Enemies to lovers mafia romance, with age-gap and arranged marriage, narrated by Monica King and Liam DiCosimo, brilliant, enticing, and got me hard. A fantastic roller-coaster ride I didn't want to get down from. It was enthralling and each chapter got to me, I was hooked from the very start and I so need the next books in the series. The audiobook is totally recommended, it made this story which was a brilliant one, and took it a step further. Must-read!

Forced into an arranged marriage to end the bad blood between their two families Callum and Aida are enemies who refuse to give an inch battling and challenging each other each step of the way towards the aisle. This novel is full of banter, tension, and possessiveness.

🍓 Dark Romance
🖤 Chicago Setting
🍓 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Jealous / Possessive MMC
🍓 They Rescue Each Other

This was such a fun mafia romance. It’s not super dark or anything, just two people from rival families trying to figure out how to make a political marriage work. But Callum is too charming not to fall for and Aida is too wild to not be everything he needs.

Callum is in politics so his life is so scheduled and tight knit. Aida is a flame ready to burn down every way of life Callum is stuck in, first in spite, then because she actually may be falling for him.

This book had so many crazy turns. It felt like watching a movie. Sophie’s writing is immersive and well done! Brutal Prince had me on the edge of my seat. Can’t wait to finish the series.

Slightly darker romance novel, while it is mafia, it isn’t too dark, a good intro if you are interested in dark romance but don’t necessarily want to get too dark too fast. It is a forced marriage, enemies to lovers book, with some definite Romeo and Juliet vibes. Not as spicy as I was anticipating, 2.5/5, it was a fun read and I really liked the characters from the beginning and it was easy to root for them 4/5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC. I literally couldn't put this book down and I flew through it. The story captured me and I couldn't let go. I really loved reading Aida and Callum's story. The themes are rivals-to-lovers slash arranged marriage and it's soo well executed. I really recommend this story.

Callum and Aida are from rival mafia families. They both live in Chicago, he’s from an Irish family and she’s from an Italian family. Griffin is the oldest sibling, and only son of the Griffin family, at 30 he’s ready to get into politics to help out the family business. Aida lives with her father and 3 brothers: Dante, Nero, and Sebastian, and wishes they’d let her join in. At the beginning of the story, Aida and her brothers end up crashing Nessa Griffin’s birthday party and Aida sneaks into the family’s house. She ends up looking around in the library, starting a fire to escape when Callum enters, and sealing a family heirloom. This of course starts some drama between the two feuding families. Sick of the fighting, losing members of their families to one another, and just all the drama, Aida’s father and Callum’s father decide to sit down and meet and come to an agreement. They decide Callum and Aida will marry to form an alliance between the families to end the feuding once and for all.

This is my second series from Sophie Lark, the first being the Sinner/Saint Duet. I wish I would have read this sooner! I loved the banter. Loved the enemies to lovers. The spice was beyond expectation. It hit all the spots and I’m excited to read the next one!

The story got me intrigued since the first pages. I enjoyed their banter, the families’ dynamics where interesting and the action kept me going. The “twist” was predictable but in the end I truly enjoyed the book. The amount of smut is a big plus too!

An addictive, arranged marriage, mafia romance!

Star Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

You can expect:
▪️Enemies to lovers
▪️Mafia romance - rival families
▪️Arranged marriage
▪️Spirited FMC
▪️Broody, intense MMC
▪️Spicy times 🌶️
▪️Underworld politics
▪️Dual POV

Some of my thoughts:
📍 I had such a fun time with this book! I binge read it and easily! I enjoy Sophie Lark’s writing. It’s immersive, enables the reader to feel an attachment to the characters with ease and has moments of good humour! Additionally, the arranged marriage trope is one of my favourites, so how could I not enjoy this book?

📍I loved the characters. They were well built and had believable flaws and personality traits. The chemistry between the two main characters was electric! The whole cast of side characters were also easy to bond with.

📍My one main criticism is how quickly the spice came on. With an arranged marriage trope, my favourite part is the build up, the tension, the initial uncomfortable dislike. This story jumped so quickly into sex that I feel I missed out on all the awkward angst that makes this trope so delicious.

📍I have come to adore the way Sophie incorporates art and music into her books. At the start of the book you’ll find a music playlist and a QR code that will take you directly to the songs on Spotify. The book also has little prompts throughout which gives the reader a chance to play the piece of music that corresponds with the scene they’re reading. So fun! The book also has little sketches scattered throughout which I loved!

📍Seeing as the side characters were a great bunch - I absolutely will read some (if not all) of the follow up books which consecutively follow each of their romances!

Memorable Quotes:
✨ Trust is rarer than love. It's putting your fate, your happiness, your life in someone's hands. Hoping they keep it safe.

✨ I love this woman. The day she set my house on fire was the luckiest day of my life. It truly is the luck of the Irish: perverse. Inexplicable. And utterly fantastic. “Do you forgive me for losing it in the first place?” she asks me, slipping her slim little hand into mine. “I shouldn’t tell you how much you could get away with, Aida,” I say, shaking my head. “But you already know that I’d forgive anything you do.”

✨ “You’re mine, Aida,” Callum growls in my ear. “I’ll kill anyone who tries to touch you.”

Disclosure:
🖊️ I received an ARC of this book for free through NetGalley. This review is my own, features my honest thoughts and I am leaving this review voluntarily for free. Thank you to Sophie Lark, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

First thing, the cover is absolutely gorgeous. Excellent design work there.
Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me, I guess I am not a mafia dark romance girly, but that’s okay. It also may have been a case of right book, wrong time, because I was unable to finish it. I have friends who loved this series and I am so glad they did. I will still be interested in reading Sophie’s books in the future and maybe trying this one again!

This was ok. Just ok. Neither character has much personality and even the side characters aren't that intriguing. Like I have no real desire to read any of the others. The sex scenes were decent and the plot moved along. It just felt light on everything you could classify it as - dark, mafia, spicy, kinky (dom/sub, bondage). Maybe if you are thinking about jumping into these topics/genres then maybe this is a good book to start with but otherwise you'll be bored.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book (new cover) for an honest review!

I love the new cover, especially after the reader learns the significance of strawberries.

Brutal Prince was a quick mafia, arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers romance. The main characters go from hating each other passionately to other things being passionate. 🔥 The change in their feelings did feel a bit quick, but as a shorter novel, that is kind of expected. I loved their interactions after about 20% in. They could both be a bit rough before that, but that is kind of the point. Lark's writing style is easy to read quickly.

Submitted goodreads review on 7/6

I love a mafia romance, but this was not great for me. There were so many moments that I think were meant to be funny or tense that were just really awkward or downright unpleasant. This FMC is just awful, and it was not a fun read at all.

I think the problem here lies in the fact that I tried to expand my horizons and I am just in fact not a mafia romance fan. I feel ill equipped to give a full review here.

Not a fan of this one and I'm so disappointed because I had high hopes for it. Maybe I expected too much.
Mainly my problem was with the hero and the writing. I just wasn't a huge fan.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Did I just completely drop all my other books and devour this mafia romance? Yes, yes I did!
Aida and Callum’s story is a true enemies to lovers - as in I want to kill you but also rip off your clothes. The competing families and violence are a bit mafia lite - not as much angst. I wanted more on their relationship to get behind the turn from enemies to lovers but overall I enjoyed the humor and spiciness. It’s chaotic, very spicy and the easiest read ever…going to find book 2.

tropes include:
•enemies to lovers
•mafia rival families
•arranged marriage

My first book of Sophie Lark as well as beginning to dive more into dark romance. The easiness of reading this book was insane, and I quite enjoyed diving into this world.

Aida is a bada** fmc. Her strength and energy of not taking anyone’s sh*t is something I need. She’s on the list of my favorite fmc’s. Cal was interesting to say the least. I loved when he started caring for Aida and his protective side was my favorite.

Their banter was everything, and made me love them that much more. Their tension was crazy and they gave some of best steamy scenes in my opinion.

The bonus epilogue 😭 I just have to talk about how much I loved it. Cal, ugh, he is so husband material. I loved seeing them as happy as they deserve to be.

Overall, a great, easy read which left me excited to continue the series and Sophie Lark’s work as well which I’ve heard so many great things about!

Thank you Netgalley and Sophie Lark for the arc copy!

Great start to the series!!
I really enjoyed this book, it was fast faced and the romance was everything such a good enemies to lovers! The wedding scene was epic!!

I’m really sad that I put off reading this series for so long! I love a good mafia romance. They’re just entertaining and full of steamy men. This book is no different!

Aida was such a fun character. She’s a wild child but really cares for her family. I loved her dynamic with Sebastian, and I’m excited to read his book.

Cal is hot and controlling and a total red flag but I loved watching him turn into a teddy bear for Aida. I loved their enemies to lovers romance, and all of the weird circumstances they found themselves in. The action was good, but not too dark (I’m a baby when it comes to gore, and I thought this was fine).

Spice rating: 3🌶️

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable read. I’m excited to read the rest of the series!

This is such a good spicy mafia romance. It has everything you could possibly want from this genre: toe-curling sex scenes, a hot couple, and constant action. Brutal Prince is a masterclass in the arranged marriage trope. Other authors should take notes. I would love to continue the series because I really enjoyed this book!

The main character is wonderfully fiery and remains that way throughout - certainly not taking a back-seat role to any men present!

Sophie Lark's novels are addicting and once you enter the world of the Griffins and Gallos in the Brutal Birthright series, you won't want to leave! Aida Gallo is wild, reckless, and fierce AF and I love her for it. Seriously, when I first met her I thought she would frustrate me but there's this magic to Lark's writing that just makes the character come to life and I've seriously never related to a heroine more! And the perfect match to Aida's flame would be Callum Griffin who never thought he'd have an interest in his arranged-married wife until he realizes she's an animal he craves to tame! They're both dangerous and protective and I love the fire x fire dynamic because I rarely get to see that play out so well as it does here in Brutal Prince. The plot is enticing, the writing easy to read, and the world building just so well-done. The character's evolution is raw and real but more than that, their chemistry and relationship burns hot and deep. You will not want to stop turning the pages until the very end and even then, there are 5 more books to keep you going on this rollercoaster of a saga! Sophie Lark is taking the world by storm and I couldn't be more proud!