My 7th Circle Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
7th Circle by Tate James is the first book in the Hades series, a dark, gritty reverse harem romance. Hades (born Hayden, alias Daria) runs the Timberwolves—the most powerful crime empire in Shadow Grove. Five years ago, she staged a massacre to take control and erased the old guard. Now, at age 23, Hades splits her time running clubs, plotting moves for her gang, and protecting her little sister Persephone. She juggles fraught relationships with three men: Cass, a much older, stoic rival gang leader who refuses her; Zed, her fiercely loyal best friend and second-in-command; and Lucas, a daring newcomer who’s pure, bold, and years younger. When Hades’s past starts to circle back in the form of an enemy thought dead, alliances shift and old wounds rip open. The story is about ambition, power, violence, loyalty, and love—with plenty of danger, secrets, and complicated romance along the way.
Why I Love This Book
What I love most is Hades herself. She’s a ruthless, alpha heroine who always stays in control—even when things fall apart. I love how the book refuses to soften her edges or make her likable for the sake of a romance. Her power isn’t just about violence—she’s smart, strategic, and fiercely protective. The relationships with Cass, Zed, and Lucas all have their own rhythm—some are slow burns, some are instant fire, and it works. The tension between power and vulnerability, control and surrender, is everywhere. I especially like the way the book isn’t afraid to give the heroine flaws and hard decisions. The pacing is fast, the action satisfying, and the mix of crime drama and erotic romance pulls me in. There are cliffhangers and wild twists that keep me up at night. Even when I’m not sure where things are going or who Hades should trust, I have to keep reading.
Who Will Like This Book
If you want a mafia romance with a true anti-heroine, multiple love interests, and an unapologetically dark tone, you’ll like this. There are strong found-family vibes and a lot of morally gray characters. Readers who love reverse harem, “why choose,” and polyamorous romance with high heat will be happy. If you’re looking for a soft heroine or sweet, tidy romance, this is not the book for you. ⚠️ Trigger warning: violence, murder, sexual content, trauma, power struggles, and plenty of mature themes. It’s twisty, explicit, and sometimes brutal—check your comfort level before diving in.
Tagged As
dark romance, reverse harem, mafia romance, criminal empire, anti-heroine, powerful heroine, polyamorous, explicit, slow burn, fast burn, age gap, enemies to lovers, best friends to lovers, crime, suspense, mature themes, found family, open-door romance, tortured heroine, tragedy, trauma recovery, dangerous setting, new adult, cliffhanger, series, kindle unlimited, indie romance
Steam Level
The spice is very high—graphic sex scenes, explicit open-door romance, and a mix of kinks and power play. Not for anyone shy about high steam and taboo.
