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romanceschmomance's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
RE-READ: A bookish friend is currently binge reading this series, so I dove in with a re-read. I had this on audio and I forgot soooo much about this series. Still such a wild ride between Elsa and Aiden, definitely still enjoyed this one.
----
Deviant King was my first read by Rina Kent and it definitely won't be my last. Normally I don't read bully romances, but my mood led me here, so I decided to give this a chance. And boy, it did not disappoint.
Rina has an absolute talent for writing a completely engaging story from beginning to end. The characters, the angst and most of all, the bit of mystery and suspense. It's a fully loaded story and you'll be trying to piece things together bit by bit especially when so many pieces of the puzzle are missing.
I had no idea this was a series, so I was little bummed out that 2 more books would follow this. But they're all out, so you can bet that I'll be binging all of those.
Anyways, it's been a while since I've read a dark romance. Aiden is crazy and yes, very much a sociopath. He's the definition of an anti-hero. PERIOD. He's possessive and extremely territorial. But it works for Elsa, even though she constantly freezes him out. But the draw between them is sizzling and intense. And it becomes extremely tough for her to deny him.
Elsa intrigued the heck out of me, there's sooooo much we don't know about her. It's like she's locked up in cage and a lot of that,I believe, ties in with her forgotten memories. It's such a mystery throughout the entire story, so that's one arc I can't wait to learn more about over the next couple of books. With that aside, I loved her loyalty to her best friend, Kim, she's sooooo protective of her.
Also, I loved the fact that she didn't let people walk all over her. I think I would have had a very different opinion of her if she was a doormat.
With this being a dark romance read, there's certain aspects I'd rather skip over, but it wasn't as much as what I've read in other dark romances. But I will say that this read is not for everyone. If you don't enjoy dark romances and with the bully trope, I wouldn't read this.
With Deviant King only being the first part of three to Elsa and Aiden's story, we're about to learn some more crazy truths. And I'm here for it.
NARRATORS: I've been waiting to listen to a duet narration and it was absolutely EVERYTHING. When I first started listening to audiobooks, this was what I was expected. I actually prefer this type of narration, plus it feels the most natural. Definitely a fan of both narrators and can't wait to listen to more by them.
----
Deviant King was my first read by Rina Kent and it definitely won't be my last. Normally I don't read bully romances, but my mood led me here, so I decided to give this a chance. And boy, it did not disappoint.
Rina has an absolute talent for writing a completely engaging story from beginning to end. The characters, the angst and most of all, the bit of mystery and suspense. It's a fully loaded story and you'll be trying to piece things together bit by bit especially when so many pieces of the puzzle are missing.
I had no idea this was a series, so I was little bummed out that 2 more books would follow this. But they're all out, so you can bet that I'll be binging all of those.
Anyways, it's been a while since I've read a dark romance. Aiden is crazy and yes, very much a sociopath. He's the definition of an anti-hero. PERIOD. He's possessive and extremely territorial. But it works for Elsa, even though she constantly freezes him out. But the draw between them is sizzling and intense. And it becomes extremely tough for her to deny him.
Elsa intrigued the heck out of me, there's sooooo much we don't know about her. It's like she's locked up in cage and a lot of that,I believe, ties in with her forgotten memories. It's such a mystery throughout the entire story, so that's one arc I can't wait to learn more about over the next couple of books. With that aside, I loved her loyalty to her best friend, Kim, she's sooooo protective of her.
Also, I loved the fact that she didn't let people walk all over her. I think I would have had a very different opinion of her if she was a doormat.
With this being a dark romance read, there's certain aspects I'd rather skip over, but it wasn't as much as what I've read in other dark romances. But I will say that this read is not for everyone. If you don't enjoy dark romances and with the bully trope, I wouldn't read this.
With Deviant King only being the first part of three to Elsa and Aiden's story, we're about to learn some more crazy truths. And I'm here for it.
NARRATORS: I've been waiting to listen to a duet narration and it was absolutely EVERYTHING. When I first started listening to audiobooks, this was what I was expected. I actually prefer this type of narration, plus it feels the most natural. Definitely a fan of both narrators and can't wait to listen to more by them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death of parent
nineinchnails's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
okay i’m intrigued
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying and Fatphobia
wesley333's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
ehe- what? i got to the 3rd chapter and i cant read anymore.
“For the last time, it’s King.” His face is completely blank except for the
slight smirk. “You said you’ll report me for sexual harassment.”
“W-what… ?”
“It’s your lucky day. I’m making the report come true.”
bitch what the fúcḱ.
“For the last time, it’s King.” His face is completely blank except for the
slight smirk. “You said you’ll report me for sexual harassment.”
“W-what… ?”
“It’s your lucky day. I’m making the report come true.”
bitch what the fúcḱ.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment
smartcookiesca's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Gaslighting
ashcarpelibrum's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I didn't think I would ever read a romance book that was this aggressive with sex. I ended up being intrigued by the main characters childhood mystery. Which you don't get many answers in the first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
camlee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
DARK SO DARK…but v entertaining
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Medical trauma
corcordium's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
2.0
the way this book had arsenal winning football matches and fighting for the championship says everything you need to know on this book's realisticness lmaooo
football banter aside, this book was wack. i've read two of this author's duets and i feel like this particular story was the combination of he hates me and all the lies. on the one hand you have the H who is physically abusive towards the h (just like in all the lies) and then you have the talks of rape play and other kink stuff (just like in he hates me). i don't know what kind of mental gymnastics y'all needed to do to root for a guy who treated the heroine like that, but i guess i ain't that flexible anymore lol. there's bully romances and the H being a bully towards the protagonist, and then there's being PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE as in smashing her face against the hood of the car, grabbing her arm hard enough it hurts her, sexually touching her when she clearly is not about that (at the beginning of this book at least, which later on turns into an inner monologue of her saying she actually wants it but never expresses it out loud), amongst other things. the same thing happened in this author's other book with the H, and i said the exact same thing in my review:
football banter aside, this book was wack. i've read two of this author's duets and i feel like this particular story was the combination of he hates me and all the lies. on the one hand you have the H who is physically abusive towards the h (just like in all the lies) and then you have the talks of rape play and other kink stuff (just like in he hates me). i don't know what kind of mental gymnastics y'all needed to do to root for a guy who treated the heroine like that, but i guess i ain't that flexible anymore lol. there's bully romances and the H being a bully towards the protagonist, and then there's being PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE as in smashing her face against the hood of the car, grabbing her arm hard enough it hurts her, sexually touching her when she clearly is not about that (at the beginning of this book at least, which later on turns into an inner monologue of her saying she actually wants it but never expresses it out loud), amongst other things. the same thing happened in this author's other book with the H, and i said the exact same thing in my review:
the hero being physically abusive towards the h. yeah it's a bully romance yeah it's a 'dark romance' and the author puts an author's note at the beginning saying that if you're not comfortable with dark content then don't read it. i love dark romance, and i don't give a flying fuck if the charcters do awful things, my problem is when the hero gets physically abusive WITH THE HEROINE
i also never felt the connection between aiden and elsa, and the smutty scenes left me completely unfazed because i didn't feel the chemistry between the characters. the H being an absolute controlling asshole to the point where elsa is not allowed to smile or talk to another guy was also not it. again, i love dark romance and bully romance, the guys in those books tend to be controlling and alpha-malish, but god this dude aiden was the complete extreme of that.
so what did i like about this? i guess what interested me the most was the mystery surrounding elsa's past. the cliffhanger this book ended on did not provide many answers to the many questions i have but it was enough to hook me onto the next one. i might have some theories as to what happened to make her forget basically her entire childhood and the mystery about what her parents actually did or did not do, so that's the only thing i'm gonna continue with this series. plus i'm interested in reading the side characters' books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
avianundertaker's review against another edition
1.0
A dramatic conversation is overheard in the last chapter which contains a major twist that didn't shock me because the foreshadowing was so obvious, but also contains a minor line that sent me to another astral plane. Adien King and Silver Queens have cannoncially fucked in the past and Silver is intent on being Aiden's girlfriend, and it is revealed that Aiden's dad is Silver's uncle, meaning incest IS canon and the author is not going to address that ever.
This book was terrible not just because of the blatant abuse and actual sex crimes, but because on top of all that the writing is incompetent from a technical standpoint. So much repetition, contradictions of previous information, poor word choices and terrible dialogue. We are warned in the synopsis that Aiden is a piece of shit and he is, but we were not warned that Rina Kent's grasp on how human people talk is tenuous at best.
Certain odd pieces of characterization charmed me greatly, such as Elsa reminding us every few chapters that she was an avid reader of "Chinese war books" and the conversation about Jean-Paul Sartre and the merits of existentialism that came out of nowhere towards the end.
If you like things that are not rapey, abusive or incompetently written then you will find no value in this. If, however you do love witnessing trainwrecks, I think the best way to consume this is with a friend so you can marvel in the sheer messiness together.
This book was terrible not just because of the blatant abuse and actual sex crimes, but because on top of all that the writing is incompetent from a technical standpoint. So much repetition, contradictions of previous information, poor word choices and terrible dialogue. We are warned in the synopsis that Aiden is a piece of shit and he is, but we were not warned that Rina Kent's grasp on how human people talk is tenuous at best.
Certain odd pieces of characterization charmed me greatly, such as Elsa reminding us every few chapters that she was an avid reader of "Chinese war books" and the conversation about Jean-Paul Sartre and the merits of existentialism that came out of nowhere towards the end.
If you like things that are not rapey, abusive or incompetently written then you will find no value in this. If, however you do love witnessing trainwrecks, I think the best way to consume this is with a friend so you can marvel in the sheer messiness together.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence
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