Velvet Chains: A Dark Bratva Romance

by Mara Vesper

ROMAN

She was supposed to be collateral. A contract. A means to an end.

Then she beat me at chess, refused to flinch when I drew blood, and made me want things a man like me doesn't deserve.

I'm the heir to Moscow's most dangerous syndicate. I don't do mercy. I don't do love. I do leverage.

But Anya Morozova isn't leverage anymore.

She's mine.

ANYA

I signed a marriage contract to save my brother's life. I expected a monster.

I didn't expect Roman Volkov to play violin at 3 a.m. like his hands were bleeding. I didn't expect his rules to feel like safety. I didn't expect to want this.

He's a killer. A liar. The most dangerous man in any room.

And I'm starting to think I'd burn beside him if he asked.

Velvet Chains is a full-length dark Bratva romance featuring a possessive anti-hero, forced marriage, and scorching heat. Obsessive hero. Heroine with teeth. HEA guaranteed.

Perfect for fans of Sadie Kincaid, Cora Reilly, and Danielle Lori.

This book contains mature themes including violent worlds, and morally grey characters. Reader discretion advised. Please check the warnings.

Genres: Forced Proximity, Dark Romance

395 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2026

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars  

Basics
Author: she/her, US?
Genre: bratva romance
Setting: city, Russia
Themes: blackmail, violence,
Vibes: angry, hostile, aggressive

Characters
🔬🧪 Anya - chemist who agrees to marry Roman and create chemicals to keep her little brother safe
🎻🗡 Roman - Russian bratva capo who is caught between so many dangerous elements

Pros
+ romance tropes: marriage of convenience (blackmail), bratva, BDSM elements (stoplight system), touch-her-and-die, tattooed ml,
+ Anya is smart & stays smart the entire time
+ vor star part was cool 🌟
+ okay, plot twist 🤌
+ Russian poison roulette chess match ♟️

Cons
- why is she dripping like a faucet ALL THE TIME
- "your body is already betraying you" (the "your body betrays you" line continues to be one of my least fav lines in any romance book)
- she also "shatters" relentlessly, with little effort on Roman's part & "slick" runs down her thighs like this is an omegaverse (it's not) 🤨
- I think she fell in love with him in less than a week? 🙃

Content Warnings
violence, death, murder, blood, drugs, torture

[Debra Ludlow-Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who genuinely loves dark mafia romance, Velvet Chains hit a lot of the right notes for me. If you also love dark mafia romance this delivers exactly what it promises and then some.
This is a forced marriage story with a power imbalance that does not pretend to be soft or sweet and the author is very clear about the tone, consent elements and darkness up front.
Roman is unapologetically morally gray (sometimes borderline brutal) and Anya is far from a passive FMC herself… she’s intelligent, stubborn and fighting for survival when everything wants to break her. Their dynamic is intense, highly charged and uncomfortable in ways.
What stood out most to me was the psychological tension, which I dug into. The constant chess match push and pull between the Roman and Anya for control is intense and the way power shifts in small but meaningful ways kept me totally fixated. This isn’t a ‘secretly soft hero’ style mafia romance but more obsession, possession and negotiation of consent, which will absolutely work for darker readers like me but not for everyone. That said the FMC retains some control even when the situation is coercive, her intelligence matters and she isn’t reduced to a prop at all.
The writing is immersive and atmospheric.. especially in the Russian setting and cultural details (something I love!). Some scenes are hard to read (emotionally) but that’s part of the appeal if you’re already comfortable in this corner of the romance book world.
This is very much a book you need to be in the right headspace for. If you’re new to dark romance, this may feel overwhelming at first. If you’re experienced with the genre, you’ll likely recognize the tropes and enjoy how confidently the book presents them.
Overall, the book is a strong start to a dark mafia series. It’s intense, provocative and emotionally charged. Recommended for readers who actively seek out dark romance and understand what they’re signing up for.

[MandysBookish Mind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roman is introduced as a tough Bratva man through and through. His loyalty to the Bratva is absolute, and he’ll do whatever is required of him, including marrying Anya. Anya, a chemist with a younger brother she would do anything to protect, is trapped by the Bratva using him as leverage. Watching these two forced together under those circumstances was fascinating.

From the very beginning, Roman is drawn to Anya in a way he never expected. The protective pull he feels toward her is intense and unmistakable, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by those around him. He’s in awe of her in so many ways, and despite being a high-ranking Bratva member, he literally gets on his knees for her. That moment was everything, a perfect demonstration of just how completely she has him.

Anya uses the word hate often when it comes to Roman, and honestly, some of it he fully deserves. That made it all the more satisfying when that hatred slowly transformed into something else. And when she stands up for herself? I wasn’t complaining one bit. Roman earned every second of her reactions, and I loved that she never made herself smaller for him.

The character development for both of them was beautifully done. Anya’s growth, in particular, felt realistic and earned, not rushed or forced. Their journey is action-packed and full of twists and turns, and I loved watching how they learned to handle each obstacle, especially when they worked together and actually communicated. This was an intense, emotional bratva romance that delivered on both character growth and plot, and it kept me fully invested from start to finish. I received this book as an ARC and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

Because you're the only person who's ever made me wish I was someone else.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️. And half
This is a very intense dark Mafia story about a soon to be Pakhan name Roman and a Toxicologist name Anya. Roman's uncle (current Pakhan) orders Roman to marry the toxicologist to repay a debt her father owes to them by way of holding her brother's life over her head.

Roman
He follows whatever orders given to him by his uncle. He's cold hearted, ruthless and feared by all. He has childhood trauma that will explain his actions and inactions throughout this story. I truly loved watching him grow into who he is at the end. He's so alpha male, aggressive, passionate, and my favorite of the main characters.

Anya
She's smart, sweet, a bit quick to judge, reckless, and very very VERY stubborn... to a fault. She has a negligent father, and lost her mother at a very young age. She chooses to follow in her mother's footsteps in toxicology. Turns out she's brilliant and surpasses her mother! This is where my respect for her ends. She's blinded by her grief. She was my biggest frustration throughout this whole book! She gets easier for me to digest at the end. However, the path to that point was extremely painful.

This story will keep you captivated with the plot twists, heat, passion, and connection between Roman and Anya. The sexual encounters are on point and super hot 🫦 🥵
Anya's stubbornness and hatred will make this relationship almost impossible! So be prepared!

This was the first story I've read by Mara Vesper and it won't be the last. I loved the 2nd in command, Luka and can't wait to read his story! I just hope the future MFC is a little more reasonable than Anya. LOL

This is a review from ARC received from the author. This is my honest review.

[Rea Alexandris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know why I’m surprised anymore when a dark mafia romance completely wrecks me, but Velvet Chains absolutely did. It’s filthy, brutal, obsessive, and somehow still painfully emotional in a way that sneaks up on you when you’re least prepared for it.

Roman is exactly the kind of man you know you should hate—cold, controlling, genuinely terrifying—and yet I was feral for him from page one. The power imbalance is intense, the tension never lets up, and every interaction feels dangerous, loaded with things that absolutely shouldn’t be hot and somehow very much are.

What really got me, though, was Anya. She isn’t weak, she isn’t naïve, and she doesn’t magically fix him or soften the darkness around them. She survives him. She pushes back in the ways she can, and when she breaks, it feels raw and real. Their dynamic is toxic, intense, and ridiculously addictive, the kind that makes you swear you’ll stop reading at 2 a.m. and then immediately keep going.

Check the triggers, because this book does not play nice. But if you like dark mafia romance with obsession, control, heat that borders on uncomfortable, and characters who make questionable choices you’ll defend anyway, this one hits hard.

I need book two immediately.

[Vicki Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Dark Romance
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, forced proximity, Russian Mafia/Bratva
Release Day: 20th January 2026

I had hit a reading slump over Christmas so I started off the year with an ARC by Mara Vesper.

Roman is definitely the kind of book boyfriend all us girls love. I would say he definitely fell first for Anya who is a smart and strong FMC.

They are both forced into an arranged marriage by Romans Uncle. For Roman it’s his seat in the Bratva and for her it’s the safety of her younger brother.

Roman wasn’t supposed to like or fall for Anya but he’s not such a cold hearted monster as they think.

There is a lot of ups and downs and also a few moments of holding your breath in dangerous situations for them both.

I loved them as a couple and I raced through the book which is always a good sign.

Lastly… I’m very excited to read the next book which would follow Luka (Roman’s right hand man) ✨

[Kimberly Therrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review - thank you for this opportunity!
4⭐ 3.5🌶️

I enjoyed this book. It was dark, emotionally charged, and full of psychological tension as the protagonists sought to gain the upper hand.

What I appreciated most was the realism of the characters in their feelings, their internal conflicts, and their motivations. I love that Roman was so unapologetic and stayed true to himself. He doesn’t go gently, but he'll be ready to do anything to protect what belongs to him. Anya started soft, but she held her ground throughout the book, trying to survive and maintain her independence as the world around her sought to subdue her. Reading their character development and their relationship was rewarding. They become a power couple worthy of mention that we'd want to see in a mafia romance.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how they establish their power and the development of the secondary characters, I'm watching you, Luka.👀

[Kristi Stoller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC, thank you for letting me enjoy this book!

"You could burn everything I've built to the ground, and I'd hand you the fucking matches."

What to say about Roman and his wife Anya. This book had me in a hold for the day it took me to read it. I love bratva/mafia romance, and Velvet Chains did not disappoint! From the start of the book, you and brought into the world of Roman and his bought bride Anya. As a smart toxicologist, she enthralls him by beating him in a game of chess. From there she paves her way through the bratva, and through Roman's heart.
Knowing there is more of this Syndicate to come (because lets be honest, we need it) is super exciting. I highly recommend this book, also don't forget the Novella to this book, Frost and Gunpowder (where you learn so much more about Ash and Katya) you don't have to start there, but I would recommend it as it does give a little bit more context into Roman and Anya's story.

[Natasna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a wild entry into a dark mafia romance series—intense, toxic, emotionally feral, and absolutely not for the faint of heart. It grabs you by the throat from page one and does not let go. Roman and Anya? Unhinged. Dangerous. Painfully addictive. They’re the kind of dark romance couple that makes you question your morals and then keep reading anyway.
That said, the story could’ve been a little tighter—some scenes flew by so fast I wanted to scream “wait, go back, I need to emotionally process this trauma.” A bit of trimming would’ve made the punches hit even harder.
Still, if you love morally gray men, high-stakes obsession, and you know exactly what you’re signing up for with dark romance, this one delivers. Check your trigger warnings, charge your Kindle, and prepare to be consumed. 🖤🔥

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Cindy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Velvet Chains is the first story in The Volkov Syndicate. It is a well-written romance story and is my first from this author.

Anya is forced into a marriage with Roman by his uncle, the pakhan. Anya is a chemist who produces drugs. Her father owes money to the Bratva so she is given to pay her father's debt. Anya is strong-willed and challenges Roman at every turn and his need to control. She doesn't want anything to do with him but then she feels safe with him. Their feelings change the more time the spend together.

I loved that Anya was so strong and did not back down from Roman's control. She was a very strong main character. I loved how Roman protected her. I loved their chemistry together. They were made for each other. I look forward to more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Velvet Chains is definitely what it claims to be: a dark Bratva romance.
The book didn’t disappoint. After getting used to all characters introduced in the first chapter, I was intrigued.
Roman and Anya love to hate one another, that’s for sure.

~~“I hate you,” I whisper. “I know.” “I mean it.” “I know that too.” His other hand comes up to cup my face, tilting it toward me. “But you also want me. And that’s harder to admit, isn’t it?”~~

In a nutshell: this book is dark, twisted, fast paced most of the chapters, and has a lot of heated scenes (in more ways than one).
The dark storyline didn’t scare me away, and I’m looking forward to read more books in The Volkov Syndicate series.

I received an ebook from the author, and this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Linda Fairburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Bratva romance books and i have read quite a few so far and this one is so well worth reading.
Roman and Anya are forced to marry by his Pakhan also his uncle, she's a chemist and he wants her to produce an antidote, people using his drugs were dying.
Starting out with so much hate fir her husband soon changes into a living partnership and really spicy.
What she doesn't know that if she can do this for Vadim it will be sold to the highest bidder and she and Roman will be killed.
This is not an easy book to put down there's danger around every corner and I loved it even though there's a cliff hanger.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 1 of The Volkov Syndicate series. It is dark mafia romance at its best.

'Velvet Chains is a full-length dark Bratva romance. Obsessive hero. Heroine with teeth. Scorching heat.'

The plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and impressive. The characters drove the storyline and they were very compelling and complex and complicated and perfectly steamy together. All in all a great start to the series and I look forward to more from this world. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cat1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Velvet Chains is an intense, Russian Bratva story of secrets and violence. Roman, a Pakhan, for the Bratva signs a contract to marry Anya. Anya is a very smart scientist. Her father owes money to the Bratva, so Roman was chose to marry Anya, so she'd pay off her father's debt. Anya doesn't want anything to do with Roman, but starts to feel safe with him and things change. There are alot of obstacles and secrets in their relationship. The sex is extreme and passionate. The story is thrilling and will keep you intrigued. Look forward to reading more from Mara Vesper.

I received an advanced copy of this book for free and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Curated In Ink · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book ticked so many boxes for me. I have read a LOT of dark mafia romance and find that the stories seem to be similar and formulaic which can make for a boring read. But this one really was different, I love the chemical aspect of the storyline and the authors writing style was great. There was a good amount of tension and I felt both MCs really came into their own.

Dark mafia romance ✅
Morally grey MMC, he does a lot of questionable messed up stuff but we love a man who owns it and is self aware ✅
Obsessive/possessive for both MCs ✅
A queen of a FMC ✅

There was a great amount of spice but it didn’t take away from the plot. There was a really good balance. Eagerly waiting on book 2!

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Velvet Chains is a dark Bratva arranged marriage between Roman, heir to his uncle's Volkov Syndicate, who is to wed Anya, a brilliant toxicologist, in order to forgive her father's debts. Roman uses the safety of Anya's younger brother in order to control her. Their intense enemies to lovers relationship is filled with strong emotions, manipulation, secrets, and past traumas. The book is well written with strong complex characters, plot twists, dubious consent, possessiveness, great world building, and sizzling passion.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book! I highly recommend!! Roman has a high position in the Russian mafia and ends up getting into a marriage contract with Anya, which she's forced to do to save her brother. Anya despises him and ends up having a love/hate relationship with Roman. She's a chemist that Roman needs to help make a drug she believes is to help people but it's really a weapon for the mafia to use to kill people. Anya battles with the feelings she's developing for Roman. Their relationship is full of spice, twists and turns and so many emotions. Roman is taking on a battle of his own inside the mafia with his uncle. I couldn't put this book down! This is a must read!! I can't wait to read book two!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mafia romance that delivers!
Roman is a morally gray character with a high level of possession and protectiveness.
Anya is smart, stubborn and has a fighting spirit that no one can take off.
They have to face dangerous challenges while dealing with their feelings.

Expect action, tension and, of course, spicy moments!
The writing is immersive, with a lot of cultural elements that I really enjoyed.
An emotionally charged read that I recommend if you are into dark romance.
Make sure to check the triggers first!

[Shelly Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Roman and Anya's story. The business side is great. There's a forced marriage, threat to a family member, forced to work for the organization, twists and turns, and unexpected moments. That's the good part. The characters fell short on the emotional connection. They had a love/hate relationship, but the love kept falling short. That's the issue at times with a dark story. It felt that they simply accepted each other. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Zachariah Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Roman and Anya were truly remarkable. They united through an arranged marriage with the aim of rescuing her brother. Anya perceives Rylan as dangerous and brutal, and she definitely didn’t anticipate the person she would encounter afterward. The unexpected plot twists captivated me completely, leaving me in suspense. Their union was enchanting, and I found myself swooning over it. Both characters were fiery and powerful, yet they showed tenderness at just the right times.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jessica Milford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books where you simply can not put down. Roman brought the mafia vibes and own that shit. I love that through out the book he did not try to hide the stuff he had done or tone it down for her. He let Anya see all. Anya was caught in the "right and wrong". Strong willed bit can't deny the feeling she has for him. The spice was SPICY. The tone through the book was good and paced to my liking. I will definitely read any book this author puts out
I can't wait to read the next one.

[Anna Pepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to diving into this one as I love Bratva and Mafia romance. It started off as a contract and the story included spice and plot. This story hooked me in and I blew through this one in 2-3 days.

The plot/story isn’t per se finished so I’m looking forward to see how it continues on but also doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. I want to thank the author for letting me ARC read this one.

[Shaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Enemies to Lovers
Forced Marriage/Proximity
Russian Mafia
One of the best mafia romance books I have ever read. Great dynamic between the two main characters; the hate, the want and longing, and the eventual love and devotion. But what I really loved was the suspense of the mafia politics and fighting. It was so well written and gave me so much anxiety! Highly recommend! Thank you to Mara Vesper for the arc!!

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roman and Anya sign a contract as an order to protect with they value initially. She is a surprise at every turn and grows in her power and strength throughout the book. I loved how the writing showed the challenges of experiencing conflicting emotions and the internal struggle to choose a path that acknowledges multiple truths. I love the dedication they have to one another and how the create a place for love within a history of violence.

Now… Luka what’s next for you?! Cannot wait!

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was spicy and everything I wanted out of a bratva dark romance!! Anya is a STUNNING character! She's terrified but oh so smart too. She doesnt back down, which Roman didnt expect. Her intelligence and her refusal to be anyone's pawn is admirable. I think its why Roman started falling for her so quickly. Vadim is a moron. An arrogant and foolish man. I like that this ended happily with threads still left unresolved.

[Danielle Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌶🌶🌶 amazing chemistry with a mafia boss and his chemist! I loved the heat and passion that the characters brought throughout this amazingly thought-out book from start to finish.

Favorite moments:
"you looked at me like I was a man and not a monster"

"Let them come learn the chemist knows forty-three ways to stop a heart. Twenty of them look like natural causes, and the other twenty-three make excellent examples"

[Genna Zdunski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as an ARC. This is my first Russian Mafia read so I had a lot to learn but Vesper puts a dictionary at the beginning that I honestly loved and used through the whole book when I couldn’t remember what something meant. This is definitely an enemies to lovers. Lots of action, heat, love, and gore. Pretty much the perfect book!

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

In order to save her brother she has to marry Roman the leader of the most dangerous syndicate in Moscow. She is not expecting much love in the marriage as it is a contract and only a means to an end. What she gets is a man that has very real feeling and emotions. Together they can handle anything.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roman and Anya are forced into a marriage allainge by Romans uncle for him to jeep his pmace and heir and her to save her lil brother, she was a means to an end until Roman sees just how strong willed and determined she is, as sparka fly enemies draw near. Where will it all end? Well written engaging steamy desires drama action and more

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roman and Anya were amazing in this book. Coming together from an arranged marriage to save her brother. Anya looks at Rylan as being deadly and ruthless. She most certainly didn’t expect the after guy she saw. I loved the twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat. The way they came together had me swooning. Both were fire. Both strong people, but soft at the right moments.