Bestselling Mafia romance series.Everything I do has purpose. Everything I do has reason. Until her.The Vasiliev name is a powerful one.We rule with an iron fist and we do it well.Being the eldest, I am Father’s best hope at keeping us at the top of the food chain.Everything I do has purpose.Everything I do has reason.Until her.I play my games thinking several moves ahead.Power. Power. Power.… games thinking several moves ahead.
Power. Power. Power.
Until her.
The next move requires I marry and soon.
This will strengthen us and secure our position.
But I am not to marry her.
I am to wed the eldest Volkov.
Problem is, her younger sister is the one who awakens my dead heart.
It is her I want in my bed and by my side forever.
Her. Her. Her.
In this game, though, it’s not about what I want.
But maybe it can be about what she wants.
I am Vlad.
Vile. Vicious. Villainous. Vasiliev.
And I will win eventually.
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Final Score – 5 Stars!
Vlad is a master at both playing the game and being a step ahead of everyone in his life. He’s a brute, blunt, unapologetic, charismatic, powerful, unforgiving, violent, & calculating. He is devoted to his family name and an honor code unlike anything. In a world where the weak are the prey, he can show no weakness and loving someone is the ultimate weakness. Surround by more friends than foes, even in his own family, Vlad is struggling to be the man he wants to be versus the man he needs to be. Irina is who he wants, but at what cost? Will Vlad be able to make it out on top? Or will his weakness for love be his undoing?
Vlad is a definite #mustread. Another amazing collaboration by K Webster and Ker Dukey … nailed as only they can! Vlad is both captivating, shocking, and in your face – I couldn’t put it down, and believe me … I tried! A girl’s gotta sleep – but from the first page to the last, I was it’s willing slave. I can’t wait to see what these two ladies cook up next!
‘VLAD:’ is the first dark book in K.Websters & K. Dukey’s ‘The V Games’ Series. We have our three main characters, Vlad, Diana who is arranged to marry Vlad, and her younger sister . Ahh Vlad. Twenty two year old Vlad Vasiliev knows how to play the game of life better than anyone since he has been groomed at the game pretty much since birth by his father. Vlad is vicious, cruel, deceitful, Villainous. There are so many adjectives to describe him but I like to say he is viciously seductive and cruelly beautiful. There is so much about him that will entice you just in the first several chapters that will have you hooked on him. Oh and he is definitely one hot as sin Alpha male. He says it, it will be done or heads will roll. The arranged marriage is what is required of him but the “younger sister”..well he didn’t expect her or the chemistry to explode between them. I don’t want to give any spoilers away and since the authors haven’t named her, I will not either. Oh I loved this younger sister. She is sassy, determined and loyal. She feels too much and loves too hard. This book is just the tipping book to the start of a new series and what a tipoff. It has introduced some marvelous characters and I am dying to know how things end up. Vlad is one man who is about to meet his lifemate –only how will he handle it? Will he let his father rule his life or will he go all in for his love? Oh this book was hot AF and I have to say, full of characters that I Adored. I loved Vlad, even as vicious and nasty as he could get, I loved what went down between Vlad and his “fiancée” and am dying to read her story next and most of all, I loved Vlad and the younger sister. OMG This was one hot as sin story that is definitely a dark romance, full of secrets and heat. The writing team of K Webster and K Dukey have another smash hit on their hands so don’t walk but run your fingers to buy your copy!!!
My Rating: 4.8 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me.”
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Review Vlad, Vlad, Vlad…
I assumed he would get what he wanted but I wasn’t sure exactly what that was.
Let the V Games begin. In a crazed version of Hunger Games, these rich, powerful, Russian mafia families send their kids to fight. For power, prestige, and bragging rights…Yeah it’s f-ed up! What did you expect- it’s Ker Dukey and K Webster. (Fluffy unicorns were harmed or included.)
With the messed up games and even more depraved participants, you know every naughty bone in your body will be tingling. Enjoy it, relish it, and maybe revel in the thought that more will be coming.
I can’t wait.
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
“All the black, damaged evil inside me dilutes when I’m touching her- the sun casting out the darkness inside me.”
I have read many dark/mafia romances, and usually I love them but there have also been many times that I found them to be a bit cliche and lack depth. When I started reading Vlad I didn’t right away figure out in which category I would put this book in. I was just hoping it would be refreshing and exciting. Making the villains the main characters isn’t an easy task in my opinion, because sometimes they change so much towards the end. Vlad, was a very brutal and no-sense kind of guy. He sometimes was pretty impulsive and acted before thinking. He will strike when someone does him wrong.
“God, his smell is intoxicating. I hate myself for being drawn to him even when he’s being a lunatic.”
In the beginning I was very worried about his age (he is 22), I usually love my anti-heroes to be a bit older. Fortunately, he acted much mature than his age, probably because of the environment he grew up in. I don’t know why but I couldn’t fully warm up to Vlad. Some of his decisions were a bit too much. And he had Irina doing things that I didn’t think was right. He was very jealous and protective, which I didn’t mind that much. But I just couldn’t 100% connect with him. The same goes with Irina, I was more interested in Diana, her older sister. However I did love the setting of this book, It felt new and intrigued me. The V Games didn’t play a major role in this book, but I hope it will in the upcoming books. The authors gave us glimpses of what to expect from them.
“Irina blinds me. Weakens me. Destroys me with her sweetness. And I can’t look away. I willingly allow her to ruin every single thing about me.”
Overall Vlad was a solid Dark/Mafia romance with very hot sex scenes (they were REALLY good). The story kept me intrigued until the end and I was looking forward to seeing what would happen next. The main characters weren’t my favorites, however I am hoping that they will make appearances in the upcoming books (because I want to see how they will grow further). There are two very interesting characters, one of them being Diana, who hopefully will play the main roles in the next book. I think Vlad was a great first book the new V Games series.
“When he pinned me with them moments ago, it was like amber rays swirling around an eclipse. You know you should look away to avoid damage, but it’s such a rare sight, you can’t help but stare right at it. I’m blinded by him.”
An explosive, heart pounding, addictive start to what will be a must read mafia romance series!! The voodoo woven by these Authors will have you hooked from the first word, the twists, the turns, the build up is intense!! Vlad is a force of nature that will wrap around you like the strongest of chains and you will be powerless to stop it. He and Irina have a pull towards each other that will leave you intoxicated faster than a strong drink, and leave you feening for more!! You are introduced to a whole host of characters you want to know more from, and the ending will leave you wide-eyed and breathless!! I thank the Authors for providing a copy to review!
“She makes me feel free, unburdened, and young. She makes me feel like a man and a boy all in one. Like I’m baring not just my skin and body, but also my soul.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
The V Games Series…
When I received an ARC for this book, I was thinking to myself, “Self, there is NO WAY that this terrific twosome could write something better than their Pretty Little Dolls series” I mean come on, that was a frighteningly fantastic series.
My, oh my did they prove me way wrong! Vlad, the first book in the V Games series is gonna grab you by the throat and pull you through their dark and twisty world!
This cast of characters is just amazing and the first two we really get to dig into is Vlad and Irina (Shadow).
Vlad is a total anti-hero and you will fall in love with him for it! Irina is smart, cunning and beautiful and the perfect compliment to Vlad.
I loved the twists and turns in the story, I am not going to give it away but you get hints of what’s to come in the smallest of ways. There is some misdirection for the characters and makes it all the more devious and delicious! It makes you slow down and savor the words so you don’t miss anything!
There is sadness, love and so much darkness, which Ker and K have perfected. This story will keep you engaged to the very end!
The ending was brilliant and I cannot wait to see what the next story brings into play!
Thank you for your dark and twisty world ladies, I am in awe of your words!
When these two Witches of Darkness get together, it’s explosive action and brutal massacres. I think they enable each other’s wild imaginations and feed off of each other’s dark souls. I’m not complaining, cause i get to read twisted , fucKERed up stories that quench my dark needs too, so …Win-Win !
In this book 1 of the series they create the Bratva World. The ruthless Russians are major players in the Underworld of Human Trafficking, arms smuggling , drugs and what nots.
They hold annual V-Games, which are like free for all gladiator games, I’m assuming. Bloody Fights unto Deaths which separate boys from men and winning them is a matter of prestige . survival of the fittest is the norm in this Underworld.
Heirchy is of utmost importance in this mafia. There’s First Families and second families and then everybody else. Alliances, brotherhood, marriages of convenience are used in this endless fight for supremacy. Sons are bred to lead and women are bred to be used as pawns amongst families
“The First Families are Vasilievs, Votrovs and Volkovs.
Vile.
Vicious.
Villainous.
Vasiliev.
Vasiliev name outranks the Volkov one now and always.
And their Coal-hearted Prince The Mighty VLAD !
One thing though, between all this hurricane of madness, I really loved Irina and Vlad’s unusual pairing.
An angel giving a devil her wings for safekeeping.”
I don’t wanna give ANY of the story away cause Kristi has this Evil side eyes when sharpening knives, I’m shit scared !
Suffice to say , it gets real bloody, real fast, real passionate real fast and then real intriguing real fast…..and then I’m left hanging !!
Hurry up and write the next ones K&K!!
My only peeve was that most of the characters were named with V and it took me a while to figure out who was who. I had to constantly go the chart to sort it out, by the time I memorized, book had finished.
It takes some time to connect with characters because it’s a strange world of Ruthless Chenghez-ian men and young Killer Ludmillas who entice & ensnare their preys and then squeeze the life out of them.
Can’t wait for book 2
4 solntce moyo stars
***5 ‘A Beautiful Furious Monster’ Stars***
I LOVE this world!!
Not that I doubted I would, I mean look at the authors, the two K’s are one of my favorite dark romance writing duos, but it needed to be stated because this world is a dark romance lovers dream. It’s filled with all kinds of dark, gritty, edgy, bloody and kinky goodness and has just the right amount of light and heart mixed in to keep things interesting. And dear lord it was that and so much more, so much so that if it hadn’t been for that #workthing I would have finished it in 2 hrs flat because putting it down was a difficult thing to do. Almost as difficult as as accepting that there were no more words to read when it ended.
Vlad is one cold, calculating Alpha AF male. He simply gets the job done by any means necessary and barely bats an eye. But that was the draw. He’s so self contained that I couldn’t help want more of him and what I found underneath the ice was far more interesting and intriguing than what was on the surface. As for the “younger sister”, (Sorry no sharing of the name since there has been no mention of her by the authors to date) I simply adored her. She was so much more than anyone thought she could ever be, even herself, and her strength burned brighter as the book progressed. Their dark romance is everything I could have wanted from the two K’s and more. It was deliciously dark, deviant and kinky and there were a few twists and turns in there that I didn’t expect, but it worked for me. They worked for me and in the end that’s all that matters.
As I said in the beginning, I love this world and the characters that populate it, even the ones I wouldn’t mind gutting with a spoon. It’s dark, it’s violent but it’s a rich and vibrant sort of darkness that does allow a little light in from time to time to keep itself in check. We meet A LOT of characters in this one, it is the first and there is a lot of set up going on of various storylines, and I got a little turned around in the beginning, but it all worked itself out and there are so many characters I want to know more about and cannot wait to get my hands on the next book to see what fate will bring them, especially after that epilogue!
~ Copy provided by IndieSage PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
“‘You’d do more than paint me, you’d paint yourself all over my soul.’”
Some of my all-time favorite dark romance reads involve the power, animal passions and sheer savagery of an impossible romantic love within the culture of real and/or mythicized Russian organized crime organizations. If written well, these men are some of the hottest über Alpha beasts that make a girl go uhmmm and ahhhh… Bal’shoye spaseeba.
I will say that this duo of authors, which are new to me, have a wonderful grasp of all the elements that make a story from this unique flavor of dark romance so enticing and tasty. Of course, the most important element is that dark, dangerous, merciless man of violence, while being one beautiful animal, the dark hero. The title of the book bears his name. He is Vlad Vasiliev. “Vile. Vicious. Villainous.”
He is everything a girl could dream about if you were a girl so inclined. He is fiercely loyal to whom he loves, and this list is very short. He understands the rules of the game he must play to maintain the power he holds. He knows when and if he can rewrite the rules to favor his desires. He will kill efficiently for expediency and to insure his protection and protection of his own. Men and only strong men have the right to rule and women are there for comfort, amusement or to breed more men. He has little or no use for women, even his own sister has become a huge disappointment in her demeanor and trivialities.
We are introduced to the First families of Russian society at the outset of the book. We are also introduced vaguely to a tournament-like game of violence and sexual perversions that players representing the families enter for nebulous reasons relating to power. This is a life or death struggle…for indeed Vlad’s own brother whom he dearly misses appeared to have perished in this game. It was his Father who began the games.
” My father may think he designed these games—not just The V Games, but every game in life. What he never counted on was for someone to change the rules. New Rule Number One: You hurt my brother, I fucking hurt you.”
The story twists and turns along an intricate plot line weaving the fate of the families as dark sometimes disturbing revelations are brought to light. Within the intrigue is the betrothal of Vlad to Diana and the fact that Diana’s little sister Irina has secretly crushed on Vlad since she was a little girl.
” I’ve been watching him from the background since I could walk. Learning, deconstructing, and pining despite my brain wishing I didn’t. But it’s impossible not to. He’s my favorite addiction. I take him in like air to my lungs and breathe.”
Diana was always the glamorous one who shone like a jewel. Everyone was drawn to her brilliance and if ever there was going to be a Russian woman who was going to break the mold and be worth more than a broodmare, it would be her. She would also bring her sister along with her, for they were both very close to one another.
The attraction Irina felt toward Vlad was mutual and despite his duty to the family in his betrothal to Diane the light of Irina felt like the “sun” to him. She was so much her sister’s shadow, she was nicknamed as such and accepted herself as a shadow. Vlad cannot help himself around Irina and so it begins… the illicit, forbidden sex, the conflict of loyalties for Irina and it’s all oh so addictive, dizzyingly passionate and Hotttt!!!
“’When you’re staring at the sun, you can’t see a shadow.’ His voice is low and husky.”
The authors have the readers breathless with how well they write about the first time they innocently, maybe not so innocently, make eye contact until Irina captures Vlad’s heart and soul being the perfect and ideally matched partner in erotic adventures. She takes his breath away figuratively as he literally takes hers away.
“’When you were a child, I just wanted you to paint me. To make something ugly and destined for destruction to be beautiful. Just once. I wanted to be something beautiful and worthy even if only for a moment. To capture the real me in one instant and lock me there. I wanted to be yours, then and forever. It didn’t make sense, but my heart whispered these things to me. Promised I’d have you one day. You’d do more than paint me, you’d paint yourself all over my soul.’”
Told in alternating POV’s this is the heady dangerous stuff that good girls really should not dare to dream about but sometimes well…you know…the bad boy who loves the good girl…Now the bad boy is a little bit better and the good girl a lit bit badder. Yeah…It’s like that.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary –
Well, Double K (Ker Dukey and K. Webster) has done it again. When this one came across the list of the review group I’m in, I didn’t even read the blurb because I knew I wanted to read this one.
Vlad is the eldest son of the number one mob family, he takes after his father in every way. He has a set of twin siblings, Vika and Viktor. Vlad knows what needs to be done to run the family business and he will do anything to protect that family.
Irina and her sister, Diana, have been running the family vodka business as long as they can remember. When Diana’s father sets her up to marry Vlad, she only agrees to the arrangement if he accepts to let Irina come too. Irina can’t believe Diana has agreed to this, but she will not let anyone tell her she has to marry someone she doesn’t love. Things happen between Diana & Vlad and Irina &Vlad that will leave you with your mind spinning.
This story is dark, sexy, exciting, intense, and will leave you breathless. It has alpha males and strong females and you will not want to put it down once you start reading. I highly recommend this book, but only if you love to read dark stories. I can’t wait to see what book two brings.
Mary Jo –
Trigger warnings: Human Trafficking, Violence
This book is not for the faint of heart. If you want a book that tests your boundaries as a reader, then open it and hold on tight.
Vlad’s family runs the “V Games” which is sort of like The Hunger Games without all the niceties. During the last games, Vlad lost his brother due to the machinations of their sister, Vika. Vlad is no longer playing nice, not that he ever was, and now he’s on a mission to make those responsible for his brother’s death pay and pay dearly.
What he doesn’t expect is Irina, his fiancée’s younger sister. She has interested him since he first met her as a child and that attraction has only gotten stronger. She’s smart, funny, and for some reason, hides in the shadows.
When Diana’s (the fiancée) secret is revealed, life becomes both easier and harder for Vlad and Irina, but their commitment to each other is rock solid.
I can’t wait for book two.
Avid Reader –
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Human Trafficking, Rape, Murder, Kidnapping
Vlad is part of the mob. There is no other family than his mob family. His family is used to ruling with an iron fist and also getting what they want, no matter what it is. Vlad is in charge of the “V Games” and this is where he and his brothers, as well as other mob families, prove their worth – prove their family’s worth.
Diana comes from another mob family. She knows her duty and does what is to be expected. However, she also loves her sister, Irina, and will do whatever she can to protect Irina’s future. Vlad and Diana have been matched for a while. However, when things really come to head, neither Diana nor Vlad are prepared.
There are some major twists in this story and this is a darker story than what you might think from the blurb. It’s not for the faint of heart and you must know going in, there is quite a lot of violence and betrayal.
Once you get through this book, you’ll be left breathless and wanting more. I can’t wait for book two.
Shannan –
Vlad is the first installment in the V Games series. I devoured this book. I couldn’t get enough of the character this duo created.
The Games – the backbone of the first families. It weeds the weak from the strong, the men from the boys. The outcome determines who rules within their world.
“When you’re a Vasiliev, you don’t enter the world with potential to be great, you are great.”
Vlad is the oldest son of the Vasiliev family, a first family. Certain things are expected of him. He will one day run the family, so who he is married to is very important and already planned. It’s all about who will stand with him in power while bringing something worthwhile into the family.
Irina Volkov is also part of the first family but is the second daughter. In this world, women are born to be married off for as much as they can get. Irina has always had a crush on Vlad, an unrequited crush. Vlad and Diana, Irina’s older sister, are to be married. Be the next power couple. They are friends, but no love is between them. Irina’s heart breaks knowing Diana will be with Vlad. Diana makes a deal with Vlad – she’ll marry him, but Irina is to move in with them and never be forced to marry someone. She’ll marry for love. Irina’s heart doesn’t know if she can watch Vlad day to day without it killing her. Vlad’s quiet obsession of Irina could become more than he can handle.
The suspense, the sex, the underhanded backstabbing… I couldn’t get enough. I loved what this duo put together. These characters, they’re dark and mysterious, sexy and cunning, and oh so intriguing. I can’t wait to get more of this world.
Shelby –
3.25 Stars
I know I’m among the minority, but I will say I normally LOVE anything written by both of these authors, not so much with Vlad.
The set up for this book was perfect. We have the Russian Mafia families outlined in the beginning of the book so we can keep up with who is who. Vlad is part of the first family, the strongest, the vicious Vasiliev. The V Games are their form of entertainment, and they are brutal.
Vlad just didn’t appeal to me. The entire story revolves around his betrothal to Diana Volkov (of a different first family). Friends their whole lives, this isn’t a terrible thing… except if they want to marry for love. Irina Volkov (little sister to Diana) is used to living in her sister’s shadow, but she wants so much more.
I don’t want to give anything away, the story itself is very complicated – many characters are introduced, and situations are being set up. My issue was the characters. I didn’t like Vlad until the end. I couldn’t empathize with Irina. I just didn’t feel anything for them. I wanted to, I really did.
Some stories just don’t appeal to everyone. This was it for me.
I will say, I REALLY want to read the next one – I NEED TO KNOW what happens!
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to anyone
Wow….just wow.
I truly don’t know where to start with this book. I loved every minute of this book and didn’t want it to end.
Webster and Dukey spin a twisted, sick, sexy, and dark story. Vlad and Shadow/My Sun’s story is twistedly beautiful and sick; this is something I feel Dukey and Webster have mastered. This book explains so much about another of Dukey and Webster’s villains and I loved getting more of his back story.
Vlad is the second for a strong Russian mafia family and Shadow is just the second daughter (always in the shadow of his older sister) of another mafia family. Vlad is a strong, twisted, sexy monster and you will love his character. Shadow is this sweet and somehow still innocent woman in a world filled with horrors. As you read this story you begin to see Shadow’s strength and that the “innocent” see more than you think.
This book like Webster and Dukey’s other books will leave you asking yourself things like….. “Did I just read that?” “Why do I find this sexy/hot?” “What did I just read and why did I love it so much?” “Is there something wrong with me for liking this so much?”
As with other books this duo has written, it flows seamlessly and you can’t tell that it was written by 2 people.
I will say that I feel this book isn’t as dark as other works by this duo, but is still a dark romance. I truly can’t wait for book 2!
When the K’s get together to collaborate on a book, you know it’s going to be explosive from this dynamic duo. And while I didn’t think that Vlad was quite as explosive as The Pretty Doll series, it still packed quite the punch.
Synopsis:
Vlad and the heroine, Irina, live in a cunning and manipulative world where power is a game and everyone is a pawn. Marriages are arranged as strategic moves and love doesn’t exist.
“Our world is no storybook, though. Villains prowl the night—it’s most certainly more nightmare than fairytale.”
Vlad is arranged to be married to Irina’s sister to strengthen the families, but it’s sweet and innocent Irina that he burns for.
From stolen moments that lead to an intoxicating and addictive passion between the two, Vlad isn’t willing to give her up and Irina doesn’t want to let go. Vlad and Irina will play a new game, where he makes the rules, a game where they both win each and every time.
“Irina and I are an unstoppable pair. Vile. Vicious. Villainous. Vasiliev.”
My Thoughts:
Vlad and Irina had sizzling chemistry. When these two characters finally got together, I thought I was going to need a cold shower to cool down my lady bits.
The writing flowed seamlessly throughout the entire book, and I couldn’t tell which K was writing what character. And they did a tremendous job of weaving in secondary characters for sub-plots to set up future books, without taking anything away from the main plot of the story.
However, I didn’t think that Vlad was quite as dark and suspenseful as The Pretty Doll series that they co-wrote together, but I don’t think anything will ever quite compare to Benny. That man is god of the sinister and depraved.
It also took me until about halfway through the book to get familiar with all of the family names. Their were so many Russian last names that started with the letter “V” that I kept getting confused and had to flip back to the beginning of the book where K & K graciously provided us with the family trees.
All in all, I’m rating this a solid 4 stars for the characters, the heat, and for keeping me invested in this story from beginning to end. Job well done ladies. I can’t wait for Diana and Ven’s story.
These 2 Queens of darkness have done it again!!
This is not your typical Russian mafia story!
Oh no…it’s much more.
A complex, gritty story of family devotion and betrayal. What are you willing to do out of desperation and love.
Raw, brutal and sinfully crude this book was a real page turner.
A twisted and seductive story of Vlad, the great Russian monster, the V games, an arranged marriage, his bratty, meddling sister, and power hungry families.
Then there were the strong women and sisters Diana and Irina aka “Shadow.”
This read was one of those stories that had me dropping my jaw with WTF moments.
My only problem with this read was, I found re reading some passages to understand who’s who and what was going on as some scenes felt rushed. I thought there too many characters and too many named with a V. This is why I didn’t give it 5 stars.
We really don’t found out what the “games” were but after the ending I suspect it was all done deliberately. I cannot wait for the next book!!