Little Death: A Dark Romance

by Nicole Blanchard

I should have known better than to play games with dangerous men.Crashing a masquerade party for the most elite members of New Orleans was supposed to give me answers, not put me in the sights of the Irish mafia’s most enigmatic enforcer, Aiden O’Connor.

But when one reckless gamble binds me to him for a night, I learn too late that some wagers can’t be won.

What begins as a game spirals into obsession, temptation, and ruin.

Because Aiden doesn’t just want control for one night—he wants to break me in ways I’ll never escape unscathed.

Little Death is a dark romance novella and a prequel to Until Death. Some themes and scenes may be disturbing to readers. Please check the TWs at the beginning of the book.

Genres: Dark Romance, Amazon, Enemies To Lovers, Spicy, Dark

164 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2025

About the author

Nicole Blanchard is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the TikTok-viral dark romance Toxic, a wildly addictive bestseller that has sold over 90,000 copies worldwide. Known for her morally gray antiheroes, off-the-charts heat, and jaw-dropping twists, Nicole’s stories drag readers deep into love’s darkest corners—where no one escapes unscarred.

When she’s not crafting twisted love stories that break your heart and then heal it, you can find her soaking up beach sun with a glass of sweet tea, getting inked, or running a farm full of lovable misfit animals.

You may learn more about Nicole and her work at www.authornicoleblanchard.com. Join her mailing list for updates at http://www.authornicoleblanchard.com/...

Reviews

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have Until Death by Nicole Blanchard on your TBR, I HIGHLY recommend that you read Little Death FIRST! This is the prequel to Until Death and I feel like you get the full picture on the situation between Aiden and Catriona. I know most don't think a prequel is necessary but I feel like this has some vital information and sets the tone. Like I feel like I would have been confused about the why of things in Until Death if I did not read this one first.

This prequel had me invested on how this would play out from the start. The prequel starts off with Catriona arriving to an estate for a masquerade charity event. Only to find out the estate is one she used to live in and the house where her mom died. Her whole goal of coming to the event is to see if she can find clues to solve the death of her mother. In the process of doing so, she witnesses something that she shouldn't have. Which results in her being an Irish mafia mans pet for the night.

Like I said, I was hooked and invested from page one which made me so excited to roll right into Until Death.

[Beatrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine but was more like a couple of chapters than an actual book. You barely get to know anything about the characters before the book is done which is frustrating. I'm unlikely to search out the rest of the series because this felt like a really egregious money grab. Why not just put the next two hundred pages in this book and be done with it? I know cliff hangers get people scrambling to get the next book but this was just annoying.

I would have given less stars to show how much this bothers me, but the writing wasn't bad, just the decision to tease out a book in little bite sized bits.

[Flame and Fable · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting. It’s a great short, very spicy prequel novella. It’s got me excited to continue to the first main book of the series. Aiden is definitely a character I want to see more of! He has such a filthy mouth and knows how to use it 🥵

[Krista Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is hot! Mafia romance at its finest! Dude!

[Ingride · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prequel to Until Death that introduces us to the characters. I liked.

[Loané · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heads or tails?

4 ⭐️
4 🌶

​Aiden and Catriona’s chemistry is lethal. This prequel novella is fast, filthy, and total perfection. 🔥

Aiden is the kind of man who will have you begging on your knees at the flip of a coin - and I’d gladly let him call the shots every time. Team Aiden & Catriona forever. 🔥

Now excuse me, while I go spread those pages 🤌🏻

[Heide · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much potential …. The story started out with a great deal of potential but failed miserably. After a couple of chapters of cat and mouse it wound up nothing more of sex - no content what so ever. I mean if I just wanted to read porn I would.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 - 𝟝 ⭐️ & 𝟛 🌶️

ℚ𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤:
📱 “See how sweet you are after your punishment? How do you behave? Imagine how you’ll feel after a night of it? After I make you come dozens of times. By the time the sun rises, I’ll have had you screaming for so long you’ll be begging to tell me what you’re doing here. That’s when we’ll be done. When I know the thought of my face will make you hesitate before coming back. I don’t trust a damn word out of your mouth, but I can trust that.”

📱 “Run as fast as you can because if I catch you, I’ll punish you in ways that’ll make the devil blush,”

📱 “Why did you have to be so fuckin’ perfect?”

📱 I may not be able to have her, but I’ll hunt her down along with her father. Because like I told her… There’s nowhere she can run where I won’t find her.

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
This is the novel that opens the series Queenmakers, and I must say, it is a spicy one.

The FMC goes to the MMC’s party with a clear goal in mind, to retrieve her deceased mother’s cellphone. And why would her mother’s phone be in the MMC’s house? Because just a few months ago, it was her family house. Something happened, and now it belongs to him.

She sneaks into the party uninvited, makes her way upstairs to what used to be her mother’s room, and manages to retrieve the phone. But then she hears noises coming toward the room and has no choice but to hide.

From her hiding spot, she discovers that the MMC is not who she thought he was. He is a criminal, and she becomes the witness to a murder he commits.

When she believes it is finally safe to leave, she comes face to face with Aiden. Desperate to stay alive, she makes him a deal, a dice deal. If the roll is odd, he lets her go without questions. If it is even, she belongs to him to do with as he pleases until morning.

And of course, it is even. 😂

After that, you can probably imagine what happens next, and I must say, it was delicious. 🫦

[VIC MC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️ • 3/5 🌶️
Catriona Gallagher + Aiden O’Connor
A fun, quick novella that is extra risqué mixed with a little bit of mystery. A dominating, Aiden, who is part of the Irish mafia meets previous socialite, Catriona, while she is attending his party at her former estate looking for clues regarding her mothers recent death which she does not believe was really an accident. Despite it being a masquerade event, the two are instantly drawn to each other and after Catriona is caught sneaking around and loses a bet to Aiden he tells her that if he wins “you’ll be mine to do with as I please until morning...”—let’s just say he has some ideas up his sleeve on what he is going to do with her 🥵. It was a fun introduction to these two characters giving us a quick glimpse in what is to come in their full length book called “Until Death”—I am excited to see what secrets will be revealed, what drama will unfold and what other positions (in and out of bed) Aiden will put Catriona in. 😉

[Michaela Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I red toxic by Nicole and loved it!! So when I seen she had another book coming out that was Irish mafia I couldn’t not get my hands on this too!! What an amazing story the plot twist was amazing the storyline was perfect and my god the spice!!! All around amazing because who doesn’t love a blonde sexy Irish mafia man! I loved their chemistry and their banter it was everything. Catriona and her stubbornness killed me haha I think between her and Aiden they both didn’t know what they were getting into with each other it was so funny watching them go back and forth. Deep down they both knew their feelings that they didn’t wanna admit was there was more powerful then anything this was a great story and I’m so happy I could have red it early!!!

[Samantha AdamsMcCord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catriona(FMC) She blames the Irish billionaire that stole her home! She swears that her death was not supposed to happened! She made a bet with Aiden and lost! She made it out but now she is questioning herself and wants him back so bad. She thinks he doesn’t know her but soon she will realize much more soon!
Aiden O’Connor(MMC) Irish millionaire that bought her family home. That he more then someone that bought there home.
He saw her he wanted her the minute he saw her show up to the Gala. He is more than an Irish man he is obsessed with her and now with everything that happened that night he will never let her go! Super spicy 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ lil novella and can’t wait for more!

[timap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Death 4.5⭐️ prequel novella
MMC Aiden O’Connor
FMC Catriona Gallagher
❤️Tropes: Irish m0b, morally grey MMC, primal play, sp@nking, pierced 🍆 , 🔫 play, he’s obsessed with her, one-night stand
📍Setting: New Orleans
💁POV: first person, dual
🖤Darkness level: 3/5
🌶️Spice 4.5/5
📚Plot 4/5
🌎World building 5/5
⚠️Triggers: parental d3ath, mention of su!cide, rough smex, vi0lence, murd3r

This prequel novella was SO 🔥🔥🔥
SERIOUSLY.
It really starts off with a bang, Catriona is looking for clues relating to her mother’s d3ath, so she breaks into her old house - Aiden O’Connor’s mansion during a fundraising Halloween masquerade party. Of course she gets caught by a psych0path- because that’s how every dark romance meet cute happens? 🤪

Seriously so much dark romance spice. 🥵 I’m jumping immediately to “Until D3ath” 🏃‍♀️ 🙌

Some minor editing problems, but honestly, I don’t even care, this book was so 🔥🔥🔥🥰

[Kimm Euto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spicy and intriguing

I read Little Death as it explains how our main characters meet, as Until Death continues their story.
Catriona attends a masked fundraiser at a house where she used to live, hosted by Aiden. This story ends without answering any questions... what really happened to her mom, is the most important. Now I am wondering what we will discover as we move on to Until Death.

Okay so I must know what happens next!!

I refuse to say more as it could spoil the experience of others.

Little Death is my intro to Nicole Blanchard, and I could not be happier!!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Death

Aiden O’Connor is a very handsome man in a very messy “career”. Catriona Gallagher is messed up from her mother’s suspicious death. When she sneaks into her old home to look for her mother’s phone Aiden catches her trying to escape. This is the definition of a dark romance that I couldn’t put down…onto “Little Death” which I cannot wait to read. I have to know what happens next!

[Brooke Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Plot in a Nutshell
The story follows Catriona, a woman who crashes a high-stakes masquerade party at her childhood home (now owned by a mysterious billionaire) to find answers about her mother’s suspicious death

She gets caught by Aiden O’Connor, an enigmatic and dangerous enforcer for the Irish Mafia. Instead of turning her in, he makes her a "wager" that binds them together for a night of obsession and psychological games and lots of spice

[PoshingInTheSun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I received the 2nd book, Until Death, as an ARC and wanted to read this one first. An extremely short/quick read. The story takes place over just 2 days. If you’re into dark mafia romance, this is definitely your book. Triggers warnings: talks of suicide/loss of a parent, murder, pierced MMC, psychological manipulation/gun play/mask play/graphic intimate content. Not a read for the innocent. 😇

[Samantha Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just wasn’t my cup of tea. I understand it’s a prequel novella, but it didn’t do much to make me care about the characters or invest in their story. If you’re looking for something primarily focused on spice (with heavy trigger warnings noted at the beginning), this may work for you. However, if you’re hoping for a strong plot or character development, this likely isn’t it. It was a quick, entertaining read for what it is, but I don’t plan to continue the series.

[Little Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this before reading Until Death, as this was the prequel. It explains how the main characters, Aiden and Catriona met for the first time. I’d say it helped me see the build up of the relationship between them and explain how their paths crossed. Short and spicy but worth the read. I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

[Bound In Bibiliophilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little Death is small prequel to Until Death. It gives you the first interaction between Catriona (MFC) and Aiden (MMC). Man it was a INTERACTION for sure! Full of spicy actions from chapter 2 till the end.

Read your triggers!
Hope Aiden entices you to be his good pet and act accordingly or else.....😉

[MaryLovesRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a prequel novel and I am honestly so excited to read the actual novel that goes along with it. This story left a lot as a mystery. I also just loved the characters. They are both so stubborn and I love how they butt heads in this story. Absolutely so fun. Could not get enough.

I would definitely read this again and I am so so excited to read the full novel that follows.

[Jane Mitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scorching

Little Death is a damn hot, scorching read. The book is spy-cee!! Aiden is one hot man. He knows what to do and how to do it. Catriona makes a mistake and catches Aiden's attention. The ride after that is 🥵. Fantastic cliffhanger in book 1. I can't wait to read book 2. Thank you Nicole for a great start to the Queenmakers series!

[Leslie Weimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This! Just finished Little Death by Nicole Blanchard and wow… this one is not for the faint of heart.

The obsession, control, the hunt! Could not put it down! .
The adrenaline of the FMC not getting caught by the person possibly responsible for murdering her mom 😳

The banter the chasing , all of it! This is what pulls you in!!

⚠️ Definitely check trigger warnings before going in—this is a darker, edgier read. With a determined FMC and dominant MMC🥵

Overall: 5 ⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵🌶️
Dark, chaotic,
#BookReview #DarkRomance #NicoleBlanchard

[Dark Romance Obsessed Siren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This spicy dark romance pulled me in immediately. The story wastes no time setting a dangerous tone, layering secrets and suspense that kept me glued to every page. The tension builds nicely with the mystery, and with just the right amount of darkness and heat.

[Mary Fazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy molybdenum

Aiden is a billionaire from Ireland. He is wining and dining for a fundraiser. He runs into a Catriona who is trying to solve how her mom died. Aiden bought her mom’s old house and finds Cat snooping in a room. It’s a hot fast meeting but now he wants more.

[Ali Faye Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, short, and spicy.

Super quick read. If you are looking to not have to commit to a whole book this is a good choice especially if you want Irish mafia with a lot of spice.

The ending definitely setups the next story Until Death. I would say you should definitely read this first so you know the background for the next book.

[Emily M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and short prequel to get you ready for the main event. I’m sure that this book gave a great baseline and foundation to build upon. I like the banter and the structuring of the book. I think it’s a good little way to kick off a much larger series.

[Tedra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh

FMC was super annoying and kinda dumb.
I don't mind some pushback but she was dumb and mouthy & trying to come off as defiant but it didn't work. You're supposed to not want to piss off the Killer mob guy.

[Kim Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

An introduction to something exciting is going to be happening! Can’t wait to see what happens!

[Victoria Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy cliffhanger

Quick read to introduce you into a longer version to see how they come together as a couple. Can’t wait for book two

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Oo a perfect short prequel to pull you in! Really enjoyed reading this and I can't wait to dive into the Queenmakers Series!