Dante by Sadie Kincaid

The Chicago underworld has never been more seductive—or more dangerous. Sadie Kincaid launches her Chicago Ruthless series with a dark mafia romance that challenges readers to find light in the darkest of circumstances. Dante by Sadie Kincaid is the opening salvo in a four-book saga featuring the formidable Moretti siblings, followed by Joey, Lorenzo, and Keres, each offering standalone stories with satisfying conclusions while building a richly interconnected world of power, passion, and precarious loyalties.

The Collision of Two Broken Souls

Katerina Evanson’s life has been reduced to shadows and survival. Once a promising nurse at Northwestern Memorial, she now scrubs office floors in the dead of night, deliberately invisible in Chicago’s forgotten neighborhoods. When her brother Leo steals a quarter million dollars from the city’s most feared crime family, Kat becomes collateral damage in a debt she never owed.

Enter Dante Moretti—a man whose reputation precedes him like a death knell. The whispers are chilling: he slaughtered his fiancée and her entire family on the eve of their wedding. He’s methodical, merciless, and utterly untouchable. When he arrives to collect what Leo owes, he doesn’t take money. He takes Kat.

Kincaid constructs her anti-hero with deliberate precision. Dante isn’t simply a monster wearing expensive suits; he’s a study in contradictions. His tattooed muscles and commanding presence telegraph danger, yet there’s an unexpected intelligence in how he reads people, a sixth sense that detects the secrets others desperately hide. The author masterfully peels back layers throughout the narrative, revealing that reputation and reality don’t always align. The legendary tale of Nicole Santangelo’s murder becomes a pivot point for understanding Dante’s true character—what appears to be cold-blooded violence may actually be calculated protection.

Forced Proximity with Psychological Depth

The enemies-to-lovers trajectory follows familiar dark romance terrain: captive heroine, morally gray captor, undeniable chemistry. Yet Kincaid elevates the trope through Kat’s characterization. This isn’t a woman who simply melts at the first display of dominance. Her defiance has teeth. She throws baseball bats at enforcers’ heads, punches Dante in the chest, and maintains her dignity even when stripped of her freedom. The narrative excels when exploring why a former nurse capable of saving lives would abandon her calling entirely—the answer, when it arrives, recontextualizes everything that came before.

The forced proximity intensifies through carefully calibrated scenes. Dante’s palatial estate becomes both prison and sanctuary, with Sophia’s warm kitchen serving as unexpected common ground. The progression from captor-captive to something more complex unfolds through charged encounters: fingers in pussy against refrigerator doors, shirts infused with masculine scent becoming reluctant comfort, breakfast tables where tattooed abs and verbal sparring create their own form of foreplay. Kincaid understands that dark romance thrives on tension, and she wrings every drop from the premise.

However, the pacing occasionally stumbles. The middle section, where Kat vacillates between resistance and desire, stretches longer than the emotional beats warrant. Readers seeking constant forward momentum may find themselves impatient during chapters where internal monologue circles familiar territory. The pregnancy discovery, while pivotal, arrives somewhat predictably given the genre conventions, though Kincaid handles the aftermath with unexpected nuance.

Trauma, Healing, and the Language of Scars

Where Dante by Sadie Kincaid distinguishes itself is in its unflinching examination of trauma. Kat’s mysterious transformation from competent medical professional to isolated cleaning woman isn’t simple backstory—it’s the foundation of her entire psychological landscape. Kincaid doesn’t shy from depicting the aftermath of sexual violence, the way terror resurfaces in unexpected moments, how touch can trigger both panic and healing depending on context and trust.

The scenes where Dante deliberately rewrites Kat’s traumatic associations demonstrate both the book’s strengths and potential controversy. His approach to helping her reclaim her body and sexuality is intensely intimate, pushing boundaries while constantly checking for consent. The author walks a tightrope here between erotic empowerment and problematic power dynamics. Some readers will find these sequences deeply romantic; others may question whether a captor can truly offer healing. Kincaid presents it without apologizing, trusting her audience to navigate the moral complexity.

The revelation about Kat’s brother Leo’s involvement in her trauma adds layers of betrayal that resonate through every subsequent interaction. When Dante tracks Leo to Los Angeles, the confrontation isn’t merely about money—it’s about accountability for unforgivable sins. The violence feels earned rather than gratuitous, though readers sensitive to descriptions of retribution should approach these chapters with awareness.

The Moretti Universe and Supporting Players

Kincaid constructs a vivid supporting cast that promises rich material for subsequent installments:

• Lorenzo and Anya: The dominant/submissive dynamic between Dante’s older brother and his Russian wife adds intriguing texture. Anya’s diamond collar isn’t mere decoration—it’s a symbol of consensual power exchange that challenges assumptions about strength and submission. Their relationship, glimpsed primarily through Kat’s outsider perspective, suggests depths that will likely be explored in Lorenzo.
• Joey (Guiseppina): Dante’s younger sister crackles with suppressed rebellion. Trapped by patriarchal mafia expectations, she’s desperate for agency in a world that treats her as property to be protected. Her role in Kat’s attempted escape and the consequences that follow hint at her upcoming book’s potential for explosive character growth.
• Maximo DiMarco: The unhinged enforcer with unwavering loyalty to Dante provides both comic relief and genuine menace. His friendship with the Moretti brothers—forged through childhood tragedy—grounds the chosen family theme that runs through the series.
• The Father: Sal Moretti looms over the narrative like a malevolent shadow. The gradual revelation of his true nature and his connection to Kat’s past creates one of the book’s most chilling subplots. His fate, while satisfying, also raises questions about the psychological cost of patricide, even when justified.

Stylistic Choices and Narrative Voice

Kincaid employs dual first-person POV, alternating between Kat and Dante’s perspectives. This technique effectively builds tension and illuminates the vast gulf between their internal experiences and external presentations. Dante’s chapters reveal vulnerability he’d never display publicly; Kat’s showcase her resilience beneath apparent fragility.

The prose oscillates between lyrical and blunt, matching the emotional tenor of each scene. During intimate moments, the language becomes almost poetic: “A love like that will burn for eternity.” In confrontations, it’s sharp and unforgiving: “You think I’m stupid, then? Is that it?” This flexibility serves the story well, though occasionally the dialogue ventures into territory that feels more performative than authentic—characters sometimes announce their feelings in ways that prioritize reader clarity over naturalistic speech.

Italian phrases pepper the text, grounding the story in mafia tradition without becoming overwhelming. Terms like vita mia (my life) and amore mio (my love) signal Dante’s emotional evolution as the story progresses from purely physical claiming to genuine romantic attachment.

The Pregnancy Plot and Domestic Denouement

The pregnancy that becomes central to the latter half creates both narrative complication and resolution. Kat’s discovery forces confrontation with their undefined relationship; Dante’s reaction reveals character depths that earlier chapters only hinted at. The transformation from “you’re paying a debt” to “you’re carrying my child” accelerates their trajectory toward permanence, though some may find the speed jarring.

The wedding planning and baby preparation sections offer respite from the darker elements, creating space for lighter character moments. Shopping for elephant-themed nursery items and negotiating wedding details humanizes these larger-than-life figures. However, readers seeking sustained high-stakes drama may find these domestic interludes too extended. The book’s climax—the truth about Dante’s father and the resolution of Leo’s betrayal—arrives strong, but the denouement feels somewhat rushed in comparison to the leisurely middle.

The epilogue, set six months post-wedding with baby Gabriella, provides the genre-requisite happy ending. Dante as devoted father completes his redemption arc, while Kat’s healing journey reaches a satisfying (if perhaps overly tidy) conclusion. Their plans for filling the house with babies may delight readers who love epilogues promising forever-after fertility, though others might wish for slightly more ambiguity.

What Works and What Doesn’t

Strengths:

• Complex exploration of trauma recovery that doesn’t romanticize violence while still maintaining romantic tension
• Dante’s character development from apparent monster to protective partner feels earned through accumulated detail
• The Nicole Santangelo twist provides genuine surprise while recontextualizing Dante’s reputation
• Supporting cast rich enough to sustain three more books
• Sex scenes that balance explicit content with emotional progression

Weaknesses:

• Middle section pacing drags during Kat’s extended internal debates
• Some secondary plot threads (like the initial attack at the dinner party) feel underdeveloped
• The rapid shift from captivity to domestic bliss may strain credibility for readers preferring slower burns
• Occasional dialogue that prioritizes exposition over naturalistic conversation
• The father’s subplot resolution, while satisfying, arrives somewhat abruptly

Series Context and Standalone Success

As the foundation for the Chicago Ruthless series by Sadie Kincaid, Dante accomplishes its dual mandate: delivering a complete romantic arc while establishing a world readers will want to revisit. The promise of Joey’s rebellion, Lorenzo’s complex marriage, and the mysterious Keres creates anticipation without leaving loose ends that would frustrate standalone readers.

Fans of Kincaid’s previous work—the New York Ruthless, LA Ruthless, and London Ruthless series—will recognize her signature blend of alpha dominance, family loyalty, and women who refuse to be broken by circumstances. New readers should note that this is decidedly dark romance, with content warnings for past sexual assault, violence, and morally gray protagonists whose actions wouldn’t bear scrutiny outside genre conventions.

Similar Reads for Your Dark Romance TBR

If Dante by Sadie Kincaid captures your interest, consider these comparable titles:

• Vow of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson: For readers who appreciated the forced proximity and gradual trust-building, though in a fantasy rather than contemporary setting
• The Professional by Kresley Cole: Features a similar dynamic of powerful anti-hero and captive heroine with complex motivations
• Corrupt by Penelope Douglas: Offers the dark bully romance energy with less mafia, more psychological games
• Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco: For those drawn to morally gray male leads and slow-burn enemies-to-lovers in a supernatural context
• Mindf*ck series by S.T. Abby: Provides the dark romance and revenge elements with a vigilante twist
• Nero by Sarah Brianne: Another mafia romance with forced proximity and trauma recovery themes
• Ruthless People by J.J. McAvoy: Chicago mafia setting with power couple dynamics
• Twisted series by Ana Huang: Contemporary romance with protective alpha males and emotional depth
• The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori: Italian mafia romance with arranged marriage elements

Final Verdict

Dante by Sadie Kincaid succeeds as both dark romance entertainment and series foundation. Sadie Kincaid demonstrates understanding of what draws readers to morally complex anti-heroes while pushing beyond simple alpha posturing to create characters with psychological depth. The exploration of trauma and healing adds weight that elevates this above pure escapism, even as the fantasy elements—the palatial estate, the devoted housekeeper, the ultimate transformation of captor to protector—provide the wish fulfillment the genre promises.

The four-star consensus reflects the book’s solid execution within its genre constraints. It’s not without flaws: the pacing could tighten, some plot elements feel familiar, and the rapid character evolution may test suspension of disbelief. Yet the emotional core remains compelling. Dante’s journey from cold calculation to fierce devotion, Kat’s reclamation of agency and sexuality, and their unexpected partnership create a foundation substantial enough to carry a series.

For readers who appreciate dark romance that acknowledges the darkness while still delivering the romance, Dante by Sadie Kincaid offers a satisfying entry point into the Moretti world. Just remember: when you play with fire, sometimes the burn is exactly what you need.

• Recommended for: Fans of dark mafia romance, morally gray heroes, trauma recovery arcs, forced proximity, and readers who enjoy explicit content balanced with emotional development.
• Content awareness: Graphic sexual content, violence, references to past sexual assault, themes of captivity, and morally questionable protagonist actions.