I read this originally when Sophia self published via KU and omg did I love it then just the same as I love it now! Aida is an absolute queen and set the standard for what I need in a strong woman MC. The spice is phenomenal.

The first story in the Brutal Birthright series did NOT disappoint. We're introduced to the Griffins and the Gallos via Callum and Aida. Callum is the overly serious businessman while Aida is the spunky, sassy, free spirit.

The two quickly go from pure hatred and trying to kill each other to protective love. In addition to these two, the side characters also bring their own form of entertainment, whether it be Aida's gentle giant brother or Callum's sweet as can be sister.

This story has everything you'd want in an enemies-to-lovers plot, including plenty of "my wife" moments.

Easily a 4.5 star read and I can't wait to pick up the next one.

I grabbed this re-release from Netgalley, and dove back into the dangerous world of the Gallos and Griffins.

These two families have been fighting for dominance and control of Chicago's Underworld for what seems like forever. Certainly generations. Things were calm until an unfortunate accident literally sparks this feud again. Aida Gallo and Callum Griffin have no love between them, but find themselves tied to each other in the most permanent/legally binding way, in hopes of bringing a truce. I love the steamy chemistry and emotions swirling around this unlikely couple.
Of course, we all know how THAT'S gonna go!! Callum will find that Aida is a force to be dealt with, one that he's unprepared for.

All the delicious dangers and passions of a warring Mafia read are delivered in this one, and I couldn't put it down - again. This series is really addictive!

I strongly recommend this read, and thank Netgalley and Sourcebooks for my free ARC.
I voluntarily leave my review.

4.75 stars
This was the first Sophie Lark book I've read - I've seen so much hype around her books and this series in particular, so I was really interested in picking this book up and I'm so glad I did! I get now, the hype makes complete sense. I'm fully obsessed with Aida and Callum - from the way they started, as enemies with the absolute perfect banter and so much freaking sexual tension, I thought I would snap to their ending when they realize the full depth of their feelings for each other. Plus, being introduced to all the siblings and side characters that I imagine will be main characters in future books. And all the spice in this book! I loved so many different aspects of this book.
The only thing that I wish was included was just more of this book in general. It's a really fast read, and I was completely rivetted and I wish there were a few extra chapters to further explore Aida and Cal's relationship even more!

"The Brutal Prince" by Sophie Lark is a captivating and sizzling tale that immerses readers in the dangerous underworld of Chicago, where two notorious crime families, the Griffins and the Gallos, collide with explosive consequences. This thrilling romance novel is filled with an intense rivalry, unbridled passion, and a battle for dominance that will leave you breathless.

The story centers around Aida Gallo, the youngest and most untamed member of the Gallo clan, who accidentally sparks a cataclysmic event at the Griffin mansion. In order to prevent an all-out war, Aida's father arranges a marriage between her and Callum Griffin, the formidable and ambitious heir to the Irish mafia. The chemistry between Aida and Callum is as volatile as their families' feud, setting the stage for a battle of wills and desires that neither can resist.

Sophie Lark expertly crafts her characters, particularly Aida and Callum, as complex individuals with their own agendas and vulnerabilities. Aida's fiery spirit and determination to assert her independence make her a force to be reckoned with, while Callum's cold exterior hides a burning desire to prove himself worthy of his family's legacy. Their dynamic is electric, as they clash and challenge each other at every turn, leading to a tempestuous and passionate relationship.

The author's writing style is engaging and evocative, capturing the gritty atmosphere of Chicago's underworld and bringing it to life on the pages. The pacing is relentless, with tension escalating as the power struggle intensifies between the Gallos and the Griffins. Lark skillfully weaves together intricate plot twists and unexpected turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and craving more.

One of the highlights of "The Brutal Prince" is the palpable sexual tension between the main characters. Their love-hate relationship fuels the narrative, adding a layer of forbidden desire and emotional depth to the story. Lark explores their vulnerabilities and showcases their personal growth, making the romance all the more satisfying.

However, the overall story arc follows a familiar pattern, adhering to many tropes commonly found in the romance genre. While the chemistry between Aida and Callum is undeniably captivating, some readers may find themselves wishing for more surprises and a slightly more original plot.

In conclusion, "The Brutal Prince" is a scorching romance novel that will enthrall fans of steamy tales set against a backdrop of organized crime. Sophie Lark's talent for crafting complex characters and her ability to infuse every page with intensity and passion make this book a captivating read. Although it adheres to certain genre conventions, the gripping storyline and explosive chemistry between the protagonists more than make up for it. Prepare yourself for a journey into a dangerous and seductive world where love and power collide in spectacular fashion.

Brutal Prince is an enemies to lovers/arranged marriage trope and the first book in the Brutal Birthright series.
I thought this was a really fun, easy reading romance told from dual POV's with two strongheaded MC's. I thought this was a great start to the series it has good humour, a bit of spice and a nice romance. I would recommend to anyone who loves mafia romances.

A real enemies to lovers!?!?!?!?! LOVED THIS BOOK SOOOO MUCH! This was my first Sophie Lark book. I can’t wait to read the rest of the Brutal Birthright series. Everything about this book was amazing.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the arc of this book.

This is the story of Aida Gallo and Callum Griffin, of the Italian mafia and the Irish mafia in Chicago, respectively.

I love the enemies to lovers trope and the arranged marriage trope. I kept getting distracted, though, by the fact that the families, the characters, freely admit to crimes they’ve committed, murders they were responsible for, torture they inflicted on others.

I almost wish the story was just thismuch longer, long enough to spend a little more time on Aida and Callum learning to love each other. It happened a bit to quickly and easily for my taste…

Brutal Prince is the first book in the Brutal Birthright series. This book is told from dual points of view from Callum and Aida. This book starts out with Aida crashing Callum's birthday party and setting the library curtains, and stealing something important to him. This puts her on Callum's radar and she ends up in an arranged marriage with him.

Neither Callum or Aida want to marry each other. I love the banter between the two characters. Aida is a strong heroine, and won't take anything from Callum. She fights Callum the whole way. As it goes on they start to have feelings for each other.

Things happen to both of them, and the other has to decide if it's worth it to help save the other one. Will their relationship survive the tough battles it's thrown into?

I really enjoyed this book, and am excited to start the second one.

This was okay. It read very quickly. Your typical enemies to lovers mafia romance. There was great plot with the beginning of their story being funny AF. I just felt like this was missing the oomph, you know? more spicy, more savage, more and more of everything. I love the cover and the art in the pages! very fun and refreshing. Thank you for this ARC these are my own words.

Omg these books, this author!!!!! This world is pure gold! I devoured this book in one sitting! Thank you for the ARC.

Thank you so much Bloom Sourcebooks for this arc in return for my honest review.

I could not put this book down at all. If I did, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. This book has it all. Action, adventure, love, drama, twists and turns and more!

Aida and Callum are forced together in marriage as rivals to bring their two families together What happens when one day that pent up anger turns into something more? Brutal Prince has the following tropes
-enemies to lover
-miscommunication
-mafia
-age gap

The spice scenes had me giggling screaming throwing up. And the humour in this book? So good

I have given this book 4 stars as the epilogue contains pregnancy. I feel like this is too cliche in romance books now and it wasn’t really necessary to fullfill the story but you can read this without the epilogue and it would still be great!!

Blooms Traditionally published version of Brutal Prince comes out in July! Don’t forget to pre order this!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review. I lovedddd the tropes in this book and they were well done!
Tropes: enemies to lovers, hate to love, arranged marriage, jealous guy, guy falls first
Mannnn a must read, but it’s a bit freaky so watch out

This book definitely had me hooked until the end! Highly recommend!

~This book was given by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

*cue Crazy by Patsy Cline when Aida ate strawberries right before the wedding* LOL

Tropes:⁠
🗡️ enemies to 💘 lovers ⁠
💍 arranged marriage ⁠
⚔️ rival mafia families ⁠
🫡 age gap⁠
🥊 "touch her and die" vibes⁠

Genre: mafia romance
Tropes: arranged marriage, age gap, etc
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Bloom Books for providing me with an ARC of Brutal Prince.

I’ve heard so many amazing things about this book and I really wanted to love it, but it fell flat for me personally. I love the concept of the feuding mafia families forming an alliance through arranged marriage, but I didn’t like characters or how quickly the issues seemed to resolve themselves.

I will definitely read more of Sophie’s books in the future despite not loving this one, and I am excited to see what she continues to publish!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the advance reader copy. First, this is most definitely a true enemies to lovers. So there is brownie points for that. A book can't get much more enemies to lovers than the true hatred these two have for each other.
I liked some parts of this, I just found the main character quite insufferable. Aida gave "I'm-not-like-other-girls" energy and it did annoy me a tad. Some bits made me giggle and others made me wonder what on earth I was reading. So, I have mixed feelings. All in all, an easy read that was super quick and a bit of fun. I honestly think the main character just was not for me; this meant I found some parts really hard to get into because she acts so questionably. I did read it in about two days so for some reason I was very compelled to finish.
Probably a good read for someone who can get past Aida. Another point is the illustrations were very fun and I liked the fact the author provided a playlist. I would probably go for 2.5 if I could but that's not possible so 3 it is.

So glad I took a chance on this book. I don’t gravitate to the marriage of convenience/ arranged marriage tropes, but this one just worked. It was witty, fast paced, spicy, and fun! The writing was better than I anticipated too. Highly recommend Brutal Prince. I enjoyed every page.

First time reading Sophie Lark but it definitely won't be the last.

This was a quick, spicy mafia* read that I devoured in a couple of hours. I didn't realise how badly I needed a good romance until I picked this up.

*The mafia aspect isn't the main focus, in my opinion.

I loved Aida as a character. She was the perfect mix of funny, scrappy, smart, switched-on and she had a sense of humour I could find myself gelling with. I loved how the things her and Callum did to each other at the start weren't all that far-fetched. Their pettiness was believable. Callum did toe the line of being maybe a bit too much of an ass at times, but Aida toed the line of being a bit too much of a brat at other times, so I wasn't mad.

The series name was a little misleading for me: Brutal Birthright. There wasn't really anything brutal about the characters or the story. It was kept more on the light side, so if you're after a face-paced mafia romance with good spice, likeable characters and funny dialogue without it focusing too much on the actual brutality of "mafia" families, then this is the book for you.

I'll definitely be picking up more from Lark in the future.

𝘉𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 follows Aida Gallo and Callum Griffin, sworn enemies after an accidental thievery incident and now a married couple to pay off their mistakes.

- ~ -

𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘤? Queen shit.

𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯? Mafia King shit.

This book has stoked the flames of my mafia addiction fire and I'm hooked.

The Gallos and Griffins have lost many members of their clans due to their long drawn fued and their best solution is to gain alliance through the marriage of their only daughter and only son.

There was so much fierceness, thrill and vengeance. All carried out with poetic justice. And the little illustrations throughout the book definitely enhanced the plot.

Callum continued to serve the most unfavorable situations to Aida till a good chunk of the book was covered but she didn't wasn't one to back down. She fought tooth and nail and her fierce nature added half the character in the plot.

Needless to say, I'm going to continue with the series and am patiently waiting for sweet little Sebastian (although I don't think he'll be all that sweet either).

- ~ -

4.03 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.