Review – No Such King by Coralee June

No Such King; Bloody Royals #1
(#1 within a series)

Publication Date: January 22, 2023

Genre/Tropes: Second Chance/Forbidden/Reverse Harem/Royal/Arranged Marriage Romance

Author: Coralee June

Review Rating: 5 Gold Stars

Review/Synopsis:

Review:
ALL THE STARS!!! I already want more because I can’t stop thinking about every little nugget in this book. I was swept away and totally lost while reading. I had no idea what time or practically what day it was when I had to pull my head back out of the book. Yes, I was that completely lost within the pages. Saying I loved it doesn’t seem worthy enough.

I’ve been dying to return to the Kingdom of Aldrich after I read the prequel and No Such King broke my expectations out of the water. Lady Christine Abernathy was sent away at the end of the prequel to protect her life, but now that the King is dead she’s been summoned back. However, she had no idea what the former Queen had in mind when she stepped back into Aldrich or she might never have returned. There is darkness in the halls and evil reminders she’d rather never think of again, but when she’s told she will marry Prince Augustus, the new King, Christine has little choice but to stay. I wasn’t sure whether to like Queen Isabella or hate her, perhaps a little of both.

Christine is quite different than when she left years ago and I loved how each new part of her molded to the three different men in her life. While the girl of the past intrigued August, Atticus, and Leo, the woman she is now knocks each of them to their knees and they honestly are thrown by it. Christine may have loved August and been his best friend when they were young, but they have both changed in the years she’s been gone. Christine is a phoenix and they were expecting a dove. It’s great.

August has great character growth and I love that he steps into the role he was born into, but he wishes that his fiancée was a sweet quiet girl, the girl from his youth…sorry, August, that girl is dead. The joyful girl that Christine once was now has darkness flowing through her veins and Atticus sees the woman behind the royal clothes. Everytime August gets hit with a new truth I could just imagine his huge anime eyes…and speaking of huge things on August….that opening…whew!!

Atticus is the devil’s advocate and I loved all of his wiley ways. Christine has a pull towards him for sure, but she also has a duty to uphold and I think she realizes that giving into Atticus will unleash all of her inner demons. Sort of a Hades and Persephone vibe I felt from them, truly delicious. I’m looking forward to getting even more of him and what he will bring to this story, I can’t wait.

Then there is her shadow, Leo. The man who seems to push her away at every turn, but also has a savior’s complex. Christine dreams of his strong arms the night her life changed, but a normal life with him is impossible, especially now that she lives in the light. Their push and pull is very angsty, but also wonderful to witness and I can’t wait for more.

This is not a reverse harem where there is an alpha among the men. This isn’t even a story where they all get along, it’s a story of angst, murder, and second chances. Where the princess doesn’t wait in the tower to be rescued, but instead she becomes the darkness and learns to save herself. No Such King is just the beginning and I’m salivating to return to the world once again.

Synopsis:
A puppet, a prince, and a playboy. One arranged marriage. Three men I must keep at arm’s length.

Atticus Dupont has been watching me from a distance, controlling my life like he controls the seedy criminal underground. He longs to own my mind, body, and soul.

Leo Winthrop is willing to do whatever it takes to protect me from the horrors of this castle, even if it means being cruel and pushing me away.

and Prince Augustus? He’s a reluctant royal that would rather sleep his way through court than be forced into an arranged marriage with me.

I fled the kingdom four years ago, planning to never return.

But the king is dead.The kingdom is in chaos.

My duty makes it impossible to walk away.

One thing I know for sure: I have to open my cracked heart, because this crown is too heavy for one lover to bear.A puppet, a prince, and a playboy. One arranged marriage. Three men I must keep at arm’s length.

This is a reverse harem romance.

The Bloody Royal series should be read in order for the greatest enjoyment.

No Such Fling #.05
No Such King #1
No Such Queen #2
No Such Ring #3

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