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challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body horror
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That was an experience. Truly. This book was enthralling. If the first book was a walk in the park then the second was a gunshot to the chest. I hesitate to call it stunning but it was a stunning experience. The two books work together and have an accelerating structure. The midpoint of the second book feels like a third act break for the whole series. I don’t love possessive MMC’s but like maybe it kind of worked here. Like I kind of get it but at some points I was like “get real”. Their whole relationship was like that. I get it. I get it. Supernatural love connection but also you’ve spent a grand total of 4 days together let’s be real. A decade apart and still panting like a Labrador? Get real. But also I completely bought in and got so invested I read this book in three days which is impressive for me. It was like fanfiction (not in a derogatory way) but like it’s all about relationships and will they, won’t they and “I love you, I hate you” but how will this work with an undertone of serious topics and then BAM something insane like murder, kidnapping, or coma. And it crushed me a little bit. But I swear to God if they mentioned that she was 17 when they met but nothing happened one more time I was gonna lose it. And if they talked about her “deflowering” by him 4 years later as “deflowering” I was gonna go berserk. There was an overwhelming amount of spice. These two are rabbits. I wasn’t a huge fan of the quantity there but the backbone of the story was still very engaging. I do in fact love them as a couple. They were very real and very cute and I loved watching them argue and communicate and work through their issues to fight for each other. Lennix is such a vibrant MC. I just loved that she had a mind of her own and desires and internal traumas and love of her heritage and culture and people but also dealt with the conflict of marrying into wealth and power as a marginalized woman. But like that’s still her man and if she has to be rich and powerful being with him then “I guess that’s what we’re doing”. Kennedy touched on serious issues in a really powerful and lovely way. It was just really solid if not a little outlandish at points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Torture, Kidnapping, Grief
Minor: Death, Murder
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death
Minor: Violence, Car accident
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I wish I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. THE REBEL KING was a rollercoaster that at times I wanted off of. The book picks up where we ended in THE KINGMAKER and swiftly takes us through the fallout from Lennix's abduction. But the story hits a snag when that storyline takes a back seat to focus on the couple's respective careers. The story picks up again after our protagonists experience a tragic loss but the plot becomes improbable near the end. Lennix and Maxim's love and chemistry feels so real and leaps off of the page. I enjoyed their back-and-forth and the ways they worked through their issues as a couple.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Kidnapping
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Kidnapping
Moderate: Racism
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Sexual content, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was this perfect conclusion to this ambitious second chance power couples story for representation of an indigenous culture and the power and sadness that comes with being that in particular from America. Lennix Moon Hunter is the best empowered women that's her authentic self which is a beautiful thing to read about throughout her years. The jump in time for most of her life over two decades is powerful and healing in the most realistic and well done representation of one story for the family of a missing and murdered indigenous women. In this case its her mother, which she learns to adapt while pushing for focus on the issue personal to her life.
Maxim is tied in to her life in the best way and they work to overcome the divisive lifestyles which brought them together. Not to mention the seven year age difference which causes a part of there problem in the choices they make but somehow didn't bug me . This sequel for this duology writing is just a graceful and meanigful as The Kingmaker and was a good time for me considering I read both within two days last week. I'm beyond grateful to have read one of the most popular female black authors out right now in this ARC. I definitely plan to get physical about this story of love, growth, and compromise which if your reading this you should do the same.
Maxim is tied in to her life in the best way and they work to overcome the divisive lifestyles which brought them together. Not to mention the seven year age difference which causes a part of there problem in the choices they make but somehow didn't bug me . This sequel for this duology writing is just a graceful and meanigful as The Kingmaker and was a good time for me considering I read both within two days last week. I'm beyond grateful to have read one of the most popular female black authors out right now in this ARC. I definitely plan to get physical about this story of love, growth, and compromise which if your reading this you should do the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
challenging
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:
Yes
4.5 stars!
Kennedy Ryan never, and I do mean NEVER, misses. If you are not reading her books, you are missing out on some of the best novels ever written! Seriously!! She's THAT good. "The Rebel King" picks up right where "The Kingmaker" left off. I personally think this is one of the best sequels I've ever read, and I'm not just saying this because I am a Kennedy Ryan fangirl. The plot is insanely engaging, gripping, and tense. In fact, it never lets up once the book starts. It doubles down on the drama, triples down on the suspense, and quadruples down on the sexiness. It's hard to make my jaw drop, but boy, did it ever! Much like Maxim to Lennix, I DEVOURED this book. I'm not one for alpha-holes, but Maxim.... ohhhh, Maxim. His devotion, possessiveness, and adoration is something else. He's also super sweet and sensitive, too. Top book boyfriend material. And Lennix! What a strong, fearless, fierce-but-gentle main character. God, I love her. I love him. I love them both. I love them together. I love the smuuuut! I love their growth both together and apart. You never, ever doubt for a single second that they are not soulmates. And just when you think it can't possibly get any more emotional, BAM! More and more heart-pounding drama propels the plot forward into new, uncharted territories I did NOT see coming. This story is not just about the spice and the tension. It's also a multilayered sociopolitical commentary about climate change, big pharma, indigenous rights, political volatility, PTSD, and grief.
"The Rebel King" is a truly extraordinary book. It's a top-tier contemporary romance and an incredible sequel. I am just in sheer awe of Kennedy Ryan's writing abilities. She is truly to GOAT!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan, and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.
Kennedy Ryan never, and I do mean NEVER, misses. If you are not reading her books, you are missing out on some of the best novels ever written! Seriously!! She's THAT good. "The Rebel King" picks up right where "The Kingmaker" left off. I personally think this is one of the best sequels I've ever read, and I'm not just saying this because I am a Kennedy Ryan fangirl. The plot is insanely engaging, gripping, and tense. In fact, it never lets up once the book starts. It doubles down on the drama, triples down on the suspense, and quadruples down on the sexiness. It's hard to make my jaw drop, but boy, did it ever! Much like Maxim to Lennix, I DEVOURED this book. I'm not one for alpha-holes, but Maxim.... ohhhh, Maxim. His devotion, possessiveness, and adoration is something else. He's also super sweet and sensitive, too. Top book boyfriend material. And Lennix! What a strong, fearless, fierce-but-gentle main character. God, I love her. I love him. I love them both. I love them together. I love the smuuuut! I love their growth both together and apart. You never, ever doubt for a single second that they are not soulmates. And just when you think it can't possibly get any more emotional, BAM! More and more heart-pounding drama propels the plot forward into new, uncharted territories I did NOT see coming. This story is not just about the spice and the tension. It's also a multilayered sociopolitical commentary about climate change, big pharma, indigenous rights, political volatility, PTSD, and grief.
"The Rebel King" is a truly extraordinary book. It's a top-tier contemporary romance and an incredible sequel. I am just in sheer awe of Kennedy Ryan's writing abilities. She is truly to GOAT!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan, and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
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
We meet again, Kennedy Ryan. You are still scintillating loquacious and heartbreaking profound. Kennedy weaves together our two power house main characters in a story that kept me weeping, laughing, and repeat.
Our lovers face one crisis and are reunited and then face another, foundation personal earthquake in their lives. And the hits just keep on coming. I love watching Maxim and Lennix struggle through their difficulties, figure out how to make it, and then not only make it work but just make it great. These two, they are amazing. I wish they were real. If they were, I'd want to know them. That's how much I like, no, love these characters. Lennix takes to rediscovering the power of her ancestorial beliefs and the healing in them and in her running. Maxim sees the power in his family but keeps his boundary that they accept Lennix. Kimba. Oh, she shines. She has so many moments. They are good. But ultimately this is Maxim and Lennix's story.
You are so going to enjoy this book. I'm giving it a hearty, 5 bright, shiny golden stars and 3.5 on the Scoville Spice Scale.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Source Bloom Books in exchange for an honest review.
Our lovers face one crisis and are reunited and then face another, foundation personal earthquake in their lives. And the hits just keep on coming. I love watching Maxim and Lennix struggle through their difficulties, figure out how to make it, and then not only make it work but just make it great. These two, they are amazing. I wish they were real. If they were, I'd want to know them. That's how much I like, no, love these characters. Lennix takes to rediscovering the power of her ancestorial beliefs and the healing in them and in her running. Maxim sees the power in his family but keeps his boundary that they accept Lennix. Kimba. Oh, she shines. She has so many moments. They are good. But ultimately this is Maxim and Lennix's story.
You are so going to enjoy this book. I'm giving it a hearty, 5 bright, shiny golden stars and 3.5 on the Scoville Spice Scale.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Source Bloom Books in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Colonisation