SAVAGE REIGN
Series: Bratva Kings #2
Genre: Dark, Mafia Romance
Author: Monica Kayne
Release Date: January 31, 2025
Bratva kingpin Nikolai Zhukov is the devil in a tailored suit—lethal, ruthless, and utterly irresistible.
Once, he saved my life. Now, he owns me. As his wife. As his prisoner.
He tore me from my world and branded me with his touch, a wedding ring inked into my skin.
Trapped in his gilded cage, I’m nothing but a pawn in his brutal war—a means to an end in his deadly game against a rival syndicate.
But he doesn’t just want my submission. He wants to consume me—body, mind, and soul.
I swore I’d fight him, that I’d never give in. But with every heated glance, every forbidden touch, I’m losing ground.
Because monsters like Nikolai don’t just steal hearts.
They destroy them.
*Savage Reign is a forced marriage mafia romance. It has no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Can be read as a complete standalone.
Savage Reign by Monica Kayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4.5 STARS
She’s ruined me, this woman. And I don’t think there’s any way to come back.
Monica Kayne quickly shot up my goto mafia romance authors and this book is a perfect example why. It was gritty, sexy, with multilayered characters, action, and a story that had me turning the pages well past my bedtime.
I am an absolute sucker for a forced marriage trope and this one hit so good that I never wanted it to end. Now I did my usual back@sswards thing and read book two before I read book one. And I am not sorry, okay! Though I will definitely be reading book one, I can also say that this easily reads a standalone and I had no issue being fully immersed in the story even though there’s clearly some carry over from the first book.
Five years ago, Sofiya’s parents sold her into a fate she couldn’t imagine, to be married to a brutal mafia man. Only to be rescued by the most unexpected savior in the most unconventional ways. Now five years later, Sofiya’s sister is married to the love of her life while she’s trying to figure out what to do with hers. It took her years to heal from the events of 5 years ago and she’s finally getting her life together. Only for it to take a turn when she meets a handsome stranger who isn’t quite what he seems.
Nikolai is the pakhan of the Zhukov Brava. To grow his power, he wants the contract to operate casinos across russia. The problem is that he needs the approval of the Roman from the Belov Syndicate to operate in Moscow, and considering that Nikolai’s brother almost killed Roman five years ago and there is no love lost between their fragile truce. So what’s a man to do to ensure his success? Kidnap Roman’s sister in law and lock her in a marriage whether she wants it or not.
I loved the chemstry between Nikolai and Sofiya. Even though Sofiya is younger, 22 to his 34, she’s no naive girl. She gives as good as she gets and doesn’t take anything lying down. Well, I mean, she does, but she enjoys those things immensely. But I digress.
There is tension galore and plenty of banter between these two and I loved watching them fall for each other no matter how much they try to fight it. The chemistry was hot and the steam was steaming. I devoured this story and enjoyed it immensely. I definitely need more in this series but for now I will appease myself by going back and reading book 1.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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