The characters were a bit hard to connect to emotionally. I like the overall story and everything, just the character attachment wasn't too good.

Yes, this is another mafia romance amongst a sea of many. No, you should not skip out on this read! This book maintains it's freshness by giving one of it's main characters a different background then we tend to see within this trope. Nessa and Miko might not seem made for each other in the beginning but it is easy to see the balance they create within each other.

Stolen Heir was a fascinating combination of sweetness and angst. Beauty and the Beast meets mafia.

Some naive characters annoy me if they aren't written well. Nessa certainly wasn't one of them; I loved her kindness and her passion about dancing. Although sometimes I wish she fought a little more, her personality makes sense given her upbringing.

And I enjoyed Miko's dark and moody vibes. I love dual POV so much! This book had a slower romance so finally seeing their mutual feelings for each other made it so satisfying.

The characters, their development and the action-driven plot (in the second half) made this so enjoyable. It was certainly calmer than the first book because of the main leads' dynamic, but I definitely prefer this one. I adored this book and would highly recommend it!

Thank you Sophie Lark, Netgalley and Bloom for providing an ARC.

“I see her, and she sees me. I was death, and she was life. I thought I’d had stolen her, brought her down to the underworld. All the while she was waking me up. Stirring the blood in my veins. Breathing air into my lungs.”

This second installment in the the Brutal Birthright veers in to even darker territory than the previous installment. Part Beauty & the Beast retelling, part captor/captive romance, this book delivers on angst, pining, tenion, and heart-pounding suspense.

Nessa is the innocent ballerina youngest daughter of the Irish mafia family, whereas Mikolaj is the new head of the Polish mob. He kidnaps her for revenge. However, he soon begins to soften towards Nessa. I loved the progression of their dark and twisted romance, and how Nessa was the only person that was able to thaw Miko's icy exterior.

“I stole you, Nessa. And you stole my heart.”

Like my mother always told me growing up "you will eat your words one day". So when I found out this was a kidnapping trope set in a romance book in a mafia world, I wasn't really intrigued into the story because the kidnapping has been done countless times before. But here I am eating my words, because I have no words, this book was amazing and I loved spending every single second in Nessa's abd Miko's world. The only downside to the story was that the book wasn't longer because I wanted to read more. I personally felt like the book went too quick and those huge conflicts in the book were not as big as they should've felt. I also would've liked for a little more character development for Miko as his feeling change too abruptly for me. He goes from hating her, to liking her, to she is his sun, moon, and stars, all within 430 pages. I wish the book was a bit longer to see the fuller character development into Miko and slip into his love and emotions like taking a step into a pool, not jumping into the freezing cold ocean. But I will say once he is in love, it's the all consuming love we can't help but want more of.

“I’m watching her with awe. The way a hunter would watch a doe that walks into a clearing. Nessa is the doe. She is lovely. Innocent. Perfectly at place in her natural environment.
I’ll send my arrow straight into her heart.
That’s my right, as the hunter.”

I felt extremely kindred to Nessa because of her sweet and innocent soul. She truly was perfect for Miko. What was even better was watching a naive and innocent girl grow beautifully into her own skin and speak up for herself. Can we talk about girl power?!?! I live for that energy so this was really refreshing to read.

I do feel like this book was slower due to the "hostage" situation, but personally I don't mind a slow-burn. It was exhilarating, especially when Miko united with the Italian and Irish, I felt adrenaline running through my veins!! And don't even get me started on Miko's "I will kill ANYONE who even looks at my woman wrong". I live for men who will burn down the world just for her.

This is one of my favorite reads this year and I cannot wait for more!!

My favorite quote by far is “Love is the one thing you can’t steal. You can’t create it, either. It either exists or it doesn’t. And if it exists, you can’t take it by force.” Swooning.

Five out of five stars!!

Thank you to Sophie Lark, Netgalley, and Sourcebooks for giving me an ARC in exchange for my opinions and honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own and do not reflect those of an employer, employee, or any third party.

“I brought Nessa back to your house. All I’m asking is for your permission to continue seeing her. I want to marry her.” 🩰❄️💍🔒

this book was good however i think it was a pretty basic read like nothing wrong with a good old basic age gap stockholm syndrome read

i liked the character hess’s was adorable but also hot she isn’t clingy or anything like that i can’t really say i relate to her but i like the idea of her character as for miko his past literally killed me like omg but he’s hot the fact that he waited for her parents approve because he knew they meant a lot to her and even bringing her back to her parents all of it <3

definitely recommend all of Sophie larks books are so enjoyable and quick easy reads but there also meaning behind them and the art omfggg the art chefs kiss

thank you netgalley

“What if you stayed here?” His ice-blue eyes cut into mine. “With me.”

I really liked this instalment of the series, even more than the first book. The characters and tropes in this book were more enjoyable to me personally than in the first. Miko, in particular, was a really great character and I loved reading about his relationship with Nessa. The plot was a lot of fun and kept me interested from start to finish. I would have loved to read more about these two. I loved Miko's character so much I'm on the lookout for more like him in other books! Will definitely continue reading this series to see the stories of the other siblings.

Potential was there but fell short. I wanted to enjoy this book so badly! The beauty and the beast idea can be done really well and I think this had the potential but the writing was so poorly done that I could not connect to the characters. Right in the beginning, when Miko undergoes a traumatic event, the reaction was so odd and it turned me off immediately. I kept reading hoping for a character redemption. We meet Nessa, who is young and naive. I also couldn't connect to her character. The writing was a lot of telling and not showing which doesn't allow you to really be enveloped by the story or connect to the characters. Sentences were short and blunt but did not convey the emotions and feelings well. The bulk of the story was frankly quite boring so when the romance blossomed it did not feel real or believable. The ending was exciting and I did enjoy those scenes as it dealt with the rival mafia families.

Stolen Heir by Sophie Lark is such a wonderful read. It's been a long time since I read a mafia book. This book is different from any mafia book which portrayed the love journey between the kidnapper and the prisoner.

This book have a little bit of suspense, angst, action packed, high sexual tension, hot spicy scenes, heart breaking moments and tears. The unique things about this book are the playlist and the graphic. You can read the scenes and play the song along the story. The song make the story comes alive. The books also provide a few graphics including the hot scenes. I'll definitely be waiting for more books from Sophie Lark and I'm looking forward to read the next story perhaps about Riona.

I’d like to thank Netgalley, Bloom Books and Sophie Lark for the ARC copy of this book!

For the fans of dark mafia romances, cold hearted mafia bosses, and enemies to lovers, Sophie Lark brings Stolen Heir, the second book in the Brutal Birthright series.

This book is some sort of The Beauty and the Beast retelling. It has the dark romance vibe and contains one of my favorite tropes ever: enemies to lovers! Miko is supposed to hate Nessa because their families are rivals, and Nessa should naturally despise her kidnapper, right? For a while they could barely tolerate each other, but having to spend time together drew them closer and closer.

Miko is a cold hearted mafia Boss that has one goal in mind: avenge his father’s death. Nessa is who he chooses to use, but as he learns more about her, he becomes more and more captivated by the little ballerina that he captured. Nessa, on the other hand, is a feisty girl that has been pampered and spoiled her whole life, but has to face the cruel reality of the mafia world when she is kidnapped.

The story was entertaining, the expectancy of seeing what Miko was going to do with Nessa grew more and more. He had to decide between his spot as a mafia Boss and the woman he fell for. The plot twist was something I saw coming miles away, but the way in which Miko got away was very resourceful. I liked it. The emotional connection between the characters is not the best, but the way in which they became obsessed with each other? I would die a happy woman if somebody became as obsessed with me as Miko is with Nessa.

However, there are some things I didn’t love about this book. The fact that Nessa was able to learn Polish in like a month seemed unrealistic. Also, the way in which they fell for each other seemed to be more superficial at first, especially since they declared their love for the other right after they had sex. As if bedding the other would finalize the falling in love process, it seemed more methodical instead of natural.

If you like mafia romances, dark villains that fall for the good girl and forbidden love, then Stolen Heir is perfect for you!

I had never read a book by Sophie Lark before so I was excited to be accepted to read this one! I thought the story was unique and written very well! I loved all the characters and the dual POV's. The character development in this story is really well-written. Overall, this is a great read!

Beauty and the Beast meets Mafia Romance! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read the rest of the series because of it.

as someone who has read all of sophie larks books, this one just slightly missed the mark for me. compared to her other dark mafia romances, this one felt a little slow for me. while it was more atmospheric than her others, i just wasnt as invested as normal. still love sophie though!!

The Facts: Mafia romance, Beauty & The Beast/Hades & Persephone vibes, enemies to lovers, omg hot man kidnapped me, lowkey like grumpy vs sunshine vibes????, dancing queen

Idk, mafia romances just make my heart go OOOOOOH. I love them, but I don't read them often. Sophie Lark does them SO RIGHT. This was FIRE. Nessa and Miko had so much chemistry, I swear my book almost caught on fire. Their attraction was quite literally like an intricate dance, and I was here for it.

The storyline was good, and we finally have a semi-resolution (full resolution? idk what's next) with The Butcher thing that was introduced in book 1, so I'm excited to see who's the next baddie.

This is book two in the Brutal Birthright series; however, this can be read as a standalone if you really want to (which I always like reading the series from the start even then.)

While not my favorite book from Sophie I still enjoyed. This is your standard mafia romance so if that is the void you need to fill, I recommend. Otherwise I think I prefer the books in the Kingmakers series which is also by Sophie.

In "Stolen Heir" by Sophie Lark, readers are thrust into a dark and compelling world where the line between captor and captive blurs, and a twisted romance unfolds amidst the shadows of the underworld. Nessa Griffin lives a lonely and conflicted life. Born into a mafia empire, she's marked by her compassion and gentleness, traits that set her apart from her ruthless family's criminal dealings. She struggles to find her place both at home and in the cutthroat world of her highly competitive ballet corps.

Mikolaj Wilk, on the other hand, is the embodiment of ruthlessness and vengeance. Known as the most vicious gangster in Chicago, he harbors a deep-seated vendetta against the Griffins, the family responsible for his adoptive father's death. Mikolaj's thirst for revenge leads him to abduct Nessa, taking her captive in his decaying gothic mansion.

While Nessa may not deserve to pay for her family's crimes, in this brutal world, innocence and gentleness offer no protection. As Mikolaj plots the destruction of everything the Griffins hold dear, an unconventional and disturbing relationship begins to form between captor and captive. As their interactions intensify, Mikolaj's fixation on Nessa deepens, and he desires her to dance only for him. Meanwhile, Nessa finds herself caught in the growing tension between her and her kidnapper, their relationship taking on increasingly twisted and complex dimensions. Mikolaj is the beast to Nessa's beauty, but beneath the surface, the question lingers: Is there a man inside the monster, and can Nessa find it before he succumbs to his insatiable hunger for revenge?

It is a gripping and intense dark romance that delves into the murky depths of human desire, vengeance, and the complexities of power dynamics. The author skillfully crafts a narrative that challenges conventional notions of morality and captivates readers with its emotionally charged and suspenseful storyline. The characters of Nessa and Mikolaj are richly developed, each carrying their own burdens and flaws. Nessa's struggle to assert her identity and maintain her humanity in a world filled with darkness adds depth to her character. Mikolaj's ruthless exterior hides layers of complexity, making him a compelling antihero.

The author's exploration of the twisted relationship between the captor and the captive is a central theme that keeps readers on edge. The tension and psychological games between Nessa and Mikolaj add layers of intrigue to the narrative, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. The writing style is evocative and immersive, plunging readers into a dark and atmospheric world where danger lurks around every corner. The pacing of the story is well-executed, with moments of intense passion and suspense that hold the reader's attention throughout.

"Stolen Heir" is not a story for the faint of heart, as it delves into themes of dominance, submission, and the dark allure of forbidden desire. It challenges readers to explore the depths of their own emotions and question the boundaries of right and wrong. For fans of dark romance and psychological thrillers with complex character dynamics, "Stolen Heir" offers a provocative and intense reading experience. It's a tale that pushes the boundaries of love and obsession, leaving readers questioning the nature of power and vulnerability.

Thank you to netgalley and Sophie Lark for an ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4/5

I lovedddd this book! Devoured in one sitting. Love the beauty and the best retelling and mafia brought together so fun!

This was my first Sophie Lark book and I will definitely be reading more. For some reason, I was thinking that Stolen Heir was the first in the series, but I came to realize that Brutal Prince was actually the first book. Im making a trip to Barnes and Noble to buy it today because while I don’t think it diminished my ability to understand or enjoy Nessa and Mikos story, there were allusions to actions that had taken place prior that would have helped to better understand the world they live in. Stolen Heir is a thoroughly enjoyable mafia romance with a heartbreakingly beautiful love story reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast. The characters are well developed and the writing is beautiful. There is also that perfect amount of spice that furthers the characters relationship without detracting from the plot. Im so thankful to NetGalley for introducing me to this series!

This book is about a girl who is still learning who she is in the world and feels as though her family still treats her as a baby, even though she is in college. The only sibling who doesn't have a stake in the family business but wants to be treated as equal. As payback from book one, the Polish mafia decides to kidnap her and use her as leverage for money, and to break down the Irish and Italian's that in book 1 just united with their marriage pact via Aida and Callum. However, upon abducting Nessa, the Polish leader Miko realizes he enjoys having Nessa around, and Nessa realizes she may be falling for the beast. In a somewhat similar storyline to Beauty and the Beast they fall in love, but is there love enough to keep them together, or will Nessa's family tear them apart?

I gave this book 3 stars, it wasn't as good as the first book in my opinion, but it did have all the spicy scenes that you might need starting around the halfway point. The romance did seem rushed at times, with not enough relationship development to explain the way the two main characters were feelings. I hope to be able to read the next ones!

Thank you, Net Galley, for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This dark mafia Beauty & Beast book has everything we want. Great character development at the beginning lets us know how M became the tattooed beast of N’s dreams. Or mine…. But I digress. Book 2 in this series didn’t disappoint. Something really original about this author that I love, is she has pictures of her characters. That gives us context to what she saw in her mind that we can share. Physical descriptions were on point, but as someone that is very visual, this really helped. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity.