Book Review: Dario by Olivia Thorn

Listen up, babes. I’ve got mafia tea hotter than Dario’s smoulder, and I’m about to pour.

If you’re even remotely mafia-curious—or just in the mood to lose your morals over a man in a tailored suit with a God complex—Dario by Olivia Thorn is calling your name in a deep, accented growl. This book? It’s sexy, it’s intense, it’s unhinged in all the best ways, and I devoured it like I was on the mafia payroll.

Welcome to the dark, delicious world of the Mafia Kings series, where emotions are as dangerous as bullets, and the men? Tall, terrifying, and toxic in a way that makes you want to risk it all.

Let’s talk about Dario—Mr. Tall, Dark & Morally Dubious. He’s the classic mafia archetype with a twist: cold-blooded, emotionally constipated, and so hot he should come with a warning label. He’s got the brooding intensity of a man who’s committed multiple felonies, and yet somehow, you’re rooting for him to get the girl and maybe, just maybe, go to therapy.

Is he realistic? Absolutely not. Do I care? Absolutely not. Would I climb him like a tree? Without hesitation.

But what sets Dario apart from your run-of-the-mill mobster fantasy is his deeply Italian flair. I’m talking slow, sensual language. Family loyalty. Intensity dialled up to “I will murder for you” levels. When he’s not orchestrating shady business deals or intimidating people with a single glance, he’s speaking Italian in a way that makes you want to throw your morals and your panties out the window.

And the heroine? My queen, Miss “I Know He’s Toxic But I Can Fix Him.”

She’s witty, fearless, and chronically brave for someone constantly surrounded by danger and bad decisions in good suits. She’s the perfect foil for Dario—calling him out, standing her ground, and giving “I’m in my red flag era and loving it” energy. The tension between them is criminal (literally and figuratively). Think enemies-to-lovers, but make it gunplay and soul-baring confessions at midnight.

You’ll be rooting for her one minute and screaming “GIRL, RUN” the next. But then Dario will say something possessive in Italian and you’ll be like… “Never mind, stay. Stay forever.”

What you’re really getting into here:

• Dangerous men in darker suits

• Morally grey behaviour that’s probably prosecutable

• Passion that burns hotter than a Molotov cocktail

• Betrayals, shootouts, and slow, sexy redemption arcs

• AND ENOUGH SPICE TO MELT YOUR KINDLE

But what makes Dario hit so hard is the emotional depth hiding behind all that smoke and swagger. Olivia Thorn isn’t just writing mafia fantasy for the drama—she’s giving us complex characters with emotional baggage the size of Sicily. Dario is a man caught between loyalty, legacy, and the kind of love that threatens to unravel everything. And our girl? She’s battling her own demons while trying not to fall for the devil himself.

The result? A push-and-pull love story soaked in danger, heartbreak, and some of the hottest moments I’ve read this year.

And yes, the mafia genre is ridiculous.

We know. It’s chaotic, problematic, and completely unrealistic—but that’s the point. This isn’t real life, babe. This is fantasy with a designer gun holster. It’s about surrendering to the drama. Letting yourself be swept away by silk sheets, stolen kisses, and dangerously charming men with no concept of “boundaries.”

Reading Dario is like finishing a bottle of red wine alone on a Tuesday—chaotic, questionable, and absolutely worth it.

Final verdict? This book is not safe for your heart, your sanity, or your standards—but you’re going to love every second.

It’s fast-paced, high-drama, and full of the kind of sexual tension that makes you clench your jaw (and other muscles). Olivia Thorn delivers a mafia romance that’s as emotionally charged as it is spicy—and trust me, it’s so spicy.

Clear your calendar. Hide your morals. And prepare to meet your new mafia obsession.

Rating 5/5