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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I absolutely loved the concept of Kingmakers. It gave me Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire vibes. Namely because there's a school where only certain kinds of people are allowed admittance and there's a school-year-long series of challenges that pin four "captains" against each other.
From there, the mafia element takes over. The school itself is interesting. I'm grateful we get just enough class elements to feel like they're actually attending higher education. I do wish this was written in third person so we could experience more of courses through the lens of multiple people. Instead, it is first person with three different POVs. I understand it's a romance book and that's why these POVs exist. I just don't know how I feel about those individual people.
At first, I was really annoyed with Leo. Actually, I still am. He's the Alphahole that I always ignored in schools growing up. I can't stand that kind of guy. (Yeah, I get he's not entirely an Alphahole, but I just can't buy into that kind of personality. It grates me.) And Anna? I appreciate her love of dance and I firmly understand a small woman having to be different so others just don't push her around. But I don't understand why she hides behind makeup and punk/goth clothes because of it. Is this supposed to be a "I'm not like other girls" trope or something? Anyway, what I'm getting at is: I hate both of them.
Then there's Dean. At first, I was absolutely Team Dean. I understand his brooding personality and I understand where he's coming from. But then he takes his actual feelings for her and twists them up so they're not even right anymore... It seems so out of left field when he suddenly has this need to do as he wants. It doesn't seem in line with the original characterization of him. It's like his actual viewpoint means nothing for the sake of plot. And by plot, I mean Leo. Because the only way you're going to want somebody like me to want Leo happy is if you make his opponent utterly unforgivable.
Like most dark romances, once they have sex that is all the book becomes. It got to be really annoying as it was just one scene after another after another. And the scene in the epilogue? Not necessary. I do love the world building and I want to read at least the next two books. I'm hoping the romance and their individual personalities will be better. I love Sophie Lark, though, so I'm willing to give her books more of a shot!
From there, the mafia element takes over. The school itself is interesting. I'm grateful we get just enough class elements to feel like they're actually attending higher education. I do wish this was written in third person so we could experience more of courses through the lens of multiple people. Instead, it is first person with three different POVs. I understand it's a romance book and that's why these POVs exist. I just don't know how I feel about those individual people.
At first, I was really annoyed with Leo. Actually, I still am. He's the Alphahole that I always ignored in schools growing up. I can't stand that kind of guy. (Yeah, I get he's not entirely an Alphahole, but I just can't buy into that kind of personality. It grates me.) And Anna? I appreciate her love of dance and I firmly understand a small woman having to be different so others just don't push her around. But I don't understand why she hides behind makeup and punk/goth clothes because of it. Is this supposed to be a "I'm not like other girls" trope or something? Anyway, what I'm getting at is: I hate both of them.
Then there's Dean. At first, I was absolutely Team Dean. I understand his brooding personality and I understand where he's coming from. But then he takes his actual feelings for her and twists them up so they're not even right anymore... It seems so out of left field when he suddenly has this need to do as he wants. It doesn't seem in line with the original characterization of him. It's like his actual viewpoint means nothing for the sake of plot. And by plot, I mean Leo. Because the only way you're going to want somebody like me to want Leo happy is if you make his opponent utterly unforgivable.
Spoiler
So then... Boom. The "Event" happens and the relationship-situations start to sink. The plot of the competition improves greatly though, which is probably why I feel this 3-star rating is justified. At the end, Anna and Leo wind up together as you'd think. And I'm left wondering how I can go back to properly caring for Dean. (He has his own book... And I want to like him. Really. I do want that. But HOW?!)Like most dark romances, once they have sex that is all the book becomes. It got to be really annoying as it was just one scene after another after another. And the scene in the epilogue? Not necessary. I do love the world building and I want to read at least the next two books. I'm hoping the romance and their individual personalities will be better. I love Sophie Lark, though, so I'm willing to give her books more of a shot!
it's okay. its a fun-ish read i guess but i think i prefer this kind of a dynamic in fantasy more so than a mafia university
I liked this book. A lot. Otherwise I wouldn't finish it within three days or go on to the rest of the series. However I did not like it as much as the rest of the series. That does not mean I did not appreciate the magnificent world building, I totally fell in love with Kingsmakers. Things I also liked very very much was the dynamique between Anna and Leo, god, those two are truly made to be in each others lives. To get to know their history, go through the struggles with them was a true pleasure. I however did not like the spicy scenes, normally I'm all about it, but this was a little bit too much agression for my taste. But please, please read this series. You will not get dissapointed, the dynamiques, the spice, the adventures, the chemistries, the loyalty and the romance in these books will blow you of your feet like someone threw a grenade in your direction. And the plot, the way the author makes everything come together. I've never been more amazed. I seriously can't shut up about this series to anyone.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I liked it, but I didn't love it and I fear most of that had to do with the fact that something happened that sparked my anxiety... I will continue the series though. Once again, I really liked the three dimensional characters Sophie Lark creates and the idea of a mafia college? yes please!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated