What do you think?
Dark Descendants #1
The Devil We Crave: Alternate Cover Print Edition
Achilles Drakos is every girl’s dream.
Charming. Gorgeous. Popular. The captain of the football team and an untouchable golden god of Knightsblood University, where the most elite mafia families in the world send their heirs.
But I accidentally peeked behind that perfect exterior, when I stepped into the wrong dark fantasy, and into the hands of the wrong masked monster.
Now, the shy good girl no one notices just became his prey.
I’ve seen the devil behind the gold.
The darkness he wears like a second skin.
The predator now hell-bent on dragging me kicking and moaning into his vicious world of sadism and sin.
I know I should fear the devil.
But I might be more afraid of the girl who craves him back.
The Devil We Crave is a fully standalone dark college romance. No previous books in the Jagger Cole Universe need to be read before diving into this book or series. Readers are highly advised to read the TW inside.
Charming. Gorgeous. Popular. The captain of the football team and an untouchable golden god of Knightsblood University, where the most elite mafia families in the world send their heirs.
But I accidentally peeked behind that perfect exterior, when I stepped into the wrong dark fantasy, and into the hands of the wrong masked monster.
Now, the shy good girl no one notices just became his prey.
I’ve seen the devil behind the gold.
The darkness he wears like a second skin.
The predator now hell-bent on dragging me kicking and moaning into his vicious world of sadism and sin.
I know I should fear the devil.
But I might be more afraid of the girl who craves him back.
The Devil We Crave is a fully standalone dark college romance. No previous books in the Jagger Cole Universe need to be read before diving into this book or series. Readers are highly advised to read the TW inside.
594 pages, Paperback
Published May 25, 2026
About the author
Jagger Cole
78 books6,157 followersA reader first and foremost, Jagger Cole cut his romance writing teeth penning various fan-fiction stories years ago. After deciding to hang up his writing boots, Jagger worked in advertising pretending to be Don Draper. It worked enough to convince a woman way out of his league to marry him, though, which is a total win.
Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.
When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside—rain or shine.
You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com
Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter! -> https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd
Now, Dad to two little princesses and King to a Queen, Jagger is thrilled to be back at the keyboard.
When not writing or reading romance books, he can be found woodworking, enjoying good whiskey, and grilling outside—rain or shine.
You can find all of his books at www.jaggercolewrites.com
Grab a FREE book for joining my fans-only newsletter! -> https://dl.bookfunnel.com/8rld1ik3sd
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 653 reviews
June 1, 2026
Jagger, what in the world was this?!
The number of times booktok, tiktok, and masktok were mentioned was ridiculous.
The number of times booktok, tiktok, and masktok were mentioned was ridiculous.
May 26, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
This book kept introducing new relatives while I was still trying to emotionally connect to the main couple.
By the time the romance finally clicked for me, I’d already spent several hundred pages touring everyone’s bloodline.
What Worked For Me
(aka: the book hiding underneath the family tree)
For a long time, I felt like I was being told Achilles and Yelena were obsessed with each other before I actually felt invested in them myself. That finally started changing once the emotional intimacy caught up to the physical attraction.
The banter was stronger than the early spice. Their teasing conversations, verbal sparring and moments of vulnerability did far more for me than any of the elaborate predator-prey theatrics in the opening chapters. The chemistry was always there; the book just took far too long to trust it.
I also appreciated that Achilles eventually evolved beyond possessive caveman mode.
Early on, so much of his internal monologue revolves around ownership, obsession, jealousy and declaring Yelena "his." As the story progressed, we started seeing something more interesting - a man who genuinely notices her curiosity, intelligence, ambition and resilience. Some of my favorite moments came when he was simply observing who she was rather than obsessing over possessing her.
The strongest emotional thread involved Yelena's trauma and the aftermath of what happened to her before the story began. Once the book stopped merely referencing that experience and actually explored its impact on her self-worth, trust and decision-making, the emotional stakes became significantly more compelling.
The conversations surrounding agency, trust and the difference between being wanted versus being owned were easily the most interesting parts of the romance for me.
Unfortunately, those moments arrived after a very long wait.
Where It Lost Me
(aka: less mafia geneology, more emotional development please)
The First 20% Was a Slog
I never fully connected with either Achilles or Yelena early on and I think that affected my entire reading experience.
The opening chapters invest heavily in spice, fantasy dynamics, worldbuilding, family politics, club hierarchies and introducing what felt like half the cast of future books before giving me enough reason to emotionally invest in the central couple.
I understood that they wanted each other long before I understood why I should care.
And first impressions matter.
The Mafia Family Census
Every time I started paying attention, someone else's cousin appeared.
Then their sibling. Then their parent. Then another family connection linked to another future protagonist who will presumably headline their own book.
I understand this is part of a larger interconnected universe and readers familiar with the series may enjoy those cameos.
As a newcomer, however, it often felt like I was being asked to memorise an entire mafia genealogy database while still trying to remember why I should be invested in the romance standing directly in front of me.
Physical Progression > Emotional Progression
One of my biggest frustrations was how often important conversations seemed to arrive only to be interrupted, delayed or overtaken by physical intimacy.
Again and again, the book introduced genuinely interesting emotional conflicts surrounding trust, agency, trauma, jealousy, misunderstandings and accountability, only for the momentum to stall before those issues could meaningfully change or evolve the relationship.
The result was a romance that kept escalating physically without always evolving emotionally.
The Possessive Spiral Started Repeating Itself
There were only so many times I could watch Achilles see half of a situation, invent an entirely new narrative in his head, become consumed by jealous rage and arrive at the wrong conclusion before the pattern started losing impact.
The first few times established his obsession.
The next dozen times felt repetitive.
The Accountability I Wanted Never Fully Arrived
One of the most interesting late-book conflicts centered around trust, choice and agency.
I was genuinely invested.
I wanted difficult conversations.
I wanted Achilles to sit with the consequences of some of his choices.
I wanted emotional reckoning.
Instead, the resolution felt quicker and easier than I personally wanted.
Readers who prefer a lighter touch may be perfectly satisfied.
As a card-carrying member of the Grovel Appreciation Society, I fear the grovel rationing was severe.
Final Thoughts
This wasn't a terrible book. In fact, there are pieces of a much stronger book buried inside it.
When Achilles and Yelena were talking, challenging each other, revealing vulnerabilities and developing genuine emotional intimacy, I could absolutely see the appeal.
But those moments often felt crowded out by heavy universe setup, extensive cast introductions and a pacing structure that never quite found its footing.
By the end, I found myself more attached to individual moments between Achilles and Yelena than to the overall story surrounding them.
Final Verdict
2.5 ⭐️ - Equal parts emotional breakthrough, possessive nonsense and mafia family roll call.
The red flags were red-flagging, the cousins were multiplying and I spent most of the book waiting for the emotional connection to catch up with the spice.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Mafia romance (University edition)
• Golden boy with a darker side
• Obsessive / Possessive MMC
• Touch her and die
• Secret societies / club politics
• Predator/prey dynamic
• Consensual non-consent themes
• Trauma recovery subplot
• He falls first
• Protective family energy
• Found-family-adjacent side cast
• Family rivalries
• Revenge plot
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read: Starting a book about a man whose communication style is probably kidnapping...
The red flags are already red-flagging 🚩
This book kept introducing new relatives while I was still trying to emotionally connect to the main couple.
By the time the romance finally clicked for me, I’d already spent several hundred pages touring everyone’s bloodline.
What Worked For Me
(aka: the book hiding underneath the family tree)
For a long time, I felt like I was being told Achilles and Yelena were obsessed with each other before I actually felt invested in them myself. That finally started changing once the emotional intimacy caught up to the physical attraction.
The banter was stronger than the early spice. Their teasing conversations, verbal sparring and moments of vulnerability did far more for me than any of the elaborate predator-prey theatrics in the opening chapters. The chemistry was always there; the book just took far too long to trust it.
I also appreciated that Achilles eventually evolved beyond possessive caveman mode.
Early on, so much of his internal monologue revolves around ownership, obsession, jealousy and declaring Yelena "his." As the story progressed, we started seeing something more interesting - a man who genuinely notices her curiosity, intelligence, ambition and resilience. Some of my favorite moments came when he was simply observing who she was rather than obsessing over possessing her.
The strongest emotional thread involved Yelena's trauma and the aftermath of what happened to her before the story began. Once the book stopped merely referencing that experience and actually explored its impact on her self-worth, trust and decision-making, the emotional stakes became significantly more compelling.
The conversations surrounding agency, trust and the difference between being wanted versus being owned were easily the most interesting parts of the romance for me.
Unfortunately, those moments arrived after a very long wait.
Where It Lost Me
(aka: less mafia geneology, more emotional development please)
The First 20% Was a Slog
I never fully connected with either Achilles or Yelena early on and I think that affected my entire reading experience.
The opening chapters invest heavily in spice, fantasy dynamics, worldbuilding, family politics, club hierarchies and introducing what felt like half the cast of future books before giving me enough reason to emotionally invest in the central couple.
I understood that they wanted each other long before I understood why I should care.
And first impressions matter.
The Mafia Family Census
Every time I started paying attention, someone else's cousin appeared.
Then their sibling. Then their parent. Then another family connection linked to another future protagonist who will presumably headline their own book.
I understand this is part of a larger interconnected universe and readers familiar with the series may enjoy those cameos.
As a newcomer, however, it often felt like I was being asked to memorise an entire mafia genealogy database while still trying to remember why I should be invested in the romance standing directly in front of me.
Physical Progression > Emotional Progression
One of my biggest frustrations was how often important conversations seemed to arrive only to be interrupted, delayed or overtaken by physical intimacy.
Again and again, the book introduced genuinely interesting emotional conflicts surrounding trust, agency, trauma, jealousy, misunderstandings and accountability, only for the momentum to stall before those issues could meaningfully change or evolve the relationship.
The result was a romance that kept escalating physically without always evolving emotionally.
The Possessive Spiral Started Repeating Itself
There were only so many times I could watch Achilles see half of a situation, invent an entirely new narrative in his head, become consumed by jealous rage and arrive at the wrong conclusion before the pattern started losing impact.
The first few times established his obsession.
The next dozen times felt repetitive.
The Accountability I Wanted Never Fully Arrived
One of the most interesting late-book conflicts centered around trust, choice and agency.
I was genuinely invested.
I wanted difficult conversations.
I wanted Achilles to sit with the consequences of some of his choices.
I wanted emotional reckoning.
Instead, the resolution felt quicker and easier than I personally wanted.
Readers who prefer a lighter touch may be perfectly satisfied.
As a card-carrying member of the Grovel Appreciation Society, I fear the grovel rationing was severe.
Final Thoughts
This wasn't a terrible book. In fact, there are pieces of a much stronger book buried inside it.
When Achilles and Yelena were talking, challenging each other, revealing vulnerabilities and developing genuine emotional intimacy, I could absolutely see the appeal.
But those moments often felt crowded out by heavy universe setup, extensive cast introductions and a pacing structure that never quite found its footing.
By the end, I found myself more attached to individual moments between Achilles and Yelena than to the overall story surrounding them.
Final Verdict
2.5 ⭐️ - Equal parts emotional breakthrough, possessive nonsense and mafia family roll call.
The red flags were red-flagging, the cousins were multiplying and I spent most of the book waiting for the emotional connection to catch up with the spice.
Tropes and Vibes:
• Mafia romance (University edition)
• Golden boy with a darker side
• Obsessive / Possessive MMC
• Touch her and die
• Secret societies / club politics
• Predator/prey dynamic
• Consensual non-consent themes
• Trauma recovery subplot
• He falls first
• Protective family energy
• Found-family-adjacent side cast
• Family rivalries
• Revenge plot
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Pre-read: Starting a book about a man whose communication style is probably kidnapping...
The red flags are already red-flagging 🚩
May 28, 2026
I literally just started this book and I’m already tired, every two seconds it’s mention masktok, TikTok, oooh “I’m obsessed with big, bad, tattoo men on TikTok” they mention TikTok every fk page, I don’t think this is for me tho.
June 2, 2026
3🌟, 3🌶️
I had a harder time with this book than I expected, but there was still plenty to enjoy.
The mafia elements and the chemistry between Achilles and Yelena immediately caught my attention, but it took me a while to fully connect with them. Once the story hit its stride in the second half, I found myself much more invested in their relationship.
My biggest struggle was how crowded the story felt at times. The frequent callbacks to previous characters and setup for future books often pulled focus away from Achilles and Yelena, leaving me wishing for more moments dedicated to their romance and character development.
Even so, I still had a good time with this one. Achilles showed meaningful growth, the darker themes delivered what I expected, and the chemistry kept me turning the pages. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
In the end, I enjoyed the ride and am looking forward to what’s next.
~~~~
Special thanks to Jagger Cole & Valentine PR for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨
I had a harder time with this book than I expected, but there was still plenty to enjoy.
The mafia elements and the chemistry between Achilles and Yelena immediately caught my attention, but it took me a while to fully connect with them. Once the story hit its stride in the second half, I found myself much more invested in their relationship.
My biggest struggle was how crowded the story felt at times. The frequent callbacks to previous characters and setup for future books often pulled focus away from Achilles and Yelena, leaving me wishing for more moments dedicated to their romance and character development.
Even so, I still had a good time with this one. Achilles showed meaningful growth, the darker themes delivered what I expected, and the chemistry kept me turning the pages. Just be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
In the end, I enjoyed the ride and am looking forward to what’s next.
~~~~
Special thanks to Jagger Cole & Valentine PR for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨
June 6, 2026
As someone who has seen Jagger spell the FMC’s name wrong, I am incredibly nervous for how he is going to keep track of all the characters in this series AND avoid incest. I will be printing off the family tree!
I would like to give this an extra star since Jagger did nothing to even try to pretend this book is set 20 to 25 years in the future … everything is the same as 2026! That star is immediately lost for mentioning western omelets and “cum holes” in the same chapter.
I would like to give this an extra star since Jagger did nothing to even try to pretend this book is set 20 to 25 years in the future … everything is the same as 2026! That star is immediately lost for mentioning western omelets and “cum holes” in the same chapter.
May 27, 2026
tiktok references🤢
Did Not Finish
June 11, 2026Damn. DNF 2% in when they're talking about how hot BookTok masked men videos are. I would say that it will one day be the "mullet" of the book world, but all the kids out here looking like Joe Dirt and happy about it, so idk🤷🏼♀️
June 2, 2026
The Devil We Crave - Jagger Cole
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
🖤 Dark Academia
🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Morally Gray Anti Hero MMC x Good Girl
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 Stalking
🖤 Secret Societies
🖤 Touch Her and ☠️
🖤 Possesive MMC
🖤 Obsessive MMC
🖤 Romantic Suspense
“I’ve seen the devil behind the gold.” His name is Achilles Drakos! The golden boy that people THINK they know. Beneath all that beauty and charm is a dark, dangerous and completely unhinged morally grey man and I’M HER FOR IT👏🏻!
The Devil We Crave by Jagger Cole is the first book in the Dark Descendants series and let me just say Knightsblood University is already giving twisted, intense, dangerous, dark elite chaos and I am completely obsessed with it. Jagger Cole writes books that completely consume you and immerse you in a world you never want to leave. 🖤
Achilles Drakos is the golden boy everyone thinks they know. He’s the elite heir, the football captain, popular, untouchable, and hiding his true self behind that perfect golden boy image. But underneath all that charm is something much darker, and I ate it up. 🖤🔥
Yelena is the kind of FMC I love. She may seem like the good girl on the outside, but there is so much more hiding underneath. She’s smart, strong and not as fragile as people may think she is. Achilles may be dark and dangerous, but Yelena has her own fire too. She doesn’t just crumble under his intensity, she pushes back and truly I loved watching her crave the devil right back. 🖤🔥😏
Jagger Cole gave us dark academia mixed with mafia legacy, obsession, danger, and that addictive energy I love so much. This book was dark, sexy, intense, and such a strong start to a brand new series. I already know I am going to be feral for whatever comes next. 🖤🔥🤤
I would like to thank Jagger Cole and VPR for the early copy and for sending me this beautiful book. I cannot thank you enough. I absolutely enjoyed every dark, addictive second of it and I already cannot wait for the next book. 🖤🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
🖤 Dark Academia
🖤 Mafia Romance
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Morally Gray Anti Hero MMC x Good Girl
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 Stalking
🖤 Secret Societies
🖤 Touch Her and ☠️
🖤 Possesive MMC
🖤 Obsessive MMC
🖤 Romantic Suspense
“I’ve seen the devil behind the gold.” His name is Achilles Drakos! The golden boy that people THINK they know. Beneath all that beauty and charm is a dark, dangerous and completely unhinged morally grey man and I’M HER FOR IT👏🏻!
The Devil We Crave by Jagger Cole is the first book in the Dark Descendants series and let me just say Knightsblood University is already giving twisted, intense, dangerous, dark elite chaos and I am completely obsessed with it. Jagger Cole writes books that completely consume you and immerse you in a world you never want to leave. 🖤
Achilles Drakos is the golden boy everyone thinks they know. He’s the elite heir, the football captain, popular, untouchable, and hiding his true self behind that perfect golden boy image. But underneath all that charm is something much darker, and I ate it up. 🖤🔥
Yelena is the kind of FMC I love. She may seem like the good girl on the outside, but there is so much more hiding underneath. She’s smart, strong and not as fragile as people may think she is. Achilles may be dark and dangerous, but Yelena has her own fire too. She doesn’t just crumble under his intensity, she pushes back and truly I loved watching her crave the devil right back. 🖤🔥😏
Jagger Cole gave us dark academia mixed with mafia legacy, obsession, danger, and that addictive energy I love so much. This book was dark, sexy, intense, and such a strong start to a brand new series. I already know I am going to be feral for whatever comes next. 🖤🔥🤤
I would like to thank Jagger Cole and VPR for the early copy and for sending me this beautiful book. I cannot thank you enough. I absolutely enjoyed every dark, addictive second of it and I already cannot wait for the next book. 🖤🔥
May 27, 2026
It was a though read. Why did Achilles growled the whole book? Is he a beast?
Also yelena doesn’t have a backbone, there I said it.
I skipped literally all smut parts because no thank you. I’m hoping the next books are gonna be better since I do like the second gen thing
Also yelena doesn’t have a backbone, there I said it.
I skipped literally all smut parts because no thank you. I’m hoping the next books are gonna be better since I do like the second gen thing
June 4, 2026
3.25⭐️ 4🌶️ listen, it was cringey when TikTok/MaskTok was mentioned in Lights Out... and it was still cringey in this too💀
i was SO excited when Jagger announced a 2nd gen series featuring the children from all of his unhinged couples across multiple series in his backlist. i was also very nervous about being able to keep everyone straight. i have read TWENTY ONE books by this author and i was doubting (A) my ability to recall who and how everyone was related/connected and (B) that Jagger himself could write this in a way that didn't make me feel dumb for forgetting exactly who tf everyone was, who their parents were, and what happened in their parents books.
turns out, it wasn't necessary for me to accurately remember all the parents and their book plots... ~however~ it was SO challenging in the first 20% to try and wrap my head around who was cousins with who, who's parents were at odds or in alliances, and literally just remember everyone's name. there were so! many! characters! to keep up with, it felt very overwhelming for a majority of the book. i finally decided it wasn't worth my stress and that i just needed to get comfy in my lack of memorization of all the family trees, and i think that's when i really started to get into the book. it's important to note that that didn't happen until like 40% in, and this was over 600 pages on my kindle.
anyway, all of that aside, this was a classic Jagger mafia romance. heavy kink, dubious situations, violence and mysteries, family conflicts, and setups for future couples. this was a very world building heavy book compared to a typical Jagger novel, but i think that was just because it was set at a college with multiple 'secret' societies that needed to be explained, and sooo many side characters like i mentioned earlier.
i'll definitely be continuing the series because i think these are fun and they satisfy my darker interests, but i am curious to see if the rest of the books will be as long as this one was. also, i have somewhat of an idea of who future couples could be, but i can honestly say i have no clue who will be starring in book 2!
i was SO excited when Jagger announced a 2nd gen series featuring the children from all of his unhinged couples across multiple series in his backlist. i was also very nervous about being able to keep everyone straight. i have read TWENTY ONE books by this author and i was doubting (A) my ability to recall who and how everyone was related/connected and (B) that Jagger himself could write this in a way that didn't make me feel dumb for forgetting exactly who tf everyone was, who their parents were, and what happened in their parents books.
turns out, it wasn't necessary for me to accurately remember all the parents and their book plots... ~however~ it was SO challenging in the first 20% to try and wrap my head around who was cousins with who, who's parents were at odds or in alliances, and literally just remember everyone's name. there were so! many! characters! to keep up with, it felt very overwhelming for a majority of the book. i finally decided it wasn't worth my stress and that i just needed to get comfy in my lack of memorization of all the family trees, and i think that's when i really started to get into the book. it's important to note that that didn't happen until like 40% in, and this was over 600 pages on my kindle.
anyway, all of that aside, this was a classic Jagger mafia romance. heavy kink, dubious situations, violence and mysteries, family conflicts, and setups for future couples. this was a very world building heavy book compared to a typical Jagger novel, but i think that was just because it was set at a college with multiple 'secret' societies that needed to be explained, and sooo many side characters like i mentioned earlier.
i'll definitely be continuing the series because i think these are fun and they satisfy my darker interests, but i am curious to see if the rest of the books will be as long as this one was. also, i have somewhat of an idea of who future couples could be, but i can honestly say i have no clue who will be starring in book 2!
June 11, 2026
Omg, I am furious at this book.
First of all, can we please retire the TikTok references? The TikTok boyfriends, the mask-wearing heartthrobs, the viral trends… it all feels painfully forced. Nothing dates a book faster than trying this hard to be current. Instead of feeling modern, it just comes across as tacky and cringe.
Then there are the characters. Half of them seem dragged in from previous series, and the sheer number of names thrown around makes it confusing. Every other chapter felt like I was supposed to recognize someone important, while I sat there wondering if I’d accidentally skipped three books.
But my biggest pet peeve? The obsession with describing how attractive literally everyone is. Not just the love interest. Not just strangers. Their parents. Their friends. Their cousins. I lost count of how many times I had to read about someone’s stunning mother or handsome father. At one point, the heroine practically worships her mother’s beauty, while the hero gushes about how fit his dad looks after a run. And I just sat there thinking: WHY?
It’s not sexual, but it’s still weird. The constant admiration becomes distracting, and after a while it feels corny rather than charming. If they’re not praising their parents, they’re praising their friends. It never ends.
And don’t even get me started on the parents’ behavior. The amount of PDA happening in front of their kids was ridiculous. I don’t care if the kids are adults—it added nothing to the story and just made me want to skip ahead.
Now, let’s talk about Yelena. Unfortunately, she drove me up the wall. She’s another one of those heroines this author loves to write: passive, constantly letting people walk all over her, forgiving behavior that should’ve been a deal-breaker.
The breaking point was the ghosting. This man disappears for three weeks—three weeks—and then comes back with no proper apology, no real conversation, no accountability. And she just takes him back. At that point, I was questioning my own life choices for continuing to read.
The romance kept asking me to root for a couple that hadn’t earned it. And honestly, this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way with Jagger Cole’s books. His heroines often forgive too quickly, before the other person has shown genuine growth or accountability. By the end, I was more annoyed with the heroine than the hero—which is saying something, because the hero gave me plenty of reasons to dislike him too.
The final straw was the rushed reconciliation. I kept waiting for genuine accountability, genuine growth, genuine self-reflection. Instead, the book just wanted to forgive everything and move on.
I’ve read enough Jagger Cole to know what I’m signing up for, but this one really tested my patience. The romance didn’t work. The characters didn’t work. And the endless descriptions of attractive relatives definitely didn’t work.
By the end, I was reading out of sheer stubbornness. And honestly? I should’ve just DNF’d it. 😭💀
First of all, can we please retire the TikTok references? The TikTok boyfriends, the mask-wearing heartthrobs, the viral trends… it all feels painfully forced. Nothing dates a book faster than trying this hard to be current. Instead of feeling modern, it just comes across as tacky and cringe.
Then there are the characters. Half of them seem dragged in from previous series, and the sheer number of names thrown around makes it confusing. Every other chapter felt like I was supposed to recognize someone important, while I sat there wondering if I’d accidentally skipped three books.
But my biggest pet peeve? The obsession with describing how attractive literally everyone is. Not just the love interest. Not just strangers. Their parents. Their friends. Their cousins. I lost count of how many times I had to read about someone’s stunning mother or handsome father. At one point, the heroine practically worships her mother’s beauty, while the hero gushes about how fit his dad looks after a run. And I just sat there thinking: WHY?
It’s not sexual, but it’s still weird. The constant admiration becomes distracting, and after a while it feels corny rather than charming. If they’re not praising their parents, they’re praising their friends. It never ends.
And don’t even get me started on the parents’ behavior. The amount of PDA happening in front of their kids was ridiculous. I don’t care if the kids are adults—it added nothing to the story and just made me want to skip ahead.
Now, let’s talk about Yelena. Unfortunately, she drove me up the wall. She’s another one of those heroines this author loves to write: passive, constantly letting people walk all over her, forgiving behavior that should’ve been a deal-breaker.
The breaking point was the ghosting. This man disappears for three weeks—three weeks—and then comes back with no proper apology, no real conversation, no accountability. And she just takes him back. At that point, I was questioning my own life choices for continuing to read.
The romance kept asking me to root for a couple that hadn’t earned it. And honestly, this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way with Jagger Cole’s books. His heroines often forgive too quickly, before the other person has shown genuine growth or accountability. By the end, I was more annoyed with the heroine than the hero—which is saying something, because the hero gave me plenty of reasons to dislike him too.
The final straw was the rushed reconciliation. I kept waiting for genuine accountability, genuine growth, genuine self-reflection. Instead, the book just wanted to forgive everything and move on.
I’ve read enough Jagger Cole to know what I’m signing up for, but this one really tested my patience. The romance didn’t work. The characters didn’t work. And the endless descriptions of attractive relatives definitely didn’t work.
By the end, I was reading out of sheer stubbornness. And honestly? I should’ve just DNF’d it. 😭💀
May 26, 2026
♥️ I truly missed Jagger’s mafia world! ♥️
This time, we’re stepping into the next generation—the mafia heirs. The famous elite university where the children of the world’s most powerful crime families are sent to study is filled with privileged students, legendary last names, and expectations that weigh heavier than crowns.
We have Achilles Drakos, the son of the Greek god Ares and the vampire queen Neve, heir to the Drakos empire, and Yelena DeLuca, the mafia princess, daughter of Nero “The Wolf” DeLuca and the Bratva ballerina, Milena. 😛
What starts as a thrilling chase quickly turns into a dangerous game of temptation, obsession, and undeniable chemistry. Achilles and Yelena push each other’s limits, bringing their darkest fantasies to life. But when the masks come off, the darkness, depravity, and twisted desires lurking beneath the surface prove to be far more dangerous than either of them expected. 🌶️🔥🌶️🔥
A fresh, addictive, and seriously spicy new series with all the mafia drama, forbidden attraction, and chaotic energy I love. The younger generation definitely knows how to keep things interesting!
At first, the huge cast of characters and family connections can feel a little overwhelming, especially if you're trying to remember whose child belongs to whom. But once you settle into the story and start recognizing the offspring of our favorite mafia couples, it becomes impossible not to smile—and laugh while remembering all the crazy things their parents got up to. 🤣😛😏
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dark. Addictive. Sinfully spicy. I can't wait for more from this new generation. 🖤🔥
This time, we’re stepping into the next generation—the mafia heirs. The famous elite university where the children of the world’s most powerful crime families are sent to study is filled with privileged students, legendary last names, and expectations that weigh heavier than crowns.
We have Achilles Drakos, the son of the Greek god Ares and the vampire queen Neve, heir to the Drakos empire, and Yelena DeLuca, the mafia princess, daughter of Nero “The Wolf” DeLuca and the Bratva ballerina, Milena. 😛
What starts as a thrilling chase quickly turns into a dangerous game of temptation, obsession, and undeniable chemistry. Achilles and Yelena push each other’s limits, bringing their darkest fantasies to life. But when the masks come off, the darkness, depravity, and twisted desires lurking beneath the surface prove to be far more dangerous than either of them expected. 🌶️🔥🌶️🔥
A fresh, addictive, and seriously spicy new series with all the mafia drama, forbidden attraction, and chaotic energy I love. The younger generation definitely knows how to keep things interesting!
At first, the huge cast of characters and family connections can feel a little overwhelming, especially if you're trying to remember whose child belongs to whom. But once you settle into the story and start recognizing the offspring of our favorite mafia couples, it becomes impossible not to smile—and laugh while remembering all the crazy things their parents got up to. 🤣😛😏
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dark. Addictive. Sinfully spicy. I can't wait for more from this new generation. 🖤🔥
May 20, 2026
4.25⭐️
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jagger Cole for an ARC of The Devil We Crave in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Off page SA of a character that is discussed throughout the book
I really don’t know what Cole puts in his book, but I devour them every time.
The Devil We Crave is the first book in a new series, and better yet, it’s a second gen. So not only do we get new characters, but we also get to see what their parents (and others) are up to now. It’s also set at Knightsblood University, the “mafia college” with the four different societies that has been the setting of prior books by Cole.
This book in particular follows Achilles Drakos (Neve/Ares) and Yelena (Nero/Milena), both current students at Knightblood. After Yelena is assaulted, she tries to take matters into her own hands so her abuser can face some real consequences. Her plan for revenge, however, is sidetracked by a masked man who just so happens to act on all of Yelena’s darkest (and secret) fantasies. As their relationship progresses, secrets test their connection. And of course, all of their friends (read also: family) have their own opinions.
Yelena may think that she is weak, but is so strong. While maybe not in a conventional way, she stands up for herself and doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do.
Achilles is a classic OTT possessive MMC who isn’t quite what he seems. He falls fast and hard for Yelena and isn’t going to let anyone or anything stand in his way.
I absolutely loved all of the Easter eggs that Cole left for other couples in this series. And if my predictions are right, some of the relationships are going to be so messy (and entertaining).
Cole delivered a fun and enticing read, while also treating sensitive topics with care. I can’t wait to see where others books in this series go, and for further cameos by some of my favorite couples.
The Devil We Crave releases May 26, 2026.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Jagger Cole for an ARC of The Devil We Crave in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Off page SA of a character that is discussed throughout the book
I really don’t know what Cole puts in his book, but I devour them every time.
The Devil We Crave is the first book in a new series, and better yet, it’s a second gen. So not only do we get new characters, but we also get to see what their parents (and others) are up to now. It’s also set at Knightsblood University, the “mafia college” with the four different societies that has been the setting of prior books by Cole.
This book in particular follows Achilles Drakos (Neve/Ares) and Yelena (Nero/Milena), both current students at Knightblood. After Yelena is assaulted, she tries to take matters into her own hands so her abuser can face some real consequences. Her plan for revenge, however, is sidetracked by a masked man who just so happens to act on all of Yelena’s darkest (and secret) fantasies. As their relationship progresses, secrets test their connection. And of course, all of their friends (read also: family) have their own opinions.
Yelena may think that she is weak, but is so strong. While maybe not in a conventional way, she stands up for herself and doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do.
Achilles is a classic OTT possessive MMC who isn’t quite what he seems. He falls fast and hard for Yelena and isn’t going to let anyone or anything stand in his way.
I absolutely loved all of the Easter eggs that Cole left for other couples in this series. And if my predictions are right, some of the relationships are going to be so messy (and entertaining).
Cole delivered a fun and enticing read, while also treating sensitive topics with care. I can’t wait to see where others books in this series go, and for further cameos by some of my favorite couples.
The Devil We Crave releases May 26, 2026.
May 26, 2026
I went into The Devil We Crave as my first Jagger Cole book and was immediately intrigued by the premise: dark academia, masked men, rival mafia families, secret societies. It definitely promises all the dark romance vibes.
This is the start of a new spin off series, but it works perfectly fine as a standalone, so I never felt lost jumping in without reading the previous books.
The story follows Yelena, a 19 year old FMC with a fascination for dark romance fantasies, and Achilles, the morally grey mafia heir hiding behind the perfect golden boy image. The chemistry between them is intense from the start, and if you are looking for a very spicy dark romance with stalking, obsession, and secret society elements, this delivers.
For me, though, this book felt like two very different stories. The first half was harder to connect with because I honestly did not find either main character particularly likeable. Yelena came across as quite immature and frustrating at times, while Achilles was cruel in a way that did not always work for me early on.
The second half was much stronger. Once the relationship dynamic settled into more of a rhythm, I found myself enjoying the story a lot more. It became more emotionally engaging and easier to invest in the characters, even if it never fully reached the level of obsession for me.
There is a lot of spice throughout the book, although some scenes and phrases started to feel repetitive after a while. Some of the dirty talk and wording also just was cringe for me and pulled me out of the story occasionally.
Overall, though, this was an enjoyable read. It did not completely blow me away.
This is the start of a new spin off series, but it works perfectly fine as a standalone, so I never felt lost jumping in without reading the previous books.
The story follows Yelena, a 19 year old FMC with a fascination for dark romance fantasies, and Achilles, the morally grey mafia heir hiding behind the perfect golden boy image. The chemistry between them is intense from the start, and if you are looking for a very spicy dark romance with stalking, obsession, and secret society elements, this delivers.
For me, though, this book felt like two very different stories. The first half was harder to connect with because I honestly did not find either main character particularly likeable. Yelena came across as quite immature and frustrating at times, while Achilles was cruel in a way that did not always work for me early on.
The second half was much stronger. Once the relationship dynamic settled into more of a rhythm, I found myself enjoying the story a lot more. It became more emotionally engaging and easier to invest in the characters, even if it never fully reached the level of obsession for me.
There is a lot of spice throughout the book, although some scenes and phrases started to feel repetitive after a while. Some of the dirty talk and wording also just was cringe for me and pulled me out of the story occasionally.
Overall, though, this was an enjoyable read. It did not completely blow me away.
June 28, 2026
Wow. Holy hell!!!
May 27, 2026
4 stars
Tropes : mafia romance, college romance, J/P H, touch her and 💀, obsessed H, stalker H, big H x small h
Ending : hfn
Triggers : murder, SA (h), gore, violence, dub con, CNC
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Angst : 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5
OM/OW drama : OM (a guy that SAd h)
Celibate while separated: yes
Intimacy details: virgin h, rough sex, primal play, hair pulling, spanking, no condom (h on bc), cum jammer, choking, edging, somno, slight exhibitionism
Standalone/Series : part of an interconnected series
Hero : Achilles Drakos (21?)
Heroine: Yelena De Luca (20?)
Soooo it has been quite some time since the last time I read Jagger’s book. All I remember was the romance aspect wasn’t explored well but in this one I find myself liking the flow of the romance aspect. There’s more feelings involved and not just sex.
Usually there was hate involved between his MCs but no in this one. Which was a nice surprise. Will def read the next book.
Tropes : mafia romance, college romance, J/P H, touch her and 💀, obsessed H, stalker H, big H x small h
Ending : hfn
Triggers : murder, SA (h), gore, violence, dub con, CNC
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Angst : 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5
OM/OW drama : OM (a guy that SAd h)
Celibate while separated: yes
Intimacy details: virgin h, rough sex, primal play, hair pulling, spanking, no condom (h on bc), cum jammer, choking, edging, somno, slight exhibitionism
Standalone/Series : part of an interconnected series
Hero : Achilles Drakos (21?)
Heroine: Yelena De Luca (20?)
Soooo it has been quite some time since the last time I read Jagger’s book. All I remember was the romance aspect wasn’t explored well but in this one I find myself liking the flow of the romance aspect. There’s more feelings involved and not just sex.
Usually there was hate involved between his MCs but no in this one. Which was a nice surprise. Will def read the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2026
Tengo muchas opiniones de este libro.
Primero que nada tenía muchas ganas de volver a leer a Jagger y conectar con su narrativa, pero este libro fue un meh para mí.
Por una parte, el inicio me recordó demasiado a la serie Legacy of Gods de Rina Kent, ya que tenemos la división entre grupos universitarios, un tipo que habría conocido a la muchacha previo a su encuentro y, una jovencita que dice que le gusta más la oscuridad de lo que dice. So, varios elementos que hicieron que me fuera predecible saber lo que podría pasar después.
Aún así, admito que hubieron cositas que me dejaron tiesa, como la situación que vive la protagonista, el tema de las familias, el spicy, la dinámica entre los protagonistas, las amistades y muchas otras cosas que me mantuvieron atrapada en la historia de igual manera JAJAJA.
Peeeeero insisto, habían elementos que no les encontré mucho sentido (como lo de tiktok, el boom de los libros y los hombres con máscaras), ya que no se les explota y volvemos a la trama tradicional del chico malo con la chica que aparenta ser vainilla, pero le gusta el chocolate ❤️🔥
Por último, este serie es la de los hijos de otra serie, por lo que si quieren tener la experiencia completa podrían leer los otros y así entender mucho más la dinámica de los personajes, pero aún así, el autor da luces de las próximas relaciones con el final, lo que para mi fue 🙇🏻♀️
Thanks for the opportunity Jagger and VP<3
Primero que nada tenía muchas ganas de volver a leer a Jagger y conectar con su narrativa, pero este libro fue un meh para mí.
Por una parte, el inicio me recordó demasiado a la serie Legacy of Gods de Rina Kent, ya que tenemos la división entre grupos universitarios, un tipo que habría conocido a la muchacha previo a su encuentro y, una jovencita que dice que le gusta más la oscuridad de lo que dice. So, varios elementos que hicieron que me fuera predecible saber lo que podría pasar después.
Aún así, admito que hubieron cositas que me dejaron tiesa, como la situación que vive la protagonista, el tema de las familias, el spicy, la dinámica entre los protagonistas, las amistades y muchas otras cosas que me mantuvieron atrapada en la historia de igual manera JAJAJA.
Peeeeero insisto, habían elementos que no les encontré mucho sentido (como lo de tiktok, el boom de los libros y los hombres con máscaras), ya que no se les explota y volvemos a la trama tradicional del chico malo con la chica que aparenta ser vainilla, pero le gusta el chocolate ❤️🔥
Por último, este serie es la de los hijos de otra serie, por lo que si quieren tener la experiencia completa podrían leer los otros y así entender mucho más la dinámica de los personajes, pero aún así, el autor da luces de las próximas relaciones con el final, lo que para mi fue 🙇🏻♀️
Thanks for the opportunity Jagger and VP<3
May 31, 2026
DNF page 169 it’s like reading god of wrath 2.0 version.
May 26, 2026
*** ARC REVIEW ***
One elite mafia college, four secret societies, and a lot of tension…
What can I say? It is sexy, intense and very dark - just the way we like it 😉 Please read the TW before you start this book.
:: Tropes ::
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Mafia romance
• Knife play
• Dark academia
• He falls first
• He stalks her
• Rival secret societies
• Morally grey anti-hero x Good Girl
• Dual POV
Jagger Cole writing is just magnificent. As soon as you start reading, the plot grabs you and it's almost impossible to stop.
This is the first book of the new series “Dark Descendants”, which features the heirs of families from previous series of Jagger Cole (you do not need to have read any prior book).
The Devil We Crave follows Yelena De Luca (daughter of Nero and Milena, from Dance of Madness) and Achilles Drakos (son of Ares and Neve, from Deviant Hearts).
During the summer, Yelena goes through something that leaves her traumatized. When Yelena is preparing her revenge, suddenly, caught off guard, the whole thing slips into one of her dark fantasies... With an unknown masked man.
“I’m looking at a Devil
A captivating nightmare”
The next day, she realizes that her masked man is none other than Achilles Drakos, the Golden Prince of Knightsblood, who apparently is not so golden. And her biggest mistake was drawing his attention. And now, she just became his prey.
Achilles became fascinated with Yelena and this consumes all of his thoughts. He wants to know everything about her, and he resorts to any means to get what he wants, even if they are morally wrong. She is his new and only obsession and he has no problem showing her that.
“She’s my forever obsession”
This is a toxic relationship, where the darkest fantasies are fulfilled. Achilles is sure of what he wants, but Yelena is struggling about her desires. She doesn't want to desire what she craves, but it's impossible to resist.
“He’s not just the inexorable pull of gravity beyond the edge of the cliff.
He’s the black, intrusive thought that makes me take that last step.”
In a distorted and twisted way, Achilles pulls Yelena to drop the mask and be herself, to accept what she really is and what she really wants. Between doubts and insecurities, he shows her how strong and who she really is, even if she doesn’t seems to acknowledge it.
Even when everything seems on the right path, Yelena and Achilles have to overcome some difficulties that will put their relationship to the test. Could their bound survive?
“I would do every single thing again, baby. Every ruthless calculating, unforgivable thing. Because the alternative is a world where you’re not mine, and I don’t even know how to want that world.”
I absolutely loved this book. I found the plot incredible, and the development of both characters was amazing: Yelena, who began to feel more confident about herself and show what she truly feels and wants, and Achilles, who, despite not regretting some of his actions, knows that they hurt Yelena and gives her the power of choice, instead of imposing it on her.
Jagger introduced a lot of characters in this book, but by following along with the family tree available on the author's website, you can keep up and understand the connections between them 😉 And it was pure delightful to “see” some of the characters from previous series.
Oh, and the tips that Jagger Cole left us regarding the next books in the series? Oh boy :D :D :D
Thank you Jagger Cole and Valentine PR for this ARC! I can’t wait for the next book.
One elite mafia college, four secret societies, and a lot of tension…
What can I say? It is sexy, intense and very dark - just the way we like it 😉 Please read the TW before you start this book.
:: Tropes ::
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Mafia romance
• Knife play
• Dark academia
• He falls first
• He stalks her
• Rival secret societies
• Morally grey anti-hero x Good Girl
• Dual POV
Jagger Cole writing is just magnificent. As soon as you start reading, the plot grabs you and it's almost impossible to stop.
This is the first book of the new series “Dark Descendants”, which features the heirs of families from previous series of Jagger Cole (you do not need to have read any prior book).
The Devil We Crave follows Yelena De Luca (daughter of Nero and Milena, from Dance of Madness) and Achilles Drakos (son of Ares and Neve, from Deviant Hearts).
During the summer, Yelena goes through something that leaves her traumatized. When Yelena is preparing her revenge, suddenly, caught off guard, the whole thing slips into one of her dark fantasies... With an unknown masked man.
“I’m looking at a Devil
A captivating nightmare”
The next day, she realizes that her masked man is none other than Achilles Drakos, the Golden Prince of Knightsblood, who apparently is not so golden. And her biggest mistake was drawing his attention. And now, she just became his prey.
Achilles became fascinated with Yelena and this consumes all of his thoughts. He wants to know everything about her, and he resorts to any means to get what he wants, even if they are morally wrong. She is his new and only obsession and he has no problem showing her that.
“She’s my forever obsession”
This is a toxic relationship, where the darkest fantasies are fulfilled. Achilles is sure of what he wants, but Yelena is struggling about her desires. She doesn't want to desire what she craves, but it's impossible to resist.
“He’s not just the inexorable pull of gravity beyond the edge of the cliff.
He’s the black, intrusive thought that makes me take that last step.”
In a distorted and twisted way, Achilles pulls Yelena to drop the mask and be herself, to accept what she really is and what she really wants. Between doubts and insecurities, he shows her how strong and who she really is, even if she doesn’t seems to acknowledge it.
Even when everything seems on the right path, Yelena and Achilles have to overcome some difficulties that will put their relationship to the test. Could their bound survive?
“I would do every single thing again, baby. Every ruthless calculating, unforgivable thing. Because the alternative is a world where you’re not mine, and I don’t even know how to want that world.”
I absolutely loved this book. I found the plot incredible, and the development of both characters was amazing: Yelena, who began to feel more confident about herself and show what she truly feels and wants, and Achilles, who, despite not regretting some of his actions, knows that they hurt Yelena and gives her the power of choice, instead of imposing it on her.
Jagger introduced a lot of characters in this book, but by following along with the family tree available on the author's website, you can keep up and understand the connections between them 😉 And it was pure delightful to “see” some of the characters from previous series.
Oh, and the tips that Jagger Cole left us regarding the next books in the series? Oh boy :D :D :D
Thank you Jagger Cole and Valentine PR for this ARC! I can’t wait for the next book.
Read
June 4, 2026Achilles Drakos is the guy everyone wants. Charming, gorgeous, popular, captain of the football team, and the untouchable golden god of Knightsblood University. But the more Yelena gets pulled into his world, the more that perfect image starts to crack, revealing something much darker underneath.
Honestly, for more than half of this book, I was right there with Yelena questioning everything and probably my own morals too. 😂 Every time Achilles did something completely unhinged, I found myself thinking, "Okay, that's awful... but also..." This book is dark romance through and through, and it had me constantly reevaluating where I draw the line.
One of my favorite parts was watching Achilles slowly realize that Yelena was her own person with her own thoughts, opinions, and choices. The man was genuinely struggling with the concept of her having agency, and I was laughing so hard every time it happened. 😂
The tension between these two was addictive, and I loved uncovering the darkness hidden beneath Achilles's golden boy facade. If you love your dark romances dark, obsessive, and morally questionable, this one definitely delivers.
Thank you Valentine PR for providing me a eARC before release day.
Honestly, for more than half of this book, I was right there with Yelena questioning everything and probably my own morals too. 😂 Every time Achilles did something completely unhinged, I found myself thinking, "Okay, that's awful... but also..." This book is dark romance through and through, and it had me constantly reevaluating where I draw the line.
One of my favorite parts was watching Achilles slowly realize that Yelena was her own person with her own thoughts, opinions, and choices. The man was genuinely struggling with the concept of her having agency, and I was laughing so hard every time it happened. 😂
The tension between these two was addictive, and I loved uncovering the darkness hidden beneath Achilles's golden boy facade. If you love your dark romances dark, obsessive, and morally questionable, this one definitely delivers.
Thank you Valentine PR for providing me a eARC before release day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2026
4.5⭐️ | 3.5🌶️
I have been DESPERATELY waiting for this book and omg it did not disappoint!!! My love for Jagger’s books started with the Dark Hearts series so finally getting the second gen honestly felt so full circle for me.
Achilles was absolutely unhinged in the best way possible. That man made ZERO apologies for the lengths he went to just to make Yelena his and honestly, I ate it tf up 🤣 Yelena really found herself with Achilles and I loved their chemistry right from the start. They’re so different on the surface but deep down they’re actually so similar.
The friend/family groups were chef’s kiss and I already have my suspicions about who’s getting paired up in the next few books and let me tell you right now, I am FERAL for some of these future couples 🤣
Seeing Ares & Neve again was SOOOOO GOOOD!!! Some of the moments had me dying laughing and I loved getting little moments with Nero & Milena too. And Laz…yeahhhh. Hi daddy 🥵
I’m really excited to see where this series goes next. Jagger always gives the perfect mix of suspense and spice and these books seriously never miss.
Thank you so much to Jagger & VPR for this ARC 🩷
I have been DESPERATELY waiting for this book and omg it did not disappoint!!! My love for Jagger’s books started with the Dark Hearts series so finally getting the second gen honestly felt so full circle for me.
Achilles was absolutely unhinged in the best way possible. That man made ZERO apologies for the lengths he went to just to make Yelena his and honestly, I ate it tf up 🤣 Yelena really found herself with Achilles and I loved their chemistry right from the start. They’re so different on the surface but deep down they’re actually so similar.
The friend/family groups were chef’s kiss and I already have my suspicions about who’s getting paired up in the next few books and let me tell you right now, I am FERAL for some of these future couples 🤣
Seeing Ares & Neve again was SOOOOO GOOOD!!! Some of the moments had me dying laughing and I loved getting little moments with Nero & Milena too. And Laz…yeahhhh. Hi daddy 🥵
I’m really excited to see where this series goes next. Jagger always gives the perfect mix of suspense and spice and these books seriously never miss.
Thank you so much to Jagger & VPR for this ARC 🩷
May 22, 2026
Thank you to Valentine PR for the ARC. This is my honest, voluntary review.
A dangerous obsession wrapped in velvet darkness
Some books pull you in with action. Others with romance. ‘The Devil We Crave’ by Jagger Cole sinks its claws into the reader through tension alone. The kind that lingers beneath every conversation, every touch, every threat that feels far too tempting to resist.
Jagger Cole creates a dark world filled with obsession, power, manipulation and desire, where love constantly balances on the edge of destruction. The chemistry between the characters burns from the very first moment and never truly lets go. Every interaction feels dangerous, emotionally charged and addictive in a way that makes it impossible to stop turning the pages.
What stood out most was the psychological push and pull. Beneath the dark romance and possessiveness hides vulnerability, trauma and emotional conflict that gives the story more depth than expected. The tension is not only physical but emotional, which makes the relationship feel intense and consuming.
The pacing occasionally slows in the middle with scenes that feel slightly repetitive, but the atmosphere remains strong enough to keep the story gripping throughout. The darker elements, the constant emotional conflict and the explosive chemistry easily carry the weaker moments.
‘The Devil We Crave’ is seductive, toxic, emotional and utterly addictive. A story where danger and desire become impossible to separate and where every chapter pulls the reader deeper into the darkness.
Dark Romance | Obsession | Possessive Hero | Morally Grey Characters | Power Dynamics | Emotional Damage | Dangerous Attraction | Touch Her and Die | Mafia Vibes | High Tension
A dangerous obsession wrapped in velvet darkness
Some books pull you in with action. Others with romance. ‘The Devil We Crave’ by Jagger Cole sinks its claws into the reader through tension alone. The kind that lingers beneath every conversation, every touch, every threat that feels far too tempting to resist.
Jagger Cole creates a dark world filled with obsession, power, manipulation and desire, where love constantly balances on the edge of destruction. The chemistry between the characters burns from the very first moment and never truly lets go. Every interaction feels dangerous, emotionally charged and addictive in a way that makes it impossible to stop turning the pages.
What stood out most was the psychological push and pull. Beneath the dark romance and possessiveness hides vulnerability, trauma and emotional conflict that gives the story more depth than expected. The tension is not only physical but emotional, which makes the relationship feel intense and consuming.
The pacing occasionally slows in the middle with scenes that feel slightly repetitive, but the atmosphere remains strong enough to keep the story gripping throughout. The darker elements, the constant emotional conflict and the explosive chemistry easily carry the weaker moments.
‘The Devil We Crave’ is seductive, toxic, emotional and utterly addictive. A story where danger and desire become impossible to separate and where every chapter pulls the reader deeper into the darkness.
Dark Romance | Obsession | Possessive Hero | Morally Grey Characters | Power Dynamics | Emotional Damage | Dangerous Attraction | Touch Her and Die | Mafia Vibes | High Tension
June 29, 2026
4⭐️
This is my first Jagger Cole book and I am obsessed 🖤. I loved Achilles and Yelena. I totally did not see that twist at the end coming and I LOVED IT!! Not their kink 🫨 but literally everything else was so freakin good.
This is what stopped it from being a 5⭐️ book. There is a huge info dump on so many characters in her previous books, and who they are in relation to these characters. I was overwhelmed and quite honestly a bit annoyed. I don’t need to know who they are, only those who are directly relevant to the two mains. Who you might need to tell me about because they are relevant to the set up for the next book ✔️. Everyone else … Nope 🤯.
This is my first Jagger Cole book and I am obsessed 🖤. I loved Achilles and Yelena. I totally did not see that twist at the end coming and I LOVED IT!! Not their kink 🫨 but literally everything else was so freakin good.
This is what stopped it from being a 5⭐️ book. There is a huge info dump on so many characters in her previous books, and who they are in relation to these characters. I was overwhelmed and quite honestly a bit annoyed. I don’t need to know who they are, only those who are directly relevant to the two mains. Who you might need to tell me about because they are relevant to the set up for the next book ✔️. Everyone else … Nope 🤯.
May 27, 2026
Okay let me start off by saying in general I do enjoy Jagger Cole’s books, some are a little amiss compared to others but overall I do enjoy them. I think it’s especially cool how intertwined story wise they all are, with that these books are very detail heavy.. it’s not going to be a simple mafia read, there’s a lot of characters and dialogues to keep up with
The reason for my 3/5 ⭐️ rating is this book just had some elements in it that I wasn’t a fan of… what I will say to anyone wanting to read this book and will read this review beforehand- PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS
The reason for my 3/5 ⭐️ rating is this book just had some elements in it that I wasn’t a fan of… what I will say to anyone wanting to read this book and will read this review beforehand- PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS
July 1, 2026
3.5/5⭐️
I enjoyed this one overall! It didn’t completely hook me or become a new favorite, but it had some really great moments that made it worth the read. Seeing Achilles’ parents again was such a fun surprise and definitely one of my favorite parts. A solid read that I’m glad I picked up.
I enjoyed this one overall! It didn’t completely hook me or become a new favorite, but it had some really great moments that made it worth the read. Seeing Achilles’ parents again was such a fun surprise and definitely one of my favorite parts. A solid read that I’m glad I picked up.
June 18, 2026
I didn’t love this one…
But I still love Jagger Cole. So 🤷🏻♀️.
But I still love Jagger Cole. So 🤷🏻♀️.
May 26, 2026
Yelena and Achilles are both students at Knightsblood, a college designed for mafia families. Achilles serves as the current president of Para Bellum, while Yelena is a member of the Order. Driven by a need for revenge against her attacker, the former president of Para Bellum, Yelena prepares for his return to campus during a party. As she plants evidence to set him up, she catches Achilles’ attention.
I’m not even sure where to start with this book. I’ve always enjoyed Jagger Cole’s work, which made this one especially disappointing. The overuse of “BookTok” references felt excessive and distracting. I also found myself struggling to see how the storyline fully came together.
Yelena, in particular, was difficult to connect with. She came across as immature and, at times, frustrating, especially given the direction the author seemed to want for her character. The plot itself was confusing, with moments that lacked clarity, as if the focus was more on setting up future books in the series than telling a complete story here.
Overall, I did find elements to enjoy, but the execution fell short. Unfortunately, the negatives outweighed the positives. However, I will continue with the series, because I really do enjoy this author's work.
Rating: 3/5
Spice: 3/5
Tropes: mafia, second gen, dark academia, primal play, knife play, virgin FMC, stalking - Check TW/CWs
***RECEIVED AN ARC FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
I’m not even sure where to start with this book. I’ve always enjoyed Jagger Cole’s work, which made this one especially disappointing. The overuse of “BookTok” references felt excessive and distracting. I also found myself struggling to see how the storyline fully came together.
Yelena, in particular, was difficult to connect with. She came across as immature and, at times, frustrating, especially given the direction the author seemed to want for her character. The plot itself was confusing, with moments that lacked clarity, as if the focus was more on setting up future books in the series than telling a complete story here.
Overall, I did find elements to enjoy, but the execution fell short. Unfortunately, the negatives outweighed the positives. However, I will continue with the series, because I really do enjoy this author's work.
Rating: 3/5
Spice: 3/5
Tropes: mafia, second gen, dark academia, primal play, knife play, virgin FMC, stalking - Check TW/CWs
***RECEIVED AN ARC FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
May 25, 2026
I am SO giddy!! Jagger Cole does it again. And honestly, i am not surprised.
Don’t get me wrong, this won’t be for the faint of heart.
Please please check your trigger warnings going into this.
When the stubborn as fuck man is put in his place and FINALLY sees what the issue is, i jumped for joy. I LOVE these two together, and watching their journeys together to find that place of understanding was just *chefs kiss*
Don’t get me wrong, this won’t be for the faint of heart.
Please please check your trigger warnings going into this.
When the stubborn as fuck man is put in his place and FINALLY sees what the issue is, i jumped for joy. I LOVE these two together, and watching their journeys together to find that place of understanding was just *chefs kiss*
July 10, 2026
I’m citing this book as evidence for the rise of anti-intellectualism. And I mean that with full offense.
July 13, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Yes this gave me everything I love and expect from a Jagger novel!
✔️ Unhinged and obsessed MMC
✔️ Professional following
✔️ Pearl clutching primal
✔️ JEALOUSY
✔️ Ride or die friendships
✔️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is a great introduction to a new series. I think starting off with the second gen from Dark Hearts and Darkest Dance was the best choice. Ares & Neve are icons and I knew their son would be just as iconic. And pairing him with Nero’s daughter? The psycho to rival all psychos? Absolute perfection.
Bonus points for meeting Val & Roman’s daughter, I loved seeing my babies as Dads. I cannot wait to see them again.
Yes this gave me everything I love and expect from a Jagger novel!
✔️ Unhinged and obsessed MMC
✔️ Professional following
✔️ Pearl clutching primal
✔️ JEALOUSY
✔️ Ride or die friendships
✔️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is a great introduction to a new series. I think starting off with the second gen from Dark Hearts and Darkest Dance was the best choice. Ares & Neve are icons and I knew their son would be just as iconic. And pairing him with Nero’s daughter? The psycho to rival all psychos? Absolute perfection.
Bonus points for meeting Val & Roman’s daughter, I loved seeing my babies as Dads. I cannot wait to see them again.
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