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The Empire Legacy #1
The Butcher's Empire
Aurelia Sterling meant to cross paths with the man the world fears in silence. She enters Keith Krogen’s empire with nothing but instinct and quiet resilience, yet the moment their eyes meet, danger wrapped in elegance, brutality hidden beneath control, her life shifts. He is everything she should run from, yet the only one she cannot walk away from. Pulled into a world carved by power and blood, Aurelia becomes the softness never meant to exist there, the light that shouldn’t survive the darkness around him. And when secrets rise, she realizes love here is both a risk and a battlefield. Some loves don’t just change you. They cost you.
Keith Krogen was born from ruin, molded by a past carved in violence and silence. Emotion was never meant to belong to him, and peace was never meant for men built from shadows. He learned to rule with control, power, and a heart locked behind iron walls until Aurelia steps into his world. She becomes the softness he never expected, the mistake he refuses to correct, and the one truth strong enough to crack through everything he was taught to be. With danger circling and loyalties shifting, Keith is forced to confront the war within himself. The part that would burn the world for her, and the part that fears he’ll ruin her first. He will protect her at any cost. And she may be the only one who can save him from the darkness he’s lived all his life.
Keith Krogen was born from ruin, molded by a past carved in violence and silence. Emotion was never meant to belong to him, and peace was never meant for men built from shadows. He learned to rule with control, power, and a heart locked behind iron walls until Aurelia steps into his world. She becomes the softness he never expected, the mistake he refuses to correct, and the one truth strong enough to crack through everything he was taught to be. With danger circling and loyalties shifting, Keith is forced to confront the war within himself. The part that would burn the world for her, and the part that fears he’ll ruin her first. He will protect her at any cost. And she may be the only one who can save him from the darkness he’s lived all his life.
292 pages, Paperback
Published November 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
February 2, 2026
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.
“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.
May 15, 2026
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.
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.
December 8, 2025
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🫣
March 2, 2026
Fast and Entertaining
Super quick read but whoa! This book keeps you entertained from start to finish. I feel like you know who the Butcher is from the beginning so not sure if the author intended an attempt at masking their identity until later in the book, but I think it’s pretty obvious early on. I loved the two main characters and how their relationship developed. Can’t wait to read more!
5.0 🌟
1.5 🌶️
Super quick read but whoa! This book keeps you entertained from start to finish. I feel like you know who the Butcher is from the beginning so not sure if the author intended an attempt at masking their identity until later in the book, but I think it’s pretty obvious early on. I loved the two main characters and how their relationship developed. Can’t wait to read more!
5.0 🌟
1.5 🌶️
January 26, 2026
!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
—————————————————————————————
- 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!
—————————————————————————————
- 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!
March 5, 2026
if you love dark romance, this is a must read!
I am also a biker and a lover of dark romance. I happened to be on facebook and kept seeing reels for this book. I started it three days ago. I had to force myself to stop reading and study for school. I have read a lot of books by some pretty amazing authors. This book is right up there with them. I loved it!
I am also a biker and a lover of dark romance. I happened to be on facebook and kept seeing reels for this book. I started it three days ago. I had to force myself to stop reading and study for school. I have read a lot of books by some pretty amazing authors. This book is right up there with them. I loved it!
February 28, 2026
🖤
Came across the author on TikTok and decided to give this book a try. I absolutely loved it! I read quite a bit of Mafia romance and this was up there in favorite story lines. Looking forward to book 2 and future books!
Came across the author on TikTok and decided to give this book a try. I absolutely loved it! I read quite a bit of Mafia romance and this was up there in favorite story lines. Looking forward to book 2 and future books!
February 28, 2026
Dark romance written by a biker, I mean 😮💨😮💨😮💨 this had me in a chokehold, it was a ride, an intense emotional ride and I loved every second of it. Then I realise it’s a debut?! Amazing honestly, this was solid and I loved it but I need more 😮💨🖤
February 5, 2026
What a ride, this book was amazing , full of suspense and mystery , lots of steamy love scenes, Keith fought his own demons to help Aurelia fight hers ! Can’t wait for the next book , def an author I’d read again
March 14, 2026
"Widen your eyes as you read these words, but spread those silken thighs too and devour every line like I'd devour every inch of you"
Well yes sir!
Well yes sir!
January 31, 2026
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.
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.
January 13, 2026
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
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
January 9, 2026
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.
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.
March 6, 2026
The book was honestly disappointing... Even though it’s short, I still felt bored while reading it because the story is very shallow and extremely predictable from beginning to end, with nothing that really grabs your attention or surprises you.
The author also focuses on many unnecessary details that add nothing to the story and only make the reading slower and more tedious.
This experience confirmed to me for the thousandth time that men are generally not very good at writing dark romance stories, because the emotional depth and tension that this genre usually needs were almost completely absent here.
P. C:
I honestly don’t understand the high ratings.. It makes me feel like we didn’t even read the same book.
My God.. this feels like complete fraud.. The blurb and the cover were quite appealing, but the actual story was less than ordinary and strangely boring.. I’m almost convinced it was written by AI rather than a human.
I’m shocked by the rating because it definitely doesn’t deserve it.
The author also focuses on many unnecessary details that add nothing to the story and only make the reading slower and more tedious.
This experience confirmed to me for the thousandth time that men are generally not very good at writing dark romance stories, because the emotional depth and tension that this genre usually needs were almost completely absent here.
P. C:
I honestly don’t understand the high ratings.. It makes me feel like we didn’t even read the same book.
My God.. this feels like complete fraud.. The blurb and the cover were quite appealing, but the actual story was less than ordinary and strangely boring.. I’m almost convinced it was written by AI rather than a human.
I’m shocked by the rating because it definitely doesn’t deserve it.
February 3, 2026
Wowza spice!
I don't typically submit reviews because I never know what to say. But this little piece of island paradise right here! It had just the right amount of giggle factor and a whole lot of spicy! I look forward to the next book and will be stalking insta for a release date.
I don't typically submit reviews because I never know what to say. But this little piece of island paradise right here! It had just the right amount of giggle factor and a whole lot of spicy! I look forward to the next book and will be stalking insta for a release date.
February 21, 2026
4,5*
I an genuinely surprised. I stumbled upon this book on Instagram from a random reel and didn't expect a lot as it's a new author from what I understood, however it exceeded my expectations.
The beginning was a bit amateur like I would say, the writing felt very simple and slightly rushed, but with time the story got actually quite interesting. The relationship of Aurelia and Keith was obvious since the beginning, but there were many different plot twists throughout the story that were surprising in a nice way. I suspected who the Butcher is since the beginning, but it was still well written and it wasn't given easily.
The story was focused not only on the romance, but also very much on the traumatic experiences of our main characters which gave the book a lot of depth and the sense of real pain and them being only human.
We got romance, spice, Mafia, action, but mainly strong protective MMC who would burn everything to protect his woman and even though he grew up in a Mafia based family, he has a strong moral compass which was very refreshing and grounding.
Aurelia was quite soft, but also strong mentally considering all her trauma, very feminine character bringing light into Keith's life which is exactly what he needed.
I'm curious about the book two!
I an genuinely surprised. I stumbled upon this book on Instagram from a random reel and didn't expect a lot as it's a new author from what I understood, however it exceeded my expectations.
The beginning was a bit amateur like I would say, the writing felt very simple and slightly rushed, but with time the story got actually quite interesting. The relationship of Aurelia and Keith was obvious since the beginning, but there were many different plot twists throughout the story that were surprising in a nice way. I suspected who the Butcher is since the beginning, but it was still well written and it wasn't given easily.
The story was focused not only on the romance, but also very much on the traumatic experiences of our main characters which gave the book a lot of depth and the sense of real pain and them being only human.
We got romance, spice, Mafia, action, but mainly strong protective MMC who would burn everything to protect his woman and even though he grew up in a Mafia based family, he has a strong moral compass which was very refreshing and grounding.
Aurelia was quite soft, but also strong mentally considering all her trauma, very feminine character bringing light into Keith's life which is exactly what he needed.
I'm curious about the book two!
March 10, 2026
beautifully written
The way you captured the perspective of both male and female was hot
The balance between the heat and lull just enough to keep it exciting and the story line flowed beautifully
The way you captured the perspective of both male and female was hot
The balance between the heat and lull just enough to keep it exciting and the story line flowed beautifully
March 3, 2026
oh my god
This book was really fucking good, the mix of what goes of it’s amazing, along with a slight plot twist close to the end. I love it
This book was really fucking good, the mix of what goes of it’s amazing, along with a slight plot twist close to the end. I love it
March 2, 2026
Wasn’t sure what the book was about but once I started ready I couldn’t stop spend a whole day reading it. It captured and captivated my attention such a good book!
February 26, 2026
This book was everything a dark romance reader wants! it was beautiful heartbreaking and dark! I absolutely loved it!!
truly the epitome of touch her and☠️💀🫶❤️
truly the epitome of touch her and☠️💀🫶❤️
February 22, 2026
Riding a storm to build a Shield for there love, took me 3 days to read, an island that sounds like a perfect getaway, the twists that gets you more hooked and the smut well……that’s another level!!! If there’s going to be another book I need it! I want to know what happens next
February 11, 2026
Your book The Butcher’s Empire is truly a masterpiece. The storytelling, the depth of the characters, and the powerful emotions throughout the journey completely captivated me. Every chapter kept me hooked, and the impact it left on me is unforgettable. It’s honestly a 10/10 read for me 🌟📖✨
Thank you for creating something so powerful and inspiring — you’ve built an empire not just in the story, but in your readers’ hearts too ❤️🔥🍒
Thank you for creating something so powerful and inspiring — you’ve built an empire not just in the story, but in your readers’ hearts too ❤️🔥🍒
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2026
Bloody fantastic couldn't put it down .
Fantastic loved every minute of reading it can't wait for the next book
Brilliant writing had me hooked from first page
Fantastic loved every minute of reading it can't wait for the next book
Brilliant writing had me hooked from first page
December 19, 2025
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
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
December 1, 2025
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 🫶
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 🫶
December 27, 2025
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.
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.
November 29, 2025
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.
December 1, 2025
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 👀❤️
December 1, 2025
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.
December 9, 2025
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews