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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Monarch by Sophie Lark
Out Now on Kindle Unlimited
Monarch is a wild ride from start to finish.
Elena, a 27-year-old virgin and bookstore nerd, becomes an unlikely mail-order bride, but her fairytale quickly turns dark when she realizes her fiancé, Lorne, is anything but charming.
The suspense is gripping—Lorne's treatment of his daughter Ivy raises red flags, and the castle he builds becomes a twisted labyrinth.
Elena’s smart and perceptive, and you can’t help but root for her as she navigates the eerie dynamics in Grimstone.
Atlas, the intimidating hotel owner, steps in as her unexpected ally, adding layers to the story.
I’m not usually into suspense, but this had me on the edge of my seat.
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Out Now on Kindle Unlimited
Monarch is a wild ride from start to finish.
Elena, a 27-year-old virgin and bookstore nerd, becomes an unlikely mail-order bride, but her fairytale quickly turns dark when she realizes her fiancé, Lorne, is anything but charming.
The suspense is gripping—Lorne's treatment of his daughter Ivy raises red flags, and the castle he builds becomes a twisted labyrinth.
Elena’s smart and perceptive, and you can’t help but root for her as she navigates the eerie dynamics in Grimstone.
Atlas, the intimidating hotel owner, steps in as her unexpected ally, adding layers to the story.
I’m not usually into suspense, but this had me on the edge of my seat.
I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC.
Sophie Lark was a new author to me and this book was a great choice because now I can’t wait to read more books from her and have already picked up Grimstone (same universe as Monarch but a stand alone title). The only thing that I didn’t find perfect about this book for me was that the ending seemed a smidge rushed, not in any way that I thought some resolution was missing just rushed. If half stars were a thing it would maybe warrant rating 4.5 stars but since half stars aren’t a thing it gets all 5 stars because only giving 4 would be a disservice to the novel.
This is a semi dark gothic romantic thriller (I say semi dark because while dark things are mentioned and hinted at they don’t happen on page in the story). I think gothic romance is one of the harder ones to really capture the gothic vibes without falling too heavy into troupes and Sophie does an amazing job of it. You almost feel like you are have been pulled into the world reading by candlelight sitting in a bay window of a tower overlooking a stormy grey sea.
The author does an excellent job of creating three dimensional characters whose flaws you can relate to in the good ones and the evil in the bad ones is something that is real and human. The story starts like a fairy tale with a mail order bride from the Ukraine moving to a small isolated town and slowly the darkness creeps into her life. I won’t say more to avoid any spoilers but trust me the hero is delicious and the princess gets a happy ever after.
Sophie Lark was a new author to me and this book was a great choice because now I can’t wait to read more books from her and have already picked up Grimstone (same universe as Monarch but a stand alone title). The only thing that I didn’t find perfect about this book for me was that the ending seemed a smidge rushed, not in any way that I thought some resolution was missing just rushed. If half stars were a thing it would maybe warrant rating 4.5 stars but since half stars aren’t a thing it gets all 5 stars because only giving 4 would be a disservice to the novel.
This is a semi dark gothic romantic thriller (I say semi dark because while dark things are mentioned and hinted at they don’t happen on page in the story). I think gothic romance is one of the harder ones to really capture the gothic vibes without falling too heavy into troupes and Sophie does an amazing job of it. You almost feel like you are have been pulled into the world reading by candlelight sitting in a bay window of a tower overlooking a stormy grey sea.
The author does an excellent job of creating three dimensional characters whose flaws you can relate to in the good ones and the evil in the bad ones is something that is real and human. The story starts like a fairy tale with a mail order bride from the Ukraine moving to a small isolated town and slowly the darkness creeps into her life. I won’t say more to avoid any spoilers but trust me the hero is delicious and the princess gets a happy ever after.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
first one was definitely better, the ending of this just felt really rushed and was wrapped up in literally 1 chapter but also BOOK 100!!!
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was meh! Not bad, fast paced. Lorne was def a dick. I just thought the story fell a little flat for me.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced