This was a spicy dark romance! This audio sounded great, but I would have loved it reading instead. This was a great slow burn and would recommend to anyone!

My rating: ⭐⭐✨ (2,5 stars)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (read trigger warning!)

The Death King by Penelope Barsetti is an intriguing dark romance with an intense concept, particularly around dragon bonding and the slow-burn conflict between the main characters. When the plot finally kicks into gear, the story delivers some interesting twists and more depth than you might initially expect. However, getting to that point can be a bit of a slog. The pacing is slow for much of the book, and though the last quarter brings some much-needed plot development and character growth, the earlier sections struggle to maintain momentum.

While dark and spicy romance fans might enjoy this, the writing style during the steamier scenes often takes away from the tension, using language that feels unintentionally humorous or clunky. Effusive mentions of the size of the Death King's member (in both internal monologue, all the time) is one of many examples that made me laugh at the ridiculousness the first five times, and then just sigh after. The overuse of phrases like "veins like rivers" and sentences like "My fat ego was now almost as big as my d" turn what should be sultry into something that's hard to take seriously.

As for the audiobook, it doesn’t help matters. Ramona Master’s narration, while clear, often sounds overly emotional or like she’s irritated at everything, which doesn’t fit the tone of the character she’s voicing. Michael Ferraiuolo’s performance as the Death King, unfortunately, doesn’t land either, coming off as more disdainful and haughty than dark and seductive. For a story meant to draw you into a tense, passionate dynamic, the audiobook didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

Well ain’t that some sh** How you do that to me?! Wow just wow. It was a little slow for me at the beginning but boy did that change quick! This is a really good book. I enjoyed it a lot and I promise all that reads this review you will too.

Since I don’t want to give anything away this is going to be a short and vague review. Like you have to read it going in blind is best.
Some triggers in it…darkish but not anywhere I thought it would be.
As this is an Audio review let me tell you narrators did an awesome job bringing this story to life. I felt her pain and her hatred. He thought his pain was the only pain that mattered but how wrong he is.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for giving me this ARC for an honest review.

This book was very easy to follow and the romantic scenes decent but fiery. I think the overall plot had some good twists but most of it was predictable, and it seemed somewhat under-developed. I think this would have been unable to put down if the author described more of the world they lived in and the tumid of emotions that the main character had - along with her interpersonal connections to her friend and then eventual lover. The narrator was really into the acting as well - sometimes overly so with how she was reading the book - but it did seem to captivate me more during certain parts. I'd give her 4 stars. The male narrator did a good job - 5 stars.

Spoilers:
There were some parts to the romance that were cringe worthy - like how pushy the male character was despite the female characters explicit wishes to not become romantically involved. Especially after what she had been through.
The dragon interaction was underwhelming - like what extra powers do the main characters get once "fused" and where was the long drawn out process of Calista and her dragon fusing after he said he would refuse?
What happened to her friend from the pit that she freed in her place after finding the diamond? We never heard from her again.

I think this book had a lot of potential to be great but if just fell short for me in some areas.

I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately it was a miss. I’m a dark fantasy, dark romance reader, but this just didn’t quite find the lines. There were pieces that were good, tropes had me reeled in, but I just wasn’t engaged, and too many icks I just couldn’t come back from. I really appreciate the ALC opportunity and look forward to trying another one!

Devoured the Audio today.
This Does have some trigger warnings but not really graphic or descriptive during those moments. Just beware there is some physical violence and rape but again not gory or very descriptive just be aware.
Love this story of the Death King. I found the plot pretty interesting and was totally immersed into this world listening to it today.
Holy Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Talon is everyone’s favorite Villain bad boy. Loved every moment. I am loving my Dragon Era. I am here for it 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

No, absolutely NOT! So I love the whole "I took your life away and now you're mine" trope as well as dragons, but when the Death King began to touch her while she was still asleep AFTER she had been SA'd for years...dude, wtf? Also, calling it a "honeypot" is so unattractive. Everything about this book is an ick factor, which is so disappointing, because I've loved books by this author before. NEVER. AGAIN.

Oof! What a book. This reminded me of Fourth Wing mixed with The Golden Dynasty which I had mixed reviews on and to be honest, I enjoyed this current book a lot more than I would have thought.
Our fmc went through some TOUGH heavy TW’s, and for that my stomach twisted as I read through it, heavy on the assault TW there. Our two mc’s had a lot of spicy scenes which I enjoyed, but as a plot driven girl I neeeeed a bit more of a storyline. However, I LOVED the world of this. The world building might have been my most favourite aspect of this book, aswell as the overall concept. Thank you NetGalley for this audio arc!

This was a little different from Barsetti's last series. It was still my beloved smut but it was a little bit um... more non consensual than I like. I was not expecting the ending. As always I love the narration. More please.

I think should have DNF’d this one. Sorry but if the MMC says “I’ll never force you” then continues to harass the FMC and do things that the FMC didn’t consent to? And then said “you liked it so I’m not sorry.” It would be different if he actually waited for her consent and wooed her.

Maybe I didn’t realize what type of book I requested, but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the audiobook.

A Quick & Steamy Read

The story has an intriguing concept but lacks character development and plot. If you're into steamy reads, then this is for you. But if you want a story with more meat to it, you might want to pass on this one.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Penelope Barsetti, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

This book started so strong and I thought there were so many places the plot could go, but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it. The book started to feel very repetative about 1/4 of the way through and not much changed. Any plot-driving moments or decisions were over in the blink of an eye and the story went back to saying nothing.

I also didn't enjoy the Death King as a character at all. I know we are supposed to sympathize with him as we learn more of his story, but to me it seemed like justification for justification's sake. I actively disliked him throughout the book and the main female character wasn't much better. I think she was supposed to be experiencing an internal struggle with her thoughts vs. her desires but it read as if she was totally sane and then did exactly the opposite of her thoughts with no justification. Also, the spice was super repetative and felt out of place in most instances.

The only part I did enjoy about this book was the world it was set in. The backstory was interesting but not anything revolutionary. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me but may be for someone newer to fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went in with high hopes for this book and I really enjoyed it until about 1/2 way through. Set in a region ravaged by a dragon king, we have an incredible heroine who falls from grace and becomes enslaved after the dragon king destroys her kingdom and kills her family. When she has a chance at freedom she takes it and becomes the dragon king’s apprentice and his new desire.

SPOILERS:
The audiobook was well done but the enemies to lovers for this couple really creeped me out. she has endured years of physical slaver and sexual slavery and when she goes from one captor to the dragon king he just wants to fuck her too. So then he starts touching her in her sleep without consent just like the guy who r*ped her did! Like wtf, this poor girl. So i stopped at that point since it was a bit much for me.

Thank you netgalley and the author and narrators for this audiobook!

Just wasn’t for me. The storyline started off with potential but fell flat and stayed there. I think we were supposed to find the Death King desirable and powerful. But he just gave off predator vibes with his actions and cringe worthy comments. I made it about ¾ of the way through before I gave up listening.

*I received an alc of this audiobook from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, author Penelope Barsetti, and NetGalley for granting me an ALC.
Publication Date: September 24, 2024

2 STARS

I feel so torn over my experience with this book and what to rate it.

Let's start with the positives. The Death King starts out with a bang! The female MCs whole world is upended in the first few pages, when the Death King rides in on his dragon and conquers her kingdom. Her father, the king, takes his own life. The author is clearly a seasoned, skilled storyteller. The plot was not the most outlandish, intricate, or inventive, yet I was engaged every step of the way.

This is dark fantasy. Be aware of triggering content. In particular, the heroine is brutalized. Her experiences being raped by a conqueror, General Titan, are part of her present reality in the first portion of the book and also referenced later. (There aren't graphically depicted scenes, but it is certainly not a glossed over as a topic. The character's trauma and survival are central to the book.)

One nitpicky thing I struggled with was the anachronistic language. The world feels ancient, but the use of modern swearing is quite frequent.

Speaking of the world-building, I would have liked to see more of it. The lack of scenery and details didn't hinder the story being told, but I would have liked better frames of reference and atmosphere. I did love when the dragon was introduced and the complex relationship our FMC builds with him. In this first book, I can wave away some of the ambiguity by chalking it up to mysteries that will hopefully be resolved in later books.

Finally, we come to the central "romance." OOF. The male MC is hard to take. "The Death King" caused the heroine to lose everything, to be forced into brutal slavery, and to suffer at the hands of a general obsessed with her. Once the would-be lovebirds cross paths, he takes her away from the general to an upgraded captivity. The MMC then becomes obsessed with her and forces non-con activity. Even the full consummation seems dubious. The way the MMC talks to the FMC and coerces her is gross; they have no chemistry or commonalities to build on other than shallow attraction. At that point in the book, I felt like the plot was falling into an unearned romance. I either wanted the darkness of their dynamic to be explicitly reflected in the tone of the relationship and the dubiousness to be called out. (The spicy scenes read 100% as romantic/positively toned btw.) If the MMC is ever supposed to become the romantic lead, then there needs to be a LONG redemption arc and some heavy groveling to the FMC before she can even consider a flirtation. I don't even think the MMC can make it right with the society he bulldozed.

In connection to the previous point, the fmc acts stupid. She knows who the man is and what he has done to her and to the world, yet her feelings nearly do a 180 after they have sex. WHOA. How did it even get to that point?! She's explicitly saying no until the MMC wears her down. NOT A ROMANCE. The only way I would accept this retroactively is if trauma responses and healing are deeply fleshed out in her character arc.

The ending was great! The state of equilibrium achieved by our main pair was upset, and we got some really exciting action scenes.

My final impression of this book is upset, conflicted, and TBD, dependent on how the author writes the next book. I need to see whether the MMC's heinous atrocities, hypocrisy, and treatment of the FMC are adequately and gravely addressed. I need to know whether or not the FMC will have self-respect, start healing from trauma, and see the relationship through healthy eyes. The ending of the book gave me some small hope that the author knows what a twisty path she's written...?

P.S. The audiobook is fantastic! Michael Ferraiuolo is a unique male narrator voice I've never heard but really appreciated. It was not a generic timbre, and therefore, I felt like the Death King and his singularity in the world was embodied by the performance. Ramona Master is a pro and did an excellent job with the FMC's POV. Dreamscape Media delivered superb sound quality and production.

DNF at 33% - this book started off so strong. I initially loved the premise and Ramona Master did a wonderful job at narrating. But as soon as she started having longer interactions with the Death King, I lost interest. He seemed only one sided and also no offense to the male narrator, but I found his voice for Talon very creepy and off-putting.

There is no list of trigger warnings at the beginning of the audio, all that’s said at the end of the blurb is “this book contains dark themes with subject matter that may be difficult for some readers.”

The FMC is repeatedly r@ped & then when she encounters the Death King, he assaults her while she’s asleep. The dragon Khazmuda was the only good character until even he tried to justify the SA because obviously she must have liked it if she came. Excuse me what?

Also, in the audio version, when the dragon roars, the narrator literally growls “roar” and I legit laughed out loud.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Death King was suprisingly dark! Or maybe not, giving the name, but watch out for trigger warnings!

Even so the story was very intriging, well written and interesting and VERY spicy!
And defently a DARK romantasy... Oh and dragons!!!

Post on IG (One_fairy_tale_at_the_time) the 19th November 2024

I really enjoyed the book's deep writing and detailed story.
And I believe the book has more to develop, because that ending was fantastic!!! I loved it.
But half of the book was dedicated to the sexual tension and sex between the main characters, only leaving more development at the beginning and end of the book. And it focused more on the characters' past, not letting them be who they were at the present moment of the book.
I loved the dragon, all the mysticism and the intrigue that is developing, and so I really want to read the next book to see how things will develop.
I liked the characters and I was fascinated by the potential of the story for the next volume.
And the narrators were the perfect choice for the book, letting all the nuances of the characters' personalities shine through with their voices. It was very good.

I was really looking forward to delving into this one as social media posts and theories are rising for the upcoming release of another dragon riding romantasy series. This one may not have checked all the boxes in that regard, but it was well worth the read.
A big thank you to the author, NetGalley, & Dreamscape Media for the AudioARC in return for an honest review! All thought and ideas are my own.
The Death King has taken everything from a 15 yr old Calista and after overthrowing her father (leading to his death) and releasing her only to be enslaved in a brutal work camp sifting through sand for seven years to find onyx diamonds, she once again is captured by him. This time as a cherished prisoner he can't seem to stay away from. Along the way there is some dragon riding, a mysterious bigger bad that the Death King is trying to fight against (which unfortunately turns out to be not as bad as was built up to be in my opinion) and Calista, now 22 yrs old, must make a decision.
Here's where I am just...mehhhhhh! Cover your eyes if you don't want spoilers.
Calista was raped repeatedly by the man who ran the dig sight in the work camp she was imprisoned in. He was her only sexual experience and after being freed from that grizzly place by the very man who was responsible for her being there in the first place, not to mention the reason her father killed himself, the Death King starts pushing her to share his bed. NOW, I know this is a kink for some spicy lovers but the trauma here is glanced over. The MMC pushes her and takes from her without asking after telling her he wouldn't push her to do anything she didn't want to do. All while telling her what she wants and that it was inevitable she would give in to him. There is also so many open ended plot points that it feels like too much time was taken in certain points of the story while the bigger, plot heavy points were given paragraphs and pages. I like spice, but I need you to explain some points. What has happened to the general who raped her? Would any normal woman be able to handle this much manipulation and trauma? There are more, but I won't go into it.
That said, I did enjoy the spicy scenes. I did enjoy what bits of the story I was given in between the trauma scenes and hard core edging scenes in which the author tries her best to explain away Calista's acceptance of said trauma with her bodies carnal desire and attraction.
for the man who has caused her so much pain and brutality.

I am half determined to give this series another shot with the second book and half resigned to just wait for the other aforementioned dragon riding romantasy series.

2.75 stars out of 5

A few regrets!!!!