What do you think?
Rate this book
Arrow: A Dark Dynasty Romance
They call me the Executioner of the Underworld.
Prince of the streets.
Heir to blood, fear, and control.
Arrow Romanov doesn’t negotiate—I take—empires, allegiances, and anything foolish enough to stand in my way.
I built my empire on burned enemies and broken kings, and beneath the city, I rule a criminal dynasty where power is law, love is leverage, and mercy is a death sentence.
Power built me.
Violence crowned me.
Blood kept me breathing.
Then there’s her.
Giovanni Virelli’s daughter.
A spoiled princess of the underworld with fire in her veins and rebellion in her bones. All sharp tongue, wild defiance, and dangerous beauty.
Now she’s my obsession.
My war.
The only thing I’ve ever wanted more than power.
Her family built an empire.
I was born to burn it down.
Cities bleed as our worlds collide.
Crowns fall as I rise.
But the Underworld doesn’t forgive love.
And in my world, possession is written in blood.
Even kings fall when obsession becomes their crown.
Prince of the streets.
Heir to blood, fear, and control.
Arrow Romanov doesn’t negotiate—I take—empires, allegiances, and anything foolish enough to stand in my way.
I built my empire on burned enemies and broken kings, and beneath the city, I rule a criminal dynasty where power is law, love is leverage, and mercy is a death sentence.
Power built me.
Violence crowned me.
Blood kept me breathing.
Then there’s her.
Giovanni Virelli’s daughter.
A spoiled princess of the underworld with fire in her veins and rebellion in her bones. All sharp tongue, wild defiance, and dangerous beauty.
Now she’s my obsession.
My war.
The only thing I’ve ever wanted more than power.
Her family built an empire.
I was born to burn it down.
Cities bleed as our worlds collide.
Crowns fall as I rise.
But the Underworld doesn’t forgive love.
And in my world, possession is written in blood.
Even kings fall when obsession becomes their crown.
703 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2026
About the author
E.L. Emkey
10 books187 followersE. L. Emkey is a mama, wife, and gypsy soul. Her love of reading started when she was only three years old. As she got older, she started sneaking her mom's Harlequin romance novels about Scottish Highlanders and sexy cowboys. Her joy of being a writer is creating characters her readers can relate to and worlds they can disappear in, even for a short while. She loves raising her children and feeding her chickens; her family is her life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
August 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨|🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Arrow Romanov is exactly the kind of unhinged MMC I want in a dark romance. Possessive, obsessive and completely self-aware about who he is. There was no pretending to be the good guy or hiding what he wanted, and I loved the honesty of his character.
But Harlowe absolutely held her own against him. She was beautiful, raw, emotional and incredibly strong. She wasn’t just there to be consumed by Arrow’s obsession; she had enough fire and depth to make their dynamic work. Their relationship starts firmly in the toxic-but-hot category 😂, but watching it gradually become something real was one of my favourite parts of the book.
And the spice?
Genuinely GOOD. Creative, hot and memorable without feeling like the same scenes were being recycled. And the scene with Harley? IYKYK. Chef’s kiss. 🤌🔥
The world-building and plot are incredibly thorough, although the first quarter dragged a little for me. I would’ve preferred a punchier beginning, particularly because SO MUCH happens in the final 100 pages. Once everything started moving, though, I was completely invested.
It’s definitely dark, but I wouldn’t call it pitch black. There’s plenty of violence, obsession, toxicity and underworld chaos, balanced with enough emotion and relationship development that the romance still feels central.
The ending wrapped everything up really well while leaving the wider Dark Dynasty world open through the interconnected standalones.
And apparently my immediate response to finishing Arrow is now:
Where is Atlas’s book? Because I need to go backwards and read it immediately. 😂
Arrow Romanov is exactly the kind of unhinged MMC I want in a dark romance. Possessive, obsessive and completely self-aware about who he is. There was no pretending to be the good guy or hiding what he wanted, and I loved the honesty of his character.
But Harlowe absolutely held her own against him. She was beautiful, raw, emotional and incredibly strong. She wasn’t just there to be consumed by Arrow’s obsession; she had enough fire and depth to make their dynamic work. Their relationship starts firmly in the toxic-but-hot category 😂, but watching it gradually become something real was one of my favourite parts of the book.
And the spice?
Genuinely GOOD. Creative, hot and memorable without feeling like the same scenes were being recycled. And the scene with Harley? IYKYK. Chef’s kiss. 🤌🔥
The world-building and plot are incredibly thorough, although the first quarter dragged a little for me. I would’ve preferred a punchier beginning, particularly because SO MUCH happens in the final 100 pages. Once everything started moving, though, I was completely invested.
It’s definitely dark, but I wouldn’t call it pitch black. There’s plenty of violence, obsession, toxicity and underworld chaos, balanced with enough emotion and relationship development that the romance still feels central.
The ending wrapped everything up really well while leaving the wider Dark Dynasty world open through the interconnected standalones.
And apparently my immediate response to finishing Arrow is now:
Where is Atlas’s book? Because I need to go backwards and read it immediately. 😂
August 14, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. Wow oh Wow!! This was absolutely phenomenal!! The world building and character build up was spot on!! This is a dark mafia romance with an obsessive toxic chaos! The banter and chemistry between Arrow and Harlow was phenomenal!! You can feel all the emotions in this story!! I definitely need to read Atlas’s story now!! Chefs kiss E.L.!!
“They call me the Executioner of the underworld.
Prince of the streets.
Heir to blood, fear, and control.
Arrow Romanov doesn’t negotiate.
I take—empires, allegiances, anything foolish enough to stand in my way.
I built my empire on burned enemies and broken kings, and beneath the city, I rule a criminal dynasty where power is law, love is leverage, and mercy is a death sentence.
Power built me.
Violence crowned me.
Blood kept me breathing.
Then there’s her.
Giovanni Virelli’s daughter.
A spoiled princess of the underworld with fire in her veins and rebellion in her bones.
All sharp tongue, wild defiance, and dangerous beauty.
Now she’s my obsession.
My war.
The only thing I’ve ever wanted more than power.
Her family built an empire.
I was born to burn it down.
Cities bleed as our worlds collide.
Crowns fall as I rise.
But the Underworld doesn’t forgive love.
And in my world, possession is written in blood.
Even kings fall when obsession becomes their crown.”
“They call me the Executioner of the underworld.
Prince of the streets.
Heir to blood, fear, and control.
Arrow Romanov doesn’t negotiate.
I take—empires, allegiances, anything foolish enough to stand in my way.
I built my empire on burned enemies and broken kings, and beneath the city, I rule a criminal dynasty where power is law, love is leverage, and mercy is a death sentence.
Power built me.
Violence crowned me.
Blood kept me breathing.
Then there’s her.
Giovanni Virelli’s daughter.
A spoiled princess of the underworld with fire in her veins and rebellion in her bones.
All sharp tongue, wild defiance, and dangerous beauty.
Now she’s my obsession.
My war.
The only thing I’ve ever wanted more than power.
Her family built an empire.
I was born to burn it down.
Cities bleed as our worlds collide.
Crowns fall as I rise.
But the Underworld doesn’t forgive love.
And in my world, possession is written in blood.
Even kings fall when obsession becomes their crown.”
August 17, 2026
6 ⭐️ PSA: A DARK MAFIA ROMANCE MUST READ
🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚
Thank you to the author and her team for giving me the opportunity to read this book as an eARC.
I immediately ordered a signed copy from the author upon finishing the book, because it is so freaking good that I NEEDED the shelf trophy. I also made my boyfriend listen to me gush about how obsessed I am with this book, which I rarely do to him. 😂 I only do it if they are so good that I have to talk to someone about it!!
This was my first E.L. Emkey book and she blew my mind. I now want to go and read everything on her backlog. This is the best dark mafia romance I have ever read. I have read mafia from other authors like LJ Shen and stuff before. Let me tell you, those books don’t hold a candle to ARROW. It seriously is so addictive, hot and such a fun read. I loved it!! It is pretty long, but I was entertained the entire time. There really was never a dull moment.
The plot and the spice are immaculate. One of the hottest books I have ever read!! I’m obsessed with these characters so much. I really fell in love with Harlowe and Arrow and felt so invested in their relationship the entire book. The tension and build up to the “F it.” moment is sooooo good. Oh, and the “F it.” moment coming from the FMC is a switch up and I thought it was so genius.
Once I started this book, it was so freaking hard to put it down. I stayed up wayyyy too late last night reading it, but I was hooked and I needed to finish it. The ending of the book was intense and then ended with the best HEA ending a reader could even ask for.
I highlighted more in this book than I do in most of the books that I read. I was so into the entire time that so many quotes just hit so hard! Here are some of my favorite quotes!!
“I’m going to marry you,” I said, not a threat, not even a question. She closed her eyes, lashes twitching, soaking in the sentence. “Yeah,” she said after a second. “I guess that’s still the plan.” “Not because they want it. Not because I need Virelli muscle under my thumb.” I let my hand slip down, tracing her ribs, counting the scars. “Because I want to keep you exactly like this. Marked. Feral. Under me and over me, every fucking morning.” She smirked, but it wasn’t unkind. “Consider this my enthusiastic RSVP.”
“I will burn down half this city to keep you safe, Harlowe. Even from yourself.”
“You’re wearing my initial around your neck, but I’m the one who can’t walk away.” His eyes held mine, something raw and unfamiliar flickering behind them. “You’ve branded me just as thoroughly as I’ve marked you.”
“Now, I can’t breathe without you, and the part that scares me most is that I don’t want to.”
“I’ve never had a choice before,” I whispered against his mouth. “My entire life has been decided by others—my father, your family, this war. But this...” I cupped his face in my hands, studying the darkness in his eyes that matched my own. “This is my choice.” Arrow’s grip tightened, his eyes blazing with something fierce and possessive. “Say it again.”. “I choose you, Arrow Romanov,” I said, the words feeling like both surrender and victory. “I choose us.”
“You’re breathtaking. You look like something from a dream,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. “A good dream or a nightmare?” I whispered back. His smile was slow and dangerous. “The kind you never want to wake up from.”
“You were everything I never knew I needed.”
💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚
🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚
Thank you to the author and her team for giving me the opportunity to read this book as an eARC.
I immediately ordered a signed copy from the author upon finishing the book, because it is so freaking good that I NEEDED the shelf trophy. I also made my boyfriend listen to me gush about how obsessed I am with this book, which I rarely do to him. 😂 I only do it if they are so good that I have to talk to someone about it!!
This was my first E.L. Emkey book and she blew my mind. I now want to go and read everything on her backlog. This is the best dark mafia romance I have ever read. I have read mafia from other authors like LJ Shen and stuff before. Let me tell you, those books don’t hold a candle to ARROW. It seriously is so addictive, hot and such a fun read. I loved it!! It is pretty long, but I was entertained the entire time. There really was never a dull moment.
The plot and the spice are immaculate. One of the hottest books I have ever read!! I’m obsessed with these characters so much. I really fell in love with Harlowe and Arrow and felt so invested in their relationship the entire book. The tension and build up to the “F it.” moment is sooooo good. Oh, and the “F it.” moment coming from the FMC is a switch up and I thought it was so genius.
Once I started this book, it was so freaking hard to put it down. I stayed up wayyyy too late last night reading it, but I was hooked and I needed to finish it. The ending of the book was intense and then ended with the best HEA ending a reader could even ask for.
I highlighted more in this book than I do in most of the books that I read. I was so into the entire time that so many quotes just hit so hard! Here are some of my favorite quotes!!
“I’m going to marry you,” I said, not a threat, not even a question. She closed her eyes, lashes twitching, soaking in the sentence. “Yeah,” she said after a second. “I guess that’s still the plan.” “Not because they want it. Not because I need Virelli muscle under my thumb.” I let my hand slip down, tracing her ribs, counting the scars. “Because I want to keep you exactly like this. Marked. Feral. Under me and over me, every fucking morning.” She smirked, but it wasn’t unkind. “Consider this my enthusiastic RSVP.”
“I will burn down half this city to keep you safe, Harlowe. Even from yourself.”
“You’re wearing my initial around your neck, but I’m the one who can’t walk away.” His eyes held mine, something raw and unfamiliar flickering behind them. “You’ve branded me just as thoroughly as I’ve marked you.”
“Now, I can’t breathe without you, and the part that scares me most is that I don’t want to.”
“I’ve never had a choice before,” I whispered against his mouth. “My entire life has been decided by others—my father, your family, this war. But this...” I cupped his face in my hands, studying the darkness in his eyes that matched my own. “This is my choice.” Arrow’s grip tightened, his eyes blazing with something fierce and possessive. “Say it again.”. “I choose you, Arrow Romanov,” I said, the words feeling like both surrender and victory. “I choose us.”
“You’re breathtaking. You look like something from a dream,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. “A good dream or a nightmare?” I whispered back. His smile was slow and dangerous. “The kind you never want to wake up from.”
“You were everything I never knew I needed.”
💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤💚
August 14, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‼️‼️Spoilers‼️‼️
I don’t know where to start on this book. I don’t want to give away too much of the story. It was a great book. It was jaw dropping at times and a very dark romance.
If you like dark romance, you NEED to read this book. It will not disappoint!!! It was a longer book, but it held my interest the whole way through.
It is a true touch her and die, while also being a touch him and die book. You have your morally gray MMC and FMC. Arrow and Harlowe are an enemies to lovers and a forbidden romance. They weren’t meant to fall in love. They’re meant to be a contract marriage between two feuding mafia families. They were both expected to gain the upper hand for their family, but instead they found true love. Harlowe is a wild horse that is refusing to be tamed. She matches Arrows crazy, which makes him love her more. She loves his ability to tame her rebelliousness. She gives him one hell of a fight along the way. They have a lot of family trauma to overcome. Harlowe grew up with an unloving abusive father. Her father sells her to get the upper hand on his rival mafia family. His mistake was he didn’t include Harlowe in his plans. By the time he told her his true intentions, she had already fallen in love with Arrow. Arrow lied to his family saying he would kill Harlowe once they got everything they needed from them being married. He never intended on killing her, but he also never thought he would fall in love with her. They both chose love over their dysfunctional families.
I would give this a 4/5 on spiciness. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
You should read the trigger warnings before reading this book. It does mention suicide.
The tropes:
Touch her and die
Touch him and die
He falls first
Enemies to lovers
Hate to love you
Contract marriage
Forbidden love
Forced Proximity
Found family
Morally Gray MMC
Morally Gray FMC
Mafia romance
Sex Club
BDSM
Non-con
Dub-con
‼️‼️Spoilers‼️‼️
I don’t know where to start on this book. I don’t want to give away too much of the story. It was a great book. It was jaw dropping at times and a very dark romance.
If you like dark romance, you NEED to read this book. It will not disappoint!!! It was a longer book, but it held my interest the whole way through.
It is a true touch her and die, while also being a touch him and die book. You have your morally gray MMC and FMC. Arrow and Harlowe are an enemies to lovers and a forbidden romance. They weren’t meant to fall in love. They’re meant to be a contract marriage between two feuding mafia families. They were both expected to gain the upper hand for their family, but instead they found true love. Harlowe is a wild horse that is refusing to be tamed. She matches Arrows crazy, which makes him love her more. She loves his ability to tame her rebelliousness. She gives him one hell of a fight along the way. They have a lot of family trauma to overcome. Harlowe grew up with an unloving abusive father. Her father sells her to get the upper hand on his rival mafia family. His mistake was he didn’t include Harlowe in his plans. By the time he told her his true intentions, she had already fallen in love with Arrow. Arrow lied to his family saying he would kill Harlowe once they got everything they needed from them being married. He never intended on killing her, but he also never thought he would fall in love with her. They both chose love over their dysfunctional families.
I would give this a 4/5 on spiciness. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
You should read the trigger warnings before reading this book. It does mention suicide.
The tropes:
Touch her and die
Touch him and die
He falls first
Enemies to lovers
Hate to love you
Contract marriage
Forbidden love
Forced Proximity
Found family
Morally Gray MMC
Morally Gray FMC
Mafia romance
Sex Club
BDSM
Non-con
Dub-con
September 8, 2026
I LOVED this book! A true enemies-to-lovers romance, and honestly, Harlowe is the kind of woman I want to be. 😂 She gives zero fucks, knows exactly what she deserves, and will fight like hell to get it. 👏🔥
And Arrow… 🥵 I picture him looking like Michele Morrone in 365 Days, and honestly, this entire book gave me that same dark, intense, dangerously addictive vibe. 🫠
Their relationship had everything—the hate, the lust, the yearning, the obsession, and that desperate need to find in each other the things they’ve both been craving. I was HERE FOR ALL OF IT. 😮💨🔥
Then Chapter 49 happened… 😭 This is only the second book in my entire life that has made me cry. I was SO angry, stressed, and emotionally wrecked… and then everything was okay again. 😭😂
Thank you, E.L. Emkey, for that emotional heart attack. 😂❤️
Now I’m off to read her other book because I NEED more Atlas and Luna, and I’m also really hoping we get to see more of Orion! 👀
And Arrow… 🥵 I picture him looking like Michele Morrone in 365 Days, and honestly, this entire book gave me that same dark, intense, dangerously addictive vibe. 🫠
Their relationship had everything—the hate, the lust, the yearning, the obsession, and that desperate need to find in each other the things they’ve both been craving. I was HERE FOR ALL OF IT. 😮💨🔥
Then Chapter 49 happened… 😭 This is only the second book in my entire life that has made me cry. I was SO angry, stressed, and emotionally wrecked… and then everything was okay again. 😭😂
Thank you, E.L. Emkey, for that emotional heart attack. 😂❤️
Now I’m off to read her other book because I NEED more Atlas and Luna, and I’m also really hoping we get to see more of Orion! 👀
Review of advance copy received from Author
I swear E. L. Emkey’s books just keep getting better and I love that she writes what she loves rather than trying to fit into a mold.
Arrow is a HOT one! Harlowe is feisty and full of pure feminine rage (rightfully so) and Arrow is this dominant boss man who just knows how to get to her while also being somewhat of a safe space for her. He enjoys her bite and she in turn enjoys that he toys with her a bit. Their chemistry is just perfect. There is banter, action, revenge, and the spice is spicing! What more could you ask for?!!
I am loving this interconnected stand alone series so far and Arrow is definitely a front runner for MMCs!
Arrow is a HOT one! Harlowe is feisty and full of pure feminine rage (rightfully so) and Arrow is this dominant boss man who just knows how to get to her while also being somewhat of a safe space for her. He enjoys her bite and she in turn enjoys that he toys with her a bit. Their chemistry is just perfect. There is banter, action, revenge, and the spice is spicing! What more could you ask for?!!
I am loving this interconnected stand alone series so far and Arrow is definitely a front runner for MMCs!
August 23, 2026
"𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚, 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛."
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
YOU GUYS.
DARK. MAFIA. ROMANCE.
Do I even need to continue?! 😩🖤🔪
You already KNOW mafia romance is one of my absolute weaknesses. I LIVE for this sh*t. Give me the criminal empires. Give me the rival families. Give me the morally questionable men in expensive suits. Give me the possessiveness, obsession, violence and the whole “touch her and I’ll end your entire bloodline” energy.
NOW MAKE IT DARK?!
I’M HOME. 🧎🏻♀️😂🖤
And Arrow by E.L. Emkey gave me exactly the kind of chaos I came for.
I’m already a huge fan of E.L. Emkey, so she didn’t exactly have to convince me to pick this one up. But then I saw mafia romance + enemies to lovers + contract marriage + forced proximity + morally gray BOTH OF THEM and basically said…
Okay.
Take my money. 😂
Arrow Romanov.
Also known as the Executioner of the Underworld.
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
Sir.
That’s quite the LinkedIn bio. 😭😂
This man doesn’t negotiate.
He TAKES.
He’s built an entire criminal empire on violence, fear and control. Mercy apparently isn’t included in his vocabulary, and love?
Love is leverage.
Until Giovanni Virelli’s daughter walks into his life.
And suddenly this terrifying, powerful mafia man has something far more dangerous than an enemy…
An obsession. 👀
And you guys KNOW.
YOU. KNOW.
There are very few things I love more than watching an extremely powerful, morally bankrupt man become absolutely f*cking UNHINGED over one woman. 😩🧎🏻♀️
Especially when that woman isn’t some innocent little flower who’s terrified of him.
NOPE.
Our girl has her OWN collection of red flags. 😂👏🏻
She’s a spoiled mafia princess with a sharp tongue, rebellion running through her veins and absolutely no intention of quietly obeying Arrow Romanov.
Morally gray MMC + morally gray FMC???
THANK YOU.
Because sometimes I don’t want her to fix him.
Sometimes I want her to look at all his questionable decisions and say…
“Move over. You’re doing it wrong.” 😂🔪
Their entire relationship is basically “I hate you, I want you, I might kill you, but if anyone ELSE touches you they’re dead.”
Which is apparently my love language.
Should probably unpack that.
Won’t. 😂🧎🏻♀️
And then we have the contract marriage.
YESSSSSS.
There is just something about two people being forced into a marriage while actively trying to convince themselves they can’t stand each other…
Meanwhile every single person reading is sitting there like:
👁️👄👁️
Sure, Jan.
The forced proximity just makes everything WORSE in the best possible way because now these two obsessive psychopaths can’t escape each other.
The hatred starts blurring.
The tension builds.
Possession starts looking suspiciously like love.
And Arrow falls FIRST.
😩😩😩
HE. FALLS. FIRST.
There is something deeply satisfying about a man who has conquered entire criminal empires suddenly realizing he’s completely f*cked because one woman has gotten under his skin.
All that power.
All that control.
All that “I don’t need anyone.”
And then SHE exists.
😂🧎🏻♀️
But what REALLY worked for me was that the possessiveness goes BOTH ways.
Touch her and die.
Okay Arrow. Expected.
Touch HIM and die.
OH?!
👀👀👀
BABY GIRL, COME SIT NEXT TO ME. 😂👏🏻
Because YES. If we’re going to be toxic, obsessive and possessive…
EQUALITY. 💅🏻😂
And listen…this book is DARK.
We’re talking mafia violence, morally gray characters, a sex club, BDSM elements, non-con and dub-con.
So as always with books like this: CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS. 🖤
This is not the mafia romance to pick up if you’re looking for a sweet man who communicates his feelings over brunch.
Arrow communicates his feelings more along the lines of…
“Who hurt you? Give me a name.” 🔪
And unfortunately that works for me. 😂
Was this quite a 5-star, bury-me-with-this-book experience?
Not completely.
There were moments where I wanted MORE. More emotional depth in certain places, more time sitting inside some of the relationship development and just a little more of that soul-shattering angst that pushes a dark romance into my 5-star territory.
Because apparently simply threatening people’s lives isn’t enough for me anymore.
I need emotional devastation too. 😭😂
But a 4-star dark mafia romance from an author I already love?
I absolutely ate it up.
If you like dark mafia romance, enemies-to-lovers, contract marriage, forbidden love, forced proximity, found family, he-falls-first, morally gray MMCs AND FMCs, obsession, BDSM elements and TWO people who will happily choose violence if someone touches what’s theirs…
COME GET YOUR MAN. 😂🖤🔪
And Arrow Romanov?
Executioner of the Underworld.
Prince of the streets.
Heir to blood, fear and control.
Walking red flag.
Unfortunately exactly my type. 🚩🧎🏻♀️
E.L. Emkey…you had me at mafia.
Making him dark, obsessive and morally questionable was just showing off. 😩🖤
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
YOU GUYS.
DARK. MAFIA. ROMANCE.
Do I even need to continue?! 😩🖤🔪
You already KNOW mafia romance is one of my absolute weaknesses. I LIVE for this sh*t. Give me the criminal empires. Give me the rival families. Give me the morally questionable men in expensive suits. Give me the possessiveness, obsession, violence and the whole “touch her and I’ll end your entire bloodline” energy.
NOW MAKE IT DARK?!
I’M HOME. 🧎🏻♀️😂🖤
And Arrow by E.L. Emkey gave me exactly the kind of chaos I came for.
I’m already a huge fan of E.L. Emkey, so she didn’t exactly have to convince me to pick this one up. But then I saw mafia romance + enemies to lovers + contract marriage + forced proximity + morally gray BOTH OF THEM and basically said…
Okay.
Take my money. 😂
Arrow Romanov.
Also known as the Executioner of the Underworld.
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
Sir.
That’s quite the LinkedIn bio. 😭😂
This man doesn’t negotiate.
He TAKES.
He’s built an entire criminal empire on violence, fear and control. Mercy apparently isn’t included in his vocabulary, and love?
Love is leverage.
Until Giovanni Virelli’s daughter walks into his life.
And suddenly this terrifying, powerful mafia man has something far more dangerous than an enemy…
An obsession. 👀
And you guys KNOW.
YOU. KNOW.
There are very few things I love more than watching an extremely powerful, morally bankrupt man become absolutely f*cking UNHINGED over one woman. 😩🧎🏻♀️
Especially when that woman isn’t some innocent little flower who’s terrified of him.
NOPE.
Our girl has her OWN collection of red flags. 😂👏🏻
She’s a spoiled mafia princess with a sharp tongue, rebellion running through her veins and absolutely no intention of quietly obeying Arrow Romanov.
Morally gray MMC + morally gray FMC???
THANK YOU.
Because sometimes I don’t want her to fix him.
Sometimes I want her to look at all his questionable decisions and say…
“Move over. You’re doing it wrong.” 😂🔪
Their entire relationship is basically “I hate you, I want you, I might kill you, but if anyone ELSE touches you they’re dead.”
Which is apparently my love language.
Should probably unpack that.
Won’t. 😂🧎🏻♀️
And then we have the contract marriage.
YESSSSSS.
There is just something about two people being forced into a marriage while actively trying to convince themselves they can’t stand each other…
Meanwhile every single person reading is sitting there like:
👁️👄👁️
Sure, Jan.
The forced proximity just makes everything WORSE in the best possible way because now these two obsessive psychopaths can’t escape each other.
The hatred starts blurring.
The tension builds.
Possession starts looking suspiciously like love.
And Arrow falls FIRST.
😩😩😩
HE. FALLS. FIRST.
There is something deeply satisfying about a man who has conquered entire criminal empires suddenly realizing he’s completely f*cked because one woman has gotten under his skin.
All that power.
All that control.
All that “I don’t need anyone.”
And then SHE exists.
😂🧎🏻♀️
But what REALLY worked for me was that the possessiveness goes BOTH ways.
Touch her and die.
Okay Arrow. Expected.
Touch HIM and die.
OH?!
👀👀👀
BABY GIRL, COME SIT NEXT TO ME. 😂👏🏻
Because YES. If we’re going to be toxic, obsessive and possessive…
EQUALITY. 💅🏻😂
And listen…this book is DARK.
We’re talking mafia violence, morally gray characters, a sex club, BDSM elements, non-con and dub-con.
So as always with books like this: CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS. 🖤
This is not the mafia romance to pick up if you’re looking for a sweet man who communicates his feelings over brunch.
Arrow communicates his feelings more along the lines of…
“Who hurt you? Give me a name.” 🔪
And unfortunately that works for me. 😂
Was this quite a 5-star, bury-me-with-this-book experience?
Not completely.
There were moments where I wanted MORE. More emotional depth in certain places, more time sitting inside some of the relationship development and just a little more of that soul-shattering angst that pushes a dark romance into my 5-star territory.
Because apparently simply threatening people’s lives isn’t enough for me anymore.
I need emotional devastation too. 😭😂
But a 4-star dark mafia romance from an author I already love?
I absolutely ate it up.
If you like dark mafia romance, enemies-to-lovers, contract marriage, forbidden love, forced proximity, found family, he-falls-first, morally gray MMCs AND FMCs, obsession, BDSM elements and TWO people who will happily choose violence if someone touches what’s theirs…
COME GET YOUR MAN. 😂🖤🔪
And Arrow Romanov?
Executioner of the Underworld.
Prince of the streets.
Heir to blood, fear and control.
Walking red flag.
Unfortunately exactly my type. 🚩🧎🏻♀️
E.L. Emkey…you had me at mafia.
Making him dark, obsessive and morally questionable was just showing off. 😩🖤
August 24, 2026
A World of Darkness, Grief & Obsession
Arrow — ARC Review
Wow. From the very beginning, this book throws you straight into darkness. That opening scene? 😭💀 Absolutely brutal.
You know when you’re reading a book and it feels like a colour? That’s how Arrow felt to me. The whole world is darkness and grey, with pain and grief woven through everything.
Harlowe has been drowning in her grief and loss for so long that she almost needs someone to push her past it — to make her feel something again. Arrow is the perfect opposite. He embraces the darkness around him, but he doesn’t hurt her just for the sake of hurting her. He’s all about control, and somehow that becomes exactly what she needs.
And honestly? Arrow was absolutely my favourite. 🥵 He’s dark, twisted, possessive and completely unapologetic about who he is, but there’s also this surprisingly protective side to him. Watching him slowly become Harlowe’s safe place was probably my favourite part of their relationship.
There were definitely moments where Harlowe frustrated me because she’d get caught up in something Arrow did or who he was seen with and immediately snap, but I actually loved how messy and emotional their relationship was. They’re both carrying so much, and neither of them knows how to navigate what they’re becoming to each other.
And the tension? 🔥🔥🔥
The club scene. The knife play. Ma’am. 😳🔪🔥
And then THAT church scene?! Good lord. 🔥🔥🔥 I genuinely had to put the book down for a second.
I also loved the moments where their relationship shifted from this arranged marriage built to end a war into something that started feeling like theirs.
“He’d burn down the world if it meant keeping you safe within the flames.”
YES. That’s the Arrow I wanted.
And this:
“Not a wife. You. … An equal.”
That line. 🥹
Because that’s ultimately what I loved about them. Arrow doesn’t want Harlowe to simply belong to him. He wants someone who can challenge him, hurt him, stand beside him and choose him.
Arrow is dark, angsty, obsessive and definitely not for everyone, but it gave me exactly the kind of emotional chaos I love in a mafia romance.
Also, the song that somehow became the soundtrack in my head while reading this was “Satisfaction” by Benny Benassi. 🎵
And honestly… it fits. 😂❤️🔥
Arrow has definitely secured his place as my favourite.
Arrow — ARC Review
Wow. From the very beginning, this book throws you straight into darkness. That opening scene? 😭💀 Absolutely brutal.
You know when you’re reading a book and it feels like a colour? That’s how Arrow felt to me. The whole world is darkness and grey, with pain and grief woven through everything.
Harlowe has been drowning in her grief and loss for so long that she almost needs someone to push her past it — to make her feel something again. Arrow is the perfect opposite. He embraces the darkness around him, but he doesn’t hurt her just for the sake of hurting her. He’s all about control, and somehow that becomes exactly what she needs.
And honestly? Arrow was absolutely my favourite. 🥵 He’s dark, twisted, possessive and completely unapologetic about who he is, but there’s also this surprisingly protective side to him. Watching him slowly become Harlowe’s safe place was probably my favourite part of their relationship.
There were definitely moments where Harlowe frustrated me because she’d get caught up in something Arrow did or who he was seen with and immediately snap, but I actually loved how messy and emotional their relationship was. They’re both carrying so much, and neither of them knows how to navigate what they’re becoming to each other.
And the tension? 🔥🔥🔥
The club scene. The knife play. Ma’am. 😳🔪🔥
And then THAT church scene?! Good lord. 🔥🔥🔥 I genuinely had to put the book down for a second.
I also loved the moments where their relationship shifted from this arranged marriage built to end a war into something that started feeling like theirs.
“He’d burn down the world if it meant keeping you safe within the flames.”
YES. That’s the Arrow I wanted.
And this:
“Not a wife. You. … An equal.”
That line. 🥹
Because that’s ultimately what I loved about them. Arrow doesn’t want Harlowe to simply belong to him. He wants someone who can challenge him, hurt him, stand beside him and choose him.
Arrow is dark, angsty, obsessive and definitely not for everyone, but it gave me exactly the kind of emotional chaos I love in a mafia romance.
Also, the song that somehow became the soundtrack in my head while reading this was “Satisfaction” by Benny Benassi. 🎵
And honestly… it fits. 😂❤️🔥
Arrow has definitely secured his place as my favourite.
August 14, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
ARC review
If you loved Atlas… Arrow is quite literally an arrow to a dark romance heart. 💚🖤
I genuinely don’t even know where to begin with this book because WHAT did E.L. Emkey put in it besides 700 pages of an emotional rollercoaster.
We start with Harlowe being forced into a mafia marriage with Arrow Romanov, who she absolutely hates because of what his family did to hers. Their families have been at war for decades. Harlowe spirals with her losses into alcohol, sex, and working at a BDSM club.
And then Arrow shows up. 👀
The dual POV was EVERYTHING because getting inside Arrow’s head made his obsession with Harlowe so much better. He sees her as chaos, destruction, an addiction—and watching him slowly realize that she’s the first thing in his life he actually has something to lose over???
Also… this book does NOT play around.
Knife play.
A BDSM club.
Blindfolds.
Possessiveness.
Enemies-to-lovers.
Forced marriage.
Jealousy.
Violence.
FF
A LOT of very spicy scenes.
And enough sexual tension to set the entire fucking book on fire. 🔥
The “who hurt you?” moment??? YES.
“She’s mine.”??? YES.
The kitchen knife fight??? WHATTI
Her literally STABBING HIM THEN RUNNING TO THE ELEVATOR and then finding him already waiting in the lobby??? I was GONE. 💀
And then we get the emotional side of their relationship, and THAT’S where this book got me. Watching Harlowe go from feeling like a pawn in everyone else’s game to becoming a woman who wants power, chooses her own path, and finally understands what she means to Arrow was so satisfying.
And I absolutely loved seeing the Atlas universe become more intertwined. Atlas, Luna, Erubus… suddenly I was realizing how connected everything is and I LOVE when interconnected romance universes actually untwine
Arrow taking four bullets for Harlowe.
Then the time jump…
Their two-year-old…Harlowe pregnant again. A favorite HEA
And then:
“Four bullets you took for me. And now… four heartbeats in our family.”
EXCUSE ME??? 😭😭😭
That was SUCH a beautiful full-circle moment.
Arrow was dark, violent, obsessive, messy, emotional, ridiculously spicy, and somehow incredibly romantic underneath all the destruction.
My addiction. My fucking goddess. My greatest liability.
Yessss a must read.
ARC review
If you loved Atlas… Arrow is quite literally an arrow to a dark romance heart. 💚🖤
I genuinely don’t even know where to begin with this book because WHAT did E.L. Emkey put in it besides 700 pages of an emotional rollercoaster.
We start with Harlowe being forced into a mafia marriage with Arrow Romanov, who she absolutely hates because of what his family did to hers. Their families have been at war for decades. Harlowe spirals with her losses into alcohol, sex, and working at a BDSM club.
And then Arrow shows up. 👀
The dual POV was EVERYTHING because getting inside Arrow’s head made his obsession with Harlowe so much better. He sees her as chaos, destruction, an addiction—and watching him slowly realize that she’s the first thing in his life he actually has something to lose over???
Also… this book does NOT play around.
Knife play.
A BDSM club.
Blindfolds.
Possessiveness.
Enemies-to-lovers.
Forced marriage.
Jealousy.
Violence.
FF
A LOT of very spicy scenes.
And enough sexual tension to set the entire fucking book on fire. 🔥
The “who hurt you?” moment??? YES.
“She’s mine.”??? YES.
The kitchen knife fight??? WHATTI
Her literally STABBING HIM THEN RUNNING TO THE ELEVATOR and then finding him already waiting in the lobby??? I was GONE. 💀
And then we get the emotional side of their relationship, and THAT’S where this book got me. Watching Harlowe go from feeling like a pawn in everyone else’s game to becoming a woman who wants power, chooses her own path, and finally understands what she means to Arrow was so satisfying.
And I absolutely loved seeing the Atlas universe become more intertwined. Atlas, Luna, Erubus… suddenly I was realizing how connected everything is and I LOVE when interconnected romance universes actually untwine
Arrow taking four bullets for Harlowe.
Then the time jump…
Their two-year-old…Harlowe pregnant again. A favorite HEA
And then:
“Four bullets you took for me. And now… four heartbeats in our family.”
EXCUSE ME??? 😭😭😭
That was SUCH a beautiful full-circle moment.
Arrow was dark, violent, obsessive, messy, emotional, ridiculously spicy, and somehow incredibly romantic underneath all the destruction.
My addiction. My fucking goddess. My greatest liability.
Yessss a must read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2026
A true enemies to lovers set inside a dark mafia dynasty and honestly, need I say more. Harlowe Virelli is sold to her family’s enemy, the Romanovs, to end a long standing feud, but her father has no idea Arrow Romanov has his own plans for her.
There is nothing more addictive than watching a powerful, morally corrupt man unravel over one woman, and Arrow delivers that obsession in full. Even better, Harlowe is no fragile innocent. She is a mafia princess with a razor sharp tongue, a rebellious streak, and enough red flags to rival his, leaving you wondering which one of them is more morally grey. Their chemistry is pure combustion.
The arranged marriage traps them in a pressure cooker of hatred, desire, and territorial madness. Every moment feels like I hate you, I want you, I might stab you, and if anyone else touches you they are dead. Forced proximity blurs the line between loathing and something dangerously close to love. A man who has ruled the underworld realizing he is undone by one woman is an irresistible downfall.
Family secrets, rival syndicates, and the truth behind their marriage deepen the plot, turning a simple alliance into a web of revenge and betrayal. Arrow’s cold ruthlessness fractures beautifully as Harlowe gets under his skin, and her stubborn, reckless fire makes her impossible not to root for. One look at her and he would burn the world down to keep her safe, even as she claws her way into his heart.
The middle does slow with repetitive bickering and pacing that drags, and I wanted more emotional depth in certain moments. But the final stretch snaps everything back into place, and the ending ties it all together in a way that makes the journey worth it.
Their dynamic is gasoline meeting fire, two obsessive, dangerous people who were absolutely made for each other. Intense, messy, addictive. A love hate ride that hooked me even when it stumbled. Gasoline and fire, both holding the match.
Thank you to the author for gifting me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
There is nothing more addictive than watching a powerful, morally corrupt man unravel over one woman, and Arrow delivers that obsession in full. Even better, Harlowe is no fragile innocent. She is a mafia princess with a razor sharp tongue, a rebellious streak, and enough red flags to rival his, leaving you wondering which one of them is more morally grey. Their chemistry is pure combustion.
The arranged marriage traps them in a pressure cooker of hatred, desire, and territorial madness. Every moment feels like I hate you, I want you, I might stab you, and if anyone else touches you they are dead. Forced proximity blurs the line between loathing and something dangerously close to love. A man who has ruled the underworld realizing he is undone by one woman is an irresistible downfall.
Family secrets, rival syndicates, and the truth behind their marriage deepen the plot, turning a simple alliance into a web of revenge and betrayal. Arrow’s cold ruthlessness fractures beautifully as Harlowe gets under his skin, and her stubborn, reckless fire makes her impossible not to root for. One look at her and he would burn the world down to keep her safe, even as she claws her way into his heart.
The middle does slow with repetitive bickering and pacing that drags, and I wanted more emotional depth in certain moments. But the final stretch snaps everything back into place, and the ending ties it all together in a way that makes the journey worth it.
Their dynamic is gasoline meeting fire, two obsessive, dangerous people who were absolutely made for each other. Intense, messy, addictive. A love hate ride that hooked me even when it stumbled. Gasoline and fire, both holding the match.
Thank you to the author for gifting me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
REVIEW OF ADVANCE READER COPY FROM AUTHOR
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5/5
This one had me hooked from the beginning. The arranged marriage between Arrow and Harlowe starts with two people who have every reason to hate each other, and watching that hatred slowly turn into something much more complicated was easily my favourite part.
Arrow is exactly the kind of dark, possessive MMC I expected him to be, but there was so much more going on beneath that cold exterior. He’s cold, ruthless, and definitely has that “touch her and you’re dead” energy. But what I really liked was seeing the change in him as his feelings for Harlowe became harder to ignore. Their relationship starts with so much tension and resentment, but slowly becomes something much deeper.
Harlowe was probably my favourite part. She’s stubborn, reckless, angry and absolutely refuses to make things easy for anyone. I loved that she didn’t just fall into line because her father told her to. Her constant back-and-forth with Arrow made their scenes so much fun to read.
I especially loved how the story kept revealing more about their families and the reasons behind the marriage. What looked like a simple alliance quickly became a much bigger game involving revenge, secrets, betrayals, and old family wounds. And some of the revelations about Harlowe’s family? Yeah... I did not see all of that coming. 😭
The romance was definitely the highlight for me. The tension between them was insane, but I also loved seeing Arrow slowly become someone Harlowe could actually trust. Their relationship went through so much before they finally reached the point where it felt like they were genuinely choosing each other rather than simply being forced together.
Overall, Arrow was dark, dramatic, emotional, and packed with mafia politics, secrets, revenge, and a romance that kept me invested. A solid 4.5-star read for me. 🖤
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.5/5
This one had me hooked from the beginning. The arranged marriage between Arrow and Harlowe starts with two people who have every reason to hate each other, and watching that hatred slowly turn into something much more complicated was easily my favourite part.
Arrow is exactly the kind of dark, possessive MMC I expected him to be, but there was so much more going on beneath that cold exterior. He’s cold, ruthless, and definitely has that “touch her and you’re dead” energy. But what I really liked was seeing the change in him as his feelings for Harlowe became harder to ignore. Their relationship starts with so much tension and resentment, but slowly becomes something much deeper.
Harlowe was probably my favourite part. She’s stubborn, reckless, angry and absolutely refuses to make things easy for anyone. I loved that she didn’t just fall into line because her father told her to. Her constant back-and-forth with Arrow made their scenes so much fun to read.
I especially loved how the story kept revealing more about their families and the reasons behind the marriage. What looked like a simple alliance quickly became a much bigger game involving revenge, secrets, betrayals, and old family wounds. And some of the revelations about Harlowe’s family? Yeah... I did not see all of that coming. 😭
The romance was definitely the highlight for me. The tension between them was insane, but I also loved seeing Arrow slowly become someone Harlowe could actually trust. Their relationship went through so much before they finally reached the point where it felt like they were genuinely choosing each other rather than simply being forced together.
Overall, Arrow was dark, dramatic, emotional, and packed with mafia politics, secrets, revenge, and a romance that kept me invested. A solid 4.5-star read for me. 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Aye aye aye 🥵🥵🥵
Erika pulled me in with that prologue and consumed me with every word she wrote, and she still has not spat me back out. You can call it an obsession or whatever you want, but OMG, this book has dropped me into a book hangover it is that good.
Harlowe Virelli is so feral!! She is fierce and defiant. She is her own person and won't conform to what anyone wants her to be. She is not afraid of pain. But underneath all of that facade, is a person who is devoid of all emotion after her brother was executed by the Romanov mafia. Now, she has been sold by her father, Giovanni, into an arranged marriage to Arrow Romanov. She is full of so much rage towards Arrow as she blames him killing her brother, Luca.
Arrow Romanv is loyal, obsessive, possessive, stubborn and he is a take action kinda guy. He has his own demons and past mistakes that he is trying to make amends for. The chemistry, banter and spice is off the charts, no holds barred between them. their relationship is full of depth, and he will go to the ends of the earth for Harlowe, and when they both open up to each other, the emotional healing finally begins.
Harlowe's father is a slimy arrogant ar*ehole who is scheming in the background. He has a hidden agenda that will keep you guessing throughout what he is plotting. The betrayal will have you dropping your jaw on the floor!!
This book had me feeling all the emotions, rage, hurt, love, comfort, tears and it even had me giggling. I had an absolute blast with this book. I think I will need to read Atlas, which is an interconnected standalone that is already available. If you don't already, get this on your TBR now.
What to expect -
Dark mafia romance
Russian/Italian mafia
Arranged marriage
BDSM club
Enemies to lovers
Touch her and 💀
HEA
Trigger warnings -
Heavy alcohol use
Drug use
Suicide
Erika pulled me in with that prologue and consumed me with every word she wrote, and she still has not spat me back out. You can call it an obsession or whatever you want, but OMG, this book has dropped me into a book hangover it is that good.
Harlowe Virelli is so feral!! She is fierce and defiant. She is her own person and won't conform to what anyone wants her to be. She is not afraid of pain. But underneath all of that facade, is a person who is devoid of all emotion after her brother was executed by the Romanov mafia. Now, she has been sold by her father, Giovanni, into an arranged marriage to Arrow Romanov. She is full of so much rage towards Arrow as she blames him killing her brother, Luca.
Arrow Romanv is loyal, obsessive, possessive, stubborn and he is a take action kinda guy. He has his own demons and past mistakes that he is trying to make amends for. The chemistry, banter and spice is off the charts, no holds barred between them. their relationship is full of depth, and he will go to the ends of the earth for Harlowe, and when they both open up to each other, the emotional healing finally begins.
Harlowe's father is a slimy arrogant ar*ehole who is scheming in the background. He has a hidden agenda that will keep you guessing throughout what he is plotting. The betrayal will have you dropping your jaw on the floor!!
This book had me feeling all the emotions, rage, hurt, love, comfort, tears and it even had me giggling. I had an absolute blast with this book. I think I will need to read Atlas, which is an interconnected standalone that is already available. If you don't already, get this on your TBR now.
What to expect -
Dark mafia romance
Russian/Italian mafia
Arranged marriage
BDSM club
Enemies to lovers
Touch her and 💀
HEA
Trigger warnings -
Heavy alcohol use
Drug use
Suicide
Review of advance copy received from Author
One day, Harlowe Virelli discovers from her father that she must marry the son of the rival family, Arrow Romanov, the family who brutally killed her brother. Since she is not easily intimidated, she is determined to cause trouble to Arrow. Before marriage, they spend more time together where Arrow tries to win over Harlowe, but she's difficult to control.
Harlowe is a fierce, stubborn, rebellious and strong woman who loves to confront those who believe she can be controlled and show them she is hard to break.
Arrow is a devoted, ruthless, protective and possessive man who wants to keep Harlowe safe while also trying to show her that he truly understands her and accepts her for who she is.
Their connection is an explosive one, where starts with so much tension and slowly getting in something powerful and deep.
From the moment Arrow first laid eyes on Harlowe, he was captivated by her, and his obsession gradually developed.
Harlowe tests Arrow's patience at every turn by challenging him with everything.
Naturally, though, Arrow enjoys being challenged by her and witnessing her vibrant nature and stubbornness to back down from him. He makes an effort to prove to her that he is the ideal man for her.
The character development is outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed every twist of this story. I was captivated from the first page. I felt a range of emotions as the story flowed flawlessly, including laughter, anger, disbelief, sadness, giggles, and happiness.
I was also intrigued by Arrow's friendship with his closest friends, Atlas and Orion, which piqued my interest about their stories.
Harlowe is a fierce, stubborn, rebellious and strong woman who loves to confront those who believe she can be controlled and show them she is hard to break.
Arrow is a devoted, ruthless, protective and possessive man who wants to keep Harlowe safe while also trying to show her that he truly understands her and accepts her for who she is.
Their connection is an explosive one, where starts with so much tension and slowly getting in something powerful and deep.
From the moment Arrow first laid eyes on Harlowe, he was captivated by her, and his obsession gradually developed.
Harlowe tests Arrow's patience at every turn by challenging him with everything.
Naturally, though, Arrow enjoys being challenged by her and witnessing her vibrant nature and stubbornness to back down from him. He makes an effort to prove to her that he is the ideal man for her.
The character development is outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed every twist of this story. I was captivated from the first page. I felt a range of emotions as the story flowed flawlessly, including laughter, anger, disbelief, sadness, giggles, and happiness.
I was also intrigued by Arrow's friendship with his closest friends, Atlas and Orion, which piqued my interest about their stories.
August 24, 2026
4,5 ⭐ "This was what it meant to be vulnerable. This was what it meant to love someone so much that their happiness became your own."
*ARC review*
My goodness, where to start? My first dark romance book, and what a ride! From the start I was pulled in by the tension, and it pulled me more and more as the story progressed.
This is such a good mafia tale, which I only was familiar with in movie format, — the great mafia films specifically! — when reflecting back to the whole book, it's amazing how it built up the tension to some form of powerplay from both sides, at times felt truly wicked, yet understandable given the environment Harlowe and Arrow were raised in.
Harlowe had a really rough life to go through, however she has a very strong attitude, fearless and boldness! I questioned Harlowe's decisions sometimes but I guess that's the power of her personality, it surely brought fire!🔥
Arrow's POV from the start was very interesting, I loved his form of "love" he already had for her, before that I had some questions about him but after that I kinda liked the dude😏
Shout-out to legendary Frank!🫡
I had expectations of a big confrontation, but with who, how, when, etc... I had no clue, only bits and pieces,... until it happened.👀 Oh my, those last 10 chapters were the fastest I've read from any book I've read so far, my heartbeat paced faster, and then the ending really struck the final blow to me. I did not anticipate these emotions to occur when finishing this book —still buzzin!❤️🔥
Amazing work, I look forward to reading more from E. L. Emkey!🫶🏻
I am humbled and honoured to have been given the opportunity to read this e-ARC of ARROW.💚🖤
*ARC review*
My goodness, where to start? My first dark romance book, and what a ride! From the start I was pulled in by the tension, and it pulled me more and more as the story progressed.
This is such a good mafia tale, which I only was familiar with in movie format, — the great mafia films specifically! — when reflecting back to the whole book, it's amazing how it built up the tension to some form of powerplay from both sides, at times felt truly wicked, yet understandable given the environment Harlowe and Arrow were raised in.
Harlowe had a really rough life to go through, however she has a very strong attitude, fearless and boldness! I questioned Harlowe's decisions sometimes but I guess that's the power of her personality, it surely brought fire!🔥
Arrow's POV from the start was very interesting, I loved his form of "love" he already had for her, before that I had some questions about him but after that I kinda liked the dude😏
Shout-out to legendary Frank!🫡
I had expectations of a big confrontation, but with who, how, when, etc... I had no clue, only bits and pieces,... until it happened.👀 Oh my, those last 10 chapters were the fastest I've read from any book I've read so far, my heartbeat paced faster, and then the ending really struck the final blow to me. I did not anticipate these emotions to occur when finishing this book —still buzzin!❤️🔥
Amazing work, I look forward to reading more from E. L. Emkey!🫶🏻
I am humbled and honoured to have been given the opportunity to read this e-ARC of ARROW.💚🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Erika has done it again! She brings you into a dark world full of violence, possession, and obsession. Arrow Romanov is exactly who he says he is. He doesn't try to pretend to be anything else. I loved the way he let Harlowe become who she was always meant to be. His.
Harlowe Virelli is fiery and so defiant. I love the way she holds her own towards him. Her feminine rage was beautiful and raw. You could feel all the emotions but most of all she was strong and just as vicious as Arrow.
Their story together was a wild mess but I loved every minute of it. As much as Harlowe tried to hate Arrow, he definitely showed up for her in every way that mattered. How their story unfolds was absolutely poetic.
The spice. 🥵🥵🥵 Whoaaaa! I knew we'd get thrown back into the BDSM world but I wasn't expecting Harley. 🥵🫣😅 I needed a cold shower after that.
The world building was phenomenal. I could picture everything so clearly. The plot definitely plots and it was magnificent. I honestly couldn't get enough. This book has everything that you're looking for in a dark romance.
I really loved that we got to see more of Atlas and Luna. We get to see a bit more of their story and how things ended up. I really loved that it wasn't just a one-time thing but they were involved in some of the story.
Those last couple of chapters, really had me in tears. I thought the worst, but I was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong 😅
Erika, thank you so much for giving me the privilege to read your book before release. I cannot wait to read Orion's story next. Hehehehe.
Harlowe Virelli is fiery and so defiant. I love the way she holds her own towards him. Her feminine rage was beautiful and raw. You could feel all the emotions but most of all she was strong and just as vicious as Arrow.
Their story together was a wild mess but I loved every minute of it. As much as Harlowe tried to hate Arrow, he definitely showed up for her in every way that mattered. How their story unfolds was absolutely poetic.
The spice. 🥵🥵🥵 Whoaaaa! I knew we'd get thrown back into the BDSM world but I wasn't expecting Harley. 🥵🫣😅 I needed a cold shower after that.
The world building was phenomenal. I could picture everything so clearly. The plot definitely plots and it was magnificent. I honestly couldn't get enough. This book has everything that you're looking for in a dark romance.
I really loved that we got to see more of Atlas and Luna. We get to see a bit more of their story and how things ended up. I really loved that it wasn't just a one-time thing but they were involved in some of the story.
Those last couple of chapters, really had me in tears. I thought the worst, but I was pleasantly surprised that I was wrong 😅
Erika, thank you so much for giving me the privilege to read your book before release. I cannot wait to read Orion's story next. Hehehehe.
August 14, 2026
ARC REVIEW
Arrow and Harlowe absolutely wrecked me. This story was dark, aching, intense, and filled with that I need you, but I’m going to fight you every step of the way kind of craving😮💨🖤
Harlowe is one hell of a woman. She’s rebellious, feisty, and badass, but beneath all that is someone who’s clearly heartbroken, and I loved slowly uncovering those layers of her. And Arrow… AH, Arrow. I already knew him from Atlas’ book, but this man is a whole damn snack😂🌶️ He’s no-nonsense, knows his boundaries, knows the standard, and the “touch her and die” energy? Yeah. I ate that UP😭
Their banter, the challenge between them, the push and pull… it just kept getting better and more unhinged. They’re both perfectly chaotic and honestly MADE for each other. And their nicknames for each other? Chef’s kiss🤌🏻
I especially loved watching them slowly warm up to each other. Those chapters had me smiling like an idiot🥹 And of course, seeing Arrow, Atlas, and Orion together again was everything! Their friendship remains one of my favourite things, and Orion is still my favourite side character. Sarcastic, unhinged, hilarious, and the most loyal friend ever. 😭🖤 Plus Luna, our baddie.
And chapter 49??? I WAS HOLDING MY BREATH. After that particular scene, I genuinely had a mini heart attack reading the beginning of that chapter because I was like, NO NO NO, THAT CAN’T HAPPEN, RIGHT?! 😭😭
And that ending… I’m crying AGAIN. It was so beautiful. Arrow and Harlowe are such a beautiful couple, and my heart is genuinely so full🥹
Arrow and Harlowe absolutely wrecked me. This story was dark, aching, intense, and filled with that I need you, but I’m going to fight you every step of the way kind of craving😮💨🖤
Harlowe is one hell of a woman. She’s rebellious, feisty, and badass, but beneath all that is someone who’s clearly heartbroken, and I loved slowly uncovering those layers of her. And Arrow… AH, Arrow. I already knew him from Atlas’ book, but this man is a whole damn snack😂🌶️ He’s no-nonsense, knows his boundaries, knows the standard, and the “touch her and die” energy? Yeah. I ate that UP😭
Their banter, the challenge between them, the push and pull… it just kept getting better and more unhinged. They’re both perfectly chaotic and honestly MADE for each other. And their nicknames for each other? Chef’s kiss🤌🏻
I especially loved watching them slowly warm up to each other. Those chapters had me smiling like an idiot🥹 And of course, seeing Arrow, Atlas, and Orion together again was everything! Their friendship remains one of my favourite things, and Orion is still my favourite side character. Sarcastic, unhinged, hilarious, and the most loyal friend ever. 😭🖤 Plus Luna, our baddie.
And chapter 49??? I WAS HOLDING MY BREATH. After that particular scene, I genuinely had a mini heart attack reading the beginning of that chapter because I was like, NO NO NO, THAT CAN’T HAPPEN, RIGHT?! 😭😭
And that ending… I’m crying AGAIN. It was so beautiful. Arrow and Harlowe are such a beautiful couple, and my heart is genuinely so full🥹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2026
Arrow Romanov is not a good man.
Excellent. Glad we cleared that up.
Because I have no shame in admitting that sometimes I do not want the morally gray man to discover morality. I want him completely, unapologetically obsessed with the one woman capable of bringing him to his knees while remaining absolutely terrifying to everyone else.
And Arrow understood the assignment.
What made this so much fun for me was that she isn't some delicate little thing swallowed up by his world. She was born into it. She has fire of her own, knows exactly how dangerous these men are, and still looks at the so-called Executioner of the underworld and basically says, And? I LOVE a woman who makes a terrifying man work for it.
Their relationship feels like a battle for control where somewhere along the way Arrow realizes there is one thing he cannot conquer without surrendering a piece of himself first. Watching a man who has built his entire existence around power become absolutely unwell over one woman?
Yeah. Inject that directly into my veins.
This is dark, possessive, dangerous, and gloriously dramatic. Nobody here needs me to defend their choices. Frankly, I don't want to.
I support women's rights, women's wrongs, and apparently women's decisions to antagonize terrifying underworld kings until they become obsessed with them.
Tropes:
👑 Mafia / Underworld Romance
🖤 Morally Black MMC
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
💀 Touch Her and Die
🩸 Possessive / Obsessed MMC
👸 Mafia Princess
⚔️ Rival Families
🔥 Strong FMC
Excellent. Glad we cleared that up.
Because I have no shame in admitting that sometimes I do not want the morally gray man to discover morality. I want him completely, unapologetically obsessed with the one woman capable of bringing him to his knees while remaining absolutely terrifying to everyone else.
And Arrow understood the assignment.
What made this so much fun for me was that she isn't some delicate little thing swallowed up by his world. She was born into it. She has fire of her own, knows exactly how dangerous these men are, and still looks at the so-called Executioner of the underworld and basically says, And? I LOVE a woman who makes a terrifying man work for it.
Their relationship feels like a battle for control where somewhere along the way Arrow realizes there is one thing he cannot conquer without surrendering a piece of himself first. Watching a man who has built his entire existence around power become absolutely unwell over one woman?
Yeah. Inject that directly into my veins.
This is dark, possessive, dangerous, and gloriously dramatic. Nobody here needs me to defend their choices. Frankly, I don't want to.
I support women's rights, women's wrongs, and apparently women's decisions to antagonize terrifying underworld kings until they become obsessed with them.
Tropes:
👑 Mafia / Underworld Romance
🖤 Morally Black MMC
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
💀 Touch Her and Die
🩸 Possessive / Obsessed MMC
👸 Mafia Princess
⚔️ Rival Families
🔥 Strong FMC
Read
August 13, 2026I'm so happy I was chosen as a arc reader for this book it was fantastic. A true enemies to lovers, touch her and die, he fell first, and one hell of a kick ass fmc and throw in mafia families to boot.
You know the books going to be good when at 2% in I had tears in my eyes.
Now Harlowe. Wow I loved her. She's been brought up to hate the Romanovs more since the brutal murder of her brother with subsequently led to her mothers suicide and her hatred for her father cowardice of not going after then men who killed his son, the hatred was cemented when he sold her for marriage to said family.
She feels things for arrow she despises because of his last name. She fights with everything she has and everything she is because she wont bend or break at the hands of a romanov but she hates how her body reacts to him, how he sees her the way no one else ever has or tried to. She doesnt understand why.
"Harlowe Virelli
Giovanni Virellis daughter. The enemy of my enemy. My fiancèe. My ruin"
Arrow romanov. Wow. What a guy. He's a loveable arrogant asshole who's whole world is Harlowe. He sees her who she really is, he sees what she really needs and he treats her as his equal. He would absolutely hand her the match to set the world on fire and dance in the flames with her. He's her devil and she's his viper.
There is a quote in the book about the church and it says "A structure that refused to fall,no matter how many flames tried to consume it." This is the perfect euphemism for their relationship.
I could write so much more honestly this book is one you need to read.
You know the books going to be good when at 2% in I had tears in my eyes.
Now Harlowe. Wow I loved her. She's been brought up to hate the Romanovs more since the brutal murder of her brother with subsequently led to her mothers suicide and her hatred for her father cowardice of not going after then men who killed his son, the hatred was cemented when he sold her for marriage to said family.
She feels things for arrow she despises because of his last name. She fights with everything she has and everything she is because she wont bend or break at the hands of a romanov but she hates how her body reacts to him, how he sees her the way no one else ever has or tried to. She doesnt understand why.
"Harlowe Virelli
Giovanni Virellis daughter. The enemy of my enemy. My fiancèe. My ruin"
Arrow romanov. Wow. What a guy. He's a loveable arrogant asshole who's whole world is Harlowe. He sees her who she really is, he sees what she really needs and he treats her as his equal. He would absolutely hand her the match to set the world on fire and dance in the flames with her. He's her devil and she's his viper.
There is a quote in the book about the church and it says "A structure that refused to fall,no matter how many flames tried to consume it." This is the perfect euphemism for their relationship.
I could write so much more honestly this book is one you need to read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you like it dark, dirty, and a little demented, then this is the book for you. This is a dark dynasty romance with plenty of trigger warnings, or as I like to jokingly call them, my love language. Arrow Romanov is a dark mafia prince whose family is responsible for killing Harlowe Varelli’s brother. Harlowe is the daughter of a rival crime syndicate, and this woman is afraid of absolutely nothing. She spends her evenings at an underground BDSM club and lives to piss off her father, a crime boss desperately trying to keep his dying empire alive. In a last-ditch effort to save that empire, Harlowe’s father signs a contract promising her in marriage to Arrow. Arrow thinks he’s getting a mafia princess, but what he gets is a warrior queen. The story takes place in New York City, and the atmosphere is old New York meets even older money. There is this dark, seedy underbelly running beneath the story, but it’s contrasted with incredible wealth, power, and glamour, and I loved that juxtaposition. Arrow and Harlowe are both dangerous in their own ways, and watching these two collide made this such a fun read. I enjoyed this so much, and dark mafia romance is quickly becoming my newest obsession. I’m giving Arrow four stars and, because five simply isn’t enough for this one, six chili peppers.
August 14, 2026
when Arrow wins the battle of my obsession
Arrow
Harlowe from the moment she appeared I felt connection. I felt myself within her character immediately, immensely so!!
Arrow, my kind, my salvation but also whom destroys any outlook on man.
I am for once falling in loving this slow burn meets immense anticipation instead of getting antsy, for now.
Which I have officially gotten.
The drawn anticipation that crawls into my veins, leaving tingles in its wake. Where slow burn meets where is the fast forward button while your thumbs refused to move, and your lungs hold the air inside waiting more patiently than my heart because that sucker is beating then stops to just beat harder each time. Where slow burn- meets enemies to love- to the best come backs to punch lines and I between each layer the anticipation crawls, moves with immense slowness but each space it lays claim to has meaning.
That right there. Explaining how this book, this world, and connection has overtaken me in all ways. I can’t even pick between Atlas and Arrow and deal god, O baby, I ain’t ready yet. I. Am. May be a whole why choose and yes please.
The heat, the fire builds slow, delicate but yet messy in ways that’s still put together. Where a single word, sentence, and scene sets the kind of heat turned into that fire that burns within every part of me, you— the reader.
Arrow
Harlowe from the moment she appeared I felt connection. I felt myself within her character immediately, immensely so!!
Arrow, my kind, my salvation but also whom destroys any outlook on man.
I am for once falling in loving this slow burn meets immense anticipation instead of getting antsy, for now.
Which I have officially gotten.
The drawn anticipation that crawls into my veins, leaving tingles in its wake. Where slow burn meets where is the fast forward button while your thumbs refused to move, and your lungs hold the air inside waiting more patiently than my heart because that sucker is beating then stops to just beat harder each time. Where slow burn- meets enemies to love- to the best come backs to punch lines and I between each layer the anticipation crawls, moves with immense slowness but each space it lays claim to has meaning.
That right there. Explaining how this book, this world, and connection has overtaken me in all ways. I can’t even pick between Atlas and Arrow and deal god, O baby, I ain’t ready yet. I. Am. May be a whole why choose and yes please.
The heat, the fire builds slow, delicate but yet messy in ways that’s still put together. Where a single word, sentence, and scene sets the kind of heat turned into that fire that burns within every part of me, you— the reader.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**HOLY HOT DAYUMMM.** 🌶️🔥
I don’t even know where to begin with this masterpiece, but standard warning: **prepare to be utterly consumed!**
From page one, Harlowe completely steals the show. She is the ultimate definition of a fierce FMC—no cheap talk, no endless inner monologues proclaiming how tough she is. E.L. Emkey *shows* us. Harlowe is a battle-tested survivor who has overcome hell and back, and she is **not** taking anything lying down. Watching her test every boundary and push her arranged fiancé, Arrow, right to the absolute brink had me practically vibrating on the edge of my seat!
And speaking of Arrow? *Whew.* Get your fan ready, because this man is the elite, dominant, possessive MMC of your dark romance dreams. He doesn’t want a submissive, meek wallflower for a fiancée—he wants a powerhouse who can match his exact level of unhinged crazy. The sheer magnetic tension, electric banter, and absolute war of wills between these two is unmatched.
When it comes to the spice? Unhinged, scorching, and downright unforgettable. If "spice in a church" and "spice in a club" are on your romance bingo card, this is your next immediate read.
The raw heat and passion alone earn an unquestionable **5/5 stars**! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Add this to your TBR *immediately*!
I don’t even know where to begin with this masterpiece, but standard warning: **prepare to be utterly consumed!**
From page one, Harlowe completely steals the show. She is the ultimate definition of a fierce FMC—no cheap talk, no endless inner monologues proclaiming how tough she is. E.L. Emkey *shows* us. Harlowe is a battle-tested survivor who has overcome hell and back, and she is **not** taking anything lying down. Watching her test every boundary and push her arranged fiancé, Arrow, right to the absolute brink had me practically vibrating on the edge of my seat!
And speaking of Arrow? *Whew.* Get your fan ready, because this man is the elite, dominant, possessive MMC of your dark romance dreams. He doesn’t want a submissive, meek wallflower for a fiancée—he wants a powerhouse who can match his exact level of unhinged crazy. The sheer magnetic tension, electric banter, and absolute war of wills between these two is unmatched.
When it comes to the spice? Unhinged, scorching, and downright unforgettable. If "spice in a church" and "spice in a club" are on your romance bingo card, this is your next immediate read.
The raw heat and passion alone earn an unquestionable **5/5 stars**! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Add this to your TBR *immediately*!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my god. I’m speechless. Erika has this unbelievable ability to pull me straight into the story — in this case, already in her own note to the reader before the book even begins. I’m so stunned by this book that I’m convinced I’m heading straight into a brutal book hangover.
The writing is insanely skillful — I can’t remember the last time I read an enemies‑to‑lovers book this intense. It kept me on edge the entire time, and I almost feared turning the page to see what would happen next.
This is absolutely not a soft romantic love story — if that’s what you’re looking for, this isn’t it. This is a brutal, passionate, rough, possessive, jealous story about revenge, trust, love, and above all, about how a broken person can break again in order to become whole.
I already loved Atlas, but I’m completely under Arrow’s spell. Erika, do you know how impossible it is to force yourself to keep reading while you’re crying, scared, yelling, and laughing at the same time?
The book isn’t short, but it holds you with every_single_word. The chemistry between Harlowe and Arrow is mesmerizing — when two strong, stubborn people hate and love together and apart — I have nothing else to say except: read this book. Read it and be stunned.
The writing is insanely skillful — I can’t remember the last time I read an enemies‑to‑lovers book this intense. It kept me on edge the entire time, and I almost feared turning the page to see what would happen next.
This is absolutely not a soft romantic love story — if that’s what you’re looking for, this isn’t it. This is a brutal, passionate, rough, possessive, jealous story about revenge, trust, love, and above all, about how a broken person can break again in order to become whole.
I already loved Atlas, but I’m completely under Arrow’s spell. Erika, do you know how impossible it is to force yourself to keep reading while you’re crying, scared, yelling, and laughing at the same time?
The book isn’t short, but it holds you with every_single_word. The chemistry between Harlowe and Arrow is mesmerizing — when two strong, stubborn people hate and love together and apart — I have nothing else to say except: read this book. Read it and be stunned.
August 19, 2026
𝑨𝑹𝑹𝑶𝑾
ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴅʏɴᴀsᴛʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘦. 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒔. 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝｡”
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓
🖤ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ
🐍“ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴠɪᴘᴇʀ”
🖤ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴍᴄ
🐍ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅ!ᴇ
🖤ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs & ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟ
🐍ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ɢᴀᴍᴇs
🖤ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ/ᴠᴇɴɢᴇᴀɴᴄᴇ & ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ
🐍ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ
“𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚠 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝. ɑ 𝗊υ౿౿𐓣 ⍵ꪱᜒ𝗍𝗁𝗈υ𝗍 ɑ ɕ𝗋𝗈⍵𐓣. ડ𝗈ო౿𝗈𐓣౿ ⍵𝗁𝗈 ᑲ౿ᥣ𝗈𐓣𝗀ડ 𝗈𐓣 ɑ 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𐓣౿ 𝗈𝖿 𝗁౿𝗋 𝗈⍵𐓣, 𐓣𝗈𝗍 ડ𝗍ɑ𐓣ᑯꪱᜒ𐓣𝗀 ꪱᜒ𐓣 𝗁౿𝗋 𝖿ɑ𝗍𝗁౿𝗋’ડ ડ𝗁ɑᑯ𝗈⍵.”
𝘼𝙧𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I can’t believe it took me this long to finish this. I am actually so in love with this book and this couple. I love this world and I can’t get enough of this authors writing. I knew I loved arrow when I read atlas. and now? I’m absolutely so obsessed with him. this book had me sobbing, screaming and throwing up but I wouldn’t have changed it. this was so good. I can’t even begin to explain my feeling on this book. but I do know that I don’t care what this author writes I will read everything . I can’t wait to see what comes next! I’m so invested in this world that I just need so much more. thank you so much for this arc!🩷
“sʜᴇ ᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ sᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ. ℑ’𝔡 𝔱𝔞𝔨𝔢𝔫 𝔟𝔲𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔱𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔥𝔢𝔯.”
ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴅʏɴᴀsᴛʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘮𝘦. 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒔. 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝｡”
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓
🖤ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ
🐍“ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴠɪᴘᴇʀ”
🖤ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴍᴄ
🐍ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅ!ᴇ
🖤ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs & ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟ
🐍ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ɢᴀᴍᴇs
🖤ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ/ᴠᴇɴɢᴇᴀɴᴄᴇ & ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ
🐍ғᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴇɴɢᴀɢᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ
“𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚠 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝. ɑ 𝗊υ౿౿𐓣 ⍵ꪱᜒ𝗍𝗁𝗈υ𝗍 ɑ ɕ𝗋𝗈⍵𐓣. ડ𝗈ო౿𝗈𐓣౿ ⍵𝗁𝗈 ᑲ౿ᥣ𝗈𐓣𝗀ડ 𝗈𐓣 ɑ 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𐓣౿ 𝗈𝖿 𝗁౿𝗋 𝗈⍵𐓣, 𐓣𝗈𝗍 ડ𝗍ɑ𐓣ᑯꪱᜒ𐓣𝗀 ꪱᜒ𐓣 𝗁౿𝗋 𝖿ɑ𝗍𝗁౿𝗋’ડ ડ𝗁ɑᑯ𝗈⍵.”
𝘼𝙧𝙘 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I can’t believe it took me this long to finish this. I am actually so in love with this book and this couple. I love this world and I can’t get enough of this authors writing. I knew I loved arrow when I read atlas. and now? I’m absolutely so obsessed with him. this book had me sobbing, screaming and throwing up but I wouldn’t have changed it. this was so good. I can’t even begin to explain my feeling on this book. but I do know that I don’t care what this author writes I will read everything . I can’t wait to see what comes next! I’m so invested in this world that I just need so much more. thank you so much for this arc!🩷
“sʜᴇ ᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ғᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ sᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ. ℑ’𝔡 𝔱𝔞𝔨𝔢𝔫 𝔟𝔲𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔱𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔥𝔢𝔯.”
September 2, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an ARC and I’m so grateful!
This was my first dark romance and good grief I loved it! The world building was top notch, the character development and the romance was fantastic and the spice? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️PERFECTION.
Arrow Romanov is what you want in a dark romance. Unhinged, obsessive, possessive, makes you question what’s wrong with you for loving him. 😂😅 god I love a morally grey man.
Harlowe (our FMC) is probably my favorite FMC I’ve ever read. raw, real, unapologetically herself and not afraid to speak her mind and fight for what she wants. The perfect amount of crazy and fire to match Arrow’s unhinged.
I have to talk about the romance. This is true enemies to lovers. I mean she threatens to kill him NUMEROUS times. 🤣 but how the romance happens is so beautifully crafted. While this is a dark romance it is not nearly as dark as I was expecting. I didn’t have to take any breaks at all, which I was told could happen in a dark romance. Also, it wasn’t repetitive and each spicy scene was different and SO SO GOOD. Like the scene with Harley…🔥🔥🔥.
5/5 read. I truly enjoyed it and could not put it down. Grateful to have received it as an arc!
ADD IT TO YOUR TBR NOW!
This was my first dark romance and good grief I loved it! The world building was top notch, the character development and the romance was fantastic and the spice? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️PERFECTION.
Arrow Romanov is what you want in a dark romance. Unhinged, obsessive, possessive, makes you question what’s wrong with you for loving him. 😂😅 god I love a morally grey man.
Harlowe (our FMC) is probably my favorite FMC I’ve ever read. raw, real, unapologetically herself and not afraid to speak her mind and fight for what she wants. The perfect amount of crazy and fire to match Arrow’s unhinged.
I have to talk about the romance. This is true enemies to lovers. I mean she threatens to kill him NUMEROUS times. 🤣 but how the romance happens is so beautifully crafted. While this is a dark romance it is not nearly as dark as I was expecting. I didn’t have to take any breaks at all, which I was told could happen in a dark romance. Also, it wasn’t repetitive and each spicy scene was different and SO SO GOOD. Like the scene with Harley…🔥🔥🔥.
5/5 read. I truly enjoyed it and could not put it down. Grateful to have received it as an arc!
ADD IT TO YOUR TBR NOW!
September 3, 2026
This was soooo good!
I love a good mafia/dark romance and this did not disappoint. I can’t wait to read her backlog!
Once you start reading, you’re not going to want to put it down! To the point that I may have been late for work because I stayed up way too late binging this 😅😂
The spice is spicy…the plot was perfect. There wasn’t really a moment that drug along or that you felt bored. The tension…palpable. I loved that the FMC had the “f-it” moment in the story…that was kind of different but I loved it. I loved the dynamic and build up of the relationship between Arrow and Harlowe…you honestly cannot help but be invested! I loved every minute of this book and if you love a mafia/dark romance - you should definitely pick it up! Check the triggers!
Thank you E.L. Emkey and team for the early read. All opinions are my own!
"I will burn down half this city to keep you safe, Harlowe. Even from yourself."
"You were everything I never knew I needed."
"You're breathtaking. You look like something from a dream," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "A good dream or a nightmare?" I whispered back. His smile was slow and dangerous. "The kind you never want to wake up from."
"Now, I can't breathe without you, and the part that scares me most is that I don't want to."
I love a good mafia/dark romance and this did not disappoint. I can’t wait to read her backlog!
Once you start reading, you’re not going to want to put it down! To the point that I may have been late for work because I stayed up way too late binging this 😅😂
The spice is spicy…the plot was perfect. There wasn’t really a moment that drug along or that you felt bored. The tension…palpable. I loved that the FMC had the “f-it” moment in the story…that was kind of different but I loved it. I loved the dynamic and build up of the relationship between Arrow and Harlowe…you honestly cannot help but be invested! I loved every minute of this book and if you love a mafia/dark romance - you should definitely pick it up! Check the triggers!
Thank you E.L. Emkey and team for the early read. All opinions are my own!
"I will burn down half this city to keep you safe, Harlowe. Even from yourself."
"You were everything I never knew I needed."
"You're breathtaking. You look like something from a dream," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "A good dream or a nightmare?" I whispered back. His smile was slow and dangerous. "The kind you never want to wake up from."
"Now, I can't breathe without you, and the part that scares me most is that I don't want to."
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
What can I say but HOT D@MN! This is my first book I’ve read from E.L. Emkey and now I. AM. COMPLETELY. OBSESSED! If you’re looking for a book that will ruin you in the best way and then put you back together this book is for you. There is so much spice throughout this whole book 🥵
Harlowe is the one of the most bad @ss FMC’s. She is fiercely her own and does not back down from anyone or circumstance. She’s absolutely defiant and because of her past knows what she deserves so she’s trying to break free from all of those cycles but will she be able to?
Arrow…WOW! Talk about the perfect MMC. He is everything you want in a dark romance MMC. He’s the obsessive, possessive , take control man you want him to be. He’s also like Harlowe trying to overcome his past and past mistakes.
The banter between these two is next level. They will take you through every single emotion.
One of my favorite quotes: “ She trembled—not from pain, not from fear, but from the effort of holding herself together. And I saw, in the glint of her eyes, the ghost of every woman who’d survived in spite of everything designed to break her.”
What can I say but HOT D@MN! This is my first book I’ve read from E.L. Emkey and now I. AM. COMPLETELY. OBSESSED! If you’re looking for a book that will ruin you in the best way and then put you back together this book is for you. There is so much spice throughout this whole book 🥵
Harlowe is the one of the most bad @ss FMC’s. She is fiercely her own and does not back down from anyone or circumstance. She’s absolutely defiant and because of her past knows what she deserves so she’s trying to break free from all of those cycles but will she be able to?
Arrow…WOW! Talk about the perfect MMC. He is everything you want in a dark romance MMC. He’s the obsessive, possessive , take control man you want him to be. He’s also like Harlowe trying to overcome his past and past mistakes.
The banter between these two is next level. They will take you through every single emotion.
One of my favorite quotes: “ She trembled—not from pain, not from fear, but from the effort of holding herself together. And I saw, in the glint of her eyes, the ghost of every woman who’d survived in spite of everything designed to break her.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
I picked up Arrow expecting an intense dark mafia romance filled with danger, tension, and unforgettable chemistry. It absolutely delivered on all of those things but what I didn’t expect was how emotionally invested I would become.
The push and pull between Arrow and Harlowe kept me turning pages, and I loved watching two incredibly strong, stubborn characters navigate a world where vulnerability can be just as dangerous as any enemy. Their chemistry is electric, but it’s the emotional journey that truly surprised me.
As the story built toward its conclusion, I found myself completely immersed, and the final chapters had me holding my breath. I don’t cry over books… yet somehow this one managed to leave me in tears. I won’t say why because it’s a moment every reader deserves to experience for themselves, but trust me when I say the payoff is worth it.
If you enjoy dark mafia romances with high stakes, compelling characters, emotional depth, and an ending that will leave you reeling, Arrow deserves a spot on your TBR.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
The push and pull between Arrow and Harlowe kept me turning pages, and I loved watching two incredibly strong, stubborn characters navigate a world where vulnerability can be just as dangerous as any enemy. Their chemistry is electric, but it’s the emotional journey that truly surprised me.
As the story built toward its conclusion, I found myself completely immersed, and the final chapters had me holding my breath. I don’t cry over books… yet somehow this one managed to leave me in tears. I won’t say why because it’s a moment every reader deserves to experience for themselves, but trust me when I say the payoff is worth it.
If you enjoy dark mafia romances with high stakes, compelling characters, emotional depth, and an ending that will leave you reeling, Arrow deserves a spot on your TBR.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A slow burn mafia romance, with just the right amount of hatred turned into love. This book literally gave me modern day Romeo and Juliet vibes. Not joking. I could tell I loved Arrow from the start. All I wanted to do was tell Harlowe to just have a conversation with him. 😂 Harlowes dad… not a fan. lol
Harlowe is a mafia princess through and through. She’s not about to roll over for anyone. She refuses to be anything but herself and the girl can hold a grudge. But life hasn’t been easy for her, she lost her brother, mother and her dad isn’t the best kind of human. She is a tortured soul underneath all that baggage and it’s going to take a bit for her to deal with that.
I loved Arrow from the start. He’s a mafia princes who is a little possessive and ruthless. He carries the sins of his family and tries to repent for things he didn’t do. The chemistry between these two, even when Harlowe tries her best to deny it is 🔥🌶️. I loved every twist and turn this book took me on. I was sucked in from the beginning. The way the story unfolded was perfection, the angst, hatred, and love I felt from page to page was captivating. I was totally engulfed.
Harlowe is a mafia princess through and through. She’s not about to roll over for anyone. She refuses to be anything but herself and the girl can hold a grudge. But life hasn’t been easy for her, she lost her brother, mother and her dad isn’t the best kind of human. She is a tortured soul underneath all that baggage and it’s going to take a bit for her to deal with that.
I loved Arrow from the start. He’s a mafia princes who is a little possessive and ruthless. He carries the sins of his family and tries to repent for things he didn’t do. The chemistry between these two, even when Harlowe tries her best to deny it is 🔥🌶️. I loved every twist and turn this book took me on. I was sucked in from the beginning. The way the story unfolded was perfection, the angst, hatred, and love I felt from page to page was captivating. I was totally engulfed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arrow Romanov is the kind of morally gray man who makes you question every single one of your standards. 🥵 He’s ruthless, powerful, possessive, and absolutely lethal… until Harlowe gets under his skin.
And Harlowe? 🔥 I LOVED HER. She’s sharp-tongued, defiant, fearless, and absolutely refuses to bow to anyone, which makes her the perfect match for a man who is used to controlling everything around him.
Their chemistry was straight-up combustible. The tension, obsession, possessiveness, and “you’re mine” energy had me turning pages like my life depended on it. And the spice? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️EXCUSE ME WHILE I FAN MYSELF.
This was everything I want in a dark romance: a ruthless hero, a badass FMC, forbidden attraction, dangerous family dynamics, obsession, violence, power struggles, and enough heat to set the entire damn underworld on fire.
Arrow may have been born to destroy Harlowe’s family empire… but watching him completely lose his grip when it came to her? Perfection.
5 ⭐️ because these two were toxic, obsessive, fiery perfection. 🖤🐍
Dark romance readers, add this one to your TBR. You’re welcome.
And Harlowe? 🔥 I LOVED HER. She’s sharp-tongued, defiant, fearless, and absolutely refuses to bow to anyone, which makes her the perfect match for a man who is used to controlling everything around him.
Their chemistry was straight-up combustible. The tension, obsession, possessiveness, and “you’re mine” energy had me turning pages like my life depended on it. And the spice? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️EXCUSE ME WHILE I FAN MYSELF.
This was everything I want in a dark romance: a ruthless hero, a badass FMC, forbidden attraction, dangerous family dynamics, obsession, violence, power struggles, and enough heat to set the entire damn underworld on fire.
Arrow may have been born to destroy Harlowe’s family empire… but watching him completely lose his grip when it came to her? Perfection.
5 ⭐️ because these two were toxic, obsessive, fiery perfection. 🖤🐍
Dark romance readers, add this one to your TBR. You’re welcome.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Written in dual first-person POV, this book was a solid dark mafia romance overall! One of my favorite details was the seamless integration of Russian and Italian throughout the story, but and don't worry, helpful translations are provided at the end of each chapter so you're never lost.
That said, the book did feel a bit long and could have benefited from tighter editing. A lot of the middle felt like fluff, and with the action taking a backseat to repetitive bickering between Arrow and Harlowe, the pacing dragged at times. For a mafia romance of this length, I definitely expected more external plot action earlier on, as most of the major drama was saved for the very end. I also noticed a couple of minor editing hiccups; a wedding dress shifting from "ivory" to "virginal white" in the same scene, and a name swap from Ainsley to Aurora in Chapter 51.
However, the spice was absolute 🔥, and the ending made the journey worthwhile! Chapter 49 definitely had me gasping, but the final chapters wrapped everything up in a super satisfying way without leaving open questions. A great choice if you love high spice and dark mafia themes!
That said, the book did feel a bit long and could have benefited from tighter editing. A lot of the middle felt like fluff, and with the action taking a backseat to repetitive bickering between Arrow and Harlowe, the pacing dragged at times. For a mafia romance of this length, I definitely expected more external plot action earlier on, as most of the major drama was saved for the very end. I also noticed a couple of minor editing hiccups; a wedding dress shifting from "ivory" to "virginal white" in the same scene, and a name swap from Ainsley to Aurora in Chapter 51.
However, the spice was absolute 🔥, and the ending made the journey worthwhile! Chapter 49 definitely had me gasping, but the final chapters wrapped everything up in a super satisfying way without leaving open questions. A great choice if you love high spice and dark mafia themes!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews