A review by originalbooknerd
Monarch by Sophie Lark

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

➰𝕸𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖍 - 𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔅𝔬𝔬𝔨 2 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴➰

Author: Sophie Lark

Couple:  Elena Zelenska & Atlas Covett

Tropes: Spooky gothic romance, Halloween vibes, enemies to lovers, Dark romance, Age gap, A plot twist you’ll never see coming, Small town, arranged marriage 

Review: Monarch!! Sophie Lark obliterated spooky and taboo in this book and from the first word Elena’s story enthralled me to keep reading! The way she was catfished and came over to Grimstone so oblivious to her fate hooked me in from the initial build up between her and Atlas. Sophie Lark took the taboo trope of “mail order bride” and made it deliciously mysterious as Atlas and Elena grow more ensnared with one another as they divulge secrets, betrayals and face the consequences of their actions in town!

Atlas Covett was the other half of the Covett duo and his story was so full of secrets that I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. The way this man fell for his bride was whimsical, dark and full of the intrigue and Sophie was amazing at creating his character as Elena dug her way into his heart. That being said, this man was NOT soft and I found his sharp edges and darker tendencies were the meat of his POV and I absolutely devoured his insanity and depravity.

Elena was oh so innocent and her story was full of a dark Cinderella retelling except she never gets the “white knight”. The mystery she gets ensnared in after arriving at Grimstone provided so much angst and tension to the plot since her immediate reaction was that Atlas was not who she wanted. The slow build and fall she goes through for her unlikely match was shocking but also done in the most Sophie Lark way that I found myself cackling at her realization when she realizes how far she had fallen for Atlas.

Monarch once again dives into Grimstone and the gothic vibes in this book are next level. Atlas and Elena have a romance brimming with tension yet also one that shows Atlas’ softer side…but only with her! From the banter, the wit and the unending obsession from both sides (but mainly Atlas), Monarch was a knockout and just sucked me in deeper to the gritty and mysterious small town of Grimstone!

Rating: 5/5;  Atlas Covett was sin wrapped in mystery and his romance left me salivating for more!

Thank you to Sophie & Hambright PR for sending me this eARC!