Dark Atonement (Tangled Empires #1)

Book One in the Tangled Empires Series

If I were a decent man, I’d regret what I did to that unwilling girl until the day I die.

Tricked into the worst kind of violence against a girl he didn’t even know, Alexi Kostrov faced an impossible choice when his victim turned up on his doorstep
Leave her to the mercies of the Mafia—or marry her.

The idea of a man like him as a husband was insane.
His brothers warned him he’d break her.
But the girl—and the baby she was carrying—needed the protection of the Bratva.
And there was no way in hell he was letting his worst enemy near his child.

In the stories I loved, the girl was always rescued. But no one was coming to rescue me. I had to go face this monster myself.

Marry into the Bratva or face the wrath of the Mafia?
They both sounded more like a death sentence than a choice.

But whatever it took—
Whatever price she had to pay—
Eloise Lombard would do anything to protect her baby.
Even if it meant sacrificing herself to the man who had broken her.

A personal note from the author:

Dark romance covers a huge range, so here’s a quick heads-up on what Dark Atonement is — and isn’t.

This is a slow-burn, psychologically intense story that digs deep into emotional trauma, power, and moral ambiguity. It’s character-driven, plot-heavy, and sets up the wider Tangled Empires series (though it works as a standalone too).

My books are dark romance with a strong emotional core — expect morally grey characters, intense themes, and high stakes. But I don’t write ‘pitch black’ romance where the aim is to push every boundary. Any darkness in my stories serves the plot and character growth. I want to go on a journey with you, not send you screaming into the abyss.

If you’re after a light, fun read with characters having a good time, this probably won’t be your thing — and that’s ok. There are brilliant authors out there doing just that. Read what brings you joy.

But if you like depth, complex characters, and stories that aren’t afraid to get messy… welcome. We’ve got a long road ahead together.