Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Estuvo normalito. Cosas muy funables pasaban y Levi definitivamente no es un príncipe amable, pero es un dark romance, así que tampoco intentaba defenderlo.
Rápido de leer, drama suficiente y no tan agotador.
Astrid me cae bien, simpática, no tan plana. Qué bueno que pudo tener un buen final. Me gusta su parte artística KSKDKSL.
Rápido de leer, drama suficiente y no tan agotador.
Astrid me cae bien, simpática, no tan plana. Qué bueno que pudo tener un buen final. Me gusta su parte artística KSKDKSL.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cruel King is my first step into the Rinaverse. Truthfully, The Legacy of Gods series has been sitting on my TBR for a while, but I am the type of reader who has to start at the beginning. So for me, that meant diving into the Royal Elite series first. When I discovered her books are in duet, I moved them up my list immediately.
Speaking of duet narration, one thing to note is that unlike the rest of the series, Cruel King is dual narration. That narration style is not my favorite, but since the audiobook is short, I powered through. If you strongly prefer duet narration and do not enjoy dual narration audiobooks, I recommend eyeball reading this prequel and saving the audio experience for the later books.
Like most dark romances, this book is not for everyone. It leans heavily into blurred lines around consent, which could be triggering for some readers, so I strongly suggest checking the author’s trigger warnings list before reading if content is a concern for you.
Cruel King is written in dual POV and centers around Levi and Astrid. Levi fits the archetype of the untouchable, cruel hero, but through his POV chapters and his budding relationship with Astrid, Kent reveals more than just arrogance and power. Astrid initially comes across as easy to dismiss by her own design, yet her quiet resilience and flashes of defiance make her compelling. Their dynamic begins with control, tension, and challenge, but it grows into something deeper, showing how both characters transform when forced to confront their vulnerabilities.
Beyond Levi and Astrid’s relationship, the story itself holds secrets, family power, and forbidden connections. Their romance unfolds against a backdrop of privilege and danger, where the truth is carefully hidden, and both are warned to stay away from each other. What begins as a cruel game quickly escalates into a high stakes, secret relationship that tests loyalty, trust, and survival.
Some plot points were predictable, but they did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I found myself invested in Levi and Astrid’s push-and-pull dynamic and the intensity of their connection, especially as their relationship shifted from hostility to something more complicated and consuming.
While Cruel King did not completely wow me, it served as a solid introduction to the Rinaverse and sets the stage for what is to come. If you enjoy bully romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, and can handle darker themes, it is worth picking up.
Speaking of duet narration, one thing to note is that unlike the rest of the series, Cruel King is dual narration. That narration style is not my favorite, but since the audiobook is short, I powered through. If you strongly prefer duet narration and do not enjoy dual narration audiobooks, I recommend eyeball reading this prequel and saving the audio experience for the later books.
Like most dark romances, this book is not for everyone. It leans heavily into blurred lines around consent, which could be triggering for some readers, so I strongly suggest checking the author’s trigger warnings list before reading if content is a concern for you.
Cruel King is written in dual POV and centers around Levi and Astrid. Levi fits the archetype of the untouchable, cruel hero, but through his POV chapters and his budding relationship with Astrid, Kent reveals more than just arrogance and power. Astrid initially comes across as easy to dismiss by her own design, yet her quiet resilience and flashes of defiance make her compelling. Their dynamic begins with control, tension, and challenge, but it grows into something deeper, showing how both characters transform when forced to confront their vulnerabilities.
Beyond Levi and Astrid’s relationship, the story itself holds secrets, family power, and forbidden connections. Their romance unfolds against a backdrop of privilege and danger, where the truth is carefully hidden, and both are warned to stay away from each other. What begins as a cruel game quickly escalates into a high stakes, secret relationship that tests loyalty, trust, and survival.
Some plot points were predictable, but they did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I found myself invested in Levi and Astrid’s push-and-pull dynamic and the intensity of their connection, especially as their relationship shifted from hostility to something more complicated and consuming.
While Cruel King did not completely wow me, it served as a solid introduction to the Rinaverse and sets the stage for what is to come. If you enjoy bully romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, and can handle darker themes, it is worth picking up.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
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:
Complicated
The overdramatization of every little action of the main leads got on my nerves.
If it wasn’t for aiden’s dry humor and the side character ( mainly the twins i think, whoever was speaking in French) that made this book tolerable I would’ve dnf or rated it 1⭐️
If it wasn’t for aiden’s dry humor and the side character ( mainly the twins i think, whoever was speaking in French) that made this book tolerable I would’ve dnf or rated it 1⭐️
pls let the protagonist buy a gun and kill every men here
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️ TOXICITY AT ITS FINEST
What Rina Kent does best is write toxic love rooted in tragedy, and Cruel King was no different. Her characters are always messy, complicated, and driven by problematic personalities—and that’s exactly what I enjoy about her stories. That said, while the angst and intensity were there, I didn’t always feel fully pulled into the romance. It was addictive at times but also frustrating in ways that made it hard to completely love. Still, it’s a solid read if you’re into dark, twisted love stories that lean heavily into toxicity and drama.
What Rina Kent does best is write toxic love rooted in tragedy, and Cruel King was no different. Her characters are always messy, complicated, and driven by problematic personalities—and that’s exactly what I enjoy about her stories. That said, while the angst and intensity were there, I didn’t always feel fully pulled into the romance. It was addictive at times but also frustrating in ways that made it hard to completely love. Still, it’s a solid read if you’re into dark, twisted love stories that lean heavily into toxicity and drama.