Wow, what a great start to this new duet🙌

Allegra gets taken as collateral by Cassian, after her brother betrays him. The condition is he is to return his money with interest within a week, knowing the likelihood of this is probably never going to happen. Allegra and Cassian embark on a secretive and twisted journey with personal secrets soon coming to light…but as they both fight the attraction to the other, the lines become blurred to the point that they don’t know whether Allegra is still collateral or more🤷‍♀️

That ending is enough to have me up all night wondering what’s going to happen…though I have an idea, I want to see if I’m close to guessing correctly. Can’t wait to get my hands on the next book😍 I received an advanced copy and voluntarily leave my honest review💛

4–4.5 STARS!

When you dive into a NK dark mafia romance, you know you’re going to get completely and utterly drawn into its world.

I was in awe of how immediate the characters grabbed my attention and in desperate need of answers. The secrecy, the mind games?! The questionable characters and possible ulterior motives?! You’re constantly on edge and on your toes because there’s just so much mystery surrounding Cassian, Allegra, and their twisted familial connections.

This book contains dark, sensitive subject matters that some readers may find disturbing or triggering. It also includes certain tropes and kinks that won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. It contains graphic violence, kidnapping, manipulation, torture (psychological, physical and emotional), domestic/familial abuse, child abuse—resulting in PTSD and scarring (psychological, physical and emotional). It also deals with a serious, life-altering medical diagnosis, as well as death. The adult themes involve tropes such as, captor/captive, forced proximity, dub-con, and a questionable love triangle. It’s intended for readers 18+ only.

As this is the first part of the War of Hearts duet, it does conclude on a cliffhanger, but one that leaves you with an idea of what’s in store in the next book.

The plot is plotting. Just when I thought I figured out a certain plot twist, character, or direction a development is moving towards, it ended up becoming something else. It’s well-paced storytelling, and really displays the MCs emotions and thought-process through the dual POVs. The secondary cast of characters heightened what was an already suspenseful read with their looming presence.

If you enjoy dark romances, mafia romances, romance reads with tons of build-up and unpredictability, then add this one to your TBR. Cassian and Allegra have a complex relationship. You’re either going to love, hate, or question their actions throughout this book. The sexual tension is palpable, but there’s also a constant push-and-pull between the two.

Cassian has an image to uphold. He is controlling, possessive, and enjoys flaunting his power, especially to prove a point. But behind all that bravado, he also carries a heavy burden.

Allegra has a haunting life that she didn’t think she could ever escape from, until a chance encounter with Cassian alters her reality.

These two seem to be up against the world. There always seems to be one roadblock after another. Just when you think things are finally getting comfortable, the rug gets pulled out from under you. I found myself being easily transported as their world is complicated yet vivid. There was an air of uneasiness that leapt off of the pages and elevated my reading experience.

I was hooked on the premise, and whilst for the most part the book was gripping. There were times I wasn’t completely sold on either of the MCs during certain scenes. But I think that has a lot to do with my reading preferences, and particular tropes and elements this book had prompted I wasn’t a fan of. Nonetheless, it’s not something that deterred me from continuing. The writing is effortless to follow, and Knight has created characters who are already exhibiting fleshed-out personalities. I was continuously intrigued by how things would progress. The dynamics are thought-provoking, and with how it concluded, I’m eager to read the next book and see how it pans out for Cassian and Allegra.

This is one eyebrow-raising mafia romance read. It’s dirty, twisted, and highly-charged. You can’t tear your eyes away even if you wanted to.

I was provided a copy by the author.

Reviewed by Rina | (booksofthemuggleborn)

Truly enjoyable book, highly recommend, plenty of actions, interesting plot.

Cassian’s character is a bit complex, it was hard to decide to like or dislike him at first…

Both Cassian and Allegra went through a lot and both had issues to trust…

Regardless, I loved the book, the flow of events, writing style

Natasha’s books never disappoint. Looking forward to the Book 2

Always love the Natasha Knight books. Good characters, great plots and exceptional story telling. Love that she writes so well and has great twists and turns. Can definitely recommend

This was an okay-ish read for me. The story had potential, but I found it quite boring and slow at times. The characters also weren’t written deeply enough for me to really connect with them or feel invested in their story.

Overall, it was a disappointing read, especially considering the premise. I don’t think I’ll be picking up the second book in the series.

This book takes over your mind and time from page 1! It will suck you in and I have read it in a day. It is all maffia, love, hate and so so much more! Can't wait for book 2 and see what will happen to the characters.

Won't give any spoilers it is to good read it yourself!

This is my review based off both books, The Villain and The Pawn. This is going to be a hard one for me to write. While I did like both books, I definitely wasn’t in love with them. And even when there was times I thought about walking away, something always drug me back in. The first book was more spicier than the second. Understandably. And not as gruesome. The second book was more volatile and yeah, I skipped over a lot of scenes for this reason. And because it had a lot of actiony stuff I honestly didn’t want to read. Plus I couldn’t figure Allegra and Cassian out. They irked me a lot of time and their whole weird dynamic with Jet was just that, weird. But I will say, it was an all in all good read and it kept pulling me back in. 4 Stars.

Natasha Knight doesn’t just write dark romances, she weaponizes it. The Villain is a deliciously twisted tale of power, obsession, and the thin line between fury and desire. Cassian Trevino storms into the story like a wrathful god in an expensive suit, demanding payment. What he takes instead is Allegra Moretti, the defiant sister of the man who wronged him. She’s supposed to be collateral. Instead, she becomes his undoing.

Allegra, bless her stubborn little soul, is a firecracker in boots, equal parts courage and turmoil. Every scene between her and Cassian is a battle of wills that crackles with tension and heat. One minute, you want to slap him, the next, you want to fan yourself. And somewhere between the threats, the lies, and the unexpected tenderness, you start questioning who the real villain is.

Then enters Jet Blackstone (swoon), dark, dangerous, and clearly carrying enough secrets to fill his own book (please, Ms. Knight, make that happen). His presence adds a sharp edge to Cassian’s already volatile world, and when their feud ignites, the fallout is pure chaos and utterly addictive.

Knight’s writing is as seductive as her character. It’s sharp, layered, and laced with emotional grit. Every page drips with tension, and just when you think you’ve figured out who’s pulling the strings, she throws a grenade and walks away. The result? A cliffhanger that leaves you gasping, glaring at your Kindle, and muttering, “More.”

The Villain isn’t a straight love story; it’s a power play wrapped in sin and secrets. And if the final pages are anything to go by, book two is about to drag us even deeper into the dark.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go find out who the real demon is… because my heart (and possibly my morals) are not okay. Bring on book two.