Injustice: Dark Romance Cartel/Mafia series

by Tarien van Tonder

INJUSTICE
"It's all lies, darling."

Ivanka Vargas has perfected the art of survival.

As the wife of a powerful cartel lieutenant, she's spent years hiding bruises beneath designer clothes, smiling through cruelty, and burying the woman she used to be. Escape isn't an option. Neither is hope.

Until she meets Judge Julian Kane.

Still grieving the murder of his younger sister, Julian has dedicated his life to justice. But when a routine court case places Ivanka in his path, he begins to see the cracks beneath her carefully crafted mask. The more he uncovers, the clearer it becomes that the law cannot protect a woman trapped inside a world built on violence, corruption, and blood.

As dangerous secrets begin to surface and powerful crime families tighten their grip, Julian and Ivanka are forced onto a collision course where every choice carries a price.

Because in a world ruled by lies...

Justice has never been black and white.

Sometimes the only way to survive is to become something far more dangerous.

Genres: Dark Romance

335 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2026

Reviews

[Avasha Lochan]

I gave this story a 4.5 stars because I absolutely loved it... Injustice is a standalone part of an interconnected world and even thou it revolves around its own set of characters the author has done an amazing job of tying it back to other characters present in her previous book Vice.

This is a dark mafia /Cartel Romance and has strong themes of good vs bad... Law vs crime and I loved every second of this story!!! From the way it starts all the way to how it ends I promise you won't see the twists coming until it slaps you in the face 😏

[Samantha]

First I want to say, that I am very grateful to have been part of this ARC read and experience.

Injustice focuses on Julian’s journey to find out the name of the person responsible for his sister’s murder. Lilly’s death changed him, the justice system he had upheld for years failed him, so he rose in power, became one of the youngest judges to be appointed. He used the systems, bending some rules but never fully falling off the legal line until he met Ivy.

Ivy is the wife of Raul Vasgas, a Mexican 3rd tier cartel/mob boss. When Nerissa, a vicious seductress of an attorney, assists in getting him pulled over for a DUI, the ball starts to roll quickly, spiraling out and threatening to expose all the skeletons hidden in the elite law and order families.

It is twisty, the characters are intense. The world surrounding the characters is interesting.

[Carmen]

I absolutely loved this one! 😍 And Ivy’s name actually sounding like poison?? I LIVE for those tiny little details.

Julian had me so intrigued because he really went from the seemingly perfect good guy, to morally grey, to wait… are we actually doing villain now? 👀 And I honestly had no idea what was coming half the time, which made it so much more fun.

That ending, though… DEVASTATING. 😭 And then he comes back?! 🫠🫠 I was emotionally destroyed, but at least you didn’t completely obliterate me Tarien 🤗

Also, I need Nerissa and Malachi’s story immediately, please and thank you. I really grew to love Nerissa and felt so much for her throughout the book. I’m genuinely so excited to see where her story goes next! ❤️

[Queen G]

I started this book and noticed there were small mistakes in spelling but then didn't read for a while and saw the author updated the book on Kindle. The changes made me read this book from the start!

Amazing job. This was the perfect book to follow Vice, or in the universe. I must say I need to know what happens next there are so many ways that this can go now. So many side characters could get their own story. The easter eggs the author left had me speculating what could come of this story, or even spin offs. I loved Julian his arc as a character felt earned and not forced. His whole personality wasn't just loving the FMC. But sorry not sorry I so enjoyed Nerissa more Than Ivy. I personally would have had them end up together. But I kind of have an inkling of where Nerissa's story will go if the author persues it.

5 stars! Love me mafia stories, this one was different because the FMC is from the world but not the MMC and its wasn't the whole plot. The way this author drew me in TWICE I felt like I read 2 different books both amazing but this latest version was the one!!

[Christine Jansen]

Injustice by Tarien Van Tonder is a dark romance about a judge looking into the death of his sister and he meets an interesting woman who is connected to the cartel and mafia.
I enjoyed the characters, Julian is your proper angsty male lead, he has trauma, he is dark, and solely consumed with one goal until…. He meets the lovely Ivy who is something else. My favourite character is Nerissa, she is head strong, direct and a little bit insane.
The pacing was perfect, I felt the tension, the push and pull of the characters. Tarien’s writing style is so unique and you really feel like you are in the characters head.
One of my favourite lines from Julian is –
“The perks of knowing the law were that you could twist it to win an argument, get away with small things the average Joe wouldn’t”
which really shows his character right off the bat.
I definitely think that anyone who enjoys anything to do with mafia and romance would really enjoy this book, its got the tension, its well researched into the darker side of things as well as the law.
I tabbed several scenes on my paperback that just had me giggling, or taking moments to walk away to breathe because she did a really good job at creating that sense of anxiety and unease when needed. The little easter eggs she has spread throughout were perfectly done.
I really enjoyed this book! FIVE STARS!
And I am so glad that she has another book about two of the side characters! Reading that next!!
I could go on but alas I don’t want to reveal spoilers!

[Atomic Girl]

I enjoyed this, this was different to the first book Vice, seeing those characters feature in this book was a great addition. But I think I fell in love with them more here and the ending was a twist and a half. Julian did irritate me and Ivy but then seeing how the author switched it up was wild. Nerissa stays my fav biatch though. I would definitely request she gets her own book.

5 stars because I enjoy a good plot twist

[Alissa Nox]

This was a different take on dark romance/mafia novel. But it was still a good read