Tainted Embrace: A Dark Mafia Romance

by Maria Raye

A dark mafia romance with a ruthless anti-hero, obsession, and explicit spice.
He is death in human form—untouchable, unfeeling, inevitable.
He was never meant to love… until she decides he belongs to her.

They call me the Reaper for a reason.
I don’t threaten. I don’t warn.
I erase.

Violence shaped me. Blood taught me patience. Control kept me alive—over my body, my mind, my need. I built distance between the boy I once was and the man I’ve become. I thought it would be enough.

I was wrong.

The past I buried clawed its way back.
And now the hunt has begun.

The ones who thought they were safe will learn otherwise. The ones who kept their hands clean will bleed first. I will tear through every lie, every betrayal, every name whispered in guilt—and leave nothing standing.

Except her.

Kira is the problem I didn’t plan for.
Women were never worth losing control. But she saw exactly what I am and stepped closer anyway. She didn’t flinch at the damage. She didn’t care about the violence. She didn’t ask for safety or softness. She wanted me—all of me—with an obsession that mirrored my own.

Now I can’t get her out of my head.
And I don’t want to.

She wants the monster.
And I want the girl who doesn’t mind the blood.A dark mafia romance
Morally black characters • Obsession • Forbidden love • Revenge • Secrets and trauma • A heroine who doesn’t run • A hero who doesn’t stop
This story contains mature and potentially disturbing themes. Please check content warnings inside.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance

358 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2026

About the author

Maria lives in Iceland with her family, balancing a corporate career she loves with a long-standing obsession with storytelling.
She started writing as a teenager, mostly dark and slightly disturbing short stories—which, in hindsight, makes a lot of sense. Over time, her stories evolved into what they are today: emotionally intense romance with a darker edge and just a little (or a lot of) spice.
Her husband now serves as her unofficial editor, a role he didn’t exactly apply for but somehow can’t escape.

When she’s not working or writing, she’s usually at the gym, traveling, or enjoying a glass of wine—often while thinking about her next scene.

Maria is a deeply emotional writer, fully invested in her characters, and not immune to crying over scenes she’s writing.

Reviews

[Maria Raye]

I’m so excited to finally share Tainted Embrace with you.
This story is very close to my heart—not only because it tells Maksym’s story before the events of the Foundations series, but also because it takes place in Ukraine, which made it especially personal for me.
Here, you’ll meet a different version of him—one who is still in his own world, shaped by different circumstances, before everything begins to change. You may also notice that I chose to keep certain Ukrainian words and nicknames in the text. This was a deliberate stylistic choice to preserve a sense of language, identity, and atmosphere within the story.

And for those coming from Foundations of Vengeance—don’t worry, you’ll see the version of Maksym you know (accent and all) again later in Foundations of Reckoning.

I truly hope you connect with this version of his story.

[Roxana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
i was not expecting that ending..💔

[Barbara Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just WOW! If I could give this book more than 5⭐️’s, I would. I actually finished this book yesterday and I needed some time to put my thoughts together because I’m still broken. Maksym and Kira’s story was exceptional. Maksym was definitely a bit unhinged but you can help loving him and when Kira was pushed, she turns into a badass. I can’t believe the way this love story(or some might think obsession) was so beautifully written. It gives you all the feels throughout and you’re going to definitely need tissues. This could be read as a stand alone but I do recommend starting with the first book in the Foundation’s trilogy because this book will answer some questions about the cliffhanger of the second book and will set up the last book (Foundations of Reckoning) which will make navigating that book so much better. Maria, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book. It is definitely one of my top 10 reads so far this year and I can’t wait for the next book.

[Britt DS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did not have a HEA and I was not prepared.
This book felt like the Edge of Darkness trilogy meets Under Your Scars.

Maksym is the perfect book boyfriend (in this book, at least). He’s ruthless, unfeeling, kills without losing sleep at night - but for Kira? He’s protective, sweet, and he would burn the world down if it meant keeping her safe.
Don’t get the wrong idea though, Kira is not just a damsel in distress - she bites.

Maybe I would have known if I had read the first two books in the Foundations trilogy first, but I did not know this book didn’t have a HEA and I was totally blindsided - I didn’t even believe the ending at first. Damn, keep the tissues nearby.

I will absolutely read the Foundations trilogy in the near future, because not only did I love the storyline of Tainted Embrace, I also absolutely loved the way the author told the story. The writing style is really fluent and it made me fly through this book in a little over 48 hours.
The book was beautifully written. The pacing was good, the characters were strong, and the story itself was amazing.

(I received this book as an ARC and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was her monster. She was the reason he finally lost control.

The Elevator Pitch: In a gilded mafia cage, a defiant daughter sets her sights on the one man her father should have kept far away. Cold, lethal, and built from old wounds, he knows wanting her could destroy everything he’s planning, but her hunger for his darkness matches his need to protect and possess her. As secrets sharpen into violence, their forbidden obsession becomes a dangerous refuge in a world where love and ruin wear the same face.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥 Ultra-Steamy / Erotic Romance

[Elin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ratings
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️4/5


This was my first book by Maria Raye. I wasn’t familiar with her previous books or with Maksym as a character, so at the start I was a little worried I might be missing important background information. But looking back, I actually think going in blind worked perfectly for this story.

I initially picked up this book because it fits perfectly within the kind of stories I love, and thankfully, it did not disappoint. That being said, I did need a little time to get into it. During the first few chapters, I wasn’t completely convinced yet. But the story slowly pulls you in, and before you know it, you’re fully invested.

The book takes you through a wide range of emotions, and little by little you start to understand both Maksym and Kira better. Their layers are revealed gradually, which made their story feel more complete as I kept reading.

I found it surprisingly difficult to fully describe this book, which honestly doesn’t happen to me very often. Maksym feels like a prince in some ways, but definitely one riding a very dark horse. He is, without a doubt, the knight in shining armor for Kira when she needs him most… although his methods are, let’s say, debatable. But let’s be honest, that’s exactly why we read these kinds of books.

I have to admit, I connected more with Maksym than with Kira. She felt a bit harder to grasp for me, and there were moments where I caught myself thinking, here we go again. That distance made it slightly harder for me to fully connect with her character.

Still, the dynamic between them kept me interested, and the emotional build-up throughout the story made it worth the read. By the end, I was fully invested and curious to see more of this world and these characters. The plot was definitely refreshing and something I havent read a lot. And, I didnt see it coming. (Applause to the Author)

All in all, this was a solid and enjoyable (if you leave out the "you know what") read that fits perfectly within the genre. I’m thankful I got to read this book in advance!

[Viola Opingari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tainted Embrace is a dark romance that fully delivers on its promise of intensity, emotional depth, and heartbreak.

From the very beginning, I knew I was stepping into something twisted—but nothing could have prepared me for the emotional impact this story had. What started as a gripping read quickly turned into an all-consuming experience that left me genuinely heartbroken and unable to stop thinking about the characters.

Despite my best intentions not to get attached, the characters completely pulled me in. Their presence lingers long after finishing the book, a testament to how well they were written. The tension throughout the story had me holding my breath more than once, and while this is a book you could easily finish in one sitting, I chose to take my time to fully absorb every moment—and I highly recommend doing the same.

This is not a light read. It’s emotional, intense, and at times devastating. But that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. It broke my heart, made me cry, and still left me wanting more.

I would absolutely read this again, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark romance with a strong emotional core. As an ARC reader, I feel incredibly grateful to have experienced this story early, and I truly hope it gets the recognition it deserves.

[Asheley · Rating 5 out of 5]

** ARC Review Incoming **

Thank you to Maria Raye and Booksprout for allowing me to be part of the Arc Team and for giving me a free copy of this book.

This is hands down the best ARC I’ve ever read.

I don’t normally go into an Arc review thinking I’m going to come across my next 6 star book. I pick them randomly, sometime to push myself out of comfort zone, sometimes based on the cover alone but never thinking it’s going to blow the pants clean off me. This book I picked for the cover, and this book did indeed blow me away!!

It’s a mafia based dark, forbidden romance with a protective MMC, an FMC that grows into a strong kick ass character. There is a twist in the back story that fuels the revenge rage and justifies the violence.
The ending….. hit me like a freight train…

There is a healthy spice content that is expertly balanced and beautifully written at all the moments. I’ve never encountered a dark romance book that has such an immersive (or hot) first sexual experience scene. It was breathtaking. Raye wrote absolute perfection when she wrote that scene and my whole body reacted to it.

The fact this isn’t an American Mafia Setting with the head of the Mafia obsessing about a girl was a breath of fresh air. It’s so different from others I’ve read and it now sets the bar.

This book exceeded all my expectations and I feel lucky to have stumbled across the ARC. Do yourself and favour and read this as soon as it’s published coz it’s bloody brilliant!!!

[ObsidianLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tainted Embrace can be read as a standalone within the Foundations Trilogy, but having prior insight into Maksym makes this story hit even deeper.

From the very beginning, we’re thrown straight into Maksym—broody, intense, and impossible to ignore. The chemistry between him and Kira builds quickly, shifting from tension-filled moments into an all-consuming, possessive connection that defines their relationship.

Maksym is fiercely protective—bordering on feral—and his devotion to Kira drives much of the story. The lengths he would go to in order to keep her safe add a dark, gripping edge that keeps you hooked throughout.

The revenge elements woven into both Maksym and Kira’s journeys were incredibly satisfying, but what stood out most was the constant sense of unease running beneath it all. There’s an underlying tension that makes you feel as though something is always on the verge of going wrong.

One particular scene—the car ride back from the asylum—was especially intense and had me completely on edge.

What truly elevates this book is the deeper exploration of Maksym’s past. Learning more about his backstory added emotional weight and depth, making his character even more compelling—but also far more heartbreaking.

By the end, I was left completely devastated. This story doesn’t just entertain—it lingers.

A powerful, emotional, and dark romance that will stay with you long after the final page.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars for Tainted Embrace by ( new for me) author Maria Raye

WOW Ms Raye writes an excellent story and this one is Maksym’s aka Reaper who we met in previous reads. I am so happy we get his back story now understanding much more of his characters actions.

I loved Kira so strong but not allowed to be her own person with hopes and dreams … no it’s an arranged marriage to please her father.

Tainted Embrace is a good long read ! Cant wait to read more by this author !.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m speechless. Heartbroken. This was book was an absolute ride that just didn’t slow down. Yes, it is a dark romance, but it is so much more that. It was intense, it was chaotic and it was heartbreaking. I don’t want to say much about the storyline in case I give away spoilers. But if you have the choice of one dark romance to read, pick this one!! This book was honestly the best dark romance I have read, and I have read most of the highly talked about ones. THIS is going to be the next most talked about dark romance and I’m there for it!! Thank you so much for allowing me to ARC read this book, I am now off to read the two other books in this series!!

[Dawn 🫶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

This book is absolutely beautiful. Good and dirty in all of the wrong places, honestly far beyond what I expected when I picked this up and beyond everything that I imagined it could be. I will for sure be anticipating more from this author. 🥴 the writing and pace are soooo great, I really shouldn’t have taken as long as I did to read this but at some point you really do need to savor the sweet things 😅

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of twist and turns and kept me on my toes. Dark romance is one of my favorite genres and this book was just a reminder as to why I love it so much. The relationship between Maksym and Kira started right from the beginning and just continued to build into a beautifully written story. And as always with a dark romance check the Trigger Warnings.

[Sigrun Bjorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It was a great deep dive into Maksims character from the "Foundations" series by the same author; hot, messy, heartbreaking!
RUN, don't walk to amazon to get this series, if you are a dark romance reader, this is a read for you, there is a lot of smut but the storie is GOOD and very well written.
This was an #ARC read for me but I'm giving an honest review of a book that I loved

[Tracy Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tainted Embrace may exist within the same brutal universe as the Foundations Trilogy, but make no mistake—this is Maksym’s story through and through. It strips everything back to the origin, peeling away the myth and reputation to expose the boy who would eventually become the man feared as The Reaper. As a prequel, it doesn’t just add context—it deepens the emotional weight of everything that comes after. And if you’ve already read the first two books, you go in thinking you’re prepared. You’re not.
From the very beginning, Maksym’s life is defined by loss and instability. His sister Mila’s disappearance fractures his world in a way that never truly heals. His mother, consumed by grief, becomes a shadow of herself, and his father descends into alcoholism and violence, turning what should have been a place of safety into something volatile and dangerous. There’s no softness here, no reprieve—just a steady descent into survival mode. And when Maksym is eventually thrown into the system, whatever innocence he had left is stripped away completely.
What follows is not just hardship—it’s transformation. Maksym doesn’t merely endure what happens to him; he adapts, hardens, and sharpens himself into something formidable. He learns quickly that weakness is a liability and that survival requires more than resilience—it demands dominance. Watching that evolution unfold is both compelling and deeply unsettling, because you can see how inevitable it all is. The boy disappears piece by piece, replaced by someone colder, more controlled, and infinitely more dangerous. The Reaper isn’t born in a single moment—he’s carved out of pain, loss, and necessity.
And yet, despite everything, Maksym isn’t one-dimensional. Beneath the darkness, there’s an unexpected edge of humor—dry, sharp, and often catching you off guard. It shouldn’t work in a story this heavy, but it does. It humanizes him in a way that makes him even more dangerous as a character, because you don’t just fear him—you’re drawn to him. Against your better judgment, you understand him. Maybe even root for him.
Then there’s Kira.
As the Pakhan’s daughter, Kira lives in a gilded cage. She’s protected, yes—but also controlled, objectified, and treated more like an asset than a person. At first glance, Maksym sees her exactly as you’d expect: privileged, sheltered, untouchable. But that perception doesn’t last long. What develops between them is immediate and intense, the kind of connection that feels less like a choice and more like an inevitability.
The moment he calls her Malaya, something shifts. It’s subtle, but it marks a turning point—the beginning of something consuming and irreversible. From there, their relationship builds into something raw, obsessive, and dangerously all-encompassing. Maksym’s protectiveness over Kira borders on feral. He doesn’t just want her—he claims her in every sense, willing to burn down anything or anyone that threatens her. And while he sees himself as irredeemable, as someone too broken to deserve anything good, Kira refuses to accept that narrative.
What makes Kira stand out is that she’s anything but fragile. She’s grown up surrounded by power and darkness, and instead of being crushed by it, she’s learned how to navigate it on her own terms. She challenges Maksym, stands her ground, and meets his intensity head-on without flinching. She doesn’t try to fix him—she sees him, fully, and chooses him anyway. That dynamic makes their relationship feel volatile but balanced, chaotic but grounded in something real.
Together, they are explosive. Every interaction feels charged, every moment teetering on the edge of something bigger—whether that’s passion, destruction, or both.
And just when it feels like the story might offer a moment of relief, it does the exact opposite.
It takes everything.
Even if you know what’s coming—even if you’ve already seen the man Maksym becomes—it doesn’t lessen the impact. If anything, it makes it worse. Because now you understand. Now you’ve seen the journey, the moments that shaped him, the things he lost along the way. Watching him break—truly break—isn’t just heartbreaking, it’s devastating on a deeper level. There’s no distance from it. No detachment. It hits hard and lingers long after you’ve finished.
Tainted Embrace isn’t just a backstory. It’s an emotional gut-punch that redefines everything you thought you knew about Maksym. It forces you to confront the cost of survival, the weight of love in a world built on violence, and the thin line between who someone is and who they’re forced to become.

[Heather Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Tropes: dark mafia romance, obsessive anti-heroes, strong characters, touch her and die, spicy.

Book Warnings: Dark Romance, Childhood Trauma, Power Imbalance, Tracking/Stalking, Dub/Non Con, Graphic Violence, Choking/Physical Restraint, Death and Grief, Torture/Descriptive Mutilation, Criminal Underworld, Human Trafficking, Prostitution, Drug and Alcohol Use, Drug Overdose, Abuse of Power, No Cheating or Sharing

This was my first book by Maria Raye.

Tainted Embrace is a prequel to the Foundation series, but having prior insight into Maksym makes this story hit even deeper.

Kira Sokolova is Pakhan's daughter, a mafia princess, she's just a girl, just currency in the mafia world. She lives in a mansion, in a sheltered life. She is taken to and from the university in a private car. She doesn't have body guards on her when she's at school. She able to do as she pleases for the most part. She is spoiled, with no one to tell her no. Her mother lives in a drug filled haze. But, lately her father has been stating she needs to get engaged and get married. She was set up on a 'date' with a family friends son. But, the son happens to be a sleaze ball, who Kira doesn't want anything to do with. But, her father doesn't take no for an answer. When he sets her up with another man, he doesn't even tell her that she is engaged, he just announces it one day that she is going to marry. What? Kira doesn't want to marry, she wants to live her life. Kira loves to draw, but she was told that wasn't a skill that she should waste her time on, so she does it in secret. Maksym finds himself on her drawings one day. He isn't sure why she would draw him, when he is nothing but a bad man, but, she sees the good inside of him. She is pulling him towards the goodness, towards the light, away from the darkness he's only known.

Maksym (The Reaper) he is the man you call when you want protection. He is the man who will protect your family/your blood line. But, if you cross him, he will not hesitate to put a bullet in you. When Pakhan calls on Maksym to be his hired gun, Maksym knows things will get bloody. But, what he didn't count on what Kira. He never expected to fall for the boss's daughter. Maksym has lost his sister, and his mother. He's sworn off love until he sees Kira. Something drives him towards Kira. He's not kind to her. He's not hateful towards her. He saves her and her friend from being raped. He saves her and her father from an attack on their home. When he becomes the boss's right hand man will he still want Kira in his bed?

Will Kira and Maksym be able to be together? Will they just be alone in secret? Will her father find out about their relationship?? Will Kira be able to choose who she wants to be with? Or will being under her father make her a target to those who are after her father?

I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving a honest book review.

[addictedtodarkromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the prequel to another series called the Foundations Trilogy, which was written first.

There's a character called Mila in the trilogy, and she is Maksym's sister. When they were very young, she was kidnapped, and he was blamed as he was watching her (which was very sad as he was still a kid himself). His mother died of heartbreak, and his father became an alcoholic and hit him in anger and grief. Maksym also blames himself for her being taken away; his heart shattered, broken and never healed. He learned to be cold, calculating, and violent. He became known as "The Reaper" (and for very good reasons) and believed that love wasn't in his future.

In walks Kira. She's a light in his cruel world; Maksym somehow warms to her in a way he isn't used to, so he often pushes her away. But the problem is he can't stay away, and eventually they fall for each other. They had some pretty steamy scenes, and their connection was strong.

Their story isn't a romance; it's more of a tragedy. There's no HEA here, and the time they had together was short but beautiful. Grab that tissue box and make sure you're not heading out anywhere when you get to the last part of the book. But a little bit of light in the darkness - he finds his sister after years and years, which is where the trilogy comes in (I think it's book 2 that he's more involved in), and he's going to search her out.

I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read the trilogy yet, but I am excited to (I think the third book releases later this year, 2026), and I wasn't confused at any point because of it.
 
 
Overall: 4.25 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice/Heat Intensity: 3 out of 5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Main Characters: Maksym & Kira
Nickname: Malaya
Darkness: 5 out of 5 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Type of book: MF, 1st Person POV
Reading Order: Standalone Novel - Prequel to The Foundations Trilogy
Title: Tainted Embrace
Epilogue: Yes
Ending Type: Not a HEA

*OTT: Possessive, dominant, and protective MMC
*Psychological and Emotional Manipulation
*Childhood Trauma
*Power Imbalance
*Tracking/Stalking
*Dub/Non Con
*Graphic Violence
*Choking/Physical Restraint
*Death and Grief
*Torture/Descriptive Mutilation
*Criminal Underworld
*Human Trafficking
*Prostitution
*Drug and Alcohol Use
*Drug Overdose
*Abuse of Power
*No Cheating or Sharing


 
⚠️ This book has descriptive parts that may be offensive or triggering to some. Please check all the authors' TW/CW before reading! 18+
 
*I received an early copy of this book and am voluntarily writing this review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received by author.

Now where do I even begin, I had no clue really what I was getting myself into as I had never read anything from Maria before. Therefore I had no ideas on this world.
But what a read!!
Its not your average Mafia romance, this is dark twisted and meaningful. Its personal, you literally live it with them, every emotion, all the pain, love, hate, obsession, the fear and the vengeance. You feel it all.

Now Maskym or the reaper..what a man! What a machine, hes the typical cold and deadly mafia assassin but hes got hidden heart set to defrost, after his heartbreak as a child, he hides behind a mask of deadly killing, embracing and enjoying his work.
Now enter Kira, the daughter of a power criminal leader in Ukraine who Maskym is currently working for. Shes just a pawn for her father to sell to anyone with some power, and her mother is so badly damage from trauma years ago, she has noone. But this trauma Kira saw first hand as a 5 year old, so shes pretty numb to the blood, death and life shes forced to live in. Which means Maskym cannot scare her off, when she decides to set her eyes to him, he doesn't repulse her like every other man that works for her father. Even his reputation doesnt scare her at all.

We embrace it all the death, the heat and theres plenty of that! Kira worms her way into Maskyms cold heart, really hitting defrost until it becomes alive with obsession for Kira only. He does all he can to keep her safe and he does so very unconventionally, but this doesnt seem to phase her if anything at times it thrills her. Even when she attempts to tame him after an unnecessary (in her eyes) death, it only awakens more desire from him and it doesn't scare her in the slightest.

BUT the ending, my god my heart! I did not see this coming till the last second when it says he recognises the nurses face!
I did sit there shocked staring at the screen for several minutes after.

This book ripped my heart out but goddammit what a ride it was, I havent read a dark mafia romance this good for ages.
This isnt just mafia this is raw and stays with you after your done.

Trigger warning. Please read them and take them seriously. Protect your own mental health.

[Jen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 plus stars! This book was spectacular! It's definitely one of my tops reads this year! It was intense right from the beginning! Pulled me right in and got me hooked! I loved how dark and intense Maksym is and that Kira can bring out another side of him. I have to admit the ending surprised me and had me crying.

[Talitha de Vries · Rating 5 out of 5]

I said it before, and I’ll say it again. I kind of, sort of, love Maksym. He’s everything I love in a dark romance MMC. Dangerous, brutal, obsessive, touch-her-and-die possessive, but also so funny.
One moment he’s threatening murder, the next he’s groaning because Kira called him sweet in public.

And Kira? I adored her. She was soft without being weak. Even surrounded by violence and cruelty, she still held onto parts of herself. She was relentless when it came to Maksym, refusing to take no for an answer, but what made them special to me was that they grew into more than obsession. The banter, the quiet moments, the domesticity, the emotional dependence… it all made their relationship feel real underneath all the darkness.

This wasn’t just dark romance. It was grief, obsession, devotion, trauma, healing, destruction, and love all tangled together.

Maria Raye absolutely hurt my feelings with this one, and I loved every second of it.

If you want to stay spoiler-free, this is your exit.
Spoilers ahead.

The side characters hit hard, especially Valeria. That one line:
“they didn’t need to drug me”
actually broke my heart. She felt painfully real.

I even started to think Ruslan might not be that bad. Until he was. Shame on me for that one.

I’ve read Foundation of Guilt and Foundation of Vengeance, so I already knew going in that tragedy was coming, but somehow I still kept hoping the ending would change. The author kept giving me hope only to rip it away again. First the pregnancy, then the birth, then Anton surviving. I kept thinking maybe THIS was the moment things would somehow turn out differently. It was wishful thinking. But I have to be honest. There was no escaping it. This ending was exactly what this book needed.

Maksym finally let himself love, built a future, became a father… and then lost her anyway.
My poor, poor Maksym. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for him in the third book of the Foundations Trilogy, although I wouldn’t mind another book focused on him.

I wouldn’t mind a book for Valeria as well. She’s a bit of me, and I need to know what happened to her and what will become of her now that she spiraled again.

[Hayley Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything!! So intense and emotional and every bit a mafia dark romance. My first read of the authors and it was a 5 star ⭐️ 2/5 🌶️ level can be read as a standalone but ties into the foundations trilogy

Kira the mafia princess, daughter of the Pathan was raised in a gilded cage. Spoiled but controlled by her father. Supposed to stay a virgin and marry whoever her father picks for her. She was treated as an asset rather than his daughter. Driven to university by drivers and kept an eye on but not at university. However, she’s anything but she’s strong and bad@ss. She grew up around all this death and power that she faces it head on and comes to terms with things her way. She sees maskym as not just a monster but her monster.

Maskym the reaper sees her exactly what you’d expect at first glance spoiled, untouchable, sheltered but that all changed as he falls in love with her. He’s willing to burn the world for her and kill anyone who harms her. He also had hardships throughout his life. At age 9 he watched his sister be taken from his family and his father turned into a drunk while his mother becomes a shadow of herself caught up in grief. He grew up in a dangerous environment. But he grows, adapts and becomes the reaper taking on jobs and doing what seems necessary.

Both have been through so much in this story and it’s so emotional. I love both of them together their relationship is amazing. Passionate destructive etc. And the ending ughhh it makes me cry I feel for Maksym. This is not an hea at all.



Tropes- morally black MMC, strategic cruelty, obsessive love, dark humor, mafia princess x her fathers most dangerous man, “I’m bad for you” energy, she’s just as unhinged as him, creative violence, touch her and die

Make sure you check your triggers before reading this is not an hea, contains childhood trauma, use of alcohol and drugs, death and grief and more

Thank you to the author for the arc read. I will be going back and reading the foundations trilogy now.

[Manuela Molteni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people reach for comfort reads. I, apparently, reach for emotional devastation wrapped in velvet and violence. Tainted Embrace is exactly that kind of indulgence.

As a prequel to the Foundation series, Tainted Embrace does not simply set the stage. It tears it down, burns it, and rebuilds it in blood and obsession. Maria Raye goes further than before, digging into the origins of a world that was already far from gentle, and delivering something rawer, darker, and strangely beautiful.

This is Maksym’s story, and he does not do anything halfway. Bratva to his bones, forged in brutality, driven by a love so fierce it borders on ruin. His devotion is not poetic in the traditional sense. It is consuming. It is the kind of fire that does not warm, it engulfs. Watching him unravel, fight, and surrender to that pull feels less like reading and more like witnessing something you probably should not enjoy this much… and yet here we are.

Kira, on the other hand, remains a question mark. I never quite settled on whether I liked her, trusted her, or wanted to shake some sense into her. But oddly enough, it does not matter. The story does not ask for your approval. It demands your attention, then proceeds to hit you where it hurts most.

And it does hurt. Not in a fleeting, dramatic way, but in the kind that lingers. The kind that settles under your skin and refuses to leave. This is not romance as comfort. This is romance as destruction, as sacrifice, as something that reshapes you whether you consent or not.

By the time I turned the last page, I was left slightly unhinged and entirely invested. Which, frankly, feels like the only appropriate reaction.

Until next time, dear Reaper. I will be waiting. Maksym will be waiting. And I have a feeling Mila will have something to say about all of it.

[Nanii’s Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

“𝐀 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭.”

This is my first book by Maria Raye, and I’m already excited to jump into more of her work…

Maksym, the man that you are. There’s something about a man that would unalive any man that dared touch you that hits different. If you say you wouldn’t love a man who would unalive anyone who did you wrong, YOU’RE A LIAR!

I loved Maksym and Kira’s story; it was written out so well. I loved everything about them because they were both just as unhinged as the other, but that ending was not something I was expecting. Spoiler: This is not a HEA. I wish I had read the reviews; it would’ve saved me the heartbreak. Kira deserved better from the very beginning. She deserved a father who protected her rather than a man who would sell her out (that’s basically what he did the entire book). They both deserved their happily ever after, and it was snatched from them. WE WERE ROBBED!

I skipped the second epilogue because Maria warned us that it would be a spoiler for the Foundations Trilogy, which I do plan on reading, but I am dying to know what’s next for Maksym and what will become of his empire.

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫 ↴
This is an Advanced Reader copy. Although this book was given to me as an ARC, my thoughts are my own. Thank you, Maria Raye and BookSirens, for the ARC opportunity!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 ↴
🖤 Dark Humor
🩸 Morally Black MMC
🖤 Touch Her and Disappear
🩸 Obsessive & Possessive MMC
🖤 She's just as unhinged as he is
🩸 Mafia Princess x Her Father's Most Dangerous Man

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ↴
Childhood trauma, human trafficking, psychological and emotional manipulation, graphic violence, drug abuse, rape, and attempted rape, among others. Please look up the content warnings for this book, as there are many more that I have not mentioned.

🖤 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 📖

[Malini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart broken by MeemsAngel82

That is literally where I am with this book. This is my first time reading this author and if certain things didn't happen, I would have been a diehard fan. This could have been the beginning of a Mafia dynasty. The writing is excellent. The bleak world painted gets hope as a brat and a deadly man orbit one another. She is a Mafia princess. She's got a role to play and a life where her dad will make decisions for her. Including selling her off to meet his needs. She is intrigued by this man and attracted. He came from pain and fought his way up. He feels very little and is there to do a job. She's supposed to be fluff, gorgeous fluff, that he can forget and not be affected by. It doesn't work.

They are attracted to one another and slowly find true happiness with one another.

And that's what absolutely guts me. He felt nothing, but did with her. He is so good at being a baddie. But felt something with her. So surely base pleasures could be ignored and while wanting her he didn't need to get anyone to kneel for him for some kind of satisfaction. And yes, romances don't have to end happy. And are still called romances. My idea of a romance is everyone being alive and together at the end. Let's just say I didn't get what I wanted. After so much heartache, so much danger and death. Fear and loss and pain, they still found love with one another. And it was absolutely, hauntingly beautiful. It had the whole HEA set up. And then the HEA was stolen from me. I think this was written so well despite the two issues I had, this would have been a 5. Because of the writing being amazing is why I'm not putting this as a 3. I just can't handle this and I loved it while it lasted. What a literal crying shame.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alexandra Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly… this book completely consumed me. Absolute five stars.

This story was intense, emotional, dramatic, thrilling, and honestly just gut wrenching in the best way. From the very beginning I was locked in and could not put it down. It pulls you so deeply into the emotions of the characters that you genuinely feel everything alongside them.

Kira was such a standout FMC for me. She was strong, fearless, and completely held her own in a world filled with violence and chaos. I loved that she did not shy away from who the MMC truly was. Their connection felt so raw and consuming because neither of them was pretending to be something softer or cleaner than they were.

And the MMC… wow. He is brutal, dangerous, emotionally damaged, and absolutely terrifying at times, but then when it came to Kira you could see this completely different side of him underneath all of that darkness. That contrast made him so addictive to read.

The tension and emotional intensity between them was honestly next level. You feel the obsession, the loyalty, the pain, the desperation… all of it. It never felt cheesy or overly polished either. That is what I loved most about this book. It felt messy, dark, emotional, and real in a way that hit so much harder.

I also loved the mafia vibes throughout the story. The danger, the violence, the revenge, the emotional damage… it all blended together so well and kept the stakes feeling high the entire time.

And THAT ENDING?? Absolutely insane. I literally just sat there staring at the wall afterward trying to process everything.

This works really well as a standalone while still connecting into the larger series, which I loved because now I absolutely need to read the rest.

Overall, this book was raw, emotional, intense, and impossible to stop reading. I am so grateful I got to be an ARC reader for this because wow… what a ride.

[Jennifer Amaral · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is violent, obsessive, emotionally unhinged, and SO addictive 👀🖤🔥

A morally black MMC called The Reaper?
A heroine who sees exactly what he is and wants him anyway??

Yeah… this book absolutely commits to the darkness, and honestly? I loved every second of it.

From the very beginning, there’s this constant undercurrent of danger running through the story. The Reaper isn’t pretending to be redeemable. He knows what he is. He knows the damage he causes. And the way he moves through the world with complete control and lethal intent makes every scene feel intense.

And honestly??
That emotional detachment mixed with obsession was terrifyingly compelling.

Then Kira enters the picture 👀🔥

What I loved most about her is that she doesn’t try to “fix” him or soften him into someone else. She understands the darkness in him and steps closer anyway—which makes their dynamic feel even more dangerous and consuming.

The chemistry between them is intense in that all-consuming dark romance way where obsession, violence, attraction, and emotional dependency all blur together.

And the emotional tension??
SO good.

Because underneath all the revenge and brutality, this is really a story about two people recognizing something broken in each other and refusing to look away.

The revenge storyline also keeps the pacing fast and brutal. Every betrayal, hidden truth, and violent reckoning pushes the story further into chaos, and I genuinely couldn’t stop reading.

✨ If you love:
• morally black MMCs
• obsessive “you’re mine” energy
• dark romance with revenge themes
• emotionally damaged characters
• dangerous chemistry and violent tension

This one is dark, addictive, chaotic, and definitely not for the faint of heart 🖤🔥

[Nicola Roche-Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒓: 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂 𝑹𝒂𝒚𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏.

“𝒜 𝑔𝒾𝓇𝓁 𝒹ℴℯ𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝒶 𝓂ℴ𝓃𝓈𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽ℯ’𝓁𝓁 𝒷ℯ𝒸ℴ𝓂ℯ 𝒶 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸ℯ. 𝒮𝒽ℯ 𝓀𝒾𝓈𝓈ℯ𝓈 𝒽𝒾𝓂 𝓀𝓃ℴ𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽ℯ 𝓌ℴ𝓃’𝓉.”

I’m still reeling from this one and honestly I don’t think I’ll recover any time soon. I’ve had to read this twice already before I could review it, I’m broken and it’s Maria Raye’s fault 🥹

Tainted Embrace may sit in the world of the Foundations Trilogy but this is very much Maksym’s story. It takes us back to where it all began and shows exactly how he became the man known as The Reaper. This is a prequel that hits hard because if you’ve read the first two books in The Foundations Trilogy, you already know what kind of world you are stepping into, although nothing really prepares you for the events in this.

Our MMC, Maksym’s life is shaped by loss from a young age. His sister Mila disappears, his mother fades under the weight of grief, and his father spirals into alcohol and violence. What follows is brutal and raw. Being thrown into the system only sharpens him further. He learns quickly that survival means fighting back, and he doesn’t just fight, he dominates. That evolution into The Reaper feels inevitable and terrifying.

He is dark, intense, ruthless and yet there is this thread of humour running through him that caught me off guard. It should not work, but it does. You find yourself drawn to him even when you know you probably shouldn’t be.

Then there is our FMC, Kira. The Pakhan’s daughter, untouchable and treated like a commodity by her own father. Maksym sees her as a spoiled princess at first, but that changes quickly. Their connection is immediate, consuming and dangerous. He calls her Malaya and from that moment on it feels like a line has been crossed. He becomes possessive, almost feral, willing to destroy anyone who even looks at her the wrong way. He believes himself to be beyond redemption but Kira sees him for who he is and wants him anyway.

Kira is not weak though. She is strong, unpredictable and completely unafraid of him. She has grown up surrounded by darkness and refuses to be controlled by it. Together they are explosive in every sense of the word.

“ℬ𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 - 𝓂𝓎 𝒽ℯ𝒶𝓇𝓉, 𝓂𝓎 𝓈ℴ𝓊𝓁, 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉ℯ𝓋ℯ𝓇 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝒻𝓊𝒸𝓀 𝒾𝓈 𝓁ℯ𝒻𝓉 ℴ𝒻 𝓂ℯ - 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝓎ℴ𝓊𝓇𝓈. ℐ’𝓁𝓁 𝒹ℴ 𝓂𝓎 𝒷ℯ𝓈𝓉 𝓉ℴ 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓇𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉. ℐ 𝓈𝓌ℯ𝒶𝓇 𝒾𝓉.”
“𝒫𝓁ℯ𝒶𝓈ℯ 𝓁ℯ𝓉 𝓂ℯ 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ 𝓎ℴ𝓊, ℳ𝒶𝓁𝒶𝓎𝒶,” 𝒽ℯ 𝓇𝒶𝓈𝓅ℯ𝒹, 𝓋ℴ𝒾𝒸ℯ 𝒸𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℯ𝒹𝑔ℯ𝓈. “ℬℯ𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈ℯ ℐ 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓈ℴ 𝒻𝓊𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂ℯ.”

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮. 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙬. 𝙄𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙨𝙮𝙢 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠, 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.

My View: What I loved most is that this isn’t just some brooding Mafia boss taking a woman and claiming her. At its heart, this is a love story, but it’s also the culmination of the events that shape Maksym into the Bratva boss he becomes. It’s the evolution of a young man, failed by everyone around him, who fights back and rises to become The Reaper.
This book is not a light or easy read. It is dark, violent, emotional, and completely consuming. Maria Raye pulls you into Maksym’s world and refuses to let you go. By the end, I felt hurt, hollowed out, and utterly exhausted, emotionally ruined, as though I had lived every moment alongside him.
Lookit, Maria warned her readers what was coming. Those of us who read her Foundations books knew exactly what was going to happen, but I was still not ready and I am absolutely not okay. This story has burned itself into my soul.

𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕. 𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕, 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑬𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒖𝒏𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚, 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒙𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆.

[Beth Von Voigt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tainted Embrace covers the beginning of Maksym’s rise in the criminal underworld of the Ukraine. After his sister disappeared when they were children, his family never recovered and survival of the fittest took over for Maksym. That lead him to the unforgiving nature of becoming “The Reaper”. Nothing - no one and no job, no mater how violent, got to him. That is until he met Kira. Daughter of a powerful criminal leader, Kira is a pure and coveted fixture. She should be repulsed by the things that Maksym does, but instead, that attracts her more.

This book will absolutely wreck you. If this is your first book by this author, please pay close attention to the trigger warnings listed at the beginning of the book. This book is so beyond descriptive and seems so real. It is not for those looking for a cute and cuddly read to curl up with. It’s every bit dark, erotic, dangerous, and violent. You are completely immersed in Maksym’s criminal world and the chaos it brings. I felt like my heart was ripped out and stomped on. My saving grace was having read the other books by the author and knowing that this is a prequel of sorts to those. Any author that can pull the raw emotion that this book gives, is an easy five stars in my eyes. The spice level is through the roof and you definitely will never be bored with the action in this story. I can’t wait to read the last book in the Foundations trilogy! *A special thanks to the author for an advance copy of the book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Josie's kindle era · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I want to make clear you can 100% read this as a standalone book, however i strongly recommend you read Foundations of guilt and Foundations of vengeance one because they are brilliant two because it just makes the story that bit better in my opinion.

5⭐️ and beyond

I absolutely loved this book it think I felt every emotion going! Maria took out my heart crumbled it put it back together only to take it again and stamp on it.

The story follows Maksym and Kira, Maksym suffered alot as a child and that has made him who he is today dark and dangerous! He goes to work for Pakhan doing all his dirty work and soon enough, he becomes his right hand man. Now this is where it gets messy he discovers pakhan is the reason for his sister's disappearance and the reason for all his childhood trauma and he sets out for revenge but whilst doing so he also falls for pakhan's daughter Kira. Will she become part of his revenge plan or will she work with him to help destroy her father? Does Maksym finally get some love and a happy ending or do his demons destroy him.I'll give you a clue that the ending absolutely broke my heart! I finished the book and I could not sleep afterwards thinking about it!

I love Maksym he's a monster in a Knight in shining armour uniform.
I also love Kira she is feisty but her mouth gets her in trouble.

It's spicy 🌶🌶
It's touch her and die
It's heartbreaking
It's forbidden romance
It's revenge
This book is going to stay with me for a long time! Maria you are fabulous i can't wait for the final book in the trilogy!

[Kim Wallmuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel to Foundation of Guilt and Foundation of Vengeance. To fully understand the story I'd recommend reading them first.

Maria Raye draws you in and doesn't let you go.

This is the story of Maksym and Kira and is based in Ukraine. Maksym has had a rough childhood after his little sister vanishes. His family fell apart and he ends up in an orphanage. He learns to survive and earns his reputation as an assassin, which gets him a meeting with the Pakhan where he meets Kira.

Kira is the spoiled but sheltered daughter of a wealthy business man who happens to be the Pakhan. Kira is fascinated by Maksym. Maksym does a couple jobs for Kira's father while uncovering information that seems important so he hangs onto it. Kira keeps trying to get Maksym's attention by acting out until she pushes him to far and he has to rescue her. Then she starts getting under his skin and he finds out the Pakhan's secret. That's when Maksym starts planning his revenge and his feelings for Kira grow.

Let me tell you that the ending of Tainted Embrace will break your heart but explains so much of why Maksym is the way he is in Foundation of Vengeance.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be an ARC reader. I've loved every one of the books in this series and they put you through the emotional wringer. I can't wait to read the next book.