Member Reviews
The Rebel King was lots of fun and picks up almost right where the Dark King finished! Tiernan is goofy, sweet and sexy and i really enjoyed him and Fiona’s love story!
First 20% or so I found a little slower to get into, and felt a bit like the first half of the book spent a lot of time setting the scene and mood, but the last half flew by and was action packed. Robert is my fav new character edition. Also great to learn more about the vampires and werewolves! Totally could see them each getting their own spin-off!
This book was filled with even more kink and from an educational standpoint I was super intrigued. Whole new world and language for me!!
The end had a sneak chapter into Finnigans story in book three and I’m pumped to learn more about him, solve more of the mystery, and also to learn more about the other supernatural beings!
Thank you NetGalley, Gina Maxwell and Entangled for the ARC copy to read and provide my voluntary review. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and can’t wait for book three!!
This is the second book in (an apparent) trilogy by Gina L. Maxwell.
The series revolves around 3 brothers who are Dark Fae royalty. Tiernan Verran is the "Rebel Prince" He does essentially what he wants, when he wants. He never expected to be King, but when his brother has to abdicate the throne, he steps up.
Fiona Jewel is seemingly a Dark Fae with human blood somewhere down the line, thus causing her to be different than the rest. She has worked for the Verran family as housekeeper and manager for many years.
Her and Tiernan hook up once in a closet and its on. Fiona being from a lower Fae family means they can never be together, but Fi's just having fun. Until its more of course. A Prince can fool around with whoever he wants, A King, not so much.
There is a Fae mystery running in the background, as members of the community are being murdered. Fiona volunteers to go undercover at a competitors strip club to get information. Tiernan is not excited about the prospect, but knows she is the best option.
Really there is A LOT going on in this book. Tiernan becoming King, Fiona finding out she is not really who she thinks she is, the feud between the Dark and Light Fae. Werewolves and Vampires OH MY.
The spice is top tier, I just wish there would have been more. The banter from the characters was fantastic. The side characters, especially his human friend Robert was outstanding. The HEA seemed a bit rushed and I wish there would've been less about the feud and more about the King stuff and romance.
All in all i really enjoyed the book and liked Tiernan more than Caiden. I cant wait to read about Finnigan.
Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled for the advanced copy.
This follow up even better than the first book, definitely worth the wait. Great plot and storyline.
More than 4⭐️, but not all the way? I love the brothers. I enjoyed seeing more of the world they live in, and the vamps. It was great to see Teir grow, because he deserved that. To have more faith in himself and the confidence of others.
I love the writing. It’s entertaining. They have great quips and things to say. I’m looking forward to continuing the series!
I really enjoyed the first book in this series so I was excited to get an ARC of The Rebel King. I loved this book and I think Tiernan became my favorite! 🖤💙
Tiernan is forced to step up as king in the aftermath of The Dark King. He has always liked being the carefree, rebel prince with no responsibilities. Being king was never on his radar. Now he has some decisions to make. The biggest one I what to do about Fiona.
I loved the banter between Tiernan and Fiona. Tiernan will do whatever to protect Fiona but also knows that she won’t let him stand in her way when she wants to do something. The spice was great too!
I enjoyed seeing the side characters from the first book and getting to know more about their world. If you like fantasy romance, with a sassy FMC and a flirty MMC, I highly recommend!
I cannot wait for Finnian’s story next!
I thought I loved Caiden, but wooooo Tiernan is officially my new fav Verran brother!
He’s hot, fit, domineering, caring and funny, which is the whole dang package. I loved his funny, bad boy persona in The Dark King, but getting to know him better in The Rebel King had me straight up swooning over his character.
I loved how protective and possessive he was of Fiona. Their whole benefits relationship was hot and fun and I loved watching it grow into so much more.
The plot twist about Fiona was totally unexpected. I can’t believe she was deceived her whole life. She was such a sweet, happy character. I wanted her to have it all, especially Tier.
Can we talk about the sex scenes for a minute?! They were 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️! My favorite was the scene in the kitchen 🥵
I loved their happy ending, which I’ll admit I didn’t think would happen! I like that Maxwell really made us wait till the last minute on that one 😅
I can’t wait to read Finnian’s story!
Oh my gods, The Rebel King is unputdownable!! The second book in Gina L. Maxwell's 'Deviant Kings' series did not disappoint.
I loved the first book in the series, The Dark King, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of this next book. It's Tiernan's story as he is now the next Verran heir to take the throne as king of the Dark Fae. He has always been a rebel and lived a carefree life. He never expected that he would actually be king and have this responsibility, but down count him out. The Verran's always care about the fae community and will protect it at all costs.
Of course, there is a spicy romance brewing between Tiernan and a woman named Fiona. It may have started out as a few hookups here and there, but if you see their chemistry you know more is in their future. A happily ever after won't come at an easy price, because the council doesn't want to see Tiernan's consort be anything but fae.
The whole book is entertaining and suspenseful. I never wanted to put the book down because Tiernan and Fiona are so captivating, sexy, and witty. I already want to read it again!
Thank you Netgalley for providing an Ecopy of The Rebel King in exchange for an honest review!
This is how you write a romance book!! *I need the Finnian book asap*
Tiernan is the next heir in line for the throne after his older brother--Caiden,who abdicated his rightful duty as the Dark King. Growing up with a rebelling yet fun personality, he has never expected to fulfil the duty as a king.
Due to the twist of event, Tiernan (a royal) and Fiona (from a lower caste family) were forced to cut ties as it's not appropriate for them to be seen in public together.
Before his coronation, there are events of fae being murdered in the mundane world, and Tiernan is determined to find out who's the "mastermind" planning out all the scheming and saving his people.
The spice in this romance is on another level! The sizzling chemistry between Tiernan and Fiona is well written, I love how mature & emotionally rational they were when overcoming the hardship in their relationship even though there's more downs than ups (and the roller coaster ride of emotions I have when reading it)
Wow! This book had me hooked. Following the story of Tiernan and Fiona, the second book in this series. Each is a standalone and you don’t have to read the first to understand what’s happening, but there will be a lot of spoilers for the first book!
Tiernan finds himself ready to be crowned king after his brother abdicates, he needs an appropriate wife, something that Fiona, being a half fae is not. I loved the characters and how on top of their romance they had their own things to deal with. Both of their lives have been turned upside down and thanks to the dual POV we get to see how they’re dealing with this,
I haven’t read many of Gina .Maxwell books but I did love how she built up the characters and plot and sucked you more into the story, it’s not just a romance, so much is going on with fae being murdered and it’s a race to solve who is behind it.
It’s nice to see a female character who’s not afraid to hold back and a male lead who can’t get her off his mind. Loved the chemistry and the banter between the two and that even though I knew there was a HEA, the how kept me guessing.
Beautifully written and I cannot wait for the next one!
I love when an author creates a world and relates it to current day! Maxwell has done a fantastic job creating a fae world wrapped into the world of sin!
Fiona and Tiernan are of the charts HOTT! I loved how much these two tried to resist what was there but in the end couldn’t because when something is meant to be it, well, it will be!
The story weaved through out is a very addictive one and has me dying to know what is going to happen! I can’t wait for the next book to get more of the bigger picture! This world is all consuming and one that is easily becoming a new obsession! The characters, storylines and overall world it self is mesmerizing!!
Just YES!!! The perfect pace and mix of spice and swoon- I loved still getting glimpses into the first book’s characters. The Rebel King had twists that I hadn’t seen coming, especially when it came to Fiona. Props to the epilogue because I CANNOT WAIT for book 3 in this series.
Summary:
After his brother has to abdicate the throne to keep his mate safe, Prince Tiernan, otherwise known as the “rebel prince”, has six months to clean up his playboy lifestyle and take the crown. But when a secret relationship with the half fae Fiona is threatened by the King’s council, Tiernan has to choose between his heart and his kingdom.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
🌶️🌶️ 2/5
Tropes:
Con BDSM
Royal Politics
Secret Romance
My Thoughts:
This book was great and Tiernan is the perfect blend of flirt + alpha fae. I tried to be mad at him a few times for breaking my heart, but this book was too good to put down and I eventually forgave him. Highly recommend!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Faeries in Vegas? A combination I never knew I needed but I would have been missing out.
This was definitely a fun read and I enjoyed it. Definitely read the content warnings, but the story didn't get as dark as I was afraid it might. For me, the best part of the book was the characters. I thought they were both well-developed and seemed to match each other well. Tiernan was a fun, party boy who actually cares deeply and grows into his unwanted role as king. Fiona is witty and strong, and not afraid to stand up to him.
The thing I didn't love was that I found the backstory a bit convoluted. It was into a lot of faerie history and politics, which were relevant but confusing. I think it is leading up to the events of the third book though, so I'll have to wait and see how everything gets tied up.
The Rebel King by Gina Maxwell was a great follow up of The Dark King. I have been waiting for book 2 to drop and I was not disappointed. I loved Tiernan and Fiona as leads and was rooting for them from the very beginning!! The plot kept me intrigued and I had to know how Tier and Fi were going to end up together. I also enjoyed the vampires being brought into this book and was a fan of Dimitri. The spicy scenes were great, I only wish we had a few more. I felt like there were a few places that a spicy scene would have been perfect. All in all, I cannot wait for book three!! If you are a fan of fantasy romance with a forbidden element and plenty of plot twists- The Rebel King is for you!
Overall rating: 9/10
Spice rating: 4/5
The Rebel King, the second book in the Deviant Kings series by Gina L. Maxwell, is a thrilling and sexy urban fantasy romance that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Tiernan, also known as The Rebel Prince, is happy living a carefree life in Sin City, indulging in all its pleasures, including Fiona, the fiery and smart woman he loves. However, when his older brother abdicates his position as the King of the Dark Fae to protect his mate, Tiernan finds himself in an impossible position, torn between his desires and his responsibilities. As he navigates the intricacies of fae politics and forbidden love, a war looms on the horizon, threatening to tear everything apart.
The characters in this book are well-developed and multi-dimensional, with Fiona being a fierce and independent woman who knows what she wants, while Tiernan is a hilarious and rebellious alpha hero who is learning to be confident in his abilities. The side characters are equally interesting, with Dimitri, Finni, Caiden, and Bryn all adding depth and complexity to the story.
Maxwell's writing is easy to follow, with quick pacing and fantastic quotes that will stay with readers long after they've finished the book. The story is emotionally intense, with scenes that will make readers laugh, swoon, and cry. The book contains sexually explicit scenes and trigger warnings for violence, gore, murder, emotional trauma, and more, but they are handled sensitively and with care.
Overall, The Rebel King is a fantastic addition to the Deviant Kings series, and readers who love urban fantasy romance will not be disappointed. With its well-developed characters, thrilling plot, and steamy scenes, this book is sure to be a hit with fans of the genre. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a wild and sexy ride through Sin City.
The Rebel King - Gina Maxwell
Geesh, I thought I loved the Dark King, but the Rebel King is my new favorite brother. (BUT, I predict Finnian may steal the figurative crown before all is said and done.)
So many twists and turns in this one. Who is a good guy? Who is a bad guy? Who is magical? Who is not? I questioned everyone's truths at some point during this book. At times I was waiting for the next "Wait. What?" moment. This was wonderfully executed and I promise there's a HEA in there for the reader.
We got the setup for the next book, The Vicious King, (Amazon lists it coming coming out early December 2023) and it looks like it's going to be goooood! We also met some new side characters that I hope we get to see again . (Cue the dreamy vampire.)
I loved Tiernan's character growth through the story. He starts off as a bit of a fun loving kind of guy that unbeknownst to everyone is carrying some heavy weight over something that happened in the past. Over the course of the story realizes he's far, far better than the playboy image he portrays and begins to heal/deal with his past issues.
Fiona's story is a bit more unpredictable/uncertain. She grows into who she is, learning how to deal with the new information she's given about herself. It's not easy and although we can feel it working out for Fiona and Tiernan, there were times where you were left wondering how.
Despite all the chaos, one thing is for sure -- they're better together.
“In chess, the king is useless without the queen, and the same is true in life. I’m nothing without my queen by my side. As long as we’re together, we can’t lose.”
Need to take a moment to fan myself after this one! I eagerly awaited this book after reading the first in the series "The Dark King". This one followed the story of Tiernan, who wasn't supposed to be king, but it's having to step up to help save his brother and sister-in-law. It was MUCH darker than the first book and played a lot more with BDSM scenes. While that's not usually my jam, the fact that Tiernan and Fiona had such a strong connection and the fact that a lot of the book is dealing with a group of people who are killing fae, it all combined into yet another winner for Gina Maxwell!
I made the mistake of not reading Dark King first! This is a standalone and the author does an excellent job of recapping the main points so you don't HAVE to read the first book. I just now WISH I had because this book was so good! The spice is top notch and the characters are great. I absolutely love Tiernan and Fiona. The plot of the book keeps you reading and guessing, even, so you don't stall out after the first spicy bit, which can happen sometimes. I really hope I don't have to wait too long for a Finnian story because I need it, Gina! I NEED it! Going back to read Dark King now. Don't sleep on this series. It's really well done.
Thank you NetGalley, Entangles Publishing, and Gina L. Maxwell for the chance to read The Rebel King!!!!
Oh my goodness I love this book! When I read The Dark King I was so in love with Tier and this book in the series did not disappoint with his story!
"Power is as ruinous as it is advantageous"
The Rebel King follows Fiona and Tiernan's whirlwind, sexy, dangerous, and fun story. Tiernan has been dubbed The Rebel Prince pretty much all of his life and was happy that he would not have the responsibilities of the Night Court crown. Thanks to his older brother, Caiden, being The King of the Dark Fae. Until Caiden found his true mate and had to abdicate his position to keep Bryn safe. Tier now finds himself in an impossible position going from the freedom to pursue his own dark pleasures that Sin City has to offer, including Fiona the fiery redhead with wits to back up all that fire, to ascending the throne as king. And being king means he will no longer be able to pursue anything with a lower-caste fae. Will Tiernan lose the one being that has meant the most to him or will he be able to shed The Night Court's antiquated ways so he can be with Fi? With a war about to emerge from within the shadows of Las Vegas he is caught between who he is meant to be and who he wants to be. Will he buckle under the pressure or be The Rebel King he is deep down?
Fiona, our FMC, fiery, strong, quick witted, knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it, honest, loyal, and above all loves fiercely. Fiona really goes through it in this book and I felt for her so deeply. She really gets put through the wringer. And my heart hurt for her but I cheered for her happy ending the whole time. I love how her character developed, that is what I love to see when a character grows, in the face of adversity.
Tiernan, our MMC, yassssssss!!! Oh my gosh I was obsessed with him in The Dark King, and I was so excited to get more into his head. Tier is learning to be confident in his heart and mind in this book and it was nice to see him navigate that. Just because you have money and good looks doesn't mean the you are confident in your capabilities. He is also quick witted, a rebel, hilarious (and I mean hilarious), a prankster, sweet, loving, loyal, sexy as hell, and so so much more. I literally could go on and on about him. I would call him more of an Alphahero then a Alphahole. But don't get my wrong sometimes his Alphahole comes out to play to those that deserve it.
The Side Characters! I love Dimitri, I'm so excited how everything plays out with him in the next book of the series. Finni!!!! I love that big old teddy bear, I can already tell he is calculating and smart and the sweetest. It was nice that Caiden and Bryn were there. I missed Bryn's Candor and Caiden's broodiness. It made me smile to read a little more about them and what they are going through.
What To Expect:
▪︎NA Urban Fantasy Dark Romance
▪︎Standalone Interconnected Series
▪︎Second Book in the Deviant Kings Series
▪︎Set in Las Vegas
▪︎Fiesty and Smart FMC
▪︎Hilarious Alphahero MMC
▪︎"Mine"
▪︎Fae, Vampires, Humans, and Werewolves
▪︎Forbidden Love
▪︎Trigger Warnings (Included but not limited to and may contain spoilers)
*Violence
*Gore
*Murder
*Blood
*Gun Violence
*Emotional Trauma
▪︎Sexually Explicit Scenes
*Light BDSM (including flogging and whipping but handled sensitively and gently), After Care,
Good Girl, Exhibitionism, and so much more.
▪︎HEA
▪︎and more
I love Gina's writing it's so easy to follow and the pacing is quick. She had some fantastic quotes in this book, that I can not wait to share more of when it is published. I love getting to know more about the Verran brother's and especially Tier. But her writing, especially in this one put me on a emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, swoon, got all hot and bothered, and cried. Like sobbed at some points. I am so excited for the readers that love this series to read The Rebel King. I can not wait for The Vicious King!!!!!
Another wonderful book in the world of the Verran brothers. The storyline of this one is incredible with hot hot steam and romance to die for! I already look forward to the third installment!