Mimi
This book had so much promise for the first 20% and I was so sure it'd be at least a 3 star, likely 4-5 stars. I love a controlling, manipulative MMC who blackmails a strong FMC into sleeping with him. She's terrified of him but her body betrays her. She betrays him and moves on with another guy. Throw in second chance romance where the MMC is still obsessed with the FMC, kills anyone who hurts her, forced marriage, secret child, the FMC tries to run away only for MMC to catch her and punish her, refusing to give her freedom, breeding kink and omg I was so excited.
But as much as I love body betrayal, during the second chance romance phase for such a strong FMC she gave up fighting too early. There was no fight at all after she married him. I was just so confused that the FMC being described as 'ruthless king' and has children she should want to go back to, as soon as she sleeps with him after the forced marriage, there is no fighting and no escaping. It was so disappointing. I love body betrayal and psychological manipulation in dark romance but there was no gradual brainwashing in this at all. The FMC just immediately caved. Her brother even came to rescue her to go back to her children but she refused his offer.
I was so annoyed by this, I considered DNFing at the 30% mark but I decided to power through because Lola King's writing is good and I do like how controlling, unrepentant and manipulative the MMC was but ultimately it stayed much the same.
There are two plot twists at the end but the FMC is so changed and weak for the MMC, it didn't redeem the book for me. I also wish there was an epilogue with the couple's future children but sadly there wasn't. Wouldn't reread.
This book had so much promise for the first 20% and I was so sure it'd be at least a 3 star, likely 4-5 stars. I love a controlling, manipulative MMC who blackmails a strong FMC into sleeping with him. She's terrified of him but her body betrays her. She betrays him and moves on with another guy. Throw in second chance romance where the MMC is still obsessed with the FMC, kills anyone who hurts her, forced marriage, secret child, the FMC tries to run away only for MMC to catch her and punish her, refusing to give her freedom, breeding kink and omg I was so excited.
But as much as I love body betrayal, during the second chance romance phase for such a strong FMC she gave up fighting too early. There was no fight at all after she married him. I was just so confused that the FMC being described as 'ruthless king' and has children she should want to go back to, as soon as she sleeps with him after the forced marriage, there is no fighting and no escaping. It was so disappointing. I love body betrayal and psychological manipulation in dark romance but there was no gradual brainwashing in this at all. The FMC just immediately caved. Her brother even came to rescue her to go back to her children but she refused his offer.
I was so annoyed by this, I considered DNFing at the 30% mark but I decided to power through because Lola King's writing is good and I do like how controlling, unrepentant and manipulative the MMC was but ultimately it stayed much the same.
There are two plot twists at the end but the FMC is so changed and weak for the MMC, it didn't redeem the book for me. I also wish there was an epilogue with the couple's future children but sadly there wasn't. Wouldn't reread.