Wicked is the Night

by Noelle Upton

Xiomara is the head enforcer of the Serafim Group, the best shifter family business in the world. She gets called in to collect heads or make sure people get with the program, but this new assignment is different. When her father tasks her with taking down their biggest rival from the inside out, Xiomara is all too eager to sign the marriage contract. Her husband turns out to be a stupid workaholic, but the job gets harder the longer she’s out from under her father’s thumb.

Boone isn’t new to this. At one hundred and twenty-five years old, he’s been in the business since he was running moonshine in the North Georgia mountains. Benicio Serafim has been a thorn in his side for the last few decades, and when the opportunity arises to get close enough to stab him in the back, Boone doesn’t hesitate. His new wife is a ball of chaos, claws, and hidden knives, but he slowly grows used to his kitten.

Will Xiomara be able to end Boone Albright when the time is right? Will Boone be able to take down the Serafim Family? And who the hell is stealing from them all?

Wicked is the Night is a paranormal romance standalone novel and is book three of the A Light in the Dark series. Prior knowledge from the previous books is helpful but not required.

Genres: Shapeshifters, Mafia Romance, Fantasy, Enemies To Lovers

441 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2026

About the author

Noelle Upton is an indie author and lover of fantasy, romance, and dark tales. When she's not writing or reading, Noelle enjoys dancing, chatting with friends over good food, and laughing with her husband. Her two series, Twin Blades and A Light in the Dark, are ongoing.

Reviews

[Kimberlyyyreads]

Beta Read + Translation Work

My first official Beta Read 😎, love everything about this book. I cannot wait to review this for everyone 🤭

[Ashley Rankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it incredibly difficult to put down. It was one of those compelling reads where I continually told myself, “just one more chapter,” only to keep turning the pages late into the night. The pacing and narrative tension were expertly handled, making it an immersive and highly engaging experience from beginning to end.

What I particularly appreciated was that the story did not follow the predictable or overly familiar patterns often seen in many mainstream releases today. Instead, it offered something refreshingly different, with a distinctive voice and perspective that set it apart.

The main female character was especially memorable. Her bold, unfiltered thoughts and unconventional outlook added depth and authenticity to the narrative. Reading from her perspective felt raw and intimate, allowing me to genuinely connect with her inner world. Her voice carried a sense of wildness and emotional intensity that made the story all the more powerful and engaging.

[Ashley (Red-Haired Ash Reads)]

DNF pg. 284 (64%)

This started off interesting and kept my attention, but as the book progressed it unfortunately started feeling repetitive and nothing really was happening. These two really have no chemistry together besides lust and all they do is fuck, which is fine, but I also want actual character and relationship development with the fucking. These two don’t talk to each other at all and I still don’t understand why this arranged marriage even happened.

My other issue is with the characters themselves. We have Xiomara who is chaotic and wild, which I liked, but her monologue/dialogue felt too random and chaotic to where nothing ever really comes from it. We barely get to know about her and her family because what is said is just random shit, or its just her focusing on fucking Boone to calm herself (which still hasn’t been explained this far in).

Boone on the other hand is just angry all the time. We get no personality from him besides anger, which is always directed towards Xiomara even when she hasn’t seen him all day, or lust because he wants to fuck her. On top of that, Boone is so fucking controlling. He is constantly telling Xiomara what she can and can’t do, like she can’t dance at his club, etc. It got old really quick, and I don’t know why I keep reading. I also wanted to know why he was so hard up on taking down the Serafim group, outside of them being a rival, or what his actual plan was once he took them down. But no, we just get an angry and controlling man with no other personality.

My other issue is how long this book is. I read over 200 pages and honestly very little happened in them besides sex, heats, and a few kills. Most of the stuff bit stuff happens off page and is just referenced. Also it got to the point where it felt like there was sex happening jsut to have filler and that was it. These two aren’t getting closer with all the fucking, and most of the sex again is just brief mentions or references.

Basically, this isn’t working for me. I can’t imagine these two having an actual relationship with a HEA or HFN. Also I can’t see them actually becoming an interesting couple in the last 40% of this book, so I am stopping here.

TW: blood, gore, and death; abusive parent; PTSD; fire/fire injury mentioned; amputation mentioned;

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Missfit]

3/1

‎No one wants to start a new month with a DNF, but here I am.
‎
‎Wicked is the Night honestly scared me with the page count. It’s almost as long as an epic fantasy book I’ve read before. For an urban fantasy that relies heavily on romance, that feels ugghh ... A lot? Idk. But the tropes sounded so good. Disability rep? Shifter x vampire? And she’s the more lethal one?
‎
‎Yeah. I signed up so fast like a ninja.
‎
‎The author is actually really sweet. She answered my questions on Instagram, even the spoiler ones, so believe me when I say this makes me feel guilty. Unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with the writing.
‎
‎The first chapter starts with Boone, and he’s angry ALL THE TIME. I get that the author probably wanted to portray him as this bloodthirsty, volatile vampire, but his internal monologue felt excessive to the point of being tiring. Worse, I couldn’t even figure out what really started the arranged marriage. What does Boone gain from it? What is the Serafim group offering? None of it is clearly explained, which makes the relationship feel like it has no foundation. I think you could write a smart, reliable leader character and make them calm instead. You know, cold and calculating?
‎
On the other hand, ‎Xiomara gave me strong Harley Quinn vibes: she's chaotic, unhinged, and fun. But her monologue and dialogue kept jumping randomly from one topic to another, sometimes completely irrelevant. Is she on the spectrum? Is this intentional? Reading her POV felt like chasing a moving train while already running late. I wanted to like her, but that’s the problem. I was trying to convince myself instead of naturally connecting with her.
‎
‎I thought I could push through. Then the first sex scene happened, and ummm no :) The scene didn’t work for me at all. Xiomara, who had seemed confident and comfortable with her sexuality, suddenly felt out of character and messy. Since this book also includes heats (uh oh!), I honestly got worried about how much worse it might get for me.
‎
‎And that’s only 20% in.
‎
‎Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity, but I just couldn’t continue reading a book where the FMC was like, "oopsie, I forgot my duty because something entered my kitty hehe" or has to beg for it. NOPE. I think I need a break from arranged marriage tropes for a while. Two books in a row and both left a bad tastr in my mouth. I already knew fake dating wasn’t my thing. Turns out arranged marriage isn’t either.
‎
‎Oh well, every day you learn something new about yourself.

Edit 3/8: nvm turns out Xiomara is a Spanish name. Thanks for letting me know, Anna! 🥴

[spidermse · Rating 5 out of 5]

So what initially got me to read this book was the character art the author shared on socials. And if I'm being totally honest it was mostly Xiomara in that art. She's HOT. Like yes mommy stab me hot. I loved every bit of her character and personality that we got to see from her. Even after a whole novel I feel like there's still some mystery to her but that's part of her appeal. She was harsh and cruel with her work and her words, but she could also be sweet and funny. Especially around Boone and the animals. She was a badass and such a cool shifter.

I loved their interactions and banter especially once they started building trust and falling for each other. And the spice? HOT HOT HOT. I had to stop reading in public because they loved f*cking each other so much and it would just pop up and I would start blushing!

I skipped book 2 but from what I knew of book 1 I could keep up well enough. I do want to go back and read it though!

[Emma Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Not the typical shifter/vampire romance that I was expecting and loved it! It felt unique while also held true to some known shifter/vampire lore. The FMC was such a awesome badass but was also incredibly relatable with her experiences with truama and insecurity. What a fun character to encounter! And the spice!! It was super hot and in no way did it diminish the characters' connection or plot. Do yourself a favor and read this!

[Akilah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely feral for this book. (I’ve already read it 3 times 🫣)

I loved the concept, pre-ordered, and stayed on top of all the socials to get any little snippets I could. Seriously a 5/5. It’s spicy, lots of banter, sassy animals, and it has so much plot and heart. It’s so so good y’all.

Xiomara is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. I loved previous scenes she showed up in the other books and I just knew there was something about her that just spoke to me. The way she interacts with the world around her is so coded (iykyk) and I’ve definitely had so many of those moments. Seeing her evolve a little and settle into her skin was so gratifying. She’s just so freaking straightforward with absolutely no finesse. Haha. I loved her mob wife era.

Boone was exactly who I thought he’d be, plus. He makes an excellent villain. Why? He’s dimensional. And that bit of humanity made him amazing. He saw Xiomara as an individual, as a woman. Not just a tool or a means to an end. He ended up being a perfectly supportive partner, friend, and dog dad.

Together, these two are amazing. They balance each other out perfectly (even though there was plenty bloodshed). Xiomara got a chance to be herself, instead of whoever her family dictated she be-both physically and mentally. I’m so heartbroken for the Serafim siblings. They deserved so much more, but at this point, I happy for the closure they got.

Although I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of this book, all thoughts and feelings are my own.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book of an interconnected series.
Do you need to read the first two books?
No, but after reading this I want to.
I had read a short story by Noelle a while back and enjoyed it, so when a full length novel came up for grabs I jumped all over it.
I regret nothing.

The story is great, the cast of characters are interesting, but one character completely stole the show for me.
Xiomara.
From the second she skipped onto the pages she stole my heart.
Fiesty, funny, sexy, weird, mysterious, sweet and innocent while still being brutal and violent.
She had an openness of brutal honesty and yet, you still kinda knew nothing about her.
This is who Xiomara is and I could not get enough of her!
Thank you so much Noelle for my ebook copy, I adored it!

[S. Policar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is your typical enemies to lovers Pararom. As with most stories in this trope, it's got rival factions and a love born out of hate.
There really isn't anything that sets this apart from others of its ilk, which is fine if you're a Pararom fan; we will read them anyway.
While it IS a standalone, there's enough references to know you'd have a better understanding of a few of the cameo characters if you'd read the books before this one (which I may just do once I get the tbr down a bit).
The spice factor is mid-grade. It's there in abundance (I'm convinced these two wouldn't even have a relationship if they weren't joined by the genitals), but not as detailed as most others in this genre, which has its good and bad points; but that'd for the reader to decide. I personally wasn't bothered by the lack of pages of detailed sex.
While I'm not against sex in books, I tend to like it to make sense to the story, and there's more than instance in this story where it seems like it was just tossed in to be filler and doesn't do a thing for the actual story to move it along.
All in all the story was interesting enough to keep me engaged. My only issue was the pacing. Some of it dragged almost painfully slow, some areas were perfect. But the action scenes (not the sex, get your head out of the gutter, guys), felt rushed. The things that make a Pararom a subgenre of Urban Fantasy felt added like they were an afterthought. The scenes were great, there just wasn't enough in each of those scenes to really grasp the emotion or the urgency of the situation.
As a fan of Pararom, I think I'll keep an eye on this author to see what they come up next. 

[Nichole McWhirter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very first ARC review. I’m very thankful for the author selecting me to read her book. It’s my first time reading this author, here is my honest review.

Tropes, triggers, and other things: spicy level: 3.5 peppers. Enemies to lovers. Arranged marriage. Dual pov, first person pov, minor 4th wall breaks, vampires and shifters, magic system(is there a magic system?), disabled character representation, family trauma, physical/mental/emotional abuse and neglect of children, blood play, pain kink, exhibitionism, possessive MMC…possessive FMC, morally grey MMC/FMC, miscommunication (pretty minor, and fits with the story line… so it gets a “ok, but I still don’t like it”), LBGTQ friendly.

Starting off - if you’re new to this author, like I am, you’re going to be hit with a writing style that’s quite profane. I was initially put off by the amount of f*cks written. (On one page I counted 8). It is a lot, and it detracted from the characters for me - in the beginning. I got to about 30% in before I began to understand the characters and story for what it was. After 50% I was very invested, and began appreciating the characters and the plot.

Understanding the characters comes with time and getting through the pages - the author does character lore drops in a steady/progressive drip. Once I understood that the FMC was emotionally underdeveloped based off an abusive childhood, and the MMC emotionally unavailable/constipated based off of past relationship trauma… it all started to make sense.

The FMC, Xiomara, is sheltered in her own weird way. Living under the abusive thumb of her father, being forced into the family business, etc... She’s basically Jinx from Arcane -but is a shapeshifter. She’s funny at times, and very unhinged. I thought she was gunna be all talk “like I’m such a badass look at my big ego” …. But then she does things to back up the talk. She’s a wildcat, figuratively and I wanna say literally? There’s a lot of favoring towards big cat forms when shifting (entire family).

The MMC is your typical big, burly, broody vampire. He’s got southern charm though, and is every bit a mobster. He views other species as more than just prey -which I appreciated. He has a softness for horses and his dog, and his inner circle. He’s one of the only blond male main characters I was like “dang, he sounds hot.” Definitely becomes the possessive type later on.

There are some things I really enjoyed about this book and some things not so much, and others that I came to understand and enjoy.

Enjoyed:
-Author expresses things through action and dialogue between characters without overtly writing it out. Leaving things to inference, and personal conclusions. In the beginning, these characters seemed to have 0 chemistry. It’s because they didn’t! It was an arranged marriage neither really wanted, but did because of tactical business maneuverings between rival mobs. The connection builds as the story builds.
-descriptions of faces and eyes to convey emotions.
-the spicy scenes were well written, and hot. I think they connected first through sex. Physical connection and eventually the spice becomes more emotional.
-Interesting take on mates. And mating connections. Mated connections can be severed. And they can be entered upon freely.
-Culturally diverse characters, and inclusion of LBGTQ+ characters in a natural, seamless, way. It’s normalized in this book, and not polarizing like we see in the real world.
-The humor in the later half of the book really had me laughing out loud.

Didn’t enjoy/could be off putting for some:
-There are some parts and dialogue I cringed at. But I’m not going to yuck anyone’s yum. And overall, It doesn’t ruin the book for me.
-Too much spice could be an issue for some. Cuz there’s a good amount in here. I can see why it’s important (as they first connected via sex), and I enjoyed it. It’s not Kiss of the Basilisk amount of scenes, but it’s definitely more than ACOTAR amount of scenes.
-Profanity. This one did put me off a little bit, as I mentioned earlier. I cuss. I read books with cuss words. But it was a bit much, and detracted from the read for me.


Oh and you can read this one by itself, but it definitely has some crossover sections from the previous books. POV’s of characters I assume are from the first 2 books.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Noelle Upton for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts <3

All I'm saying is, who's doing it like Noelle Upton? Xiomara and Boone are at once deliciously steamy and achingly tender. Even though they're relatively well-matched strength wise, they have such interesting power dynamics. The way Upton toys with these power dynamics, specifically Boone's power over Xiomara's need for physical touch following a shift led to this unsettled tension between them. The first part of this book is spent drilling in the point that this marriage is against their will. Boone doesn't want this for any reason other than to take down Xiomara's father. It's almost hard to believe their's an HEA in their future during this part. This speaks to just how talented Upton is at navigating romantic tension. This is also the first book I've read from Upton that follows two characters who can't stand each other falling in love, which the more I think about makes me an even bigger fan of this book and series!

Xiomara grows so much in this book that it's hard not to root for her even when she's unaliving people (we support women's wrongs in this household!). She's a character that's on the outside of every relationship she has, so she exists in this rather lonely world of constantly trying to prove herself worthy of love and attention. She's a tool that everyone takes advantage of before tossing her aside. Xiomara is a fascinating character study because she's both hero and villain, abused and abuser, silly and sad. Her redemption isn't easily won; in fact, I would argue she's never going to get that full moment of complete redemption. She has to learn to live with her guilt while still embracing the newness of being loved as she is for the first time.

Boone's character arc really feels secondary to everything that's happening with Xiomara. His growth is less obvious because it feels more central to the romance than Xiomara's. He is learning to love again, but he's also had a century to cope with the harshness in his own life. My favorite thing about him is how much of a stick in the mud he is. He's really quite boring and obsessed with work. Like you get turned into a vampire just to still be a cog in the endless capitalistic hellscape that is American business? It's just so unserious to me (in a hilarious way)! Ultimately, Boone grew on me not because of his business acumen but because of his innate need to take care of Xiomara in certain high heat moments.

I can't believe I know who the next couple in the series is!!!! I need their book now!!! Noelle Upton is an instant favorite author and I will read anything she writes!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Wicked is the Night
✍🏻Noelle Upton
Blurb:
Xiomara is the head enforcer of the Serafim Group, the best shifter family business in the world. She gets called in to collect heads or make sure people get with the program, but this new assignment is different. When her father tasks her with taking down their biggest rival from the inside out, Xiomara is all too eager to sign the marriage contract. Her husband turns out to be a stupid workaholic, but the job gets harder the longer she’s out from under her father’s thumb.

Boone isn’t new to this. At one hundred and twenty-five years old, he’s been in the business since he was running moonshine in the North Georgia mountains. Benicio Serafim has been a thorn in his side for the last few decades, and when the opportunity arises to get close enough to stab him in the back, Boone doesn’t hesitate. His new wife is a ball of chaos, claws, and hidden knives, but he slowly grows used to his kitten.

Will Xiomara be able to end Boone Albright when the time is right? Will Boone be able to take down the Serafim Family? And who the hell is stealing from them all?

Wicked is the Night is a paranormal romance standalone novel and is book three of the A Light in the Dark series. Prior knowledge from the previous books is helpful but not required.
My Thoughts:
when we first meet Xiomara in scars of the sun, we hate her and for good reason. but in this, we discover there’s a lot to her and reasons for why she is the way she is and I loved getting to discover her and her depth.

her relationship with her sister, catalina is so complicated but I’m very happy with how it ended (no spoilers). it just felt very satisfying and like cathartic? idk how to explain lol.

her and Boone? goated!!!! I was obsessed from their very first interaction because Xiomara is the ultimate rage baiter and Boone is so easy to rage bait, so it makes for an interesting marriage dynamic between them.
Thanks Noelle Upton and Home Lyre Publications for the complimentary copy of "Wicked is the Night" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NoelleUpton
#WickedistheNight
#Hone Lyre

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Honestly, the writing in this story is 5 star quality but the content was a bit of a struggle for me, hence the rating. This longer story is dual POV, well written and edited, and a dark, genuinely enemies-to-lovers, shifter/vampire romance between Boone, the male vampire, organised crime boss lead, and Xiomara, the female “true shifter” lead who is the daughter/primary enforcer of Boone’s competition. I enjoyed the significant character and relationship development that was a necessity for this story to progress. I don’t generally prefer enemies-to-lovers and squirmed uncomfortably through parts of this story but that shows it was well written. I empathised with both characters’ historical trauma, especially Xiomara’s, which appeared partially on page. I laughed at her antics which caused Boone great stress to start with. I enjoyed the spicy intimate scenes and the balance they found in that space which allowed for other relationship development. I enjoyed Xiomara’s dedication and devotion. I enjoyed Boone’s focus and planning. I enjoyed many of the secondary characters and was glad of the vengeance received by antagonists.

I have not read any other work by this author and found the story stands alone (I requested it based on the strength of the blurb), though it would be enhanced, I suspect, by reading others. If enemies-to-lovers, shifter/vampire blood play, and organised crime are your preferences, I highly recommend this story.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.

[Cover to Cover Fantasy Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC Review**


Wicked is the Night is a sharp, gritty paranormal romance that perfectly blends shifter politics with a deadly arranged marriage. The forced proximity between Xiomara Serafim, a lethal enforcer, and her "workaholic" husband Boone Albright creates a spicy tension that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
There are so many hilarious moments from Xiomara‘s perspective because our girl cannot prevent an intrusive thought from falling out of her mouth. The two harbor so much resentment and distain for one another and cannot make it through the day without threatening to kill one of the other or attempting to follow through. There are just so many obstacles in their way that prevent them from letting their guards down and trusting each other. I got to part 2 and just did not see any of it coming, even though I knew this was an enemies to lovers story! The shifted atmosphere is absolutely genius. We don’t get an abrupt change in their relationship, and of course their walls are Still up but The formation of their relationship is developed in a way that is so unorthodox and beautiful. We learned more about the characters, their past, their inner thoughts and secrets, and they are developed in a way that is heart wrenching and real. Throughout the book, we see family dynamics being challenge, friendships being tested and loyalty being questioned amongst all of the characters in this story. If you’re familiar with the a light in the dark series then you kind of already get the vibe of this particular magical world. The characters are so naturally diverse and they just flow together so beautifully. It's a must-read for fans of enemies-to-lovers who like their romance with a side of hidden knives.

[Ayla Shoulders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of Wicked is the Night.
2.5 ⭐️
Did anything actually happen in this book besides Xiomara and Boone fucking, Boone being a salty bitch and Xiomara being straight chaos? Don’t get me wrong I love a good sex filled book, (even though the sex scenes weren’t even that good) that wasn’t the problem here… it’s that I just didn’t vibe with the characters. I didn’t feel any chemistry between them at all. I had zero interest in them or their “relationship”. What did the characters actually get out of this arranged marriage? The characters had zero depth. This was messy and there were too many inconsistencies as far as the characters personalities go… you can read one scene with Xiomara and see her as this badass confident woman and then the next page she’s kind of ditsy and just weird. And Boone just irritated me through literally the entire book.
Andddd…. I still don’t really get the plot. Like, what?

I was SO intrigued by the shifter x vampire romance. Which is why I requested the arc in the first place but I don’t know y’all. This just wasn’t for me.

[IV · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC review ✨

Wicked Is The Night was SUCH a treat. Oh my. I loved it!

I received an e-ARC of this book. I am leaving a review voluntarily, and it is my honest opinion.

Noelle Upton's writing style is super pleasant to read for me. Just beautiful, beautiful writing imo. Both of the main POV characters have clear, unique voices, too.

Xiomara in particular got me so invested in this story from the very beginning. What a fun, interesting, multifaceted baddie. I adore her. She had me in an absolute chokehold from page one! (I'm also getting major neurodivergent/ADHD vibes from her, which is not canonically confirmed afaik but might have contributed to my enjoyment of her, as an ADHD reader myself.) Boone wasn't as intriguing to me in the beginning but he definitely grew on me, and their dynamic was fun enough to make their journey enjoyable throughout, so I didn't mind. The spice happens relatively fast, but the romance is more of a slow burn, unfolding bit by bit. It's a true enemies to lovers, too, stabbing and betrayals included, which I loooved. Bonus points for the bi4bi M/F rep, love to see it.

The book strikes a great balance between dark themes and fun, playful banter. The side characters also added greatly to the story, and the plot was intersting. Did not see either of the two big plot twists coming, and they were very well-executed imo.

I usually prefer to read shorter books, but with this one, every page felt absolutely justified, and time flew by while I read it. 100% worth the read if the themes and tropes speak to you! I'd highly recommend it.

Tropes include (but not limited to)
- enemies to lovers to mates
- arranged marriage
- shifter x vampire
- heats & c*ck warming
- supernatural mafia

[Katie Flournoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

With bloodied talons, Wicked Is The Night grabs the reader by the throat on the first page and never lets go. Set in a queernormative world, with a stabby yet sweet (and SPICY) plot, this shifter and vampire romance is a fast-paced read thick with a captivating story line.

Author Noelle Upton has written a devastating and beautiful tale of truly becoming confident in one's skin even if it means breaking free of situations you once thought safe. Upton's use of fluid imagery peaks at reflective moments allowing the reader a deeper look into the minds of the characters. This book features disability and mental health rep, gender and sexuality rep, found family, and second chances where they're needed most. Wicked Is The Night can be read as a standalone but is part of an incredible series. I highly recommend reading every book!

I received this as an ARC, it made me feel all the feels, and I absolutely loved it! I can't even wait to read more by Noelle Upton!

[Sofia Gajewski mamaqueleeromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked Is the Night is a really dark romance book, but its spice level isn’t a 5—it’s more like a 4.
The story centers on an old rivalry between two leaders, and you can sense that a war is coming. They attempt a “peaceful” solution involving a contract marriage between one leader’s daughter and the other leader.
That’s when everything starts to unfold. Both characters are deeply into gore and are skilled assassins, but between them, there’s a spark…
The political and family dynamics in the book are complex, with mafia vibes mixed with supernatural elements.
The FMC is fascinating—she has a strong mindset and a heavy past that shapes who she is. The MMC, on the other hand, is protective and clever.
Together, they make a powerful couple, with moments of tenderness and care.
Overall, this book wasn’t a fast read. It actually took me quite a while to finish, but I enjoyed the story and the way it’s written.

[Leena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I promise I actually liked this book a lot more than what my rating suggests!! I just feel this is the proper raring for it. There were quite a few confusing moments in the book, you'd have to keep us with different transitions and when different characters are mentioned. I honestly just found it a bit hard to keep up because of how wordy and "info dumpy" some parts seemed.

Nonetheless, I loved Xiomara. And I liked Boone too I guess. But Xiomara genuinely has my heart, I'm still trying to fully grasp what she went through. What can I say though, is that she deserves the best!! I hope she gets everything she wished for. Aside from her, Boone was a nice character too. He definitely didn't deserve what he was put through but I'm glad it made him see the error in his ways.

Alas, I'm honestly contemplating the other siblings' books simply because of wanting to know how their background affected their love life.

[Teri Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The FMC in this story is sassy and laugh out loud funny, not to mention talented with a knife. There is expected betrayal in this book from both the FMC and the MMC. This story was well-organized and super fun to read. There is ample yummy spice once I got past a certain point in the book. The two main characters had really good chemistry even though, at first, they wanted to kill each other. The nesting scenes were really funny and heartwarming. There were secrets and surprises, as well as perceived betrayal. There is a cheating scene (that I did not like), so check your TWs. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this novel. It was a perfect ending, too. I was moved to tears, especially towards the end of the book. I would definitely recommend this standalone.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
I enjoyed this one a lot. The two main characters are from rivalry businesses and get married to appease some of their suppliers. At first they don't get along, and the FMC thinks about how she will kill him pretty often. However, the more time they spend together, the more they understand each other. I enjoyed getting to know and understand both main characters, and thought they were interesting and engaging. I would have liked a little bit more about the business side; I would have liked that tied up a bit more neatly. Overall it was a good, spicy time.

[Mrs. Pendragon Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed TF out of this book. It was a perfect blend of sexy, funny, unique world, a great plot, and amazing characters.
Xiomara and Boon are the sexiest and most adorable chaotic couple ever. I absolutely love them. Xiomara is a tornado coming into Boon’s life, but he likes it, even if he may not show it at first. I instantly loved their dynamics: complicated enemies-to-lovers at first, but their relationship grows at their own pace. The physical, steamy connection they exude only adds to their chaotic relationship.

The world-building, characters, and writing are fantastic. I will need to read more of this world.


Thank you, Noelle Upton, for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Weekend Reader_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know if I knew going in that Boone had a pain kink, I would have been less squemish. They fight a lot, and not just because they are enemies. Xiomara's default is to violence, to lash out, and boy does she. What I found interesting was how they eventually negotiated to reach an agreement to exist. And in that, slowing down to negotiate and renegotiate, these enemies become lovers. You have to be ok with knife and blood play, edging, and pain.

Xiomara also experiences quite a bit of physical and emotional abuse. She has nightmares, which I'll interpret as PTSD. In Part 2, there is a reprieve, and her backstory makes sense, particularly her ability to be in her true form.

Format: e-ARC
Romance tag: open door
CN: emotional, physical, financial abuse, spousal sexual assault (parents), violence

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read a vampire book in such a long time, but they will always hold a special place in my heart. This was written so spectacularly with so many different beasts, all with intricate back stories and rules in their packs.

Wolves, shifters, vampires, humans. All mating, fighting and fцскing one another.

Arranged marriage for “political” purposes turned into an all out war and then love. The banter between the FMC and MMC was spectacular, the sмцт even better. Several scenes where the shifter is in heat that were simultaneously hot asf and heart warming.

Lots of trauma, betrayal, heartache, loss, character development. Lots of triggers, so be sure to check before reading.

[Alisha (Bemybookhangover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! I was laughing from the very beginning. Our FMC, Xiomara, is a 5 foot enforcer who carries a katana and always needs to have candy in her pockets. She's so snarky and I can't get over how well done the banter was. This was a true marriage of inconvenience and enemies to lovers. The amount of times Xiomara stabs Boone is hilarious!

I love the character growth from our MCs and the twists near the end came up big emotionally. We also get to check in with a few of the characters from the other books and I loved every second of that!

[Adele Robbetze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked is the night is book 3 in (a light in the dark) series

FMC: Xiomara
MMC: Boon

Xiomara is her father's enforcer, she is sweet and sassy but deadly. He marries her off to his greatest rival, so she can take him down from the inside.

Boon is a workaholic Vampire and knows that Xiomara is there to spy on him.

I love the tension and spice between the two characters.

The storyline is good and I love how the characters evolve.

There is enemies to lovers, betrayal from a longtime friend and found family.

If you love the above this is the book for you.

[Kaci Rehkemper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a true villian x villian romance which was definitely something new and fun for me. While I can't relate to these characters, it was interesting to see their thought processes and their villian origins. I love how Xiomara is equally as tough as Boone. Even though they are an unlikely pair, they actually balance each other out really well. I loved seeing mentions of some of my favorite characters from previous books! This book is probably the most spicy of the series. 🔥🔥🔥 Oh, and as a villian, they really would burn down the world for you. 😉 Thank you Noelle Upton for the ARC opportunity!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one roller-coaster I'd read again. It starts with Boone collecting on his contract with Serafim, marrying his daughter but not the one Boone expected. As this marriage starts, both parties are in it to get information on the other and destroy but as the story progresses Xiomara gets what she really needs and enjoys every inch of it 😉
They irritate each other but cant get enough and I wont say more. Great read!

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every dark and smutty minute of this. Xiomara and Boone were so wild. She’s a firecracker for sure. And Boone is just a really angry kind of guy. But together, they’re explosive. The twists and turns were like a rollercoaster, but in the best way. Definitely had me on the edge of my seat. This is the first one I’m reading in this story, so I’m heading back for the others. Thx so much for jetting me be a part of the ARC team ❤️😈

[Mattie Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved both Xiomara and Boone so fucking much. Their initial intensity towards one another was infuriating and super super hot. I absolutely love when the dynamic starts that way, and softens so drastically I feel like I have whiplash in the best way. Their hunger for each other was done perfectly.