This was my first time reading a mafia romance so I wasn’t sure if I’d like the violence in it, but thankfully it wasn’t too graphic and it wasn’t a huge part of the story. I did pick this up because it’s inspired by Daemon and Rhaenyra from House of the Dragon (but no blood relation), but being in a modern setting the age gap and the timeframe of when feelings developed did bother me. I did move past all that and started to really enjoy the interactions between them and see that they were meant for each other.

Kristian was banished from the family and lost his right to run the business when he did something stupid after a tragic event. He worked hard for those two years and now he has a plan, make his “niece” fall in love with him, marry her, put his baby in her, and rule the city, but he didn’t plan on his heart reminding him just how much he loved her and make him realize she’s more important than power. When he learns someone is targeting his princess, he won’t rest until he’s made sure they can’t harm her. This man will do anything to make sure his love is safe and that she knows it.

Zenya made her “uncle” promise he would come back, but after two years and not a single word from him she has been carrying the family business and the care of her father and siblings on her own, so when he suddenly appears as a man in black coming to her rescue she demands answers. She’s going to protect her family and make him prove his loyalty to her in every way imaginable and enjoy it. She hates him, loves him, wants him, all at the same time.

Brutal Conquest definitely has House of the Dragon vibes in more ways than the relationship with the family dynamics and I love seeing a family that will stop at nothing to protect. I loved that she was a badass and not some naive girl that wouldn’t question his motives or secrets surrounding things. She pushes back and doesn’t blindly listen to anyone and she can fight when she needs to. There’s a very good balance of their story, the family, and a few surprises you don’t see coming until they are happening. I loved how a few times I thought I knew what happened, but actually didn’t so I got a really good picture of both of them and how they work.

I did struggle with his feelings for her starting when she was around 15, but he did struggle with it himself. I actually wished it had been a bit longer of a story because things really picked up near the end and I would have liked some more details of how things were after everything came to light.

It is very much a taboo book with a man that we should not want, but damn it, you just can’t help yourself. I may pick up the other books in this series to dip my toes into mafia romance more because this was purely for the House of the Dragons and I would like to try something that is just mafia romance.