The Dark King by Gina L. Maxwell
SERIES: Deviant Kings (#1)
PUBLISHED: September 27, 2022
PAGES: 326
GENRE: Fantasy, Romance, Erotica
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The Blurb
For Bryn Meara, a free trip to the exclusive and ultra-luxe Nightfall hotel and casino in Vegas should’ve been the perfect way to escape the debris of her crumbling career. But waking up from a martini-and-lust-fueled night to find herself married to Caiden Verran, the reclusive billionaire who owns the hotel and most of the city, isn’t the jackpot one would think. It seems her dark and sexy new husband is actual royalty—the fae king of the Night Court—and there’s an entire world beneath the veil of Vegas.
Whether light or shadow, the fae are a far cry from fairy tales, and now they’ve made Bryn a pawn in their dark games for power. And Caiden is the most dangerous of all—an intoxicating cocktail of sin and raw, insatiable hunger. She should run. But every night of passion pulls Bryn deeper into his strange and sinister world, until she’s no longer certain she wants to leave…even if she could.
The Review
I believe no matter the paths we chose in life, we were always destined to end up here, together.
The Dark King was the first novel I’ve read from author Gina L. Maxwell, and I can say with absolute certainty that it will NOT be my last. This story was a wild and sexy ride filled with deception, hidden secrets, and a steamy love that transcends realms. Billed as Neon Gods meets Fifty Shades, this is a perfect read for all you Romantic Fantasy fans out there who aren’t afraid of a healthy amount of spice. I had a ton of fun with this book, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next in the series.
In the midst of her life crumbling around her, Bryn receives an all-inclusive trip to Sin City, granted access to its most premiere, opulent hotel, which happens to have a wait-list that spans years. Upon arrival, she catches the eye of a strikingly handsome stranger, and an evening of debauchery ensues. Hey, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Even if that means waking up the morning after not only married, but bound by magic.
At the heart of this tale lies Bryn, the quick-witted, fast-talking Midwesterner, and Caiden, the mysterious, possessive King of the Night Court – very much the alphaaa. Their dynamics begin with some delicious insta-lust, but quickly turn into a tumultuous whirlwind with deeper roots and an almost unbearable amount of miscommunication. C’mon, guys, just SPEAK to one another and most of that drama could’ve been avoided! Sheesh! Anyway, while their differences are steeped in a healthy dose volatility, their chemistry is sizzling, and when they come together in the shadows of night, it…is…incendiary.
Bryn and Caiden are joined by a fantastic cast of supporting characters, namely Caiden’s brothers Tiernan and Finn, their housekeeper Fiona, and the Woulfe brothers. Each with their own unique voices, each as finely tuned as the last. They’re definitely a bunch you’ll want to meet on your own without me spoiling much, so I’ll keep this short and sweet. I just want to say they perfectly enrich the story being told, and I can’t wait to get better acquainted with them in the next installment of the Deviant Kings series.
The Dark King is definitely has a character-driven narrative, but when the plot revelations reveal themselves, it’s explosive. While the story contains some serious subject matter, it’s filled with witty banter and plenty of laugh out loud moments as well. Maxwell creates a beautiful balance to keep readers engaged and those pages flying by at a rapid pace. If I had to describe the tone of this story with one word, it would be charming. Everything about this book is alluring, drawing you in further and further.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Bryn and Caiden. The story ties up nicely, but definitely opens another avenue to explore, which I fully intend on doing. If you’re looking for an enticing read filled with fae, magic, old grudges emerging and fated mates, then The Dark King may be the one for you. Loved it, can’t wait for more.
Note: A huge thank you to the author and Entangled Publishing for an early complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.
The Author
Gina L. Maxwell is a multi-bestselling author living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. As a lifelong romance novel addict, she began writing as an alternate way of enjoying the romance stories she loves to read.
Her debut novel, Seducing Cinderella, hit both the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists in less than four weeks, and also hit the #1 spot internationally, ahead of Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons. #ProudDay (´⌣`ʃƪ)
When she’s not reading, writing, or spending way too much on her paper planner and office supply obsessions, she loves hanging out with her high-school-sweetheart hubby and their adult kids, while dreaming about her someday-move to someplace tropical.
