Huntsman: A Mafia Romance

by Naima Simone

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

It’s fiery, it’s emotional, it’s addictive, this fast-paced dark romance retelling of Snow White delivers the chemistry, the danger and the tension in a twisty enemies to lovers plot.

DELUXE EDITION--featuring beautiful dark red sprayed edges!

"This sexy dark romance that swings for the fences and doesn't miss. One of my favorite reads of the year!" - Katee Robert, New York Times bestselling author

The Huntsman is after me.
But he will be mine first.

Nine years ago, my aunt took everything from me.

My world. My throne. My mother.

I’ve bided my time since then, serving under her in the Mwuaji crime family, but she’s crossed another line. She put a price on my head, sending the legendary assassin the Huntsman, Malachi Bowden, after me.

The Huntsman’s never failed a contract before, but I know everything there is to know about him. It’s finally time for me to take my revenge and finish the war my aunt started.

The Huntsman might be my death. But Malachi Bowden?

He’s my weakness.

Welcome to The Hunted Kingdom.

Huntsman is a dark mafia romance that explores themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for everyone. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Touch her/him and die
Morally grey MMCs
Revenge
Fairy tale reimagining

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250352941
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/21/2025
Series:	The Hunted Kingdom , #1
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Naima Simone loves writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly, and described as balancing “crackling, electric love scenes with exquisitely rendered characters caught in emotional turmoil.”

She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.

Editorial Reviews

"An utterly fearless book. Naima Simone is at her best with this sexy dark romance that swings for the fences and doesn't miss. One of my favorite reads of the year!" - Katee Robert, New York Times bestselling author

"A fast-paced, intoxicating thrill-ride with sharp writing and sharper characters. Simone goes hard with Huntsman--a dark fairy tale retelling like no other. This is a brand new spin on mafia romance where the women are as dangerous and powerful, if not more so, than the men. And I am here for ALL of it." --Juliette Cross, New York Times bestselling author

"Fangirl down! Huntsman blew me away and gripped me from page one. The characters leapt off the page and I couldn't help but wrap myself in the world building. This is a fairy tale reimagined at its very best!" - Carrie Ann Ryan, New York Times bestselling author

“This book is luxuriously dark, deliciously steamy, and had an addicting plot that I devoured. 5 stars all around! Naima Simone gave me a story I’ll be thinking about for a very long time.” —Shanora Williams, New York Times bestselling author

"Darkly delicious and gorgeously bloody, Huntsman is the mile-a-minute, feral dark romance of your dreams. We've got a heroine who is an absolute baddie, a deadly hero with some very fun weaknesses, and enemies-to-lovers energy that had me gleefully tearing through the pages and panting for more. I'm obsessed." — Sierra Simone, USA Today bestselling author

"Huntsman was a whole vibe! Naima Simone's writing is phenomenal as always. The world building was chef’s kiss. The modern mafia feel with the antiquated themes of the characters' heritage was a perfect blend. The plot, story and character development were top tier! The relationship with Eshe’s inner circle was beautiful, and of course, her and Malachi were a time. The alpha in both of them made this so good. I loved every minute of Huntsman.” —K. C. Mills, USA Today bestselling author

"Filled with blood, violence, and heat, this book kicks off Simone’s gritty, fairy-tale-inspired “Hunted Kingdom” mafia romance series. Perfect for fans hungry for more Navessa Allen and Tate James." - Library Journal

"Naima Simone is back, but she’s bring the dark in romance with her. Huntsman is a dark fairy tale retelling with grit. She gave us the romance, the spice, t he violence and the twists. You’ll be riding hard for Eshe and Malachi while praying for them in the same breath. Then again, all is fair in love and pain!” — Jahquel J, #1 Amazon bestselling author

Praise for Naima Simone:

“A powerful, distinct narrative voice. Von and Aaliyah, in Simone’s hands, have a combustive and irresistible chemistry.” —New York Times on Church Girl

“This touching, funny, sexy novel from Simone is a joy to read and is sure to be popular…” —Library Journal (starred review) on Played

“Readers will be eager for more.” —Publishers Weekly on Heated

“Naima Simone stuns with this heartwarming romance about a woman firefighter and a hockey player. Solomon and Adina's romance is just the right mixture of humor, angst and heat. An exhilarating literacy experience.” —LJ Shen, New York Times bestselling author on Played

“Every romance fan should be reading Naima Simone's books." —Hypable on Scoring the Player's Baby

From the Publisher

2025-07-04
In this Snow White retelling, a Mafia heiress falls in love with the man sent to assassinate her.

Eshe Diallo’s family controls the Mwuaji, a matriarchal Mafia family headquartered in Boston. The family is led by Eshe’s aunt Abena, who came to power after Eshe’s mother was murdered when the girl was 16. Now 25, Eshe believes the rumors that Abena was responsible for her mother’s death, but without hard evidence she can do little to confront Abena and take her rightful place as the head of the family. That changes when Abena hires the notorious assassin known as the Huntsman to kill Eshe. When the Huntsman arrives at Eshe’s secluded cottage in New Hampshire to carry out the job, she turns the tables and captures him instead. It turns out Eshe has been long fascinated by him and has learned everything about his past, including his real name, Malachi Bowden. After he escapes, Malachi is more determined than ever to find Eshe and complete his task, but he can’t help but be impressed by her beauty and her bravado. Eventually, they become lovers and team up to dethrone Abena, with the help of seven women who are Eshe’s best friends and lieutenants. Simone’s novel is propelled by violence and mayhem rather than careful characterization and plotting. The same Eshe who cleverly anticipated Malachi’s every move rushes headlong into several of her aunt’s traps; the same Eshe who spent years carefully and methodically uncovering Malachi’s long-buried past did nothing to uncover the secrets in her own family. Eshe’s desire for revenge is the emotional driver of the book. Her insta-love relationship with Malachi feels more like a tool in her arsenal than an attempt to say anything interesting about love and loyalty in a broken world.

A blood-fueled revenge fantasy more interested in violence than love.

Kirkus Reviews