Midnight Assembly

Golden Masters, Book 1

De: C.S. Solarys

Narrado por: Michelle Sparks, Joe Arden

From author C.S. Solarys comes a dark, slow-burn stalker mafia romance with enemies-to-lovers tension, forced proximity, and a dangerously obsessive, morally black antihero.

I am haunted by the legacy of a madman. My father is a brutal, vicious capo dei capi who’ll do anything for a profit he doesn’t need.

And I want no part of it.

I’ve spent all my life planning my exit, building an empire that will crush his, and everything is finally aligned for my takeover, until the stunning Scarlett Morgana Greene ruins it just by existing.

Loathing her is mercy.

She’s also my best friend’s girl and my current assignment in Aurea Dominorum—The Golden Masters.

My eyes are on her.

Always on her.

Even when I see her tripping and doing things she’ll regret, things no one else should see, I don’t shut the door or tell my friend to take care of his girl.

I press record.

She owes me in blood, and I will collect.

©2025 C.S. Solarys (P)2026 C.S. Solarys

Quick, spicy, and dark!

Midnight Assembly is book 1 in the Golden Masters series and I definitely got swept up listening to this audio! At times the plot felt fast paced, but if you enjoy the tropes below, this is definitely book to add to your tbr! Check your TW if needed!

Performed in duet by Michelle Sparks & Joe Arden - both of these narrators do such a lovely job at making it easy to listen and follow along to the story! They perform with the right amount of emotion, especially in those scenes that call for it!.

What to expect:
🩸 Hidden cameras
🖤 Non & dub con
🩸 Branding
🖤 Mask play
🩸 Blackmail

Electric chemistry in a dark academia world!

I really enjoyed this book! C.S. Solarys does a fantastic job building a rich, immersive world and fully realized characters. Torre is dark, broody, and relentlessly driven, while Scarlett is everything he wants...and everything he believes he can’t have. The tension between them is deliciously sharp. If you love dark academia, enemies to lovers, and a love triangle with a subtle mafia-esque edge, this one absolutely delivers.

The audio performance takes it to another level. Michelle Sparks and Joe Arden are electric together, playing off each other with incredible chemistry and emotional precision. Their performances add depth, weight, and heat to every interaction.

My only minor critique is about the pacing at the very end. It felt like after so much careful buildup, the finale shifted into a sprint to tie up X, Y, and Z. I would’ve loved a bit more room to breathe there. That said, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment overall. I was fully invested, thoroughly entertained, and I’m absolutely ready to dive into the rest of the series.

EXCELLENT AUDIO

This book really took me by surprise!! I went into it completely blind. I thought it was going to be a series but I was happy to find a series of interconnected standalones!

I really love Torre and Scarlett’s story. Their insta-lust, hate to love romance is a ride full of twists and turns.

The audio for this book is exceptional. Michelle Sparks and Joe Arden are always a stunning duo. Michelle’s bratty, but loyal portrayal of Scarlett is spot on and Joe as Torre is the perfect mix of unhinged and hopelessly obsessed with Scarlett.

I was very satisfied by the end of this story and pleasantly surprised by the potential for the future of this series!!

Obsessed with this book! 😍😍😍

I can even begin to explain how obsessed I am with this book.
Even though it's a slow-burn, I got hooked real quick and melted even faster for Torre.
Yes, he was a hot, brooding jerk in the beginning, but isn't it how we love our morally grey men? 😏
And I loved following his journey as he became obsessed with his best friend's girl/assigned mission with all the conflicting feelings and 'touch her & die' moments. This man will do anything to protect his girl (even if she isn't his at first 🤭)

And speaking of Scarlett, for those who have read the Bedroom Roulette books, she's the worthy heir of Tristen and Lorcan, that's for sure. 🔥🔥
Despite being thrown into the darkness of a secret society that she didn't sign up for, she didn't lose her class and sass, especially when she clashed with Torre.

Oh, the tension between these two... 🔥🔥🥵🥵 This is enemies-to-lovers as we love it! The sparks are flying every time they're near, and once we reach the lovers' parts, it is a wildfire!!

I didn't expect anything less from CS Solarys 😉 She knows how to write sensual, steamy tension, but I have to admit she still surprised me. Dark romance fits her so well, and she really pulled the readers into this elite, secret world.

Now, I just can’t wait to dive back in for book two!!!

PS: A special mention to the narrators, who also really pulled us into the story with their sexy, raspy whispers, Italian accents, and range to give life to each character! 👏🏼👏🏼

PPS: Don’t forget to read the trigger warning list before diving into this book, because as I said, it’s a true DARK romance.

yus

Torre Tall dark and broody ... then you went and got all mushy ... it was so cute! I do wish you stayed more grumpy but that's just me (something is wrong with me 😆)

Scarlett Oh I wanted to like you, I understand the whole secret society was thrust upon you but how many women would want that 😆 🤣 😂 jk

This is the first book of the Golden Masters Series performed in Duet by the great Joe Arden & Michelle Sparks. They did phenomenal portraying this college dark romance.

So ... I loved and hated this book well not the book the fmc. This is so my own fault though I just tend to hate the fmcs and it's quite rare when I do like one. This has no bearing on the great Michelle she's one of my favorite narrators lol. I wanted to strangle the fmc for most of the book lol and kick the mmc for letting her get away with so much. 😆 Man do I sound like a woman hater 😆 I promise I'm not

All in all i really enjoyed the book and to be very honest wanted it more dark ... I think this is more light gray to me. Fast paced, Story line was good, went a little fast at the end but I didn't mind it.

Will definitely keep going in the series!