Rebecca Zanetti does it again!

I was sucked in to this book and devoured it in a single day. This may be a new favorite series for me. The paranormal aspect of this is new and rather refreshing. I love that it’s something current but a completely new and unique idea. Then you add in the mystery, and oh wow the spice.

The spice in this book is red hot. I mean honestly. Do not read this in public. Not unless you are ready for some serious blushing.

The Narrators are “chef’s kiss”. The male is all alpha and his Russian accent added to the flavor. The female is Narrator is the perfect amount of backbone and snark. Together they really bring this book to life.

As a whole, the series is great and this book is another amazing read for the series.

This is a true and honest review in exchange for an Advanced Copy from NetGalley.

A Mafia Romance with a Fairy Tale Twist

One Dark Kiss is marketed as a dark romance retelling of Snow White, but I have to admit—aside from a few nods here and there, I might never have guessed it was inspired by that classic fairy tale. Maybe “inspired by” is more accurate than “retelling,” though that’s probably less catchy for marketing purposes.

If I had to describe this novel, I’d call it a loose retelling blended with a modern mafia dark romance—yes, a bit of a mouthful, but it fits perfectly. The story centers on Rosalie, our Snow White figure, who is a sharp, no-nonsense lawyer, and Alexei, the Huntsman archetype and an alleged murderer wrapped in mystery and danger.

Fair warning: this book is violent and very spicy, so check your triggers before diving in. While relationships like the one portrayed here could easily feel problematic in real life, Zanetti’s writing made it undeniably hot and compelling. I was also hooked by the true crime mystery woven throughout the plot, which added a fascinating layer beyond the romance.

One Dark Kiss is actually part of the Grimm Bargains series. I haven’t read the first book yet, but after devouring this one, I’m definitely planning to catch up ASAP because I need more of this world and these characters.

If you’re into dark, intense romances with a criminal edge and a fairy tale twist, mark your calendars—One Dark Kiss releases June 24th, 2025.

If you are looking for a spicy lawyer/ mafia book with a twist this book is for you. Rosalie’s tenants are some of my favorite characters. I was also a fan of Alexei’s audiobook narrators accent work. The SE of this book is absolutely stunning! Thank you NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC. I enjoyed the first book in the series so when I saw that this was coming out I had to read it. Unfortunately I didn't like the FMC at all. The MMC was interesting but I didn't like them together.

I am in love with this series, seriously. I can't get over how different it is from all the other books out there. That its a fairytale retelling but that's such a minor part of the story overall. I feel like I'm not doing it justice with the explanation, so just go read it yourself and you'll see why it's amazing. I also really love that the 7 elderly tenants of Rosalie's are total B.A.s, and come to her aid as soon as they're needed. I can't wait for the next book in this series!!

A Snow White retelling, but make it mafia.

Assigned by her law firm to defend the dangerous and estranged mafioso, Alexi Sokolov, Alana must navigate through all the deception and lies to get to the truth of the matter.

I think I have a soft spot for possessive men after this. Something about a bossy man being dangerously jealous of any other male attention just really does it for me, Alexi fits the bill. If a man is willing to maim and murder on my behalf, I'm smitten.

Alana was trying her best here. I can't imagine the moral dilemma she went through while trying to defend him, knowing all the morally gray things he'd done in the past.

The boarders (aka the seven dwarves) were some of the best supporting characters and I loved all of them so much.

I think the spice in this book was tamer than the first, in my opinion. I guess the somnophilia was about as taboo as it got here.

I enjoyed the narrators for this audiobook even with the accents. I'm not usually a huge fan when accents are involved, but they didn't make the story any harder to follow.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced mafia dark romance.

Thank for choosing me for the ALC! I appreciate the opportunity!
i really truly believe this book just wasn't "my type" or for me. I think that because this book actually checks all the boxes! Good storytelling, you want to know what happens next, dark mob themes, spicy scenes everywhere, and mystery.
Theres a lot of potential, its just so repetitive, vulgar, and the males narration is so distracting, i'm not sure if its the accent or the voice but it kept pulling me put of the story. I want to like this book, but its lacking somewhere.

I devoured this book and loved it every minute of it. It is told in 2 POV and the individuals they chose for the audiobook were a perfect fit. The story takes place in San Francisco the fmc is a lawyer and the mmc has ties to the Russian mob with many other layers to uncover as you read. They two characters are present as lawyer and client but as the story goes lines begin to blur. If you want to dip your toe into a dark romance mob book then this is one to start with! I absolutely loved reading this book and will be buying this one.

Thank you to RBmedia and Netgalley for the Audio ARC of One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti!

What do I say about this book? I had a lengthy road trip to listen to most of it on, and man it had me hooked! To start off I loved Erin Mallon’s voicing of Rosalie! It was soothing to the ears and very easy to follow. At first I wasn’t sure about Lance Greenfield’s voice of Alexei, the accent was getting to me - but I did come to enjoy it as well, and overall the quality of this audiobook was fantastic!

I loved the places this book went. I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next Many times I thought Rosalie had gotten herself into a situation, but then my assumptions of what would happen were proven wrong! I loved that!!! The chemistry that Rosalie and Alexei have so quickly is truly felt, and man some of those scenes were HOTT. I had so much fun listening to this book.

I definitely give the book a 4.5 star rating, though I’m going to round it down to a 4 where necessary. Mostly because I felt like the ending was building up in a really adrenaline-packed way and I was expecting more from the culmination of everything. I think I would have liked to see more of what happened to conclude the events at the end instead of just moving forward so quickly.

I just want to end by saying I love Rosalie’s group of seven Octogenarians that are part of her found family. They’re one of the best parts of this book!

I am conflicted by this. The book is interesting and I like the fairytale retelling vibes. I feel like the MMC was both too dark and also not dark enough? It started dark, enough that I questioned finishing, then he was just kinda ...normal? It didn't help that I was not loving the male narrator.

All and all I'd like to read other books in the series. Maybe print will change my mind (or a diff narrator).

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title. I attest that I am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly.

I am a huge fan of Rebecca Zanetti, have been for years. This series is a lot darker than her other books. And I am loving it. This is the second book in an interconnected series that blends old fairytales with newer technology. The series is about four families who run social media empires.

Book one ( One Cursed Rose) is a loose based on Beauty and the Beast while ( One Dark Kiss) is a Snow White retelling. There are even 7 elderly gentleman protecting our heroine.

The “Hero” of this story, ALEXEI ( and I use that term loosely) is a morally grey ( or morally black ) ex mob leader and first son of one of the media moguls sent to prison for murder. However when corruption was discovered he is granted a new trail and a new lawyer.

Our heroine , ROSALIE, who is best friends with our heroine for book one, the lawyer assigned to Alexei case. Rosalie is a very confident, kind, determined and stubborn woman. She believes in right and wrong and will fight for those she loves.

While the book unfolds there are a lot of mysteries going around. Who killed who, who is kidnapping who, and who can out play everyone else.

I would definitely recommend this if you like mafia stories with morally grey men and woman can stand on their own and protect those they love. I can’t wait for the next one.

4.5 stars

This was a fun listen. I enjoyed the narrators very much.

Thank you to Netgalley, Rebecca Zanetti, RB Media ,and headline for the ARC

Fast-paced, steamy, and full of supernatural tension. One Dark Kiss delivers action, angst, and sizzling chemistry with just the right dose of danger. Zanetti knows how to keep the stakes high—both in battle and between the sheets.

I am absolutely OBSESSED with One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti! Easily a 5-star read for me. This book completely pulled me in, it’s a dark, intense Snow White retelling (which I totally didn’t realize at first until I saw someone mention it on TikTok 😅), but once I saw it… everything clicked. The parallels were so clever!
I had the chance to both listen to the audiobook and read it at the same time, and wow, game changer. The narrators were incredible. The accents? Spot on. The way they brought these characters to life made the whole story feel even more immersive. I honestly felt like I was living every moment with them.
This is a love story wrapped in danger, obsession, and revenge. Alexei, ugh, where do I even begin? He’s the imprisoned, outcast son of the Russian mob, and he’s not done fighting for what was stolen from him. He’s raw, determined, and absolutely magnetic. The moment he sees Rosalie, it’s over, he’s decided she’s his, and there’s no turning back.
And Rosalie? She’s everything. Smart, sharp, and stubborn with a fire in her that I LOVED. She has no business taking on a criminal case this high-stakes, but she’s doing it anyway, and when she meets Alexei, she knows she should run far, far away. But her body has other plans, and fate is just not letting her off the hook.
This book has everything I crave in a dark romance, danger, heat, emotional tension, and a storyline that keeps you hooked. Just a heads-up: definitely check the trigger warnings before diving in, because it doesn’t hold back. But if you’re like me and love a gritty, emotionally intense romance where you fall for the people you probably shouldn’t… this one is absolutely worth it.

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to listen to this book in an ALC version, Rebecca i appreciate the effort and creativity that goes into writing a book. While this story didn't resonate with me, i respect the time you have put into creating it , and for that reason i will not post this review public. I am aware that every reader connects differently, and I'm sure that others will enjoy it.

I believe that this book with some more editing would be great, is a little bit too repetitive, and the FFC should sound a bit smarter then it is ,
I do love the idea of the crystals and stuff , i just feel that the whole plot goes a bit ring around the roses and the ending is way too rushed.

The most interesting aspect of the entire book were the 7 old mans living in her house.

Im sorry i wanted to love it , but i did not connect to the charters at all .

2.25
I’m honestly not sure if this was a ‘just not for me’ situation because I can’t enjoy a book just for the vibes.

First, I was intrigued. The book started off great - between the lawyer FMC and the alleged, hot and morally dark murder she's trying to get out of prison, the premise was right up my alley.

The plot itself might have worked, too, even though at times it felt almost a bit like stumbling through a story. Some things felt made up on the go for convenience and then forgotten about (i.e. at the beginning of a spicy scene she notes she's always waxed because she swims a lot only for there to never again be any mentioning of doing so.)

Overall, there was a lot of repetition (i.e. the backstory with the co worker). This is one of the things I know many others don't mind while it makes me feel like the author lacks trust in the intelligence of their readers. (I also low-key want to know how often the term 'Kitten Heel' was used.)

All that could still have made for an enjoyable three star read, in my opinion.

Personally, my biggest issue and ultimately deal breaker was with the characters, I think.

The FMC could’ve worked, even though she might have needed a bit more smoothing out.

I think I struggled when I noticed that all female characters read rather similarly, especially when we got another female POV.

What made her fall apart for me irreversibly, though, were the absolutely random decisions, like how she, a lawyer, handled the recovered peace of evidence or how she, no questions asked, wears his jewelry after her senior partner at the law firm knew that this was a sign of him being involved with someone. There was no contour, no rhyme or rhythm to some of her actions and I wouldn’t even be able to describe what kind of person she is.

The MMC I think was supposed to be the broody, morally black bad guy. I saw someone else say how his criminal behavior is more on the morally grey side and how he can’t pull off the lovable dark, obsessive possessive character because he doesn’t back it up with the reverence for the FMC. And I have to wholeheartedly agree.

He doesn’t treat her in a way that justifies this persona. He’s owning her but not in the good way, keeping her small and punishing her for disrespecting him in front of his men (which can work but not when it feels like a blatant show of fragile masculinity). I hated that he kept telling her to trust him while also proving he can’t be trusted AND, only reiterating that she would have no access to his business and he would not share information with her.

In my opinion, he just read like a toxic asshole and not the kind I personally want to see in those books.

Ultimately, I feel like while this book didn’t do anything inherently wrong, it crumbled under the weight of the little things. The potential is there and the premise and framework are a great foundation for a good dark romance book. Which is why I think so many others seem to love it.

For me, however, I was close to DNFing several times and might have, had it not been an audiobook and well narrated at that.

Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia and the author for an ALC of this book.

Fast paced and addictive! Dual POV and the narration was superb! I loved the mafia aspect, it made the book that much more enticing and addictive for me. This was a loose retelling of Snow White and the Huntsman and I was honestly there for every minute of it. Erin Mallon is one of my favorite narrators and she did a fantastic job of keeping me engrossed the entire time.

Dual Narrtion - Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon
Wow these two are just fantastic!

This is sort of a fantasy but in modern day times and mafia vibes going on. There is a magical aspect that plays into the story that is interesting and I would love to read more in this universe.

Rosalie is a good girl lawyer. She is taking on the case of a murderer trying to free him as she believes he is innocent and has been framed. Rosalie is sweet and has this huge heart of gold. Her dream of making it as one of the best lawyers at her firm is what is driving her.

Alexi Sokolov is the murderer in question and when he lays eyes on Rosalie he is determined to maker her his. He intertwines himself in her life and her heart. He is a morally grey MMC.

This is an engaging, captivating romance with action and spice. I found it very enjoyable.

One Dark Kiss Honest ARC Review:

4.5 ⭐️

Modern dark romance twist on Snow White with mafia vibes and I like this so much more than I thought I would!!

Alexi leaves prison after seven years thanks to his brilliant and gorgeous attorney, Rosalie. Rosalie had no idea what she was getting herself into when she realized Alexi as well as others in her life were in or had close ties to the mafia.

Smoking hot and full of adventure, this is definitely one to add to your TBR!

⭐️Forbidden romance
⭐️Mafia romance
⭐️He falls first
⭐️Obsession
⭐️Possessive
⭐️Stalker vibes

Thank you so much for sharing this ARC with me. It was fantastic! I look forward to more from this author.

I was given an advance copy of the audiobook and it was a great listen.
Love a good dark romance with Russian mafia ties. There is a bit of a supernatural twist to this one which I would normally roll my eyes at, but I now understand where they got the black mirror reference in the description of the book. I rate a book by if I want to go check out the authors back catalogue or hope this is going to be the first of many in the series (I see potential in sequels) and I hope for both :)

This was the first book I have read by this author. It was such a good book. I finished it in one day. I loved the action and mystery with the spice. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I can't wait to buy the book.