This was a hard DNF.

It was too much like a modern ACOTAR right down to the courts. It felt super forced and made me cringe when the FMC was like "No guy has made me feel this way before." Not my ideal trope and it just was very bleh.

I hope others like it, but I didn't vibe with it.

This book really surprised me. With the way it was presented I was expecting it to focus more on the spicy bits than the story, but I was very pleasantly surprised that the author had spent time worldbuilding and developing the characters.

A sure fire way to bring me in to a story is with good banter, and this book delivers on that front. I liked both characters. We get to know Bryn and Caiden pretty well, but I would have liked a little more backstory on both, especially more on the dynamic between Caiden and his brothers.

The world building was done pretty well, I liked this twist on the fae world, as I've found I'm not typically a fan of books based on fae.

My one big gripe is the spice. I am not a fan of bdsm at all, and I hurried through those scenes as it just left me cold. However if you're in to that this might be the perfect book for you.
I will give the spice aspect a plus as Maxwell works her way up to it, and the connection between Caiden and Bryn develops before they get to the 'real stuff'.

I would have enjoyed a little more at the very end of the book, but understand that this will be a series, so I see why Maxwell would chose this spot to leave off with Bryn and Caiden.
I am curious about the next book, but at the same time hesitant about it as it seems to continue with the bdsm spice.

For the story alone I enjoyed it very much, so am giving it 4 stars.

I enjoyed this even more than I thought I would. Fantasy, kink, alpha male “touch her and you die” vibes with a heroine who can hold her own! I liked every character and the banter felt natural (which I feel is hard to come by in darker romance reads), I even chuckled a few times. Is there anything this book didn’t have? Not that I could find!

Wow! Where do I begin. First, this is a standalone with a HEA. It had a great plot and included lots of spicy scenes. If you are into BDSM, dominating alpha males, immediate attraction, supernatural, curses that will not let you be more than a certain distance from your partner (Yes - I said it) and a plot twist you won’t forget this is the book for you. It a fun read. I enjoyed this book and looking forward to the next one in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was so excited for this book! And let me tell you Gina did not disappoint!

The Dark King follows Bryn Meara who has just lost her job and wants to have a mini vacation before searching a new job. She has won a vacation to the Nightfall hotel in Las Vegas. This is where she runs into Caiden Verran, the owner of the hotel and most of Vegas! And secretly The Dark King of the Dark fae! After a crazy night they wake up married and bound to each.

Bryn (our FMC)- is witty, smart, driven, gorgeous, and a PR specialist. She is so kind and so intuitive of people. I just love her so much and want to be her best friend. She keeps Caiden on his toes. And let's be honest someone has to. 🤣

Caiden (our MMC)- broody, successful, reclusive, sexy as hell, dominate, loyal, possessive alphahole Dark King of the Night Court and one of the Kings of Las Vegas. Where can I get me a Caiden? Seriously his character is so so good. I love that on the outside he is broody and reclusive.. almost untouchable if you will. But in the inside he is just a male who has soo much on his plate and a cinnamon roll!!!

The side characters/ the inner circle..are just as hilarious as the main characters. I can't count how many times I laughed in this book! Ok, tea time! I actually want Tier (one of Caiden's younger brothers). I love how he is so funny, genuinely happy, smooth/suave, and helps those he loves.

What To Expect-
▪︎ ⚠️Please Read TW before proceeding⚠️
▪︎Mates (but Gina does a fresh take on it and I'm obsessed)
▪︎Forced Proximity
▪︎Curses
▪︎Secrets
▪︎Banter (everyone has awesome comebacks and they all banter with each other)
▪︎ Romance Fantasy and Erotica
▪︎ Fae
▪︎ Great World Building I can't wait for more
▪︎BDSM done freaking right 🔥🥵💦 the spice is not cringey! Huge plus!
▪︎ Hand Necklaces, Edgeing, etc.
▪︎HEA
▪︎ Grumpy x Sunshine
▪︎ Self Discovery
▪︎ A Cliffhanger ending of sorts
▪︎Found Family
▪︎ and so much more!!!

The Dark King is book one and a standalone in the Deviant King Series!!! And I absolutely can not wait for the second book! I needed it yesterday!!! 🖤🤣

Yes yes yes, this was super Uber sexy fae read. I was expecting the Vegas glamour and what I got was so much more. Yup I loved where this started and the unravel of events had me completely enthralled. I must read more!

Gina L. Maxwell - The Dark King (Deviant Kings 1)

Book came at the wrong time

Thanks to Netgalley for the digital review copy.
I found the blurb insanely appealing and just had to read the book.
Caiden the King of the Night Court, that says it all, one day finds himself very attracted to the human Bryn. Bryn and Caiden experience a highly erotic night at his Las Vegas hotel. When the two wake up the next day, they realize that they are married. Unfortunately, neither Caiden nor Bryn can remember last night.

The book is easy to read and there is definitely no shortage of spicy scenes. What I was missing was the depth. Both characters somehow fall in love instantly and somehow can't keep their hands off each other. Only in the last third I did feel a little more towards the two otherwise it was rather flat for me. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading the book and I'm really looking forward to part two.

The phrase "Neon Gods meets Fifty Shades" is nice, but I didn't find either. Rather more "Hades disguised as Rhysand meets Persephone in the world of Percy Jackson".

I really enjoyed the book and look forward to more stories from the Author.

4 ⭐️ / 5 ⭐️

I heard a lot of hype for this book. It wasn’t what I expected. For me it didn’t live up to what I heard.
Spicy scenes and lots of tension. Focus of the book was the bonding between Caiden and Bryn. It wasn’t bad, I was just expecting more progression with plot than what I got (light and dark Faes, magic systems, Fae realm building). Still entertaining and I sped through it. I will probably read the other books to find out what happens.
Online description says each book is a standalone. I don’t think you’d be able to read them out of order. Overarching enemy they are trying to defeat. Problem/enemy was not solved in first book- how is that a standalone? Assuming each book focuses on the love story of each brother, still have the same bad guy to beat.

18+ check content warnings

Special thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for this digital ARC.

I loved it!
The book had me completely hooked!
Banter+Forced Proximity... Yup, I'm in!

I was dying at the MMC's banter, and the supporting characters were hilarious, so I can't wait for book 2!

As usual, I have every suspicion, just to have most of them be wrong and leave me speechless. It was the ideal ending to introduce the second book.

BUT NOW I HAVE TO WAIT TILL 2023 FOR BOOK 2! THIS IS NOT FAIR!

I really found it to be boring.. Tho thr plot is interesting.. But kinda too predictable.. I would still like to read a sequel... But it was an okay read for me..

The Dark King-Gina L. Maxwell
Entangled Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-64937-327-4
E-book ISBN: 978-1-64937-328-1
September 27, 2022-08-27
Erotica, Romance

Las Vegas-Present Day

After a couple of let downs in the last few months, one being the lost of her job, has Bryn Meara excited to be in Las Vegas. From what she glimpsed on her way to the hotel the city definitely lives up to the hype. She has been invited to stay at Nightfall, one of the premier hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. While waiting to check in at the hotel, Bryn spies Caiden Verran, the owner of the hotel and she can’t help but notice that he is hot. Their eyes meet and there is an instant attraction. It is only later on, when Bryn is in the casino gambling, that Caiden seeks her out and they connect with each other.

Caiden Verran is not called The Dark King for nothing. He has dark desires, dark moods, and dark secrets, one being that he is king of the Dark Fae Court. As fae and king of the fae he has a lot of responsibility but after seeing the woman whose eyes he met in the lobby in one of his casinos he wants to set aside his responsibilities for a couple of hours and enjoy himself. Bryn and Caiden spends the evening drinking and talking, the attraction between them is undeniable but when they both wake up in the morning in the same hotel room, married, not able to remember a thing from the night before, things get complicated.

Caiden sets to right the wrong that was committed the night before and is determined to sever this marriage with Bryn but as mentioned things are complicated. Because they are married, it sets off a curse that was put on the Dark Court- those who married to another fae can’t be too far from them physically or they will die- so complicated. When Caiden tries to leave Las Vegas for a meeting; leaving Bryn behind, he starts to die. His trusted Senior Advisor figures out what happened and they high tail it back to Las Vegas to Bryn. But how can the curse be enacted when Bryn is human?

The Dark King is an erotic, entertaining romance that does a good job at building a world that is intriguing and readers will want to know more about. The secondary characters include, Tiernan and Finnian Verran, Caiden’s younger brothers, Connor and Conall Woulfe, Caiden’s private security detail who are also shifters. Byrn comes across as a feisty and blunt heroine who want take crap from Caiden even if he is a king. There are surprises, intense love scenes, and plenty of fun. The story sets up the beginning of a series. A good read, pick up your copy today.

Avis Yarbrough

This book is a 4.5 star read for me. It has everything I want in a book, forced marriage, enemies(sorta) to lovers, fae, birth secrets, finding powers, and spice. This book had me hooked from the first chapter. Move over for the Verran brothers, Kings of Las Vegas and the Dark Fae. Caiden is a too good to be true MMC who’s tall, dark, brooding but also the most gentlest man to Bryn. And Bryn is such a tough, snarky FMC that is like a breath of fresh air, I love her attitude in the whole book. If you’re looking for a modern fae fantasy romance set in the real world, then I highly suggest this book. I cannot wait for book 2 and getting the Verran brother’s stories!

SI SI SI SIIIII!

Menuda maravilla de libro! Los personajes son fantásticos, su quimica perfecta, la trama… brutal!

No voy a parar de recomendar este libro!
Es un mix perfecto entre Neon Gods, 50 sombras y ACOTAR😍

The Dark King is a super sexy fantasy romance that feels like a combination of ACOTAR, Neon Gods and Fifty Shades of Grey (you know, if Fifty Shades had been written with any actual knowledge of how BDSM works).

Set in the city of sin, Caiden Verran is both the King of the Dark Fae and of his empire as Las Vegas royalty. Everything is going his way until he meets one Bryn Meara, an amicable midwestern woman who just wants to have a weekend of fun. Neither are expecting their lives to be turned upside down upon meeting and neither could anticipate what happens when they do.

This book was such a fun and spicy read that I didn’t want to put down. I loved the characters and relationships that were depicted throughout and the romance was *chef’s kiss*. This is definitely worth the read if you are looking for a spicy fantasy romance to get immersed in. Can’t wait to see where Maxwell goes with this world and cast of characters next!

OMG this book blew me away! I absolutely devoured it. It’s got an amazing plot and the characters are fantastic. Even the side characters had something a little extra.

It follows Bryn who after spending a wild night in Vegas, ends up married to the King of the Dark Fae, Caiden. She ends up being thrown into the world of the Fae and subsequently becomes a pawn in their dark games for power.

I went into this thinking that it was going to be a full on smut fest but the plot is as good as any fantasy book I’ve read. The magical world building was really easy to follow and as it was set in our world, it was exciting seeing how Gina incorporated it.

The spice though…wow. Some of the best spice I’ve read in a while. It was full on BDSM and I loved every dirty moment of it.

My only negative is that Caiden’s nickname for Bryn was “Beauty”. It’s probably the worst nickname I’ve ever heard and I cringed every single time. But it was really easy to ignore, since the rest of the book was amazing.

4.5✨

“Something inside me shifted, changing me irrevocably and tying my soul to you in a way I couldn’t possibly understand in that moment, but with each passing day—each passing minute—my love for you only continued to grow until I felt consumed by you and never felt happier.”

The Dark King follows Bryn, a human woman from the Midwest, and her wild night in Vegas with the King of the Dark Fae, Caiden. After a serendipitous meeting in his hotel, Bryn finds herself drawn to Caiden in a way she can’t explain. Dancing the night away leads to waking up with his ring on her finger, which leads her to getting thrown into the world of the fae. Chaos, of course, ensues.

I really really enjoyed this one! Bryn is a sassy, witty, and confident woman, and Caiden is powerful, possessive, and one hot fae king. I love dual pov just for the moments when the characters go — “oh no I love this person.” I absolutely loved Caiden’s pov. And then the groveling!! My jaw is still on the floor okay?

The plot was a little slow to develop and this felt more character driven, which I loved because I loved the characters.

Read if you like forbidden love, fae and their mates, and fun side characters. I can’t wait for Tiernan’s book.

TW
degradation and violence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Amara Publishing for this arc! It comes out 9/27!

The Dark King by Gina L. Maxwell was said to be a cross between Neon Gods and 50 Shades of Gray, I agree with that. It's so much better than 50 Shades of Gray (but then again, I wasn't a 50 Shades of Gray fan). Bryn and Caiden just plan on a night of fun after meeting in Caiden's casino and everything gets turned on its head. Dark fae and Light fae as in all good Fantasy books are pitted against each other, but don't fight it out as you'd usually expect. This book is full of twists and turns and Bryn is trapped in the middle of it all.

I am a lover of Fae Romance and BDSM books and this one did not disappoint. This book had my attention from the very beginning, and I was hard pressed to put it down. While this book does have BDSM it is not all this book is about. This book quickly became a favorite of mine, and I will likely read it again while waiting not so patiently for the next book in the series to come out. The only complaint I have (while it's not a true complaint) is that I wish there were more spicy scenes! I have no honest complaints about the book at all, which is uncommon for me. I would 100% recommend you read this book!



Pages: 352



Read Time: approx. 7-8 hours



Overall: 5/5



Spice: 5/5 (Wish there was more of it!)

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for allowing me to review The Dark King! I have received an ARC through NetGalley for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

This one was really enjoyable. I’ve been struggling with fantasy a bit lately but this one was a breath of fresh air. I enjoyed seeing Bryn come into herself, finding what she enjoys… with Caiden.
Caiden was intriguing, seeing his character progression was a journey.

A quick, steamy read that helped me me become reacquainted with fantasy elements.

I was very looking forward to read this book but to my surprise it was a POV retailing. Unfortunately I couldn't past the first chapter. POV books are just not my preference.

This was my first Maxwell romance and won’t be my last!

I honestly picked up The Dark King once I heard it described as Neon Gods meets Fifty Shades of Grey because I loved the mix of erotic and fantasy.

While I can see some similarities, I’m not sure I’d make the same compairison as it stands on its own.

Maxwell starts off with a bang introducing us to Caidan – the man about Vegas, owner of a swanky hotel and most of the city who also happens to be king of the Dark Fae.

I loved the first look at his power, heart and control!

The man turns heads everywhere but it’s Bryn who turns his head when she checks into his famed hotel. The girl hasn’t had luck as of late, losing her parents and her job, but it sure is changing quickly.

One look hooks these two and after one night they wake up married and tied to each other in more ways than one.

I think this is a great start to a fun series. I’d describe it as a contemporary romance with an alpha male and mix of fantasy and BDSM.

The fantasy and BDSM elements were just tidbits (no major fantasy world-building – just enough with no major displays of magic and just two BDSM scenes) so even if these aren’t your favorites, you’ll enjoy this.

I was actually hoping for more fantasy but maybe that will continue to build as the series progresses.

Overall, the writing was excellent though I wish there was more to Caidan and Bryn’s first night to really build their connection before a cut to black. I felt like they also needed more interactions within the manor as well after they were married.

It was hard to believe Bryn just accepted the fact that she was being held there when she was described as such a strong woman. I’d think she’d be worried about getting home and finding a job to pay her bills but hey that’s me.

You also have to accept that Caidan just decides he can’t be without her after he ignores her for two weeks and hardly knows her.

This story has been done before but I liked Maxwell’s spin on it even if I think it could have gone a bit deeper.

I’m super psyched for how she’s set the state for book two in the series and can’t wait to read it.
I’d recommend this one for lovers of alpha males, BDSM and fae.

*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.