Claiming Sabine - Part One - A Tale of Fate, Redemption, Trust & Sanctuary

by Penny Mappoura-Salmon

Claiming Sabine – Part One
The explosive beginning to the two-book finale of The Dark Series.

Sabine Hart thought she had found her happy ever after.
From the outside, her life is perfect - engaged to powerful architect Nathanial Hale, living behind glass walls and curated smiles. But perfection is just another kind of prison, and beneath the luxury lies control, fear, and a slow erosion of the woman she used to be. The girl once known as Riot is fading, piece by piece.

Across the city, darkness is gathering.
Mark Devereaux and the men of Dark are fighting a war on two fronts - against the Syndicate hunting them from the shadows, and against the secrets threatening to tear their family apart.
When evidence surfaces that Lara is alive after six months missing, hope turns deadly. She’s no longer the woman Derek Carter lost. She’s been weaponized once again...and sent back with one mission: ...Kill Derek Carter.

As old ghosts resurface and dangerous obsessions ignite, Sabine’s carefully controlled world begins to crack. Because some cages are built with fear. Others are built with love. And when the darkness finally comes for her, it won’t ask permission.
In this emotionally charged first half of the epic finale, loyalties will fracture, secrets will burn, and the line between sanctuary and possession will disappear completely.

Paperback

Published June 28, 2026

About the author

Penny Mappoura-Salmon is an international dark romance author known for writing emotionally intense, addictive stories filled with morally grey men, dangerous devotion, trauma-to-healing romance, and obsession that borders on ruin.

Her bestselling Dark Series blends dark romance, suspense, found family, emotional healing, and possessive antiheroes readers can’t stop thinking about.

Known for emotionally charged relationships, cinematic tension, and fiercely loyal characters, Penny creates stories that explore darkness, survival, love, and the people willing to burn the world down for each other.

When she isn’t writing emotionally devastating fictional men, she can usually be found planning her next special edition obsession, attending signing events, or building the world of DARK one morally questionable man at a time. 🖤

Reviews

[Lydia Thew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Penny does it again! Plenty of twists and turns, this first book in this two parter is no different. Carries the stories of the other couples on too which I love. Going straight onto the next one now, I need to know what happens!

[Becks O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format: ARC

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I loved every character but one and I can't wait for the retribution to kick in.

The story follows Sebine and Marks story. Collage sweethearts ripped apart by her parents but 14 years later Sabine walks into Marks club and he vows never to loose her again.

💘 Tropes

-  Second Chance 
-  Found Family 
-  Touch her and Die 
-  Survivor Heroine

💖 What I loved:  

-  The intwining of other characters from previous books and follow on in their story but didn't feel like a afterthought. 

- Love having someone to hate.

- Protective but supportive MMC 

- The obsession these men have with their Women, no woman should settle for less. 

- The stong women who blossom and discover themselves. 

- The founds family aspect is amazing and I love the banter. 


💬 Favourite Romantic Moment:  

“I've loved you every single day since you left,” I say, stepping closer to her. “I watched you for two years because I couldn't let you go. And then I stopped watching because it hurt too much. But I never stopped loving you. Not once.”


🎯 Perfect For Readers Who:  

Love their MMC's morally grey, their FMC's strong and need someone to hate in the story. 


🌹 Final Thoughts: 

Like the rest of this series, I could not put this book down. Penny does a brilliant job at tackling really difficult subjects and trauma throughout the book and does it with sensitivity. I love how even though the men in her books themselves are morally grey they support their woman to become strong badass women and recover from their trauma. It's not because of the men, it with their support and they put their needs second and worship the ground the FMC walk on. No woman should ever settle for less. 

I highlighted so many quotes within this book because the words were beautiful and even those that were obsessive they had me swooning and kicking my feet. I loved the banter between all of the characters which added debth to the found family aspect of the story and the antics had me laughing out loud. 

While the story focuses on Mark and Sabine I love how stories from the previous books entwine with it so you can keep following the characters lives you got so invested in from previous books. 


Overall I loved the book. I'm so grateful I got to read the ARC and can't wait to get into part 2. 


Release date 27th June 2026

[Cat.thebookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claiming Sabine Part One — I have been absolutely dying to get my hands on this book, and I was lucky enough to receive an eARC.

This is Mark’s story — the man I’ve been desperate to know more about. Throughout the series, he’s been the quiet observer, and that mystery really drew me to him. In this book, we finally get to know him on a deeper level. He has waited 14 years for Sabine, so you just knew this was going to be an incredible love story.

I’ve been Team Mark from the very beginning, and this book only solidified that for me. The respect and patience he showed towards Sabine was just WOW. He found it hard to resist her, but he still did, and that restraint made me love him even more. I also loved the way he planned to get revenge — it felt so perfectly Mark. But then that ending? I was like YESSSS, come on Mark, go get your woman back! I am fully here for this other side of him. Total “touch her and die” energy.

My favourite scene in the book was the sparring between Aria and Derek (my other man). It was perfectly written and had some humour mixed in too. I don’t want to say too much, but Penny seriously knows how to write badass FMCs.

The only thing I personally wanted a little more of was the plan to get Lara the help she needed. I loved Lara’s character in book 3, so I would have liked to see a bit more of that storyline explored, it was touched upon but I just wanted more. That said, I also understand this was Mark and Sabine’s time to shine.

Overall, I love Penny’s writing. She handles tough subjects delicately and creates dark romances that are not just about spice, but also have genuinely compelling storylines. If you love dark romance with depth, emotion, and strong characters, then this series is definitely for you.

[Gemma Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance read from author

Claiming Sabine
Part 1 and 2

I have been so lucky to be an ARC for the finale of The Dark Series and boy these did not disappoint.

Part 1 was intense and overwhelming seeing how Mark finally got his girl. From being the observer to the man where all eyes were finally on him.

Marks and Sabine's love had always been there they just needed a way to rekindle and find their way back to each other and when their paths cross boy are there fireworks and don't they explode.

Derek (my fave/my man) i've laughed with you and cried with you throughout your story and to anyone who reads and connects with these men will feel so proud of Derek and how far he has come on his journey throughout all the love laugher and heartbreak and he life and will not be disappointed.

Part 2 literally broke me in more ways than one without giving anything away I saw a roller coaster of emotions I felt the highs and happiness and low and sadness and definitely the tears everyone shared along the way and even the sexiness.

This group are not any ordinary group they are they are bonded not by blood but something a lot stronger. They are brothers united. They are couples. They are friends but most importantly they are family.

Penny you are an amazing writing you catch every detail perfectly. I literally feel like I know these people that I see them every day thats how much your writing connects to people.

I feel sad that I've come to the end but so happy and heartfelt that I have experienced this dark romance series. 🖤 I cannot recommend this series enough its not for the faint hearted. It's powerful and you certainly wont be able to put the book down until you've reached the end.

Thank you again Penny 💓  xx

[Charlie Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky ARC girlie 🖤

After how breaking Lara ended I have LIVED for claiming Sabine’s release!!! So much so I have hassled Penny!!

Part one was everything I needed it to be! Finally back together with all the characters and finally seeing Mark get his moment. Mark has been a quiet character throughout the dark series but in part one we really get to understand the type of man he is, he waited FOURTEEN YEARS for Sabine!!!! So their love story had to be great!! And it was. Mark saved her, Mark was always going to save her but I was still screaming for Mark to save her!!! And out of all our lovable men, I love Mark the most, the respect and patience he showed Sabine and gave her back her control, was the most empowering 🖤 Mark is just the man, the knowledge, has been there for everyone throughout and once he found his woman again he was never going to lose her again and I was living for it, but so was everyone else!! As the percentage grew closer to 100% I KNEW the ending was going to throw us into chaos and it didn’t disappoint, so much so part two was picked up immediately!!!

All in all I just love Penny’s writing, how she delicately handles tough subjects and gives them the space they deserve. I also love how yes it’s a dark romance and we LOVE spice, but the storyline really matters, the tough topics matter and the dark series is everything 🖤

[Angel Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe how amazing this book is. In two years of reading properly, I think I've finally found my favourite book.

The suspense. The emotions. The love. The ending, omg the ending 😲.

I've loved every second of this book, seeing the growth of not only Sabine, but also Mark and Derek. Seeing the growth of Elaina and Jake as they embark on their new journey. The love and support of their found family is so perfect.

The slow burn was perfection, and the moment they finally collided was everything I needed.

This book blew my expectations out of the park, I'm gobsmacked at how amazing it is 😭🤩🤯

Penny, you've blown me away once again 💥🖤

[Leanne Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Arc Review✨

I always knew I was going to love this book.
Sabine and marks story is one of strength, love and power.
Reclaiming yourself after trauma and showing you can be loved and love fiercely regardless of your past.

The story follows mark and Sabine but also wraps up Derek and Lara’s book.
I cried, I laughed, I got angry and every other emotion in between.

Marks a dark horse and seeing him loose grip on his usual cool calm demeanour made him one hell of a character.
Sabine is an absolute warrior in her own right and the trauma she over comes and how she grows into herself is empowering.
I was so glad I had part two to go straight into!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW 🤩

So this book is the next instalment of The Dark Series and is a 2-parter 😝

We were all left on tenterhooks in Breaking Lara with the way it ended, well, although this book is Mark and ‘his one true love’ story, we will also see the others in this first book.

Will Lara ever be found?
Will she ever accomplish what’s expected?

Will Mark ever get to see his one and only?
Will he do what he can to get his revenge?

This is such a FANTASTIC read, these men are what men are meant to be like….loyal, loving and so yummy 😋😜

This is an AMAZING first part and now I’m onto part 2 🙌🙌🙌

[Kitty 💋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As usual from Penny, the finale of The Dark Series is phenomenal!

While this story mainly focuses on Sabine and Mark, the relationships with the previous couples intertwine and that aspect of this series is my favourite.
Overall I loved part one of this final book in the series and cannot wait to dive into part 2.. but on the other hand.. I’m not ready to end this series yet 😭
Sabine and Mark were college sweethearts torn apart, but 14 years later they find each other again when Sabine walks into Dark nightclub and Mark vows never to lose her again. Their second chance at love made my heart hurt 🥰

“You were always mine, Sabine. Even when I wasn’t watching. Even when i tried to move on. You were always mine.”

I could not put this book down - even though i did not want this series to end!
Penny does a marvellous job of tackling sensitive and traumatic subjects with care.
I adore how well Penny has written the men in her books, they are strong and may have morally grey aspects (that’s what were here for!) but they also support and protect the women they love and over the course of the series these ladies learn to overcome their traumas and become fierce, strong and badass!

I highlighted so many parts of this read because Penny has a beautiful way of writing these characters. Their friendship growth and banter had me laughing and crying! I loved the intertwining of the characters from the previous books and the found family aspect, we know from this series, is still present. The story flows from the previous books effortlessly.

As always Penny, thank you for allowing me to ARC read this and be part of your amazing team 🫶🏻
I adore you so much 🖤

[Brooke Easton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claiming Sabine part 1 review

So for all of you who have read the first 3 that this is marks story the quiet geeeky one who hides in the shadows, well when he finally gets Sabine in his arms he’s no longer quiet!!!!

Sabine goes through so much in this first half of the story and oh my goodness did it have me on the edge of my chair

I don’t think I’ve said are you ******* kidding me so much in my life

Penny you did a fantastic job 😘

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. Continuing from Breaking Lara I was desperate to know what happened next and this did not disappoint. Chapter 15 broke me the inner struggle and heart over head battle was written beautifully. Mark always quiet and watching, seeing the other more in depth side to him has been absolutely incredible. Sabine my heart broke for but she’s coming into her own and taking back control. And that ending 🤯 on to part 2 😍😍

[Kelly Martini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing.
It had me crying and and laughing. Although this is probably the lightest of the four it has its moments and is setting up for a true dark ending that I hope fits the rest of the story.
Watching the charictors fall apart and lose themseves when they are normally in compleate control has been a fun ride with a lot of development into some you don't really see before but know is always there.

[Laura Cowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book picks back up 6 months after the end of Breaking Lara and oh the first half is heartbreaking. We learn more about Derek and Lara but also get to see inside Mark's mind and learn about Sabine and her life. This was written so well and I loved how you can feel the story building for the big finale, it's a long one but every page was necessary.

[Deani Inkdrinker8962 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Sabine and Mark's story (part 1). A second chance, found family epic love story.
When they see each other again after 14 years apart, Mark and Sabine feel the pull and chemistry as if no time has past. However, Sabine is engaged to someone else now.
Sabine has lost herself, her strength and identity over the years due to an abusive relationship. Her growth to reclaim herself comes from the help of Mark and his found family.
We also find out more of Lara and Derek in this book.
The Dark Series is just that, dark. So please read trigger warnings if you have any.
Now if you excuse me, I will be jumping straight into part 2, because I NEED to know how this all plays out! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥