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Nameless #1
Embriagado
He was poison, a lethal dose that a fool like me couldn’t resist. And despite all the warnings, I dove in headfirst, ready for a bloodied battle. Only no training could ever prepare me for Ariyan.
This wasn’t the result of a single mistake, but rather a series of catastrophic decisions that led to my self-destruction. Loving him was the same as worshipping a nameless god: pointless and destined to end with a sword.
But this was just the beginning of an endless road. Every kiss, every fight, every scratch revealed another piece of the filth lying beneath. Or maybe it was all exposed from the start, and I was too damn blind to see it.
𝙀𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙙𝙤 is a 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 and the first book in the Nameless duet. It’s a story that draws the line between bad and evil and is filled with morally bankrupt men. Simply put, Santiago and Ariyan’s affair is a cataclysm waiting to occur. Please continue with caution and note that the first installment ends with a cliffhanger and will continue in the second book.
**You can check the book preview for Trigger Warnings**
This wasn’t the result of a single mistake, but rather a series of catastrophic decisions that led to my self-destruction. Loving him was the same as worshipping a nameless god: pointless and destined to end with a sword.
But this was just the beginning of an endless road. Every kiss, every fight, every scratch revealed another piece of the filth lying beneath. Or maybe it was all exposed from the start, and I was too damn blind to see it.
𝙀𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙙𝙤 is a 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴-𝘵𝘰-𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 and the first book in the Nameless duet. It’s a story that draws the line between bad and evil and is filled with morally bankrupt men. Simply put, Santiago and Ariyan’s affair is a cataclysm waiting to occur. Please continue with caution and note that the first installment ends with a cliffhanger and will continue in the second book.
**You can check the book preview for Trigger Warnings**
558 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
August 14, 2026
This book is just what its name suggests. It’s intoxicating. It entrances you, pulling you by the hair and straight into a chokehold for 530 pages - overwhelmed, breathless, and wanting more.
Did I register the length? Not at all.
I don’t even know how to describe this. How to explain the multitude of intense emotions it dragged me through. And how to do it without spoilers, because forget the blurb or anything else, just go read it.
The number of times I said what the actual fuck and sat there with my mouth hanging open was ridiculous. So many secrets are revealed as the story goes that I swear I almost never knew what was coming next. Not in the obvious way, anyway 🤯
The plot, the twists, the way the story unfolded, it was all simply genius. As was the way the POVs were handled throughout the book.
I was wondering so hard why it says enemies-to-lovers that I actually checked the description SIX TIMES.
Well, hell.
I did NOT expect that 🤯
The dynamic between Santiago and Ariyan was pure electricity, explosions, fire - the most intoxicating push and pull right up until the very last pages ❤🔥
The chemistry was so intense, with real REAL hate. THE HATE. The kind you don’t see very often.
Why is hate sex so hot?! Phew 🥵
“From the corner of my eye, I managed to see him placing the gun on the desk, not that I cared.
Even if he had it pressed to my head, I wouldn’t fucking stop.”
Santiago is my sweetest baby. I wanted to hug him almost the entire time 🥺
And Ariyan.. I just can’t.
You don’t have any idea what this man went through 😭
Honestly, everything between them was so unique. I don’t even have comparisons or similar books to name. And the complexity of the plot kept everything on edge the entire time.
Up to maybe 60%, I still had absolutely no idea where we were heading, and what the hell was going to happen between them.
And then you get smacked in the face with some of the most insane pain and deep, awful trauma 🤯
I actually needed to take a breath after that 😭
And as the story went on, I became seriously overwhelmed and borderline scared of what the cliffhanger was going to be.
Wanna know?
I couldn’t even cry.
Scared doesn’t cover it. My heart broke so hard, and there was just this mix of dread and desperation, and I just can’t 😭
The only thing keeping me remotely sane is that it’s only two months until Embellesado
I knew I would probably love this book.
I did not know the beginning of it.
What an evil genius you are, Tal Lewin 🖤
Did I register the length? Not at all.
I don’t even know how to describe this. How to explain the multitude of intense emotions it dragged me through. And how to do it without spoilers, because forget the blurb or anything else, just go read it.
The number of times I said what the actual fuck and sat there with my mouth hanging open was ridiculous. So many secrets are revealed as the story goes that I swear I almost never knew what was coming next. Not in the obvious way, anyway 🤯
The plot, the twists, the way the story unfolded, it was all simply genius. As was the way the POVs were handled throughout the book.
I was wondering so hard why it says enemies-to-lovers that I actually checked the description SIX TIMES.
Well, hell.
I did NOT expect that 🤯
The dynamic between Santiago and Ariyan was pure electricity, explosions, fire - the most intoxicating push and pull right up until the very last pages ❤🔥
The chemistry was so intense, with real REAL hate. THE HATE. The kind you don’t see very often.
Why is hate sex so hot?! Phew 🥵
“From the corner of my eye, I managed to see him placing the gun on the desk, not that I cared.
Even if he had it pressed to my head, I wouldn’t fucking stop.”
Santiago is my sweetest baby. I wanted to hug him almost the entire time 🥺
And Ariyan.. I just can’t.
You don’t have any idea what this man went through 😭
Honestly, everything between them was so unique. I don’t even have comparisons or similar books to name. And the complexity of the plot kept everything on edge the entire time.
Up to maybe 60%, I still had absolutely no idea where we were heading, and what the hell was going to happen between them.
And then you get smacked in the face with some of the most insane pain and deep, awful trauma 🤯
I actually needed to take a breath after that 😭
And as the story went on, I became seriously overwhelmed and borderline scared of what the cliffhanger was going to be.
Wanna know?
I couldn’t even cry.
Scared doesn’t cover it. My heart broke so hard, and there was just this mix of dread and desperation, and I just can’t 😭
The only thing keeping me remotely sane is that it’s only two months until Embellesado
I knew I would probably love this book.
I did not know the beginning of it.
What an evil genius you are, Tal Lewin 🖤
Review of advance copy
Received an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I can't begin to imagine how difficult it is to write a book, so I hope this doesn't sound demanding, but I am going to need two things from Tal Lewin. The first is that second book because that cliffhanger… left me desperate to get deeper into this new world and the complex characters she has created. And the second thing is for her to never stop writing because with every book I have read of hers, I just keep getting more and more impressed, and with Embriagado, it was no different.
This book was sooo good! It hooked me from the start. It's dark, intense, emotional, and filled with so many moments that made me, as a reader, truly feel. It's a complex story with two morally gray characters, Santiago and Ariyan, who are so toxic for each other, but you can’t help but fall in love with them individually and as a pair. Both MMCs are carrying their own heavy baggage that has shaped their lives and personalities, and getting to know them has been such a journey.
“You see, you love violence. You live for it, while I am violence.” My breath caught, and I stared at him as he let go of my jaw “It’s why you can’t resist me, El Embriagado. I’m made out of the poison you love getting drunk on. Every time you take a sip—all you want is to have another one.”
These are two broken, imperfect men who find themselves in each other's lives and develop a passionate connection, one deeply infected by their past. But throughout this first installment, we watch it slowly grow into the possibility of something more. Even though it's still infected, there is that spark of freedom they are both searching for.
Their dynamic was absolutely addictive. Their banter was just so good, and I need more. I love how true of an enemies-to-lovers story this book is because we see Santiago's instant obsession with Ariyan, but we also get to witness the resentment that exists between them. There is no instant love. We get to see the attraction mixed with hate, and that makes the tension so freaking good. I love when the cold-hearted MMC starts to break for the soft-hearted man he pretends to hate... ugh soooo good. I also love how the conversations and the way this book moved were able to portray those gradual changes in each MMC's feelings toward the other. In this first book, we are seeing the beginning and possibility of them, and now I am dying to see how they survive everything that threatens to tear them apart.
“Being with him felt like jumping off a cliff, a rush so intense you couldn’t give a shit about dying. Whether it was sheer stupidity or maybe just pure fatalism, it didn’t matter because he was worth it. He was worth the thrill, the pain, and the danger. He was worth it all.”
“Whenever it came to him, I acted on instinct, moving like a drunk person fumbling in the dark, searching for his poison. Every kiss felt like another sip, every fuck another high, serving as a quick fix for the deep thirst settling in my core— one that could never truly be satisfied.”
“His stare validated me beyond words. It made me feel alive, but mostly, it was the air I starved to breathe. The top of the mountain I wished to climb and the prize I so desperately sought to win, may the consequences be damned.”
We are getting a new world of violence, sin, unfairness, and so many twists and mysteries, where the author guides you through the story, revealing just the necessary information because every detail, situation, and person, just everything, has a reason and purpose that will be explained at the right moment. That is one of the things I have learned to absolutely love about Tal Lewin's books: never doubt her clever planning of the storyline.
In this first installment, there is still so much mystery surrounding not only the plot but also the characters, especially Ariyan, who feels like we just scratched the surface of who he is. But based on this author's previous books, I have no doubt that by the end, every question I have right now will be answered in the clever and well-planned way I have come to expect from her, and I love that. It makes me so much more excited for the second book.
The writing was really good, but I didn't expect anything less. There were so many beautifully written lines in the characters' thoughts and conversations that once again left me impressed and reminded me why I feel so connected to Tal Lewin's writing style. I do have to mention, though, that the pacing at times was different from what I am used to. There were some small jumps in time that didn't actually affect the story at all, but I did notice them. It is more of a personal preference than anything bad about the book. Other than that small detail, I really enjoyed how the story moved. It was easy to follow, and there was no room to get lost.
This review has been hard to write because I just want to talk about every single detail of this book, every question, doubt, suspicion, and hope I have for the rest of Santiago's and Ariyan's story. I want to share so many incredible quotes from the beautiful words of this author. So writing this review without spoiling anything has been a challenge since this is my first ARC ever (I’ll try not to make it a huge thing, but it kind of is for me). I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review this book before its release, and I can confirm that it is worth every page, soooo I will indeed be here, just waiting for the second book of this duet.
I can't begin to imagine how difficult it is to write a book, so I hope this doesn't sound demanding, but I am going to need two things from Tal Lewin. The first is that second book because that cliffhanger… left me desperate to get deeper into this new world and the complex characters she has created. And the second thing is for her to never stop writing because with every book I have read of hers, I just keep getting more and more impressed, and with Embriagado, it was no different.
This book was sooo good! It hooked me from the start. It's dark, intense, emotional, and filled with so many moments that made me, as a reader, truly feel. It's a complex story with two morally gray characters, Santiago and Ariyan, who are so toxic for each other, but you can’t help but fall in love with them individually and as a pair. Both MMCs are carrying their own heavy baggage that has shaped their lives and personalities, and getting to know them has been such a journey.
“You see, you love violence. You live for it, while I am violence.” My breath caught, and I stared at him as he let go of my jaw “It’s why you can’t resist me, El Embriagado. I’m made out of the poison you love getting drunk on. Every time you take a sip—all you want is to have another one.”
These are two broken, imperfect men who find themselves in each other's lives and develop a passionate connection, one deeply infected by their past. But throughout this first installment, we watch it slowly grow into the possibility of something more. Even though it's still infected, there is that spark of freedom they are both searching for.
Their dynamic was absolutely addictive. Their banter was just so good, and I need more. I love how true of an enemies-to-lovers story this book is because we see Santiago's instant obsession with Ariyan, but we also get to witness the resentment that exists between them. There is no instant love. We get to see the attraction mixed with hate, and that makes the tension so freaking good. I love when the cold-hearted MMC starts to break for the soft-hearted man he pretends to hate... ugh soooo good. I also love how the conversations and the way this book moved were able to portray those gradual changes in each MMC's feelings toward the other. In this first book, we are seeing the beginning and possibility of them, and now I am dying to see how they survive everything that threatens to tear them apart.
“Being with him felt like jumping off a cliff, a rush so intense you couldn’t give a shit about dying. Whether it was sheer stupidity or maybe just pure fatalism, it didn’t matter because he was worth it. He was worth the thrill, the pain, and the danger. He was worth it all.”
“Whenever it came to him, I acted on instinct, moving like a drunk person fumbling in the dark, searching for his poison. Every kiss felt like another sip, every fuck another high, serving as a quick fix for the deep thirst settling in my core— one that could never truly be satisfied.”
“His stare validated me beyond words. It made me feel alive, but mostly, it was the air I starved to breathe. The top of the mountain I wished to climb and the prize I so desperately sought to win, may the consequences be damned.”
We are getting a new world of violence, sin, unfairness, and so many twists and mysteries, where the author guides you through the story, revealing just the necessary information because every detail, situation, and person, just everything, has a reason and purpose that will be explained at the right moment. That is one of the things I have learned to absolutely love about Tal Lewin's books: never doubt her clever planning of the storyline.
In this first installment, there is still so much mystery surrounding not only the plot but also the characters, especially Ariyan, who feels like we just scratched the surface of who he is. But based on this author's previous books, I have no doubt that by the end, every question I have right now will be answered in the clever and well-planned way I have come to expect from her, and I love that. It makes me so much more excited for the second book.
The writing was really good, but I didn't expect anything less. There were so many beautifully written lines in the characters' thoughts and conversations that once again left me impressed and reminded me why I feel so connected to Tal Lewin's writing style. I do have to mention, though, that the pacing at times was different from what I am used to. There were some small jumps in time that didn't actually affect the story at all, but I did notice them. It is more of a personal preference than anything bad about the book. Other than that small detail, I really enjoyed how the story moved. It was easy to follow, and there was no room to get lost.
This review has been hard to write because I just want to talk about every single detail of this book, every question, doubt, suspicion, and hope I have for the rest of Santiago's and Ariyan's story. I want to share so many incredible quotes from the beautiful words of this author. So writing this review without spoiling anything has been a challenge since this is my first ARC ever (I’ll try not to make it a huge thing, but it kind of is for me). I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review this book before its release, and I can confirm that it is worth every page, soooo I will indeed be here, just waiting for the second book of this duet.
September 7, 2026
OMFG??? 6 MILLION STARS. OMW TO PREORDER THE SECOND BOOK 🏃♀️➡️ I NEED IT NOW
August 16, 2026
i have never read a book by Tal that i didn’t love and foam at the mouth over.
that being said… wtf did i just read? toxic from the first page, i was confused for most of this, enjoyed every single second, ate it up, salivated. I NEED THE SECOND ONE RIGHT NOW. 😮💨😮💨😮💨
that being said… wtf did i just read? toxic from the first page, i was confused for most of this, enjoyed every single second, ate it up, salivated. I NEED THE SECOND ONE RIGHT NOW. 😮💨😮💨😮💨
August 22, 2026
Finished this book in one day and I’ve never read so many plot twists in one book before. Definitely had me screaming, laughing and at the edge of my seat the entire time. I am SO ready for the final book to end this duet. Who does it better than tal? A well deserved 5 star read, if I could give it more starts I would ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 17, 2026
This hooked me right from the start and I kind of felt like I flew through it despite it being a longer book! This is dark, the characters are morally grey and it does tackle some more heavier/sensitive topics.
Ariyan and Santiago "meet" one night and I felt like that put them on this whole trajectory that will put them to the test before ending happily. I can't wait for the second book to release because that cliffhanger.... there are so many things happening right at the end and I NEED to see how everything goes down and works out.
Santiago is indeed like a dog as Ariyan says, although I would call him a puppy. He's so loyal to Ariyan, willing to help him and do anything even when Ariyan talks down to him or is cruel to him. He might seem naive and impulsive, but he's brave and a good person, despite his history and what life threw at him. Ariyan is well Ariyan. I feel like we don't know the extent of what he's been through, although we can guess at it. Everything Ariyan has gone through has shaped him and influences his actions in the present. I feel like deep down Ariyan is a good person, but he doesn't feel like one given the things he's had to do to survive, and the things he's willing to do to survive. Ariyan and Santiago are somewhat toxic, with a very love/hate relationship amd things between them changing fast when truths come out.
This book felt fast paced and action packed and it kept me turning page after page to see what happens with the main characters.
If you enjoy enemies to lovers, dark themes, broken men and a good helping of obsession then this is the book for you.
Ariyan and Santiago "meet" one night and I felt like that put them on this whole trajectory that will put them to the test before ending happily. I can't wait for the second book to release because that cliffhanger.... there are so many things happening right at the end and I NEED to see how everything goes down and works out.
Santiago is indeed like a dog as Ariyan says, although I would call him a puppy. He's so loyal to Ariyan, willing to help him and do anything even when Ariyan talks down to him or is cruel to him. He might seem naive and impulsive, but he's brave and a good person, despite his history and what life threw at him. Ariyan is well Ariyan. I feel like we don't know the extent of what he's been through, although we can guess at it. Everything Ariyan has gone through has shaped him and influences his actions in the present. I feel like deep down Ariyan is a good person, but he doesn't feel like one given the things he's had to do to survive, and the things he's willing to do to survive. Ariyan and Santiago are somewhat toxic, with a very love/hate relationship amd things between them changing fast when truths come out.
This book felt fast paced and action packed and it kept me turning page after page to see what happens with the main characters.
If you enjoy enemies to lovers, dark themes, broken men and a good helping of obsession then this is the book for you.
June 21, 2026
New characters, amazing plot, and so many twists!! Embriagado is another 5-star read!
Santiago and Ariyan have such a complicated and tangled love story, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever read. The true, absolute loathing to lovers was so much fun. When I got this book the first time, I was screaming at the end of the story. There is a cliffhanger, but I just KNOW it’s going to be worth the wait! I can’t wait to read this again… and again…and again…
And of course, thank you, Tal Lewin, for allowing me to continue to beta-read for you!
Santiago and Ariyan have such a complicated and tangled love story, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever read. The true, absolute loathing to lovers was so much fun. When I got this book the first time, I was screaming at the end of the story. There is a cliffhanger, but I just KNOW it’s going to be worth the wait! I can’t wait to read this again… and again…and again…
And of course, thank you, Tal Lewin, for allowing me to continue to beta-read for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What I love about Tal Levin is that she always finds a way to surprise me and this book was amazingly intense. Clearly, I was not ready for it, and I enjoyed every page, slowly waiting for the catastrophe I knew would be coming because it’s Tal, but it still went beyond my expectations. As usual, please read the trigger warnings first.
Santiago has made mistakes, now he’s trying to change his life and take care of his little brother, first thing is, he has to find a job. Lucky him the h0t manager of a luxurious hotel believes in second chance and accepts to hire him. From that moment starts a real obsession from Santiago, Ariyan is the light of his days, shining so bright and feeling out of reach but it does not prevent Santiago from trying his luck and laying down some heavy flirting which has its impact from time to time. When past meets present, Santiago has to make a choice that will change his life and free his inner beast.
Ariyan is such a complex character, from the beginning, his sweetness and kindness feel fake. From his past, he is trying to break free and for this, he will have no remorse and use every tool he might need including the tall man now working for him.
Writing without spoilers is not easy, but I can tell that the story and the writing are intense. The clash between Santiago and Ariyan makes sparks, the dynamic and the rhythm of the book are truly consuming. And I cannot wait for you to discover these new characters.
Also, come on, loved the cameos !
I received an ARC Copy of this book, this review is from my own thoughts 😍
Santiago has made mistakes, now he’s trying to change his life and take care of his little brother, first thing is, he has to find a job. Lucky him the h0t manager of a luxurious hotel believes in second chance and accepts to hire him. From that moment starts a real obsession from Santiago, Ariyan is the light of his days, shining so bright and feeling out of reach but it does not prevent Santiago from trying his luck and laying down some heavy flirting which has its impact from time to time. When past meets present, Santiago has to make a choice that will change his life and free his inner beast.
Ariyan is such a complex character, from the beginning, his sweetness and kindness feel fake. From his past, he is trying to break free and for this, he will have no remorse and use every tool he might need including the tall man now working for him.
Writing without spoilers is not easy, but I can tell that the story and the writing are intense. The clash between Santiago and Ariyan makes sparks, the dynamic and the rhythm of the book are truly consuming. And I cannot wait for you to discover these new characters.
Also, come on, loved the cameos !
I received an ARC Copy of this book, this review is from my own thoughts 😍
August 21, 2026
I KNEW TAL LEWIN WAS GOING TO DO THIS TO ME.
I got busy toward the end of reading this because I had a friend visiting, but I am also convinced some part of me was purposely procrastinating finishing it since: 1. I would have to wait for the sequel and 2. I KNEW Tal Lewin was going to leave me with some insane cliffhanger that would have me staring at my screen in disbelief.
Honestly though, the cliffhanger could have been much worse. Is Santiago currently in a bit of a predicament? Yes. Am I concerned? Also yes. But considering some of the scenarios I had created in my head, I will take it. 😭
This book was chaotic, violent, hilarious, heartbreaking, freaky, and somehow ridiculously tender all at once. So basically, exactly what I wanted.
⚠️ WARNING: I apologize, I got carried away so this review is not short, but skip to Overall Thoughts and Final Thoughts for the summed up versions.
ᯓ🥊 Overall Thoughts
One of my favorite things about Tal Lewin’s books is that no matter how dark the actual story gets, the characters are still allowed to be funny. Embriagado might deal with murder, exploitation, poverty, abuse, trauma, and enough morally questionable behavior to fill several courtrooms, but Santiago and Ariyan will still find time to argue over a succulent (one of my favorite scenes tbh).
The PETTINESS. The SASS. I ate it up.
Ariyan making Santiago do increasingly ridiculous tasks because he was trying to break him (guarding a succulent for eight hours, counting ice cubes, sweeping sand on the beach) only for Santiago to just KEEP DOING THEM??? I was crying laughing. And then Ariyan realizing he was running out of ideas because this, as Ari would say, “idiot” apparently could not be defeated made it even better.
I loved them.
But underneath all of that ridiculousness, this book gets dark. The more we learned about Ariyan, the more so many of his behaviors started clicking into place. Lewin has a habit of making me look at a character and go “oh my, this asshole” and then handing me their backstory ten chapters later and making me feel guilty.
And unfortunately, it works on me every single time.
ᯓ🥊 Santiago
SANTIAGO RIVAS, THE D1 CRASHOUT THAT YOU ARE.
I loved him so much.
He is impulsive, horny, violent, stupid (lovingly), and has approximately zero self-preservation instincts, but somehow he also has such a huge heart.
One thing I especially loved was how much of Santiago’s character is built around loyalty. His relationship with Nacio was probably one of my favorite parts outside of the romance. He complains about him, threatens him, calls him an idiot every five seconds, but that is his baby brother and you can feel how much Santiago loves him. Their relationship felt so genuinely sibling-like. The kind where you can argue, annoy the hell out of each other, and probably say things you don’t mean, but when it actually matters, there is never a question that they’d be the one that has your back.
And despite Santiago being a criminal and someone who solves a good chunk of his problems with his fists, he has such a strong sense of right and wrong in the areas that matter to him. There were multiple moments where his immediate instinct was to protect someone vulnerable, even when doing so could get him into trouble.
That contrast made him feel so much more human.
I also loved how emotionally perceptive he could be despite everyone constantly calling him stupid. He might not be super book-smart, but he notices people. He could tell when Ariyan was lying about his family. He noticed when something was wrong. And once he started understanding the pieces of Ari that he desperately tried to keep hidden, Santiago showed him so much empathy.
The man might have a monkey playing cymbals inside his head sometimes, but he has emotional intelligence where it counts.
ᯓ🥊 Ariyan
Oh Ariyan.
I got some of the same emotional whiplash from this man that I got from Shay-Lee in Explosive Prejudice. I would love him, then he'd do something and I'd be sitting there like ARIYAN WHAT THE FUCK, then Lewin would show me another piece of his past and suddenly I was clutching my chest feeling horrible for him again.
There were multiple points where I genuinely could not decide whether I wanted Santiago to kiss him or stay approximately 500 feet away from him.
And I LOVED that.
Ariyan is so interesting because so much of what initially comes across as coldness or cruelty starts making sense as we learn more about him. Not necessarily becoming okay, because this man has done some insane things, but understandable.
His relationship with control especially broke my heart. He is so particular about everything: his appearance, his home, his clothes, his tea, his hotel, even how things are positioned. At first it is funny because he's just this incredibly posh, judgmental man being horrified by Santiago's existence, but the more you learn about how little control Ariyan has actually had over his own life, the sadder those little things become.
And his backstory??? TAL LEWIN COUNT YOUR DAYS.
Learning about his childhood, his mother, what happened after she died, the people who exploited him, and then the debt that essentially means even his current luxurious life doesn't belong to him . . . suddenly this polished, controlled version of Ariyan felt completely different.
Finding out about his debt and his past with Santiago contributing to that debt was striking, and it hurt.
I had to sit there for a second.
Because suddenly there is another layer to why Ariyan despises Santiago so much while simultaneously being unable to stay away from him.
ᯓ🥊 Santiago & Ariyan
With so much love: what a fucking disaster.
Their relationship is so unhealthy in ways that the book KNOWS are unhealthy, which is important to me. They hurt each other. They misunderstand each other. They manipulate each other. They both have massive trust issues and unresolved trauma between them.
And yet I completely understand why they're drawn to one another.
From the beginning, Santiago is basically bewitched by Ariyan. Meanwhile Ariyan acts like Santiago is the most irritating creature ever placed on this earth while tracking his phone, watching him constantly, getting jealous, and inventing increasingly elaborate excuses to keep him around.
Yeah yeah. You hate him. Sure.
I especially loved watching the balance between them slowly shift. Santiago starts out desperate for any crumb of Ariyan's attention while Ariyan holds almost all of the power. Then slowly, Ariyan starts slipping. He gets jealous. He starts waiting for Santiago to show up. He keeps the “stupid” fox keychain. He starts letting Santiago ask questions. He shows vulnerability. Suddenly this isn't nearly as one-sided as Ariyan would like everyone to believe.
Also Dion clocking that their obsession went both ways?? 🤭
And then the little domestic moments???
Those got me more than anything.
For two people whose relationship started with violence and continued through enough chaos to concern several licensed professionals, their soft moments were adorable.
Which obviously means Tal Lewin had to ruin my happiness approximately five seconds later.
Their fight toward the end HURT. What made it worse was that I understood both of them. Santiago realizing that Ariyan had manipulated a situation to get the result he wanted confirmed every fear Santiago had that Ariyan didn't actually care about his feelings. Then Santiago hits Ariyan exactly where it hurts with what he says, and Ariyan immediately falls back into the belief that men cannot be trusted.
But that's also why I am so invested. Neither of them is magically healed because they fell in love. Their trauma actively affects the way they interpret each other's actions, and loving someone doesn't suddenly undo years of learning how to survive.
Also, the nicknames. 🫠 Zorrito had me melting.
ᯓ🥊 THE STEAM
Well.
Tal Lewin.
Thank you for your service.
I had to put the device down on multiple occasions.
Their chemistry was already insane when they were just flirting, but once they actually crossed that line it somehow got better.
Santiago being completely shameless about how badly he wanted Ariyan also made everything ten times funnier. This man had NO dignity left. Ariyan could insult his intelligence, threaten him, call him a dog, and Santiago would basically be like "okay but are we fucking or . . .?”
Stand up, king.
Actually don't. Ariyan probably told you to stay down.
ᯓ🥊 The Side Characters / Bad Inceptions Universe
One thing Tal Lewin will ALWAYS get me with is connecting these characters without making the cameos feel pointless.
Seeing Shay-Lee and Diesel at the beginning had me clutching my shirt because I KNEW IT. I love getting these little glimpses of everyone outside their own books and seeing how intertwined this whole world actually is.
However.
We need to discuss the elephant in the room.
ᯓ🥊 DION.
DION BIANCHI MY BELOVED.
I swear I go to Tal Lewin's account at least once a week just to look at this man.
I cannot wait for his book.
Every single time he appeared in Embriagado, I lost my mind a little bit. I know I should hate him but he is just so strange and charming and unsettling at the same time, and I need approximately 900 pages of him immediately.
And Nacio???
Dion immediately being intrigued by him while Nacio is basically like "this dude's a fucking weirdo" had me laughing my butt off. Nacio insisting he's not gay while Dion looks at him like he's just been handed a new toy??? Oh I see the vision.
ᯓ🥊 Themes & The Darker Side
For how chaotic this book is, I think some of its strongest moments came from how it handled trauma and the idea of becoming the thing that hurt you.
Ariyan especially exists in this uncomfortable space where he has been horribly victimized but has also become someone capable of doing horrible things himself. The book never makes those two things cancel each other out.
He can comfort someone in one moment and kill them in the next.
That one scene with the young siren??? I genuinely got whiplash. Lewin had me thinking we were getting this rare, tender glimpse of Ariyan's humanity and then—
NOPE.
Hand over my mouth. Shirt pulled up over my face. WTF.
But that scene also says so much about Ariyan. There is still empathy in him. There is still a person who recognizes suffering because he has lived it. But he has survived for so long in a world where compassion can get you killed that his version of mercy has become completely warped.
That's what makes him so interesting to me.
And Santiago is almost his opposite. Santiago has also lived surrounded by poverty and violence, and he is absolutely capable of hurting people, but somehow he has held onto this stubborn belief that certain things are simply wrong. Ariyan believes the result can justify how you get there, but Santiago cares about the how.
Watching those two moral systems collide was one of my favorite parts of the book.
ᯓ🥊 Final Thoughts
I knew going into this that Embriagado wasn't going to give me a neat little romance tied up with a bow, especially since this is only part one, but somehow I am even more invested now than I expected to be.
Santiago and Ariyan are messy as hell. They hurt each other. They want each other. They make each other insane. They also see parts of one another that nobody else seems to.
And after everything we learned about Ariyan, watching him finally admit, even just to himself, how much Santiago means to him was beautiful.
“You're my exception, Santiago.”
Yeah. Goodbye.
Overall, Tal Lewin has done it again, and now I’ll be thinking about these two disasters until the sequel comes out.
Highlights:
[Note: I am a chronic highlighter so I know exactly where I was at at any point in the book looking back. Some are silly, some are thoughtful—it varies]
Total Highlights: 1,302 . . . (a good chunk of these were Dion)
ᯓ🥊 So here are 5 silly ones out of context:
- “Santiago is having the lock in of a lifetime”
- “tell me the cliffhanger ends on them killing this bastard”
- “OH THANK YOU FOR THIS CRUMB I’M LIKE A STARVING MAN WISHING FOR BREAD “
- “#TakeAShotEveryTimeAriyanCallsSantiStupid”
- “I’ll take “I’m in love with my boss” for $400”
I got busy toward the end of reading this because I had a friend visiting, but I am also convinced some part of me was purposely procrastinating finishing it since: 1. I would have to wait for the sequel and 2. I KNEW Tal Lewin was going to leave me with some insane cliffhanger that would have me staring at my screen in disbelief.
Honestly though, the cliffhanger could have been much worse. Is Santiago currently in a bit of a predicament? Yes. Am I concerned? Also yes. But considering some of the scenarios I had created in my head, I will take it. 😭
This book was chaotic, violent, hilarious, heartbreaking, freaky, and somehow ridiculously tender all at once. So basically, exactly what I wanted.
⚠️ WARNING: I apologize, I got carried away so this review is not short, but skip to Overall Thoughts and Final Thoughts for the summed up versions.
ᯓ🥊 Overall Thoughts
One of my favorite things about Tal Lewin’s books is that no matter how dark the actual story gets, the characters are still allowed to be funny. Embriagado might deal with murder, exploitation, poverty, abuse, trauma, and enough morally questionable behavior to fill several courtrooms, but Santiago and Ariyan will still find time to argue over a succulent (one of my favorite scenes tbh).
The PETTINESS. The SASS. I ate it up.
Ariyan making Santiago do increasingly ridiculous tasks because he was trying to break him (guarding a succulent for eight hours, counting ice cubes, sweeping sand on the beach) only for Santiago to just KEEP DOING THEM??? I was crying laughing. And then Ariyan realizing he was running out of ideas because this, as Ari would say, “idiot” apparently could not be defeated made it even better.
I loved them.
But underneath all of that ridiculousness, this book gets dark. The more we learned about Ariyan, the more so many of his behaviors started clicking into place. Lewin has a habit of making me look at a character and go “oh my, this asshole” and then handing me their backstory ten chapters later and making me feel guilty.
And unfortunately, it works on me every single time.
ᯓ🥊 Santiago
SANTIAGO RIVAS, THE D1 CRASHOUT THAT YOU ARE.
I loved him so much.
He is impulsive, horny, violent, stupid (lovingly), and has approximately zero self-preservation instincts, but somehow he also has such a huge heart.
One thing I especially loved was how much of Santiago’s character is built around loyalty. His relationship with Nacio was probably one of my favorite parts outside of the romance. He complains about him, threatens him, calls him an idiot every five seconds, but that is his baby brother and you can feel how much Santiago loves him. Their relationship felt so genuinely sibling-like. The kind where you can argue, annoy the hell out of each other, and probably say things you don’t mean, but when it actually matters, there is never a question that they’d be the one that has your back.
And despite Santiago being a criminal and someone who solves a good chunk of his problems with his fists, he has such a strong sense of right and wrong in the areas that matter to him. There were multiple moments where his immediate instinct was to protect someone vulnerable, even when doing so could get him into trouble.
That contrast made him feel so much more human.
I also loved how emotionally perceptive he could be despite everyone constantly calling him stupid. He might not be super book-smart, but he notices people. He could tell when Ariyan was lying about his family. He noticed when something was wrong. And once he started understanding the pieces of Ari that he desperately tried to keep hidden, Santiago showed him so much empathy.
The man might have a monkey playing cymbals inside his head sometimes, but he has emotional intelligence where it counts.
ᯓ🥊 Ariyan
Oh Ariyan.
I got some of the same emotional whiplash from this man that I got from Shay-Lee in Explosive Prejudice. I would love him, then he'd do something and I'd be sitting there like ARIYAN WHAT THE FUCK, then Lewin would show me another piece of his past and suddenly I was clutching my chest feeling horrible for him again.
There were multiple points where I genuinely could not decide whether I wanted Santiago to kiss him or stay approximately 500 feet away from him.
And I LOVED that.
Ariyan is so interesting because so much of what initially comes across as coldness or cruelty starts making sense as we learn more about him. Not necessarily becoming okay, because this man has done some insane things, but understandable.
His relationship with control especially broke my heart. He is so particular about everything: his appearance, his home, his clothes, his tea, his hotel, even how things are positioned. At first it is funny because he's just this incredibly posh, judgmental man being horrified by Santiago's existence, but the more you learn about how little control Ariyan has actually had over his own life, the sadder those little things become.
And his backstory??? TAL LEWIN COUNT YOUR DAYS.
Learning about his childhood, his mother, what happened after she died, the people who exploited him, and then the debt that essentially means even his current luxurious life doesn't belong to him . . . suddenly this polished, controlled version of Ariyan felt completely different.
Finding out about his debt and his past with Santiago contributing to that debt was striking, and it hurt.
I had to sit there for a second.
Because suddenly there is another layer to why Ariyan despises Santiago so much while simultaneously being unable to stay away from him.
ᯓ🥊 Santiago & Ariyan
With so much love: what a fucking disaster.
Their relationship is so unhealthy in ways that the book KNOWS are unhealthy, which is important to me. They hurt each other. They misunderstand each other. They manipulate each other. They both have massive trust issues and unresolved trauma between them.
And yet I completely understand why they're drawn to one another.
From the beginning, Santiago is basically bewitched by Ariyan. Meanwhile Ariyan acts like Santiago is the most irritating creature ever placed on this earth while tracking his phone, watching him constantly, getting jealous, and inventing increasingly elaborate excuses to keep him around.
Yeah yeah. You hate him. Sure.
I especially loved watching the balance between them slowly shift. Santiago starts out desperate for any crumb of Ariyan's attention while Ariyan holds almost all of the power. Then slowly, Ariyan starts slipping. He gets jealous. He starts waiting for Santiago to show up. He keeps the “stupid” fox keychain. He starts letting Santiago ask questions. He shows vulnerability. Suddenly this isn't nearly as one-sided as Ariyan would like everyone to believe.
Also Dion clocking that their obsession went both ways?? 🤭
And then the little domestic moments???
Those got me more than anything.
For two people whose relationship started with violence and continued through enough chaos to concern several licensed professionals, their soft moments were adorable.
Which obviously means Tal Lewin had to ruin my happiness approximately five seconds later.
Their fight toward the end HURT. What made it worse was that I understood both of them. Santiago realizing that Ariyan had manipulated a situation to get the result he wanted confirmed every fear Santiago had that Ariyan didn't actually care about his feelings. Then Santiago hits Ariyan exactly where it hurts with what he says, and Ariyan immediately falls back into the belief that men cannot be trusted.
But that's also why I am so invested. Neither of them is magically healed because they fell in love. Their trauma actively affects the way they interpret each other's actions, and loving someone doesn't suddenly undo years of learning how to survive.
Also, the nicknames. 🫠 Zorrito had me melting.
ᯓ🥊 THE STEAM
Well.
Tal Lewin.
Thank you for your service.
I had to put the device down on multiple occasions.
Their chemistry was already insane when they were just flirting, but once they actually crossed that line it somehow got better.
Santiago being completely shameless about how badly he wanted Ariyan also made everything ten times funnier. This man had NO dignity left. Ariyan could insult his intelligence, threaten him, call him a dog, and Santiago would basically be like "okay but are we fucking or . . .?”
Stand up, king.
Actually don't. Ariyan probably told you to stay down.
ᯓ🥊 The Side Characters / Bad Inceptions Universe
One thing Tal Lewin will ALWAYS get me with is connecting these characters without making the cameos feel pointless.
Seeing Shay-Lee and Diesel at the beginning had me clutching my shirt because I KNEW IT. I love getting these little glimpses of everyone outside their own books and seeing how intertwined this whole world actually is.
However.
We need to discuss the elephant in the room.
ᯓ🥊 DION.
DION BIANCHI MY BELOVED.
I swear I go to Tal Lewin's account at least once a week just to look at this man.
I cannot wait for his book.
Every single time he appeared in Embriagado, I lost my mind a little bit. I know I should hate him but he is just so strange and charming and unsettling at the same time, and I need approximately 900 pages of him immediately.
And Nacio???
Dion immediately being intrigued by him while Nacio is basically like "this dude's a fucking weirdo" had me laughing my butt off. Nacio insisting he's not gay while Dion looks at him like he's just been handed a new toy??? Oh I see the vision.
ᯓ🥊 Themes & The Darker Side
For how chaotic this book is, I think some of its strongest moments came from how it handled trauma and the idea of becoming the thing that hurt you.
Ariyan especially exists in this uncomfortable space where he has been horribly victimized but has also become someone capable of doing horrible things himself. The book never makes those two things cancel each other out.
He can comfort someone in one moment and kill them in the next.
That one scene with the young siren??? I genuinely got whiplash. Lewin had me thinking we were getting this rare, tender glimpse of Ariyan's humanity and then—
NOPE.
Hand over my mouth. Shirt pulled up over my face. WTF.
But that scene also says so much about Ariyan. There is still empathy in him. There is still a person who recognizes suffering because he has lived it. But he has survived for so long in a world where compassion can get you killed that his version of mercy has become completely warped.
That's what makes him so interesting to me.
And Santiago is almost his opposite. Santiago has also lived surrounded by poverty and violence, and he is absolutely capable of hurting people, but somehow he has held onto this stubborn belief that certain things are simply wrong. Ariyan believes the result can justify how you get there, but Santiago cares about the how.
Watching those two moral systems collide was one of my favorite parts of the book.
ᯓ🥊 Final Thoughts
I knew going into this that Embriagado wasn't going to give me a neat little romance tied up with a bow, especially since this is only part one, but somehow I am even more invested now than I expected to be.
Santiago and Ariyan are messy as hell. They hurt each other. They want each other. They make each other insane. They also see parts of one another that nobody else seems to.
And after everything we learned about Ariyan, watching him finally admit, even just to himself, how much Santiago means to him was beautiful.
“You're my exception, Santiago.”
Yeah. Goodbye.
Overall, Tal Lewin has done it again, and now I’ll be thinking about these two disasters until the sequel comes out.
Highlights:
[Note: I am a chronic highlighter so I know exactly where I was at at any point in the book looking back. Some are silly, some are thoughtful—it varies]
Total Highlights: 1,302 . . . (a good chunk of these were Dion)
ᯓ🥊 So here are 5 silly ones out of context:
- “Santiago is having the lock in of a lifetime”
- “tell me the cliffhanger ends on them killing this bastard”
- “OH THANK YOU FOR THIS CRUMB I’M LIKE A STARVING MAN WISHING FOR BREAD “
- “#TakeAShotEveryTimeAriyanCallsSantiStupid”
- “I’ll take “I’m in love with my boss” for $400”
September 9, 2026
Omg. Get out of here!!!!! I absolutely devoured this and need the next book stat. Suddenly October feels so far away !!!!
This book and Deathball is probably my favorite reads of 2026 so far.
Edit: 9/20/26:
This book chewed me and spit me out. I was absolutely obsessed with both Ariyan & Santiago. I am baffled by the lack of reads and reviews of this book- it deserves so much more love! I am a dark romance girlie at heart and this story gave me everything I was looking for. The push and pull between Ariyan and Santi, Ari finding it hard not to fall in love with Santi but forcing himself to maintain a stone cold facade and telling himself he’s just “using” him to pay off his debts- as a reader it kept me on the edge of my seat. I’m talking reading at work and even in between red lights when driving to work (lol). They consumed my waking mind. When I found out the next book was coming out in October, I was BEYOND excited. I can’t wait to read more from Tal Lewin!!
This book and Deathball is probably my favorite reads of 2026 so far.
Edit: 9/20/26:
This book chewed me and spit me out. I was absolutely obsessed with both Ariyan & Santiago. I am baffled by the lack of reads and reviews of this book- it deserves so much more love! I am a dark romance girlie at heart and this story gave me everything I was looking for. The push and pull between Ariyan and Santi, Ari finding it hard not to fall in love with Santi but forcing himself to maintain a stone cold facade and telling himself he’s just “using” him to pay off his debts- as a reader it kept me on the edge of my seat. I’m talking reading at work and even in between red lights when driving to work (lol). They consumed my waking mind. When I found out the next book was coming out in October, I was BEYOND excited. I can’t wait to read more from Tal Lewin!!
August 9, 2026
Wow, that was “enemies to lovers” at its very best! I love that trope, and once again, Tal Lewin pulled it off so well!
I loved Santiago and Ariyan; I liked that it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows and didn’t conform to the norm. Both have a difficult background and past, and Ariyan, in particular, took quite a long time before he could allow himself to show his feelings and open up. Despite a lot of friction and arguments, they didn’t just throw everything away. Instead, they were somehow always willing to reach out to each other again and again. The chemistry between the two of them was amazing, and the spice was sooooo hot 🔥!
But it wasn’t just the romance that was great—it was the whole story surrounding it: the suspense was so gripping, and things got pretty dark.
It ended on a cliffhanger, and now I’m eagerly awaiting Part Two!
I love Tal’s stories and remain a fan—I highly recommend this book ❤️!
I loved Santiago and Ariyan; I liked that it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows and didn’t conform to the norm. Both have a difficult background and past, and Ariyan, in particular, took quite a long time before he could allow himself to show his feelings and open up. Despite a lot of friction and arguments, they didn’t just throw everything away. Instead, they were somehow always willing to reach out to each other again and again. The chemistry between the two of them was amazing, and the spice was sooooo hot 🔥!
But it wasn’t just the romance that was great—it was the whole story surrounding it: the suspense was so gripping, and things got pretty dark.
It ended on a cliffhanger, and now I’m eagerly awaiting Part Two!
I love Tal’s stories and remain a fan—I highly recommend this book ❤️!
July 20, 2026
another banger!!! RTC 🖤
August 15, 2026
ARC REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book had me in a CHOKEHOLD! You are going to fly through these 500+ pages!
But that ending… I’m going to need therapy. 😂 I can promise you, if you’re about to read this, you are going to be anxiously waiting for Book 2.
It’s really difficult to write a review without spoiling too much because you go through SO many stages with these characters.
With Ariyan, you’re going to go from
“Oh, he’s so sweet” to “Oh… he’s a fucking psycho” to “I am going to kill everyone who has ever hurt him.” 😂
And Santiago? He’s a lovesick puppy… although definitely the Rottweiler kind. 😂 He has a temper, absolutely zero self-preservation skills, and the biggest heart.
This book is a masterpiece of hate/enemies-to-lovers, while still keeping a good portion of that dislike throughout the story. But it’s not really a dislike of Santiago himself it’s more about what Santiago could mean to Ariyan, and what Ariyan has allowed himself to believe in a world that has given him so little.
Also, I didn’t fully understand what the title meant until I read the book, but I can guarantee you one thing: the only thing Santiago is drunk on is love although the poisonous kind. 🔥
Read this if you like:
✨ A magnificent plot
✨ A passionate MMC who chooses unrequited love (or so he thinks) over 10 million
✨ Hate and love that burn HOT
✨ Character development that will have you gasping
✨ Questioning your sanity
✨ A gut-wrenching cliffhanger that will leave you screaming for Book 2 😭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book had me in a CHOKEHOLD! You are going to fly through these 500+ pages!
But that ending… I’m going to need therapy. 😂 I can promise you, if you’re about to read this, you are going to be anxiously waiting for Book 2.
It’s really difficult to write a review without spoiling too much because you go through SO many stages with these characters.
With Ariyan, you’re going to go from
“Oh, he’s so sweet” to “Oh… he’s a fucking psycho” to “I am going to kill everyone who has ever hurt him.” 😂
And Santiago? He’s a lovesick puppy… although definitely the Rottweiler kind. 😂 He has a temper, absolutely zero self-preservation skills, and the biggest heart.
This book is a masterpiece of hate/enemies-to-lovers, while still keeping a good portion of that dislike throughout the story. But it’s not really a dislike of Santiago himself it’s more about what Santiago could mean to Ariyan, and what Ariyan has allowed himself to believe in a world that has given him so little.
Also, I didn’t fully understand what the title meant until I read the book, but I can guarantee you one thing: the only thing Santiago is drunk on is love although the poisonous kind. 🔥
Read this if you like:
✨ A magnificent plot
✨ A passionate MMC who chooses unrequited love (or so he thinks) over 10 million
✨ Hate and love that burn HOT
✨ Character development that will have you gasping
✨ Questioning your sanity
✨ A gut-wrenching cliffhanger that will leave you screaming for Book 2 😭
August 15, 2026
Before you dive in, please do yourself a favour and check the TW. This was "hate to lovers" at its finest! I love the trope and Tal pulled it off. This book is a masterpiece and has me in a huge CHOKEHOLD!
These are two broken, imperfect men who find themselves in each other's lives and develop a passionate connection. I loved Santiago and Ariyan. Their relationship is toxic. Ariyan and Santiago both carry emotional and physical scars from the lives that made them into the people they are today. The banter between them was amazing, and I loved how naturally their relationship developed.
Ariyan starts to show Santiago how vulnerable he is by letting him in and telling him some of what is going on with his life. It took him a long time before he could allow himself to show his feelings and open up. Santiago had such a sweet heart. He's so sweet and lovable that he'll make you want to hug him and never let go.The chemistry between the two of them was amazing, and the spice was sooooo hot.
There is a cliffhanger, but I just KNOW it's going to be worth the wait! You'll have so many questions while reading. Some are answered, but others will have to wait until book two.
These are two broken, imperfect men who find themselves in each other's lives and develop a passionate connection. I loved Santiago and Ariyan. Their relationship is toxic. Ariyan and Santiago both carry emotional and physical scars from the lives that made them into the people they are today. The banter between them was amazing, and I loved how naturally their relationship developed.
Ariyan starts to show Santiago how vulnerable he is by letting him in and telling him some of what is going on with his life. It took him a long time before he could allow himself to show his feelings and open up. Santiago had such a sweet heart. He's so sweet and lovable that he'll make you want to hug him and never let go.The chemistry between the two of them was amazing, and the spice was sooooo hot.
There is a cliffhanger, but I just KNOW it's going to be worth the wait! You'll have so many questions while reading. Some are answered, but others will have to wait until book two.
August 27, 2026
Everything hurts and I’m dying,
wtf.
5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️
THIS is what I want in enemies to lovers!!!
The build up, the story building behind it, it was nothing that I had expected and I’m normally one to sniff out a plot quite quickly.
Though there were enough breadcrumbs to understand Ariyan, I do hope we get to learn a little bit more about his past in the next book!
The cliffhanger you’re left on at the end is probably one of the most brutal I have read in quite a while 🫠 so I am very impatiently awaiting book 2.
wtf.
5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️
THIS is what I want in enemies to lovers!!!
The build up, the story building behind it, it was nothing that I had expected and I’m normally one to sniff out a plot quite quickly.
Though there were enough breadcrumbs to understand Ariyan, I do hope we get to learn a little bit more about his past in the next book!
The cliffhanger you’re left on at the end is probably one of the most brutal I have read in quite a while 🫠 so I am very impatiently awaiting book 2.
August 26, 2026
Well that was quite a journey! Two broken boys, a sprinkle of unrequited love, hate to lovers.. heavy on the hate, with breadcrumbs slowly being revealed at just the right time. And of course a cliffhanger to leave ya anxiously waiting for book 2.
August 20, 2026
Oooof! I’m not even surprised that i loved this! Tal just has a way of writing stories that keeps you hooked, questioning (stressing) about everything and anything throughout.
I knew it was ending on a cliffhanger and still I weren’t ready! My heart aches for Santiago & Ariyan, again an emotion something Tal is so good at! 😩
I’m still processing. Just let me pick my jaw off the floor
I knew it was ending on a cliffhanger and still I weren’t ready! My heart aches for Santiago & Ariyan, again an emotion something Tal is so good at! 😩
I’m still processing. Just let me pick my jaw off the floor
August 16, 2026
Once again, Tal absolutely blew me away with this book. I genuinely don’t have the words to describe how much I love this author. At the risk of repeating myself over and over in every review I write for Tal’s books, there is something about the way Tal writes that manages to make me feel EVERYTHING. Joy, anger, sadness, frustration, heartbreak… they somehow manages to drag me through every single emotion and then leaves me with this horrible empty feeling once I finish, tears in my eyes, completely devastated.
And this book was no exception. It was INCREDIBLE and absolutely EVERYTHING. Drama, fights, plot twists upon plot twists, betrayals… the whole freaking package. Although honestly… I expected nothing less from Tal.
But I think what makes these books hit me so hard, beyond all the drama and chaos, is the characters.
I found myself loving and hating these characters at the same time?? And honestly, I think that’s one of the things Tal does best. Somehow, they always manage to create characters who can frustrate me to no end while still making me care about them so deeply. They’re flawed, they can be incredibly frustrating, and sometimes they make the WORST decisions, but I still can’t bring myself to stop loving them.
Ariyan especially had me going through it. 😭 There were so many moments where I genuinely hated him. He could be so cruel, and the way he acted toward Santiago sometimes made it seem like he felt absolutely nothing for him, not even attraction. And even though I knew there had to be more to it—that it was trauma, a façade, a way of protecting himself, and that there was a reason behind the way he acted—I was still SO frustrated with him. But then we get to learn more about his past, and suddenly everything starts falling into place. And honestly? How could I hate him after that? Yeah. Absolutely not. Impossible to hate him anymore. My heart BROKE for him.
Santiago, meanwhile… THIS MAN. His obsession and devotion to Ariyan were genuinely painful to watch sometimes. The amount of patience this man has??? The way he keeps choosing Ariyan, keeps coming back to him, keeps loving him despite everything… I was both frustrated and completely in awe. His devotion is insane, and honestly, I don’t know how he managed to hold on for so long because I would have lost my mind. 😭
And the irony when we see how he treats his ex??? HELLO???? SANTIAGO, THE AUDACITY. 😭
But honestly, I love these two with my entire heart. They have so many flaws, so many issues, so much baggage, and yet watching their relationship finally evolve was EVERYTHING to me. And seeing them actually start to change, especially Ariyan, made every little moment between them feel SO much more meaningful. After everything they had been through, the smallest things were enough to completely melt me.
And that ENDING???
I am devastated. Completely and utterly devastated. Tal has done it again. I finished this book with tears in my eyes, my heart in pieces, and that horrible empty feeling I always get after finishing one of their books….
And this book was no exception. It was INCREDIBLE and absolutely EVERYTHING. Drama, fights, plot twists upon plot twists, betrayals… the whole freaking package. Although honestly… I expected nothing less from Tal.
But I think what makes these books hit me so hard, beyond all the drama and chaos, is the characters.
I found myself loving and hating these characters at the same time?? And honestly, I think that’s one of the things Tal does best. Somehow, they always manage to create characters who can frustrate me to no end while still making me care about them so deeply. They’re flawed, they can be incredibly frustrating, and sometimes they make the WORST decisions, but I still can’t bring myself to stop loving them.
Ariyan especially had me going through it. 😭 There were so many moments where I genuinely hated him. He could be so cruel, and the way he acted toward Santiago sometimes made it seem like he felt absolutely nothing for him, not even attraction. And even though I knew there had to be more to it—that it was trauma, a façade, a way of protecting himself, and that there was a reason behind the way he acted—I was still SO frustrated with him. But then we get to learn more about his past, and suddenly everything starts falling into place. And honestly? How could I hate him after that? Yeah. Absolutely not. Impossible to hate him anymore. My heart BROKE for him.
Santiago, meanwhile… THIS MAN. His obsession and devotion to Ariyan were genuinely painful to watch sometimes. The amount of patience this man has??? The way he keeps choosing Ariyan, keeps coming back to him, keeps loving him despite everything… I was both frustrated and completely in awe. His devotion is insane, and honestly, I don’t know how he managed to hold on for so long because I would have lost my mind. 😭
And the irony when we see how he treats his ex??? HELLO???? SANTIAGO, THE AUDACITY. 😭
But honestly, I love these two with my entire heart. They have so many flaws, so many issues, so much baggage, and yet watching their relationship finally evolve was EVERYTHING to me. And seeing them actually start to change, especially Ariyan, made every little moment between them feel SO much more meaningful. After everything they had been through, the smallest things were enough to completely melt me.
And that ENDING???
I am devastated. Completely and utterly devastated. Tal has done it again. I finished this book with tears in my eyes, my heart in pieces, and that horrible empty feeling I always get after finishing one of their books….
August 26, 2026
5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC of Embriagado by Tal Lewin in exchange for an honest review.
⚠️ Note: This review contains spoilers.
Embriagado by Tal Lewin is the dark, scorching first book in the Nameless Duet.
The story follows Santiago Rivas, who dives headfirst into a brutal, obsessive, and toxic affair with Ariyan—a man who is quite literally poison, a lethal dose that a fool couldn't resist. Filled with morally bankrupt men and drawing a thin line between bad and evil, Santiago and Ariyan's dynamic is a cataclysm waiting to occur, culminating in a breathless cliffhanger that leaves you desperate for the second book, Embelesado.
Tal Lewin, coming from an illustration background, brings characters to life with vivid, striking depth even before the plot unfolds. Santiago is fully aware that his obsession with Ariyan is his ultimate poison, echoing the painful shadows of his father’s alcoholism. Yet, driven by an inherent savior complex and the tragic belief that if he loves hard enough he can change an empty, heartless man, Santiago chases after the illusion of an unfixable bond.
Alongside Santiago's obsessive cycle, characters like Gabriel mirror that same self-destructive drive, falling hopelessly for Santiago like Santiago falls for Ariyan, who threaten their sanity yet begging for more.
Beyond the toxicity and the pain, the emotional core of the story digs deep into Ariyan's harrowing background—a past of violence and a stolen existence that leaves him as a polished, empty version of himself, making you want to step into the pages to mend him.
Tal Lewin crafts an intensely psychological dark romance that explores the desperate human desire to fix the unfixable. While logic dictates running the other way, Lewin crafts such a mesmerizingly toxic atmosphere that readers willingly embrace the pain, craving every scrap of destructive passion.
Here fiction provides a safe space to explore the belief that everyone deserves mercy and a second chance, no matter how vile their actions.The spice and intense emotional stakes match the sheer devastation of the plot.
Embriagado is a devastatingly brilliant, breathtaking and soul-wrecking achievement in dark romance. If you love deep psychological angst, toxic obsession, and brilliantly flawed characters, this is a must-read.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC of Embriagado by Tal Lewin in exchange for an honest review.
⚠️ Note: This review contains spoilers.
Embriagado by Tal Lewin is the dark, scorching first book in the Nameless Duet.
The story follows Santiago Rivas, who dives headfirst into a brutal, obsessive, and toxic affair with Ariyan—a man who is quite literally poison, a lethal dose that a fool couldn't resist. Filled with morally bankrupt men and drawing a thin line between bad and evil, Santiago and Ariyan's dynamic is a cataclysm waiting to occur, culminating in a breathless cliffhanger that leaves you desperate for the second book, Embelesado.
Tal Lewin, coming from an illustration background, brings characters to life with vivid, striking depth even before the plot unfolds. Santiago is fully aware that his obsession with Ariyan is his ultimate poison, echoing the painful shadows of his father’s alcoholism. Yet, driven by an inherent savior complex and the tragic belief that if he loves hard enough he can change an empty, heartless man, Santiago chases after the illusion of an unfixable bond.
Alongside Santiago's obsessive cycle, characters like Gabriel mirror that same self-destructive drive, falling hopelessly for Santiago like Santiago falls for Ariyan, who threaten their sanity yet begging for more.
Beyond the toxicity and the pain, the emotional core of the story digs deep into Ariyan's harrowing background—a past of violence and a stolen existence that leaves him as a polished, empty version of himself, making you want to step into the pages to mend him.
Tal Lewin crafts an intensely psychological dark romance that explores the desperate human desire to fix the unfixable. While logic dictates running the other way, Lewin crafts such a mesmerizingly toxic atmosphere that readers willingly embrace the pain, craving every scrap of destructive passion.
Here fiction provides a safe space to explore the belief that everyone deserves mercy and a second chance, no matter how vile their actions.The spice and intense emotional stakes match the sheer devastation of the plot.
Embriagado is a devastatingly brilliant, breathtaking and soul-wrecking achievement in dark romance. If you love deep psychological angst, toxic obsession, and brilliantly flawed characters, this is a must-read.
August 14, 2026
Santiago • Ariyan
….
“I’ll tell you a secret, Mr. Rivas. I’m a big fan of second chances.”
….
If you ever want a true enemies-to-“lovers”-to enemies-to…just knock on Tal’s fictional door, please.
I will not summarize this book for you - I truly feel, the only thing you could do is read the trigger warnings before starting as this book contains a lot of hard topics. What I will tell you how this book made me feel.
This story holds you by the throat slowly from page one, then it squeezes you gently, more and more aggressively to letting you go a bit, soothing you - making you feel like you just go obliterated and then to utterly choke you at the end. I barely came out alive. Hanging on that cliffhanger by a thread.
It’s a dark tale about two people - one being the enigma of it all, with a hidden heart and the other transparent one - wearing his heart on his sleeve. It’s a story about two souls with huge past mistakes, ones that are unresolved, very ugly truths, uglier secrets, toxic traits, violence on their hands, unimaginable acts - yet acts of survival and vulnerable ones.
I will not know peace until the second installment but I know one thing - the world will be burned the ……. down.
….
sombr - makes me want you
….
“I’ll do anything you tell me.” // “Willing to follow him to the end of the world at this moment, I ran after him, making sure he wouldn’t get out of my sight. Not even for a second.” // “What you don’t seem to understand is that you owe me…” // “…if I knew why I cared for this psycho’s approval to begin with, but clearly, I did. And now, all I wanted was more. A hell of a lot more.” // “Now, then, tell me, where did you find your guy?” - “At a dog shelter.” // “Who knows, perhaps I’d like to see your face again?” // “If only dying were that easy for me, I would have done it in a heartbeat.” // “…he was gorgeous, and that was my life’s problem—being hooked on this devil’s face.” // “From now on, keep your eyes on me, and me alone.” // “Somehow, I couldn’t get enough of how much he despised me…” // “You see, you love violence. You live for it, while I am violence.” // “It’s a little fox.” // “He thought he deserved to be my equal, not understanding that he was so much better than I’d ever be.” // “The sad truth is that I also find solace in his embrace.” // “You’re my exception…” …
….
*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
….
….
“I’ll tell you a secret, Mr. Rivas. I’m a big fan of second chances.”
….
If you ever want a true enemies-to-“lovers”-to enemies-to…just knock on Tal’s fictional door, please.
I will not summarize this book for you - I truly feel, the only thing you could do is read the trigger warnings before starting as this book contains a lot of hard topics. What I will tell you how this book made me feel.
This story holds you by the throat slowly from page one, then it squeezes you gently, more and more aggressively to letting you go a bit, soothing you - making you feel like you just go obliterated and then to utterly choke you at the end. I barely came out alive. Hanging on that cliffhanger by a thread.
It’s a dark tale about two people - one being the enigma of it all, with a hidden heart and the other transparent one - wearing his heart on his sleeve. It’s a story about two souls with huge past mistakes, ones that are unresolved, very ugly truths, uglier secrets, toxic traits, violence on their hands, unimaginable acts - yet acts of survival and vulnerable ones.
I will not know peace until the second installment but I know one thing - the world will be burned the ……. down.
….
sombr - makes me want you
….
“I’ll do anything you tell me.” // “Willing to follow him to the end of the world at this moment, I ran after him, making sure he wouldn’t get out of my sight. Not even for a second.” // “What you don’t seem to understand is that you owe me…” // “…if I knew why I cared for this psycho’s approval to begin with, but clearly, I did. And now, all I wanted was more. A hell of a lot more.” // “Now, then, tell me, where did you find your guy?” - “At a dog shelter.” // “Who knows, perhaps I’d like to see your face again?” // “If only dying were that easy for me, I would have done it in a heartbeat.” // “…he was gorgeous, and that was my life’s problem—being hooked on this devil’s face.” // “From now on, keep your eyes on me, and me alone.” // “Somehow, I couldn’t get enough of how much he despised me…” // “You see, you love violence. You live for it, while I am violence.” // “It’s a little fox.” // “He thought he deserved to be my equal, not understanding that he was so much better than I’d ever be.” // “The sad truth is that I also find solace in his embrace.” // “You’re my exception…” …
….
*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
….
August 17, 2026
Embriagado, the first book in Tal Lewin’s Nameless duet, was an intense, dark, and completely consuming read. I gave it five stars, easily!
The story centers on Santiago and Ariyan, whose relationship is volatile from the beginning. What develops between them is part attraction, part obsession, and part outright destruction, with both characters carrying enough darkness and damage to make every interaction feel unpredictable. The enemies-to-lovers setup is taken in a much grittier direction here, and the book never really lets the tension ease.
One of Tal Lewin’s real strengths is the ability to write plotlines that are genuinely difficult to anticipate. Just when it seems clear where her story is heading, another revelation or shift changes the picture. That unpredictability works so well here because Santiago and Ariyan are both so morally complicated. Neither fits neatly into a hero role, and the story seems much more interested in exploring the line between bad choices and genuinely dangerous people.
Their connection is intense and often unhealthy, but that is also what makes it so difficult to look away. The chemistry, conflict, and constant sense that something could go very wrong kept the story moving at a relentless pace.
A dark, angsty, addictive start to the Nameless duet, and one of those books that is hard to put down once it gets its hooks in. Tal Lewin is a truly talented writer! Her next book in the duet, Embelesado is slated to come out October 13 this year, and that cannot come soon enough!
The story centers on Santiago and Ariyan, whose relationship is volatile from the beginning. What develops between them is part attraction, part obsession, and part outright destruction, with both characters carrying enough darkness and damage to make every interaction feel unpredictable. The enemies-to-lovers setup is taken in a much grittier direction here, and the book never really lets the tension ease.
One of Tal Lewin’s real strengths is the ability to write plotlines that are genuinely difficult to anticipate. Just when it seems clear where her story is heading, another revelation or shift changes the picture. That unpredictability works so well here because Santiago and Ariyan are both so morally complicated. Neither fits neatly into a hero role, and the story seems much more interested in exploring the line between bad choices and genuinely dangerous people.
Being with him felt like jumping off a cliff, a rush so intense you couldn't give a shit about dying. Whether it was sheer stupidity or maybe just pure fatalism, it didn't matter because he was worth it. He was worth the thrill, the pain, and the danger. He was worth it all.
Their connection is intense and often unhealthy, but that is also what makes it so difficult to look away. The chemistry, conflict, and constant sense that something could go very wrong kept the story moving at a relentless pace.
A dark, angsty, addictive start to the Nameless duet, and one of those books that is hard to put down once it gets its hooks in. Tal Lewin is a truly talented writer! Her next book in the duet, Embelesado is slated to come out October 13 this year, and that cannot come soon enough!
September 3, 2026
In exchange for an honest review i got to read Embriagdo book 1 by Tal Lewin.
First of i need to say this book almost broke me emotionally in a good and sad way. I feel so bad for both characters as they both has a past that is full of pain and suffering in their own way but also I understand the rage Ariyan got an his trouble trusting people when he himself is beeing used in the worst way possible, meanwhile Santiago were forced into a bad situation where he were forced to hurt him in the worst way and now revenge is needed to balance the pain and suffering out.
Santiago have had a rough start to his life with his brother the only living family left and his way of always ending up doing bad decisions it seems like he just can't get a break that's how he end up one night beeing forced to beat a man almost to death landing him 3 years in jail. 3 years later and just out of jail Santiago is determined to find a job and change his life so he lands a interview at a fancy hotel and almost does not the job when the manager takes over the interview and let him have a chance. Ariyan is the manager of the hotel and he is also drop dead gorgeous with white hair and skin that looks perfect but he is also known for beeing untouchable and always nice to his employees that is until one night when he and Santiago gets drunk and everything suddenly gets into a bloody nightmare for Santiago and he get too see the dark side to the man he lust for.
This book is filled with heavy dark and tragic a story that comes with a cliffhanger but its so good tho! I cant wait to read book 2 becuse I need to know how it will conclude as this one is filled with pain! Thank You again to Tal Lewit for letting me read the book!
First of i need to say this book almost broke me emotionally in a good and sad way. I feel so bad for both characters as they both has a past that is full of pain and suffering in their own way but also I understand the rage Ariyan got an his trouble trusting people when he himself is beeing used in the worst way possible, meanwhile Santiago were forced into a bad situation where he were forced to hurt him in the worst way and now revenge is needed to balance the pain and suffering out.
Santiago have had a rough start to his life with his brother the only living family left and his way of always ending up doing bad decisions it seems like he just can't get a break that's how he end up one night beeing forced to beat a man almost to death landing him 3 years in jail. 3 years later and just out of jail Santiago is determined to find a job and change his life so he lands a interview at a fancy hotel and almost does not the job when the manager takes over the interview and let him have a chance. Ariyan is the manager of the hotel and he is also drop dead gorgeous with white hair and skin that looks perfect but he is also known for beeing untouchable and always nice to his employees that is until one night when he and Santiago gets drunk and everything suddenly gets into a bloody nightmare for Santiago and he get too see the dark side to the man he lust for.
This book is filled with heavy dark and tragic a story that comes with a cliffhanger but its so good tho! I cant wait to read book 2 becuse I need to know how it will conclude as this one is filled with pain! Thank You again to Tal Lewit for letting me read the book!
August 20, 2026
Tal has done it again. I’m always amazed by their way of story telling. ❤️
What excites me the most is the fact that no one is truly good or evil (well, except for the really evil ones—iykyk 😮), but our main characters always have a white , a black , and a whole lot of gray areas. I think it makes these characters even more relatable to me—their desperation, their drive to do things that aren’t good but seem right to them in that moment.
Santiago has just served three years in prison after a very foolish night when, as a former boxer, he lost his cool. Desperate to get ahead and build a better life with his brother, he’s frantically looking for a job when he suddenly gets a second chance during his job interview at this chic, amazing new hotel. He’s obsessed with violence; he isn’t unnecessarily aggressive, but he feels comfortable surrounded by it. He doesn’t shy away from it. Ariyan, the hotel manager, fascinates Santi from the very first moment. His aura and his look simply captivate him. When Ariyan proposes a deal, Santi can’t say no—he’d do anything to get and keep Ariyan’s attention. 😎
What gradually comes to light throughout the story is Ariyan’s incredibly deep and vulnerable past; this book is definitely not for everyone. Please be aware of the triggers. Ariyan isn’t nice, and the relationship—if we want to call it that—between him and Santi is toxic as hell, but the two of them fit together so well. I can’t imagine any other character who could break through that wall.
Read this if you're into dark books that touch you deeply in many different ways.
What excites me the most is the fact that no one is truly good or evil (well, except for the really evil ones—iykyk 😮), but our main characters always have a white , a black , and a whole lot of gray areas. I think it makes these characters even more relatable to me—their desperation, their drive to do things that aren’t good but seem right to them in that moment.
Santiago has just served three years in prison after a very foolish night when, as a former boxer, he lost his cool. Desperate to get ahead and build a better life with his brother, he’s frantically looking for a job when he suddenly gets a second chance during his job interview at this chic, amazing new hotel. He’s obsessed with violence; he isn’t unnecessarily aggressive, but he feels comfortable surrounded by it. He doesn’t shy away from it. Ariyan, the hotel manager, fascinates Santi from the very first moment. His aura and his look simply captivate him. When Ariyan proposes a deal, Santi can’t say no—he’d do anything to get and keep Ariyan’s attention. 😎
What gradually comes to light throughout the story is Ariyan’s incredibly deep and vulnerable past; this book is definitely not for everyone. Please be aware of the triggers. Ariyan isn’t nice, and the relationship—if we want to call it that—between him and Santi is toxic as hell, but the two of them fit together so well. I can’t imagine any other character who could break through that wall.
Read this if you're into dark books that touch you deeply in many different ways.
August 21, 2026
Enemies to lovers (real enemies to lovers)
Dark romance
Slow burn
I think I´m embriagada! Ahaha Damn Tal, I’m really addicted to this
The writing is fkn perfect, now I’m a huge fan everything you want to write Tal Lewin I’m here for it
**possible spoilers little ones**
I kinda knew something was up cuz everything was going so smoothly hahaha and well still I was surprised when you read the extend of everything
I’m obsessed with this real enemies to lovers hahaha poor Santiago he was so fkn confused I laugh now but I was shocked when I read it, And of course poor Ari my shayla of course some bad shit happen to him still an asshole tho but an asshole with good motives
The story is not only intriguing but also funny (at times with their inner monologues cuz are fkn great!) It also shows heavy topics, full of sarcasm, vengeance, violence, action it really covers everything, and I was so immersed in the story that I didn’t even realize the length of the book so give me another 500 pages in the next one PPPPLEASEEE
I need book 2 STAT like what DO YOU MEAN !!!!
Thanks for an opportunity to read this AMAZING arc. This is my honest review
Dark romance
Slow burn
I think I´m embriagada! Ahaha Damn Tal, I’m really addicted to this
The writing is fkn perfect, now I’m a huge fan everything you want to write Tal Lewin I’m here for it
**possible spoilers little ones**
I kinda knew something was up cuz everything was going so smoothly hahaha and well still I was surprised when you read the extend of everything
I’m obsessed with this real enemies to lovers hahaha poor Santiago he was so fkn confused I laugh now but I was shocked when I read it, And of course poor Ari my shayla of course some bad shit happen to him still an asshole tho but an asshole with good motives
The story is not only intriguing but also funny (at times with their inner monologues cuz are fkn great!) It also shows heavy topics, full of sarcasm, vengeance, violence, action it really covers everything, and I was so immersed in the story that I didn’t even realize the length of the book so give me another 500 pages in the next one PPPPLEASEEE
I need book 2 STAT like what DO YOU MEAN !!!!
Thanks for an opportunity to read this AMAZING arc. This is my honest review
August 13, 2026
Review of advanced copy provided by the author.
This was hands down one of the best books I’ve read this year. Infinite stars
This story blew me away the anticipation had me in a chokehold. The plot was amazing the twists and turns not knowing what was going to happen next I honestly jumped out of my seat at points thinking omg what!!
The dynamic between Ariyan and Santiago was literally addictive and on fire. Enimies to lovers has never been this intense. The slight vulnerability that Ariyan starts to show Santiago by letting him in and telling him some of what is going on with his life. Santiago who just wants better for his brother and for himself after coming out of prison. I really love both of these men and this is an amazing story.
The cliffhanger has left me has left me salivating I need to know what happens to Ariyan and Santiago and I’m going to be on tender hooks waiting. I felt absolutely terrified for Ariyan.
This was hands down one of the best books I’ve read this year. Infinite stars
This story blew me away the anticipation had me in a chokehold. The plot was amazing the twists and turns not knowing what was going to happen next I honestly jumped out of my seat at points thinking omg what!!
The dynamic between Ariyan and Santiago was literally addictive and on fire. Enimies to lovers has never been this intense. The slight vulnerability that Ariyan starts to show Santiago by letting him in and telling him some of what is going on with his life. Santiago who just wants better for his brother and for himself after coming out of prison. I really love both of these men and this is an amazing story.
The cliffhanger has left me has left me salivating I need to know what happens to Ariyan and Santiago and I’m going to be on tender hooks waiting. I felt absolutely terrified for Ariyan.
August 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Sooo many thoughts…. HURT/HURT… broke and empty. The unfortunate circumstances between Ariyan and Satiago are definitely ones that may send pthers running. The plot twists were plot twisting and Tal had me all over the place with this one in the best way. I could literally feel my eyes moving because I swear this goes at the pace of a must see movie. However I did catch myself laughing at the banter because it’s not the giddy ha ha banter it’s the dark banter between two people one who is definitely obsessed in the most bizarre way and one who is for lack of a better term just using the other… well for a while. Ari’s story the glimpses we get caught my attention and tugged on my heartstrings, and Santi’s obsession with Ari had me giddy. Because it made no damm sense at all but you can help but be drawn to it. But the cliffhanger!!!!! Ahhhh I just cried and stared and even burned a piece of bacon because oh man that hurt so much. This book is AMAZING, I’m so ready for book two even though it’s gonna hurt I just HAVE to know!
Sooo many thoughts…. HURT/HURT… broke and empty. The unfortunate circumstances between Ariyan and Satiago are definitely ones that may send pthers running. The plot twists were plot twisting and Tal had me all over the place with this one in the best way. I could literally feel my eyes moving because I swear this goes at the pace of a must see movie. However I did catch myself laughing at the banter because it’s not the giddy ha ha banter it’s the dark banter between two people one who is definitely obsessed in the most bizarre way and one who is for lack of a better term just using the other… well for a while. Ari’s story the glimpses we get caught my attention and tugged on my heartstrings, and Santi’s obsession with Ari had me giddy. Because it made no damm sense at all but you can help but be drawn to it. But the cliffhanger!!!!! Ahhhh I just cried and stared and even burned a piece of bacon because oh man that hurt so much. This book is AMAZING, I’m so ready for book two even though it’s gonna hurt I just HAVE to know!
August 20, 2026
Ahh I was drawn in by the cover art and I was not disappointed.
From the moment I started reading this story, I just found myself constantly flipping the pages. The story was written well and fast paced enough that it held me in and had me reading and reading and reading. The cliff hanger.. ahh I need the next one.
The story kept having me reevaluate how I was feeling as we kept learning more and uncovering new things. I truly loved Santi, he was such a cutie and I really loved his character and seeing how he started and developed throughout.
Thank you so much for the early access of this story and I cant wait for others to read it!!
From the moment I started reading this story, I just found myself constantly flipping the pages. The story was written well and fast paced enough that it held me in and had me reading and reading and reading. The cliff hanger.. ahh I need the next one.
The story kept having me reevaluate how I was feeling as we kept learning more and uncovering new things. I truly loved Santi, he was such a cutie and I really loved his character and seeing how he started and developed throughout.
Thank you so much for the early access of this story and I cant wait for others to read it!!
September 7, 2026
This book is dark, toxic, obsessive and completely addictive. Santiago and Ariyan are an absolute disaster together, and I couldn't look away.
Ariyan is dangerous as hell, Santiago knows it, and yet the attraction between them is impossible to resist. Their relationship is messy, intense and filled with enough red flags to decorate an entire city. 🚩😂
I loved that neither man is innocent. They're both morally questionable, their chemistry is 🔥, and every revelation just drags Santiago deeper into Ariyan's world.
And THAT CLIFFHANGER?! 😭
I need book two immediately because I refuse to believe Tal Lewin is leaving me like that.
Ariyan is dangerous as hell, Santiago knows it, and yet the attraction between them is impossible to resist. Their relationship is messy, intense and filled with enough red flags to decorate an entire city. 🚩😂
I loved that neither man is innocent. They're both morally questionable, their chemistry is 🔥, and every revelation just drags Santiago deeper into Ariyan's world.
And THAT CLIFFHANGER?! 😭
I need book two immediately because I refuse to believe Tal Lewin is leaving me like that.
August 14, 2026
Where do I even begin. This one had me hooked from the get. That saying "hurt people hurt people," there's so much of that in this one. So much back and forth between Ariyan and Santiago, no wonder it's going to be two parts but I'm here for it! We get bits and pieces of who Ariyan is but do we really know? At this point I dont think he even knows himself anymore. And the way this book ends with a cliffhanger hurts so much. Definitely will be replaying in my head trying to figure out these plot twist until book 2 comes out. Overall, fantastic! I loved it so much!
September 9, 2026
4.25 ⭐️ Wow, was this addicting… the way I need the second book NOW. Literally couldn’t put this down once I started. Santiago and Ariyan instantly captivated me with their insane, toxic yet intense dynamic. These are complex characters, and I was constantly torn on how I felt about them, but overall I really enjoyed this and will be reading the second book in this duet the minute it comes out!
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