feel every emotion. Happy to learn more about Zahra’s past. Currently feeling heart broken after reading the last page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2026
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT TO US?! I NEED THE NEXT BOOK ASAP!!!!!
June 1, 2026
Overall feeling: underwhelmed
I don’t think I will be continuing on to the final book in this trilogy. Zahra and Elio are so frustrating. If they would just communicate with each other then their issues would be cut in half, if not more. I understand that it’s supposed to add to the “drama” of it all but it just got annoying.
Besides the romance, the mafia shenanigans aren’t strong enough to make the book stand out either. There are two conflicting “missions” going on at once and it just gave me a little bit of whiplash.
I usually reserve my 2 stars for books I really disliked/hated or ones that I objectively think are not good. This doesn’t quite fall into that so that’s why i’m giving it 3 stars instead. I can definitely see others liking this and it’s not poorly written or just straight up “bad” (whatever that means to you obviously). It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I don’t think I will be continuing on to the final book in this trilogy. Zahra and Elio are so frustrating. If they would just communicate with each other then their issues would be cut in half, if not more. I understand that it’s supposed to add to the “drama” of it all but it just got annoying.
Besides the romance, the mafia shenanigans aren’t strong enough to make the book stand out either. There are two conflicting “missions” going on at once and it just gave me a little bit of whiplash.
I usually reserve my 2 stars for books I really disliked/hated or ones that I objectively think are not good. This doesn’t quite fall into that so that’s why i’m giving it 3 stars instead. I can definitely see others liking this and it’s not poorly written or just straight up “bad” (whatever that means to you obviously). It just wasn’t my cup of tea.
June 7, 2026
Continuation of Elio and Zahra's story (tropes and content at the end)
I thought I would be picking up a simple heist story, but what I got instead was so much more complex and diverse than that.
We left off after book one at the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. The one that had my jaw on the floor, and me ready to throw my book across the friggin room. I thought there was no way we could end the book where we did, and yet, it. just. ended.
I am loving how complex the characters are, and all of the dynamics between each of the friend groups. In this book, I am kind of disappointed that we didn't get to dig into any more of STREET, and that it focused more solely on Elio and Zahra. I love the interactions between the members of STREET. Their banter and the absolute chaos between each of the characters gives this book the much needed comedic relief when it is feeling very dark and heavy.
There is so much going on behind each person, and their motives are so strong for doing all the things that they do that I need to go back and listen to this book again just to digest all the little nuances! Everyone is connected to someone else in a spider web of entanglement, and it feels like an entire Epstein-files type deception.
Every time we see Elio and Zahra together, we have these intense chemistry moments, but it is lust and hate in equal parts. They are like magnets that push each other away, but then one flips and they suck back together again, only for the script to flip and now both are pushing away. But I never felt like the story line was repetitious like I do in some novels. Each interaction is important and drives the story forward.
And can we talk about the cat situation? How Elio ended up with two cats in his stateroom on the ship, I'll never know! It sure makes me giggle though with Zahra and her ability to shoot out windows and diffuse bombs, but then is weird when it comes to cats! What a hilarious character quirk!
This book does use the miscommunication trope, but I think it is well warranted and handled exceptionally well. Both characters have traumatic pasts, and both have very, very valid reasons for not wanting to divulge their past. Elio is written as a character who suffers from many things-aversion to color, sound, people, and more. His mental well being is also moreso a factor in this book, and in a life where he has been punished for showing feelings or emotions, being vulnerable to anyone else can be terrifying.
In the other vein, Zahra has had to close herself off emotionally because of the trauma of her past, and because of that, and because of the deceptions she has learned as a survival and coping technique, she also is unable to let her guard down and easily explain why she does the things she does. When she makes horrible choices as a character, you can see why her past would lead her to make those decisions.
The hunt for the painting continues in this book, but kind of takes a back seat to other things. It is still the driving force, but so much else is going on! I might re write this, or do a second review (below the TW/CW) after a second reading, because I am sure I missed so much!
Overall, I LOVED this book. I loved the writing, the characters, the narrators. THE. NARRATORS!!! Marcio Catalano does a fantastic job with his dry delivery of these lines. This book was paired perfectly with him. Jaclyn Kelso does a good job, though I wish there had been more discussion between the two narrators before book 1 as to the delivery of Elio's lines. And maybe there was, and maybe Marcio did it all wrong, lol! It's a little thing, something I noted and moved on from, certainly not enough to make me stop listening.
This book is a good dark read, if you are a fan of mafia, dark romance, and love a good jaw-on-the-floor cliffy, it is well worth the listen!
Tropes and content
I thought I would be picking up a simple heist story, but what I got instead was so much more complex and diverse than that.
We left off after book one at the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers. The one that had my jaw on the floor, and me ready to throw my book across the friggin room. I thought there was no way we could end the book where we did, and yet, it. just. ended.
I am loving how complex the characters are, and all of the dynamics between each of the friend groups. In this book, I am kind of disappointed that we didn't get to dig into any more of STREET, and that it focused more solely on Elio and Zahra. I love the interactions between the members of STREET. Their banter and the absolute chaos between each of the characters gives this book the much needed comedic relief when it is feeling very dark and heavy.
There is so much going on behind each person, and their motives are so strong for doing all the things that they do that I need to go back and listen to this book again just to digest all the little nuances! Everyone is connected to someone else in a spider web of entanglement, and it feels like an entire Epstein-files type deception.
Every time we see Elio and Zahra together, we have these intense chemistry moments, but it is lust and hate in equal parts. They are like magnets that push each other away, but then one flips and they suck back together again, only for the script to flip and now both are pushing away. But I never felt like the story line was repetitious like I do in some novels. Each interaction is important and drives the story forward.
And can we talk about the cat situation? How Elio ended up with two cats in his stateroom on the ship, I'll never know! It sure makes me giggle though with Zahra and her ability to shoot out windows and diffuse bombs, but then is weird when it comes to cats! What a hilarious character quirk!
This book does use the miscommunication trope, but I think it is well warranted and handled exceptionally well. Both characters have traumatic pasts, and both have very, very valid reasons for not wanting to divulge their past. Elio is written as a character who suffers from many things-aversion to color, sound, people, and more. His mental well being is also moreso a factor in this book, and in a life where he has been punished for showing feelings or emotions, being vulnerable to anyone else can be terrifying.
In the other vein, Zahra has had to close herself off emotionally because of the trauma of her past, and because of that, and because of the deceptions she has learned as a survival and coping technique, she also is unable to let her guard down and easily explain why she does the things she does. When she makes horrible choices as a character, you can see why her past would lead her to make those decisions.
The hunt for the painting continues in this book, but kind of takes a back seat to other things. It is still the driving force, but so much else is going on! I might re write this, or do a second review (below the TW/CW) after a second reading, because I am sure I missed so much!
Overall, I LOVED this book. I loved the writing, the characters, the narrators. THE. NARRATORS!!! Marcio Catalano does a fantastic job with his dry delivery of these lines. This book was paired perfectly with him. Jaclyn Kelso does a good job, though I wish there had been more discussion between the two narrators before book 1 as to the delivery of Elio's lines. And maybe there was, and maybe Marcio did it all wrong, lol! It's a little thing, something I noted and moved on from, certainly not enough to make me stop listening.
This book is a good dark read, if you are a fan of mafia, dark romance, and love a good jaw-on-the-floor cliffy, it is well worth the listen!
Tropes and content
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Elio is such a little weirdo and I love him
Tropes include: dark romance, mafia, enemies to lovers, second chance, found family, slow burn, touch her & 💀, revenge, morally gray MCs, who did this to you?, obsessive/possessive hero
The Basics:
Elio & Zahra
1st Person Dual POV
Book 2 of “The Wicked Trilogy”
Narrated by: Jaclyn Kelso & Marcio Catalano
🎧 12 hours 26 min
Cliffhanger 🧗
CW: trafficking, violence, murder, suicidal ideation & actions, hallucinations, mental health struggles in general
🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Things I Loved:
•zahra’s fear of cats
•elio’s social ineptitude
•the spice 🥵
•elio & zahra’s aversion to relationships but inability to stay apart
•gemma & elio’s friendship
•elio and ilia’s budding brotherhood
•gran
I listen to a lot of audiobooks… like a lot, a lot. So when I say that Marcio Catalano might be my favorite male narrator, that’s saying something. His portrayal of Elio is spot on and only amplified my love of the character. He’s clear in his delivery while still being entertaining. Jaclyn Kelso also did a wonderful job with Zahara. They both helped to elevate this story and made the 12+ hours of audio fly by and left me wanting more.
It’s been awhile since I listened to The Wicked, so I forgot how hilarious and dry Elio was. He’s so unintentionally charming, which is my catnip when it comes to MMCs. He struggles heavily with his mental health throughout and it’s heartbreaking, but necessary.
Zahra is such a badass and we get to see a little bit more of that come out in this book. It’s clear just how lonely she is, and everything about her wants to be trusting - wants to be loved and to love - but the world keeps showing her how dangerous that is.
With Elio’s dark past constantly plaguing him, the pair are one big emotionally stunted mess. She reacts with emotion first and he’s logical to the point of annoyance, but in a weird way, it kind of works. The push and pull between the two is just the right balance.
The drama was a little hard to follow at times, but it kept me on my toes the entire time and I was anxious to figure out what was going to happen at every turn. I’m still a little lost about a couple things that I feel like we’re kind of glossed over but hopefully that’s all taken care of in book 3.
The only thing I wish there was more of was street - we got to learn and love so much about them in book 1 and I was missing that found family piece this go around.
Can’t wait for the third and final part of this trilogy! I only wish it was coming out sooner because I’m horrible at waiting 😉
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Rebecca Johnpee for the opportunity to listen to this ALC 🤍
Tropes include: dark romance, mafia, enemies to lovers, second chance, found family, slow burn, touch her & 💀, revenge, morally gray MCs, who did this to you?, obsessive/possessive hero
The Basics:
Elio & Zahra
1st Person Dual POV
Book 2 of “The Wicked Trilogy”
Narrated by: Jaclyn Kelso & Marcio Catalano
🎧 12 hours 26 min
Cliffhanger 🧗
CW: trafficking, violence, murder, suicidal ideation & actions, hallucinations, mental health struggles in general
🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Things I Loved:
•zahra’s fear of cats
•elio’s social ineptitude
•the spice 🥵
•elio & zahra’s aversion to relationships but inability to stay apart
•gemma & elio’s friendship
•elio and ilia’s budding brotherhood
•gran
I listen to a lot of audiobooks… like a lot, a lot. So when I say that Marcio Catalano might be my favorite male narrator, that’s saying something. His portrayal of Elio is spot on and only amplified my love of the character. He’s clear in his delivery while still being entertaining. Jaclyn Kelso also did a wonderful job with Zahara. They both helped to elevate this story and made the 12+ hours of audio fly by and left me wanting more.
It’s been awhile since I listened to The Wicked, so I forgot how hilarious and dry Elio was. He’s so unintentionally charming, which is my catnip when it comes to MMCs. He struggles heavily with his mental health throughout and it’s heartbreaking, but necessary.
Zahra is such a badass and we get to see a little bit more of that come out in this book. It’s clear just how lonely she is, and everything about her wants to be trusting - wants to be loved and to love - but the world keeps showing her how dangerous that is.
With Elio’s dark past constantly plaguing him, the pair are one big emotionally stunted mess. She reacts with emotion first and he’s logical to the point of annoyance, but in a weird way, it kind of works. The push and pull between the two is just the right balance.
The drama was a little hard to follow at times, but it kept me on my toes the entire time and I was anxious to figure out what was going to happen at every turn. I’m still a little lost about a couple things that I feel like we’re kind of glossed over but hopefully that’s all taken care of in book 3.
The only thing I wish there was more of was street - we got to learn and love so much about them in book 1 and I was missing that found family piece this go around.
Can’t wait for the third and final part of this trilogy! I only wish it was coming out sooner because I’m horrible at waiting 😉
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Rebecca Johnpee for the opportunity to listen to this ALC 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.75 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
I want to start off with saying thank you Rebecca for the physical arc!!
For starters I really enjoyed this book. If you love the action, PLOT, true dynamics between to very mentally charged and violent people who just want to love and be loved, then I think you’ll really love this read.
There is nothing bad I can say about this book to be honest.
It’s darker than what I usually read, it’s VERY heavy on mental struggle but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t get past.
Zahra
My favorite of them all. She has SO MANY flaws so many layers and one thing I love that Rebecca does is she makes the characters characteristics go with ACTIONS. Like everything Zahra does, it aligns well with who she is.
You find out in this book more about her. In The Wicked I really couldn’t read Zahra and as the reader you want to know everything about the characters. Like we should know them but with Zahra she literally an unbreakable wall and she has to be the one to open it up. So I was so happy in Loving the Wicked that you know MORE of her. So much more and it made me love her BIG.
She’s flawed asf, don’t hold back, very witty, very outspoken but she’s also been through a lot to make her that way. If she was an open book then it would be weird after all she’s been through.
Elio
Wow. What can I say about him?
Well he’s crazy.
And not in the oh he’s unhinged and he’s a super enforcer. No he actually needs help and that’s all I could think when I was reading the book. I’m like Zahra needs to run FAR FAR away because he’s baggage😂😂.
But I also love how he opened up. He became the man he always was deep down. He’s hurting from his past, he’s been the man behind his father insanity and the empire that was built and he’s just going through it.
Their relationship is so toxic in the most brutal but intoxicating way
I mean these are two people who have no clue how to love. I would never expect them to be all lovey dovey like we’re reading a contemporary. I loved it wild, flawed, realistic and toxic. It was an equal amount of them being together and them not being together 😂
However he fell first and I was SWOONING!!!!
I had many teary eyed moment and ALOT of wtf moments.
Loving the Wicked has the heated parts, the ups and down, the banter, the toxic atmosphere, betrayal, plot twists you would NOT see coming because my jaw was on THE floor, and it’s an enjoyable time watching it all collapse.
Even with the end and the cliffhanger that broke me to fucking prices and now my jaw is stuck to the floor I still love Zahra. She is the queen.
I want to start off with saying thank you Rebecca for the physical arc!!
For starters I really enjoyed this book. If you love the action, PLOT, true dynamics between to very mentally charged and violent people who just want to love and be loved, then I think you’ll really love this read.
There is nothing bad I can say about this book to be honest.
It’s darker than what I usually read, it’s VERY heavy on mental struggle but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t get past.
Zahra
My favorite of them all. She has SO MANY flaws so many layers and one thing I love that Rebecca does is she makes the characters characteristics go with ACTIONS. Like everything Zahra does, it aligns well with who she is.
You find out in this book more about her. In The Wicked I really couldn’t read Zahra and as the reader you want to know everything about the characters. Like we should know them but with Zahra she literally an unbreakable wall and she has to be the one to open it up. So I was so happy in Loving the Wicked that you know MORE of her. So much more and it made me love her BIG.
She’s flawed asf, don’t hold back, very witty, very outspoken but she’s also been through a lot to make her that way. If she was an open book then it would be weird after all she’s been through.
Elio
Wow. What can I say about him?
Well he’s crazy.
And not in the oh he’s unhinged and he’s a super enforcer. No he actually needs help and that’s all I could think when I was reading the book. I’m like Zahra needs to run FAR FAR away because he’s baggage😂😂.
But I also love how he opened up. He became the man he always was deep down. He’s hurting from his past, he’s been the man behind his father insanity and the empire that was built and he’s just going through it.
Their relationship is so toxic in the most brutal but intoxicating way
I mean these are two people who have no clue how to love. I would never expect them to be all lovey dovey like we’re reading a contemporary. I loved it wild, flawed, realistic and toxic. It was an equal amount of them being together and them not being together 😂
However he fell first and I was SWOONING!!!!
I had many teary eyed moment and ALOT of wtf moments.
Loving the Wicked has the heated parts, the ups and down, the banter, the toxic atmosphere, betrayal, plot twists you would NOT see coming because my jaw was on THE floor, and it’s an enjoyable time watching it all collapse.
Even with the end and the cliffhanger that broke me to fucking prices and now my jaw is stuck to the floor I still love Zahra. She is the queen.
December 7, 2025
Thank you so much Macmillan for sending me this ARC!
Let me begin by saying this book deserves a million stars, the author is a genius and Zahra and Elio are one of the best couples ever written and they own my heart but OMG what was that ending!?! I know this book doesn't even release for another half a year (I'll be forever grateful to Macmillan International for sending me an ARC) but I'm already desperate for book 3.
Alright, now that I got my ramblings out, the proper review:
Loving the Wicked is the second book in a Dark Romance trilogy and after loving the first book, I can now definitely say I am obsessed with this story, Zahra and Elio own my heart and I can’t wait for the third book.
Loving the Wicked is everything I loved in the first book and even more. There is so much action, hidden agendas, secrets, plotting, heartbreak but also laugh out loud scenes with the best found family ever and so much tension between our main characters. I truly believe this author is a genius with how everything is connected and even a seemingly not important information has such a big impact later, I loved slowly discovering all the hidden agendas and there were so many shocking revelations here, I feel like we got answers to many questions I’ve been asking in book 1 only to have twice as many questions now, I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds in the next book.
I already loved Elio and Zahra, both individually and as a couple, but they truly stole my heart in this book. They both had difficult pasts and had to deal with a lot in the present, my heart was breaking so much for them both in this book and I found myself even crying a few times, it was darker and at times more tragic than book 1 and I hope we will see them both healing in book 3. But despite all that, they were still incredible together, there was so much tension and angst between them but also banter and some sweet moments, I loved every scene with these two and how perfect they were for each other, equally unhinged and toxic but in a way that just worked for them, and let me say the spicy scenes had me blushing a few times, they were fire together and they are quickly becoming one of my favorite bookish couples.
Loving the Wicked is an amazing second book in this incredible series that I absolutely loved and recommend to everyone. And let me just say if you thought the book 1 cliffhanger was bad, you’re not ready for this one, I’ve been staring at the wall for hours after finishing reading and am still not okay with what happened, book 3 can’t come soon enough!
Let me begin by saying this book deserves a million stars, the author is a genius and Zahra and Elio are one of the best couples ever written and they own my heart but OMG what was that ending!?! I know this book doesn't even release for another half a year (I'll be forever grateful to Macmillan International for sending me an ARC) but I'm already desperate for book 3.
Alright, now that I got my ramblings out, the proper review:
Loving the Wicked is the second book in a Dark Romance trilogy and after loving the first book, I can now definitely say I am obsessed with this story, Zahra and Elio own my heart and I can’t wait for the third book.
Loving the Wicked is everything I loved in the first book and even more. There is so much action, hidden agendas, secrets, plotting, heartbreak but also laugh out loud scenes with the best found family ever and so much tension between our main characters. I truly believe this author is a genius with how everything is connected and even a seemingly not important information has such a big impact later, I loved slowly discovering all the hidden agendas and there were so many shocking revelations here, I feel like we got answers to many questions I’ve been asking in book 1 only to have twice as many questions now, I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds in the next book.
I already loved Elio and Zahra, both individually and as a couple, but they truly stole my heart in this book. They both had difficult pasts and had to deal with a lot in the present, my heart was breaking so much for them both in this book and I found myself even crying a few times, it was darker and at times more tragic than book 1 and I hope we will see them both healing in book 3. But despite all that, they were still incredible together, there was so much tension and angst between them but also banter and some sweet moments, I loved every scene with these two and how perfect they were for each other, equally unhinged and toxic but in a way that just worked for them, and let me say the spicy scenes had me blushing a few times, they were fire together and they are quickly becoming one of my favorite bookish couples.
Loving the Wicked is an amazing second book in this incredible series that I absolutely loved and recommend to everyone. And let me just say if you thought the book 1 cliffhanger was bad, you’re not ready for this one, I’ve been staring at the wall for hours after finishing reading and am still not okay with what happened, book 3 can’t come soon enough!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝐿𝑜𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒲𝒾𝒸𝓀𝑒𝒹 ʙʏ ʀᴇʙᴇᴄᴄᴀ ᴊᴏʜɴᴘᴇᴇ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴀ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪᴇғ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴇɴᴅɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴀғɪᴀ ʜᴇɪʀ ᴡʜᴏ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ɢᴏᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴀʀᴇ ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ's ʟɪᴠᴇs ᴀs sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs, ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛᴇɴ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇʏ'ᴠᴇ ғᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴀᴍʙʟᴇ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃. 𝐹𝒶𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝒾𝓃 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒.
ʀᴇʙᴇᴄᴄᴀ ᴊᴏʜɴᴘᴇᴇ sᴏᴍᴇʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʀᴀɴᴋᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ ᴇʟᴇᴠᴇɴ.
ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ-ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪs ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛs. ᴇʟɪᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴢᴀʜʀᴀ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ, ʙᴀɢɢᴀɢᴇ, sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴜɴʀᴇsᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴀɴ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ᴄɪᴛʏ. ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ғᴇᴇʟs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇ.
ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ's ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴘʟᴏᴛ.
ᴛʜᴇ sᴜsᴘᴇɴsᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴍᴇ ɢʟᴜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴘʜᴏɴᴇs ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ғᴇʟᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴇʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴘᴜᴢᴢʟᴇ. ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴇᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴍᴇ.
ʙᴜᴛ ʟᴇᴛ's ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ.
ʜᴏʟʏ. ғʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ. ʜᴇʟʟ.
ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ?! ɪ ғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ. ʀᴇʙᴇᴄᴄᴀ ᴊᴏʜɴᴘᴇᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴜs ᴏɴ ᴀ ᴄʟɪғғʜᴀɴɢᴇʀ—sʜᴇ sʜᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴜs ᴏғғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟɪғғ, ʜᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴜs ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ. ᴍʏ sᴏᴜʟ ɪs ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ ɪɴ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 𝟹 ɴᴇᴇᴅs ᴛᴏ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ғᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴜᴀʟ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ᴇʟᴇᴠᴀᴛᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ. ᴇʟɪᴏ's ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇs ʜɪs ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴛɪᴏɴ, sɪᴍᴍᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇɴᴇss, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜᴛʜʟᴇss ᴍᴀғɪᴀ ᴇxᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀ. ᴢᴀʜʀᴀ's ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ʙʀɪɴɢs ᴇǫᴜᴀʟ sᴛʀᴇɴɢᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇxɪᴛʏ, ʙᴀʟᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴғʟɪᴄᴛ. ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ sᴏ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ, ʟᴏɴɢɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴʀᴇsᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢs.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🖤 sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
💀 ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ
✨ sʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🖤 ʀᴇᴠᴇɴɢᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ
💀 ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴇ
✨ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴍᴍᴄ
🖤 ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ
💀 sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs & ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟs
✨ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏɴɢɪɴɢ
🖤 ʜɪɢʜ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒...
🖤 ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴀғɪᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟ ᴘʟᴏᴛ
💀 ᴇʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴇɪsᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴs
✨ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴍᴄs
🖤 ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴀɴɢsᴛ
💀 sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ
✨ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄs
🖤 ᴄʟɪғғʜᴀɴɢᴇʀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴜɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪғᴇ
🗣️ 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝓉𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓉:
ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴏʙsᴇssᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇʟɪᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴢᴀʜʀᴀ's ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ-sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴘʟᴏᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴇᴘᴛʜ ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴄᴇᴘᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡʜᴇʟᴍɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴsᴇɴsᴜs? ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ɪs ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ sᴄʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 𝟹.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
ᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ʙʟᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴍᴀғɪᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ, ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴇᴠᴀsᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴏғ ɪᴛ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ sʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴛʜᴏᴜsᴀɴᴅ ᴛɪɴʏ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs. ʙᴏᴏᴋ 𝟹 ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ sᴏᴏɴ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
NOTES: Holy fucking shit what was that ending? What the hell was that ending and now I’m going to die from an anticipation, trying to figure out how the author is going to pick up the pieces of my shattered soul in book 3 matter of fact, when the hell is book 3 coming now I need it. I need it right now right now in my hands.
🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧
𝐿𝑜𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒲𝒾𝒸𝓀𝑒𝒹 ʙʏ ʀᴇʙᴇᴄᴄᴀ ᴊᴏʜɴᴘᴇᴇ
𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🌶🌶 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻
✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨
ᴀ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪᴇғ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴇɴᴅɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴀғɪᴀ ʜᴇɪʀ ᴡʜᴏ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ɢᴏᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴀʀᴇ ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ's ʟɪᴠᴇs ᴀs sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs, ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛᴇɴ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇʏ'ᴠᴇ ғᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ.
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:
ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴀᴍʙʟᴇ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!
𝑅𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓃. 𝐹𝒶𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝒾𝓃 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒.
ʀᴇʙᴇᴄᴄᴀ ᴊᴏʜɴᴘᴇᴇ sᴏᴍᴇʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʀᴀɴᴋᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ ᴇʟᴇᴠᴇɴ.
ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ-ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪs ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛs. ᴇʟɪᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴢᴀʜʀᴀ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ, ʙᴀɢɢᴀɢᴇ, sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴜɴʀᴇsᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴀɴ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ᴄɪᴛʏ. ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ғᴇᴇʟs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇ.
ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ's ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴘʟᴏᴛ.
ᴛʜᴇ sᴜsᴘᴇɴsᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴍᴇ ɢʟᴜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴘʜᴏɴᴇs ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ғᴇʟᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀɴ ᴇʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴘᴜᴢᴢʟᴇ. ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴇᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴍᴇ.
ʙᴜᴛ ʟᴇᴛ's ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ.
ʜᴏʟʏ. ғʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ. ʜᴇʟʟ.
ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ?! ɪ ғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ. ʀᴇʙᴇᴄᴄᴀ ᴊᴏʜɴᴘᴇᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴜs ᴏɴ ᴀ ᴄʟɪғғʜᴀɴɢᴇʀ—sʜᴇ sʜᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴜs ᴏғғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟɪғғ, ʜᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴜs ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪsᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ. ᴍʏ sᴏᴜʟ ɪs ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ ɪɴ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 𝟹 ɴᴇᴇᴅs ᴛᴏ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ғᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs.
🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴜᴀʟ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ᴇʟᴇᴠᴀᴛᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ. ᴇʟɪᴏ's ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴘᴇʀғᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇs ʜɪs ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴛɪᴏɴ, sɪᴍᴍᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇɴᴇss, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴜᴛʜʟᴇss ᴍᴀғɪᴀ ᴇxᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀ. ᴢᴀʜʀᴀ's ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ʙʀɪɴɢs ᴇǫᴜᴀʟ sᴛʀᴇɴɢᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇxɪᴛʏ, ʙᴀʟᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ɪɴᴛᴇʟʟɪɢᴇɴᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴғʟɪᴄᴛ. ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ sᴏ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪsᴛᴏʀʏ, ʟᴏɴɢɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴʀᴇsᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢs.
𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝒱𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈:
🖤 sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
💀 ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ
✨ sʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
🖤 ʀᴇᴠᴇɴɢᴇ ᴘʟᴏᴛ
💀 ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴇ
✨ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ᴍᴍᴄ
🖤 ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ
💀 sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs & ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟs
✨ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏɴɢɪɴɢ
🖤 ʜɪɢʜ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒...
🖤 ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴀғɪᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟ ᴘʟᴏᴛ
💀 ᴇʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴇɪsᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴs
✨ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴍᴄs
🖤 ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴀɴɢsᴛ
💀 sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ
✨ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄs
🖤 ᴄʟɪғғʜᴀɴɢᴇʀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴜɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪғᴇ
🗣️ 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝓉𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓉:
ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴏʙsᴇssᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇʟɪᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴢᴀʜʀᴀ's ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ-sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴘʟᴏᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴇᴘᴛʜ ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴄᴇᴘᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡʜᴇʟᴍɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴsᴇɴsᴜs? ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ɪs ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ sᴄʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 𝟹.
𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉:
ᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ʙʟᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴍᴀғɪᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ, ʜᴇɪsᴛ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴇᴠᴀsᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴏғ ɪᴛ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ sʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴛʜᴏᴜsᴀɴᴅ ᴛɪɴʏ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇs. ʙᴏᴏᴋ 𝟹 ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ sᴏᴏɴ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ.
ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
NOTES: Holy fucking shit what was that ending? What the hell was that ending and now I’m going to die from an anticipation, trying to figure out how the author is going to pick up the pieces of my shattered soul in book 3 matter of fact, when the hell is book 3 coming now I need it. I need it right now right now in my hands.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hello my friends! I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend. It was cool and overcast this weekend here on Cape Cod, but that definitely did not stop people from visiting our wonderful Cape and the beaches. I hope you all, regardless of where you are, got to spend some time reading. As May is Get Caught Reading Month, I have made sure that whether I am in Starbucks or on the beach, I grab my latest read and do just that. This weekend I spent some time listening to my newest book from the lovely folks at NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, Loving the Wicked by Rebecca Johnpee. This book releases in just one week, on June 2nd, 2026.
This book has a list of triggers in the beginning. It is very important that you read them. As with all dark novels, if this is not your cup of tea then it is okay to put it down. Your mental well-being should always come first.
Now, if you are okay with this list, let’s talk about Loving the Wicked. This book starts up where The Wicked leaves off. Zahra is still up to her old tricks in this novel. They are working to find the lost painting and hard drives that the street team was searching for in book 1. Only this job takes some unexpected turns along the way. Zahra and Elio’s relationship evolves in this newest installment and does not disappoint. The couple is learning to navigate their relationship with the baggage of both characters, including mental health issues, which was interesting to see.
The audiobook narration is wonderful. Jaclyn Kelso does read Elio with an accent when it is her turn on the mic, but it definitely does not detract from the story. The way she portrays Zahra, though, is pure gold. She does a great job of bringing the highly secretive and untrusting Zahra to life in the best possible way.
Now if anyone deserves an award for their narration, it is Marcio Catalano. The way he voices Elio is top notch. He does such a wonderful job and made me not want to stop listening for a moment. His voice rivals my favorite male narrators, and I am definitely going to be looking for more books with him.
I highly recommend picking up this book if you are a fan of dark romance. Just a warning, book 2 leaves off much the same way book 1 did, with a cliffhanger. I cannot wait to get my hands on book 3 because of this. Luckily, you only have to wait a week to get your hands on book 2 when it releases on June 2.
Until then, friends, I hope you have a great week and find time to indulge in a good read.
This book has a list of triggers in the beginning. It is very important that you read them. As with all dark novels, if this is not your cup of tea then it is okay to put it down. Your mental well-being should always come first.
Now, if you are okay with this list, let’s talk about Loving the Wicked. This book starts up where The Wicked leaves off. Zahra is still up to her old tricks in this novel. They are working to find the lost painting and hard drives that the street team was searching for in book 1. Only this job takes some unexpected turns along the way. Zahra and Elio’s relationship evolves in this newest installment and does not disappoint. The couple is learning to navigate their relationship with the baggage of both characters, including mental health issues, which was interesting to see.
The audiobook narration is wonderful. Jaclyn Kelso does read Elio with an accent when it is her turn on the mic, but it definitely does not detract from the story. The way she portrays Zahra, though, is pure gold. She does a great job of bringing the highly secretive and untrusting Zahra to life in the best possible way.
Now if anyone deserves an award for their narration, it is Marcio Catalano. The way he voices Elio is top notch. He does such a wonderful job and made me not want to stop listening for a moment. His voice rivals my favorite male narrators, and I am definitely going to be looking for more books with him.
I highly recommend picking up this book if you are a fan of dark romance. Just a warning, book 2 leaves off much the same way book 1 did, with a cliffhanger. I cannot wait to get my hands on book 3 because of this. Luckily, you only have to wait a week to get your hands on book 2 when it releases on June 2.
Until then, friends, I hope you have a great week and find time to indulge in a good read.
June 8, 2026
🌶️🌶️ 2/5 — Light spice
• Some on-page intimacy
• Limited detail
• More romance than heat
Steamy and Spice chapters down below.
Peep the trigger/content warnings prior to reading.
📝 Notes:
Book 2
Dual POV: Elio and Zahra
Mafia
Mental Health Rep
Found Family
This is the second book in the series and definitely needs to be read in order.
This book broke my heart. Just when I thought things might finally start looking up, that twist near the end completely blindsided me. The story takes a sharp turn that left me reeling and desperate to know what happens next.
Elio and Zahra are both complicated, deeply flawed individuals who have found a connection with each other, even if neither of them truly knows how to maintain a healthy relationship. Their journey is messy, frustrating, and at times painful to watch. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to see the toxicity in some of their choices, but it’s also impossible to ignore that neither of them grew up with healthy examples of love, trust, or communication.
I also appreciated the mental health representation throughout the story and the way it explores the impact of severe trauma. Trauma doesn’t simply disappear, and this book does a great job of showing how it can shape a person’s beliefs, relationships, and decisions. Zahra, in particular, keeps people at arm’s length because of the secrets she carries. In her mind, she’s protecting both herself and those around her, even when it’s heartbreaking to watch the distance it creates.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the found family. Even in the darkest moments, there are people who continue to show up, offer support, and remind these characters that they don’t have to carry everything alone. Those relationships added so much heart to the story and gave me hope when things felt especially heavy.
I also loved seeing the side characters again. They brought moments of warmth, humor, and connection throughout the book, and I’m hoping we get even more of them in the next installment.
As much as my heart ached for Elio and Zahra, I couldn’t stop rooting for them. Their story is messy, emotional, and at times devastating, but underneath it all is a hope for healing, growth, and the possibility of a future they never thought they deserved. After that ending, I’m eagerly waiting to see where their journey goes next.
🌶️Spice Chapters:
6 and 7
12
20
24
• Some on-page intimacy
• Limited detail
• More romance than heat
Steamy and Spice chapters down below.
Peep the trigger/content warnings prior to reading.
📝 Notes:
Book 2
Dual POV: Elio and Zahra
Mafia
Mental Health Rep
Found Family
This is the second book in the series and definitely needs to be read in order.
This book broke my heart. Just when I thought things might finally start looking up, that twist near the end completely blindsided me. The story takes a sharp turn that left me reeling and desperate to know what happens next.
Elio and Zahra are both complicated, deeply flawed individuals who have found a connection with each other, even if neither of them truly knows how to maintain a healthy relationship. Their journey is messy, frustrating, and at times painful to watch. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to see the toxicity in some of their choices, but it’s also impossible to ignore that neither of them grew up with healthy examples of love, trust, or communication.
I also appreciated the mental health representation throughout the story and the way it explores the impact of severe trauma. Trauma doesn’t simply disappear, and this book does a great job of showing how it can shape a person’s beliefs, relationships, and decisions. Zahra, in particular, keeps people at arm’s length because of the secrets she carries. In her mind, she’s protecting both herself and those around her, even when it’s heartbreaking to watch the distance it creates.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the found family. Even in the darkest moments, there are people who continue to show up, offer support, and remind these characters that they don’t have to carry everything alone. Those relationships added so much heart to the story and gave me hope when things felt especially heavy.
I also loved seeing the side characters again. They brought moments of warmth, humor, and connection throughout the book, and I’m hoping we get even more of them in the next installment.
As much as my heart ached for Elio and Zahra, I couldn’t stop rooting for them. Their story is messy, emotional, and at times devastating, but underneath it all is a hope for healing, growth, and the possibility of a future they never thought they deserved. After that ending, I’m eagerly waiting to see where their journey goes next.
🌶️Spice Chapters:
6 and 7
12
20
24
June 13, 2026
Rebecca Johnpee has done it again. Loving the Wicked takes everything I loved about the first book and deepens it, giving readers more emotion, more relationship development, more secrets, and somehow an even bigger emotional punch.
One of my favorite parts of this book was watching Elio and Zahra navigate what it actually means to be together. Their banter is as sharp and entertaining as ever, but beneath the teasing is an undeniable chemistry and intensity that practically jumps off the page. It was funny, heartwarming, and sometimes frustrating watching them figure out their relationship while carrying the weight of everything they've been through. The cat scene had me laughing out loud, and Zahra learning about Elio's friendship with Gemma was another standout moment that perfectly showcased their dynamic.
What I appreciated most was how much more emotional depth we get from both characters. The trauma, sacrifices, and difficult choices that have shaped Elio and Zahra are explored in greater detail, making their connection feel even more meaningful. Their journey isn't just about romance. It's about trust, healing, and learning how to let someone in when the world has given you every reason not to.
The mystery surrounding Zahra's separate mission continues to be one of the most intriguing parts of the series. We finally get more answers and a better understanding of her motivations, but there are still plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered. Every revelation only made me more desperate to know what comes next.
I switched between reading and listening to the audiobook, and both experiences were fantastic. Elio's voice was exactly how I imagined him, and the narration added so much personality and emotion to the story. Both voice actors did an incredible job bringing these characters to life and making every emotional and romantic moment hit even harder.
I also need to mention Street and the rest of the found family. I absolutely adore this group. Their personalities, loyalty, and interactions bring so much warmth and humor to the story. Every scene with them was a joy to read, and I'm hoping we get even more of them in the final book.
And then there's that ending.
THE ENDING.
I genuinely could not have imagined a more devastating place to leave readers. I sat there staring at the final page wondering how I was supposed to move on with my life after that. The emotional damage is real, and now I desperately need the final book. Rebecca Johnpee has left me completely invested in these characters, their future, and all the answers that are still waiting to be revealed.
Now the painful wait for Book 3 begins.
One of my favorite parts of this book was watching Elio and Zahra navigate what it actually means to be together. Their banter is as sharp and entertaining as ever, but beneath the teasing is an undeniable chemistry and intensity that practically jumps off the page. It was funny, heartwarming, and sometimes frustrating watching them figure out their relationship while carrying the weight of everything they've been through. The cat scene had me laughing out loud, and Zahra learning about Elio's friendship with Gemma was another standout moment that perfectly showcased their dynamic.
What I appreciated most was how much more emotional depth we get from both characters. The trauma, sacrifices, and difficult choices that have shaped Elio and Zahra are explored in greater detail, making their connection feel even more meaningful. Their journey isn't just about romance. It's about trust, healing, and learning how to let someone in when the world has given you every reason not to.
The mystery surrounding Zahra's separate mission continues to be one of the most intriguing parts of the series. We finally get more answers and a better understanding of her motivations, but there are still plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered. Every revelation only made me more desperate to know what comes next.
I switched between reading and listening to the audiobook, and both experiences were fantastic. Elio's voice was exactly how I imagined him, and the narration added so much personality and emotion to the story. Both voice actors did an incredible job bringing these characters to life and making every emotional and romantic moment hit even harder.
I also need to mention Street and the rest of the found family. I absolutely adore this group. Their personalities, loyalty, and interactions bring so much warmth and humor to the story. Every scene with them was a joy to read, and I'm hoping we get even more of them in the final book.
And then there's that ending.
THE ENDING.
I genuinely could not have imagined a more devastating place to leave readers. I sat there staring at the final page wondering how I was supposed to move on with my life after that. The emotional damage is real, and now I desperately need the final book. Rebecca Johnpee has left me completely invested in these characters, their future, and all the answers that are still waiting to be revealed.
Now the painful wait for Book 3 begins.
June 7, 2026
I loved the first book in this series, and this second installment was just as exciting. The twists and turns come nonstop. The organized‑crime threads expand, and the plot keeps tightening until that wild ending.
What surprised me most is how much I’m starting to love Elio. Even with all his issues. His struggles make him feel more real and relatable. I love the way he’s honest with Zahra even when it’s hard. It shows how deeply he feels for her. He listens and waits for her side of the story. He gives her grace even when it costs him. For a man with his mental battles, that level of patience is huge.
And then there’s Zahra.
I want to love her. She’s strong and capable. She's shaped by a traumatic childhood that explains her trust issues. But at this point, her behavior has crossed into straight-up ridiculous. Everyone around her, her friends, her found family, and especially Elio, has proven over and over that they care for her. They’ve put their lives on the line for her. They’ve shown loyalty, love, and a willingness to fight beside her.
Yet she refuses to trust any of them.
She’s so locked onto her mission to take down the trafficking ring she grew up in that she shuts everyone out, hides her plans, and puts the people who love her in danger. And when they confront her, not with anger but with a chance to explain, she pushes them away.
Even Elio, who battles his own mind every day, still stops to hear her side before reacting. Zahra doesn’t give him the same grace. Not even close.
The twist ending is wild, but honestly, it was Zahra’s reaction to it and the way she confronts Elio about everything tied to his “Empire”, that solidified my conclusion: Elio is too good for her. So are her friends. If she still chooses to believe the worst of the people who have done nothing but protect her, then maybe she doesn’t deserve another chance from any of them.
Yet… I'm already reaching for the next book. I need more of Street, more of the Marino Empire high‑stakes world. Any story that can make me this emotional, even if that emotion is pure hatred for a character, is doing something right.
A solid 4.5‑star read with action, organized crime, emotion and plot twist after plot twist.
What surprised me most is how much I’m starting to love Elio. Even with all his issues. His struggles make him feel more real and relatable. I love the way he’s honest with Zahra even when it’s hard. It shows how deeply he feels for her. He listens and waits for her side of the story. He gives her grace even when it costs him. For a man with his mental battles, that level of patience is huge.
And then there’s Zahra.
I want to love her. She’s strong and capable. She's shaped by a traumatic childhood that explains her trust issues. But at this point, her behavior has crossed into straight-up ridiculous. Everyone around her, her friends, her found family, and especially Elio, has proven over and over that they care for her. They’ve put their lives on the line for her. They’ve shown loyalty, love, and a willingness to fight beside her.
Yet she refuses to trust any of them.
She’s so locked onto her mission to take down the trafficking ring she grew up in that she shuts everyone out, hides her plans, and puts the people who love her in danger. And when they confront her, not with anger but with a chance to explain, she pushes them away.
Even Elio, who battles his own mind every day, still stops to hear her side before reacting. Zahra doesn’t give him the same grace. Not even close.
The twist ending is wild, but honestly, it was Zahra’s reaction to it and the way she confronts Elio about everything tied to his “Empire”, that solidified my conclusion: Elio is too good for her. So are her friends. If she still chooses to believe the worst of the people who have done nothing but protect her, then maybe she doesn’t deserve another chance from any of them.
Yet… I'm already reaching for the next book. I need more of Street, more of the Marino Empire high‑stakes world. Any story that can make me this emotional, even if that emotion is pure hatred for a character, is doing something right.
A solid 4.5‑star read with action, organized crime, emotion and plot twist after plot twist.
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