"I'd rather be sorry for taking a thousand risks than be safe for never taking any."

4.5 stars

If you like any of these things pick up this book now:

-Fae and all their courts
-wake up married trope
-kink with safe words
-men who know how to grovel
-forced proximity
-secret spells and identities

What a fun, steamy read. I never have really been on board before with instant attraction: but this is the first time I really FELT it, and was along completely for the ride. Our king is dark, secretive, moody, dominant and a lot of what you may expect from the dark king of faes, but I really felt his character was developed so much more than some other books in the same vein. Similiarly, I loved our female lead, who is sassy and sometimes charming. There's some light world building that could have been expanded slightly, but it still worked as a cohesive plot. I'm hoping the next books build some more. The pace is perfect, with a balance of witty banter, steamy scenes, and background on the characters. I was living for the king groveling to his queen to make up for all his sins scene. Only the "final battle" felt a little over-dramatic and cheesy, but then the final scene pulled me in again and made me want to read the next book. If you like kink friendly fantasy romance, you will love this read.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Dark King by Gina L Maxwell
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
This review may contain minor spoilers.

The Dark King takes place in Vegas as Bryn Meara is dealt a string of good luck that has her crossing paths with Caiden Verran, who happens to be the owner of the Nightfall casino-hotel and fae king of the Night Court. Her luck quickly nosedives as she finds herself in the middle of a centuries old fae struggle for power. This book includes instant love, found family, hidden identity, forced proximity, and a little whodunnit.

I loved the take on fae being a part of our world and secretly running Vegas. Wished there was a little more world building for their world but I'm hopeful that will come in the future books. And with the ensemble of side characters (which I always have a soft spot for) I hope this series goes beyond just the Verran brothers - Caiden, Tiernan and Finnian. Midnight Manor is officially on my list of places I'd love to be invited to. The Verran and the Woulfe brothers, yes please 🙋‍♀️.

At about the halfway point I thought this book would be a 5⭐ for me. However, a few pieces (such as the unnecessarily convenient prophecy and way too quick ending) left me wanting a bit more out of this story. I can't wait for Tiernan's book, learning more about him & his kinks, and seeing what mischief Fiona & Bryn get into.

I received an eARC from NetGalley & Entangled Publishing for my honest review.

Finished reading this book in one sitting, hard to put down. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

The Dark King is story of Bryn a human woman who wins a free weekend to a luxury Las Vegas resort that happens to be run by exiled Dark Kingdom faeries. By chance Bryn meets Caiden the King of Dark Faeries, who doesn't care for humans and they have "What Happens in Vegas" moment. Is their paring fate or is there something darker at work here? Read and find out, you won't be disappointed.

Tag on the book states "Neon Gods meets Fifty Shades" I would argue it puts Fifty Shades to shame!

Critiques keeping it from being a 5 star read some minor plot holes that don't get explained and a few meta phrases that took out of the story very briefly.

Note: I was provided an Advanced Reader Copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A longtime fan of other fae-focused series, it felt like fate when I was recommended this book. I was eager to get started and enjoy the ride. In the beginning, when the world and characters are brand new, it often reads like a very gimmicky, young author’s debut novel. But as the story progresses, the cast of characters becomes much more loveable and easy to imagine in the room with you. My personal favorite by far had to be the MFC’s friendship with a certain female in the household.
I am sure this book is setting up for a series, but the ending still feels incredibly rushed, which dampened the excitement from the climax of the book. Overall, I would rate this a 3.75– it has a great premise, and readers who don’t mind fast action will enjoy this a lot!

During the day Caiden works at Nightfall as king of the city carrying out his legacy as the Dark King. That is until Bryn shows up for a good time getaway and wow when these two lock eyes…whew!!! I really enjoyed Caiden and Bryn‘s story and the back and forth drama that goes along with them! It’s an amazing storyline with several twists and turns that keep you on edge and reading into the night. I loved all the characters in this book and I’m really looking forward to the next one!!!

Obsessed! I was instantly hooked on The Dark King. Great story with twists thrown in that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. Gina Maxwell's writing is great- easy to follow and very well written. I already can't wait for book 2 and the continuation of this series. 10/10 recommend for anyone who enjoys a darker fantasy romance, with lots of smut, and a controlling/possessive male lead accompanied by a bratty lovable female lead- who are very hot and cold but are also obsessed with each other!!

Arc from NETGALLEY for review
This book was a solid 3 stars. I enjoyed both main characters. My only gripe would be it’s a long book for hardly any one on one where the hero and heroine actually talk and get to know each other. Every time they are together in the book they are having sex and not discussing anything. I think more bonding would’ve fleshed out the relationship more.

Gina L. Maxwell’s The Dark King is a spicy fantasy romance you don’t want to miss.

The book is fast paced, action filled and boiling hot with chemistry and steam between the protagonist. The book itself has a good mix of the human realm and fae. It blends the two worlds in a modern twist that feels original and fresh. The relationship is tension filled, emotional slow burn but full of banter. It’s a very spice take on fantasy books that is perfect for people that want to read fantasy without all the world building. The dark king did not drag or take long to understand and I really liked this fresh new take on fantasy. I cannot wait for the next book

The Dark King right off the bat has a lot of sex and this is a full blown BDSM, so expect 50 shades level content. With that said the book does have a decent story that ties it all together which is important in my opinion. I thought this book might be fully set more in an alternative world, but it was nice to see the setting in Vegas. The Fae are among us y'all and they are spicy...hahahaha

Overall if you love sex, conflict, fae, BDSM then you will love this book. Overall I would totally recommend giving it a try.

This is my first time reading a book written by Gina. I really enjoyed this book and I was torn between 3 or 4 stars so I’m giving it 3.5 stars. I’m not a BDSM fan and maybe thats what my problem was because don’t get me wrong…I like a little smut in my books. Then I felt that isn’t a reason to not give it the rating it deserved because it was written in a classy way. So here are my main issues-I felt more was focused on Bryn and Caiden’s attraction than focusing on the other storylines like: Bryn and how she’s adjusting to the “new version” of herself, and the fight between Caiden and Talek- if I’m being honest I wasn’t impressed in the one minute battle(that’s what it felt like). I wanted more of the storyline. I felt the ending to be rushed which was also disappointing.

As far as the characters go i LOVED Caiden the King of the Night Court. It did take awhile to love Bryn but I did finally get there. I will say I loved the chemistry between the two and the bantering oh and they had me cracking up. I definitely finished this book with a smile on my face and recommend this book. It was a fun read.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Entangled Publishing/NetGalley for the ARC

Definitely lots of smut in this one. It had a decent plot with it, too. There needs to be balance with these types of books and this one certainly had it.

3/5 ⭐
3/5 🌶️

Bryn finds herself without a job and a ticket voucher for a free stay at the Nightfall in Las Vegas. She thinks she’s only there for the weekend but finds out that she must stay after waking up married to Caiden Verran, King of Vegas and of Night Court.

This is my first book by Gina Maxwell and it will not be my last. I am already looking forward to the second series of this book!

I love how the setting was in Las Vegas and not in Faerie realms making it very easy to follow.

I also enjoyed the characters which I thought had depth especially the FMC and MMC. I am not normally a fan of an instant love trope but this one was done amazingly well.

I loved the ending! Wow! I really wish we will get more of Caiden and Bryn!

Read if you enjoy:
• Instant love trope
• Fae living among humans
• Fae and 50 shades of gray remix (BDSM)
• Spice oh the SPICE! 🥵

Will be posting review on my instagram soon @talkgoodbookstome

Definitely some Fifty Shades vibes going on here. But I loved the characters! Bryn was smart, self assured, sassy (and don’t we all love those string females??) and Caiden was dark, strong, dominant, and sexy. They feel a pull the first time they see one another.. and after a wild night, wake up married in Vegas. One big stumbling block.. Caiden is the King of the Dark Fae. What follows is a hilarious, sexy, dark journey to staying married or getting unmarried. Does Bryn stay or go? Does Caiden want her to stay? This book was hot in all the right places. The writing was quick and witty. I definitely recommend!

Bryn thought she was getting a free and much needed vacation to Vegas’s most glamorous hotel. What she got was a black out one night stand turned wedding with the King of Vegas, Caiden Verran…who also happens to be a literal King…of the Dark Fae. When she and Caiden wake up not only married, but mated it sends Caiden into panic because as a mated King his life is now tied directly to Bryn’s.

With their sudden forced proximity, Caiden introduces Bryn to his world of dark fantasies, unlocking desires she never imagined herself capable of 🔥

Full transparency, the brat/dom play is not my cup of tea, but if it’s yours then this book is for you! It’s crafted beautifully and inserts the dom/sub elements seamlessly into the main plot. I found myself really appreciating that the characters explain their need/desire for their kinks as a play on power and control. It was a nice way for someone not privy to that world or those desires to appreciate the need for it in their lives, in turn making the characters more relatable.

The pop culture references throughout were hilarious, especially as Bryn used them in an effort to make sense of the fae world.

I only wish there was more world building and the end conflict wasn’t wrapped up so quickly. I felt like Caiden and Bryn’s relationship gave me whiplash most of the time, so I would have enjoyed spending more time settled with them. Here’s hoping we get more in the next book!

I was booked onto this book from the very beginning. I really loved how dark and delicious it was. The romance and the steam was absolutely everything I hoped it would be!!

Holy smokes! I am still fanning myself after reading this one. Positively LOVED this book by Gina Maxwell. In one story she created a world and got you sucked into it. The characters are engaging and sexy. The BDSM was just a tad too much for me, but that's just personal taste and did NOT take away from the story at all. In fact, I am eagerly going to be watching out for the next in the series! Swoon worthy, indeed!

Fae Romance 😍😍😍😍!!!!

Loved the spice , it moved a little slow for my liking… but once the plot started taking a turn I was hooked!

Such an entertaining and enjoyable story! You already have the synopsis, so let’s get to the review! The comparison to “Fifty” got my attention but I had never heard of “Neon Gods.” When they started talking about Faeries And other worlds my mind went to “Outlander!” Let’s just say I’m new to “The Dark King” genre but I’m hooked! It is a classic forbidden love story mixed with a wake up in Vegas hitched theme and the added dimension of a blood curse that may spell disaster for not only the two love birds but an entire kingdom! Packed full of action, twists and turns, and hot scenes this is a must read for anyone interested in romance, erotica, vampires, faeries, and shifters! Excellent! @EntangledPublishing @TheDarkKing

This was delightfully dark and sexy. In fact, if I made a list of the most phenomenal books I've read this year this would be at the top. Mesmerizing characters that interacted beautifully, a brilliant storyline and a book I simply couldn't put down. It was also hilarious at times.

I have a weakness for stories about the fae. A reclusive Vegas billionaire that is actually the king of the dark fae, a free weekend in Vegas for a woman who has nothing tying her down. A drunken marriage, activated curse and being locked away in a perfect prison.

I get easily jaded by overdone sex scenes. Nothing about this book is boring. It's sizzling hot and the characters are damn sexy with the perfect combination of dominance and romance.

I didn't know who Gina L. Maxwell was before this book but she added a lot of titles to my TBR list!!!

Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for this wonderful ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bryn arrives at Nightfall, a popular hotel and casino on the Vegas strip, ready to enjoy a relaxing weekend away from real life. Instead she wakes up the next morning married to Nightfall’s owner, Caiden, with no memory of any wedding ceremony taking place. No simple annulment can break the soul deep tie between Bryn and the Dark Fae king. I enjoyed the spicy bedroom scenes, but got frustrated over Caiden’s terrible communication skills.

If you’re a Fifty Shades fan, you will absolutely enjoy this kinky read full of magic and fate.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing via #NetGalley for the ARC!