Condemned by Pain: A Captive Romance of a Revenge that Became a Requiem

by Noyar Cecil

“You’re the morning after all my darkest nights. You can’t die, Princess.”

Salvario
He killed my father. And those who remained after his death shattered my mother.
It took them eleven days to destroy the woman who was my entire world. I watched it happen with my eyes wide open, through tears, anger, and helplessness.
Now I will return the pain Alexander Bennett gave me—through his daughter. I will ruin her in the same eleven days. And then I will throw her back onto his doorstep so he can watch her die.
That was the plan.
But the plan didn’t work.

Elowen
My sister and I made a we would give our hearts to someone once and never ask for them back. We would fall in love only once.
And out of all the men in the world, I fell for the only one who will never love me back. My captor.
I fell for the monster with no heart, who wants nothing but revenge through me. But he doesn’t know that I won’t give him that satisfaction.
Because I am not my sister.

Genres: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers

479 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2026

About the author

Noyar Cecil writes stories of pure, unwavering love, where devotion is deep, emotions run wild, and romance leaves a lasting mark. Her books aren’t just about love; they’re about the kind that consumes you, changes you, and stays with you long after the last page.

Reviews

[Eleanorsbookishthings · Rating 5 out of 5]

6⭐️ This book was so perfect it deserves more than 5 stars. I can’t describe how much I love this book enough. The pacing was perfect, the storyline was gripping, the characters are beautiful and broken, and it was so beautifully written. I highlighted so many quotes from this book because they were so beautiful and either heartwarming or breaking. I have talked about Noyar’s books before and they have become some of my favourites and this book is no different, it’s my favourite of hers but also my favourite book I’ve read so far this year. Noyar was able to convey this beautiful darkness that is absolutely heartbreaking but it adds so much depth and emotion into the characters and storyline. And Noyar never misses to provide the little moments that I love so much. There was the perfect amount of push and pull but also an unexpected ending that leaves us in a cliffhanger.

I absolutely adored Salvario’s character. I don’t think I’ve ever read a more complex character before. He has been through so much and carries that darkness with him that it consumes his world. His backstory is one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve ever read but it made me understand and love him so much more. He has this battle within himself that you root for the good to win but the pain and the push and pull is so strong and you don’t know if he can win or lose it all. He is also a king of protectiveness and possessiveness, that I alway want from my MMC’s. All he wants in life is to take revenge on the man he believes is responsible for ruining his life and turning him into the monster he is. So he kidnaps a woman who he believes to be his daughter but it’s actually the daughters cousin Elowen. His plan is to break her and use that to get his revenge but what happens when he can’t seem to cause her any pain? What happens when others try to harm her? What happens when he finds himself drawn to her light and believes maybe he can finally live?

Elowen is stronger than I thought she would be but she knows when to fight and when to stay quiet. She is able to bring light and laughter wherever she goes. She has such a pure heart but she also knows how to fight when necessary. She is able to make the best out of a terrifying situation. She is able to manipulate a situation to get what she wants. But what happens when she sees past her captor’s darkness and learns about his past? What happens when she is just as drawn to him as he is her? Is it Stockholm syndrome or is it true love? Is it possible for them to have a happy ending when her family is hunting him?

I have so much more I want to say but don’t want to give away the storyline or ending. But know this book will take you on the best emotional journey of a lifetime. I had moments of laughter and smiles but also moments of heartbreak and tears. But everything is so worth it. Warning this is book one out of this duet and it ends on a cliff hanger so I’m dying waiting until Condemned by Betrayal comes out on July 20th. But I’m rushing for it the first second I can because I’m so emotionally invested and can’t wait to see what’s in store next and I can guarantee I will be shedding tears.

Side note I have to take a moment to express how much I loved Bruno the husky, he is a main character in my eyes. Bruno is a such a nice element to add some lightness to the story. Even though this is Noyar’s darkest book, I was still able to find the comfort that her books provide me with. I’m always sucked in and I know this book will live rent free in my head from now on.

Please check your trigger warnings and take them seriously before reading this book. But if you’re looking for a captor x captive dark romance with a morally grey MMC, forbidden love, a mistaken/hidden identity, enemies to lovers, touch-aversed MMC, a dark tortured past, a secret relationship and a psychological emotional journey that will leave you you touched and unwell in the best way than I think you will love this book as much as I did. I can’t recommend this book enough.

[Bookslover09 · Rating 5 out of 5]

the suspense

Wow, I need Book Two immediately. What a story!
Salvario & Elowen are amazing, the chemistry is off the charts, well done!

[Erin Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elowen- she's a strong, sweet FMC. I really enjoyed her character throughout this especially in the beginning given the predicament she was in. She doesn't lose herself and stands her ground.
Salvario- he's so troubled. So much trauma. He's very complex. My heart honestly broke for him. The author does a great job detailing his past. You definitely grasp and understand why he is the way he is. He's completely broken. It's just so sad.

This isn't your typical captor/captive story. I like how it was written. I flipped back and forth between sad and happy on this one. One minute I'm rooting for them the next minute is just filled with sadness. The longing and yearning to be together but their love is forbidden and practically impossible to overcome due to the circumstances.

I also really loved Bruno in this! The husky was a nice touch and he kind of became a main character! Well played!

I really enjoyed the premise of this entire story and thought it was well done! The pacing is great, nice slow burn filled with action. The flash backs to his past tug at the heart strings. Definitely check the TW. Everything he had to endure is in detail and ugh my heart. 🥺

I'm looking forward to book 2. This one ends on quite the cliffhanger! Excited to see the conclusion.

✔️Mistaken identity
✔️dark romance
✔️revenge plot
✔️Broken MMC
✔️Enemies to lovers
✔️Captor/captive
✔️Morally grey mmc
✔️Slow burn
✔️Age gap

[Akku · Rating 5 out of 5]

• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5+✨

• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- captor × captive
- dark romance
- revenge plot
- possessive hero
- morally grey mmc
- trauma & healing
- forced proximity
- they fell first & hard

• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
Elowen ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time and becomes the target of a revenge plan meant for someone else. Salvario wants to destroy the daughter of the man who ruined his life, and he is ready to break her in the same way his own family was destroyed. But the girl he captured is not who he thinks she is. What begins as revenge slowly turns into something darker, deeper, and impossible to ignore.
This was honestly one of the most intense captive romances I have read. The story is dark, emotional and completely addictive. From the very first chapters I felt the tension and pain between the characters.
Salvario’s backstory broke my heart. The trauma he went through as a child was devastating and it explains why he became such a cold and dangerous man. Under all that darkness there is still a broken boy who lost everything. I truly felt his pain while reading.
Elowen was stronger than I expected. Even in the worst situations she never completely lost herself and SHE FALL FIRST 😭
The possessive energy from Salvario was intense and unforgettable. No one could touch her because she belonged to him, even if he was the one hurting her the most.
Both of them fell first & fell hard, even if they tried to fight those feelings. Their connection was painful, complicated and impossible to ignore. Now I am honestly waiting for the 2nd book because I really want to see the moment when they finally become one and get the ending they deserve.
This book is dark, painful and beautifully written. It completely pulled me into the story.
Thank you author for the ARC!

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so IM NOT OK!😭

Condemned by Pain absolutely wrecked me.

From the very beginning, it was fascinating watching Elowen navigate life inside Salvario’s house. She’s resilient, quietly strong, and refuses to let her circumstances completely break her. Despite everything, she still has this light about her that makes it impossible not to root for her.

Salvario is driven by one thing: revenge. Believing Elowen’s (believes she is someone else) father, is responsible for his mother’s death, his sole focus is making him pay, by kidnapping her. But watching him internally battle between what he planned to do and what he simply can’t bring himself to do is what really pulled me into the story. You can feel the pain, anger, and conflict consuming him.

He’s lived in darkness for so long, while Elowen slowly becomes the light breaking through his gloomy void.

Their slow-burn attraction was exactly what I wanted. Every interaction, every lingering glance, every crack in Salvario’s walls pulled me in further. I was completely invested in seeing where their relationship would go.

Antonio absolutely stole my heart. Such a sweetheart.

Nivi, however… I really didn’t like her.

One of the most heartbreaking moments for me was when Salvario let Elowen return to her family. Watching him completely unravel as memories of his past consumed him, leaving him trapped in flashbacks and panic, pulled at every heartstring. The pain radiating from those pages was impossible not to feel.

And poor Bruno… 💔🐶

Seeing how miserable they all were while separated genuinely broke my heart.

So when Elowen and Salvario finally found their way back to each other, it was everything I’d been waiting for. That reunion was emotional, satisfying, and worth every page of longing.

Learning more about Salvario’s past was utterly devastating. The deeper the story delved into everything he’d endured, the more my heart broke for him. The amount of pain he’d suffered was gut-wrenching, and suddenly so much of who he is made perfect sense.

Together, Elowen and Salvario are the perfect match. His broken soul somehow finding comfort in her. I wanted so desperately for things to work out between them.

But trauma isn’t something you can simply switch off.

Watching Salvario lose his battle with his inner demons and ultimately hurt Elowen was absolutely heartbreaking. He was left completely hollow… and so was I.

And that ending…

I am broken.

Completely and utterly shattered. 💔

I need book two- immediately!!

[Tracy Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Condemned by Pain absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. This is one of the most emotionally devastating, beautifully written dark romances I've ever read, and without a doubt one of my favorite books of the year. Every page consumed me. The pacing was flawless, the writing was stunning, the characters were heartbreakingly complex, and I highlighted countless quotes because they were either so beautiful they made me smile or so painful they left me in tears.
The story begins with a devastating mistake. Elowen finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and becomes the victim of a revenge plot that was never meant for her. Salvario believes he has kidnapped the daughter of the man responsible for destroying his life and murdering his mother. His plan is simple: make that man suffer by breaking his daughter the same way his own family was broken. Except... Elowen isn't who he thinks she is.
What follows is an unforgettable psychological and emotional journey where revenge slowly transforms into obsession, longing, guilt, and a love neither of them ever expected.
From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. The tension was suffocating, the emotions were raw, and I couldn't stop turning the pages. Watching Elowen navigate life inside Salvario's home was fascinating. She is resilient, intelligent, and quietly courageous. Even in unimaginable circumstances, she refuses to let herself be completely broken. She knows when to fight, when to stay silent, and somehow manages to hold onto her kindness and light despite everything happening around her.
Salvario... I honestly don't think I've ever read a more complex morally grey hero.
His backstory absolutely shattered me. Learning everything he endured as a child was heartbreaking beyond words. The trauma, loss, and abuse he experienced explain so much about the cold, dangerous man he became. Beneath the monster everyone sees is simply a broken little boy who lost absolutely everything. His pain seeps through every page, and despite all the terrible things he does, I couldn't stop rooting for him.
His internal battle was one of the strongest parts of this book. He wants revenge. He wants to hate Elowen. He tells himself she's nothing more than a pawn.
Yet every time she's hurt, something inside him breaks.
He planned to destroy her...
Instead, she slowly became the only light capable of reaching the darkness he'd buried himself in for years.
The slow burn between them was absolute perfection.
Every lingering glance, every stolen moment, every tiny crack in Salvario's carefully built walls had me completely invested. Their chemistry isn't instant—it builds through tension, vulnerability, and emotional conflict until it becomes impossible to ignore.
And the possessiveness...
Salvario's possessive energy was everything I love in a dark romance hero. No one else was allowed to touch her. No one else was allowed to hurt her. Even while convincing himself she was his enemy, she somehow became his. That protective obsession was intense, addictive, and unforgettable.
What made their relationship even more heartbreaking is that they both fell hard, even while desperately trying to fight it. Their love is messy, forbidden, painful, and complicated. It's impossible not to become emotionally invested in them.
One of the most heartbreaking sections of the book was when Salvario let Elowen return to her family. Watching him completely unravel afterward—consumed by memories of his childhood, trapped inside flashbacks and panic attacks—absolutely destroyed me. Those chapters were some of the most emotional I've read in a long time. You could feel every ounce of his grief.
And seeing how miserable both of them were while separated was almost unbearable.
When they finally found their way back to one another, it felt like I could finally breathe again. That reunion was emotional, beautiful, and worth every page of longing.
But trauma doesn't disappear simply because someone falls in love.
Watching Salvario lose his battle against his inner demons and ultimately become the very thing he never wanted to be was devastating. He hurt the one person who gave him hope, and by the end he was completely hollow.
So was I.
Antonio completely stole my heart. He was such a sweetheart and brought so much warmth to an incredibly dark story. Bruno the husky deserves his own special mention because he genuinely felt like a main character. He added moments of comfort, hope, and lightness exactly when the story needed them most.
Nivi, however...
I honestly couldn't stand her.
What impressed me most was how beautifully Noyar balances darkness with tenderness. This is undoubtedly her darkest book, yet she still manages to include those small, quiet moments of comfort and intimacy that make her stories so unforgettable. The push and pull between the characters is perfectly paced, and every emotional beat lands exactly where it should.
This isn't just a captor/captive romance. It's a story about trauma, revenge, healing, guilt, forgiveness, and finding light inside unimaginable darkness. It's emotionally exhausting in the best possible way.
And then...
That ending.
I am completely shattered.
That cliffhanger left me staring at the last page in absolute disbelief, desperately needing the next book immediately because I have become so emotionally invested in Elowen and Salvario's story.
If you enjoy dark romance with:
captor × captive
enemies to lovers
mistaken identity
morally grey hero
obsessive and possessive MMC
forbidden love
slow burn romance
touch-averse MMC
psychological trauma
emotional healing
protective hero
secret relationship
devastating angst
beautiful prose
and a cliffhanger that will leave you emotionally destroyed...
then Condemned by Pain is an absolute must-read.
Please read the trigger warnings carefully before starting, as this is an extremely dark and emotionally heavy story.
This book didn't just break my heart—it completely owned it. I already know it will live rent-free in my head for a very long time, and I cannot wait for Condemned by Betrayal. This story deserves far more than five stars.

[Elif Hazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

ᴄᴏɴᴅᴇᴍɴᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴘᴀɪɴ || ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ

“𝓨𝓸𝓾’𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓪 𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻. 𝓝𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻.”

✨5/5
🌶️3.5/5

I absolutely love Bruno and Elowen’s relationship—they’re the safest, sweetest pair in the world. The way Elowen, feeling scared, asks Bruno—with whom she feels at ease—to protect her, and the way Bruno, who’s grumpy with everyone else, turns into a docile little puppy when he’s with Elowen.

“𝑰’𝒎 𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅, 𝑩𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒐. 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆?”
𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘥.

Although Salvario tried to convince himself that he ought to hate her because he believed her to be his enemy’s daughter, he went and bandaged Elowen’s hands whilst she slept, simply because his own hand had been injured, and changed her bandages for fresh ones every night when she went to sleep

𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙.

Beneath his monstrous appearance, Salvario is so thoughtful towards Elowen that, even though he believes her to be Avi the more he gets to know her, he falls for her and cannot bear the thought of her being in pain; when he learns she is on her period, he sends her the bag he had prepared with the maid. Inside are packets of pads, period panties, tampons, and heating pads. He reads articles about cramps, just in case she experiences period pain.

𝐼 𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒. 𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑐𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑠—𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚, 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚, 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑠.

Because Elowen slept in Bruno’s bed, he goes and replaces Bruno’s bed with a more comfortable one that they can both fit into, just so that Elowen can sleep more comfortably at night – the world’s most thoughtful captor

𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑟, 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒.

Elowen did Salvario so much good that he, too, found the love he felt unworthy of; he found the peace he had hidden from himself and shunned, in Elowen’s light. However much he tried to deny it, he found himself consumed by Elowen’s love—even though he knew full well that one day he would lose her and that this would spell his own end.

𝑆ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑑.

Although I sometimes get very angry with Salvario, my heart breaks as I read the scenes where he sees a vision of his 9-year-old self at night and recalls the painful past that little Salvario shouts at him. The suffering he endured as a much younger child, the child who longed to take his mother and run away to find peace, only to lose everything because of the very family he was trying to escape from… it’s as if he were not a man in his thirties, but a little boy speaking to the ghost of his nine-year-old self.

“𝑵𝒊𝒏𝒆-𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓-𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐 𝑫𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒄𝒐.𝑯𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆.𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝑬𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒏.𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒎𝒆.𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆.”

🔗 Captor x Captive
🕯️Age Gap
☀️Grumpy x Sunshine
🩸 Revenge
🩹 Traumatic Past

[Janelle Kozera · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

Please read the author’s note for TWs at the beginning of the book. This has some darker themes written ON PAGE and it’s too good of a book to get bad ratings because people are shocked by the traumas on page!

This story is heartbreakingly beautiful. Not only is it a somewhat retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but it’s a story of grief and healing. It’s about a finding love and allowing that love to heal you.

When I tell you Elowen had me smiling the entire time, I’m not lying. This girl was KIDNAPPED and she is sneaking around her captors house, using his shower (the one in his bathroom), stealing his moisturizer, befriending his dog, and so much more. Her upbeat and cheerful personality didn’t let her situation stop her from making the best of things and it allowed the relationship to blossom.

Salvario didn’t want to let her in but he just couldn’t help it. He tried and tried but he was drawn to her. She made things better, which is why he had to change plans and release her, only then he realized he couldn’t live without her. Now he had to figure out a way to get his revenge and get the woman he loved.

The darker themes in this book had me in tears. Reliving his trauma with him on page was devastating and I so badly wanted to hug 9 year old Salvario and tell him it was ok. I wanted to stop what was happening. I wanted to exact revenge for him. I think reading, while hard to do, really made the story that much better. I don’t think off the page references would have had the same impact. I’m not saying referencing that sort of abuse vs talking about is is less traumatic is any way, I’m just saying that sometimes reading about it makes you actually realize this scary shit does happen 😢

Amazing book one! I finished it at 2am and even though I could t stay up to read more, I had to at least read the prologue of book two to know if I was okay to sleep. It’s definitely a back to back read!!

This review is based upon my own thoughts and opinions. Thank you to Noyar Cecil for my ARC

[WinkingReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧...
𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞..

•Unalives anyone who touches her and punishes anyone who calls her names.
•Lets her use his shower, toiletries, and even steal his clothes.
•Reads articles about period cramps so he can tell when she's in pain, then orders his maids to get her menstrual supplies.
•Orders his chefs not use nuts in any of the food because she's allergic.
•Changes her bandages and applies ointment to her injuries.
•Lets her play with his husky.
•Buys a bigger mattress with enough room for her and his husk because she loves sleeping in the dog's room, cuddling because that's where she feels safe.

𝙄’𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩.

I'm not gonna cry!
I'M not gonna cry!
I'M NOT GONNA CRY!😭😭😭

Ugh the ending😭😭💔

I finished the book, but now that I'm writing this review and trying to process everything, I'm realising how heavy and emotionally devastating it really was💔.

F**k! It f**king hurts😭😭😭.

You know what tears me apart even more? Antony has to live through that twice😭😭💔
And the trauma Salvario went through as child😭no one deserves that..my heart bleeds for him.

I'm sorry, Noyar. The pain this book has me going through won't let me write a constructive review.

🎀𝕱𝖆𝖛 𝕼𝖚𝖔𝖙𝖊𝖘:
✨️I don’t have to fight with myself when she’s in front of me. She keeps my brain focused on her.
✨️“I’ll kiss you, Princess. But it will make you mine.”
✨️I have only one wish for God: make this man mine. - touching his cheek
✨️I’ve yet to decide which is more difficult: staying away from her, or staying close. When I can’t see her, the need to see her suffocates me. But the moment she appears, the need to feel her consumes me.
✨️I need to possess this woman, who possesses me so completely, so violently, that there’s nothing left of me to call my own.
✨️“You’ve always been a monster. Now you’re my monster.”

🌹Grumpy/Sunshine
🌹Forced Proximity
🌹Age Gap Romance -14yrs
🌹Forbidden Love
🌹Captive/Captor
🌹K!dnappíng

𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.4
𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓛𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓵: 🌶🌶🌶.8

[Debra Reads What · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gosh.. this book absolutely put me through it. This isn’t just a dark romance book… it’s proper dark dark! Definitely check the trigger warnings if have sensitivities because Noyar Cecil is not holding back. The whole story is built on years of trauma, revenge and years of pain! There were moments where my heart genuinely hurt for both of these characters while i read.

Salvario is one of those MCs who is impossible to describe with anything other than morally corrupt. Every decision he makes is fuelled by that lifetime of pain and a need for revenge and seeing him convince himself that he can hate Elowen while slowly becoming completely fascinated by her had me totally fixated. The internal battle he has between his revenge and his conscience was honestly heart wrenching.

Then there’s Elowen… and I adored her. She could have been broken by everything thrown at her but instead she survives with stubbornness, humour and an optimism that somehow manages to annoy the heck out of Salvario. The way she finds little moments of happiness, even in the middle of absolute misery made me love her more with every chapter.

The chemistry between Salvario and Elowen isn’t instant attraction. It’s slow, uncomfortable, very messy and filled with hatred, guilt and confusion… which somehow made every tiny crack in Salvario’s armour feel ten times more satisfying. Every time he questioned himself I was sat there thinking… yes, suffer. (Though i did like him hahah)

This is definitely one of those books where you’re constantly waiting for the next tragedy or pain. And THAT ending? Absolutely AUGHHH. I needed the next book immediately because there is no way I’m being left hanging after all of that.

If you love your mafia romances genuinely dark and full of emotional damage, revenge, impossible choices and the slowest hints of something softer beginning to break through all the hatred, this is definitely worth picking up and reading.

[Martina Peeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

More like 10 stars!

I am so incredibly happy I stumbled upon this book! Since I hadn’t read anything by this author before, I started it with a slightly hesitant heart, just crossing my fingers that I’d love it because I desperately needed a good read. Well, 5 stars are not enough and if I could, I would easily give it 10!

This book is an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. It is packed with pain, sadness, cruelty, heartbreak, and a deep thirst for revenge, but it also brings love, tenderness, understanding, compassion, and anticipation. It’s an entire bouquet of feelings. Despite the dark themes and some heavy scenes, the book flows so smoothly and is an incredibly easy read. I wasn't bored for a single second.

The main characters, Salvario and Elowen, are simply magnificent. It was pure joy to witness their love blossom. Everything happened so naturally. Despite Salvario’s intense desire for revenge and his plan to ruin Elowen (mistaking her for her cousin), he could never bring himself to actually hurt her—in fact, he ended up taking care of her, haha! The poor guy stood absolutely no chance against her light and strong personality. And Elowen, despite constantly calling him 'the tyrant' and casually stealing his clothes and belongings, changed her mind about him very quickly too, haha!

What I loved most were their conversations, especially when discussing Salvario's past. They were completely open with each other, and their love sparked with full force. I could literally feel their emotions in the air around me—their pain, their losses, and their fierce desire to support one another and be together against all odds. They are just amazing!

I cannot wait to see what happens to them in the next book.

⚠️ WARNING: Please check your trigger warnings, as there is one scene involving child abuse.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Condemned by Pain completely consumed me from the very first chapter. I picked it up expecting a dark revenge story, but what I got was so much more. It was emotional, heartbreaking, intense, and impossible to put down.

Salvario is the kind of hero who is completely shattered by grief and fueled by revenge. You understand why he became the man he is, even when his actions leave your heart aching. Watching his walls slowly crack as Elowen refused to break was one of my favorite parts of the story. Their chemistry is explosive, but it is the emotional connection that truly made this book unforgettable.

Elowen completely stole my heart. She is strong in a quiet way and never loses herself, even when everything around her is falling apart. She refuses to let her captor define her, and I loved watching her stand her ground against a man who believed revenge was all he had left.

The emotions in this story are raw and powerful. I felt the anger, the heartbreak, the longing, and the hope right alongside these characters. There were so many moments where my heart hurt for both of them, and I found myself rooting for them even when it seemed impossible.

Noyar Cecil has a beautiful way of writing dark romance that goes far beyond the spice. Every chapter pulled me deeper into the story, and the emotional depth made it impossible to stop reading. If you love revenge, captivity, morally gray heroes, emotional angst, and a romance that slowly fights its way through pain and darkness, this book absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.

This was an easy five star read for me, and I already can't wait to read more from Noyar Cecil.

[Stephie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good story, very hard to put down. Thank you to the author for gifting me this incredible story. Condemned By Pain is a dual POV dark mafia romance and serves as the first book in the Condemned Duet. It follows Elowen, a mafia princess who is kidnapped while posing as her cousin, and Salvario, who is seeking revenge for his mother.

I liked Elowen. She always tried to see the positive in every situation and met every challenge head on with a smile. She didn't let anyone push her around, even when facing possible death. Salvario is so broken by his trauma it's heartbreaking. He wants to escape it, but he can't. Their love for each other was so sweet and passionate. I also loved the slow burn and how long it took for them to finally get together. The first half of the book was slow and then picked up quickly in the second half. It did feel like it was taking place during a different book's timeline because there were lots of mentions of things happening that Elowen had attended or things that had happened in her past that we don't get to see. So while this is a stand alone duet, it seems like a good idea to read the authors other books to understand the dynamics of all the families.

Make sure you read the trigger warnings before you read this, and enjoy reading this all in one sitting. Can't wait for the next book!

4 out of 5 stars
3 out of 5 spicy peppers
Memorable line: “I’ll kiss you, Princess. But it will make you mine.”
Read this if you like: Dark romance, captor x captive, enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, hidden identity, kidnapping, mafia, secret romance, slow burn, trauma
F*ck appears: 65 times
Spicy chapters: 20, 32, 33, 34, 37, 38, 42, 46

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️ ARC Read ❤️


Oh my gosh, this book and the characters are going to stay with me for a very long time. I full on sobbed for many parts of the book. It broke my heart everything Salvario and his mother endured during his childhood. 🙁💔 The young boy then still continues to haunt him throughout his life. 💔 The only one that has been able to help pull him from the darkness is Elowen. ❤ ️ While the start of their interactions were based on revenge from his past to hurt her uncle by mistakenly kidnapping her believing she is the daughter of his enemy with the end goal to kill him. Salvario and Elowen built their love on gradual trust in one another. Their relationship gave me all the feels! I was crying one moment and then squealing another moment. Two of my favorite quotes from Salvario are, “You're the morning after all of my darkest nights. “ ❤️🫠 The other is (a longer one), “She is my beginning, and she will be my end. Everything in between is hers. My body, heart, and soul- scarred, tainted, and tortured- belong completely to this woman. “ 🥲🥲🥲😭😭❤️ Thank you so much for having me part of your ARC team, Noyar Cecil, it was an honor and pleasure to help you with your book! I can't wait to read Condemned by Betrayal (I have the next ARC pulled up right now 😂). ❤️


🌹 Grumpy and sunshine 

🌹 Revenge

🌹 Trauma

🌹 Captor/Captive 

🌹 Morally black MMC

🌹 Slow burn

🌹 Dark mafia romance 🫠

🌹 Burn down the world for her 🫠

🌹 SPICE 🫠🫠❤️

🌹 They fall for each other, but he falls harder 🫠❤️

🌹 Princess 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠

[Ana ♉️✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow… this was both beautiful and absolutely heartbreaking. My heart broke for both of them.

This isn’t your typical captor/captive romance, and that’s one of the reasons I loved it so much. My heart especially ached for Salvario. No human let alone a child should ever have to endure the trauma he experienced. His past shaped the man he became, and despite all the darkness inside him, he still found himself falling for Elowen. Watching him battle his demons and desperately want to live for her, while his trauma kept pulling him back, was devastating.

I absolutely loved Elowen. She’s sweet and innocent, but also strong, sassy, and far from helpless. The chemistry between them was incredible. Every time they were apart, I found myself longing right alongside them, desperate for them to find their way back to each other.

I also adored Elowen’s bond with Bruno it added such a heartwarming touch to the story.

And then… the betrayal. That cliffhanger. OMG! Now I desperately need the next book. I’ll definitely be going back to read Zo and Leo’s books because this story has completely intrigued me.

Tropes:

* Dark retelling of Beauty and the Beast
* Captor/Captive
* She falls first, he falls harder
* Both main characters are virgins
* Touch-averse MMC
* Age gap 14 years
* Mistaken identity
* Ends on a cliffhanger

‼️ Check your Trigger Warnings ‼️

[Heather Papp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. I had never experienced an author reaching out to me, asking me to read and review their book before. It’s always either been the other way around or popular books that I just wanted to read, and then I reviewed them once I finished them. But I guess there truly is a first time for everything, and I’ve got to say that I was pleasantly surprised here! This is the first of two interconnected books, and I definitely plan to reach back out to the author to see about signing up for the ARC of book #2 because I desperately want to know what happens between Salvario De Falco and Elowen Bennett. I’m guessing (or at least hoping!) that he survives his attempt and is able to win Elowen back despite her family and the history between them since the story isn’t over yet. I loved most how she loves him despite his past, despite everything he’s done to her, despite the fact that he’s such a tortured soul. Mention is made in the story of “Beauty and the Beast”, and I actually see many similarities between that and the plot of this book. And Salvario is every bit a beast, but you just can’t help but love him anyway. There were a few tense moments, though, where it almost got a DNF from me… if he had pulled the trigger on Bruno, I would’ve been done! But he didn’t so all is well! ☺️

[Sarah Reapz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noooo I'm not crying nothing to see here 😭
Make sure you get the tissues ready, I was not prepared going in and wow this was absolutely soul crushing, heartbreaking and devastating.

Salvario, I absolutely love this man, you want to hate him but the more you learn the more you understand him. He's not to be misunderstood he will turn on you if you think he's a friend. He will shred you and not bat an eye while he does it.
Under it all he's a softy and deserves so much love and light.

Elowen, she is a fighter she doesn't give up with what she deals with and put through, finds happiness in the small things, she's too innocent and sheltered. I did want to shake her for not understanding why someone can't just change especially after what happened to them and doing the things she did just bugged me. I do love how she brought the best out in him though even with his cold eyes.

But the true star of this book is Bruno that beautiful amazing loyal husky dog.........to her haha such a puppy with her and protected her so damn excited with jumping all over and even went against his owner damn this dog was fierce.

That cliffhanger ending was absolutely mean, which gutted me 😭 I can't wait for book two, it can't come soon enough.

[MandysBookish Mind · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much happens in this book, but what stayed with me most wasn't any single event, it was the emotions behind them. This story takes you through struggle, heartbreak, love, healing, and learning what truly matters in life. Every character is carrying something, and watching them work through their pain made this book feel so much deeper than just a romance.

Elowen starts out incredibly naïve, but I never saw that as a weakness. Everything she experiences is new, yet she's always honest about how she feels. There was something refreshing about watching her navigate a world she never expected while staying true to herself.

Salvario completely broke my heart. Beneath his strength is a man carrying unimaginable pain, and learning about everything he'd endured since childhood wasn't easy to read. His past explains so much about the man he became, and every time another layer of his story was revealed, I found myself understanding him even more.

Watching these two find each other while healing from completely different kinds of pain was what made this story so powerful for me. I received this as an ARC and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

“You’re the morning after all my darkest nights.”

[Soha Amer · Rating 5 out of 5]

He does not touch. Until her.

I went into this knowing it would hurt. I did not know it would ruin me.

Condemned by Pain is dark romance at its most psychological and devastating. Touch-averse MMC + captor/captive + mistaken identity = I am unwell. The

MMC is brutal, morally grey, and completely shattered by his own rules. The FMC wakes up with amnesia in the hands of the one man who should destroy her — except he cannot bring himself to.

The tension is suffocating. Every almost-touch, every moment he breaks for her, every time she looks at him like he is not a monster... I was holding my breath. The slow burn is excruciating in the best way. The rose motif, the chains, the way obsession starts to look like devotion — Noyar Cecil did not come to play.

Dark, atmospheric, and emotionally brutal. The ending gutted me.

Tropes: Touch-Averse MMC • Captor/Captive • Amnesia • Mistaken Identity • Forced Proximity • Slow Burn
Spice: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️ — but the tension is 5/5

CW: Please check author warnings. Dark themes, violence, psychological trauma.

Cliffhanger: Yes. And it hurts.

If you like your romance condemned and your MMC completely unraveled by one woman, start here.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

This book was dark, emotional, and honestly heartbreaking at times. From the very beginning, I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy read, and it definitely wasn’t.

Salvario completely stole the show for me. Beneath all the rage, violence, and need for revenge was a man carrying years of pain, and watching his walls slowly come down was one of my favourite parts of the story. He was fiercely protective, hopelessly devoted, and willing to destroy anyone who threatened the woman he loved.

The romance was beautifully woven into a story filled with revenge, healing, and second chances. What I loved most was that Elowen didn't "fix" Salvario. Instead, she became the person who helped him believe there was still something worth living for beyond his pain. Watching him slowly let his walls down because of her was one of the most rewarding parts of the story.

I also loved how the emotional moments balanced the darker parts of the story. There were scenes that genuinely made my heart ache, while the twists kept me completely invested from beginning to end.

And that cliffhanger...
I was absolutely not prepared for that ending. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any more intense, the book ended and left me with so many questions.

[BookGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT!!

This book completely captivated my heart and had my emotions all over the place. MMC Salvario kidnaps FMC Elowen with plans for revenge due to the death of his father, which in turn caused him to experience a very traumatic and excruciatingly painful experience (I think I may be putting it lightly) that no HUMAN being let alone a child should ever endure! That being said, made him the man he was written to be and I’m in love with him. This is a story of mistaken identity as Elowen is the wrong girl, he’s meant to take her cousin who looks just like her and is the daughter of the man responsible for his father’s death. However, he finds he can’t harm her and he’s done for. He falls first and hard and she does as well and let me tell you, it’s a beautiful thing. I don’t want to give away too much. I totally rec this book and it’s def a 5 ⭐️ read. The spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️. This ends on a cliffhanger and I’m so emotionally invested and looking forward to the release of Book 2. The author did such a fantastic job with this well written book. The character development, plot, and dual POV was top tier for me.

[Erika Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Condemned by pain
By Noyar Cecil
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Italian which i love and always be my favorite

Triggers triggers please check this first there is some dark stuff and some parts that even for me that i dont have any triggers were a little bit intense is necessary to understand the plot and why the mmc is like this but always check this first


This book was a surprise to me but a good one

This is definitely a grumpy sunshine vibe The Mmc is beyond broken if u enjoy broken mmc this guy is shattered he have a brutal childhood so his life revolves around revenge and dead but then a mistake bring his ray of sun into his life
The FMC is an artist she adapts she fights she is funny and most importantly she shows empathy that’s what put the mmc in a interal battle with his inner demons

And the dog is the cutest 😘🐺🐺

There is a second book coming soon so if u grab this u will not need to wait a lot for the second part
I am waiting so impatiently lol i need to know what happen with my broken Salvario

[Michelle Saucedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨
Condemned by Pain by Noyar Cecil
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
📚 My Thoughts:
Before reading this book I would check trigger warnings. I absolutely loved this book. Salvario was my favorite and he deserves all the happiness he can get. Reading about his past and trauma he went through had me crying 😭. Elowen was also my favorite she was a strong FMC the way she held herself when she was kidnapped. The two of them together was everything. The yearning in this book was everything. The way he was fighting his feelings for her but finally admitted he wanted her 🥹. I also loved Bruno (husky dog)🥰. The way he protected Elowen from his own owner 🥹. The cliffhanger at the end got to me😭 I need the second book now.

💌Thank you to Noyar Cecil for the Arc💌

Tropes:
🖤 Captor/ Captive
🌹 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Amnesia
🌹 Mistaken Identity
🖤 Touch Averse MMC
🌹 Broken MCs
🖤 Slow Burn
🌹 Yearning
🖤 Emotional
🌹 Devastation
🖤 Obsession
🌹Longing

[Anita ( anna_bookworld) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Condemned by pain - Book 1🫀

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was a real surprise, I have to admit that I was a little skeptical at first but I was pleasantly surprised. The story between Elowen and Salvario is different from the stories I have read before. Elowen is a young girl full of life and a very strong heroine, when you think she is going to give up she shows her teeth. Salvario is a tortured child who yearns for revenge, while in the meantime he has grown up, the child in him has remained the same and is poisoning him. Fate mixed their cards, and Elowen entered his life instead of her cousin Avi, instead of tormenting her as he had planned, Salvario fell in love. But the child in him who yearns for revenge does not leave him alone. .. I liked the book, the only thing I think is missing is a little more about Salvario's life.But otherwise it's a very interesting book and topic in it , when it comes to family, it's worth reading.. I'm looking forward to the second part of this book….

[b_reads27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 in the Condemned Duet: Salvario and Elowen. This is a captor x captive, forced proximity, morally black MMC, past trauma and healing, revenge plot, enemies to lovers, forbidden love, grumpy/ sunshine, age gap (34/20), mental health rep, mistaken/ hidden identity, opposites attract, hate to love, slower burn, push-pull tension, touch-aversed MMC, kidnapping, dog companion, dark mafia romance.
This book gave me Beauty And The Beast vibes, but make is darker and the beast more monstrous… so, better. I definitely recommend reading the trigger warnings for this book due to the description of the type of torture the MMC had to endure.
There are a lot of references to characters and their plot points from books in different series by this author, but I was able to follow along just fine without having read them. I really enjoyed this read and the pacing follow this book and immediately dived right into book 2 after that big cliffhanger!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Condemned by pain is the first part to a duet and it’s honestly such a great read. From the start it dragged me in and I found I could not put it down. I absolutely love the dynamic between the two main characters. Salvario is so emotionally and physically damaged and all he wants in revenge to set him free from his inner demons. Elowen struggles with the fact she’s been kidnapped because he thought she was her cousin , also the fact she’s starting to fall for Salvario and her story is starting to turn into Beauty and the Beast. Every moment in this book keeps you on your toes and makes you want to know what will happen next and to top it off Bruno brings the laughs and love for Elowen. I can’t wait to read the second book and see how this duet ends , I know it’s going to be as amazing. I highly recommend this book to all Dark romance lovers and those who crave the mafia and men who are a little damaged.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an emotionally raw, and taxing read, there were so many moments of grief, fear and loss. It was so well written that I found myself needed a tissue now and again.

This was a slow slow slow burn to absolute inferno. I'm surprised my fingers aren't scorched from the heat that was coming off of the pages. 🥵

Salvario's trauma history was horrifying and agonizing, it was no wonder he struggled to be a good companion for Elowen. Elowen brought laughter, love, and light into Salvario's life, and he honed in on it capturing it and letting is provide as a life source for him.

I knew a betrayal would be coming, but I was not prepared to be so mad and feel so heartwrenchingly sad. The pure unadulterated sorrow I felt at the ending was unexpected. I absolutely need to know what's going to happen next because my heart is bruised and hurting. 😭

Plot ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice 🌶 🌶 🌶

[Allison King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark book, with a list of triggers, but it is such a good read! I couldn’t put it down, and the fact that it is a duet and I have to wait for part two is killing me!

Elowen gets kidnapped from a book signing, but it’s case of mistaken identity. When she’s taken to her captors home, she is told she will be their slave - whatever work anyone wants her to do, she is to do.
Salvario is the son of the murdered Don of the Camorra Mafia family. He wanted nothing to do with that life. He hated his father and everything about his life. Until his father was murdered and his whole life changed.
The storyline gets graphic on some details of abuse and torture, which is why I suggest checking the trigger list before reading. The chemistry that builds between the MMC and the FMC is a slow burn, she falls first but he falls harder. And neither wants to fall to begin with.

I received this book as Advanced Copy and am writing this review voluntarily.

[Kelly Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!!! One of these best books I’ve ever read! I love dark romance books and mafia books are my fav but this one truly is the best! The story line is literally everything and the details just captivate you ! I cried laughed and felt all the same emotions that the characters do. It’s truly amazing. I love how Elowen always thinks of everyone over herself, everyone else’s happiness is what matters most over here and it’s so selfless. And then Salvario, the things that man had to endure as a child is intense and horrible and not surprising he’s doing what he’s doing, but seeing him open up and change with Elowen is magical and heartbreaking all in. One. About to start book two!

[Riz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m writing this review after a night with more balanced thoughts. I was in no state of writing a proper review right after finishing it. But not I have put some thought and how much I should rate this book.
I will never read this book again because the trauma is not for me. I can’t say I loved it. I don’t love books but makes me cry, I generally avoid talking about them but that doesn’t mean the story deserves less appreciation.
If you can deal with the things mentioned in TWs I guess you’ll love it. I overestimated my limits and I do regret doing so.
Will definitely read the book 2 because it’s impossible not to. I just hope I won’t get to see more of Salvario’s trauma in that one.