A lot of smut very little actual plot. I was hoping for more substance. So many analogies and they're not great. Forklift of a D. Really? The writing seemed kind of hokey.

I received an audio copy. The male narrator's voice totally fits his character. The female narrator sounds like an angsty teen, which doesn't fit the character in my opinion. The voice she uses for the husband and his accent? Comical!

I'm giving it 3 stars because I did finish it and enjoyed most of the spice. It's a good, quick read if you need a palate cleanser.

Fleur sees the most achingly handsome and dangerous-looking man walk into the bar she tends.

"The only pretty feature about him was his eyes, crystal blue like the waters along the white shores of a tropical paradise. More brilliant than the sky on a clear day, but the rest of his face was harsh with sharp cheekbones, a jawline that could cut glass, and a mouth that looked like it could do more damage than a bullet from a gun."

Bastien was supposed to be a one-night stand to forget about her cheating husband, who refused to divorce her. This fling should have made her husband back down and accept her rejection, but knowing she was with another man and refusing to forgive him, he made threats to her that he would have this "new man" regret seeing her to trying to get her to change her mind about him and not see him again. Bastien is not just a normal man. He's powerful, lethal, and wicked, and his nickname of "The Butcher" is known all over Paris by the authorities and thugs in the city. No one messed with him, and now that he was obsessed with Fleur, the first woman he ever wanted to see more than the usual two encounters, he made sure her husband granted her the divorce she wanted.

"Trust is like glass, it takes time to heat and temper to make it transparent for both parties to see through, but once it's shattered, there are so many broken pieces on the floor that it's impossible to put back together. A year may pass, and you'll step into the kitchen barefoot for a glass of water and get a shard in your heel, and you'll remember how it got there." 

Fleur starts to learn about Bastien's "job", but she doesn't fear him. She has never felt so alive, so safe, as when she was with him. He makes it clear that he wants her, respects her, and cares for her. What she didn't know was how opposite his family member was, and the trouble he's caused the city and Bastien. While Bastien deals with that issue, he makes it very clear about how he feels about Fleur and what he expects from her, and she is scared that she went from one relationship to another and if Bastien will break her heart too, but this time, if it end,s it will tear her apart. 

There is side information discussed about his "job" and the trouble he deals with in the city, and the person behind it. It seems to just be a scratch at the surface, and I assume things will escalate in the upcoming books, and Fleur will be at the forefront of his mind, and he in hers.  

This novella is mostly open-door spice that focuses on their growing infatuation with each other and their relationship as her previous one ends. It's fast-paced with some disturbing topics that aren't for everyone. If you aren't into dark romance, this book isn't for you. I couldn't stop listening. 

I received an ALC from Netgalley and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to listen to the next book.

The Butcher dives into the gritty underworld of Paris, blending dark romance, crime syndicates, and emotional tension. When a woman tries to reclaim her life from a powerful man, she finds herself drawn into an even darker world ruled by secrets, danger, and an intoxicatingly dangerous antihero.

The spice is strong and steady throughout, and fans of morally gray characters and high-stakes tension will find plenty to sink their teeth into. The plot is unique and layered, with power plays, revenge, and emotional conflict at its core.

Unfortunately, the audiobook narration didn’t work for me. Despite the dual POV format, the voice actors lacked emotional depth—especially in the steamy scenes where connection and tone really matter. The male narrator is slightly better than the female, but overall, I think the story would land better in print or ebook format.

If you enjoy dark romance with crime intrigue and don’t mind a morally gray cast, this one may be worth checking out—just not in audio.

The Butcher Honest ARC Review:

Okay Penelope Sky, this was fantastic! 4 Stars

Fans of Abby Jimenez, you should check this out. Fans of Dark Mafia romance, this is a series to add to your TBR!

Fleur, the FMC found out her husband of three years was cheating on her. Rather than staying with him for his money as so many in her circle of friends advised her to do, she starts out on her own. Strong FMC that she is, she didn’t reveal her struggles to anyone until the Butcher breaks her shield and supports her emotionally as she heals.

Steamy, spicy and so delicious, the two embark on a relationship that is casual and filled with obstacles the two must overcome.

MMC is genuine and would do anything for her. FMC is strong, independent and not afraid of a little hard work to build a life for herself.

⭐️Touch her and Die
⭐️ Crime lord MMC
⭐️Obsessive MMC
⭐️Secret Society

I’m so glad I discovered this author and can’t wait to read more from her!

Thank you for sharing this ARC with me.

This audiobook kept me entertained. It was a nice length, not too long and not too short. I will say, some parts were pretty cringey. Some terminology used particularly in the spicy scenes was odd. There didn’t seem to be enough badassary from Bastien. I was expecting more from the “Butcher” side of the story.

- Spice🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
-Trope - the bad guy who falls for no one, falls for FMC and is possessive.

Not bad, keeps you entertained! A decent palate cleanser!

The Butcher wasn’t quite a hit for me, though I wouldn’t say it was a total miss either. This was my first book by Penelope Sky, and while the premise intrigued me, I had a hard time fully connecting with the story. I'm not sure if it was the narration, the writing style, or a combination of both, but it felt like a bit of a struggle to get through at times.

The book leans heavily into the smut, and while that’s not inherently a bad thing (I do love my smut), the plot and character development made the smut not as fun. The story really fell flat for me. I didn’t find myself particularly invested in the FMC, which made it harder to stay engaged. Fluer kind of annoyed me. That said, the MMC had some interesting layers and potential—I do wonder how they evolve more as the series continues.

Even though I don’t plan to continue this series right now, I haven’t written off Penelope Sky completely. There’s enough here to make me curious about her other work, and I’d definitely give her another shot with a different story.

The Butcher by Penelope Sky is a dark, mafia romance. Narration was performed by Michael Ferraiuolo and Stacy Gonzalez. Fleur is attempting to divorce her cheating husband and Bastien is a crime lord/mafia boss. After meeting, they have instant heat and chemistry and the night ends with an explosive hookup. While there were certainly interesting parts to this book, overall I thought it was just flat. It felt like a sex filled story that attempted to have some Mafia plot points in between hookups, but it just didn't hit the mark. I also did not like that the story just ended without resolution, saying it would continue in the next story. While I want to know what happens, not sure I am invested enough to check out the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 rounded up.
This book is dark romance that is just heavy on the smut. You have an art thief (who cheats on the FMC) and a crime lord, but the plot is lacking for me. I wish the Fifth Republic and the role/actions of The Butcher were more fleshed out than they currently are. After we meet The Butcher/Bastien there is some alluding to that he marks/butchers people as a consequence for their actions, but there isn't much insight provided. There is finally some information about who he is/Fifth Republic around 60%, but I don't see much story/plot to the smut other than the tensions with the ex. Then it's back to sex, as that is the focus every time the main characters are together. Again I just wish there was more storyline to this book, though I do believe the main characters' story continues in the rest of the Fifth Republic series - however this book hasn't hooked me in to continue the series. This is short story (audiobook is around 6hours) - I think the narrators did a good job bringing the characters to life.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advance audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Whew baby 😮‍💨😮‍💨 this was beyond messy and I loved every moment of it! I can't wait to go read the rest of the series.

If you’re looking for a good dark romance (loaded with smut) that you can get lost in for a few hours and not have to think too hard - you’ve found a winner! I’ll nit-pick a few things… The FMC was pretty contradictory, which was a little annoying. The MMC took a little bit of a turn for me at the end when he was angry. If you like a possessive MMC then this is the book for you. Luckily, I guess I do. 😉 I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a fine job. Neither of them fit the voices I think I would’ve imagined, if I’m being honest. If I was reading it I would’ve changed some of the infections too (I feel like the FMC when recapping what the MMC said sounded angrier than maybe he actually was - could be a red flag of my own though 😂). I will continue on with this series as it kept me entertained. It was my first read by Penelope Sky and I will for sure read more by her.

I would like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

This was my first penelope sky book. I'd heard thay they are super spicy. It wasn't incredibly spicy. It wasn't really super dark either. The narrators were confusing because she had an American accent and used one for him as well but he had a British accent and they both used a heavy French accent for a 3rd character. This novel is based in Paris, I'd assumed she was a US citizen based off narrators alone.

The Butcher by Penelope Sky
I got the ALC of this book (thanks NetGalley) and listened to the audiobook with dual narration—and it was really well done. I especially enjoyed the French accents, which added a nice touch since the story is set in Paris. I followed along with the physical book part of the time too, and that made the experience even better.

This was a solid romance read with a deliciously morally grey MMC—my favorite kind. The spice was definitely steamy, but there was plenty of plot to balance it out. I’m hooked and will definitely be continuing the series. I enjoyed this one a lot.

Such a great audiobook. I got caught in the drive through listening too it and couldn't stop blushing. Luckily the woman just wanted the book details!

The Butcher is the first book in Fifth Republic Series, written by Penelope Sky. I came into this book with so high expectations, however I was a bit disappointed. We have a FMC that has just separated from her husband, that is a real POS, has a one night stand with the MMC that is supposed to be this bad guy that rules Paris. Here is what I liked about this book, the premises and plot of the book has immense potential, the secret society, the complexity that can be achieved with the MMC and the wold is absolutely brilliant. But is very anticlimactic when the FMC all she talks is about her ex or comparing the MMC with him. I believe that if this book will have a better editorial team, this can be one of the best stories we read, and could even be compared to Lords and Devis night, but unfortunately to the point there is right now I can’t say that.
I hope we will get to see a revisit second edition of this book where we can see all this potential brought to fruition.
I hope with the second book this story will pick up.
The 4 stars are for the potential of this book as for me. And the hope that we will get there.

The Butcher is a raw, unapologetic dive into darkness wrapped in shockingly beautiful prose. It’s violent, vulgar, and at times hard to stomach—but that’s exactly what makes it so captivating. The author doesn’t shy away from the grotesque, instead turning it into a strangely poetic experience.


This book? The Butcher is vulgar and beautiful in the most twisted way. It’s brutal, it’s bloody, and somehow… the writing is so poetic you almost forget you’re knee-deep in carnage. Almost.

There are moments that made me flinch—and others that made me pause because the author managed to turn violence into art. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely for the dark romance reader who wants something raw and unforgettable

★★★★✰ (4.5/5)

💭 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Yess just yesss. I listened to this in one sitting 🙌🏼. You don’t get a lot of the plot in this one; as I’m sure we’ll get more in the next two books, but it’s was so good. The spice starts off right away; so no slow burn babez. The heat in this was INTENSE and I ate it all up!

Bastien was just irresistible; even when he was being suffocating. He wanted Fleur and he made sure he got her. He was a damn golden retriever with tattoos and muscles and I wanted him myself haha.

Now Fleur deserves all the hype. I liked her from the get when she goes all in on her cheating husband. She meant business! I love how she speaks her mind and doesn’t allow anyone to take advantage of her. I love how Penelope showed how strong of an FMC she was even when she’s been through so much. She shows the push and pull Fleur has with Bastien and it was so relatable.

Now Adrian, my guy you are a POS. The more I listened to this audiobook; the more I couldn’t stand him. He consistently begged for Fleur back; it was humiliating. He did nothing to revive himself either. Practical behavior of a cheater 😒. I hope his pillow is always hot.


🎧 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: I honestly enjoyed the narrators. At first, I had to adjust to the accent for Adrian, but I got use to it pretty quickly. Over all Michael performed really well. Stacy did a good job portraying Fleur. I really enjoyed her performance. This was my first time listening to these narrators and I hope to listen to them again.


Thank you @Dreamscape_Media @netgalley and @penelopeskyauthor

Fleur’s world is turned upside down when she discovers her husband has been unfaithful. Ready to leave the betrayal behind, she files for divorce but he's not quite ready to let her go. As she tries to rebuild her life, she meets Bastien at the bar where she works. What she thought was just a one time fling turns into something more when Bastien decides Fleur is his and he’s not backing down.

Still wounded from her past, Fleur struggles to trust again. But Bastien is relentless in the best way by being honest, devoted, and fiercely determined to win her over.

Narrators Michael Ferraiuolo and Stacey Gonzalez perfectly capture Bastien and Fleur’s intense chemistry and emotional depth, breathing life into every scene. If you're into a possessive, down bad MMC who goes all in, this audiobook is a must listen.

Thank you, Penelope Sky and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

Fleur has a very cute personality and is super relatable. Bastian is obviously as a bad ass. Their relationship is cute but a bit insta-love-ish. There also isn’t a large amount of conflict in this story. I wasn’t unimpressed by it, but I don’t know that I understand the hype and there was nothing gripping for me to read the next in the series.

Narrators: Michael Ferraiuolo; Stacy Gonzalez
To be completely honest, I waited for this audio to come out and was lucky enough to receive an advanced audio copy - it was disappointing. Michael Ferraiuolo does not vocally sound as Bastian is portrayed in the book, even with a French accent & had I listened to this story instead of reading it first, I wouldn’t have finished it and I would have given it less stars. Stacy has a unique voice, it’s not what I expected. I am unsure if it is a good thing for this character.


Story rating: 4/5
Audio Rating: 3/5

*sigh* If I read the word “divorce” one more time I might go insane. We all know we came for the smüt but I had hoped for a bit more plot. Not to say it was not entertaining, I was just underwhelmed especially since there was so much hype about the book.

I really wanted to root for Fleur especially with all that she had gone through but she was a slightly annoying FMC. Bastien is your typical morally gray MMC and sadly his character was slightly predictable. I’m not sure I really could invest in their relationship, not that I was looking for realism but it seemed grossly unrealistic at times. Fleur kept saying how she didn’t even know his last name and yet she was obsessing over him. She kept referring to Bastien as a stranger through the book. At what point does the person you consistently hookup with no longer become a stranger? It was definitely more lust-filled than a romantic relationship between the two of them. Which is fine but romance that feels forced is difficult to sell.

We are on a cliffhanger but I might need to evaluate if I want to continue or not.

Title: The Butcher
Series: Fifth Republic #1
Author(s): Penelope Sky
Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
Publishing Co.: Dreamscape Media
Length: pages/ 17 chapters
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️ / 3.5 🌶️

Trigger Warnings:
🖤 cheating
🩶 ☠️

Tropes;
🖤 Touch her and ☠️
🩶 Obsessive MMC
🖤 Secret Society



This was my first ever book by Penolpe Sky, and the first book of her new series Fifth Republic. I devoured this book in a sitting, it’s fast-paced, well written, and nice character development. Decent start for a new series and it does end on a cliffhanger so, I am looking forward to book 2. If you’re a fan of dark mafia romance I would recommend giving The Butcher a read.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Dreamscape Media for an advanced listener copy of The Butcher in exchange for an honest review.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*