What do you think?
Rate this book
Black Tape : A Dark MM Hockey Mafia Romance
No league. No rules. No mercy.
Welcome to the Compound—an underground hockey ring where players bleed for bets and the only thing colder than the ice is the men who survive it.
Julian Reaver was a golden boy once. NHL star. Untouchable.
Now he’s banned, broken, and dragged into a world that wants him either useful… or dead.
Rafael “Rafe” Scalzi is the man assigned to break him—a goalie, an enforcer, a monster carved from control and silence.
Rafe doesn’t believe in saving people. He believes in owning them.
And Julian? He’s exactly the kind of chaos Rafe was built to handle.
What starts as punishment turns into something darker. Something consuming.
Rafe decides when Julian skates, when he breathes, when he earns his next high—and the deeper Julian falls, the tighter that control becomes.
Welcome to the Compound—an underground hockey ring where players bleed for bets and the only thing colder than the ice is the men who survive it.
Julian Reaver was a golden boy once. NHL star. Untouchable.
Now he’s banned, broken, and dragged into a world that wants him either useful… or dead.
Rafael “Rafe” Scalzi is the man assigned to break him—a goalie, an enforcer, a monster carved from control and silence.
Rafe doesn’t believe in saving people. He believes in owning them.
And Julian? He’s exactly the kind of chaos Rafe was built to handle.
What starts as punishment turns into something darker. Something consuming.
Rafe decides when Julian skates, when he breathes, when he earns his next high—and the deeper Julian falls, the tighter that control becomes.
- GenresM M Romance
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 14, 2026
I don’t understand what happened…
The first half or so was amazing, and then everything went downhill. What the hell happened? I skimmed so much, at one point I just went and read the epilogue because I couldn’t do it anymore.
It felt like it wasn’t the same author who wrote the first 40/45%, because that was so addictive. I was hooked and I was certain it would be a 5⭐ read. And then there was a shift, and the story lost its appeal, if I can say it like that.
Also, the fact that no one helped Julian with his addiction? Excuse me? Why? He was clean for four days!! Why give him drûgs after that? That made absolutely no sense.
Never mind. That was extremely disappointing because it had so much potential. I feel robbed. 💔
The first half or so was amazing, and then everything went downhill. What the hell happened? I skimmed so much, at one point I just went and read the epilogue because I couldn’t do it anymore.
It felt like it wasn’t the same author who wrote the first 40/45%, because that was so addictive. I was hooked and I was certain it would be a 5⭐ read. And then there was a shift, and the story lost its appeal, if I can say it like that.
Also, the fact that no one helped Julian with his addiction? Excuse me? Why? He was clean for four days!! Why give him drûgs after that? That made absolutely no sense.
Never mind. That was extremely disappointing because it had so much potential. I feel robbed. 💔
April 18, 2026
An underground hockey fight club run by the mafia?! Yes, please!! This whole book felt dark and grungy, and the language used by the author makes every single moment feel monumental. Sometimes I didn’t like Julian, but he is actively fighting drug addiction and doesn’t cope the way he probably could or should. Everyone in this book is unhinged and it’s awesome 😅
The spice: dark, depraved, and HOT
Really my only complaint was the storyline with Ezio, because I have no idea why he did what he did or why he doesn’t like Julian. That whole thing felt underdeveloped and unresolved.
The spice: dark, depraved, and HOT
Really my only complaint was the storyline with Ezio, because I have no idea why he did what he did or why he doesn’t like Julian. That whole thing felt underdeveloped and unresolved.
April 16, 2026
this author just NEVER MISSES
April 11, 2026
ARC Homest Review
So I’m gonna come right out and say it. This book was so much more than what I expected.
Rafe
Julian
This book was raw. This book made you put it down and actually process a few of the scenes. Especially withdrawals when he was getting his doses I’ll be honest I kind of struggled with that because I was kind of waiting to see like halfway through the book. He would get over his addiction like you know any other bug., but to see that it took actually time and effort and patience, and so much effort into getting over that addiction and Ms Sage didn’t really say that the addiction was over in the book, but the way he was able to replace it with something so much more “healthier” (let’s be honest this ain’t healthy, but you know🤭) .
Julian came broken, came with walls up already defensive ready to fight for himself all alone not knowing that there was somebody watching him waiting for him. Little Halo…. And by the end of the book, the way he was still fierce on the ice, even after put, even after what ice-skating put him through in his teammates, and everybody he still came out on top.
Rafe fierce, strong, possessive, obsessive, man that deep down deep down somewhere he loves his pretty boy. In the beginning, it was hard he had to be rough to break him in, but then when he realized why, oh boy…. Like he said to Leonardo. He would burn down and scorch everything for him.
If you want raw honesty, if you want to book that will make you cry because I will be honest I cried a few times throughout this book, you need to pick this up and read it. It took me a few days to read, cause I had to put it down in process a few times really think about things. But this book is going on shelf.The physical copy is going on my shelf.
Thank you, Miss Sage for giving me the opportunity to read the advanced readers copy of this book and I hope that in the future you will write more wonderful books because I devoured this one and I think I will reread it again.
So I’m gonna come right out and say it. This book was so much more than what I expected.
Rafe
Julian
This book was raw. This book made you put it down and actually process a few of the scenes. Especially withdrawals when he was getting his doses I’ll be honest I kind of struggled with that because I was kind of waiting to see like halfway through the book. He would get over his addiction like you know any other bug., but to see that it took actually time and effort and patience, and so much effort into getting over that addiction and Ms Sage didn’t really say that the addiction was over in the book, but the way he was able to replace it with something so much more “healthier” (let’s be honest this ain’t healthy, but you know🤭) .
Julian came broken, came with walls up already defensive ready to fight for himself all alone not knowing that there was somebody watching him waiting for him. Little Halo…. And by the end of the book, the way he was still fierce on the ice, even after put, even after what ice-skating put him through in his teammates, and everybody he still came out on top.
Rafe fierce, strong, possessive, obsessive, man that deep down deep down somewhere he loves his pretty boy. In the beginning, it was hard he had to be rough to break him in, but then when he realized why, oh boy…. Like he said to Leonardo. He would burn down and scorch everything for him.
If you want raw honesty, if you want to book that will make you cry because I will be honest I cried a few times throughout this book, you need to pick this up and read it. It took me a few days to read, cause I had to put it down in process a few times really think about things. But this book is going on shelf.The physical copy is going on my shelf.
Thank you, Miss Sage for giving me the opportunity to read the advanced readers copy of this book and I hope that in the future you will write more wonderful books because I devoured this one and I think I will reread it again.
April 18, 2026
It had so much potential!
I can't believe I'm saying this.. but as a smut reader.. this is too much even for me. But the idea of the book, the plot in the first half kept me interested.. second half was disappointing.. could've built on the character development so much more.
I can't believe I'm saying this.. but as a smut reader.. this is too much even for me. But the idea of the book, the plot in the first half kept me interested.. second half was disappointing.. could've built on the character development so much more.
April 16, 2026
This story was absolutely chaotic and dark, just the way I like it.
Julian is a former "golden boy" NHL player who is kicked out of the league for purposely losing a game and is scooped up by the La Fiamma Nera Syndicate for costing them money. He is then forced to play in their underground hockey ring to earn them back the money. Enter Rafe, the brooding and hot as sin leader of the La Fiamma Nera hockey team. He is dangerous, rough, demanding, intimidating, and, to Julian, downright addictive.
This was one if the most chaotic stories I have ever read and I don't think there was one sane character in this book. Each member of the team definitely has more than one screw loose. Soooooo.... apparently I am a chaos junkie (who knew?). The relationship between Julian and Rafe is anything but healthy. However, they feed off of eachother in a an all consuming way that makes them not good, but needed for eachother. And you might as well sign the death certificate for anyone who stands between them.
Julian is a former "golden boy" NHL player who is kicked out of the league for purposely losing a game and is scooped up by the La Fiamma Nera Syndicate for costing them money. He is then forced to play in their underground hockey ring to earn them back the money. Enter Rafe, the brooding and hot as sin leader of the La Fiamma Nera hockey team. He is dangerous, rough, demanding, intimidating, and, to Julian, downright addictive.
This was one if the most chaotic stories I have ever read and I don't think there was one sane character in this book. Each member of the team definitely has more than one screw loose. Soooooo.... apparently I am a chaos junkie (who knew?). The relationship between Julian and Rafe is anything but healthy. However, they feed off of eachother in a an all consuming way that makes them not good, but needed for eachother. And you might as well sign the death certificate for anyone who stands between them.
May 9, 2026
i'd read anything Sage Riven writes, yup yup yup
May 1, 2026
Pas tout compris a ce que jai lu pour celui là pour le coup mais c'était... fun i guess ?
April 27, 2026
ARC Review!
This book was amazing❣️❣️❣️
Exactly my taste - dark, emotional, mafia, hockey, mm - I love 💕
I was in love with almost every character💐
Let's start with our broken baby boy Julian 🥀:
It was so easy to have empathy with him and I understood this character so well with every reaction he had and how his personality developed.
Then there is his lover bossy Rafe 😈:
I didn't like him at first but at the point where he learned about Julian's story I loved how possessive he got. He was actually a good influence for Jules.
Their relationship was so cute but tbh toxic as well. Like I said on some aspects Rafe had a good influence on Julian. But his possessiveness lead to them becoming codependent on each other. Rafe also still enables Julians addiction. But he definitely gave Julian a lot of mental strength. They are such a power couple and they would do everything for each other.
Other interesting characters:
- Daddy Doctor Kai ❤️🩹: He was a morally grey character and sometimes as a reader you weren't sure if he was an ally or a villain. But I liked him more everytime we had a new scene with him. I wish we got a book for him bc I want to know his backstory so bad and I want to know more about his and Lucas relationship.
- Puppy Finn 🐶: He was such a sweetie and a character who made some scenes feel less heavy.
- Mystery Misha 💌: I need to know more about him and what's going on with Corso. Are they enemies? Rivals? Lovers? Could be all of them. But I need to know more about him.
- Don Leonardo ⚡: I was surprised that he didn't become an antagonist. Was he necessarily likeable? Not really. But the scene near the end with Rafe made me tear up a little.
The Hockey-Mafia group in general is very wholesome and I hope it won't stay a single book and instead becomes a series 🥺🖤
I recommend this book to dark romance lovers who enjoy reading toxic but still beautiful relationships 💕
I finished this book in one day bc it was so easy to read 🌹
This book was amazing❣️❣️❣️
Exactly my taste - dark, emotional, mafia, hockey, mm - I love 💕
I was in love with almost every character💐
Let's start with our broken baby boy Julian 🥀:
It was so easy to have empathy with him and I understood this character so well with every reaction he had and how his personality developed.
Then there is his lover bossy Rafe 😈:
I didn't like him at first but at the point where he learned about Julian's story I loved how possessive he got. He was actually a good influence for Jules.
Their relationship was so cute but tbh toxic as well. Like I said on some aspects Rafe had a good influence on Julian. But his possessiveness lead to them becoming codependent on each other. Rafe also still enables Julians addiction. But he definitely gave Julian a lot of mental strength. They are such a power couple and they would do everything for each other.
Other interesting characters:
- Daddy Doctor Kai ❤️🩹: He was a morally grey character and sometimes as a reader you weren't sure if he was an ally or a villain. But I liked him more everytime we had a new scene with him. I wish we got a book for him bc I want to know his backstory so bad and I want to know more about his and Lucas relationship.
- Puppy Finn 🐶: He was such a sweetie and a character who made some scenes feel less heavy.
- Mystery Misha 💌: I need to know more about him and what's going on with Corso. Are they enemies? Rivals? Lovers? Could be all of them. But I need to know more about him.
- Don Leonardo ⚡: I was surprised that he didn't become an antagonist. Was he necessarily likeable? Not really. But the scene near the end with Rafe made me tear up a little.
The Hockey-Mafia group in general is very wholesome and I hope it won't stay a single book and instead becomes a series 🥺🖤
I recommend this book to dark romance lovers who enjoy reading toxic but still beautiful relationships 💕
I finished this book in one day bc it was so easy to read 🌹
April 26, 2026
dark hockey mafia romance?? sign me up!
i loved this! it was dark and chaotic.
we have rafe, the enforcer and goalie of an underground hockey team, and then there’s julian, ex NHL hockey player.
julian goes through a lot which makes him make some questionable decisions but he had rafe there to pull him through. i loved how possessive rafe was of julian. the stuff he did for his halo was unhinged, but that’s what made this so good.
if you’re looking for a MM romance with a unhinged MC who will do anything to protect what’s his, i’d definitely recommend this!
i loved this! it was dark and chaotic.
we have rafe, the enforcer and goalie of an underground hockey team, and then there’s julian, ex NHL hockey player.
julian goes through a lot which makes him make some questionable decisions but he had rafe there to pull him through. i loved how possessive rafe was of julian. the stuff he did for his halo was unhinged, but that’s what made this so good.
if you’re looking for a MM romance with a unhinged MC who will do anything to protect what’s his, i’d definitely recommend this!
April 9, 2026
dark chaotic daddy! I had the privilege of reading this as a ARC! Sage doesn't miss on the darkness and all the feelings, I laughed and cried, gasped and fanned myself of the spicy levels. The chaotic love story of Rafe and Julian is dark and an a wild ride, all the twists and turns.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 spicy
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 spicy
April 10, 2026
Love this author!
Black Tape by Sage Riven is absolutely amazing. I devoured it. I love Julien and Rafe!! This book was thrilling, exciting, and absolutely filthy. I hope there are more books, for sure. I definitely want to know more about Luca and Finn!!
Black Tape by Sage Riven is absolutely amazing. I devoured it. I love Julien and Rafe!! This book was thrilling, exciting, and absolutely filthy. I hope there are more books, for sure. I definitely want to know more about Luca and Finn!!
May 12, 2026
The first half was so so intersting,,But then...BOOM! A huge dissapointment because was just sex and more sex ,and drugs,and more drugs!
Why no one helped him giving up on drugs?Just why?
And it was a relationship so toxic and just based on drugs and more sex and codependence
Why no one helped him giving up on drugs?Just why?
And it was a relationship so toxic and just based on drugs and more sex and codependence
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews