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Eight of Swords: Part One
Kade belongs to Iron Star.
Bodyguard to the man in charge and trusted left hand in all matters of force, he's spent years building protections inside their fortress. He's not authorised to leave, but why would he want to?
The Tower is his home.
Iron Star is his family.
Varrow City is his world.
And this is his life.
Until one night, someone breaks in and turns Kade’s life violently inside out.
Eight of Swords is a dark M/M romance with supernatural elements set in a modern criminal underworld.
Bodyguard to the man in charge and trusted left hand in all matters of force, he's spent years building protections inside their fortress. He's not authorised to leave, but why would he want to?
The Tower is his home.
Iron Star is his family.
Varrow City is his world.
And this is his life.
Until one night, someone breaks in and turns Kade’s life violently inside out.
Eight of Swords is a dark M/M romance with supernatural elements set in a modern criminal underworld.
- GenresM M Romance
554 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 15, 2026
Visceral writing. Incandescent relationships. Incredible momentum. Compelling characters. This was SUCH an excellent read. Lots of details that rewards rereading in a delightful way. The world building and lore are also fun and fresh. Cannot recommend Eight of Swords enough. There were so many times I had to put this down and take a few deep breaths because I was SO thrilled by the twists and turns.
I have the overwhelming urge to walk up to complete strangers and insist they drop everything now and read this book, so I’m offering this review, because really you should read this.
(Review of arc received from author).
I have the overwhelming urge to walk up to complete strangers and insist they drop everything now and read this book, so I’m offering this review, because really you should read this.
(Review of arc received from author).
June 25, 2026
Eight of Swords is such a confident, addictive, unapologetic debut.
This book starts right in the middle of danger. No slow warm-up. No gentle introduction. We are immediately in the action, learning who these characters are through what they do, what they risk, and the choices they make when everything is already going wrong.
And then you get the bodyguard/charge dynamic. I was seated.
I am a sucker for a bodyguard romance, so this book felt personally designed for me.
But what surprised me most was the worldbuilding. This is modern-day dark romance, yes, but the world keeps expanding the more you read. There are things happening beneath the surface, dark things, strange things, dangerous things, and every chapter pulls back another layer.
A lot of the story happens in one location, and you might think that would make the book feel small.
It does not.
So much happens there. The stakes keep shifting, the tension keeps building, and you completely forget that you are mostly in one place because the story never feels still.
The vibe? Obsession. Danger. Sex. Violence. Tenderness. Teeth.
This book is wild and dark, but it does not feel dark just to be shocking. The violence has a place. The horror has a place. The tenderness has a place. Nobody is just one thing. People have light and darkness in them, and this book understands that.
I kept reading, then rereading, highlighting, then closing my Kindle just to sit there and think about what I had just read. I wanted to finish it, but I also did not want it to end, so I kept slowing myself down like that would somehow give me more book.
Please check content warnings. This is dark romance and it means it. If you are easily offended, this might not be the book for you, but if you dare...this book deserves to be read not knowing what is coming.
But if you like MM romance with teeth, bodyguard dynamics, danger, obsession, fantasy/horror elements, and fanfic-level emotional intensity but polished into original fiction?
Read this.
Azriel Green, iconic behavior.
This book starts right in the middle of danger. No slow warm-up. No gentle introduction. We are immediately in the action, learning who these characters are through what they do, what they risk, and the choices they make when everything is already going wrong.
And then you get the bodyguard/charge dynamic. I was seated.
I am a sucker for a bodyguard romance, so this book felt personally designed for me.
But what surprised me most was the worldbuilding. This is modern-day dark romance, yes, but the world keeps expanding the more you read. There are things happening beneath the surface, dark things, strange things, dangerous things, and every chapter pulls back another layer.
A lot of the story happens in one location, and you might think that would make the book feel small.
It does not.
So much happens there. The stakes keep shifting, the tension keeps building, and you completely forget that you are mostly in one place because the story never feels still.
The vibe? Obsession. Danger. Sex. Violence. Tenderness. Teeth.
This book is wild and dark, but it does not feel dark just to be shocking. The violence has a place. The horror has a place. The tenderness has a place. Nobody is just one thing. People have light and darkness in them, and this book understands that.
I kept reading, then rereading, highlighting, then closing my Kindle just to sit there and think about what I had just read. I wanted to finish it, but I also did not want it to end, so I kept slowing myself down like that would somehow give me more book.
Please check content warnings. This is dark romance and it means it. If you are easily offended, this might not be the book for you, but if you dare...this book deserves to be read not knowing what is coming.
But if you like MM romance with teeth, bodyguard dynamics, danger, obsession, fantasy/horror elements, and fanfic-level emotional intensity but polished into original fiction?
Read this.
Azriel Green, iconic behavior.
June 24, 2026
Stunning read
Oh wow what a roller coaster ride, that was so good, gives you all the feels, rips you open and spins you round. I smiled, I cried it was so beautifully written only problem
I need the next one now. I never give details don’t want to ruin it for anyone else but this is a must read but beware ends on a cliffhanger. Regardless of that it’s a stunning read and a wild ride.
Oh wow what a roller coaster ride, that was so good, gives you all the feels, rips you open and spins you round. I smiled, I cried it was so beautifully written only problem
I need the next one now. I never give details don’t want to ruin it for anyone else but this is a must read but beware ends on a cliffhanger. Regardless of that it’s a stunning read and a wild ride.
June 19, 2026
Such gorgeous writing!!! I had to stop while reading multiple times to re-experience certain sentences. Also the story is so gripping, the world-building really impressive, the characters complex and the relationships between them to die for!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A fantastic, delicious and compelling story about love, family, finding one’s self and enduring bonds - a story to be devoured and bound to make you obsess over it.
The characters are so well fleshed out. So alive and complex. Even the villain - although they are absolutely vile, you cannot help but be fascinated by.
Azriel’s writing style is captivating, lush and sensory rich, using stunning imagery to describe the characters experiences and emotions. It’s the type of imagery that will make you stop and stare at the walls (at three o’clock in the morning) for a good minute as you are so astonished at how someone managed to find the right words to describe what seems to be indescribable.
A kaleidoscope of the beautifully chaotic human emotions, full of depth and intrigue. A mozaic masterpiece full of thrilling moments (the anticipation is REAL), unexpected twists and psychological games.
Buckle up and hold on tight for the ride - you’re in for a treat!
The characters are so well fleshed out. So alive and complex. Even the villain - although they are absolutely vile, you cannot help but be fascinated by.
Azriel’s writing style is captivating, lush and sensory rich, using stunning imagery to describe the characters experiences and emotions. It’s the type of imagery that will make you stop and stare at the walls (at three o’clock in the morning) for a good minute as you are so astonished at how someone managed to find the right words to describe what seems to be indescribable.
A kaleidoscope of the beautifully chaotic human emotions, full of depth and intrigue. A mozaic masterpiece full of thrilling moments (the anticipation is REAL), unexpected twists and psychological games.
Buckle up and hold on tight for the ride - you’re in for a treat!
July 8, 2026
Going into this, I was apprehensive. Modern mob romance isn't my usual genre; I'm a horror/classics/period piece person. However, holy shit am I glad I picked this one up !! the setting was lush enough to reel me into the modern setting, the writing lyrical enough to settle my classical sensibilities, and the action exciting enough to hook the adrenaline loving creature in me. I cannot stress this enough: this book is so SO fun. I've been reading all my life, but EOS made me feel like a kid again, flashlight in hand, book under the covers, trying not to wake my partner while I greedily devoured each new scene. I can't wait for the next installment and would recommend this to anyone who wants that feeling back, that early rush of getting addicted to a really good book.
June 18, 2026
Azriel knows how to write a damn good story. Every thing about Eight of Swords has me on the edge of my seat and eager to dive deeper into this incredibly dark and mysterious world that she has created. Her world building is immaculate and she adds so many little details that will make rereads so much fun. Her characters are so intricate and complex and real that I'm going to be sad to leave them behind when the story is finished.
Her prose alone will punch you in the gut and leave you breathless and if that's not staying power I don't know what is.
Her prose alone will punch you in the gut and leave you breathless and if that's not staying power I don't know what is.
June 19, 2026
Azriel Green is a world builder. They tell a story and completely transport you into these character’s lives, emotions, and relationships. Eight of Swords surprises you, pulls you in, slaps you in the face, and then cuddles you. It is full of complex characters, magic, darkness, and a beautiful romance. Green’s literary voice is truly something to behold. Do yourself a favor and read this book!!
July 4, 2026
Absolutely stunning. Could not put it down, and when I absolutely HAD to (for work, dinner, or reasons of basic human maintenance) I couldn't stop thinking about it. I don't know when book two comes out but I am gnawing at the bars of my enclosure in the meantime.
So many seeds were planted for the second book and I have so many theories. I am dying to see where it's headed.
So many seeds were planted for the second book and I have so many theories. I am dying to see where it's headed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
so poetic and full of intimate, nail biting action!!!
July 18, 2026
Interesting,but I couldn"t understand what''s happening most of the time or why exists magic in the present time,our time.So weird!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews