Reviews with content warning for Rape - Kingdom of Villains

I'm stealing this line from another review (thank you booksnpenguins) bcs it perfectly encapsulates what I loved about this book: "The world needs more cheesy smutty romantasy standalones." This book immediately had me by the balls and I never want it to let go.

Sassy, sexy, smutty, perfectly violent, cheesy, spectacular. It was everything I wanted in a faerie smut book. I loved the banter, the lore, the rollercoaster of emotions, the character arcs.

I was so happy with this take on fated mates, the fact they needed to act to seal it and could reject the bond, potentially find another/have more than one mate in their lifetime, the fact there were SAME SEX MATES, and that they maintained independence and a variety of feelings bcs love doesn't fix everything.

Is it horribly awfully cheesy? Yes. Is it cliched? Sure. But it was well written and never lost my attention or interest and made my silly little heart do a silly little dance. Straight up a 10/10.

Content Warnings

r1vana's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"You need to stop this." Leaning into him, I whispered, "Stop what?"
"Ruining me from noticing anything in this world that isn't you."
;
“Until the star burn out.”
“And the moon cease to hunt the sun.”

Tropes?
Alliance arranged marriage
Soul Mates
‘Enemies’ to lovers
Duo POV
Seelie v.s Unseelie
Dragons
Reign/political plot
Betrayal
Angst
Hurt/confort
HEA

I did love this book. I was not I expecting this 180 plot.
I love the main characters.
Fia: the FMC
Colvin: the MMC
First of all, Colvin was definitely a swoon worthy character. From the very beginning, he was kinda mysterious but we do see more of him from his POV, his feelings; sentiments; train of thoughts, et cetera. He is a possessive and romantic being:
“Just one whiff of her, and I saw the world through the eyes of a beast. A brand new monster, which she'd birthed when I'd left her dungeon, came alive.”;
"Your heart has claws, fire-breather. But your soul?" His eyes met mine, aglow with affection I wasn't sure I wanted or deserved. "Soft as silk.";

“You're far too sweet for a male who shifts
into a dragon and fucks like a beast.”

Fia is a strong character where sometimes she wants to know everything and bluntly asks people for more of their private life….(which felt like a second hand embarrassment). Again, she is a princess who hates gowns or party. She rather go into the forest and see new creatures. But whenever she is with her prince:
I smiled, wide and almost laughing, and his face
fellas if I'd done something rang "Do that again.”
I frowned, "What?"
"Smile at me like that."
"I don't smile on command, Prince.”
-
That is how the plot goes. One day, she sees the baby narlows without their mother. So, she decides to hide them in the dungeons and take care of them. That is where she meets Colvin, their enemy and an Unseelie.
When she overhears that his uncle wants to kill him, Fia makes his escape and brings the three narlows with him. He leaves not before kissing her.

But, fate wasn’t in her favour. She got exposed of betrayal and was expected be executed. But the Unseelie had a proposition: an arranged marriage that will create alliance between both kingdoms: “No Seelie royal had ever wed an Unseelie.”
When Colvin comes to bring her and sees her hurt:
Colvin looked at me, perhaps for an answer, but he didn't need it. He sighed and scratched at his cheek. "I really do wish you hadn't touched her."
The prince smiled, but it was almost pained. "It's the disrespect, you see, for the agreement was made before you went to retrieve my betrothed, and so now I am left with no choice."

At first, Fia was absolutely terrified from all the rumours that she beards of him. But the more she spends time with him, the more she realizes to not judge a book from its cover…
-
The only reason I put four stars for this story is bcz of the angst/conflict around 75-90% of the book.
-
The romance between Fia and Colvin was perfect. Their chemistry was oozing off:
(QUOTES/SPOILERS!! Ahead)

"What could you possibly need me for, dragon?"
"'Too much," he countered, and I ceased breathing, "Right now I'll settle for your mouth on mine.";
“Fia Callula was the poison I'd spent most of my existence searching for.
She was both life and death, for after one drop of her blood had touched my lips, it was instantly apparent that I'd never get what I so desperately needed anywhere else.”;

“He was every fear I'd ever had and every wish I'd never known
I'd longed for. A soul as dark as night and a heart of cloudless
mornings, this contradiction of a male had me tethered tightly
to him long before he'd made it irreversible.”;

“You need to be more careful, fire-breather."
"Oh?" I breathed. "Why?"
"Because when you look at me like that, don't just forget what I'm doing, I forget all that I fucking am.”
"Then I shall remind you."
"Will you?"
I vowed to his lips, "TIl remind you that you're all mine.";

‘The world birthed a brand new day, but I didn't want it,
I longed for the night--for the stars and the moon and the beastly prince who'd gifted me both.’
;
"You need to stop this."
Leaning into him, I whispered, "Stop what?"
"Ruining me from noticing anything in this world that isn't you.”
;
He’s stolen everything is known to give me everything I never knew I needed.
;
The world birthed a brand new day, but I didn't Want it.
I longed for the night-_for the stars and the moon and the beastly prince who'd gifted me both.;

“You cured me of one curse by giving me another.”
Her laughter was rasped. “Is that so, dragon?”
;
“You’ve rendered me eternally insatiable.”
;
This mate of mine was not merely a cure, but pure poison.
One I'd not only hunted for but welcomed with relish into every facet of my life, every vein of my body. I'd never get enough, and if that was my punishment for taking her, for making her endlessly mine, then so be it.
;

TW: mentions of rape

Content Warnings

susanpevensie's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Content Warnings

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