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booksthrilljessica's review
5.0
Nora has spent her life under the lock and key of her godfather, Ricky, a ruthless crime boss who took control after her parents’ violent end. Though trapped, she finds a way to slip out at night, sneaking into rival territories for a taste of freedom. But when Ricky assigns August—a dangerously attractive new guard—to keep watch over her, she can’t help but imagine him in her bed. The feeling is mutual, but both know acting on their desires could be deadly, as Ricky wouldn’t hesitate to end August if he ever found out.
When the unimaginable happens and Ricky’s empire is brought down in a police raid, he faces a long prison sentence, leaving August to protect Nora—but from whom? Yet, August harbors secrets that could change Nora’s life forever. Will she finally taste the freedom she’s yearned for, or remain ensnared in this endless cycle of crime and punishment?
As someone new to the mafia romance genre, this book truly exceeded my expectations. The characters were incredibly swoon-worthy, and the chemistry between them was brilliantly written. Nora’s storyline was captivating, giving her character the space to grow and laying a thoughtful foundation for what I hope will evolve further in the next book. I especially loved the morally gray male lead who warns the heroine not to trust him, only to ultimately let down his own walls. I absolutely fell for this book, the writing style, and I’m eager for more of Nora and anything Arlo writes!
*Thank you to Oona Arlo for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
fatedhearts_lorilee's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
🖤 I loved that this book was so multi-faceted. It’s a dark romantic suspense centred around organized crime, but it also deals with some really heavy issues in a meaningful way. Through the FMC Nora, Oona weaves in discussions/portrayals of depression and distorted thinking around body image, and it’s really impactful. The media and society pushes one version of the “right” body type, and many of us have struggled with the same things that Nora finds herself considering.
♥️ Nora has been sheltered (in some ways) by her uncle and guardian Ricky, who runs The Court Cartel, one of the two rival gangs in Port Manaus. She is isolated, and has very few people in her life. But Ricky also has her involved in his business, which means she has to do some things that she knows don’t align with her morals.
🖤 August comes onto the scene and disrupts Nora’s life in a good way. He becomes someone else that she can talk to and maybe trust, although he does tell her not to trust him, so I guess you’ll have to see what happens there! He is one of the only men around Nora who can see how uncomfortable she is around one of Ricky’s men, and is the only one who tries to do something (maybe possibly related to *almost* gouging out an eye).
♥️ There are a couple of very memorable supporting characters who need to be shouted out. Dima has been Nora’s nanny for her whole life, and she is really the only constant for her. Although she isn’t overly affectionate, Nora knows that Dima always has her back, no matter what. Yves comes into the book later, but brings a lot of fun energy and banter!
🖤 “She’s not a princess, we’re not in a tower, and I’m for damn sure not a prince. Despite that, I lean forward, my body quietly reaching for hers.”
♥️ Nora has been sheltered (in some ways) by her uncle and guardian Ricky, who runs The Court Cartel, one of the two rival gangs in Port Manaus. She is isolated, and has very few people in her life. But Ricky also has her involved in his business, which means she has to do some things that she knows don’t align with her morals.
🖤 August comes onto the scene and disrupts Nora’s life in a good way. He becomes someone else that she can talk to and maybe trust, although he does tell her not to trust him, so I guess you’ll have to see what happens there! He is one of the only men around Nora who can see how uncomfortable she is around one of Ricky’s men, and is the only one who tries to do something (maybe possibly related to *almost* gouging out an eye).
♥️ There are a couple of very memorable supporting characters who need to be shouted out. Dima has been Nora’s nanny for her whole life, and she is really the only constant for her. Although she isn’t overly affectionate, Nora knows that Dima always has her back, no matter what. Yves comes into the book later, but brings a lot of fun energy and banter!
🖤 “She’s not a princess, we’re not in a tower, and I’m for damn sure not a prince. Despite that, I lean forward, my body quietly reaching for hers.”
bookaddictamber's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
denevay_y's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don’t even know where to begin processing this book. This book literally kept me hooked from the beginning to the end, no exceptions.
The suspense was eating me alive up until the very end and I literally DEVOURED every chapter. And now I just HAVE to know what’s going to happen next.
The storytelling was amazing, the tensions and spice 🌶️ were my anchor in every plot twist, and believe me when I say, there were so many plot twists.
I loved Nora’s character development. We meet her as a girl shackled by the life she is forced to live in her gilded cage, desperate to get free. Yet everything seems to be against her. Every new piece of information intent on damning her, shaking the ground structure she lived her whole life on. And we get to experience and feel with her everything this journey throws at her – the difficulty of accepting the horrors of her previous life, of living in this new reality her life has become after discovering the truth.
The romance was very contradictory, and yet I loved every second of it. Nora and August both have demons of their own, but will this be enough to stand in their way and drive them apart? Their relationship brings an exciting element to the gripping crime storyline, with each interaction between them feeling like a spark about to catch fire. 🔥
The first book created a detailed picture of the life, relationships and surroundings of the characters, but I NEED the second book and I need answers.
Themes & Highlights:
- Mafia/cartel setting 🔪
- Morally gray 🥵
- Slow Burn 🌶️
- Touch her and die 💀
- Forbidden romance ❤️🔥
- One bed 😏
- Forced proximity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Self harm, and Death of parent
Minor: Trafficking, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
krhart's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Holy heck. WTF. This book. THIS BOOOOOK. This is the second book I have read by this author, and although I enjoyed the first one, this dark, suspenseful romance is freaking fantastic. It ends on a cliffhanger and I'm FERAL for book two!!
The House Of The Wicked has a cartel/gang feel. Nora is under the guidance of her godfather after her parents died when she was young. Ricky keeps a very tight lead on Nora, for a variety of reasons. They have money and prestige, but Nora is not able to "enjoy" it like most wealthy families can. She tends to try though. Sneaking out, she meets a sexy, brooding man at a club one night. They share a hot kiss and...
August is hired by Ricky to be head of security and specifically keep an eye on Nora. Nora, the sexy bombshell he kissed at the club. There is major chemistry between the two of them - a draw that is unavoidable. It's dangerous and turbulent and as much as they don't want one another, they can't stop.
As the book progresses, secrets start to be revealed and I was taken on a series ride!! The twists and turns and questions I had left me gasping and my jaw on the floor! Some get answered but some remain to be discovered. The side characters are really a huge compliment to the story and I want to know more about what is happening with them, too.
I may have let out an exasperated sigh at the end... I need book two!!!!!
Story: 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam: 3.5/5 🍆🍆🍆.🌶️
Characters: 5/5 🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂
Jaw drops: 4/5 😲😲😲😲
The House Of The Wicked has a cartel/gang feel. Nora is under the guidance of her godfather after her parents died when she was young. Ricky keeps a very tight lead on Nora, for a variety of reasons. They have money and prestige, but Nora is not able to "enjoy" it like most wealthy families can. She tends to try though. Sneaking out, she meets a sexy, brooding man at a club one night. They share a hot kiss and...
August is hired by Ricky to be head of security and specifically keep an eye on Nora. Nora, the sexy bombshell he kissed at the club. There is major chemistry between the two of them - a draw that is unavoidable. It's dangerous and turbulent and as much as they don't want one another, they can't stop.
As the book progresses, secrets start to be revealed and I was taken on a series ride!! The twists and turns and questions I had left me gasping and my jaw on the floor! Some get answered but some remain to be discovered. The side characters are really a huge compliment to the story and I want to know more about what is happening with them, too.
I may have let out an exasperated sigh at the end... I need book two!!!!!
Story: 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam: 3.5/5 🍆🍆🍆.🌶️
Characters: 5/5 🫂🫂🫂🫂🫂
Jaw drops: 4/5 😲😲😲😲
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Infidelity, Self harm, and Trafficking
adeselnaferreira's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you so much to Oona Arlo for the ARC! <3
‘The house of the wicked shall be overthrown but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish’.
Few books are as complete as “ The House of the Wicked”. It even feels like a sin to label it simply as a “dark-romance” in order to appease the Gods of Book Marketing. The book has everything: mafia, violence, plot twists, enigmas, smut, character development and even some mystery. While the focus of the book is certainly the romance between Nora and August as it is a 1st person dual POV, readers will not be disappointed to peel the layers that Oona Arlo wrote for them.
Nora, orphaned very young, is far from being an innocent soul. The proverb on the house foresees Nora’s future in this first book. We meet her as she feels like a prisoner in her godfather’s house, she goes nowhere without protection. As a result of losing her parents, she has a lot of moments where she brushes the feeling of death to be able to feel something. The water scenes are intense and can be triggering for some people but they have a reason. The loss of her parents, her having only two friends and no social life, it all takes a toll on her mental state. “The house of the wicked shall be overthrown” forecasts the dramatic events that will force Nora and August to flee the city. Those who harmed innocent people will be punished. “The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish” can mean that Nora’s role in the future of the family will bring some justice to a world that is engulfed in meaningless violence. Nora despises that world and August has to live in it. While Nora claims she rejects it, August has learned to navigate but not accept what the mafia has done to the city.
August is a complicated character to explain - he is violent and sometimes he is even rough with Nora, but at the same time he has soft moments with her. He is at the same time both protector and instigator - he does everything in his power to protect her from harm, helping her in difficult situations but he can also be a bit of a brute. He warns her of the consequences should he give in to his desires but he is evil. Evil, that’s the world, he is just a bad person, but not twisted! And Nora is no angel, she was aware of a lot of things about her godfather business and sometimes even helped him. Her and August know that while they are both from different sides, she still has darkness within her: when she flirts with death, when she is ready to surrender to August and even with the plot twist at the end.
Whilst in this first book we witness August going from a scary person to one that aided Nora, I hope in the second book the opposite will happen and it will be Nora’s time to be embraced by despair with August getting some redemption and remaining by her side to keep the balance. Because this book was balanced like that: while Nora tried to escape, August was there to keep her locked in the world of violence and death. When August finally realised he has to do everything to protect her and finally allow her to do what she always wanted, Nora’s journey comes full circle. The story both begins and ends in the house of the wicked and while at the beginning of the book, the house mirrors Nora’s mental state - delicate and flirting with insanity - by the end when Nora returns to it, the house represents all the possibilities for her future.
“You stabbed a man for looking at me.”
Damn right, he did! That scene alone earned this book a star. I have such a weak spot for a MC who is willing to burn the world for the FMC! If you wouldn’t stab a man who was creepy to the woman you love, is it even love?
‘The house of the wicked shall be overthrown but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish’.
Few books are as complete as “ The House of the Wicked”. It even feels like a sin to label it simply as a “dark-romance” in order to appease the Gods of Book Marketing. The book has everything: mafia, violence, plot twists, enigmas, smut, character development and even some mystery. While the focus of the book is certainly the romance between Nora and August as it is a 1st person dual POV, readers will not be disappointed to peel the layers that Oona Arlo wrote for them.
Nora, orphaned very young, is far from being an innocent soul. The proverb on the house foresees Nora’s future in this first book. We meet her as she feels like a prisoner in her godfather’s house, she goes nowhere without protection. As a result of losing her parents, she has a lot of moments where she brushes the feeling of death to be able to feel something. The water scenes are intense and can be triggering for some people but they have a reason. The loss of her parents, her having only two friends and no social life, it all takes a toll on her mental state. “The house of the wicked shall be overthrown” forecasts the dramatic events that will force Nora and August to flee the city. Those who harmed innocent people will be punished. “The tabernacle of the upright shall flourish” can mean that Nora’s role in the future of the family will bring some justice to a world that is engulfed in meaningless violence. Nora despises that world and August has to live in it. While Nora claims she rejects it, August has learned to navigate but not accept what the mafia has done to the city.
August is a complicated character to explain - he is violent and sometimes he is even rough with Nora, but at the same time he has soft moments with her. He is at the same time both protector and instigator - he does everything in his power to protect her from harm, helping her in difficult situations but he can also be a bit of a brute. He warns her of the consequences should he give in to his desires but he is evil. Evil, that’s the world, he is just a bad person, but not twisted! And Nora is no angel, she was aware of a lot of things about her godfather business and sometimes even helped him. Her and August know that while they are both from different sides, she still has darkness within her: when she flirts with death, when she is ready to surrender to August and even with the plot twist at the end.
Whilst in this first book we witness August going from a scary person to one that aided Nora, I hope in the second book the opposite will happen and it will be Nora’s time to be embraced by despair with August getting some redemption and remaining by her side to keep the balance. Because this book was balanced like that: while Nora tried to escape, August was there to keep her locked in the world of violence and death. When August finally realised he has to do everything to protect her and finally allow her to do what she always wanted, Nora’s journey comes full circle. The story both begins and ends in the house of the wicked and while at the beginning of the book, the house mirrors Nora’s mental state - delicate and flirting with insanity - by the end when Nora returns to it, the house represents all the possibilities for her future.
“You stabbed a man for looking at me.”
Damn right, he did! That scene alone earned this book a star. I have such a weak spot for a MC who is willing to burn the world for the FMC! If you wouldn’t stab a man who was creepy to the woman you love, is it even love?
jackiespider's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
amo_reads's review
4.5
This genre is not one that I normally read, and it was actually an oversight on my part as I thought it was a romantasy.
HOWEVER, I truly enjoyed it! There was mystery that kept me eager for more and I liked the duality of the characters.
*I read this as an ARC*
meadow_poppy's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to like this suspenseful romance story. But I never connected with it...
It's not believable to me. August can't be with Nora but still does, Ricky is this big bad guy yet we only hear of off screen things that others do for Ricky... We beat around the bush for a lot of this book for it to wind up back to square one in the end.
I did enjoy the spicy scenes even though they're relatively quick.
I'm thankful for the opportunity to read this book but I don't know if I'll continue to follow the story
It's not believable to me. August can't be with Nora but still does, Ricky is this big bad guy yet we only hear of off screen things that others do for Ricky... We beat around the bush for a lot of this book for it to wind up back to square one in the end.
I did enjoy the spicy scenes even though they're relatively quick.
I'm thankful for the opportunity to read this book but I don't know if I'll continue to follow the story
_charliesbookshelf's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I just finished: The House of the Wicked by Oona Arlo and OMFG, I have so many feelings! Here’s a quick breakdown of what I loved and where I struggled:
Pros:
🔥 Playlist inspo — yes please, I was living for it!
💥 A super detailed *trigger warning page* (so thoughtful and needed).
🌶️ The *Dicktionary*... trust me, you'll want to see this for yourself.
🙌 Loved the female main character. While her growth wasn't huge in this book, I know she's on the edge of something BIG in the next one. Oona Arlo, I’m ready!
🍽️ The tension and character building between the leads…. I ate it up.
💥 Hidden secrets and a MASSIVE cliffhanger —the last chapter left me gasping!
✨ The male lead? OBSESSED. I can’t wait to see where this goes!
Cons:
⏳ Ugh, now I have to wait for the next book!
⌛ *Pacing* was a bit slow in spots, but it picks up when it counts.
🤔 Wish the FMC had figured out the secret a little sooner to give us more time in the drama!
😬 *Adam was an ick*. I won’t say more than that, but you’ll know what I mean.
Overall, I adored this book, and I'm SOOOO KEEN for the next one. If you love Mafia, secrets, tension, and cliffhangers that leave you begging for more—grab this one ASAP!
I want to say thankyou to @bookfunnel & @oonaarloauthor for the opportunity to read this ARC, and it all right that my thoughts and opinions are my own. 🫶🫶