This book is hot! The spice was top notch for me. I love the consent that is talked about and how the kink was treated. I did like the ground work for our fae, but it didn't push into plot enough for me. I wish that part was more flushed out instead of just pages of words where not much is happening.

The Dark King was surprisingly fun and sexy. A great forced arrangement romance that crafts a unique and interesting world. Bring on book two!

I received the audiobook arc from Net Galley and Recorded Books in exchange for my honest review.

The Plot:
Brynn Meara receives a free trip to Las Vegas where Caidan Verran’s business empire is located. The “King of Vegas” (Caiden) and Brynn have instant chemistry when they cross paths at the casino. The next day they wake up with matching wedding bands and very little memory of what happened. Now Brynn’s connection to Caiden may put both their lives at risk, and the handsome dominating billionaire won’t let her leave.

The Review:
This was a great book. I loved the characters and the world-building. The spice level was complimentary to the plot. It added to the storyline and reinforced the character profiles without distracting from the plot. This book has the right combination of plot, intrigue, great characters, and spice. I look forward to book 2!

The book's summary says it is like Neon Gods meets 50 Shades. For once I think that is accurate. This was a combination of a Hades & Persephone story with some of the vibes of 50 Shades.

The Narration:
Avery Reid and Aidan Snow were the narrators. They were the perfect narrators for Brynn and Caiden. *chef’s kiss*

Listening Speed:
1..75x

Would I recommend?
Absolutely! I loved it so much I’m planning to purchase the physical and audiobooks myself. This is a book I could definitely reread.


CW: parent loss, sexual content, violence, sexual violence, torture, kidnapping, & murder

Big thanks to Netgalley and Gina Maxwell for the audio ARC in exchange for a review.

Bryn is in the middle of a life crisis. She's lost her job and happens to get a trip to Vegas where she meets the hot as hell owner of the hote, Caiden. He's not all he seems though and a night of drinks and wild passion means much more than Bryn will can realize.

The story brings together the fae, alpha male, billionaire, troupes all together.

3.5 stars rounded up

The "Neon Gods meets Fifty Shades..." on the cover really did me in, even though after reading the book I wouldn't say that's accurate in the least. I would rather say it's Neon Gods meeting ACOTAR.

The author did a really good job, in my opinion, combining the fantasy aspect and the "human world" aspect, since the beginning it made me picture Caiden Verran as Tom Ellis in the very first episode of Lucifer and with that, I was done for.

I really liked the chemistry between the MCs, and how they got together, I'm usually not a super fan of insta-lust, but it worked just fine for them and it felt really organic and realistic (if you put the Fae mating bond aspect aside). I enjoyed so much the fact that they both wouldn't admit their fondness and, eventually, love for each other until it was absolutely necessary.

The spice was sexy and incredibly well-written, I can see why it was compared to a Katee Robert book now, and I also liked the BDSM aspect (pleasure dom? Hello!!) , although I wish it was treated with more care and attention to detail, and I didn't appreciate the scene with he's mad at her and uses BDSM as a way to coerce information from her, that's a big no-no in my book.

I really liked the side characters and I can't wait to read Fiona and Tiernan's book, because I loved them and their "sneakiness".

I listened to the audiobook and absolutely loved it! Aiden Snow and Avery Reid brought the story to life perfectly. Getting to know the world of the Night Court along with Bryn was such a thrill and watching Caiden trying to figure out what to do with the situation he's found himself in kept me riveted! This book has started an obsession for this world and I cannot wait to read the next book - especially with the last chapter that teases what's to come!

I was absolutely hooked from the start to finish. I usually don’t like audiobooks but this one was so easy to listen to. The narrators did a great job reading the story. Caidan was so delicious and with Bryn he was just 🤏🏼. I enjoyed how the author fleshed out the fantasy aspect of the world and as I was listening to it I was immersed in it. A enjoyable book!

I really enjoyed this book. It was spicy and kinky but it made consent something very important and clear and I love it for it.
I also enjoyed the world building a lot even if we don’t get to see much, and the characters were fun. The instalove didn’t annoy me since the MMC was a little against it so it wasn’t rubbed on my face, and I’m extremely excited to read book 2 about my favorite brother!

I really enjoyed this story! This is a fantasy mixed with realism sense we have the fae world but it is based in Las Vegas! We have Bryn who has been down on her luck, but In the mail she receives a letter saying she won a stay at the most famous hotel In Vegas. So she takes it as a sign to relax before getting serious about finding a new job. when she gets to Vegas she can’t believe her luck, a suite upgrade, a special necklace to wear and than catching the eye of the very sultry owner of the hotel Caiden. Caiden is king of the dark feas and runs a very successful empire in Vegas he usually doesn’t fall at women’s feet especially Humans but he can’t help him self with Bryn and he finds him self after a night of fun with her married, and when he tries to distance him self he gets violently sick. In till they can figure out what is going on, his security and family get Bryn and pretty much make her a prisoner in-till they can figure out what is going on and what happened to them that night. As Bryn and Caiden are forced to spend time Together they can’t help but fall for each other. And Caiden likes a type of girl in the bedroom a girl that can submit to him, and to Bryns surprise she falls into the role very easy making the connection they have even stronger. This story was more than just spicy scenes tho! I really enjoyed the plot line, and thought the characters both had great character development! I can’t wait to read more of this story!

I loved listening to this audiobook. Before listening, I already read the book and this took it to a whole new experience. The narrators made this audiobook and story come to life. This book is spicy and the narrators brought the heat!

Book Review:
I bow down to Gina L. Maxwell and the Dark Fae King. Holy shit this book blew my mind in all the best ways. I ​can't believe this was my introduction to reading a paranormal romance that centered around fae, but I'm so glad that it was my first. Gina L. Maxwell had me begging for more of the sexy and dominating Caiden Verran.

In the Dark King, we meet Bryn Meara and Caiden Verran. Bryn is a sassy and confident woman who is headed to Vegas. She received a letter in the mail to stay at the sleek and seductive Nightfall hotel. It's an exclusive hotel and super hard to book a reservation so she can't say no to this offer. She just lost her job and is single so she is ready to live it up in Vegas. Her life is turned upside down when she meets the sexy owner, Caiden.

Caiden is sexy as hell and you can tell he likes to be in charge. He is also the fae King of the Night Court, aka Dark King. He became king and takes responsibility seriously never letting a human or female get in the way. When he lays eyes on Bryn he feels a connection. This has never happened and it's more than unnerving.

After meeting at the casino, Caiden and Bryn can't fight their attraction so they don't shy away from flirting and spending the night together. The kicker is when they wake up it turns out they are married. And it seems like they share a bond that only fae and fae can share.

As the pair spend more time at his manor, Midnight Manor, they are at odds with each other and themselves. Caiden is closed off which makes Bryn want to tear his walls down. And of the other side, Bryn's devious and rebellious nature makes him furious and turned on at the same time. Of course, this makes the sexual tension that much more apparent. Maybe if they give in their urge will simmer down. That doesn't work and it ignites their passion. Caiden is dominating in the bedroom and Bryn loves to submit to him. They are just starting to find their groove when an elder hits him with a plot twist. Bryn is more preternatural than everyone assumed and it wasn't just fate that helped them meet.

The story is full of ups and downs, sensual scenes, and tender moments between the two. Throw in a bit of suspense and action and you have yourself a compelling book that you won't be able to put down. And when I say the sex scenes are amazing I mean it. They will leave you feeling hot and bothered. ;)

I give The Dark King all the Fae King stars. It's a seductive and irresistible paranormal romance. I was totally engrossed in this fae world. This was my first time reading Gina L. Maxwell and it for sure won't be the last. I am thrilled that there will be another book in this series. If you have never read about fae characters and are nervous to pick up a copy of this book (this was totally me before reading The Dark King), fear not because the author will pique your interest like never before. I promise that you won't regret reading this book.

I really enjoyed this book! It gave me beauty and the beast meets 50 shades vibes. I love the idea of mixing fae with the debauchery of Las Vegas, in my opinion it’s completely unique. I also loved the choice of voice actors for the audio book, they brought the story to life. I wish there was a little more world building and history of the Fae included but overall I think it’s a solid 4 star read.

This was a fun, sexy urban paranormal romance book and a great introduction to the characters and the world for the series as a whole!

If you’re a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series or Fortuna Sworn, you will have a blast with The Dark King. There’s a sexy dark fae king, magic, nightclubs and some kinky sex scenes (many a spanking).

I liked the relationship progression between the two main characters. They end up getting married at his club after getting way too drunk and now he can’t be far apart from her or he literally will die due to a certain old magic. I love the forced proximity trope mixed in with a grumpy fae king and a will not take his shit heroine, it was so much fun!

I listened to the audiobook as well and the two narrators did a fantastic job with both characters! I’d highly recommend consuming their story with that medium if you’re able to.

Definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a sexy paranormal romance!

4/5

I know without a doubt that romance readers will LOVE this new series!

Bryn and Caiden are two of the most equally charismatic characters I've read in a while. The sex in this book was so fun, and a wonderful play on sub and dom relationships. It was fantastic for someone like me who hasn't read much like it but is now super curious to see it play out in other stories.

Finally, one of my favourite things to ever happen by the end of a first book- this one ends with a set up that has me wishing I could pick up the next book right away! This is because I've already fallen in love with the two side characters that will no doubt be having their own journey in the next book, and I couldn't be more excited to read it.

Last but not least, I had the pleasure of listening to an Audiobook arc of this book and I couldn't recommend it more highly because the performances alone were fantastic!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5⭐️
🌶️🌶️ / 5🌶️

Bryn Meara thought a weekend away would be the perfect getaway after she recently lost her job. She gets offered a free trip to stay at the exclusive, luxurious Nightfall hotel in Vegas. Little did she know, after one amazing night, she would end up married to Caiden Verran, billionaire and owner of Nighfall and most of the city. What she doesn’t know is he is king of a lot more than Vegas.

When his eyes meet hers in the lobby of his hotel and casino Caiden is drawn to Bryn. Though he’s not sure why, she’s just a human. And he hasn’t been with a human since he became the fae king of the Night Court. But there’s something about her.

They wake up in a suite together, neither being able to remember the night before but with rings on their fingers. Now they must figure out what happened, why it happened and who is behind this.

This book is probably my favorite book I’ve read this year. It’s the perfect mix of an amazing story and spice. It’s like a fae style Fifty Shades of Grey meets Neon Gods. Bryn is probably my favorite heroin. She is smart, funny, passionate and makes everyone she meets love her. Caiden is my new favorite book boyfriend. He is dark, grumpy as hell and oh so sexy!
There is so much more to this book than my short blurb explains. There’s twists and turns in things I didn’t see coming. I don’t like to give away too much in my reviews, but you have to read this book!!
The audiobook is so good and the best narrators I’ve heard yet on an audiobook.

I want to thank Net Galley and Gina L. Maxwell for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook and review it.

Happy Reading 📖

This book was amazing!
I really liked the female lead with all her sassiness. Her and the male lead made me rally feel the tension between them! And the spice in this book… it was very spicy and I can see the dash of Fifty Shades of Grey in it. The deep voice of the narrator made the story and the male POV even more enjoyable and was a 10/10. I also enjoyed the fantasy aspect of the book. The world building could have been a little bit more detailed but overall it was great. I can’t wait for the next book to explore even more adventures with all the characters.

When I saw the cover of this book I automatically through Katee Robert Vibes (and I love me so KR)...and the The Dark King did not disappoint. The Dark King is the perfect cross between Neon Gods and ACOTAR that you didn’t know you need in your life. With the smuttiness from Neon Gods, and the faes that everyone loved from ACOTAR- the first in the standalone Deviant Kings series is born. I cannot wait for the next book

Thank you to RB Media, Recorded Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC of the audiobook

Caiden can keep me hostage anytime. So spicy. So well written. Cannot wait for the second book! I am so upset I waited as long as I did to read. This fae world has a chokehold on me right now and I am very impatient to read the second installment next summer.

The Dark King was just as I was expecting!
I loved everything about this story.
The narrator was phenomenal.
The characters just blew me away
And the story was badass!
I can't wait to read more from Maxwell.
She killed it!

Thank You Publisher for this audio book!

This story was not only amazing, but the narrators knocked it out of the park. So much that I went ahead and ordered a copy for my personal library and some for my library system. This was a fantastic read and story and I am so excited for the 2nd in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised! I'm most definitely a plot-driven kind of person, which is why smut can sometimes drag on and on for me. But I ended up really enjoying the plot of this book! It was unique but ended up being familiar enough that it didn't need to do a huge amount of world-building or setup. I predicted part of the plot twist, but it was still so well done that it was enjoyable when it finally happened. I did wish that Bryn and Caiden would stop being so wishy-washy with each other and just communicate, but I find that happens a lot in romance books for me.

The characters were easily the best part of this story! I absolutely adored all of them, and the brothers are all special in their own ways. They made me want to continue the series, which is not something that I had particularly expected going into the book. They ended up being so loveable even with the smut/dark fantasy focuses, and that was something I hadn't planned for!

If you're a dark fantasy/smut lover, definitely check this series out!