I am absolutely in love with this book! The story is very unique and I could not put it down. The writing was very well done!

3.5 Fainting Goat Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️.5/5

This is the type of book I would recommend to somebody who is slowly putting their toes into the stormy ocean of what "dark romance" is. It will give you slight elements of dark, with the whole "organised crime and powerful men" thing, but you're still dealing with basically very new adults and so they're not taking it as far as it could go. I think only 1 person gets murdered... in like the first chapter

Basically with very little finagling, this could lean either way to not being dark at all or completely dark. SOOOOO if you are looking for something that is going to give you darkish vibes and be a litmus test to see if you would like to read more dark romance... this would be perfect.

IF.... you are somebody who is a hardcore dark romance reader and you fall for that EXTREME villain that is darker the better, this is going to be disappointing. It's not going to hit that mark or scratch that itch. So for me (cause I love them dark), I felt that it was lacking, but then I also don't think this was meant to scratch my DARK ROMANCE itch...

This is a triple POV following Anna, Leo and Dean. All three are about to start at a prestigious university called Kingmakers as Heirs. Kingmakers is Hogwarts without the magic and a neutral ground where all the criminal families - Mafia/Brava/**Insert ANY OTHER ORG here** send their kids to learn how to be criminal masterminds. Anna and Leo are practically family (even though they are not technically related in their weird family tree) - they have been raised as "cousins". But something between them has changed and the two start to develop feelings for each other. Dean, who is Leo's ACTUAL cousin wants to kill him because Leo's dad messed with his dad and maimed him... So he tries to do the only thing that will truly hurt Leo... making Anna his.

Anna, Leo and Dean are very disconnected and disjointed and almost fall into stereotypes of what you would think their characters should be. The benefit of this was that you could very quickly tell apart the different POVs based on the style, tone and internal monologue (which is a plus because books annoy me when this is a problem).

Anna just felt like a prissy princess who acted and spoke almost like a 16-year-old child. She's pretty much had everything handed to her on a silver platter and so comes across as spoiled, even though she is trying so hard not to be preserved as spoilt. Her tone just read very naive and innocent with no true idea of what being the Heir to a Criminal Organisation is going to be. She jumps to conclusions very much to the point that it's annoying and irritating and her "Not like the other girls" mentality is frustrating. I know she's a goth princess who likes to wear grunge clothing and be all badass but it felt fake and I don't see what the guys found so amazing in her all the time. Kudos to her as she DOES grow and learn a lot about her personality and mature so I didn't hate her too much - it just only happened very late towards the end, so for a long while we had to deal with her being....

Leo read like an arrogant arsehole, from the very first chapter of him I was rolling my eyes at how arrogant his mind was and how much he thought of himself. His ego was GINORMOUS and very much the typical "Jock" where his whole personality is he's cocky, big, and good at sport. It made him almost pathetic and since I don't like Jock's didn't vibe with him AT ALL. Though again - Kudos to this man too cause he too realised what an ass and arrogant dickwad he was and changed - being far more humble and able to play nice with others at the end.

The BEST character was DEAN - and he is meant to be the worst! (Blame my dark romance little heart) - He was broody, he was alpha, and he was very very skilled with his fists and his knife. He wasn't afraid of blood and staring danger in the eye. I loved his cockiness and arrogance because his arrogance didn't feel like it stemmed from a childish reason, but rather that he's lived through something dark and if he wasn't arrogant and a dick - he would not have survived.

The vibes of Kingmakers was EPIC. Giving perfect dark academia vibes (which was not something that I was expecting going into this book). I know I would kill to have gone to a university like this, living in a tower and taking fighting lessons, learning how to murder and poison someone and excel at tax evasion. It sounds like a dream college and while it was a little bit far-fetched obviously and bordering on fantasy it painted a compelling world. It was super evident that Sophie Lark conducted a lot of research into the different types of Mafia families and their hierarchy and history. It made this world seem plausible and believable.

Some more aspects that niggled me...
1. As much as the vibes of the College were there, I actually wanted to see a little more of the content that they were studying - this was kept vague and almost diluted - implying they had learnt it, but besides showing a few practical classes wasn't touched on much.

2. The miscommunication and assumptions were a little annoying, making the relationship between Anna and Leo draw out, becoming unnecessarily angsty and drama-laden. - This ISNT too bad cause there is a reason people love drama shows on the CW...

3. I wanted her to choose Dean - Friends to lovers is not one of my favourite tropes and I just like a bad boy - which Dean gave me ALLL the tingles...

The Tropes:
▶ College/University Romance
▶ Love Triangle
▶ Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
▶ Mafia/Organised Crime Romance
▶ Alphamale

BUT OVERALL I stayed for the other drama - I stayed to see what Dean would do next and I stayed for the vibes. It was an enjoyable time that I didn't mind - and if I separate the wanting more dark from it- it was kinda cute how Leo and Anna were together and their little romance... AND I WILL CONTINUE... Just because I wanna see who Dean ends up with eventually!

Thank you to Sophie Lark, Source Bloom Books and Netgalley for my gifted copy!
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Power is not only in what we do, but in what we don’t do,” Anna says calmly.

I recently discovered I am a fan of dark academia, and this book delivered the perfect brooding, tense energy I was hoping for. The story line was laid out well and the dynamics between our characters was electric. The setting felt like a Hogwarts full of mafia children who had rivalries with each other. I really appreciated the character perspectives (I usually read books with one perspective, so this was pleasantly surprising for me), and the contrast between each character. They each had their own strengths, flaws, and quirks, which made it so much easier to personify each of them. I didn't feel like any of them were 2D or fell flat. Sophie really created these palpable traits that most of us can relate to in one way or another.

I have only recently started getting into romance and "spicy" books, and this book didn't overdo it, I feel. Hey! If you love the smutty stuff, all the power to ya, it just isn't my thing. The spicy scenes weren't over the top (shed scene at the end was a bit weird?? but maybe that's just me??) and they didn't drag on for 5 pages, potentially taking away from the storyline. I felt like Kingmakers had the right amount of spice, tension, romance, action, slight comedic relief, as well as wrapped everything up in a neat bow at the end.

I will definitely be reading more of Sophie's books! Thank you to NetGalley for this one, I can't wait to read more.

Anna and Leo….swoon central but also OMG! This world is darker and more depraved than their parents. Oh goodness a school where the children of the most ruthless attend has got to be a bad idea but also we wouldn’t have this gem of a book and the ones to follow so I AM HERE FOR IT ALL!!!

This book was addicting and very hot! It’s hard to start a new series and lay the ground work but I think this book does it in a fantastic way and I can’t wait to see what shenanigans lie ahead!!

I loved Anna’s gentle soul but the fact she could be ruthless if needed. Her and Leo compliment each other perfectly and together I feel will be a powerhouse!

This one didn't quite hit the mark for me. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Sophie Lark books and I think that maybe it's time I just gave up with them because I feel like I'm really struggling to connect with her characters and storylines.

It is a shame that I waited so long to read this series because it is totally engrossing and well done. I find, as an older reader, that I often don't do well with college-age characters, but there is an exception to every rule, and this is one of them. Great prose, wonderful pacing, and the art included in this version is stunning. 💖

🔥ARC Review 🔥

Kingmakers: Year One by Sophie Lark
Release Date: August 20, 2024

Pages: 432
Format: 📱

Kingmakers
💙 Kingmakers: Year One

⚠️Content Warning⚠️
Please check content warnings BEFORE reading.

What to Expect:
🖤Academia
🖤Attempted Mûrder
🖤Boarding School
🖤Bully Romance
🖤Childhood Friends
🖤College Romance
🖤Contemporary Romance
🖤Crime
🖤Dark Romance
🖤Dub Con
🖤Enemies to Lovers
🖤Forbidden Romance
🖤Friends to Lovers
🖤Love Triangle
🖤Mafia Romance
🖤Multi POV
🖤New Adult Romance
🖤Noncônsensual Drûg Use
🖤Other Man Drama
🖤Secret Tattoo
🖤Slow Burn
🖤Suspense
🖤Virgin FMC
🖤Virgin MMC

🎵Playlist 🎵: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7uMlYlVMrueTL5xxApDIcb

Book Description:
Leo Gallo (son of Sebastian & Yelena)

Mafia families from around the world send their children to Kingmakers Academy to learn the skills of criminal enterprise.

Under the rules of Sanctuary, students are forbidden to fight or kill. But rivalries are high, tensions inflamed, and forbidden love arises in the most unlikely places…

Welcome to Kingmakers

Quote:
“You will have everything you want in this world, Anna,” he says. “I knew it from when I first held you in my arms. I knew you would take it all, and hold it tight.”

Ratings:
FMC: ⭐⭐⭐.5
MMCs: ⭐⭐⭐.25
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐.5

BWBH Review:
The Kingmakers takes us “back” to the Brutal Birthright series. We meet Leo, the son of Sebastian and Yelena, and his close friend Anna - both attending Kingmakers for college this year.

Anna and Leo are inseparable - they have been for as long as they remember. But as they get older, they start to realize feelings for one another that weren’t initially there. Do they act on it before they go to Kingmakers? Of course not.

From the beginning, you can tell Leo and Anna are end game, but we get gratuitous love triangle throws in which feels forced. I actually wanted to see Anna show some interest in Dean, another student at Kingmakers, but instead, she always kept him at arm's length citing Leo as the reason. Dean is by no means a “good guy”, but he is treated as an afterthought and a way to make Leo jealous.

I saw several reviews that refer to the story as “Mafia Hogwarts”, but the similarities begin and end with it being a boarding school.

Kingmakers: Year One is perfect for readers who enjoy fierce competition, a slow burn love story, and other man drama.

Thank you to Sophie Lark and NetGalley for the ARC.

Characters are well developed. You can feel the tension between the main characters. Side characters are well done as well. I already downloaded book two. I want to see where the intertwined stories go.

The setting of Kingmakers really sets the premise for not only Year 1, but for the other installments as well: put the children of the worlds different mafia and crime families on a secluded island for specialty schooling and watch the entertainment begin.

It’s filled with tension as different factions clash and relationships form. With the biggest rule for the academy essentially being an eye for an eye, every interaction has the potential to turn deadly.

I really enjoyed this friends to lovers story, part of me is a little sad regarding how other relationships transpired (trying to keep this spoiler free), but the journey we follow was absolutely necessary. The introduction of competitive games for the student body kept the academic plot points fresh. I also really enjoyed a lot of the side characters that came out of this and excited for their potential stories to continue.

Overall, this is a great read if you’re into dark romance, college setting, mafia, etc. Please check the trigger warnings before reading as there are some themes that could potentially be triggering for some.

Review to be posted on Amazon and Instagram to follow.

[ 🅐 🅡 🅒 • 🅡 🅔 🅥 🅘 🅔 🅦 ]

#tropes

Friends to Lovers
Love Triangle
Slow Burn
3 POV
Dark Mafia Meets Dark Academia Meets HP

Such an incredibly fast read. I love Sophie Lark and when I saw this I thought immediately yes because I hadn’t read this one yet. The characters I loved, they were each well developed and the story line was perfect for me personally and just always well written books when Sophie releases new gems.
This review is going to be vague because I have so many spoilers but I will put these over on my bookstagram. This book has 3 POV which I love and was fun to venture through. We get the point of view from Anna, Leo and Dean). I loved watching Leo and Anna’s friendship through this book and I love how the sp!ce level is moderate with this. I would call this a slow burn actually, possibly good if you are just wanting to take a jog with romance! I def recommend reading all of Sophies writings.

Be ready to read this on its release August 20, 2024

This is a mafia dark romance with the kids from the original mafia series. I absolutely loved this and can't wait to have my pre-order come in, which I immediately went and purchased as soon as I was done!

If you like a slow burn friends to lovers romance with dark themes this is the perfect read for you!

Mafia romances usually don’t draw me in, but this was great. The college setting added a layer of interest for me, and I loved how much we learned about all the characters. Dean is wild but I’m here for his development throughout the series. I will absolutely be starting book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc

Oh my Sophie Lark has done it again, My first ever mafia books were the Brutal birthright series and I absolutely fell in love with all the characters so to now be able to follow their children in Kingmakers I am SOLD!!

I devoured this book so quickly after starting it, I was looking for a bit more at the ending however I’m hoping as the series goes on I’ll get what I’m looking for. I feel the Kingmaker series has so much to give and I will be picking up the rest of the books as soon as I can.

4.5 Stars

This was soooo much fun! Mafia hogwarts vibe, Sophie Lark is seriously a genius. I loved the beginning and the end of this book, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of the middle! I wanted more Anna and Leo… and I almost found myself shipping Anna and the third POV Dean for a minute there. I also have to mention how I loved the cameos from the OGs from the brutal birthright series, especially my bestie Miko.

Mafia academia vibes all around. This was really good. Sophie lark can do no wrong though so I’m not surprised.
This is like a spin off from her other mafia series. This follows the kids of the mafia. So might be an idea to read those first, but it’s not technically necessary.
Riveting read 🤩

Not for me. I haven't read any Sophie Lark before and subsconsciously I think I knew not to. Her books are just not for me.

Did I read the whole book? Yes, yes I did. Did I enjoy it? I don’t actually think so. But was it extremely readable escapism? Absolutely!

Kingmakers is an alternative college for the children and rising stars of the mafia families. Instead of psychology, biology, or journalism, students are studying tax evasion schemes, mafia don history, and combat skills. Sounds fun right? But that’s when you remember all these families have History and Feuds and Hate each other!! The school is technically a safe zone, with anything you do to someone else, done back to you- which just leads to more sneakiness and “accidents” as they vie for power amongst peers.

While most of the characters are over the top and seem like quite annoying people to be around (Dean, I’m not sure you’re redeemable), the best part of this book was the FMC, Anna, heir to the Chicago polish mafia. She’s a dancer, physically and emotionally strong, and willing to put herself first even when it hurts. She’s vulnerable, yet tough and I only kept reading because I wanted to see her find her happiness!!!

Thanks to Sophie Lark and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review

3.75/5
I’m gonna be so for real I was hesitant about this book 🤣 mostly because of the “we’re cousins but we’re not cousins” but it’s fine we can get past it, not gonna like I was a little root it for dean in the beginning there but wow that went out the info fast. I love the idea with university setting I think it’s such a fun way to see the mafia world that is in so many books in a completely different light, I had a good time with it I’m excited book 2 is about miles and will definitely be picking up a copy!

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Bloom Books and Sophie Lark for allowing me to read an e-ARC of Kingmakers Year One. I am newer to dark mafia romance, but I feel like that was a great one to start with. Anna and Leo grew up together as “cousins” in Chicago. While not related by blood, they were raised to be family. Leo follows Anna to the elite mafia college Kingmakers, where the best crime families around the world send their kids. Also attending is Leo’s actual cousin Dean, who has an actual vendetta against Leo for the death of his grandfather and disfigurement of his father. Although Anna is falling in love with Leo, she is unsure of how he feels about her. One horrific night late, Anna and Leo are barely friends and Dean has found a way to get close to Anna. I was all about Dean at first. I understood his tortured backstory and wanted him to find love. I was not OK with how he treated Anna and Leo throughout the book. Anna and Leo are both suffering at the loss of their friendship. In the end, their friendship is too strong for Dean to break apart. Dean sure tried, though (roofies, attempted murder, etc.). Selfishly I hope Dean has a redemption arc of sorts, as his POV throughout the story made me think he really needs love. In the end, I enjoyed this one and if you are a fan of mafia romance, you probably will, too. I really enjoyed the college aspect of this book and cannot wait to see what Year 2 brings.

I was committed to finish reading this one in a day and I did. I was very into it with the tension and mix between dark academic vibes and mafia. Very interesting combination that keeps you engaged. I liked the mystery and games for sure. Leo and Anna’s relationship was cute as friends to lovers. It’s usually not my favorite but this one I really enjoyed. Definitely a dark inheritance games and I would definitely keep reading this series to know more about the characters.