Book Review: Dante by Sadie Kincaid — 6 Twisted Phases of a Mafia Kidnapping
You think your family has drama? Try being Kat Evanson. Her brother gambles away a quarter-million dollars he doesn’t have, vanishes into thin air, and leaves her to be collected like a piece of IKEA furniture by Dante Moretti, a mafia boss with a reputation for murdering his fiancées.
Dante by Sadie Kincaid is a sledgehammer of a dark romance. It doesn’t ask for your permission; it kicks down your door, throws a bag over your head, and drags you into a world where “consent” is a blurry line negotiated with guns and growls. If you want a safe, sweet love story, run. If you want a morally grey alpha who locks his pregnant lover in a room until she nearly dies (yep, we’ll get to that controversial mess), pull up a chair.
Drop a comment if you think you could survive the Moretti madness! 👇
Detailed Summary: The Debt, The Cage, and The King
Part 1: The Collection (Chapters 1-10)
Chapter 1-3: The Debt Collector
We open with Kat Evanson, a hardworking nurse, whose life implodes when two terrifying enforcers smash into her apartment. Her useless brother, Leo, has accrued a massive debt ($250k+) with the Chicago Outfit and fled. Enter Dante Moretti. He’s not just a thug; he’s the Underboss, radiating lethal power. He gives Kat a choice: produce Leo or become the payment. When she can’t, he takes her. It’s a kidnapping, plain and simple. Kat is dragged from her life, stripped of her freedom, and tossed into Dante’s fortified mansion.
Chapter 4-7: The Golden Cage
Kat wakes up in luxury but is keenly aware she’s a prisoner. She meets the supporting cast: Maximo, Dante’s terrifyingly cheerful right hand, and Joey, Dante’s rebellious sister who hates the mafia life. Kat tries to escape immediately, showing her grit, but Dante catches her effortlessly. He warns her: “Run again, and the consequences will be severe.” The fear is real. He’s cold, distant, and terrifyingly efficient at violence.
Chapter 8-10: The Defiance
Kat isn’t a wilting flower. She challenges Dante at dinner, refusing to be cowed. This defiance sparks Dante’s interest. He’s used to people trembling; Kat spits fire. We see the first cracks in his armor. He doesn’t punish her physically for her sass; he seems almost… amused. The sexual tension begins to simmer under the layer of hate.
Part 2: The Stockholm Syndrome Phase (Chapters 11-20)
Chapter 11-15: The Lines Blur
Dante starts treating Kat less like a prisoner and more like a… guest with restrictions. He buys her clothes, ensures she eats, and protects her from the creeper guards. But then, the physical line is crossed. Their first intimate encounter is fueled by rage and adrenaline. It’s hate-sex at its finest. Kat hates that her body betrays her mind. She wants to loathe him, but his touch is addictive.
Chapter 16-18: The “Dead” Fiancée Rumor
Kat learns the terrifying rumor: Dante killed his ex-fiancée, Nicole, and her entire family on their wedding eve. He’s known as a monster. Kat is paralyzed with fear, believing she’s sleeping with a psychopath who will discard her once the debt is “paid.” This fear makes her pull away, which frustrates Dante, who is surprisingly possessive.
Chapter 19-20: The Truth Bomb
Dante, sensing her terror, drops the first major twist. He didn’t murder Nicole out of malice. Nicole’s family was abusing her—selling her out to men since she was a child. Dante found out, slaughtered her family to save her, and then faked her death so she could escape to Europe with her secret lesbian lover, Sabine. He took the blame and the “monster” reputation to protect her freedom. Kat is stunned. The villain is actually a dark knight.
Part 3: The Betrayal & The Isolation (Chapters 21-35)
Chapter 21-25: The Pregnancy
Just as trust builds, biology intervenes. Kat discovers she is pregnant. Panic sets in. She remembers Dante’s earlier threat (from Chapter 4) about handing her off to his men once she’s “useless.” Terrified for her unborn child and believing Dante is still capable of cruelty, she decides she can’t trust him with a baby.
Chapter 26-30: The Failed Escape
Kat plans a desperate escape. She drugs a guard (or sneaks out during chaos) and makes a run for it. She almost makes it, tasting freedom, but Dante’s network is too vast. He catches her. His reaction is nuclear. He views her running not as fear, but as a betrayal of his protection.
Chapter 31-35: The Punishment (The Controversial Arc)
Dante snaps. He locks Kat in a bare room. No books, no phone, no luxury. Just isolation. He tells her, “You want to act like a prisoner? Fine.” He ignores her for days. This is the part that splits readers. It’s cruel. During this isolation, Kat suffers from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (severe morning sickness). She can’t keep water down. She grows weaker, dehydrated, and delirious, while Dante sulks in his office, thinking she’s just being stubborn.
Part 4: The Redemption & The War (Chapters 36-45)
Chapter 36-38: The Collapse
Dante finally checks on her and finds her unconscious, lying in her own vomit, barely breathing. The “Boss” facade shatters instantly. He rushes her to the hospital, terrified. The doctors tell him she nearly died from dehydration. Guilt consumes him. He realizes his arrogance nearly killed the woman he loves and his unborn child.
Chapter 39-42: The Grovel
Dante spends the next chapters begging. He sleeps on the floor by her hospital bed. He admits everything: his fear of love, his obsession with her. He promises no more cages. Kat is wary but sees his genuine remorse. She reveals the pregnancy, and Dante is awestruck. He vows to burn the world to keep them safe.
Chapter 43-45: The External Threat
The threats outside escalate. The Chicago Outfit’s Don (Dante’s father) is revealed to be the true villain. He’s involved in sex trafficking and was complicit in the abuse ring that hurt Nicole (and possibly threatened Kat’s past). The Don demands Dante hand over Kat or the baby as leverage.
Part 5: The Patricide & The HEA (Chapters 46-53)
Chapter 46-50: The King Slayer
Dante realizes there is no safety while his father lives. In a brutal climax, Dante confronts his father. It’s not a negotiation. Dante executes his own father in cold blood. He purges the loyalists, seizing the crown of the Outfit. He does it to end the cycle of abuse and protect his new family.
Chapter 51-52: The Aftermath
With the Don dead, Dante is the King. He offers Kat a real choice this time: Leave with a payout, or stay as his equal. Kat realizes she loves the monster who saved her. She chooses to stay. Leo (the brother) is mentioned as being cut off/dealt with (good riddance).
Chapter 53 & Epilogue: The Queen
Fast forward. Kat and Dante are ruling Chicago. They have their baby. The trauma is there, but they are a united front. The book ends on a dark but happy note: they are monsters together, safe in their power.
Characters?
Dante Moretti: The Anti-Hero with a Saviour Complex
- Visuals: 6’4″, tattoos, Italian suits, eyes dead inside until Kat wakes them up.
- Core Drive: Control. He needs to control everything because his childhood (mother’s death) taught him chaos kills.
- Redemption: His “monster” acts are almost always utilitarian. He killed for Nicole. He killed for Kat. He kills for family.
- Flaw: His emotional intelligence is zero. The isolation punishment proves he reverts to “punish” mode when hurt.
Katerina “Kat” Evanson: The Nurse with Iron Will
- Visuals: Curvy, unassuming but sharp-tongued.
- Core Drive: Survival. She’s pragmatic. She doesn’t swoon immediately; she assesses threats.
- Growth: Starts as a victim of her brother’s idiocy. Ends as a Mafia Queen who understands violence is sometimes necessary.
- Trauma: She carries scars (implied past assaults) that make her fear of men relatable.
Leo Evanson: The Catalyst (and Trash Bag)
- Role: The Plot Device.
- Analysis: A coward who sold his sister for gambling chips. He has zero redemption. The narrative treats him with the disdain he deserves.
Joey Moretti: The Wildcard Sister
- Role: Comic Relief / Ally.
- Vibe: Drinks too much, shoots straight, hates the sexism of the mafia. She becomes Kat’s only friend inside the mansion.
- Future: Sets up her own book (likely with a rival or bodyguard).
Lorenzo Moretti: The Tragic Prince
- Role: The Older Brother.
- Vibe: Depressed, loyal. He stepped aside for Dante to lead because he’s focused on his dying wife, Anya.
- Plot Relevance: He provides the emotional anchor, showing that Moretti men can love deeply, foreshadowing Dante’s potential.
Nicole: The Ghost
- Role: The Ex-Fiancée.
- Twist: Not a victim of Dante, but a survivor saved by him. Her story flips the entire “villain” narrative of the first half.
Compare with Other Works
| Feature | Dante (Sadie Kincaid) | The Sweetest Oblivion (Danielle Lori) | Twisted Love (Ana Huang) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trope | Kidnapping / Debt | Arranged Marriage | Best Friend’s Brother |
| Hero Vibe | Brutal Punisher | Charming sociopath | Grumpy CEO |
| Spice | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (High/Kinky) | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Simmering) | 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (Vanilla+) |
| Darkness | 8/10 (Isolation/Torture) | 5/10 (Mafia Politics) | 3/10 (Contemporary) |
| Heroine | Survivor / Hostage | Bratty / Artist | Sunshine / Student |
| The “Twist” | Fake Dead Ex | Cheating Rumors | Dad’s Secret Past |
Verdict: Dante is for readers who found Twisted Love too soft. It’s closer to The Sweetest Oblivion but with less “mafia princess” politeness and more “locked in a basement” grit.
Achievements
- Goodreads Heavyweight: Holds a 3.9/5 star rating with over 15,000+ ratings, which is huge for a dark indie romance.[2]
- Chart Topper: Frequently hits #1 in “Organized Crime Thrillers” on Amazon Kindle during promo runs.
- Series Launchpad: Successfully launched the Chicago Ruthless universe, with sequels (Joey, Lorenzo, Keres) all performing well due to the strong setup here.
- TikTok Viral: The “Isolation Chapter” (Chapter 31) generates thousands of views on BookTok, with readers debating if Dante is “unforgivable” or “misunderstood”.[14]
Final Verdict: 4/5 Stars
Dante is a train wreck you can’t look away from—in the best way. It’s toxic, it’s fast, and it’s incredibly addictive. Kincaid writes with a pacing that refuses to let you breathe.
Pros:
- The “Dead Ex” twist is genuinely clever and redeems the hero without changing his nature.
- The spice is top-tier. Kincaid knows how to write chemistry.
- The patricide ending feels earned and final.
Cons:
- The isolation scene (Chapter 31) is hard to stomach. It pushes the “morally grey” into “abusive” territory for many.
- Leo (the brother) gets off too lightly. I wanted him fed to sharks.
Recommendation: Read it if you like your men dangerous and your romances darker than a black coffee. Skip it if you need green flags—Dante is a walking red flag factory.
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