This is Book 2 in the All the King’s Men Duet by this author. It is the perfect conclusion to the passionate romance between Maxim and Lennix. It is a bittersweet, emotional journey that blends romance, politics, science, and history in one complex and compelling read with heart and heat.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

The Rebel King picks up right where The King Maker leaves off (THANK GOODNESS because that cliffhanger... you must read that book first in order for the events in this book to make sense). I will say that I think I enjoyed The King Maker more. This title has a lot of political references and undertones. I usually try to stay away from those types of books since I read to escape the chaos of the current world.

But we are back with Maxim and Lennix and their complicated love story. I really liked the enemies to lovers continued in this one. I love how strong of an FMC Lennix is too. She's a badass.

Please make sure you check the trigger warnings prior to reading this book. There are a couple!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan and Sourcebooks for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Rebel King" is an exciting continuation of a captivating saga filled with action and romance. The story follows a strong, determined protagonist as they fight against tyranny and navigate complex relationships. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and the plot is full of twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. With themes of bravery and loyalty, this book is a must-read for fans of epic adventures and forbidden love!

The Rebel King by Kennedy Ryan is an engrossing continuation that had me hooked from start to finish. After the jaw-dropping cliffhanger of the first book, I was eagerly anticipating how the story would unfold, and it definitely delivered.

Maxim was a complex and magnetic as ever. His interplay with the protagonist creates a tension that’s both thrilling and heart-wrenching. The chemistry between them is electric, yet their relationship is tangled with deception and power plays that keep you guessing. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, caught up in the high-stakes drama and emotional rollercoaster.

Ryan’s portrayal of power dynamics and trust is spot-on, making every twist feel both surprising and inevitable. The way the story navigates the murky waters of ambition and betrayal is done with such finesse that it feels incredibly real and immersive.

Unfortunately I was unable to finish the first book, so at this time I won’t be picking up the second

After reading Kingmaker, I immediately had to pick this one up. The romance in this book between Lennix and Maxim is so so good. I really enjoyed every minute of this book. This was an amazing ending to this series.

Can you go wrong with picking up a Kennedy Ryan book?

No.

She always hits. And this book is part of that rule.

Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorite authors and this book absolutely does not disappoint! She weaves a contemporary romance better than most authors out there while also delivering social commentary at the same time. I felt completely engrossed in the second book of this duet and wasn't ready for Maxim and Lennix's love story to come to a close. She had me all wrapped up in the intensity of their relationship while also loving the banter between them. I can only wish there were more books in this universe!

Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange of my honest review.

I highly recommend this to all my second chance lovers besties. There was a never a dull moment and I was on the edge of my seat!
Here is the sensitive content that I observed while reading:

Alcohol
Car Accident/Death in a car
Death of a parent
Grief
Gun violence
Kidnapping
Murder
Profanity
Racism
Sexually Explicit Scenes
Violence

"The Rebel King" is an exceptional book that encompasses:

Romance
Revenge
Betrayal
Power and greed
Complex characters
Vivid details of their world
I found immense enjoyment in reading this book; it was difficult to put down at times and return to the real world. Kennedy Ryan has skillfully crafted a story that captivates readers and leaves a lasting impression.

I've heard great things about this author, so I was excited to start this book, however, I am definitely a mood reader, and for some reason, this book just didn't every grab my mood. I LOVED that the FMC is Native American, I loved that she was a strong, independent person. I feel that too often, the FMC is a down on her luck, sad sack, and while Lennix has had plenty of trauma in her life, she is not a weak character. She is resilient and strong. There were spicy scenes in this book, which I was ok with, but I just can not put my finger on why this book missed the mark for me. I guess it just never caught me when I was in the right mood. I will try to come back to it to finish it when the time is right for me.

If Kennedy Ryan has no fans I am ☠️.

One word 𝙀𝙭𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚

Kennedy Ryan's writing falls in it's own category in my opinion. It's a romance but it has so much more depth. You feel completely emerged in the story. And her writing, it's absolutely breathtaking.

It's hard to list tropes on this one and not give spoilers. You have alpha male + alpha female. A long time frame with time jumps. Some second chance. Lots of suspense. A BIG OLE cliffy on book one, book two ends in a hea though! The chemistry and emotion is off the charts.

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚" 𝙨𝙖𝙮, 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙬. "𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙨."

I've heard a lot compare this to the show Scandal, I see it... But it's also SO much more.

This is a series/duet that will stay with me and absolutely be reread.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

So good. The steam is hot hot hot. Very interesting political issues in this series that give it a strong plot.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan, and publishing for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I ABSOLUTELY loved this story!!! I thought I liked Maxim and Lennix in the first book…well I LOVED them even more in this one!!! This story was so captivating!! I couldn’t stop reading and thinking about it when I couldn’t read!

It was hard to get in reading time this past month, but when I was able to sneak some time in, I was swept away into their world and the story! Such a beautiful story about love, and being true to yourself, and being yourself even when it’s challenging! What an unforgettable story!!

I would also be amiss without mentioning the book bringing to light the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women…sad & disturbing…xoxo

Thank you to Net Galley and the author/publisher for a copy of the ebook for an honest review!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this spicy book! Receiving an advanced copy was much appreciated. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️

The Rebel King started off RIGHT where Kennedy Ryan left off in The Kingmaker and immediately throws us back into the action. I loved the continuation of Maxim and Lennix’s story. I think I enjoyed The Rebel King even more than The Kingmaker. The Rebel King is high stakes, high drama, thrilling, and sexy. The Kingmaker series truly is like Scandal meets House of Cards.

That being said, I was a little disappointed with the rather anti-climactic defeat of “Abe”. For a villain that had the potential to be an evil, elusive, violent mastermind especially after the unpredictable and deadly events he orchestrated, he was handled rather… easily.

Overall, the romance, the plot, the action, the heartbreak - so much was amazing. Absolutely adore Kennedy Ryan’s writing and this series solidifies her as auto-buy author for me!

LIKES:
👥 Dual POV (Lennix & Maxim)
🌱 Environmentalist themes
🆔 Indigenous peoples rep (Yavapai-Apache)
💵 Billionaire romance
🌶️ The spice
🗳️ Political drama

The Rebel King was phenomenal. There's action, suspense, sexy times, politics and twists. It's also an emotional rollercoaster. It played my emotions with expert precision. I loved it. Lennix and Maxim's story is epic, one not to be missed. I very highly recommend it.

This was such a good read and it was a lot different than Kennedy Ryans normal books but it was still a phenomenal read. The romance in this book made me jealous because I’ve never felt such love the way Lennix and Maxim have with each other. It was so breathtaking and wholesome even with their trials their love for each other withstood all of it and isn’t that what true love is.

Absolutely blown away. Speechless. In love. As soon as I finished The Kingmaker I needed more and Kennedy DELIVERED.

This was a phenomenal story. Lennix and Maxim have me in a chokehold forever.