October’s Darkest Obsessions: New Mafia Romances Worth Losing Sleep Over
There’s something about October that makes dark romance hit harder. The chill in the air, the long nights, the temptation to lean into danger — it’s the perfect season to trade pumpkin spice for passion and power plays.
If you crave stories where love is sharp-edged and desire walks hand-in-hand with danger, these two new releases will leave you deliciously wrecked.
1. Huntsman: A Mafia Romance by Naima Simone
Release Date: October 21, 2025
Naima Simone never misses when it comes to heat with heart — and her latest, Huntsman, is no exception. This dark mafia reimagining of a fairytale pulls you straight into a world where loyalty kills and love might, too.
The heroine, haunted by betrayal, finds herself at the mercy of a man known only as The Huntsman — an infamous assassin who should end her life but instead becomes her most dangerous obsession. Every chapter smolders with tension: blades, secrets, and the slow unraveling of two broken souls who can’t decide if they’re enemies or something far more treacherous.
Why you’ll love it:
Dark fairytale energy with mafia grit
Enemies-to-lovers tension done right
A heroine with bite and a hero who bleeds for her
Simone crafts a romance that’s as seductive as it is savage — the kind of book you finish at 2 a.m., heart racing and already craving a reread.
2. The Devil (Mafia Empire #5) by Michelle Heard
Release Date: October 27, 2025
If you like your love stories fast, fierce, and morally unhinged, Michelle Heard’s The Devil will own your October. The fifth book in her Mafia Empire series stands alone, delivering all the sinful tension and high-stakes emotion her readers live for.
The setup: a woman working night shifts to survive crosses paths with a man whose power could ruin her — or save her. He’s known only as The Devil, and once he sets his sights on her, resistance isn’t an option. What follows is a whirlwind of danger, obsession, and the blurred line between protection and possession.
Why you’ll love it:
Possessive antihero with a dark past
Mafia world politics and high emotional stakes
Fast-paced, addictive, and unapologetically steamy
Heard proves again why she’s a staple in the dark-romance genre — crafting a story that’s both brutal and beautiful, where surrender feels like survival.
Final Thoughts
Both Huntsman and The Devil deliver the kind of escapism dark-romance readers crave: moral chaos, electric chemistry, and characters who make you question everything you thought you wanted.
Whether you fall for the assassin or the mafia boss, one thing’s certain — October’s dark romances will leave you breathless and begging for more.