Wretched

A dark contemporary romance from viral BookTok and USA Today bestselling author Emily McIntire, Wretched reimagines beloved characters from popular fairy tales and other stories, presenting them in a tantalisingly twisted light.

Evelina Westerly has long been dubbed "the bad guy," an identity she's more than willing to embrace. As the mastermind behind her family's notorious drug empire, she combines brains, brawn, and her botanical expertise to maintain their dominance. Her days are meticulously divided between perfecting her greenhouse, seeking vengeance for her sister's murder, and ensuring her rivals meet a grisly end. Love is a luxury Evelina cannot afford—or so she believes.

One fateful night at a nightclub, Evelina indulges in a passionate encounter with a strikingly handsome stranger, momentarily relinquishing her burden of power. Little does she know, this fleeting moment of pleasure is about to complicate her life far more than any of her criminal dealings. The stranger reappears in her life, not as a passing lover, but as Nicholas Woodsworth, the newest addition to the Westerly ranks.

But Nicholas is harbouring a perilous secret: he's not who he claims to be. An undercover DEA agent, Nicholas is determined to dismantle the drug trade that ripped his family apart. Realising that the enigmatic and deadly Evelina is the very woman he's been fixated on, he finds himself torn between his mission and his growing desire for her. The stark contrast between their worlds weaves a complicated tapestry of attraction and repulsion.

Evelina stands as a paragon of everything Nicholas despises, yet he cannot deny the magnetic pull between them. As they delve deeper into the shadowy depths of each other's lives, they uncover unsettling similarities. The line between hatred and passion blurs dangerously, forcing Nicholas to confront whether he can love a woman who embodies everything he's sworn to destroy—even if it means their mutual downfall.

Wretched is an enthralling entry in the Never After series, offering a dark and sensuous reimagining of a classic tale. This novel expertly twists familiar themes into a gripping, mature narrative that explores the boundless edges of love and morality.

Tropes

Fractured Fairy Tale
Enemies to Lovers
Mafia Romance
Forbidden Love
Dark Romance
Spicy Romance
Love/Hate
Bad Girl/Good Guy
Touch Her and Die

The Never After Series:

Hooked
Scarred
Wretched
Twisted
Crossed
Hexed