A review by roxxie
Empire of Carnage by Santana Knox

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Empire of Carnage by Santana Knox – Disappointing finale

As a new fan of Santana Knox’s Reina del Cártel trilogy, I was excited to dive into Empire of Carnage, the much-anticipated conclusion to the intense journey of Celia Flores and her ascent to power within the Flores Cártel. The first two books, Queen of Nothing and Reign of Ruin, were thrilling, brutal, and full of the kind of suspense that had me hooked from beginning to end. Unfortunately, while Empire of Carnage does offer some powerful moments, it didn’t deliver the climactic tension and depth I’d come to expect, and it fell somewhat short as the conclusion of Celia’s story.

Empire of Carnage ♦ Santana Knox

Opinion

The blurb paints a bleak and intense picture with the line, "The only way out is death", promising high stakes as Celia faces her past and navigates deadly enemies. But despite this setup, the suspense feels surprisingly subdued. There are action sequences, and Celia does face several confrontations, but the tension doesn’t build as strongly as it did in the earlier books. One reason for this is the repetitive arguments and conflicts that begin to dominate the narrative. Rather than introducing fresh obstacles, the story often circles around the same issues, with Celia wrestling with doubts and fears that, after a while, lose their emotional impact. This repetitive cycle dulls the tension, making the plot feel like it’s moving in circles rather than building toward a decisive, powerful end.

The predictability of certain plot points also lessens the story’s edge. Queen of Nothing and Reign of Ruin were brimming with unexpected twists that kept me on my toes, but Empire of Carnage doesn’t deliver the same level of surprise. Various developments feel telegraphed early on, which diminishes the suspense as we reach the final act. Rather than escalating toward a dramatic climax, the story frequently feels like it’s stuck in familiar patterns, missing the explosive, unpredictable finale that seemed so inevitable. Celia’s internal battles, while intense, begin to feel static, and her ultimate confrontation lacks the emotional and narrative punch it needed.

However, there are still aspects of Empire of Carnage that make it worthwhile, especially for dedicated fans of Celia’s journey. Knox’s gritty, immersive writing style is as effective as ever, capturing the dark, morally complex world of the Flores Cártel. Celia remains a strong anti-heroine, and there are scenes that powerfully depict her evolution and the brutal challenges she faces. While the repetition of some themes detracts from the impact, there are flashes of the intensity that made the first two books so compelling. Celia’s struggle to reconcile her power with her humanity is handled with depth in moments, and these glimpses of her character growth do give some satisfaction to readers who have followed her from the beginning.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Empire of Carnage provides closure but lacks the fiery, suspense-filled conclusion I have hoped for. While I still recommend the Reina del Cártel trilogy for fans of dark romance and crime drama, this final installment fell short of the fierce promise it made in the beginning. It’s a decent read but doesn’t capture the same excitement or suspense that made Queen of Nothing and Reign of Ruin so unforgettable.


This review was first published at The Art of Reading.