Katelyn Brehm’s Dark Vendetta is a captivating, slow-burn dark romance that hooked me from the first page. It’s a seductive mix of vengeance, forbidden attraction, and emotional intensity that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished reading. The tension between the main characters is palpable, making it impossible to put down.
The hero is a complex, morally ambiguous, haunted, and deeply flawed. Watching him gradually open up as his vendetta clashes with unexpected feelings is heartbreaking and thrilling. The heroine is strong, smart, and far more than a damsel in distress. Their chemistry is electrifying, and their story is filled with secrets, danger, and a twist that left me completely surprised.
Brehm’s writing is immersive and emotionally charged. She skillfully balances dark themes with just enough softness to make you feel everything deeply. The pacing is spot-on, and the supporting characters hint at a larger world that I’m eager to explore.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
*This review was published on May 1, 2025, at Goodreads and Amazon.

I LOVED book one Her Dark Salvation. And I was way too excited to jump into the the second book.
His Dark Vendetta book two in the Bonded in Blood series by Katelyn Brehm.
What an absolute amazing Paranormal Mafia Romance story!
I genuinely found this book entertaining and fun to read— it was engaging enough that I finished it in a day.

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

HIS DARK VENDETTA
Bonded in Blood series
Author: Katelyn Brehm
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶🌶🌶

The middle-aged characters were the best surprise!

What a great twist on mafia romance! I loved the fact that the characters speak Italian-American in the book. It made it so much more authentic than just saying that they are Italian mafia. I also enjoyed the fact that the paranormal aspect wasn't the main focal point. It was the perfect balance. And to have characters in their mid-forties? Icing on the cake!

Although this can be read as a standalone, I highly suggest reading the first book of the Bonded in Blood series, Her Dark Salvation, for the best understanding of the characters and for more emotional impact.

-Interconnected Standalone
-Characters in their mid 40's
-Paranormal Mafia
-Blood demons x Humans
-Fangs
-Italian-American culture
-Friends to Enemies to Lovers
-Captor/Captive
-Betrayal
-Vendetta to settle
-Secrets
-Redemption
-Heartbreak
-Angst
-'Who hurt you?'
-Chronic Illness due to traumatic injuries
-Obsessive and compulsive behavior
-Found Family

"I want blood. Shaughnessy blood. And because of your lies and because you're a rat, I want that Shaughnessy blood to be yours."

Luca is an angry blood demon who wants long overdue revenge for the death of his father. A vendetta...a life for a life. And he sets his eyes on the woman who was once his friend and love interest, Siobhan. The niece of the man who killed his father. The liar. The rat.

Siobhan left home at the age of 18 and moved as far away as possible to get away from her family ties to the Irish mafia. After Luca broke her heart a year prior, she had avoided him and her feelings. And after he betrayed his foster father, getting her caught in the crossfire, she thought he was dead. But Luca reappears full of hatred and the desire to claim her life for his vendetta. He had been her fairytale love story. Only to become her biggest heartbreak. And now her greatest threat.

Lines begin to blur after Luca kidnaps Siobhan with the intent to kill her. Secrets are revealed that throw a wrench in his plans for revenge and in her plans to get away from the mafia for the second time in her life. How will they move forward? And will Siobhan ever be able to accept not only Lucas's involvement in the mafia, but the fact that he is an entirely different species who feeds on blood?

Luca and Siobhán are intense, their chemistry is off the charts. They played off each other so incredibly well. Where Siobhán is vulnerable, Luca is rash. Where Siobhán is fiesty, Luca grows even more intense.

Siobhán and her trauma, her disability, are so incredibly well written. I appreciated they way they aren't just mentioned and then forgotten throughout the rest of the story - we get to see it woven in throughout the entire book. I appreciated her strength, so incredibly much. While she was so incredibly vulnerable, she was willing to fight for what she wanted. Even in the face of all the pain she was going to have to deal with. But Luca, and the pull of the chemistry between them is more than even she can fight.

Luca, oh Luca. Such an interesting man. As much as I wanted to adore him, I found myself hating him at the same time. He was so focused on avenging his past, on making sure that his family was vindicated, I wanted to shake him to make him see everything he was missing right in front of his face. But he truly has been put through it, and at the center of it all is the want and love that he has for Siobhán.

There is so much going on throughout this entire book, and I loved every moment of it. The ins and out of the Mafia lifestyle, the paranormal aspect, the twist on Romeo and Juliet - there's absolutely so much to love. There is also so much to be said about how perfectly the relationship between Luca and Siobhán was written - the spice, the banter, the pure absolute longing was so beautifully done. I adored every moment of it.

I'm anxiously waiting for book 3 and to see how this series continues.

Tropes:
🩸Paranormal Mafia Romance
🩸Slow Burn
🩸Found Family
🩸Vampires
🩸HEA

4.5🌟
I picked up this book expecting mafia, which I got, but then was given a paranormal story as well?! I felt like I won the lottery! The characters fought SO hard for that HEA, and the road they traveled to get there made me tear up several times. I think Brehm has captured a great mix of genres with this series, and I'm excited to read book 3 when it releases next year. 🥳

A must anticipated sequel for me, and while it was very different from the first, it was done so well I was still completely captivated.

I will say that for the first maybe 20% of the book I wasn't sold on Luka - especially with the reveal from the last book - he seemed whiny and childlike rather than someone who has changed and grown enough for redemption, but I will say that by the end I was won over and was rooting for him and Siobhan to make it work. Siobhan was hands down my favorite of this story and I would have read a book entirely about her (and with my love of dual POV this says a lot) and with every new reveal and fight I loved her even more.

The writing is immersive and despite a seemingly outlandish premise, I never questioned the world-building which all flowed so seamlessly. With this book we see a different side of the world that Brehm has built and I cannot wait to see more.

His Dark Vendetta absolutely devoured me. This book is pure chaos in the best and most addictive way. It’s violent, sensual, emotional, and unflinching. Luca and Siobhán are the kind of characters who leave bruises. Their chemistry is combustible, their pain is raw, and their connection is soul-deep even when they’re trying to destroy each other.

Luca is brutal and broken, carrying grief like it’s fused to his spine. He’s made mistakes. Big ones. But you feel every moment of guilt and rage eating him alive. And Siobhán- god, she’s incredible. All steel and scars and strength, standing tall when the world keeps trying to break her. I love how she never loses herself, even when everything around her burns.

This book has everything- revenge, forbidden love, blood demons (yes, actual blood demons), betrayals, slow-burn lust that explodes into fire, and just enough softness to make it hurt when things get violent again. And the writing is smooth, sharp, and immersive. Katelyn Brehm gets better with every book.

His Dark Vendetta isn't just another mafia romance. It’s darker, stranger, and more intense. It will stay with you long after the final page. Book three cannot come fast enough.

I have been DYING to read Siobhán and Luca's story! From the first glimpse of them in Her Dark Salvation, I've wanted to know what happened in their past to make them "hate" each other. Their chemistry was so palpable. So this book was absolutely everything to me - the tension, the spice, the banter, the LONGING! Oh, my heart was aching with the longing.

Even though I was so curious about Siobhán and Luca in book one, I was kind of worried about liking Luca. He is definitely a playboy and an @sshole, and after what he did to Marco, he was going to have to work to get my support, lol! But it wasn't too long before I understood Luca and I felt so sorry for him. A tragic past with his mother and father, a feeling of abandonment, and nowhere to put all these crazy emotions except in getting revenge. He puts on a tough face, but there were moments of thoughtfulness and tenderness that showed he truly cares. Not to be too spoilery - one of the most powerful and emotional scenes was his confrontation with Marco at the end. I was already rooting for Luca and that just tipped me completely over the edge. He was a different man after that, able to be more open and honest. I understood part one Luca, I loved part two Luca.

Siobhán was simply divine. She was already a goddess in book one and she became even more elevated in my eyes during this book. This is a woman that has had to deal with so much crap from everyone in her life. People who were supposed to protect and love her. But they didn't, so she had to take care of herself. The audacity of men, ugh!! I wanted her to start throwing hands so many times, but her words were sharper than any weapons. She has a backbone of steel. Despite all the pain she's gone through though, she has such a huge capacity to love. Luca has put her through the wringer, yet she still fights for him and loves him through it all. She bends, but doesn't break.

The chemistry between Siobhán and Luca was out of this world! It was literally bleeding off the pages. This was definitely a good, slow burn, even though there were some spicier moments sprinkled in earlier on *wink wink*. The first kiss scene felt so explosive, it almost overshadowed every other scene. Yet the best parts definitely happened in the last 10%. Sometimes it was easy to forget that there's a supernatural element to this mafia story, but when it came around, oh boy. The biting!! I simply died. That was my favorite from book one, it is my favorite in book two. BITING!

I was excited to see the next book is going to be about Vito and Gina. I'm always looking for hints about the next couple in books and despite their interaction being minimal, my eyes zeroed in on them. How can there be so much tension in like two sentences?! I need it!

I've been reading Kat since The Art Collector and the writing and storytelling has always been amazing. But I think everything was taken to a new level with His Dark Vendetta. This just had a different feel to it and I can just see the growth from book to book. The writing was so strong, and the handling of emotions was so masterfully done. This just makes me even more excited for what's to come!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am so here for the mafia/fantasy genre. The romance is steamy. Once you start this book you literally can’t put it down because you need to know what happens next and then the cliff hanger at the end….OMG! I cannot wait for the next book. Forced proximity, enemies to lovers the way they fell in love with each other and the fierceness of it. I didn’t think I was going to like Luca Moretti in the beginning but fell in love with him pretty quickly. Highly recommend

Oh holy hell!! What an ending!!! You must prepare for a cliff hanger of epic proportions.

This second installment to the Bonded in Blood series centers around Luca. Luca has just been cast out by Marco and sentenced to punishment by Vinnie. Luca’s vendetta against the Irish burns deep inside and the only thing keeping him strong through this is his desire for revenge against the rat and family that took his father’s life.

Siobhán wants nothing more to do with the mafia life. She decides to take and find another job and leave behind her family of choice to try and start over again. But Luca’s plans interfere with hers and she continues to get dragged into the world she is so desperate to leave.

What does fate have in store for these two? Well it ain’t rainbows and lollipops.

This book was nonstop adrenaline rush from the very beginning to the end. It is full of blood, gore, gun, violence, and brutality. It has a heat level of 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ as the chemistry between Luca and Siobhán burn up the pages. This story is continuing to develop throughout each book centering around individual from the DaVita clan. The next book will probably center around Vito. All books must be read in order in order to understand the whole story.

His Dark Vendetta is a dark mafia romance centered around blood demon, not to be confused with vampire vampires. It is an exciting rush, filled with heated chemistry and amazing character. It is a unique blend of paranormal and dark mafia romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this story as I did the first one. It’s a roller coaster ride of emotions. I cannot wait until the next book to find out what happens next.

Once upon a time, I thought he’d be my happily ever after. Now, I’m not sure I’ll survive his dark vendetta.

This book was an adrenaline rush from the very beginning to the end. It is full of blood, gun, violence, and brutality. The chemistry between Luca and Siobhán, wow.

His Dark Vendetta is a dark mafia romance centered around blood demon. s. It is an exciting rush, filled with heated chemistry and amazing character. Its a very good blend of paranormal and dark mafia romance which is new to me but i did enjoy. I cannot wait until the next book to find out what happens next.

This book was a solid 3.5 ⭐️ but definitely not 4… first, there’s a lot of Italian without translation which goes from interesting to annoying pretty quickly. Second, the whole demon thing doesn’t really get explored begging the question, why bother having that as part of the story then? Third, these mafioso were more good fellas than the elevated characters I was hoping for. Lastly, the MMC really only had his looks going for him which just didn’t do it for me. The spice was good and the basic concept of the story was good.

His Dark Vendetta
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars

365 days meets blood demon 🫶🏻 what an exciting twist on the standard mafia romance!

As I hadn’t read the first book, initially I was super confused but fell in love with the enemies to lovers trope. The sexual tensions was *chefs kiss*

I felt sorry for Luca, and I’m so glad for the character development throughout this book. Due to his obsession for revenge, it meant he sacrificed holding on to everyone he’s cared about. Which was so heartbreaking to read.

Siobhan is definitely not afraid to hold her own, and isn’t willing to go down without a fight. She just wanted a safe life for herself and to be rid of the family.

However, at the end of the book I felt like Luca and Siobhan were blinded by their love bubble and happy ending that they didn’t think about Gino and Vito’s being kidnapped or potentially in danger. I can’t wait to see what happens to these two characters in book 3.

(Posted to instagram - 07/04/2025)

His Dark Vendetta didn't disappoint! I normally love one main character more than another, but I adored both Luca and Siobhan. Luca is the quintessential bad boy with a tortured soul that we all love. I loved Siobhan because she is super vulnerable but also so strong; I love that balance in a female main character. Kat always does a great job with tension and longing in her books. I could really feel the emotion between these two, not only with their feelings toward each other but also with their individual trauma. The emotion, laughter, and spice were just perfect. I cannot wait for the third book in the series!

Vampires, blood feuds, revenge, obsession, and the mafia - yea, this is nonstop tension, emotion, action, and sizzle! A creative and modern take on vampires, aka blood demons, that is a creative mix between vampire and mafia romance tropes. Even better that each book has it's own HEA while the larger story embraces them all. A must read!

Just as amazing as book one and thrilled to bits that we see all the same faces return in this cinematically infused mafia revenge drama. The mafia meets paranormal aspects to our world is executed with such panache, and a groundedness is always permeating from every interaction. It's a shadowy world oozing with class, danger, grit, passion, and adrenaline!

Our MMC Luca (a blood demon) is overcome by feelings of revenge for the mu4der of his father. Consumed with a way to fulfill his "dark vendetta", we see him struggle with what he believes is the crux of his betrayal and loss. The cost to his soul and losing the ones he loves at the expense of holding on to his anger is at stake... this is what makes great timeless stories!

He's been put through the ringer. He has feelings of guilt and vengeance, but despite this we see how his heart is still very much beating and aches for the love he once had with human, Siobhan. Their history is complex and I loved the several flashbacks to see their sweet and fiery chemistry. And Luca is a presence all his own, oof!

Siobhan is strong, fiesty, funny, and will push back, not afraid to stand her ground. She has been caught in the crossfire of her Irish family's mafia links and wants to wash her hands of it. But Luca and her's star crossed love story, the push and pull...is pure kismet.

We get a wonderfully complex and rich drama to follow, akin to those irresistible crime/mafia movies we all love from a certain Italian director (Scorsese wink wink) but with a paranormal, Romeo and Juliet type twist! This series is a MUST and waiting for book 3 will be a test of my patience haha!

It is an excellent twist on the standard mafia romance. While this is a standalone, I felt I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first book. I still like the characters and the story, but I felt like I was playing catch-up a bit. This book is about once lovers who turned enemies into lovers, and it was done so00 well; if you want to read this book, I would recommend picking up the first one for maximum enjoyment, but that doesn't mean it isn't great! 4 stars!