Brutal Prince Summary, Characters and Themes
Brutal Prince is the first book in Sophie Lark’s “Brutal Birthright” series, a steamy, enemies-to-lovers mafia romance set in the gritty heart of Chicago’s criminal underworld.
At the center of the chaos are Aida Gallo, a wild, impulsive mafia princess with a taste for rebellion, and Callum Griffin, a cold, calculating political heir from a rival Irish mob family. When a petty feud ignites a dangerous spark, the only way to avoid a bloody turf war is for them to marry. What starts as a forced alliance quickly devolves into a passionate, volatile war of wills—and evolves into something unexpectedly real.
Summary
Aida Gallo lives in the chaotic heart of her Italian-American mafia family, the youngest and only daughter among a band of fiercely loyal brothers. At the start of the story, a reckless prank—sneaking into a rival family’s mansion during a party—leads to a literal fire and the theft of a cherished heirloom.
That rival family is the Griffins, a powerful Irish-American mob dynasty.
The object stolen?
A pocket watch belonging to Callum Griffin’s late grandfather. It may seem small, but in their world, it’s symbolic—and the insult runs deep.
Callum, an ambitious politician groomed for power and prestige, is all about order and control. When he confronts Aida and her brother Sebastian over the watch, things escalate. Fists fly. Blood is spilled. Aida throws the watch into the lake in defiance. The encounter ends violently, threatening to push the two families into an all-out war.
The solution?
An arranged marriage between the two enemies. A political bandage on a gaping wound.
Neither Aida nor Callum is thrilled. She’s impulsive, loud, and defiant; he’s cold, strategic, and emotionally walled-off. Their engagement is filled with sabotage, pranks, and public humiliation.
Aida dyes his shampoo, turning Callum’s perfect hair green. He retaliates by leaking an embarrassing childhood photo.
Yet somewhere in this battle of one-upmanship, they begin to see something in each other that no one else has: strength, vulnerability, and maybe a mirror image of their own broken parts.
As the wedding approaches, things get more complicated. Aida starts to see that Callum isn’t just a stiff politician—he’s a man shaped by strict expectations and lonely ambition.
Callum, in turn, realizes that Aida’s wildness is less recklessness and more a cry for freedom in a world that treats her like a pawn. Their wedding day is both a declaration of war and something oddly electric.
They exchange vows with biting sarcasm and veiled threats, but the chemistry between them can’t be ignored.
Behind closed doors, their marriage becomes physically passionate—but emotionally volatile. Meanwhile, real danger brews outside their bedroom. Someone is targeting the Gallos’ construction business, and both Aida and Callum begin uncovering threads that point to an external threat.
The Polish Braterstwo gang may be moving in, threatening both the Gallos and Griffins alike.
When Aida is directly threatened, Callum’s protective instincts explode to the surface. He realizes that what started as a forced union has turned into genuine care—maybe even love.
Aida, no longer just a rebellious daughter, steps up as a fierce protector of both families, proving she’s not just Callum’s equal—she might be his salvation.
By the time we reach the epilogue, the fire between them has mellowed into something more stable, though still sharp-edged. They’ve not only accepted their marriage, but embraced it—forming a true power couple. They now stand united, throwing a family event that brings together their once-warring families under one uneasy roof.
There’s still tension, but also mutual respect and laughter—a clear sign that what began in rage has turned into a bond built on shared strength, hard-earned trust, and scorching passion.
Characters
Aida Gallo
Aida Gallo, the fierce and fiery protagonist of Brutal Prince, is a complex character marked by her fiery defiance, loyalty to family, and evolving emotional depth. At the start of the story, Aida is full of rebellion and boldness, ready to fight tooth and nail against the expectations set upon her by both her family and her enemies.
She is proud, brash, and unafraid to take matters into her own hands, even when it means challenging the powerful Griffin family. Aida’s loyalty to her family, especially her brother Sebastian, is unwavering, which is evident when she impulsively crashes the Griffin party and later throws Callum’s precious pocket watch into the lake.
Her emotional journey, however, unfolds as she starts to see a different side of Callum, the man she is forced to marry. While she initially views him as a cold, controlling enemy, she starts to recognize the pain and loneliness behind his stoic exterior.
Aida’s sharp intelligence and resilience make her a formidable opponent, but her emotional walls begin to crumble as she begins to see Callum as more than just a political pawn. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she grapples with the complexities of love, power, and vulnerability in the context of a mafia marriage.
Callum Griffin
Callum Griffin starts off as the epitome of control and ambition. As a politician with strong ties to the Griffin mafia family, he views the union with Aida as a necessary political move to ensure the stability of his family’s power.
Initially, he appears as a cold, calculating figure who is willing to put personal feelings aside for the greater good. His relationship with Aida begins with animosity, as he despises her brashness and rebellious nature, viewing her as a nuisance that complicates his carefully structured life.
However, over time, Callum’s character develops layers of complexity. As he spends more time with Aida, his cold exterior begins to crack.
He starts to admire her defiance and strength, traits that challenge his own control-driven personality. Callum’s internal conflict grows as he begins to care for Aida, which he initially refuses to acknowledge, fearing it would weaken his position.
By the end of the novel, Callum transforms from a politically motivated and emotionally distant figure to someone who recognizes the depth of his feelings for Aida and sees her as an equal partner in both love and power. His journey is one of emotional awakening, moving from isolation to a partnership based on mutual respect and affection.
Themes
The Battle Between Duty and Desire and The Burden of Family Legacy
One of the primary themes explored in Brutal Prince is the tension between personal desires and familial duty. Both Aida Gallo and Callum Griffin are thrust into situations where their personal lives are dictated by the needs of their respective mafia families.
From the very beginning, the union between them is not one of love but a strategic decision to prevent a mafia war. This forces them to suppress their own feelings and ambitions in favor of keeping peace and securing power.
Aida, in particular, is faced with the stark reality that her desires and dreams take a backseat to the obligations of her family. This weighs heavily on her throughout the novel.
Callum too struggles with the political obligations that conflict with his growing attraction to Aida. This constant battle between what they want personally and what is required of them highlights the immense pressure placed on individuals within powerful families.
The Complexity of Identity, Masks and Self-Discovery
Another significant theme in Brutal Prince revolves around identity, both personal and constructed. As characters, Aida and Callum begin their relationship with carefully cultivated personas that serve as armor against the vulnerabilities that come with their respective positions in their families.
Aida, with her rebellious, fiery nature, hides the vulnerability of being trapped within the confines of her family’s expectations. Similarly, Callum, with his cold, calculated demeanor, shields his own insecurities and deep loneliness.
Over the course of their interactions, both characters are forced to confront their masks and the roles they have played. This ultimately leads them to uncover their true selves.
Aida’s chaotic nature is revealed to be a product of her struggle for autonomy. Meanwhile, Callum’s rigidity comes from his fear of losing control.
Their evolving relationship leads them to break down these facades, making the theme of self-discovery an integral part of their growth as individuals and as a couple.
Corruption, Violence, and Political Manipulation
In a world where power is everything, the novel delves into how ambition and control often lead to corruption and violence. The mafia world that Aida and Callum inhabit is one where manipulation, deceit, and brutality are the means to survive.
Callum’s political ambitions, for example, are not just about gaining public office but also about using political leverage to fortify his family’s position in the criminal world. This theme explores the lengths individuals will go to maintain power and the moral compromises they make along the way.
It’s clear that for Aida and Callum, power comes at the cost of innocence. Their relationship reflects this in their increasingly ruthless actions and decisions as they navigate both their love and the criminal empire they are part of.
The Fragility and Strength of Relationships in a World of Chaos
Finally, Brutal Prince highlights the fragility and strength of relationships in a chaotic, dangerous environment. The intense animosity between Aida and Callum gradually transforms into a complicated love, built on both mutual respect and shared trauma.
Their relationship is a microcosm of the broader themes of loyalty, betrayal, and survival within the mafia world. What begins as a marriage of convenience to prevent a war evolves into something far deeper.
They realize that their connection is the one thing they can trust in an otherwise unstable world. Despite the constant threats and external pressures, they find strength in one another.
This theme reveals that amidst violence, manipulation, and betrayal, true partnerships can still arise. However, these partnerships are forged in fire and adversity.