The Tarkhanov Empire Series by Bree Porter Review + Guide (2024)
“It was time to build my empire, to fulfil my ambitions.
I only hoped she decided to join me.” – Bree Porter, Kingpin’s Foxglove
Images via Goodreads and Pinterest
*Important : I don’t own all the pictures used in this post or on my edits, so I always mention the source and credits as all the rights go to respective owners. But I only claim the editing so please contact me if you have any problem. Thank you.
Find more related book guides :
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- Legacy of Gods by Rina Kent : Book Series Guide, My review + more
About The Tarkhanov Empire by Bree Porter
The Tarkhanov Empire series follows Konstantin Tarkhanov who is hell bent on building an empire of his own after his father and brother failed to do it rightfully. After leaving everything behind in russian he began working his way from scratch in his new territory, new york and along the way he found new people who slowly became his real family.
And he’s ready to do anything for them. In this journey, he also falls in love with the widow of the enemy, Elena Falcone as she catches his attention. The first two books are about them. And the first one ends on a cliffhanger and the 2nd one starts right where the first one ended with a slightly different timeline. There are supposed to be more books out but since there are no official updates from the author we might not be getting them anytime soon. But find more details on faqs.
Find updates on Bree Porter’s Goodreads, here.
Meet The Characters + Fancast (From Book 1 Character List)
- Elena Falcone – 23. La Cosa Nostra daughter, wife of Thaddeo Falcone.
- Konstantin Tarkhanov – 30. Pakhan (boss) of the Tarkhanov Bratva.
- Roman Malakhov – 24. Byki (bodyguard) to Konstantin.
- Danika Baltacha – 22. Interrogator in the Bratva.
- Artyom Fattakhov – 29. Obshchak (security) in the Bratva, husband to Roksana.
- Roksana Fattakhov – 25. Wife of Artyom Fattakhov.
- Dmitri Gribkov – 29. Krysha (enforcer) in the Bratva, husband to Tatiana and father to Anton.
- Tatiana Gribkov – 27. Wife of Dmitri Gribkov, mother of Anton Gribkov.
- Anton Gribkov – 2. Son to Dmitri and Tatiana Gribkov.
- Olezka – 32. Torpedo (assassin) in the Bratva.
The Tarkhanov Empire Series by Bree Porter Books in Order, Tropes, Summaries :
Books in Order :
I want to clear this first. There is no official reading because only two books are out. Which are –
- Kingpin’s Foxglove (The Tarkhanov Empire #1) – Elena and Konstantin Tarkhanov – November 13, 2020
- Empress of Poisons (The Tarkhanov Empire, #2) – Elena and Konstantin Tarkhanov
But there were more books supposed to come out from 2021 and I found this order at the end of the book with sneak peaks from different timelines.
- Venomous Virtue (The Tarkhanov Empire, #0.5) – Roksana Korevna and Artyom Fattakhov – TBA
- Kingpin’s Foxglove (The Tarkhanov Empire #1) – Elena and Konstantin Tarkhanov – November 13, 2020
- Empress of Poisons (The Tarkhanov Empire, #2) – Elena and Konstantin Tarkhanov – May 7, 2021
- Baneful Beauty (The Tarkhanov Empire, #3) – Roman Malakhov and Danika Baltacha – TBA
- Serpents & Peace (The Tarkhanov Empire, #2) – Elena and Konstantin Tarkhanov – TBA
Skip this last to avoid spoilers :
There was no exact information but the final chapter hinted at possible books or a spin off series of characters from the books. Such as :
- Natalia ‘Natasha’ Tarkhanova – 20. Niece of Konstantin Tarkhanov.
- Nikolina Gribkova – 7, Daughter of Dmitri Gribkov and Tatiana Gribkov.
Kingpin’s Foxglove by Bree Porter (The Tarkhanov Empire #1)
Goodreads : 4.11 stars, 4,607 ratings, 712 reviews
Format : 289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published : November 13, 2020
Genres : Romance, Dark, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Crime, New Adult, Adult, Suspense, Mystery
Tropes : Mafia World, Slow burn, He falls first and hard, Badass FMC, Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine, Found Family
The first book is about Elena Falcone and Konstantin Tarkhanov. Elena has been in an abusive marriage for a year but Konstantin kills her husband for work/mafia things. After becoming a widow she had two options: return to her home back in Chicago or stay with Konstantin’s family for a while. But she’s hell bent on never returning to her home in chicago and soon she finds a way to stay longer by curing a family member of Konstantin’s and later he offers her a better opportunity, if she finds the cure he will assure Elena’s freedom.
As she works her way to find the cure and make an antidote she finds herself getting attached to the family and mostly to Konstantin and all her fear of falling in love rushes back as she thinks there is no cure for that. On the other hand, Konstantin is trying everything to make her stay while making his empire with his found family. As they work on their things they discover ugly truths and how their most trusted and closest people betrayed them.
Empress of Poisons by Bree Porter (The Tarkhanov Empire, #2)
Goodreads : 3.79 stars, 3,650 ratings, 534 reviews
Format : 241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published : May 7, 2021
Genres : Romance, Dark, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Crime, New Adult, Adult, Suspense, Mystery
Tropes : Mafia World, Slow burn, He falls first and hard, Badass FMC, Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine, Found Family
The second book is about the same couple and is set 3 years after the epilogue of the first book. It’s a multiple pov as the first and the last chapter are from two different people. This part will contain spoilers as it begins right after the first book so I highly recommend skipping it. If you don’t have any problem with spoilers or already read the blurb then proceed.
The final chapter of book one follows Elena leaving the man she loved and the family who slowly became everything she wished for her entire life because of Tatiana’s threat and for the sake of her and Konstantin’s unborn child. Fast forward 3 years later Elena is working and juggling studies with her 2 year old son who’s a spitting image of Konstantin’s.
Thinking it was the best decision and safe for her and the people she loves, she soon discovers the threats are all back and she’s in danger. And quickly she grabs everything and starts her journey to survival with her son and cat. After being on the run for several days she decides it’s best if she seeks help from the only person she has contact with and leads her to reunite with her family. As they begin living their new life they give each other a second chance and destroy everything.
My Book Review + Favorite Quotes :
“I would build an empire that would never fall, would never be scoffed at or forgotten. One that my future son would be afraid to rule—”
I loved the prologue. It had a really good backstory and I also loved it because I understand Konstantin’s character better. His need to be better and build the empire his father and brother failed to do because of their greediness.
It also gave more insight to his character. The ruthless pakhan who doesn’t hesitate to do anything dangerous and harms his own family when they attack first to give his everything to the family he built himself.
And the found family. If I gave 5 stars it would be 100% for how well this trope was written in this book and why I’m still literally crying over the fact that us readers might not get the rest of the books in the series.
If I thought book 1 was perfect I literally annotated every single page for the banter and the wholesome scenes.(More on book 2 review).
Then Elena.
This badass queen was everything opposite of what I thought. From her abusive marriage to a completely new life, hiding her secrets till the end of the first book it was perfect. Though I still think some of her choices were really stupid but I’m not complaining, otherwise the book would have ended in 100 pages. Amyway, I wish there were more Elena and Konstantin scene’s. The slow burn was absolutely perfect but the ending was so frustrating (another reason why I’m still contemplating to give a second thought and count it as a 5 star read of the year.
“Her hollows and curves had been the main characters of all my dreams for the past year.”
– Konstantin’s love for elena. Oh to be this hopeless romantic and delulu.
My The Tarkhanov Empire Series Favorites+ Ranking :
- Empress of Poisons (The Tarkhanov Empire, #2) – 5 stars ✰
- Kingpin’s Foxglove (The Tarkhanov Empire #1) – 4.5 Stars
There’s supposed to be 3 and 4 books in the series. And I desperately want Roman and Danika’s book and I just know it would have been my favorite without any doubt. But I Don’t think we’re getting it in the foreseeable future. So among the duology I liked the 2md book even though the last few chapters were very fast paced and not how I imagined and definitely frustrated the s* out of me.
