Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - American King

I wanted to DNF this series. This audiobook was 16 hours long and I didn't think I was going to make it to the end. This is the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books I've felt this on. Simply put, I didn't enjoy the series. I finished it to say I finished it, giving it a chance. The spice and HEA were a saving grace for me. I'm a sucker for smut and a HEA, but it was a rough road to get there.

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melly_book_review's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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amelie_rose's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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wordswithjenn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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kat1105's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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tabard's review against another edition

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4.75

I mentioned in a Facebook group a while back that I'd read the first two books in Sierra Simone's New Camelot trilogy and stalled on reading the last one because I just could. not. But someone responded saying it was worth it to see it through, so when I saw the whole trilogy is currently included with my Audible membership I snapped it up.

I just finished American Prince, and I'm remembering why I couldn't go on to King. My heart, y'all. It hurts for these three. Sierra Simone's writing is exquisite and (even with a less-than-ideal male narrator) really drives home all the pain the MC's go through. Just...UGH. So I'm going on to American King with my heart in my throat and hoping they don't hurt each other too badly before the end.

Eta 11/16/23am:

So this series ended up being just as heart-wrenching as I expected, though the trio didn't hurt each other as much as/the way I expected. The political intrigue aspect ended up being interesting, but not as deep as I'd thought it might turn out. The female antagonist is one of the most loathsome and sad that I've ever read. I hated her by the end and was fucking glad she got the ending she did (

walked into a river and never came out

). She was pretty obviously coded as someone with mental health problems (mom appears to have been bipolar, though it's never stated outright), and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Kinda gives me the ick, since they

might've avoided a lot of heartache if she'd just gotten a lot of therapy and medication

. Also,

fake out death at the end

, which I'm not a fan of, but it was at least telegraphed kind of, and served an actual purpose.

The story skips Embry's entire term in office to jump to the angry-tearful reunion, and the HEA where Ash has to stay hidden forever to protect his heroic legacy, they all live on a farm with horses, have kids, and all the kinky sexy time they could wish for in their fancy basement dungeon.

Ultimately, the denouement, while fine, felt a little thin,

with the time skip

, and just kind of tells us what happened without us actually getting to see any of it.

Greer and Embry got married early into his term, and don't find out Ash is alive until a year later because "they needed that time for themselves," which, okay I guess, but still. Asshole move, seriously. Also, I wasn't sure if she was gonna do it, but Simone went whole-hog with the Arthurian aspect at the end, and made Ash the literal reincarnation of Arthur! And Merlin, Greer/Gwenivere. Embry was a kind of muddled Lancelot/Mordred I guess?

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chloelj27's review against another edition

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dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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clareasday's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.75

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