Reviews

Cruel King by K.M. Scott

drez80's review

1.0

This book was just off. Matthias was so hot and cold, and Ava kept pushing and wouldn’t just walk away. Like girl, just go, you don’t deserve to be treated this way… his reasoning doesn’t matter. But even she was hot and cold some times, like when he walked in while she was in the shower and she was suddenly a raging bitch to Matthias. I was like where did this come from? And then when she ended up with Theo?! Ummm… so Theo has been saying she’s the future Mrs Theo King since they were kids, and she never believed that or seemed to feel that way about him. But then suddenly because the father’s sick and he has to come home, he’s ready, and she always thought they were soulmates? She had no trouble moving on to Theo… didn’t even have thoughts about maybe this is an issue cuz I’ve slept with his brother?! Even though I think Matthias was an immature a-hole, I’m glad he outed them the way he did. And Theo’s reaction?! Like I was WTF’ing through this entire book. So he went out and screwed anyone and everyone for years, expecting Ava to just sit around and wait and then ditched her and refused to talk to her, his BFF since childhood, and his bro cuz they slept together years ago?! But totally cool for him to be a manwhore. *eyeroll HARD* And then Ava’s behavior when Theo died… I get it’s hard cuz of how things ended and you didn’t get to work things out, but you DID apologize, he just didn’t want to hear it. But you spend TWO MONTHS grieving him, sleeping in his room with his pic when you’re with his brother?! This girl… seriously. Matthias was a jerk too but my gosh was he a saint for putting up with that for as long as he did and then just taking her back no questions asked. Ava was so immature and clearly confused and wanted whoever happened to want her at the time. Not a fan of any of the characters in this book.

And the parents… OMG! So Ava’s dad blamed Matthias’s dad for them not being together and his dad blamed hers. His mom wanted them together but after she passed his father was trying to force him into a life he didn’t want and the father didn’t think Matthias would be good for anyone cuz he was miserable so he’d make his wife miserable too. Ok douche, how about you don’t force your son into a miserable life? Also, how about if they love each other, you don’t get to decide if he’s going to make her miserable and they can’t be together. Ava’s father’s reluctance is never really explained other than him blaming Matthias’s father. And then for Matthias’s father to apologize cuz he wanted a clear conscience when he was dying?! And Ava’s father admitting he got letters to her from Matthias while she was gone to NH, and he thought it was right to not give them to her. And Theo not telling Matthias what Ava truly told him to tell Matthias because he knew she had feelings for Matthias… OMFG! What is WRONG with everyone in this damn book?!

I so love the BFF’s sibling and enemies to lovers tropes, and I was so hoping this would be amazing but, instead, it was a total disaster.

babyreza's review

adventurous challenging hopeful fast-paced

5.0

sturgesschildren3's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I’m not really sure how to word this one 😬I’m torn really because I want to share Ava and Matthias but at the same time I don’t want to because you need to read their story for yourself so they can share it with you , does that make sense !? ❣️📚


My heart was in the authors hands and she squeezes hard and as it feels like my hearts is going to stop she releases her boa constrictor grip , I catch my breath and then she squeezes again and so we do this “ dance” till the very beautiful end …,,,,please be patient with Matthias though , there’s so much to this man 🤗

Ava and her dad lived on the property where her dad was the estate manager but also more than that to the patriarch of the King family and she grew up with these boys ( Theo, Marius , Matthias , Kellan and Ronan ) and she was especially close to Theo , it’s like they were joined at the hip 🤣who used to joke that she was going to be his wife one day and everyone thought their story would unfold that way ….,, 

Matthias was always harsh towards Ava and at times cruel and man I just want to climb into this book and really just give a slap around the head ! During a snow storm they’re “ forced” to spend time together and things take a very different and steamy turn and I feel like butterflies are dancing in my heart but not for long because Ava is sent to her aunt and she really doesn’t have much choice and Matthias never gets the message she sent …..this is the one time I want to “ shoot the messenger “ 🥲


Tragedy strikes and the boys come home and Matthias is harder , crueler and colder than before , slowly but surely pieces of the puzzle is put together and healing can take place and those butterflies return and I’m about to celebrate when another crushing blow hits and this time I really felt like there was no turning back but there’s thus thing about love , it endures and these push back against all odds and I don’t think there’s enough Kleenex to get me through this beautifully sad story but I’m grateful I held on by a thread because ever cloud has a silver lining …..

As much as I loved Matthias , Ava and their little family another person held a special place in my heart , dearest Eleanor you have a heart of gold and you’re an angel without wings 😍

bchristian541's review

dark emotional fast-paced

5.0

 Cruel King with its dark twist, is the epitome of an enemies-to-lovers romance. Ava practically grew up around the King family. Theo, a King brother, is her best friend. She got along with the whole family, except for Matthias. Matthias always seemed to loathe her and her, not know why. Until one day, fate had them trapped together. Once they were free, however, he went right back to being the cruel King brother. If only Ava knew how Matthias was feeling. Did Ava misinterpret Matthias or is it meant to be? Find out in Cruel King. 

              Cruel King is full of twists, turns, and some of them dark. At times you want to love the characters, while other times they frustrate you to the point of wanting to scream. The characters are relatable, and their feelings can be felt through the page. The book is enthralling and intricately woven. 

              I enjoyed Cruel King from the beginning to the end. I did not want to put it down. K.M. Scott is a master storyteller, leaving no stone unturned. It left me wanting more.  

aranza_yarie's review

4.5

Cruel King by K.M. Scott

4 Stars out of 5 Stars 

This was a fun read.  I got so obsessed with the story that couldn't put it down.  I really want to see more from the characters in a next book.  Definitely a great weekend read for those who like a steamy romance with a rollercoaster of emotions on the side. Definitely recommend.

aylaphipps's review

medium-paced

5.0

 Intensity that could set you ablaze. So, this is the first book I have read by the talented K.M. Scott and oh was it a great first read. Twists and turns to keep you guessing as well as reality based making the moments that are already heavily emotional make you feel what they feel. Early on Matthias’ cruel words to Ava had me crying along with her. Dual perspective of Ava and Matthias. 

Ava is the daughter of the King family’s estate manager. Matthias is the eldest son and heir apparent of the King fortune. Early into the story the similarities while different are prevalent in the different household dynamics. Both have lost their mothers, both are treated differently than their siblings, and both have been harboring feelings they didn’t release went soul deep. One fateful blizzard brings everything to the forefront, no more hiding behind warnings from their fathers. Matthias dreamed of Ava for years, but when finally given a moment alone with her his cruelty that he used as armor cracks, and he gives into the dreams if only for a short time. Ava is accepted by all the King family except the eldest son, Matthias, who has always been cruel to her for no reason she can think of. After he makes her cry repeatedly in the span of just a few short hours she snaps and confronts him demanding he explain why he hates her so much. In a moment of desire, he drops the façade, ignores the warnings, and finally kisses her and more. Everything feels right, like they were made for each other. No sooner is the truth finally revealed and she is forced to move away to her aunts. Five years and neither of them can forget that blizzard and what happened but now things are different. 

Can they find their way back to each other? Will Theo take a stand that forces Ava to make a choice? I love how the author tells the reader up front that the story is based but that she doesn’t deal with the “protection” aspect of the characters physical moments, I agree sometimes it takes away from a heated moment by breaking it down too much with reality. The scenery is described perfectly especially when it comes to the reality of snow and how its beauty disappears when it’s in dirty piles cluttering the roads as it slowly melts. Now, the characters, my oh my they were fascinating, the complexing of each character helps build the reality of the moments and the intensity of the twists and turns the characters had to overcome to reach the end. After this I truly hope the author decides to turn this into a series, it would be interesting to see into the lives of the other four King brothers and what secrets they hold within. 

mweatherholtz's review

medium-paced

4.0

Cruel King had a super enticing premise that sounded like such a fun read. I was a little under prepared on the fact that I would feel like I did about it. Matthias and Ava, neighbors, man from money, not rich female, her father is employed by his father, maybe enemies, but maybe not, and his brother is her best friend although in the future she’s supposed to be his brothers wife, until he opens his mouth about those snowy few days five years ago. I devoured this book. It was well written, flowed smoothly, and kept me interested. There did seem to be a lot of background throughout almost like the characters hemmed and hawed a lot rather than just speaking up and owning how they felt, which made some scenes feel a little drug out. Overall I really enjoyed the grumpy Matthias and bubbly Ava’s story, a little sad about how the author did Matthias’ brother but I was so glad when they started opening up to each other again and the story picked back up. 

julesherb's review

4.0

 This is the first book in quite a while where I have wanted to reach into the pages and slap one of the main characters up the side of the head or as my daughter would say Gibbs slap him!! LOL To me that is the sign of a talented author if they can have the reader that invested in the lives of the characters they have created, that they have such a emotional response to the storyline. I loved Ava and Matthias and I can't wait to explore more books from this truly wonderful author. 

christie72's review

emotional tense medium-paced

4.0

I’m not usually a huge fan of billionaire romances, but I really enjoyed reading this one by K.M. Scott. The story moved pretty quickly, and the characters were very well-developed.

Ava has grown up on the King estate, and she and the King brothers have been in each others’ lives as long as she can remember. She is closest with Theo, in fact, he is her best friend. The two have been there for each other as they have suffered unimaginable losses at such young ages. As close as she is to Theo, the opposite is true of Matthias, the oldest king boy. If he isn’t ignoring her, he treats her as if she is something disgusting stuck on the bottom of his shoe. She has grown accustomed to that and does what she can to just avoid him. All that changes one day during a blizzard that traps these two together for a couple of days. Ava realizes Matthias’s feelings for her weren't at all what she expected them to be. It was pure bliss until it wasn’t. 

Fast forward five years, and Ava and Matthias’s relationship is still complex, complicated, and full of animosity, and now factor in Theo’s feelings for Ava. What Scott has given her readers is a book full of angst and emotions which kept me flipping through the pages. I couldn’t wait to find out how it ended for these characters. 

To say Matthias was a complicated and complex character would be the understatement of the year!!!! There were times that I wanted to throttle this man!!!! I could understand why he was the way that he was, but I wanted to tell him to go get some therapy or finally ask Ava the questions he wanted to ask her before he pushed the one person away that actually saw who he was deep down in his soul! Never fear, readers, he does finally get his act together and finds a path to happiness for him. 

For the most part, I liked Ava. She was a strong individual and my goodness did she have patience. I was glad she finally confronted Matthias and demanded to know what she had done to him to be treated in the way that she was. She pushed his buttons, but yet, she saw a side to him that no one else did. However, she wasn’t perfect. Her feelings for Matthias and Theo were confusing for her. She seemed to be able to easily fall for Theo despite her time with Matthias. I did try to see it from her point of view. Matthias ran so hot and cold, and she really had loved Theo her entire life, but she had to determine whether that was the years of her friendship or romantic love. Like Matthias, she did finally discover her path to happiness. 

This was a very heartfelt book that struck a good combination of spice and many emotional moments. There were also twists I didn’t see coming that really tugged at my heartstrings. Matthias has several other brothers, so I’m hoping this is the beginning of a series. I would definitely read more about the King Boys.

maustinreviewer's review

5.0

 This was a great 5 star read. My emotions were all over the place during this read. This is a great enemies to lover romance. Ava is friends with all of the King boys with the exception of Matthias. For some reason he is mean to her and she can’t figure out his problem. When fate steps in they get a chance to drop their walls but there is a twist and Ava is sent away. We jump ahead a few years, Matthias returns home and of course he has quite some hurtful words for Ava. I felt the same emotions as Ava during his hurtful attacks. There is so much more to this great read. Will they finally get the truth and a HEA? The author does a great job with her writing and I can’t wait to read more from her. If you're looking for a read that pulls you right in, 1-click and get started today.