Reviewed by Jen
TITLE: The Art of Becoming
AUTHOR: Victoria Sallow
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 466 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 7, 2026
BLURB:
Arthur wasn’t looking for a savior.
Johannes wasn’t looking for a weakness.
Arthur learned early that being seen could be dangerous. After a past marked by control and emotional abuse, disappearing felt safer than dreaming, loving, or trusting again.
Johannes is used to power, loyalty, and fear. A man who protects what is his — and keeps the rest of the world at a careful distance. Falling in love was never part of the plan.
When their paths cross, attraction comes easily. Trust does not.
As Arthur rebuilds himself through art and begins to reclaim his voice, Johannes must learn the difference between protection and control — and decide how much he is willing to risk for something real.
Together, they’ll discover that sometimes, becoming yourself means unlearning everything you were taught to survive.
An emotionally intense M/M romance about healing, desire, and the courage it takes to choose love.
REVIEW:
I love a good mafia story, so grabbed this one right away. We meet Arthur right away and it doesn’t take long to understand his story. He is a talented dancer at a somewhat exclusive club which is where he meets the mysterious Johannes. The two hit it off and Johannes makes fairly regular visits showering Arthur with flowers and gifts. Out of an abundance of caution and a taste of fear due to his past relationship, Arthur goes against Club rules and seeks information about Johannes. He learns that Johannes is the new head of the mafia family and with not everyone happy about the change in leadership, Johannes tries to keep Arthur safe by keeping him at a distance.
This is a long story, and while it does progress, it felt a little long-winded at times before we got to the important stuff. Once everything is out in the open with Arthur and Johannes, things move along until the secret from Arthur’s past becomes a bigger issue. The result is Arthur getting an up close and person look at Johannes’ life and what he is capable of doing. Understandably, Arthur takes time to accept this, and Johannes gives him the time he needs. Johannes is never far, however, and does not hesitate when Arthur needs him, although he never pressures him. I loved this about Johannes and how he just wanted to keep Arthur safe while providing everything he could so that Arthur could shine. He also doesn’t ask him to give up his friends which I believe also helped Arthur with his decision.
I ended up really enjoying this story. While I found it a little long and had hoped to see a bit more about Johannes’ world and how it would affect Arthur, I felt there was enough to see that these two adapted to each others’ needs and adjusted to their life together. We really get to know Arthur pretty well and his struggles. I wish we had the same for Johannes, especially given his current position and everything that now entails. This was my first book by Ms. Sallow, and I am interested in seeing more in the future.
RATING: 
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