King of Revenge

by Willow York

Briar

I only wanted a job.
A fresh start. A clean slate after the divorce that wrecked me.
Becoming Lucien Moretti’s personal assistant sounded safe.
Respectable. Normal.
It isn’t.
Lucien is intense. Untouchable. Dangerous in ways I don’t understand.
And yet when someone comes after me, he’s the one I call.

Lucien

Briar Locke was supposed to be another employee.
Invisible. Forgettable. Off-limits.
But when my enemies make her a target, I can’t stay away.
I won’t.
I’ve spent years pulling my family’s business into legitimacy, but the shadows I’ve tried to escape are reaching for her now.
And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.
Even if it means burning everything I’ve built to the ground.

King of Revenge is book one in the Vows of Blood series—a steamy, high-stakes mafia romance where bloodlines run deep, rules are meant to be broken, and the most dangerous thing a man can do is fall in love.

Genres: Workplace Romance

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2025

About the author

Willow York isn’t new to writing romance—but she’s done playing nice. Now it’s all about ruthless antiheroes, forbidden desires, and steamy mafia drama that will leave you breathless and begging for more.

Reviews

[Ioana Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 PA stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨️
2.5🌶

Ideea plotului..atractivă. Insa e prea pe repede-inainte acțiunea!

[Anna Volk · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed

I enjoyed this book. The h/h were both very likable. The story moved along nicely. I didn’t realize the other books in the series weren’t available yet but I enjoyed the story enough that if I run across the 2nd when it comes out I’ll give it a try.

[Maureen Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a book by Willow York, and overall it was an okay reading experience.

The writing itself flowed well and was easy to follow, making the story very readable. The main characters, Briar and Lucien, were decent enough, and while they did have some chemistry, they felt a bit flat to me. I kept waiting for that extra spark—something to really pull me in emotionally—but it never quite arrived, and the story as a whole felt like it was missing that element.

Lucien has four brothers, which I thought was a great setup, but there was very little interaction with them. I would have loved to see more page time and development there, as it could have added depth and richness to the story.

That said, King of Revenge is still a readable book and will likely appeal to other readers, especially those who enjoy the genre and are looking for a straightforward, smoothly written story.

Thank you for the ARC.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucien

I loved Lucien’s character. I loved that he put his family on the straight path but has no problem going back to his old ways to protect the one he loves. Brair was a different story. I didn’t care for her that much. The way she wouldn’t accept his old ways even for her protection. She didn’t appreciate the sacrifices he made to protect her. She didn’t appreciate his monster coming out to keep her safe. So she’s not really accepting all of him., the good and bad.

[Jean Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t Like

The book started out ok, Briar was not a heroine I liked, she wanted to start over, her cousin Stacy covers up her divorce during background checks, but then nothing is made of it when Lucien discovers who her ex is. I could go on, but no, I didn’t really care for the main characters.

[Jesmin Nawaz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not for me. How is Lucian the big bad mafia guy, to a certain extent, but then lets the woman he loves get beaten up not once, but twice. Her creepy ex manages to get the best of his security and kidnap his girl. This book was not worth the read, for me. The chemistry was lacking and not believable.

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

Lucian hires Brair to work for him not knowing she is his enemies ex they fall for each other. Lucian use to be in the mafia but changed his life after his dad died. Brairs ex will not leave them alone he wants her back. Good story.

[Toni ⋆˙⟡♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Was this the most ground breaking mafia book I’ve ever read? No. Was it quick, fun, and stereotypical? Yes and I absolutely loved it! I can’t wait for the rest of the series involving the other brothers!

[Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just boring

[sheryl blaszczyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a fantastic story

What a phenomenal story. Loved it so much. Love Lucien and Briar so much. This was a great story. You should read it now

[andrea holliway · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

This was a good book that I enjoyed from new to me author. I will definitely read more by this author!

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

Good story with great characters and a bad guy everybody hates. I liked Briar a lot and Lucerne had a dark sexy vibe going with mystery involved.

[Heather Bondie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only finished it because I have dnf'd the last 3 books I started.... it felt like everything just ended abruptly and everything was fine with little effort...