The Butcher's Empire: The first book in a new dark romance series

by C.O. Wheel

This bookstagram - dark romance represents brutal island secrets, a traumatised heroine, and a morally grey billionaire mafia's son who falls first and hardest. This dark romance brings dangerous obsession and lethal “touch her and die” energy.

Love didn’t bring them together.
Survival did.
And only blood will keep them apart.

Keith Krogen
Aurelia Sterling was never supposed to walk into my world. The moment I saw her, I knew she would ruin everything—
my control, my silence, my darkness. I should have pushed her away. Instead, I watched her. Wanted her. Fell first. Fell hardest.
And when desire turned into something I couldn’t control, I made sure she came to my island.
Call it fate. Call it obsession. But it was always going to be her.

Aurelia Sterling
Keith Krogen is danger wrapped in elegance— the man the world fears in silence. I should run from him. But he’s the only one who sees me clearly… and the only one who could break me completely.
This island was supposed to be a clean slate. A job. A project. A way to rebuild myself. But the longer I stay, the more I
I didn’t arrive here by chance. Fate pulled me to this island long before I knew what waited for me.If you crave obsession, tension, and a love that refuses to die, The Butcher’s Empire is for you—where darkness is real, devotion is ruthless, and love doesn’t create trauma… it pulls you out of it.

The Butcher’s Empire is a dark billionaire romance with a morally grey hero and a traumatised heroine, set on a dangerous island full of secrets and high-stakes romance. Perfect for fans of mafia romance, forbidden attraction, and slow-burn obsession, this story will pull you into a world where darkness and devotion collide.

Genres: Romance, Fiction

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2025

Reviews

[Sheila Pike · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Butcher’s Empire is like standing too close to fire — it scorches, mesmerizes, and refuses to let go. C.O. Wheel takes the usual dark romance tropes and twists them into something unpredictable and haunting. This first installment in the series hooked me from the very first page with its raw emotions and unsettling depth.

The characters are complex in a way that stirs both obsession and empathy. The tension is high, and the emotional roller coaster doesn’t let up — you’re constantly guessing, constantly bracing for the next sharp twist. Wheel doesn’t just play with darkness; they explore its shadows with precision and flair.

This book isn’t a light read — it’s intense, layered, and beautifully dangerous. If you read for psychological tension, unexpected turns, and characters that stay with you long after the last page, this is a strong start to what promises to be a compelling (and addictive) series.

💬 Best for fans of: Dark romance with psychological edge, unpredictable storylines, emotionally complex characters.

[Celina Janssen - Block · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece!

“I built walls. No one lively, no one to pierce the armor. Until her. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s the crack in my armor, the one place I can’t reinforce.” - Keith Krogen.

[Tasfiya Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okayhh... That's a kind of story i was craving. Hey Cupid,,, I just wanna say, i can't imagine this man. I mean.. I'll imagine you as the main lead🫣

[KPK · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A START TO 2026!!

This book was such an impressive read for a debut. The storyline, the writing style, the background information and all the research and effort that was put into bringing Keith and Aurelia's world into being was evident.

I was so hooked from the beginning and every single thing I learned about Keith as a MMC was just beautiful. And for Aurelia, I loved how she wasn't portrayed as the "helpless" FMC but also someone who's strong enough to carry herself after everything that she's been through. The villian of the story was truly scary and all the details were so well written with all the information. Super impressive.

I also loved how the book was an amazing balance or sweet, spicy and ACTUAL plot and GOD did i love the plot!! I will eagerly be waiting for the next book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

—————————————————————————————

- Dark romance
- Traumatised heroine
- Morally grey billionaire mafia’s son
- Touch her and die energy
- Unsuspected twists

—————————————————————————————

The description of the book says love doesn’t create trauma, it pulls you out of it and that is exactly what this book stands for.

The connection that you get from reading through the eyes of the characters is amazingly done. Tension throughout reading this book is sky high and you’re not expecting the twists that come your way. This book had me hooked on the very first page until the end and I am already looking forward to the second book of this series.

My favourite quote from the book: “I built walls. No one lively, no one to pierce the armor. Until her. She doesn’t now it yet, but she’s the crack in my armor, the one place I can’t reinforce.” …Keith Krogan the man that you are!

[Shanebehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG

This book is everything it promises the characters are well established and strong the romance and adventure is well balanced and so very exciting I love this book and I can’t wait for book 2

[Carola · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5*

[Ritika Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, dangerous, and deliciously intense...this book grabbed my throat and didn't let go🌚🥀

[Faith Vella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book with darkness and passion between Keith and Aurelia. With so much detail that it pulls you in and won’t let go. I loved every page from the get go and can’t wait for more from this author and possibly more of Keith and Aurelia 👀❤️

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t want to put this book down I was completely hooked. I loved it and can’t wait for more books by the author m.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Butchers empire @author_c.o_wheel

For his first book he sure as hell knows what dark romance readers want.... Sir..... You did good.

Aureilla and Keith 🤌 let me say the chemistry and tension was done so well. Our MMC fell and he fell hard. His dad is a giant POS his siblings loved them.

The story was different from others that I have read and it was a great surprise. An island with a resort that our FMC is helping to design. Her co worker Riley was desperate as F to get our MMCs attention but he had ZERO interest in that hot mess. The back story of both MCs gets your attention and feel for both. Again the dad is a POS just saying. This does cover hard topics so check your triggers!!

The plot twist of the butcher did not see coming. I now need to know more about the siblings......pretty please

[Catarina Ravenscroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book if you want a book to read read this one ❤️❤️❤️

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

I never read a dark romance book. But now I'm hooked on The Butchers Empire. From beginning to end this book keeps your interest. If I could give this more than 5 star rating I would definitely do so. Not only did I buy the nook version I got the paperback, as well. I can't wait for the next series. For the dark romance girls. Give this a read. You will not be disappointed.

[Reader’S Cauldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Butcher’s Empire is a solid debut! The story flows at a great pace, and the heavy-hitting trafficking topic lands hard without feeling excessive. Smut scenes were steamy but never cringe-worthy. Can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fellow Cupid here. I absolutely loved this book. It draws you in from the very first page. it's very well written.

[Shanna Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story. There's a few points where you can tell the author does not live in the US where the story is based. The characters also seem to have the same tamber so at certain spots it's a bit hard to follow. Not bad for a first book from this author but there's room to improve.

[M R Harahitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Butcher's Empire by C.O. Wheel is the kind of dark romance which has tension, power, pain, devotion.

Keith instantly became my new obsession. His character development is insane and I love him so much... And Aurelia!?? She is so strong, smart and everything that a woman should be... They both are perfect...

And Zora!! I am already invested in reading the second book.. I can't wait any longer....

I recommend this book to readers who love dark romance which has a powerful male lead, a strong female lead..

It grips from page one.. it's dark, violent, emotional, and dangerously addictive...

C.O. Wheel, I love this book... You have done a fantastic job..... Cheers to more books like this 🫶

[samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

obsessed

I was obsessed with this book. It sucked me in from start to finish. I was obsessed with the way Keith loved and protected Aurelia destroying anyone who harmed her. One of the best books I’ve read. Can’t wait to see what’s next in the empire legacy.

[Ali Bourikas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would easily give this book a 7.5/10 This book is a dark romance. It has the billionaire, and mafia family, tropes. It follows self made billionaire Keith, who has created an island resort, and his love interest Aurelia, who is helping him design it.

It is fast paced, and full of intrigue and danger. The romance is spicy and well paced. It leaves the reader wanting the next book to already be available. It’s definitely worth a read.

[Bell Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely thrilling! It pulls you in and it feels like your in the story. The way it's written will have your jaw dropping for more! Definitely get it as a paperback to say you've got it in your home.

[Booklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐ Rouned up because no cheating, no OWD, no mention of previous lovers and comparing her to others.

This book started out captivating, but the writing made it difficult to keep me intrigued. There is too much focus on describing the environment and background instead of what is happening between the MC’s. There was little dialogue between them which made their connection barely there. As Aurelia and Keith are working together, very little is said. And what is said is barely two or two shallow sentences, making the progress very slow. Suddenly they are f*cking. Where did that come from? Also, the first time Keith saw Aurelia, creepy as hell. And a lot of inner-thoughts are repeated over and over.

Some scenes making little sense. For example:

Keith leaned in slightly. “Aurelia,” he murmured, his voice low, “you’re tense. Look at me.”
I tried. I did. But the music blurred, the room dimmed, and all I could sense was the past creeping in like poison.
When the song ended, Keith brushed a thumb over my wrist, concern flickering in his eyes. But was pulled away a moment later by someone from the crowd. Keith hesitated, as if torn, then squeezed my hand once before stepping away.

Who called him? It seems no one did. And he knew something was bothering her, so he just leaves her there, not even saying anything to make her feel better? Writer just needed him to disappear so someone else can step in. It’s lacking structure and almost everything happening feels incomplete.

Another example:

I mouthed the words, cut to the chase, and she did, her voice steady despite the tremor I knew was there. "Derek. This is Aurelia. I'll cut to the chase. I want to meet. We have to sort out some things. Name the time and place."

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 Did anyone proof-read this?

Derek told her the time and place on the phone. Why would he send a text with a time and place again? There was no need to repeat that.

Keith getting a file with details of things happening between Aurelia and Derek in private makes no sense.

On the way to the airport, he sedated her. Aurelia lost consciousness mid-flight.

How does one get this kind of information without being there?

Aurelia is supposed to be a broken girl. Then she is a damsel in distress, then she is a cold blooded killer, then she is a sobbing mess again. Pffff

Keith asking Anton whether he knew who the girl in the picture was. A chapter later he is asking Anton again if there was a girl as if he hadn't asked him already. But suddenly they know who that girl is?How did he find out? This needs some serious proof-reading.

Just so we are clear, Anton is a vilain, not morally grey, but a vilain!


P.s. the profile of this writer had me flabbergasted.

[Fra Me · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m somewhat torn when it comes to the story. At first, I was pleasantly surprised, but that feeling was later slightly overshadowed. What stood out to me were the repeated words and phrases that appear throughout the book. This gave me the impression that artificial intelligence may have been involved. A good editor should have noticed and corrected this.

Regarding the story itself, I found it somewhat odd that Keith keeps gifting Aurelia one dress after another at the beginning. In some places, the pacing felt too rushed—especially when it comes to how quickly they fall in love. Suddenly, Aurelia goes on a trip with Keith away from the island, but what about her team and her work? This is never addressed. I also found it a bit exaggerated how easily they exchange “I love you” at the end.

Unfortunately, the erotic scenes didn’t work for me either; they didn’t fit with the rest of the story. I believe this is the first time such scenes had no effect on me at all. #superdry

The vivid imagery is nice, but the word choice doesn’t align with the rest of the book. It feels as if these scenes were completely detached from the narrative, and the overall flow is missing.

At the beginning, the blurb was also rather vague and uninformative when it came to the actual story, and the cover contained errors. These issues were later corrected. However, this again highlights that a book needs time—and countless revisions—before it is truly ready for the market.

Dear C.O.W., please don’t take my strict rating personally. In my view, you have a great deal of potential—but you need to give your writing more time if you want to create high-quality books. Put more heart and energy into the story and post less. That way, you’ll grow with every book you write.

2,5☆

[Debleena · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was ludicrous and disappointing. Shouldn't have expected much from booktok recommendations but somehow the synopsis made me feel like giving it a try. Not only the book tried too hard to be a dark romance, that it completely made the characters difficult to like, but at times it was so cringey. And what was the weird introduction of Vanya getting introduced in her scenes with bangles jingling. God we get it that Vanya is an Indian, but bangles jingling warmly and nicely before introducing Vanya got irritable. And wtf with 8 pack abs 🤣 , I laughed out loud every time Keith was described, always trying so hard to show him as someone that even Greek Gods would weep , it only made me laugh out loud. This book was one big cluster fuck and I lost interest very soon, with how the plot was moving.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Butcher’s Empire was an intense and addictive start to my 2026 reading. This was my first dark romance by a male author, and considering this is a debut novel, I was genuinely impressed by how well everything was executed.
The blend of mafia romance, workplace dynamics, and a secret society worked seamlessly. The tension stayed high throughout, the plot kept me hooked, and the “touch her and you die” energy was done perfectly without feeling over the top. The romance and dark elements felt balanced, and the smut added to the story rather than overpowering it.
Overall, this book exceeded my expectations. If you enjoy dark romance with strong tension, mafia vibes, and secret societies, this is definitely worth reading.

[DarksLib · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️
The book was disappointing .
This book tried to hard to be a dark romance , but it was just cringe ! And the author has to read more books before writing one! (My opinion!)
The dialog is barely there , the ‘spicy’ scenes are nowhere good .
The way the author kept describing Keith like he was some Greek God or even more handsome than one was to damn stupid .
I don’t even think someone proofread the book before publishing it , and the cover looks AI generated. (Nobody can’t change my mind about it.)
The writing itself feels Ai and I feel like author didn’t even bothered to edit it .
I have no idea how the reviews are so good (maybe because of the author and his video’s ) but that for me won’t work , and as a reader this just feels wrong .
I ended up DNF’ing because of the writing !

[Laura Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really looked forward to reading this book for a long long time and finally finished it within 2 days!

I was hooked and loved the story about Aurelia and Keith. They both have their own traumatic and hurtful past, but manage to heal one another.

The book had everything in my opinion - Spice, Love, Trauma, Angst... You name it.

Keith is the definition of a MAN ! (in my opinion.)

I also loved Theo and Zora as side characters and really really look forward to The Hunters Empire! 💜

[Lucy Knight · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a DNF at 30% for me unfortunately.

What pulled me in was the cover but when I inspected it further it’s AI generated. Something I don’t support within the book industry as it puts an artist out of work. Also, the author posts a lot of AI content on their Instagram.

As I was reading the book it didn’t feel like it flowed at all, it was very disjointed. It did make me wonder whether it was written by a human.

[A.F Hashmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn’t just pull me in....it dragged me into its world and refused to let go. 😭🤌The writing is hypnotic, rich with tension, longing, and that deliciously dangerous edge only a true dark romance can deliver. The characters are flawed in the most human way, stitched together with pain, desire, and secrets that unravel slowly, beautifully, and sometimes brutally.

[Akanksha Chawla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in awe when I got the opportunity to read it I was insanely hooked to this book since first line till last every word every sentence the author has put his heart into it and i am extremely grateful I got to read it a little before the world! Give a chance to this and you ll thank me later!!

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, The Butcher's Empire just grab you and doesn't let go. The characters feel real, the romance is dark and a little edgy, and you really get pulled into all the twist and turns. It's like you're right there living through the drama with them. Definitely a fun gripping read!