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Empire of Sins #1
Violent Devotion: Special Edition
Executioner. Monster. Butcher.
Nothing Alexei Avrorin hasn’t been called before. Born into Russia’s oldest and deadliest mafia family, now its most ruthless enforcer, Alexei has become numb, disillusioned. When a simple job goes sideways, he meets Kelly Mackey, who unexpectedly and discreetly saves his life instead of turning him in.
Unable to forget the guarded veterinarian who showed him compassion he didn’t deserve, Alexei watches him from afar. As his obsession grows, so does his certainty that Kelly has dangerous secrets buried deep. And Alexei won’t stop until he uncovers every single one.
Despite Alexei’s sexuality being a death sentence in his world, Kelly awakens something in him that he’s spent his entire life suppressing. Their connection may be forbidden, deadly, but by the time they let down their walls, escape is no longer an option.
Violent Devotion is L. Norell’s debut novel and the first in The Empire of Sins series—dark MM mafia romances where each Avrorin brother gets his own interconnected story. Come for the darkness and the forbidden, stay for the dark humor, shocking reveals, and a steamy romance with a guaranteed HEA.
This book is intended for mature audiences and explores dark themes that may make readers uncomfortable.
Unable to forget the guarded veterinarian who showed him compassion he didn’t deserve, Alexei watches him from afar. As his obsession grows, so does his certainty that Kelly has dangerous secrets buried deep. And Alexei won’t stop until he uncovers every single one.
Despite Alexei’s sexuality being a death sentence in his world, Kelly awakens something in him that he’s spent his entire life suppressing. Their connection may be forbidden, deadly, but by the time they let down their walls, escape is no longer an option.
Violent Devotion is L. Norell’s debut novel and the first in The Empire of Sins series—dark MM mafia romances where each Avrorin brother gets his own interconnected story. Come for the darkness and the forbidden, stay for the dark humor, shocking reveals, and a steamy romance with a guaranteed HEA.
This book is intended for mature audiences and explores dark themes that may make readers uncomfortable.
354 pages, Paperback
First published April 24, 2026
247 people are currently reading
2141 people want to read
About the author
L. Norell
1 book123 followersL. Norell spends most of her time thinking about morally gray characters and the one person they're soft for.She writes dark romance filled with obsessive devotion, messy families, and guaranteed happy endings.(Even if the journey is unhinged)
She writes exclusively queer romance because that's where her heart is, and she wouldn't change it for anything. L. Norell lives in Sweden, where she juggles writing with university life, reads way too much, and has a serious energy drink problem.
Follow L. Norell on Instagram (@authorlnorell) for snippets, teasers, and all the chaos
She writes exclusively queer romance because that's where her heart is, and she wouldn't change it for anything. L. Norell lives in Sweden, where she juggles writing with university life, reads way too much, and has a serious energy drink problem.
Follow L. Norell on Instagram (@authorlnorell) for snippets, teasers, and all the chaos
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
April 30, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Really liked this debut, I think the author has a lot of potential going forward and I'm excited for the next one, because it got me interested in Mikhail and Daniil's story!
This book revolves around Kelly who is a veterinarian, who has also suffered emotionally and physically due to his ex, who keeps pestering him throughout the book, and it's also about Alexei who's a russian enforcer, part of a mafia family - he also has a filthy mouth so there's that - who falls hard for the tortured boy.
The sole reason as to why I didn't rate this higher, is because I think the editing done in this book took out a lot of the tension between the characters and the scenes, or at least that's what it felt to me reading it. Once I was getting into it and was reaching an immersive state, it would pull me out of it. And this felt more rather towards the half of the book instead of the first half. There were a couple of moments specifically where we would be in one place discussing something and then we would be shoved right into a dialogue related to that but with the characters in a different place with someone else so there was no smooth transition, and that unfortunately did break immersion for me. It also feels like some if not more of the tension between the main couple was left out or pulled, because it felt like it was going there, but then the sentences felt short and to the point, instead of illustrating their feelings.
I understand that the author wishes to expand the next book more, higher page count would hopefully mean a lot more in terms of building the tension, emotional connection and immersion potential. Otherwise the charatcters were very likeable both the boys and the brothers, love that we had some mafiaesque scenes and the typical father figure, that helped in building Alexei's charatcter. Really liked the banter between the brothers as well, and towards the ending the little teasers of the next couple were delightful.
Overall as a debut it met my expectations, just wish we had a bit more of some things over here and over there to wrap up nicely. But I will definitely be reading book 2. ❤️🖤
Really liked this debut, I think the author has a lot of potential going forward and I'm excited for the next one, because it got me interested in Mikhail and Daniil's story!
This book revolves around Kelly who is a veterinarian, who has also suffered emotionally and physically due to his ex, who keeps pestering him throughout the book, and it's also about Alexei who's a russian enforcer, part of a mafia family - he also has a filthy mouth so there's that - who falls hard for the tortured boy.
The sole reason as to why I didn't rate this higher, is because I think the editing done in this book took out a lot of the tension between the characters and the scenes, or at least that's what it felt to me reading it. Once I was getting into it and was reaching an immersive state, it would pull me out of it. And this felt more rather towards the half of the book instead of the first half. There were a couple of moments specifically where we would be in one place discussing something and then we would be shoved right into a dialogue related to that but with the characters in a different place with someone else so there was no smooth transition, and that unfortunately did break immersion for me. It also feels like some if not more of the tension between the main couple was left out or pulled, because it felt like it was going there, but then the sentences felt short and to the point, instead of illustrating their feelings.
I understand that the author wishes to expand the next book more, higher page count would hopefully mean a lot more in terms of building the tension, emotional connection and immersion potential. Otherwise the charatcters were very likeable both the boys and the brothers, love that we had some mafiaesque scenes and the typical father figure, that helped in building Alexei's charatcter. Really liked the banter between the brothers as well, and towards the ending the little teasers of the next couple were delightful.
Overall as a debut it met my expectations, just wish we had a bit more of some things over here and over there to wrap up nicely. But I will definitely be reading book 2. ❤️🖤
April 24, 2026
✨I rcvd this as an ARC!✨
*sigh* I’ll take one unhinged Russian please 🙋♀️
*sigh* I’ll take one unhinged Russian please 🙋♀️
April 26, 2026
Now this is how you write a mafia romance!
The title is very apt, as Alexei certainly is violent in his absolute devotion to Kelly. Never to Kelly himself, no, he treats Kelly like he walks on water. But he'll hurt anyone and anything who looks at Kelly wrong, which isn't really much of an exaggeration.
This is a new author and I already can't wait for more from her because this was amazing! It was so well written, I zoomed through this within a day, I couldn't put it down, and I couldn't get enough of Alexei and Kelly.
Stuff like this is what I want from mafia romances. Maybe not every lead has to be quite as unhinged as Alexei, but to that degree, yes, gimme that and I'll eat it up.
This doesn't pull any punches either about how dangerous and fucked up these men in the mafia are, so heed that going into this. There are TWs, so really take those in, but also when the author says it shows violence and gore and doesn't shy away from that, listen because Alexei and his brothers are violent in extreme ways and we see a lot of that on page. What they can do to a human being without flinching is pretty awful. If that's too much for you, this is not the book for you.
But for me, I love that "will fuck up anyone and everyone except for you, you are the only exception to everything" trope and this had it in spades. I couldn't get enough of it!
Alexei becomes so obsessed and devoted to Kelly, to extremes. Obviously he's pretty much every red flag in the book so in real life run far away from him. But for this fictional story he's a red flag for anyone but Kelly - and their bunny, Clover. He does all he can to make sure Kelly is safe and happy and whole. Hell, he has red flags toward Kelly too, lbr, but just in that he literally will kill people for him, which Kelly just kind of doesn't want to know the details of.
But for such a hard man like Alexei, who has only known darkness and violence, Kelly is like a breath of fresh air. He's sweet and kind and sees more in Alexei than he or anyone else has ever seen in himself. Something human when he's never really felt fully human.
What I loved about this, though, is that it didn't pull its punches. Alexei doesn't have remorse or guilt about killing people, at all. The only one he would ever lose his mind over hurting or killing is Kelly. Literally only him. And maybe Clover. But mainly just Kelly. He literally is prepared to .
That doesn't mean he doesn't have relationships with others. He's somewhat close to his brothers - in a way. These are all fucked up men who ranged from sociopath to psychopath honestly - and his mother, but I think he could kill them too if he had too. Not that he necessarily wants to or cares to, but he'd be able to do it, is the thing. He'd never be able to kill Kelly.
I love how Kelly is his whole world. He basically lives and breathes for Kelly by the end of this.
I also loved how this didn't have his mother dead - I feel like a lot of mafia stories have the mother dead. If not both parents, at least the mother is the usual parent who is dead. So seeing their mother alive and well and badass in her own way was great to see, I loved it.
I also love how it followed through on Alexei's father being so homophobic and never really bending on it. They are Russian, after all, and the mafia at that, so not everyone is going to magically not be homophobic or get past it quickly. His father is actually disgusted and doesn't talk to Alexei again to the end and as far as we know, never will. I mean, I hate that he's like that, but I like that what was threatened to happen actually happened and actual consequences happened with it. These days stories will have characters be like "they're going to freak out and hate me" and then the person finds out and they're wonderful about it. Or they freak out initially and then get over that quickly. Which, great! But also not all humans work like that and some are just horribly nasty and it's okay for not everything to be wrapped up by the end. So I loved that nothing got better with the father.
Also the sex was so so well done. The chemistry between these two was amazing. I think it'll only get better with this author as well, because this was only her first book.
I'm looking forward to Mikhail and Daniil's story next. Adoptive brothers who have been in each other's lives since they were kids? Oh this is going to be all kinds of deliciously fucked up! I can't wait!
Until then! And read this one in the meantime, it's totally worth it! 😘
The title is very apt, as Alexei certainly is violent in his absolute devotion to Kelly. Never to Kelly himself, no, he treats Kelly like he walks on water. But he'll hurt anyone and anything who looks at Kelly wrong, which isn't really much of an exaggeration.
This is a new author and I already can't wait for more from her because this was amazing! It was so well written, I zoomed through this within a day, I couldn't put it down, and I couldn't get enough of Alexei and Kelly.
Stuff like this is what I want from mafia romances. Maybe not every lead has to be quite as unhinged as Alexei, but to that degree, yes, gimme that and I'll eat it up.
This doesn't pull any punches either about how dangerous and fucked up these men in the mafia are, so heed that going into this. There are TWs, so really take those in, but also when the author says it shows violence and gore and doesn't shy away from that, listen because Alexei and his brothers are violent in extreme ways and we see a lot of that on page. What they can do to a human being without flinching is pretty awful. If that's too much for you, this is not the book for you.
But for me, I love that "will fuck up anyone and everyone except for you, you are the only exception to everything" trope and this had it in spades. I couldn't get enough of it!
Alexei becomes so obsessed and devoted to Kelly, to extremes. Obviously he's pretty much every red flag in the book so in real life run far away from him. But for this fictional story he's a red flag for anyone but Kelly - and their bunny, Clover. He does all he can to make sure Kelly is safe and happy and whole. Hell, he has red flags toward Kelly too, lbr, but just in that he literally will kill people for him, which Kelly just kind of doesn't want to know the details of.
But for such a hard man like Alexei, who has only known darkness and violence, Kelly is like a breath of fresh air. He's sweet and kind and sees more in Alexei than he or anyone else has ever seen in himself. Something human when he's never really felt fully human.
What I loved about this, though, is that it didn't pull its punches. Alexei doesn't have remorse or guilt about killing people, at all. The only one he would ever lose his mind over hurting or killing is Kelly. Literally only him. And maybe Clover. But mainly just Kelly. He literally is prepared to .
That doesn't mean he doesn't have relationships with others. He's somewhat close to his brothers - in a way. These are all fucked up men who ranged from sociopath to psychopath honestly - and his mother, but I think he could kill them too if he had too. Not that he necessarily wants to or cares to, but he'd be able to do it, is the thing. He'd never be able to kill Kelly.
I love how Kelly is his whole world. He basically lives and breathes for Kelly by the end of this.
I also loved how this didn't have his mother dead - I feel like a lot of mafia stories have the mother dead. If not both parents, at least the mother is the usual parent who is dead. So seeing their mother alive and well and badass in her own way was great to see, I loved it.
I also love how it followed through on Alexei's father being so homophobic and never really bending on it. They are Russian, after all, and the mafia at that, so not everyone is going to magically not be homophobic or get past it quickly. His father is actually disgusted and doesn't talk to Alexei again to the end and as far as we know, never will. I mean, I hate that he's like that, but I like that what was threatened to happen actually happened and actual consequences happened with it. These days stories will have characters be like "they're going to freak out and hate me" and then the person finds out and they're wonderful about it. Or they freak out initially and then get over that quickly. Which, great! But also not all humans work like that and some are just horribly nasty and it's okay for not everything to be wrapped up by the end. So I loved that nothing got better with the father.
Also the sex was so so well done. The chemistry between these two was amazing. I think it'll only get better with this author as well, because this was only her first book.
I'm looking forward to Mikhail and Daniil's story next. Adoptive brothers who have been in each other's lives since they were kids? Oh this is going to be all kinds of deliciously fucked up! I can't wait!
Until then! And read this one in the meantime, it's totally worth it! 😘
May 3, 2026
necesito el libro de mikhail y daniil para ayer 💳💥💳💥
April 30, 2026
Well, this is a debut… f*ck me sideways 🫢 First of all congrats to the author for creating this beautiful characters and solid world building! Damn, I loved Alexei and Kelly 🩷 I loved their “meet cute” and everything that follows. An unhinged mafia prince going all in. This is one of my favourites tropes (a complete matcho/alpha dude melts for his mate), also how unmovable Alexei was, how sure he is, how he met Kelly and said to himself that this is it. I loved how he reassures Kelly, how he gave him space, how gentle and sweet he is with him. Oh my god and the bunny, fluffy cutness!!! I hate the dad, I hope if he isn’t on board by the next book- he should be swimming with the fishes (that sounded gangsta enough).I want to know everything about Alexei’s family. I had an amazing time with this book 🌸
April 27, 2026
This was absolutely fantastic for a debut. If you are a fan of unhinged mafia stories then I highly recommend this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐳𝐚𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐤. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬. 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐱𝐲𝐠𝐞𝐧. 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠.”
Because who would say no to a completely unhinged Russian mafia enforcer who kills people for being a dick to you, calls you cute pet names while simultaneously being a complete softie who spoils your pet, and says shit like that ^^ like cmooooonnnnnn
Alexei has my whole heart forever and ever.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- dark MM mafia romance
- unhinged russian mafia enforcer + traumatized veterinarian
- stalking
- they’re both touch starved
- hurt x comfort
- breathe wrong in his direction and ☠️
Because who would say no to a completely unhinged Russian mafia enforcer who kills people for being a dick to you, calls you cute pet names while simultaneously being a complete softie who spoils your pet, and says shit like that ^^ like cmooooonnnnnn
Alexei has my whole heart forever and ever.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- dark MM mafia romance
- unhinged russian mafia enforcer + traumatized veterinarian
- stalking
- they’re both touch starved
- hurt x comfort
- breathe wrong in his direction and ☠️
April 24, 2026
ARC Review: POTENTIAL SPOILERS. List of reasons Alexei is a 10 🤭🖤
5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️
Tropes:
Dark MM Mafia Romance
Hurt/comfort
Enforcer and Veterinarian
Dark humor
Breathe wrong in his direction & 💀 (absolutely perfect)
Both touch starved
Stalking
I had been WAITING to grab this ARC and it do not disappoint.
It moved at the perfect pace, following Alexei & Kelly.
I dont want to give much away but the way Alexei would do anything for kelly 😩🥹🖤 swoon hehehe
Reasons hes a 10
Answers the phone, even when he is “working” 😏
Carries you up the stairs when you are hurt
Takes care of your wounds
He Feeds your rabbit and cares for her while you are gone , even if you dont know that.
he made a copy of the key without you knowing just incase 🤭
Sets up a grocery delivery cause you have no food in the fridge
Always wants their name if they hurt you 🤭
He wants to know what you really think, never judges you
Runs you a bubble bath to make you feel better
Calls you bunny (zaychik) 🤭🤭
5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️
Tropes:
Dark MM Mafia Romance
Hurt/comfort
Enforcer and Veterinarian
Dark humor
Breathe wrong in his direction & 💀 (absolutely perfect)
Both touch starved
Stalking
I had been WAITING to grab this ARC and it do not disappoint.
It moved at the perfect pace, following Alexei & Kelly.
I dont want to give much away but the way Alexei would do anything for kelly 😩🥹🖤 swoon hehehe
Reasons hes a 10
Answers the phone, even when he is “working” 😏
Carries you up the stairs when you are hurt
Takes care of your wounds
He Feeds your rabbit and cares for her while you are gone , even if you dont know that.
he made a copy of the key without you knowing just incase 🤭
Sets up a grocery delivery cause you have no food in the fridge
Always wants their name if they hurt you 🤭
He wants to know what you really think, never judges you
Runs you a bubble bath to make you feel better
Calls you bunny (zaychik) 🤭🤭
April 28, 2026
I’m actually unwell. For a debut, this was insane in the best way, I flew through it in a day. This is exactly what I want from a mafia romance with a family: a bold and beautiful mother, a stubborn, old-school father who still folds for her, and a messy family dynamic between the siblings that somehow still promises a satisfying ending, somewhere along Book 123 lol. Listen, Alexei?? Fully deranged in the most hypnotizing way. He’ll destroy anyone who even breathes wrong near Kelly, but treats Kelly like his entire world, will invade his personal space byet give him space at the same damn time, swoon. Then Kelly, Mr zero self-preservation, Mr let me choose peace while my man is printing papers at the office 😭 the obsession, the banter, the chemistry… it just works.
@alis_reads_ your review on TikTok is literally why I picked this up and oh my GOD… thank you for ruining my life in the best way possible.
I went in blind, didn’t know the author, didn’t know the story and now I’m 24 hours out yet still thinking about it like I’m possessed. Because this family?? Pure chaos. Someone’s always in trouble, someone’s always plotting revenge, and somehow that’s their love language. Beat each other up and commit felonies together and for each other is their way of life and I've never loved anything more. The parents, the part when mom aimed her red heel at once of her sons? The bullets in the ceiling from Dad? I was eating it UP. It was giving dysfunction, danger, and “everyone needs therapy but instead they choose violence and familial love lol”
Friends, the genes in that family, the brothers? Whew.
The oldest son being this quiet, background bald mysterious MC… Lev, I see you. I see you babe, and I can't wait to learn more about you. And Calder?? Yeah, something is brewing there and I’m already locked in. Also I cannot stop thinking about Yulian because sir I love you so bad but start counting your days. The second that knife almost hit Dani? Ha! Time slowed, my jaw dropped,my eyes bulged and I was basically thriving off the incoming chaos because you just KNOW his brother, Mikhail, the scary one, so far if you ask me, is coming for him. Mikhail is not himself rn and everyone knows, especially you Yulian, you know! Next to Daniil you probably know more than everyone because the way you two fight makes me think you're closest to each other out of the brothers. Mark your hours Yulian, he's coming for you! hehe. And chaos is exactly what Mikhail delivers. That man is a full menace. His father definitely hates it for his plans with him, his mother is probably disappointed a little in him, and Dani’s feelings are...i don't know yet, actually, and honestly that just makes me need their story even more.
The point is, Book 1? Incredible, a masterpiece introduction into this new world with the best couple pairing ever. Because somehow, despite all his red flags, Alexei was soft, sweet, and such a man. I don’t even understand how that balance worked, but it did.
My only real issue was that one moment where Kelly reacts to Alexei finally sharing details, it felt off. Whether it was meant as praise or frustration, it came across unnecessary, especially since Kelly had been actively avoiding the gritty reality of what Alexei does as the family’s enforcer. It just felt like a small inconsistency that didn’t quite match his earlier stance. Also, while the spicy scenes were definitely hot, they felt a little lacking. It kind of came across like things finished too quickly, so the payoff didn’t fully match the buildup, you know what I mean. Not bad at all just left me wanting a bit more tension during, emphasis on during, the actual deed. I want to see hips gyrating, I need the feel of thrusts described, I want to see eyes rolling...I want....I want...I like to believe it a tangible sexy event, you know. It would’ve made those finish lines hit even harder. Lastly, can we unbraid mom's hair, I want to see it down and shiny at least once, though with large boys for kids it does make sense that she braids it. My heart certainly goes out to her.
Great book. Great debut. I’m officially hooked on the series and family.
Bonus: predictions for myself
1. Mikhail and Daniil are Promise by Bella Kay coded the whole chorus of ...'Cause if I tell you, you could say I'm not the one, You want, and I, I couldn't handle that, So if I tell you, then promise me I can take it back, Oh, I want you, but, I'll never tell you, 'Cause if I tell you, you could say I'm not the one
2. Yulian is always running his mouth, I'm stuck between shipping him with his best friend Calder and wanting him with a long lost brother of one of the girls that he saves, or maybe even a cop investigating them,One thing I know is that I don't want him ending up with a male sex worker because that's a little too predictable, it's tired and lazy tbh. I also want him topped tf out
2. Lev he's the oldest but he's too soft, I can scent it from here. Give him to competent Calder to fold, or...or...hear me out! to the oldest sibling of that other rival family that's questioning and about to coup de tat their father. Let it go there...take it there please...i wanna see something, I want to see him folded.
Ugh, this can't be healthy, I'm too obsessed...I haven't seen myself this way since Legacy of Gods and Frat Wars. Let me get a grip and go.
@alis_reads_ your review on TikTok is literally why I picked this up and oh my GOD… thank you for ruining my life in the best way possible.
I went in blind, didn’t know the author, didn’t know the story and now I’m 24 hours out yet still thinking about it like I’m possessed. Because this family?? Pure chaos. Someone’s always in trouble, someone’s always plotting revenge, and somehow that’s their love language. Beat each other up and commit felonies together and for each other is their way of life and I've never loved anything more. The parents, the part when mom aimed her red heel at once of her sons? The bullets in the ceiling from Dad? I was eating it UP. It was giving dysfunction, danger, and “everyone needs therapy but instead they choose violence and familial love lol”
Friends, the genes in that family, the brothers? Whew.
The oldest son being this quiet, background bald mysterious MC… Lev, I see you. I see you babe, and I can't wait to learn more about you. And Calder?? Yeah, something is brewing there and I’m already locked in. Also I cannot stop thinking about Yulian because sir I love you so bad but start counting your days. The second that knife almost hit Dani? Ha! Time slowed, my jaw dropped,my eyes bulged and I was basically thriving off the incoming chaos because you just KNOW his brother, Mikhail, the scary one, so far if you ask me, is coming for him. Mikhail is not himself rn and everyone knows, especially you Yulian, you know! Next to Daniil you probably know more than everyone because the way you two fight makes me think you're closest to each other out of the brothers. Mark your hours Yulian, he's coming for you! hehe. And chaos is exactly what Mikhail delivers. That man is a full menace. His father definitely hates it for his plans with him, his mother is probably disappointed a little in him, and Dani’s feelings are...i don't know yet, actually, and honestly that just makes me need their story even more.
The point is, Book 1? Incredible, a masterpiece introduction into this new world with the best couple pairing ever. Because somehow, despite all his red flags, Alexei was soft, sweet, and such a man. I don’t even understand how that balance worked, but it did.
My only real issue was that one moment where Kelly reacts to Alexei finally sharing details, it felt off. Whether it was meant as praise or frustration, it came across unnecessary, especially since Kelly had been actively avoiding the gritty reality of what Alexei does as the family’s enforcer. It just felt like a small inconsistency that didn’t quite match his earlier stance. Also, while the spicy scenes were definitely hot, they felt a little lacking. It kind of came across like things finished too quickly, so the payoff didn’t fully match the buildup, you know what I mean. Not bad at all just left me wanting a bit more tension during, emphasis on during, the actual deed. I want to see hips gyrating, I need the feel of thrusts described, I want to see eyes rolling...I want....I want...I like to believe it a tangible sexy event, you know. It would’ve made those finish lines hit even harder. Lastly, can we unbraid mom's hair, I want to see it down and shiny at least once, though with large boys for kids it does make sense that she braids it. My heart certainly goes out to her.
Great book. Great debut. I’m officially hooked on the series and family.
Bonus: predictions for myself
1. Mikhail and Daniil are Promise by Bella Kay coded the whole chorus of ...'Cause if I tell you, you could say I'm not the one, You want, and I, I couldn't handle that, So if I tell you, then promise me I can take it back, Oh, I want you, but, I'll never tell you, 'Cause if I tell you, you could say I'm not the one
2. Yulian is always running his mouth, I'm stuck between shipping him with his best friend Calder and wanting him with a long lost brother of one of the girls that he saves, or maybe even a cop investigating them,One thing I know is that I don't want him ending up with a male sex worker because that's a little too predictable, it's tired and lazy tbh. I also want him topped tf out
2. Lev he's the oldest but he's too soft, I can scent it from here. Give him to competent Calder to fold, or...or...hear me out! to the oldest sibling of that other rival family that's questioning and about to coup de tat their father. Let it go there...take it there please...i wanna see something, I want to see him folded.
Ugh, this can't be healthy, I'm too obsessed...I haven't seen myself this way since Legacy of Gods and Frat Wars. Let me get a grip and go.
April 25, 2026
100/5⭐️
Me encantó cada momento del libro 🥰
Me encantó cada momento del libro 🥰
April 24, 2026
MM romance | Mafia romance | Dark romance | Enforcer and Veterinarian | Dark humor | Stalking | Hurt/Comfort | Touch him and 💀 | Forced proximity
La verdad es que no fue lo que esperaba... o sea, sí pero no al mismo tiempo 😂. Es un libro sobre mafia? Sí. Tiene muerte, sangre y destrucción? También. Pero, por alguna razón, no me enganchó como yo quería.
Sinceramente, este libro tenía todo para convertirse en mi nueva obsesión, pero no logré conectar del todo con la historia ni con los personajes. No es un mal libro y está bien escrito, así que considero que el problema fui yo 100%. Quizás más adelante le dé una segunda oportunidad, porque de verdad me interesa ese ambiente familiar tan "cercano" que tienen entre todos guiño, guiño 😂😂.
Kelly me gustó mucho y Alexei también; de hecho, siento que el personaje de Alexei destaca muchísimo más hacia la última parte del libro.
〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️
To be honest, it wasn’t quite what I expected... well, yes and no at the same time 😂. Is it a mafia book? Yes. Does it have action, blood, and destruction? Also yes. But for some reason, it just didn’t hook me the way I hoped it would.
This book had everything to become my next obsession, but I just couldn't fully connect with the story or the characters. It’s not a bad book, and it's actually well-written, so I’m 100% sure the problem was me. Maybe I’ll give it a second chance later on, because I’m genuinely interested in that "close-knit" family dynamic they all have wink, wink 😂😂.
I liked Kelly, and Alexei was great too—I feel like his character really starts to shine toward the end of the book.
La verdad es que no fue lo que esperaba... o sea, sí pero no al mismo tiempo 😂. Es un libro sobre mafia? Sí. Tiene muerte, sangre y destrucción? También. Pero, por alguna razón, no me enganchó como yo quería.
Sinceramente, este libro tenía todo para convertirse en mi nueva obsesión, pero no logré conectar del todo con la historia ni con los personajes. No es un mal libro y está bien escrito, así que considero que el problema fui yo 100%. Quizás más adelante le dé una segunda oportunidad, porque de verdad me interesa ese ambiente familiar tan "cercano" que tienen entre todos guiño, guiño 😂😂.
Kelly me gustó mucho y Alexei también; de hecho, siento que el personaje de Alexei destaca muchísimo más hacia la última parte del libro.
〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️
To be honest, it wasn’t quite what I expected... well, yes and no at the same time 😂. Is it a mafia book? Yes. Does it have action, blood, and destruction? Also yes. But for some reason, it just didn’t hook me the way I hoped it would.
This book had everything to become my next obsession, but I just couldn't fully connect with the story or the characters. It’s not a bad book, and it's actually well-written, so I’m 100% sure the problem was me. Maybe I’ll give it a second chance later on, because I’m genuinely interested in that "close-knit" family dynamic they all have wink, wink 😂😂.
I liked Kelly, and Alexei was great too—I feel like his character really starts to shine toward the end of the book.
April 25, 2026
4,5 ⭐️I really enjoyed it, I connected with Alexei and Kelly very quickly; they were exactly what each other needed. 🥰 The only thing that didn't quite convince me was that they went from attraction to love very quickly. I'm really looking forward to reading Mikhail and Daniil's book, the interaction between the brothers. 👌🏻
April 26, 2026
2.5 Stars
April 28, 2026
5⭐️
HOLY RUSSIAN DADDDY
THIS BOOK HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLD I NEED MORE I NEED IT INJECTED INTO MY VEINS, UGHHH THIS IS EVERYTHING AND MORE IM ADDICTED CALL ME OBSESSIVE OVER IT CAUSE AGHHH
This book had me hooked, I couldn’t stop reading, once I started I was locked in trapped by the story and lost in how the story was written which was beautiful and phenomenal btw. It was so cohesive, I just couldn’t put the book down like i started I was basically done I ate it up so fast
Ugh Alexei my Russian baddie like damnnn he was so obsessive, so down bad like damnnn Mr king of yearning. Ughh the way he became obsessed with Kelly after the vet scene in the beginning like ahh. And how we legit went into Kelly’s house and took his t shirt cause it smelt like Kelly god that was so good damn hot I couldn’t look away. He was so wanting Kelly form that scene on. He wanted to protect him and burn the world down for him like god damn he was so hot I can’t.
Kelly my baby ughh he was so adorable and his trauma that he went though my heart. And when they both met at the clinic like that whole part of the story after that just made this story so good they were so meant for each other and I swear they were soulmates even from the beginning and I love them so much.
The trauma that Kelly went though broke my heart. No one should live in a life where that happens and my soul broke at a part and I was sobbing for hours.
I also was sobbing so hard when Alexei said he can’t be with a man because his family like (Russian) doesn’t let men love men and how he would do anything to be with Kelly and say screw the rules like ugh my loves
I also think the NICKNAME “ZAYCHIK” GIRL MY HESRT .
I also think their chemistry, their banter. Their relationship as a whole was so good and I loved them so much. I need more of them.
And alexei’s family is so chaotic and I love them so much mainly his mother I loved his mom and his brothers like ugh they’re so amazing.
Oh literally I eat up the yearning mafia men like they are just so down bad like they are starving and good lord this man is starving LMAOOO
Also Alexexi stalking, going into Kelly’s house after the clinic scene was so hot the way he was trying to profile who Kelly was and he was so yearning for that man that he had to know everything and everything Alexei did was to protect Kelly and basically burn the world down and hurt whoever hurts Kelly like WHAT A DAMN MAN ALEXEI IS LIKE YESSSSS KING PROTECT YOUR MAN.
Alexei with clover was so hot LIKE A TATTTED MAFIA MAN WITH A FLUFFY RABBIT LIKE DAMNN I DIDNT KNOW I NEED TO SEE MKRE OF THIS CAUSE HOTTTT!!!
I loved everything about this story, the way it was written, the way it flowed and family and morals were strong but also defining it and finding your own path your own rules and finding the person you would never let go and I love everything and more about this book and I’m literally staring at the wall I can’t get enough of them 😭😭
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK
HOLY RUSSIAN DADDDY
THIS BOOK HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLD I NEED MORE I NEED IT INJECTED INTO MY VEINS, UGHHH THIS IS EVERYTHING AND MORE IM ADDICTED CALL ME OBSESSIVE OVER IT CAUSE AGHHH
This book had me hooked, I couldn’t stop reading, once I started I was locked in trapped by the story and lost in how the story was written which was beautiful and phenomenal btw. It was so cohesive, I just couldn’t put the book down like i started I was basically done I ate it up so fast
Ugh Alexei my Russian baddie like damnnn he was so obsessive, so down bad like damnnn Mr king of yearning. Ughh the way he became obsessed with Kelly after the vet scene in the beginning like ahh. And how we legit went into Kelly’s house and took his t shirt cause it smelt like Kelly god that was so good damn hot I couldn’t look away. He was so wanting Kelly form that scene on. He wanted to protect him and burn the world down for him like god damn he was so hot I can’t.
Kelly my baby ughh he was so adorable and his trauma that he went though my heart. And when they both met at the clinic like that whole part of the story after that just made this story so good they were so meant for each other and I swear they were soulmates even from the beginning and I love them so much.
The trauma that Kelly went though broke my heart. No one should live in a life where that happens and my soul broke at a part and I was sobbing for hours.
I also was sobbing so hard when Alexei said he can’t be with a man because his family like (Russian) doesn’t let men love men and how he would do anything to be with Kelly and say screw the rules like ugh my loves
I also think the NICKNAME “ZAYCHIK” GIRL MY HESRT .
I also think their chemistry, their banter. Their relationship as a whole was so good and I loved them so much. I need more of them.
And alexei’s family is so chaotic and I love them so much mainly his mother I loved his mom and his brothers like ugh they’re so amazing.
Oh literally I eat up the yearning mafia men like they are just so down bad like they are starving and good lord this man is starving LMAOOO
Also Alexexi stalking, going into Kelly’s house after the clinic scene was so hot the way he was trying to profile who Kelly was and he was so yearning for that man that he had to know everything and everything Alexei did was to protect Kelly and basically burn the world down and hurt whoever hurts Kelly like WHAT A DAMN MAN ALEXEI IS LIKE YESSSSS KING PROTECT YOUR MAN.
Alexei with clover was so hot LIKE A TATTTED MAFIA MAN WITH A FLUFFY RABBIT LIKE DAMNN I DIDNT KNOW I NEED TO SEE MKRE OF THIS CAUSE HOTTTT!!!
I loved everything about this story, the way it was written, the way it flowed and family and morals were strong but also defining it and finding your own path your own rules and finding the person you would never let go and I love everything and more about this book and I’m literally staring at the wall I can’t get enough of them 😭😭
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK
May 3, 2026
Dnf @62%
I wish MM dark romance authors would start writing something different instead of copying the same sentences, phrases, and storylines from other dark romances over and over again. None of these books feel distinctive anymore. Even the writing is so repetitive. It’s always a Russian mafia man paired with a naive, stupid white boy, with a story that has no real substance.
And I am so tired of pages-long, unnecessary, corny descriptions of these mafia men killing innocent people. There are better ways to show their ruthlessness than repeating the same blood-spattering scenes every three chapters.
I wish MM dark romance authors would start writing something different instead of copying the same sentences, phrases, and storylines from other dark romances over and over again. None of these books feel distinctive anymore. Even the writing is so repetitive. It’s always a Russian mafia man paired with a naive, stupid white boy, with a story that has no real substance.
And I am so tired of pages-long, unnecessary, corny descriptions of these mafia men killing innocent people. There are better ways to show their ruthlessness than repeating the same blood-spattering scenes every three chapters.
May 3, 2026
Loved it
This was so good. Like good good. Had all the right vibes. Soft only for him gets me every time plus the carrying... im sold.
Was really good though
They are super sweet vulnerable hot and unhinged. With a side of chaotic found family lol
Loved it
Can't wait for the next book in the series !
This was so good. Like good good. Had all the right vibes. Soft only for him gets me every time plus the carrying... im sold.
Was really good though
They are super sweet vulnerable hot and unhinged. With a side of chaotic found family lol
Loved it
Can't wait for the next book in the series !
April 27, 2026
A little bit unhinged, but cute!
3,5 ⭐️
3,5 ⭐️
April 4, 2026
SWOOON. Absolute swoon! Everything about this book was perfection. From laughing, to giggling, to tearing up, to blushing. I was just full of emotions.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
~ Tropes
Dark Mafia
Hurt/comfort
Touched starved MMCS
Touch him & 💀 (literally)
•
•
•
•
Takes care of you when you’re hurt
Carries you everywhere literally any chance he gets
Spoils you and your rabbit (what a gentleman 🙂↕️)
Heavily on “WHO DID THIS TO YOU” wants their names immediately
Answers your calls even when he’s at his “very normal boring office job” 😉
Runs bubble baths for you because they’re your favorite
Calls you bunny
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
~ Tropes
Dark Mafia
Hurt/comfort
Touched starved MMCS
Touch him & 💀 (literally)
•
•
•
•
Takes care of you when you’re hurt
Carries you everywhere literally any chance he gets
Spoils you and your rabbit (what a gentleman 🙂↕️)
Heavily on “WHO DID THIS TO YOU” wants their names immediately
Answers your calls even when he’s at his “very normal boring office job” 😉
Runs bubble baths for you because they’re your favorite
Calls you bunny
April 27, 2026
This book was made up of all my favorite things! Mafia, murder, obsessive and possessive bad boy, rich X poor, crazy family, spice and RESCUE BUNNIES!! Love how Alexei treats Kelly and takes care of him. Love that Kelly accepts Alexei for who he is.
Also I am STOKED for book 2!!!! I was so hoping the author was going to go that direction with those two 👀👀👀👀
Also I am STOKED for book 2!!!! I was so hoping the author was going to go that direction with those two 👀👀👀👀
April 16, 2026
Violent Devotion - L. Norell
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes :
🐰 Russian mafia enforcer x vet
🖤 touch starved MMCs
🐰 hurt x comfort
🖤 opposites attract
🐰 stalking
🖤 touch him & 💀
🐰 dark humor
Review:
This was a great debut novel from L. Norell and I am so excited to see more work from them in the future. Have you ever wished that when reading a mafia book you got to see a lot more of the mafia side of things? Like instead of just being like “oh look at this character he’s sooooo unhinged” but you never see them do crazy shit? I don’t think Alexei knows what normal is. Crazy shit is his normal and I LOVED him for it. Oh you breathed wrong at Kelly? Sorry looks like you will not be needing your fingers. You bullied him in high school? Sounds like a good reason to 💀. Kelly has absolutely zero sense of self preservation and has a very “if I don’t see it then I can pretend it doesn’t exist right?” attitude towards Alexei’s extracurricular activities. Probably the wildest “meet cute” you will ever read, and I fell in love with them from the beginning. Alexei is immediately obsessed with Kelly from their first meeting, and watching him allow himself to finally be his true self and give in to his feelings for Kelly was beautiful. Watching Kelly allow himself to believe in love again and overcome his fears and trauma healed a part of me. The banter and dark humor between these two was phenomenal and the spice???? Delicious. Alexei is a GIVER and we love him for it. This did a really good job at setting up an overarching mafia plot that I’m sure will continue throughout the series, and it introduced to the side characters who will get their own books later on. I am soo excited for book two I was hoping they’d be the next ones and I am READY for the angst.
My only criticisms were that sometimes there was a little tooo much random mafia action and I think there could be some honing in on the pacing and plot lines, but I am thoroughly impressed with this debut and will absolutely be continuing the series.
Thank you so much to the author for an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes :
🐰 Russian mafia enforcer x vet
🖤 touch starved MMCs
🐰 hurt x comfort
🖤 opposites attract
🐰 stalking
🖤 touch him & 💀
🐰 dark humor
Review:
This was a great debut novel from L. Norell and I am so excited to see more work from them in the future. Have you ever wished that when reading a mafia book you got to see a lot more of the mafia side of things? Like instead of just being like “oh look at this character he’s sooooo unhinged” but you never see them do crazy shit? I don’t think Alexei knows what normal is. Crazy shit is his normal and I LOVED him for it. Oh you breathed wrong at Kelly? Sorry looks like you will not be needing your fingers. You bullied him in high school? Sounds like a good reason to 💀. Kelly has absolutely zero sense of self preservation and has a very “if I don’t see it then I can pretend it doesn’t exist right?” attitude towards Alexei’s extracurricular activities. Probably the wildest “meet cute” you will ever read, and I fell in love with them from the beginning. Alexei is immediately obsessed with Kelly from their first meeting, and watching him allow himself to finally be his true self and give in to his feelings for Kelly was beautiful. Watching Kelly allow himself to believe in love again and overcome his fears and trauma healed a part of me. The banter and dark humor between these two was phenomenal and the spice???? Delicious. Alexei is a GIVER and we love him for it. This did a really good job at setting up an overarching mafia plot that I’m sure will continue throughout the series, and it introduced to the side characters who will get their own books later on. I am soo excited for book two I was hoping they’d be the next ones and I am READY for the angst.
My only criticisms were that sometimes there was a little tooo much random mafia action and I think there could be some honing in on the pacing and plot lines, but I am thoroughly impressed with this debut and will absolutely be continuing the series.
Thank you so much to the author for an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 3, 2026
This was a nice introduction to this series. I enjoyed getting to know Kelly and Alexie as well as Alexie’s brothers. Kelly’s relationship history was a sad one and it was easy to see where his inability to trust in the system came in to play but it was great to see him working on overcoming his past and trying to start anew. Alexie was slightly unhinged which I loved and I appreciated how much he cared for Kelly. He may not have gone about everything in the best of ways but he showed he cared in the ways he knew how and in that aspect it was sweet to see. I also liked seeing Alexie come into his own. He decided there were some things that were more important than others such as Kelly and he stood by this even when it got hard. I had fun with their relationship development and their dynamic. Clover was adorably spoiled and the brothers were also completely unhinged! Loved this bits and pieces we get of Mikhail and Daniil. I’m glad I picked this up.
💛ARC REVIEW🖤
☑️ Trigger Warnings.
💛ARC REVIEW🖤
☑️ Trigger Warnings.
April 25, 2026
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy for an honest review.
Alexei is a son in a homophobic Mafia family with 4 brothers and Kelly is an adorable Veterinarian who has some major damage from his ex. Together they are cute as anything.
The plot aside from the romance was simple and didn't try to be too in depth which I appreciated because its usually the biggest downside in these types of books.
The pacing was good and the relationship didn't feel too rushed (even though irl it 10000% would be.....but we're not reading for realism).
There are 2 family dinner scenes and it felt like the Xmas episode of The Bear. I absolutely adored Alexei's family (not dad, he can go die) and I'm actually really excited for book 2 🤭
Alexei is a son in a homophobic Mafia family with 4 brothers and Kelly is an adorable Veterinarian who has some major damage from his ex. Together they are cute as anything.
The plot aside from the romance was simple and didn't try to be too in depth which I appreciated because its usually the biggest downside in these types of books.
The pacing was good and the relationship didn't feel too rushed (even though irl it 10000% would be.....but we're not reading for realism).
There are 2 family dinner scenes and it felt like the Xmas episode of The Bear. I absolutely adored Alexei's family (not dad, he can go die) and I'm actually really excited for book 2 🤭
April 28, 2026
Cliche, with absolutely nothing new added to the mafia x civilian trope. A Russian, possessive mafioso with an instant attraction to a meek, kind-hearted civilian. I’ve read this book 20 times-just different titles. Boring.
1.5
1.5
Read
May 7, 20263.75 ⭐️
May 5, 2026
This book is absolutely insane and I’m insane for gobbling it up the way I did.
What do you mean this Russia mafia enforcer stalks our main character, steals things from his apartment that he repeatedly breaks into, makes a key for Kelly’s apartment, uses his body wash, and literally kills anyone that makes Kelly’s life even a little bit inconvenient… And it made him charming???
This book and Alexei are completely unhinged and they make no apologies for it and it was very refreshing. He kills people and has absolutely no remorse and he will do it again and again again. And I really enjoyed that aspect of the book, because I do feel like sometimes when authors make a morally gray character they get a little nervous to make them fully morally gray… And this author did not hold back.
Alexei isn’t a full sociopath. He has the capacity to love, and he loves his brothers in his own way and his mother and he’s clearly very affected by his father, but once he meets Kelly and he falls for Kelly , no one comes close to him. He is prepared to do whatever it takes to make Kelly his and thankfully Kelly falls for him too, and never truly understands the lengths Alexei would’ve gone to keep him.
It should probably go without saying, but this man is a walking black flag in real life. If you meet a man like him, stay far far away! But in this book? Loved it! And I loved him! I like that he was himself, and he made no attempts to hide who he was or what he did for a living, except for when Kelly asked him to start lying about it. He had no qualms about killing people and he’s going to do it for the rest of his life and it doesn’t bother him.
I think what holds me back from giving us a full five stars is Kelly himself. There’s nothing inherently wrong with him, he just wasn’t as engaging as Alexei and I suppose I don’t really understand him as a character. We’re never really given a strong explanation or indication of his character as to why these things that Alexei does don’t bother him as much as they should. In this sense, Kelly is somewhat of a morally gray character himself. Seeing that he can just let these things slide and be blissfully ignorant.
We’re told a lot of things about Kelly’s past, but I wish we could’ve felt them more. In fact, I think that’s probably another big reason why I can’t give this story five stars, I didn’t find myself completely immersed into it. The romance was cute at parts, but it did feel very heavily based in smut for a lot of it.
I wish the emotional beats would’ve hit harder, especially considering that David was abusive to Kelly, but I didn’t really feel like there were any stakes because you knew that Alexei was gonna kill him eventually. I wish we had more insight into Kelly’s mom and the whole situation with his dad. We got so many scenes with Alexei and his family and I just wish we could’ve gotten the same for Kelly.
I’m speaking of Alexei’s family: the author is clearly setting up the other brothers to have their books eventually, but I think they did it in a good way that doesn’t feel like half the book was setting up for the second book of the series. We got just enough of Mikhail and Daniil’s dynamic to get us interested, but it didn’t feel like we were sharing space with them and getting half of their plot mixed into this one. This book felt entirely like Alexei and Kelly’s book which is very much so appreciated. But I found myself intrigued by all of the brothers, so as of right now, I’m very much looking forward to reading their stories!
Also, this may be like a small little thing: but I love that the author did not shy away from hard things. In both the violence of reading about a mafia family, and the centuries deep homophobia that’s within this family. I like that Alexei’s father didn’t magically change his tune in the book and decide that he was OK with his son being gay. It felt realistic, and it was hard to read about, and it hit a little harder than Kelly’s issues, because we got to see how much Alexei admires his dad and how hard it hit that his father won’t even talk to him anymore. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how his father reacts to Mikhail and Daniil’s relationship in the next book, and I’m very curious to see if he’s going to start to bend a little bit toward Alexei or not!
I’ll definitely get this a solid four stars! I was very entertained the whole way through and I’m really looking forward to the next book, because I love a good best friends to lovers/codependent relationship romance!
What do you mean this Russia mafia enforcer stalks our main character, steals things from his apartment that he repeatedly breaks into, makes a key for Kelly’s apartment, uses his body wash, and literally kills anyone that makes Kelly’s life even a little bit inconvenient… And it made him charming???
This book and Alexei are completely unhinged and they make no apologies for it and it was very refreshing. He kills people and has absolutely no remorse and he will do it again and again again. And I really enjoyed that aspect of the book, because I do feel like sometimes when authors make a morally gray character they get a little nervous to make them fully morally gray… And this author did not hold back.
Alexei isn’t a full sociopath. He has the capacity to love, and he loves his brothers in his own way and his mother and he’s clearly very affected by his father, but once he meets Kelly and he falls for Kelly , no one comes close to him. He is prepared to do whatever it takes to make Kelly his and thankfully Kelly falls for him too, and never truly understands the lengths Alexei would’ve gone to keep him.
It should probably go without saying, but this man is a walking black flag in real life. If you meet a man like him, stay far far away! But in this book? Loved it! And I loved him! I like that he was himself, and he made no attempts to hide who he was or what he did for a living, except for when Kelly asked him to start lying about it. He had no qualms about killing people and he’s going to do it for the rest of his life and it doesn’t bother him.
I think what holds me back from giving us a full five stars is Kelly himself. There’s nothing inherently wrong with him, he just wasn’t as engaging as Alexei and I suppose I don’t really understand him as a character. We’re never really given a strong explanation or indication of his character as to why these things that Alexei does don’t bother him as much as they should. In this sense, Kelly is somewhat of a morally gray character himself. Seeing that he can just let these things slide and be blissfully ignorant.
We’re told a lot of things about Kelly’s past, but I wish we could’ve felt them more. In fact, I think that’s probably another big reason why I can’t give this story five stars, I didn’t find myself completely immersed into it. The romance was cute at parts, but it did feel very heavily based in smut for a lot of it.
I wish the emotional beats would’ve hit harder, especially considering that David was abusive to Kelly, but I didn’t really feel like there were any stakes because you knew that Alexei was gonna kill him eventually. I wish we had more insight into Kelly’s mom and the whole situation with his dad. We got so many scenes with Alexei and his family and I just wish we could’ve gotten the same for Kelly.
I’m speaking of Alexei’s family: the author is clearly setting up the other brothers to have their books eventually, but I think they did it in a good way that doesn’t feel like half the book was setting up for the second book of the series. We got just enough of Mikhail and Daniil’s dynamic to get us interested, but it didn’t feel like we were sharing space with them and getting half of their plot mixed into this one. This book felt entirely like Alexei and Kelly’s book which is very much so appreciated. But I found myself intrigued by all of the brothers, so as of right now, I’m very much looking forward to reading their stories!
Also, this may be like a small little thing: but I love that the author did not shy away from hard things. In both the violence of reading about a mafia family, and the centuries deep homophobia that’s within this family. I like that Alexei’s father didn’t magically change his tune in the book and decide that he was OK with his son being gay. It felt realistic, and it was hard to read about, and it hit a little harder than Kelly’s issues, because we got to see how much Alexei admires his dad and how hard it hit that his father won’t even talk to him anymore. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see how his father reacts to Mikhail and Daniil’s relationship in the next book, and I’m very curious to see if he’s going to start to bend a little bit toward Alexei or not!
I’ll definitely get this a solid four stars! I was very entertained the whole way through and I’m really looking forward to the next book, because I love a good best friends to lovers/codependent relationship romance!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2026
3.5⭐️
Book started off great and dark. I felt like this was gonna be a mafia story were they were really going to act like they belonged in the mafia and Alexei played his part very well. I love how unhinged and dark he was and had that give no fucks attitude and killed without a care because that was his role in his family, to kill whoever needed to be killed with no remorse. I loved Kelly’s character too. I always love a dark, crazy man with his soft, caring lover boy by his side. Even though Alexei was very obsessed from the beginning, I still enjoyed the pacing of them actually getting together and becoming intimate. Loved how patient and kind and sweet and vulnerable he was with Kelly. That’s how I want my dark morally gray men to always be 🖤 They were both great and I was loving it up until the halfway mark where I started just to get a little irritated with a few things and made me slowly start to lose interest, but not much seeing as I did still want to read the book, just not as excited as when I first started reading it.
One of them was I could not stand Alexei’s family. I’m sorry you can’t say you’re in the mafia and are supposed to be late 20s early 30s and you guys act like a bunch of children. I understand they didn’t get along and that’s how they always were when they were young and being siblings sure but at the same time you’re grown ads adults now and supposed to be one of the most respected mafia families ever and yet this is how you guys act?? Throwing plates and silverware fighting like undisciplined ass children. Yea just ridiculous. Also them playing Uno?? you kidding me right now?…I couldn’t take it seriously, and it just made me feel like the whole mafia aspect wasn’t as serious as it needed to be. I also hated how a lot of scenes and stuff was just unsaid or unwritten. The scene where Alexei’s dad finds out about him being gay? We don’t know anything that went down because it was all in Russian since it was in Kelly’s POV and he couldn’t understand Russian which I thought was ridiculous 🙄 Why would you not have it be in Alexei’s POV so we can know what was being said, I was actually looking forward to that messy dramatic ass scene, and I was bummed out when we didn’t understand any of it!
How fast David was dealt with and then we don’t see what the repercussions were for that given as they had that deal with the commissioner to not kill any of the police officers, but yet nothing was said after he kills David, his partner and dad. Just that his dad was mad. Or when Kelly casually mentions that Alexei took him to go shoot a gun at the range and showed him how to fire it and all that. We didn’t get to read it? I would’ve loved to read that and it would’ve built more character growth for Kelly, rather than just simply stating that it already happened. I hate when they do stuff like that off page. But back to the family, specifically Alexei’s dad, with how crazy the mafia is and how many times it was stated how bad it was being gay, you’re telling me that all that happened to Alexei was he just got ignored by his dad and never talks to him? So their uncle gets murdered for it but yet nothing happens to him or Kelly…..yea ok... not saying I wanted something to happen to him and Kelly, but I felt like all the built-up of the consequences for him being gay was for nothing. More all talk but no-show…books love to have that don’t they 🙄
It seems like I’m complaining a lot but I really did like the book lol and I do look forward to Mikhail and Daniil’s story, even though Mikhail did annoy me a lot in this book because he just seems really annoying and a bit childish as well but I’m curious. I knew something was going to happen between him and his adopted brother. I just knew it and I’m hoping that at least that book will give me the more messy chaotic drama that I need.
Book started off great and dark. I felt like this was gonna be a mafia story were they were really going to act like they belonged in the mafia and Alexei played his part very well. I love how unhinged and dark he was and had that give no fucks attitude and killed without a care because that was his role in his family, to kill whoever needed to be killed with no remorse. I loved Kelly’s character too. I always love a dark, crazy man with his soft, caring lover boy by his side. Even though Alexei was very obsessed from the beginning, I still enjoyed the pacing of them actually getting together and becoming intimate. Loved how patient and kind and sweet and vulnerable he was with Kelly. That’s how I want my dark morally gray men to always be 🖤 They were both great and I was loving it up until the halfway mark where I started just to get a little irritated with a few things and made me slowly start to lose interest, but not much seeing as I did still want to read the book, just not as excited as when I first started reading it.
One of them was I could not stand Alexei’s family. I’m sorry you can’t say you’re in the mafia and are supposed to be late 20s early 30s and you guys act like a bunch of children. I understand they didn’t get along and that’s how they always were when they were young and being siblings sure but at the same time you’re grown ads adults now and supposed to be one of the most respected mafia families ever and yet this is how you guys act?? Throwing plates and silverware fighting like undisciplined ass children. Yea just ridiculous. Also them playing Uno?? you kidding me right now?…I couldn’t take it seriously, and it just made me feel like the whole mafia aspect wasn’t as serious as it needed to be. I also hated how a lot of scenes and stuff was just unsaid or unwritten. The scene where Alexei’s dad finds out about him being gay? We don’t know anything that went down because it was all in Russian since it was in Kelly’s POV and he couldn’t understand Russian which I thought was ridiculous 🙄 Why would you not have it be in Alexei’s POV so we can know what was being said, I was actually looking forward to that messy dramatic ass scene, and I was bummed out when we didn’t understand any of it!
How fast David was dealt with and then we don’t see what the repercussions were for that given as they had that deal with the commissioner to not kill any of the police officers, but yet nothing was said after he kills David, his partner and dad. Just that his dad was mad. Or when Kelly casually mentions that Alexei took him to go shoot a gun at the range and showed him how to fire it and all that. We didn’t get to read it? I would’ve loved to read that and it would’ve built more character growth for Kelly, rather than just simply stating that it already happened. I hate when they do stuff like that off page. But back to the family, specifically Alexei’s dad, with how crazy the mafia is and how many times it was stated how bad it was being gay, you’re telling me that all that happened to Alexei was he just got ignored by his dad and never talks to him? So their uncle gets murdered for it but yet nothing happens to him or Kelly…..yea ok... not saying I wanted something to happen to him and Kelly, but I felt like all the built-up of the consequences for him being gay was for nothing. More all talk but no-show…books love to have that don’t they 🙄
It seems like I’m complaining a lot but I really did like the book lol and I do look forward to Mikhail and Daniil’s story, even though Mikhail did annoy me a lot in this book because he just seems really annoying and a bit childish as well but I’m curious. I knew something was going to happen between him and his adopted brother. I just knew it and I’m hoping that at least that book will give me the more messy chaotic drama that I need.
April 30, 2026
Two mafia books in a single month? Who am I? VIOLENT DEVOTION was not my usual read but I took a chance and I'm glad I did because I enjoyed this romance between an unhinged mafia enforcer and a down-on-his-luck veterinarian. Kelly and Alexei were a great couple and yes Kelly did ignore every red flag Alexei was waving but they made it work. I think a big part of that is how devoted and tender these two were with each other, especially Alexei since it contradicted his more violent work for his family's crime empire.
For a debut book the writing was fantastic and I was immediately pulled into the story and wanted to know more about the characters. The romance burned fast and these two were all about each other from the very beginning but we still saw a lot of development of them as a couple and how that might work in the unique world they lived in.
Outside the romance there was the usual political maneuverings of crime families fighting over territory and status as well as complicated family dynamics. This was a pretty dark book and definitely violent but I liked that you always knew Kelly and Alexei's relationship would be caring and supportive.
Content Warning: past abusive relationship including current harassment; violence and gore; homophobic parents; side character with a drug addiction
For a debut book the writing was fantastic and I was immediately pulled into the story and wanted to know more about the characters. The romance burned fast and these two were all about each other from the very beginning but we still saw a lot of development of them as a couple and how that might work in the unique world they lived in.
Outside the romance there was the usual political maneuverings of crime families fighting over territory and status as well as complicated family dynamics. This was a pretty dark book and definitely violent but I liked that you always knew Kelly and Alexei's relationship would be caring and supportive.
Content Warning: past abusive relationship including current harassment; violence and gore; homophobic parents; side character with a drug addiction
April 28, 2026
Violent Devotion is an MM Mafia romance. Alexei is shot on a job gone wrong. In an effort to not get arrested, he sneaks into a 24 hour vet and threatens the late night vet to help him. Kelly is, obviously, freaked out, but helps get the bullet out and doesn’t call the cops. Eventually Alexei leaves.
Not too much longer, unaware, Kelly has a stalker. Alexei stalks him at his job and home, breaks in and steals his things and obsesses over him.
The story has a crazy mafia family of brothers, who will stab each other over Uno; an obsessed mafia enforcer who will kill anyone who dares hurt what’s his; and an abused vet who just wants his ex to stop making his life miserable and wants to know where his stuff keeps disappearing too.
I absolutely adored this book! It was so easy to read and love these characters!! I love that Alexei is so gone for Kelly but still remains this stone cold killer who will kill and torture anyone who hurts what’s his. I love that Kelly, who knows about Alexei, still supports him but also pretends he has a normal office job where he “files” things. They are both adorable in their own way! I will be thinking about this book for a good minute! 🫶🏻
Not too much longer, unaware, Kelly has a stalker. Alexei stalks him at his job and home, breaks in and steals his things and obsesses over him.
The story has a crazy mafia family of brothers, who will stab each other over Uno; an obsessed mafia enforcer who will kill anyone who dares hurt what’s his; and an abused vet who just wants his ex to stop making his life miserable and wants to know where his stuff keeps disappearing too.
I absolutely adored this book! It was so easy to read and love these characters!! I love that Alexei is so gone for Kelly but still remains this stone cold killer who will kill and torture anyone who hurts what’s his. I love that Kelly, who knows about Alexei, still supports him but also pretends he has a normal office job where he “files” things. They are both adorable in their own way! I will be thinking about this book for a good minute! 🫶🏻
May 2, 2026
AAAAHHHHHH
I've been anticipating this book for a while and GOD I wasn't disappointed.
I am feral- absolutely FERAL for it. I loved it. Every page of it. Alexei is a cinnamon roll that could kill you: so bad, such a massive red flag, but so, so sweet and caring for his man. Kelly, on the other hand, is the SWEETEST man ever.
They fit so well together- I was rooting for them SO hard. Every murder was *chef kiss*, the spice was scorching hot... hmmmm I am just gone for them.
And then I learn that Mikhail and Daniil will also get a book?
Fuck. Yes.
I've been anticipating this book for a while and GOD I wasn't disappointed.
I am feral- absolutely FERAL for it. I loved it. Every page of it. Alexei is a cinnamon roll that could kill you: so bad, such a massive red flag, but so, so sweet and caring for his man. Kelly, on the other hand, is the SWEETEST man ever.
They fit so well together- I was rooting for them SO hard. Every murder was *chef kiss*, the spice was scorching hot... hmmmm I am just gone for them.
And then I learn that Mikhail and Daniil will also get a book?
Fuck. Yes.
May 1, 2026
Starting of the first day of May with a 5 stars read, who would have thought of that? Not me for sure 😅 This was a fun, chaotic read and I loved it from start to finish 🥰 Can't believe this was the authors debut novel, I'm excited to read about Mikhail and Daniil!
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