Lydia Norell
About This authorL. Norell spends most of her time thinking about morally gray characters and the one person they're soft for.
She writes dark romance filled with obsessive devotion, messy families, and guaranteed happy endings.(Even if the journey is unhinged)
She writes exclusively queer romance because that's where her heart is, and she wouldn't change it for anything.
L. Norell lives in Sweden, where she juggles writing with university life, reads way too much, and has a serious energy drink problem.
Published & Upcoming Books
Explore My Books
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Content Warnings
Here you can find all the content warnings for my books. I keep this page updated as the series grows.Please note: Contains spoilers.
Newsletter
Updates straight from my chaotic brain (coming soon)
My books
Violent Devotion is my debut novel and the first book in the Empire of Sins series! Each book follows a different Avrorin brother, and you'll discover more about their family's dark secrets along the way.
This story follows Alexei Avrorin, the family enforcer, who finds love with Kelly Mackey.Release Date: April 24, 2026Blurb:Executioner. Monster. Butcher. Nothing Alexei Avrorin hasn’t been called before. Born into Russia’s oldest and deadliest mafia family, now its most ruthless enforcer, Alexei has become numb, disillusioned. When a simple job goes sideways, he meets Kelly Mackey, who unexpectedly and discreetly saves his life instead of turning him in.
Unable to forget the guarded veterinarian who showed him compassion he didn’t deserve, Alexei watches him from afar. As his obsession grows, so does his certainty that Kelly has dangerous secrets buried deep. And Alexei won’t stop until he uncovers every single one.
Despite Alexei’s sexuality being a death sentence in his world, Kelly awakens something in him that he’s spent his entire life suppressing. Their connection may be forbidden, deadly, but by the time they let down their walls, escape is no longer an option.Violent Devotion is L. Norell’s debut novel and the first in The Empire of Sins series—dark MM mafia romances where each Avrorin brother gets his own interconnected story. Come for the darkness and the forbidden, stay for the dark humor, shocking reveals, and a steamy romance with a guaranteed HEA.
This book is intended for mature audiences and explores dark themes that may make readers uncomfortable.
Trigger & Content Warnings
Content Warnings for Violent DevotionThis is a dark romance with mature content.
Please be aware of the following:Graphic Violence:
Explicit and detailed scenes of violence, torture, and murder shown on page.
This includes graphic depictions of gun violence, knife violence, stabbings, beatings, blood, gore, and brutal interrogations. Physical altercations, fights, and violent deaths are depicted in detail. The violence is not sanitized or off-page.Sexual Content:
Explicit sexual content between two adults. 18+Trauma & Abuse:
Domestic violence (not between main characters).
Abusive ex-partner (physical violence, ongoing harassment).
Characters dealing with PTSD and trauma responses.
References to past child abuse (physical abuse in character backstory, not shown on page).
Extreme stalking and obsessive behavior.Substance Use:
Drug addiction referenced and discussed.
Alcoholism.
Scene(s) where a side character is actively under the influence of drugs.Mental Health:
Depression.Discrimination & Systemic Issues:
Homophobic language and slurs (including the F slur).
Homophobia from family members.
Police brutality and harassment depicted.Grief & Loss:
Character processing grief over the death of a parent. (Cancer, off page)This book contains homophobic slurs and language as part of depicting realistic experiences of discrimination. This content does not reflect the author’s personal values or beliefs.
This story features morally gray characters in extreme circumstances.
While their actions drive the plot, this book does not endorse or romanticize violence, crime, or unhealthy relationships in real life.
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