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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Prince of Pain,” by Tara Gallina
Cinderella type story with a friends to enemies to lovers trope type of stuff going on. There was a lot of mystery throughout the book which kept me wondering what would happen or what was going on. Family drama and teen angst all over the book. I wished the ending was more impactful than it ended up being but the book until then was really interesting. 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you for the ARC, Hiddengems.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
He’s no prince, she’s no princess—and their love story is anything but a fairy tale. Welcome to the cruel, glittering world of Prince of Pain, where the Gilded Age vibes of opulence and decadence collide with the toxicity and torment of a modern-day old-money romance.
Tara Gallina’s Prince of Pain dives headfirst into the lives of Adelaide and Kingston, childhood friends turned enemies-turned-something-more. Adelaide, raised in the lap of luxury yet emotionally bruised by betrayal and loss, is determined to keep her guard up in a world where people take what they want, no matter the cost. Kingston, with his piercing moonbeam eyes and dangerously sharp edges, is the boy who saved her once—but has become the man who knows exactly how to break her.
The setting, a Rhode Island mansion enclave, feels like a character itself—full of secrets, echoes of past grandeur, and shadows that can’t be escaped.
The push-pull dynamic between her and Kingston will have readers hooked, even when you’re screaming at them to make better choices. It’s toxic, messy, and borderline unbearable at times, but it’s written with such emotional depth that you can’t look away. Adelaide and Kingston’s story is a collision course of destruction—or salvation.
This isn’t a sunshine-and-rainbows romance. Prince of Pain doesn’t shy away from the darker side of love, tackling themes like emotional manipulation, dominance, and past trauma. Readers should approach with care, as some moments are intense and may hit close to home. But if you love angst, drama, and high-stakes love-hate chemistry, this book delivers all of it in spades.
For fans of modern romances with high heat, dark twists, and a touch of the forbidden, Prince of Pain is an addictive read that will leave you breathless, frustrated, and desperately needing the next installment of the Cruel Legacies series
4.25⭐️ Dark Romance, Friends to Enemies to Lovers, Obsessed MMC, Billionaire Romance, Cinderella Twist 🫐🌙☕️👑
I ATE THIS BOOK UP! Buckled in from page one and was ready to devour it all! I just loved everything about it!
I liked Prince of Pain being a dark romance but on the lighter side. Friends to lovers is such a good trope and I love the way that it was done in this book. Being able to read scenes from different years as the characters grew up definitely added some needed backstory and context that made me a more invested reader.
I ate up the timeline and struggles they both went through. From Addie and Kingston meeting at age 11 and being inseparable, to them having this abrupt ending to their friendship, and then finding a way to resolve past issues and move forward with their relationship.
The romance and suspenseful dark elements went together so perfectly. It gave this book a nice twist while also being so addicting to read. Reading about characters like these ones truly make me believe in love and soulmates 🤍
I ATE THIS BOOK UP! Buckled in from page one and was ready to devour it all! I just loved everything about it!
I liked Prince of Pain being a dark romance but on the lighter side. Friends to lovers is such a good trope and I love the way that it was done in this book. Being able to read scenes from different years as the characters grew up definitely added some needed backstory and context that made me a more invested reader.
I ate up the timeline and struggles they both went through. From Addie and Kingston meeting at age 11 and being inseparable, to them having this abrupt ending to their friendship, and then finding a way to resolve past issues and move forward with their relationship.
The romance and suspenseful dark elements went together so perfectly. It gave this book a nice twist while also being so addicting to read. Reading about characters like these ones truly make me believe in love and soulmates 🤍
dark
mysterious
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
I enjoyed reading this! It’s sweet but also edgy with a touch of mystery and a morally grey MMC that turns into a golden retriever.
It’s a friends to enemies to lovers gilded age story of love and loss and strength. I’ll tell ya that I didn’t expect to cry but I definitely did! I loved how the story came together and the ending left no questions unanswered.
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
I am not gonna lie, this wasn't my cup of tea. Somehow I couldn't bring myself to really like any of the characters in the book altough the story itself wasn't bad. Something between Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast and maybe Romeo and Juliet. I think I am not really into modern retelling like these. God knows.
There were parts that I liked and enjoyed, but it took me some time to get through this book, it didn't hook me up as I thought it would.
Also, I am a big fan of the s3x scenes in general, but here, they felt like too much. These scenes took almost half of the book and looked like they were copied from each other (I did not check how much exactly, but it felt like a lot).
Overall it was a good story and nicely written, just not for me.
There were parts that I liked and enjoyed, but it took me some time to get through this book, it didn't hook me up as I thought it would.
Also, I am a big fan of the s3x scenes in general, but here, they felt like too much. These scenes took almost half of the book and looked like they were copied from each other (I did not check how much exactly, but it felt like a lot).
Overall it was a good story and nicely written, just not for me.
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-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
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This would be a very good book for those who are new to dark romance. This follows Adelaide & Kingston's story from becoming childhood friends to enemies to lovers. There's some OW drama which led to betrayal and Addie's heartbreak in their teen ages. Absolutely love their chemistry after reconciliation. There's so many uncovered secrets between them which made the plot interesting. I just felt that the ending was rushed. Overall really enjoyed it (read it in a single sitting 😌).
What to expect:
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
💸 Billionaire Romance
🖤 Dark Romance for Beginners
🌶️ 18+ Spicy