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dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had me completely absorbed and obsessed with it. I read it in less than a day, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. What a rollercoaster.
This is a dark romance, and the author has a trigger warning at the beginning, and for good reason. Side note: I do notice the Kindle version (with the male cover model) didn't show a trigger warning in it. However, I read a paperback deluxe edition that did include a trigger warning for the following: non-con, dub-con, and suicidal thoughts.
This book is dark and starts that way from the beginning. There's no letting the story warm up; we jump into the scalding heat immediately. The reader is immediately pulled into the sorrow that Glyndon feels over her friend, Devlin, who's taken his life recently. She goes back to the cliff where he passed and there she first encounters Killian. Which is likely the craziest, and dirtiest, encounter she's ever had.
This story is told from both Glyndon's and Killian's perspectives. As we get to know them, and their friends and family, we learn that they attend competing universities, one American and one English. There is some mention of families not getting along, and elite clubs that are at odds with each other too. The conflict is there but doesn't seem fully developed, since these two groups of friends keep intermingling and not completely killing each other.
I think the reason that isn't more of an issue is that the real discourse for Killian and Glyndon is both of them fighting their own nature within the relationship. Killian is dealing with some more complex desires and Glyndon is walking the line between her desires and her own mind telling her to stay away.
There is a big twist at the end of this story that I did not expect or even remotely see coming. I think I had to do an actual slow blink because...what?!? It made total sense, but the author does a nice job of keeping the reader engaged with other aspects of the story.
If you like dark romance, dark academia mixed with the mafia, and an intense story, then you'll likely enjoy this.
This is a dark romance, and the author has a trigger warning at the beginning, and for good reason. Side note: I do notice the Kindle version (with the male cover model) didn't show a trigger warning in it. However, I read a paperback deluxe edition that did include a trigger warning for the following: non-con, dub-con, and suicidal thoughts.
This book is dark and starts that way from the beginning. There's no letting the story warm up; we jump into the scalding heat immediately. The reader is immediately pulled into the sorrow that Glyndon feels over her friend, Devlin, who's taken his life recently. She goes back to the cliff where he passed and there she first encounters Killian. Which is likely the craziest, and dirtiest, encounter she's ever had.
This story is told from both Glyndon's and Killian's perspectives. As we get to know them, and their friends and family, we learn that they attend competing universities, one American and one English. There is some mention of families not getting along, and elite clubs that are at odds with each other too. The conflict is there but doesn't seem fully developed, since these two groups of friends keep intermingling and not completely killing each other.
I think the reason that isn't more of an issue is that the real discourse for Killian and Glyndon is both of them fighting their own nature within the relationship. Killian is dealing with some more complex desires and Glyndon is walking the line between her desires and her own mind telling her to stay away.
There is a big twist at the end of this story that I did not expect or even remotely see coming. I think I had to do an actual slow blink because...what?!? It made total sense, but the author does a nice job of keeping the reader engaged with other aspects of the story.
If you like dark romance, dark academia mixed with the mafia, and an intense story, then you'll likely enjoy this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my first Rina Kent book to have read and I plan on reading the rest of the Legacy of God's series.
For both the first book of hers I've read and the first book in the series, it wasn't too bad! Obviously there are flaws in the book that had me rethinking my choices, especially in the early chapters (iykyk) but overall I thought that the plot would be more dark - it's more centered around the trope of a dark romance than the whole book being a dark themed - so I was a little disappointed that the book didn't take it a little further.
Unfortunately I just couldn't get myself to like the FL Glyndon King, I think maybe I've read too many romances or the character was just generic, I can't make up my mind on which one it is - she's just too predictable with her character to literally nearly everything she says in every chapter, I mean even the love interest Killian calls her a broken record multiple times.
Not sure if I'll come back to this novel soon, but I'm hoping the second book in the series will be a little better!
For both the first book of hers I've read and the first book in the series, it wasn't too bad! Obviously there are flaws in the book that had me rethinking my choices, especially in the early chapters (iykyk) but overall I thought that the plot would be more dark - it's more centered around the trope of a dark romance than the whole book being a dark themed - so I was a little disappointed that the book didn't take it a little further.
Unfortunately I just couldn't get myself to like the FL Glyndon King, I think maybe I've read too many romances or the character was just generic, I can't make up my mind on which one it is - she's just too predictable with her character to literally nearly everything she says in every chapter, I mean even the love interest Killian calls her a broken record multiple times.
Not sure if I'll come back to this novel soon, but I'm hoping the second book in the series will be a little better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault
Minor: Death, Car accident
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had no business being near 500 pages. The end could've been so much better. The conflict could've been so much better. It was so .... Bland for being a dark romance. The smut was nice, but thats all it was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking
dark
tense
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
The writing style is enjoyable and well done. However, the first half of the book sets up for major character development and growth in a dark mafia type college romance setting, but when it comes to the tense emotional moments at the end of the journey (those realization or character change moments) the dialogue and character writing becomes contrived. For the genre this is both par for the course and on the better side. I enjoyed the main female lead and her darkness, but I wished for more from the male lead; he is quite base line mafia romance demon king bad boy but leans towards psycho vs romantic. The big family moments which solve all problems between the side characters and our main leads are also contrived and at some point the friend group becomes a relic of the first half. It was fun for what it is and the drama between gangs/tension between other couples will keep me reading the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
4 🌶️
Damn. I love everything about this book.
Rina Kent, will this be the start of my obssession with your books?
You covered everything.I like the parents' POV.
Killian Carson. Damn, my monster. 🥵
You broke me.
Damn. I love everything about this book.
Rina Kent, will this be the start of my obssession with your books?
You covered everything.
Killian Carson. Damn, my monster. 🥵
You broke me.
“Listen to me and listen to me well, Glyndon. I spent my whole life repressing my true nature, but I’d willingly embrace my demons for you. I’d turn into the devil, a monster, and whatever weapon I have to be if it means I can protect you. You will never, ever question me about it, do you hear me?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Sexual harassment
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Grief
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
Not all girls like the hero. I was fated to fall in love with the villain.
I read the warnings like a responsible reader, so I am not surprised by the amount of insanity this book has. If anything, it only made me love it more! I’ve been searching for a truly unhinged character, and Killian Carson did not disappoint. Even his name would be enough to convince me to read this.
Kill and Glyn were made for each other. I definitely agree that Kill’s physical abuse sometimes goes over the line, but we all knew what we were getting ourselves into (that author’s note should be enough warning). Despite his violent tendencies, he’s actually very sweet at times. I couldn’t get over the fact that he learned to cook just to give her a healthy meal every time, that he quit smoking for her, and many other things.
Kill’s influence on Glyn was not all bad; it actually helped her overcome inner issues she’d been struggling with for years. The way she started as an insecure girl and transformed into this confident and bold woman by the end was heartwarming. But Kill also grew because of her. His illegal ways will never change, but he’s now capable of caring and loving, and it’s proven by the fact that he’s open to seeing things from Glyn’s perspective before making any decision.
I don’t think any other Rina Kent character could top this man for me. Five stars because he doesn’t deserve any less than that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Murder
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Alcohol