I read the Four Horseman series by Sarah Bailey recently and absolutely loved it! I’m so excited to be spotlighting Sarah Bailey’s newest book, Tyrant, as well as sharing my interview with her!
INTERVIEW
Welcome Sarah! Thank you for allowing me to interview you! Can you start off by introducing yourself?
I’m Sarah Bailey, a dark romance author from the UK. I currently live a rather peaceful and quiet life in the Scottish Highlands with my husband. I have my own publishing imprint, Twisted Tree Publications, and I’ve been writing seriously for the past five years.
How would you describe Tyrant in one sentence?
A kink filled start to a new mafia romance series, where Ari and Zayn show that they will fight for what’s theirs, especially one another.
Can you introduce us to the main character(s) of Tyrant?
Zayn Villetti is the eldest son of the mafia kingpin, Gennaro Villetti, who owns a sex club called Desecration. He’s calm, ruthless and always ten steps ahead of everyone else.
Arianna Michaelson is the daughter of a gang leader, Bennett Jereome Michaelson, who happens to be in business with both Gennaro and Zayn. She’s a strong, feisty, blunt and loyal twenty-two year old who never backs down from a fight.
These two have known each other most of Arianna’s life and when she comes to him for help after she gets herself into trouble, sparks fly. The tension is palpable and there’s no stopping their attraction despite the forbidden nature of a relationship between them.
Do you know from the beginning how your books will end or do you let your characters decide their journey?
My characters always decide their journey. I don’t try to force them into doing anything they don’t want to because that always ends in disaster for me. I’ve always allowed my characters to become their own people in my head. I’m just along for the ride.
Do you have a favorite scene, moment, or quote from the book?
“First times or first moments or what-the-fuck-ever moments are what we make of them. If you want to tell me something, you say it. You’re my fearless, blunt little fairy. You want me to remember this as the first time, then make it your fucking moment. Make it count.”
I think it resonates with me because moments in life are what we make of them rather than some arbitrary rule about what it should be. Zayn says this to Arianna right after she confesses she hated how the first time she said something very significant to him went down. This is a part of what makes me love Zayn as a character so much. He’s so understanding of all Arianna’s needs and wants in life. He never even bats an eyelid over any of it.
What is something readers will find in Tyrant that they may not realize based on the synopsis?
Ari and Zayn have a CLG (Caregiver/little) dynamic. It goes beyond just being a “daddy kink”. It’s something I loved exploring and I’m hoping this gives people more of an understanding of this particular dynamic as it can encompass many things.
Is there a trope that you haven’t yet written about that you hope to at some point?
I’m definitely wanting to write a romance involving a stalker. I do have plans for one, but I can’t say much more other than it won’t be what anyone is expecting.
What are three books you would recommend if someone enjoyed Tyrant?
The Four Horsemen series, starting with Carnage. It’s a reverse harem contemporary retelling of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and it’s where you meet Zayn Villetti as a cameo for the first time.
If you’re looking for another age-gap, then Prohibit is a forbidden romance involving a therapist and his patient.
Lastly, if you like mafia, then I’d go for The Devil’s Syndicate. It was my first reverse harem and with all my dark romances, is set in the same universe to Tyrant. You get to meet one of Zayn’s distant cousins and Ari’s father makes a cameo appearance in one of the books.
What’s next for you? Anything you can share?
I’m writing the next book in The Villetti Chronicles, which is a novella that will sit between Tyrant and the next full-length book. I’ve got two more books planned for this series. After that, I’ll finally be working on my serial killer reverse harem series partially set in Scotland. It’s still a part of my dark universe as I can’t stop expanding it. I really can’t wait to share all of these characters and their stories with everyone.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Synopsis:
What would you do if you killed someone?
Normal people wouldn’t go running to the prodigal son of a mafia kingpin for help.
I’m not exactly normal.
The daughter of a gang leader embroiled in a turf war. One that has me caught in the crossfire. When you have nowhere else to turn, who better to protect you than someone your own father will never suspect.
Zayn Villetti isn’t a man I should make a deal with. Especially not one involving becoming his little pet. He demands I obey him in all things. I’ve never been one to submit.
I have a feeling the man I’ve known most of my life will be my downfall. With his obligations to his family and my presence throwing his world into disarray. My question is… will I be his?
A dark age-gap romance set in Sarah Bailey’s Dark Universe.
This is a DARK romance and therefore comes with a content warning. Please see the author’s website for full details.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Graphic violence, threat of sexual assault, kidnapping, graphic sexual content including but not limited to spitting, CLG, stretching, DVP with a toy, degradation, praise
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