Bride by Initiation

The Underworld, Book 1

By: Maggie Cole

Narrated by: Alex Kydd, Amelie Griffin

From International bestselling author Maggie Cole comes her highly anticipated secret society, deliciously dark, next-generation Mafia series about two lifelong friends. Sean O’Malley Jr. and Zara Marino have a similar obsession with their fathers’ secrets, but discovering the truth requires them to surrender to each other and the unknown of their Underworld vows.

If secrets and lies, desires and denials, bonds and betrayal didn’t exist, Sean O’Malley would stay my friend forever.

That’s not the case.

There are two things we’ve always wanted but were off the table.

First: The truth about our fathers.

Second: Each other.

So when a mysterious man shows up with a branded skull on his hand, speaking in riddles about an Underworld he claims we’re meant to reign in, it’s too tempting not to get sucked into the forbidden.

Even if it means sinking deeper into the darkness, testing all our boundaries, and clinging to the friends we used to be and the vows we’re now bound to for eternity.

Bride by Initiation is a standalone with interconnected characters, and book one of The Underworld series. This dark secret society, Mafia, friends to lovers, forbidden, first real love, marriage pact romance is not meant for the faint of heart. Expect violence, taboo, and graphic scenes.

©2024 Maggie Cole (P)2025 Maggie Cole

Mafia secret society - must read

What a way to kick off a series! This was dark and twisted but also incredibly sweet and sexy. Sean and Zara have been pulled to each other all of their lives but never acted on it. Desperate to learn their families’ secrets, they end up in a wild and unthinkable situation.

I loved this concept so much and it was such a wild ride. Sean becomes a man obsessed with his wife and protecting her at all costs. Zara has a dark side that I definitely did not see coming. They are meant for the Underworld. The spice was so so good and the cult-like vibe had me hooked. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. I highly recommend this one for dark mafia romance fans.

Sean and Zara

Loved this! Mafia, secret society, best friend’s brother tropes done well. Not only was the romance and spice good, but the plot was as well. I can’t wait to find out what happens in next in Fiona (Sean’s sister and Zara’s best friend) and Kirill’s (King of the Underworld) story.

Holy Cow!!

The story was crazy!! It sucks you in, and so many insane things take place. Right up my alley! Alex and Amelie were and are AMAZING!! I absolutely love any narration the 2 of them do together.

I loved how the female and male dialogue were read in the correct gender. Made the story so enjoyable

Loved loved loved. Can’t wait to start book 2 and see how the story continues.

It was a good story

It was a good story. It kept me wondering how it was going to end! But it could have been MUCH shorter… there was a ton of redundancy. “Just tell me” “why won’t you tell me” “is no one going to tell me” It kinda got annoying kinda wanted to fast forward a few times just to get the story moving along. The performance was excellent though.