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The hunter is hungry, and I’m his prey.
I never dreamed I’d be a sorority girl, but from the moment I arrived at my mother’s alma mater, the sisters of TZE have welcomed me with open arms. Unfortunately, Kingston University has hidden monsters of its own. I thought I’d be safe here, but I’m not.
My past has found me. And it intends to chase me down.
These brutal boys of SIN have a singular focus—making my life a living hell. I don’t deserve the hate they’re doling out or the games they’re playing with my head.
One savage hunter. One unhinged stalker. One brutal fighter.
Royal.
Beckham.
Wilder.
They can’t make me run. I won’t submit to fear. Been there, done that. The truth of that night is a hazy memory, and the skeletons of our shared past are buried deep. If a few depraved frat brothers insist on unearthing them, I’ll make sure I’m not the only one who suffers.
Sigma Iota Nu. Where sinful souls come out to play.
I never dreamed I’d be a sorority girl, but from the moment I arrived at my mother’s alma mater, the sisters of TZE have welcomed me with open arms. Unfortunately, Kingston University has hidden monsters of its own. I thought I’d be safe here, but I’m not.
My past has found me. And it intends to chase me down.
These brutal boys of SIN have a singular focus—making my life a living hell. I don’t deserve the hate they’re doling out or the games they’re playing with my head.
One savage hunter. One unhinged stalker. One brutal fighter.
Royal.
Beckham.
Wilder.
They can’t make me run. I won’t submit to fear. Been there, done that. The truth of that night is a hazy memory, and the skeletons of our shared past are buried deep. If a few depraved frat brothers insist on unearthing them, I’ll make sure I’m not the only one who suffers.
Sigma Iota Nu. Where sinful souls come out to play.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2023
755 people are currently reading
1875 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
December 8, 2023
Holy Crap! This is probably my favorite Leila James book so far. I love the storyline and characters. I also really enjoy the little crossover scenes with prior characters from her other series.
This is an amazing way to start a series, it’s hard to put the book down. Great job!! I’m excited for book 2!
This is an amazing way to start a series, it’s hard to put the book down. Great job!! I’m excited for book 2!
November 21, 2023
What a way to start a new series! We are back with another installment of frat boys who fall to their feet with the weight of their secrets and the connection they feel for the same girl -- but who's really hiding what? We don't really find out much here, but the snippets we do get have me salivating for the next book! I had an idea where the cliffy was leading us, and it turns out my hunch was right! The FBI really does need to hire me.🤣
I loved Echo so much, and my heart really went out for her. She's obviously been through a lot of pain and turmoil and even though we don't know the half of it, she's still trying to piece her life back together while putting on a brave face. That's easier said than done though when she realizes the bane of her existence and torment is living right next door, and intends to punish her for all her wrong doings; with the help of his two closest friends, of course.
I have so many theories as to how this is all going to play out, but I am definitely excited to see how the next installment of the SIN boys will play out in 2024! 😉
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions **
I loved Echo so much, and my heart really went out for her. She's obviously been through a lot of pain and turmoil and even though we don't know the half of it, she's still trying to piece her life back together while putting on a brave face. That's easier said than done though when she realizes the bane of her existence and torment is living right next door, and intends to punish her for all her wrong doings; with the help of his two closest friends, of course.
I have so many theories as to how this is all going to play out, but I am definitely excited to see how the next installment of the SIN boys will play out in 2024! 😉
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions **
June 24, 2024
Royal is the first book in the Brutal Boys of SIN series by Leila James - one of the most talented fucking Authors I have come across!!
I dont know what magic Leila weaves when conjuring up her plot and characters - but, I AM HERE FOR ALL OF IT!!! Except for her damn cliffhangers.... those are so fucking BAD for my mental health. I have learnt over time - that I just can not start any of her series without knowing that all the books have been released and then when I know that they are I dive right in and devour them - Because whatever this girl is writing I am fucking reading it!!!
I absolutely loved this first book - and as is Leila James - I love how she keeps you on edge with the freaking plot and on edge with all the freaking spice. Beckham and Wilder are so freaking HOT... the chemistry is unreal. Royal is still on my watch list (although I know I am going to be absolutely obsessed with him as the series unfolds) and Echo is perfection - so freaking strong to be handling all the shit that's being thrown at her. And not to mention again - but I will - that GD cliffhanger!!!
I also loved how we got a little of Bear in this one - cause come on... it's Bear.
Now onwards and forwards to Beckham...
Please note that there are triggers in Leila's Brutal Boys of SIN series - if you have them - please take them into consideration.. I am all for them - love them - devour them... well except for the cliffhanger... *insert dark chuckle here*
I dont know what magic Leila weaves when conjuring up her plot and characters - but, I AM HERE FOR ALL OF IT!!! Except for her damn cliffhangers.... those are so fucking BAD for my mental health. I have learnt over time - that I just can not start any of her series without knowing that all the books have been released and then when I know that they are I dive right in and devour them - Because whatever this girl is writing I am fucking reading it!!!
I absolutely loved this first book - and as is Leila James - I love how she keeps you on edge with the freaking plot and on edge with all the freaking spice. Beckham and Wilder are so freaking HOT... the chemistry is unreal. Royal is still on my watch list (although I know I am going to be absolutely obsessed with him as the series unfolds) and Echo is perfection - so freaking strong to be handling all the shit that's being thrown at her. And not to mention again - but I will - that GD cliffhanger!!!
I also loved how we got a little of Bear in this one - cause come on... it's Bear.
Now onwards and forwards to Beckham...
Please note that there are triggers in Leila's Brutal Boys of SIN series - if you have them - please take them into consideration.. I am all for them - love them - devour them... well except for the cliffhanger... *insert dark chuckle here*
November 28, 2023
OMG!! So so good!!! What a great way to start this series!! This quickly became my new favorite Leila James book. I’m dying to know everything, I need the next book ASAP!! I can’t wait to see how Wilder, Beckham and Royal all fix the mess they’ve made with Echo. THAT CLIFFHANGER!!! I knew going in that there would probably be a crazy ending, but I didn’t see that coming at all!!! I’m so ready for the next book from the Brutal Boys of SIN!!
April 8, 2024
3.5 Stars
August 21, 2024
Great read
I discovered Ms. James a year ago and I devour her stories. The intricate details of her interconnected series make them all more addicting. I really enjoyed this book. Loved the character development and storyline. This book got me out of a reading slump.
Royal is the first book in the Brutal Boys of SIN trilogy, and it’s like a crossover episode of your favorite college drama, with characters popping up from the Brothers of Hawthorne Hall and Bastards of Bainbridge Hall trilogies. It’s like a reunion party where everyone's a bit of a troublemaker, and you’ll get a kick out of seeing old favorites again.
Meet Royal: he's the textbook definition of an alphahole. No remorse, no excuses, just pure bad-boy vibes. Life’s been a rough ride for him, mostly because he’s steered it into a ditch himself, and he flaunts his rebellious streak like a badge of honor. To make matters worse, the one girl who’s partly responsible for his tangled mess shows up at his college, moves into the sorority next door, and generally makes his life a soap opera.
Meanwhile, Beckham and Wilder are busy juggling their own drama, both old and new. These guys have more baggage than an airplane, but they’re also dealing with some seriously confusing feelings for each other. When Royal ropes them into a scheme to chase his ex away, they’re on board—until they’re not. Turns out, even the roughest guys can get all mushy and sentimental.
Echo, our sassy heroine, is starting over at Kingston University after a personal tragedy. She’s determined to stay put, no matter what. But as old flames rekindle, new bonds form, and unexpected threats emerge, her fresh start gets messier than a frat party.
Leila James delivers another rollercoaster with this one. The plot twists will keep you glued to the pages, and you’ll find yourself torn between speeding through to the end and savoring every word so you don’t finish too soon. The characters are a delightful mix of dark, dirty and gloriously flawed. The mystery will keep you guessing, and the cliffhanger will leave you breathless.
Storyline 5 ⭐
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Darkness 🩶, not really that dark, but I read dark romance regularly. My level of dark may not coincide with yours. Check TW.
I discovered Ms. James a year ago and I devour her stories. The intricate details of her interconnected series make them all more addicting. I really enjoyed this book. Loved the character development and storyline. This book got me out of a reading slump.
Royal is the first book in the Brutal Boys of SIN trilogy, and it’s like a crossover episode of your favorite college drama, with characters popping up from the Brothers of Hawthorne Hall and Bastards of Bainbridge Hall trilogies. It’s like a reunion party where everyone's a bit of a troublemaker, and you’ll get a kick out of seeing old favorites again.
Meet Royal: he's the textbook definition of an alphahole. No remorse, no excuses, just pure bad-boy vibes. Life’s been a rough ride for him, mostly because he’s steered it into a ditch himself, and he flaunts his rebellious streak like a badge of honor. To make matters worse, the one girl who’s partly responsible for his tangled mess shows up at his college, moves into the sorority next door, and generally makes his life a soap opera.
Meanwhile, Beckham and Wilder are busy juggling their own drama, both old and new. These guys have more baggage than an airplane, but they’re also dealing with some seriously confusing feelings for each other. When Royal ropes them into a scheme to chase his ex away, they’re on board—until they’re not. Turns out, even the roughest guys can get all mushy and sentimental.
Echo, our sassy heroine, is starting over at Kingston University after a personal tragedy. She’s determined to stay put, no matter what. But as old flames rekindle, new bonds form, and unexpected threats emerge, her fresh start gets messier than a frat party.
Leila James delivers another rollercoaster with this one. The plot twists will keep you glued to the pages, and you’ll find yourself torn between speeding through to the end and savoring every word so you don’t finish too soon. The characters are a delightful mix of dark, dirty and gloriously flawed. The mystery will keep you guessing, and the cliffhanger will leave you breathless.
Storyline 5 ⭐
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Darkness 🩶, not really that dark, but I read dark romance regularly. My level of dark may not coincide with yours. Check TW.
November 30, 2023
5/5 ⭐️
Steam: 3/5
Strong Language: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Royal is book one in the Brutal Boys of SIN trilogy. It exists at the same college as the Bothers of Hawthorne Hall and Bastards of Bainbridge Hall trilogies. There are crossover characters that pop up and will delight fans of the previous books.
Royal is an alphahole. No apologies. No excuses. Life has dealt him a hard hand, some of his own making, some out of his control, and he wears the bad boy mantle with pride, cunning, and ruthlessness. To irritate him further, the one girl he gave his heart to - and who he blames the majority of his misfortunes on - enrolls in his school and moves into the sorority next door. This simply will not stand.
Beckham and Wilder have plenty of drama going on in their own lives. Every guy in SIN has a past, a dark history that led them to be there, that puts them in debt. The two of them are also trying to navigate feelings for each other. When Royal asks them to help drive his ex out of the school they agree - until they don’t. No one expected the hard living and dangerous guys to catch feelings.
Echo is fiesty, sassy, and strong. She’s determined to make a fresh start at Kingston University after a tragedy. She refuses to let anyone or anything drive her away. That gets more and more complicated when old feelings surface, new attachments form, and unexpected dangers arise.
This was another tour de force from Leila James. The twists and turns will have you rushing to try and finish the book and then pausing so you don’t finish it too soon because then the magic will be over. The characters are flat out amazing. Dark, gritty, complex, and flawed in all the best ways. The mystery will leave you guessing and the cliffhanger will leave you gasping. Read this book!
Steam: 3/5
Strong Language: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Royal is book one in the Brutal Boys of SIN trilogy. It exists at the same college as the Bothers of Hawthorne Hall and Bastards of Bainbridge Hall trilogies. There are crossover characters that pop up and will delight fans of the previous books.
Royal is an alphahole. No apologies. No excuses. Life has dealt him a hard hand, some of his own making, some out of his control, and he wears the bad boy mantle with pride, cunning, and ruthlessness. To irritate him further, the one girl he gave his heart to - and who he blames the majority of his misfortunes on - enrolls in his school and moves into the sorority next door. This simply will not stand.
Beckham and Wilder have plenty of drama going on in their own lives. Every guy in SIN has a past, a dark history that led them to be there, that puts them in debt. The two of them are also trying to navigate feelings for each other. When Royal asks them to help drive his ex out of the school they agree - until they don’t. No one expected the hard living and dangerous guys to catch feelings.
Echo is fiesty, sassy, and strong. She’s determined to make a fresh start at Kingston University after a tragedy. She refuses to let anyone or anything drive her away. That gets more and more complicated when old feelings surface, new attachments form, and unexpected dangers arise.
This was another tour de force from Leila James. The twists and turns will have you rushing to try and finish the book and then pausing so you don’t finish it too soon because then the magic will be over. The characters are flat out amazing. Dark, gritty, complex, and flawed in all the best ways. The mystery will leave you guessing and the cliffhanger will leave you gasping. Read this book!
November 26, 2023
Thank you for the ARC, Leila.
“Better fucking run, baby.”
Royal is book one of Brutal Boys of SIN. It’s a dark romance, college bully, why choose, second chance that will leave you with your jaw on the floor. I did not see the cliffhanger coming and it’s left me shook. Like I’ve never needed
book two faster. Royal has a troubling past. One he can’t seem to shake and that’s left him full of rage. Echo just so happens to turn up at his college, looking to start over. She’s fierce and resilient. They have history; it didn’t end well but their fiery pull to one another cannot be denied. Pain and pleasure. Fear and captivation. No way around it but facing it head on. Wilder and Beckham are Royal’s brothers but it’s more than that. Partnership. Loyalty. I love how carefree and confident Beckham is. He knows who he is, what he wants and he goes for it. Wilder is sweet and protective but a little more reserved. Then we have The Sin Keeper. Knower of secrets. This is a fast moving, intriguing, page turner. And the spicy that we do get is sizzling. Yes, my jaw is still hanging open because OMFG this book!! Royal just became my new favorite Leila James book. As Royal would say, RUN.
“Catch your act out there, Calamity Jane. Can’t wait to see what trouble you get into next.”
“You are not the one in control here, princess. You’d do well to remember who you’re dealing with.”
“You never had a choice. It’s you and me, Legacy.”
“You’re mine, Echo. No one else will ever touch you.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥
“Better fucking run, baby.”
Royal is book one of Brutal Boys of SIN. It’s a dark romance, college bully, why choose, second chance that will leave you with your jaw on the floor. I did not see the cliffhanger coming and it’s left me shook. Like I’ve never needed
book two faster. Royal has a troubling past. One he can’t seem to shake and that’s left him full of rage. Echo just so happens to turn up at his college, looking to start over. She’s fierce and resilient. They have history; it didn’t end well but their fiery pull to one another cannot be denied. Pain and pleasure. Fear and captivation. No way around it but facing it head on. Wilder and Beckham are Royal’s brothers but it’s more than that. Partnership. Loyalty. I love how carefree and confident Beckham is. He knows who he is, what he wants and he goes for it. Wilder is sweet and protective but a little more reserved. Then we have The Sin Keeper. Knower of secrets. This is a fast moving, intriguing, page turner. And the spicy that we do get is sizzling. Yes, my jaw is still hanging open because OMFG this book!! Royal just became my new favorite Leila James book. As Royal would say, RUN.
“Catch your act out there, Calamity Jane. Can’t wait to see what trouble you get into next.”
“You are not the one in control here, princess. You’d do well to remember who you’re dealing with.”
“You never had a choice. It’s you and me, Legacy.”
“You’re mine, Echo. No one else will ever touch you.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥
November 27, 2023
There’s really nothing like a dark academia bully romance, but make it MMFM, and Leila James is your go-to author. Royal is the first in her new series and she definitely didn’t disappoint!
The plot kicks off immediately, and the spice isn’t far behind (only a few scenes but they’re 🥵). Beckham and Wilder are navigating their new friendship turned situationship when their friend and frat brother, Royal, asks for help dealing with his past turn new neighbor, Echo. How far are they willing to push Echo without getting attached? Apparently pretty far. 😳
Echo and Royal are BOTH holding onto some big secrets and so much anger. All. The. Anger. You can feel the explosiveness between these two…And they’re pulling Beckham and Wilder along for the ride. My emotions are so conflicted!!!
This is an ongoing series, so no HEA (yet), but that cliffhanger will have you STUNNED silent. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book (and more answers about Royal and Echo’s past).
Triggers: dub-con, primal play
Tropes: brother’s best friend, dark academia, mmfm, secret society
4⭐️ 2.5🌶️
Other books to check out by this author:
The Brothers of Hawthorne Hall series and The Bastards of Bainbridge Hall series
The plot kicks off immediately, and the spice isn’t far behind (only a few scenes but they’re 🥵). Beckham and Wilder are navigating their new friendship turned situationship when their friend and frat brother, Royal, asks for help dealing with his past turn new neighbor, Echo. How far are they willing to push Echo without getting attached? Apparently pretty far. 😳
Echo and Royal are BOTH holding onto some big secrets and so much anger. All. The. Anger. You can feel the explosiveness between these two…And they’re pulling Beckham and Wilder along for the ride. My emotions are so conflicted!!!
This is an ongoing series, so no HEA (yet), but that cliffhanger will have you STUNNED silent. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book (and more answers about Royal and Echo’s past).
Triggers: dub-con, primal play
Tropes: brother’s best friend, dark academia, mmfm, secret society
4⭐️ 2.5🌶️
Other books to check out by this author:
The Brothers of Hawthorne Hall series and The Bastards of Bainbridge Hall series
March 9, 2024
royal + echo (+ beckham + wilder)
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
🥵
echo arrives at kingston university in Georgia looking for a fresh start after she was offered a legacy spot at her mother's sorority, TZE. little does she know the same person she's running from goes to KU and is part of the SIN fraternity right next door. and he has friends who are more than willing to help him exact revenge on the girl that broke his heart. what starts as a friendship between echo and two seemingly caring guys turns out to be an all out enemies to lovers scenario in this epic story of hunters vs. prey.
this was my first read by leila and boy was I blown away with the characters, suspense, and the freaking CLIFFHANGER OMG! The characters were absolute perfection from royal to beckham and wilder to echo and her siblings, kara and davis. and the tragedy these characters face throughout the book will rip your heart out, but man will leila put it back together with the spice!
takeaways: bonfires, walks in the woods, sorority/fraternity enemies, hunter/prey, underground fight ring, cage girl, MM, MMMF, Sin Keeper, black envelopes, stalker, "calamity jane", "princess", concert t-shirts, "legacy", P-D, art class, foster family, intruder, betrayal
thank you leila!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
🥵
echo arrives at kingston university in Georgia looking for a fresh start after she was offered a legacy spot at her mother's sorority, TZE. little does she know the same person she's running from goes to KU and is part of the SIN fraternity right next door. and he has friends who are more than willing to help him exact revenge on the girl that broke his heart. what starts as a friendship between echo and two seemingly caring guys turns out to be an all out enemies to lovers scenario in this epic story of hunters vs. prey.
this was my first read by leila and boy was I blown away with the characters, suspense, and the freaking CLIFFHANGER OMG! The characters were absolute perfection from royal to beckham and wilder to echo and her siblings, kara and davis. and the tragedy these characters face throughout the book will rip your heart out, but man will leila put it back together with the spice!
takeaways: bonfires, walks in the woods, sorority/fraternity enemies, hunter/prey, underground fight ring, cage girl, MM, MMMF, Sin Keeper, black envelopes, stalker, "calamity jane", "princess", concert t-shirts, "legacy", P-D, art class, foster family, intruder, betrayal
thank you leila!
November 26, 2023
Welcome back to Kingston University! Be prepared for an engaging read that will keep you on edge throughout as Leila weaves a complex plot that will keep you guessing. This trilogy revolves around the guys in the Sigma Iota Nu fraternity or SIN. To say I’m intrigued by Royal, Beckham, and Wilder is an understatement. I can’t wait to see how their back stories evolve; the reader is teased with glimpses of them throughout this book.
I really enjoy the way Leila builds her world and then slowly unfolds an intricate plot of deceit, subterfuge, and intrigue. These boys are fighters that stalk their prey and enjoy the chase.
The female protagonist is feisty and strong with her own secrets, and she can go toe to toe with all of them.
Told in multiple point of view the reader gets insight into each character, their fears, motivations, and experiences. I enjoyed the interplay between each character and seeing how their relationships evolve individually and together. I could not put this book down; I was invested from the first word to the last and desperately need the next book in the trilogy. This is a MUST TBR. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I really enjoy the way Leila builds her world and then slowly unfolds an intricate plot of deceit, subterfuge, and intrigue. These boys are fighters that stalk their prey and enjoy the chase.
The female protagonist is feisty and strong with her own secrets, and she can go toe to toe with all of them.
Told in multiple point of view the reader gets insight into each character, their fears, motivations, and experiences. I enjoyed the interplay between each character and seeing how their relationships evolve individually and together. I could not put this book down; I was invested from the first word to the last and desperately need the next book in the trilogy. This is a MUST TBR. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
November 29, 2023
What a ride! This is the perfect book to introduce the newest trilogy in Leila’s Kingston University series. Just like the previous trilogies, it was easy to get sucked into the characters and these characters had me wanting more. Echo is so different than the previous FMCs we’ve encountered and I am so here for it. Her attitude and strength has me excited to see how she goes throughout the series. And I would love to be chased by Royal any day. His back story has me so interested and so curious that I just need to know more. Leila continues to outdo herself as she continues with this series. Each trilogy just has me hooked but this first book has me desperately needing the second one now.
Tropes:
Primal Play
WhyChoose
MMFM
Stalker
Masked Men
Tropes:
Primal Play
WhyChoose
MMFM
Stalker
Masked Men
November 27, 2023
Tropes
Why choose
MMFM
Bully Romance
By far my favorite book by Leila James!! This is dark twisted and the hottest book yet! From chapter one I couldn’t stop i was hooked this is a page turner and let me just say the ending wtf leila!!! I need more!!!!!
Why choose
MMFM
Bully Romance
By far my favorite book by Leila James!! This is dark twisted and the hottest book yet! From chapter one I couldn’t stop i was hooked this is a page turner and let me just say the ending wtf leila!!! I need more!!!!!
November 28, 2023
I absolutely am invested in this series already. I loved this book. The guys in this book are so captivating. I want to know them more. I loved the dynamics that instantly grew between the boys of SIN and Echo.
November 28, 2023
I’m a sucker for Leila James bully romances 🫠 she does a great job of making you both hate the guys and want more from them. I think the characters from the Hawthorne Hall trilogy will always hold a special place in my heart, but I’m excited to learn more about Royal, Beckham, and Wilder.
These books are dark and twisty and so full of secrets. I love trying to figure out what’s going to happen next.
Her cliffhangers are killer though and always have me dying for the next book 😫
Highlights:
- Romance: MMFM
- Why choose
- College bully romance
- Forced proximity
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
These books are dark and twisty and so full of secrets. I love trying to figure out what’s going to happen next.
Her cliffhangers are killer though and always have me dying for the next book 😫
Highlights:
- Romance: MMFM
- Why choose
- College bully romance
- Forced proximity
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
May 22, 2024
This sucked me right in!!! And that endjng!! *screaming*
July 23, 2024
Man oh Man I loved this book!! What a great start to a trilogy!! This was so good!!
Echo, Wilder,Royal and Beckham!!
So many secrets and so many twists and turns!
And that Cliffhanger 🫣🫣
Echo, Wilder,Royal and Beckham!!
So many secrets and so many twists and turns!
And that Cliffhanger 🫣🫣
September 20, 2024
This review is for the entirety of the series. This also was marked for spoilers.
To sum up the trilogy: the author was doing too much.
CHARACTERS
Echo. FMC. 18-19(?). Became a teen mom. Loves her son. She and Royal had an illicit affair in their youth, but her brother is an overprotective bitch ass, which contributed to Echo eventually lying about her abortion. She never really hates anyone. Legacy at a sorority. Sins of the father.
MMCs
Royal. 21-22(?). SIN frat brother. Imprisoned falsely. Hates and loves Echo. Wilder and Beckham are his best mates and, eventually, lovers. Hates Echo’s brother but they were once best friend. Loves his son.
Wilder. 21-22(?). SIN frat brother. Has a sister who is/was in an abusive relationship with a cop. The charmer. Fighter.
Bechkam. 21-22(?). SIN frat brother. Was groomed and raped by his nanny. Abusive and neglectful home life. Voyeur…for no reason. Enjoys making jokes at inopportune times.
Summary of Events
Book 1. Echo attends university as a freshman as a legacy to TZE while her brother is a frat brother at SIN. Echo learns her ex Royal is at SIN as well, and they have a run in that, of course, makes her wet with need and a bit frightened. A “gay couple” (Wilder and Beckham) take her back to her sorority, and Royal has best mates Beckham and Wilder come into his plan to make Echo be repaid for his wrong imprisonment. Both men agree with Beckham sneaking into her room and leaving notes and Wilder playing nice guy. Something something feelings that never left burn brighter something something sex something something the real bad guy appears, and Royal finds out he has a son.
Book 2.. With Echo terrified about a man coming into her room and leaving notes, she and her elder sister and brother involve the police. Royal reconciles he has a son, and that he was in the wrong for thinking Echo is at fault for what happened to him. Echo cries and cries about not trusting the trio after learning and dealing with their assholery, but, as we all know, sex is always on the table. They need to remain on campus as to not involve Echo and Royal’s son into this, per the bad guy. And…
Hmm…
Ah! Freya (Echo’s sorority big sister who is hardly there) and her boyfriend Zane die!
Book 3. Murder mystery! Who dunnit? Well, this is where the book is basically Royal understanding his dynamic with Wilder and Beckham, how SIN is some secret “justice league” underground society with connections everywhere, and…yeah?
Huh.
Take my advice: go watch CW’s Riverdale.
This was a trilogy that was very CW and that is not a compliment. Everything felt so contrived and last minute in all these reveals on top of reveals on top of reveals. They remind me of CW shows that really wanted to look smart and mysterious, but the creators had no idea how to do it, so they pulled connections out of their ass and hoped we would all gasp.
The gasp that I did not, in fact, guspt.
WHAT WOULD HAVE IMPROVED MY RATING.
✨ A bit more from Echo, honestly. I understand she never stopped loving Royal, but she does have a son now. That doesn’t mean she needs to be perfect. She should make mistakes. But her flaws should be recognized as flaws. Having her make these mistakes and then snap-to. I want more indicators that she was hiding something. We have her POV for the love of Christ, be useful with it! I wanted more raw mother bear anger from her regarding what all three men did. I wanted to see when she went cold, and how she decides her son’s safety takes priority, meaning she’s staying away from the three men who, by correlation, caused this shit into her home after her parents died.
✨ A little less from Echo’s brother. He’s a bit too over the top. And that’s a flaw of his, understandably. But as the trilogy progressed…why didn’t he receive any sort if character arc in simmering down? He feels like the Walmart version of Killian. Speaking of the Lords…
✨ Why is Beckham a voyeur? Tristian in Royals of Forsyth is an artistic voyeur and I love him for it. He’s a control freak. Naturally, voyeurism is there too. And this is nonsexual surveillance for him too. This extends to his mates and his little sisters. You could say this stems from his ex cheating on him. So why is Beckham a voyeur? You don’t need to psychoanalyze him but give some sort of basis. Let alone, when he revealed he was a voyeur to a rightfully upset Echo, the fuck was he whispering sensually about explaining himself. That entire scene tanked my like of Echo and Beckham’s dynamic.
✨ Romantic nonsexual bonding needed a priority. It just felt like the author thought “If they have enough sex, it’ll be a relationship!” No! Echo and Wilder honestly had the most romantic chemistry while Royal and Echo had the most sexual chemistry. I wanted to see nonsexual intimate bonding with all the relationships involved. Instead, sex = romance. Sex can contribute to romance but romance is a collective effort of various intimacies. But all right 😒
Only reason this series gets 2⭐️ is that this had good bones. It just needed some more developmental editing, IMO.
To sum up the trilogy: the author was doing too much.
CHARACTERS
Echo. FMC. 18-19(?). Became a teen mom. Loves her son. She and Royal had an illicit affair in their youth, but her brother is an overprotective bitch ass, which contributed to Echo eventually lying about her abortion. She never really hates anyone. Legacy at a sorority. Sins of the father.
MMCs
Royal. 21-22(?). SIN frat brother. Imprisoned falsely. Hates and loves Echo. Wilder and Beckham are his best mates and, eventually, lovers. Hates Echo’s brother but they were once best friend. Loves his son.
Wilder. 21-22(?). SIN frat brother. Has a sister who is/was in an abusive relationship with a cop. The charmer. Fighter.
Bechkam. 21-22(?). SIN frat brother. Was groomed and raped by his nanny. Abusive and neglectful home life. Voyeur…for no reason. Enjoys making jokes at inopportune times.
Summary of Events
Book 1. Echo attends university as a freshman as a legacy to TZE while her brother is a frat brother at SIN. Echo learns her ex Royal is at SIN as well, and they have a run in that, of course, makes her wet with need and a bit frightened. A “gay couple” (Wilder and Beckham) take her back to her sorority, and Royal has best mates Beckham and Wilder come into his plan to make Echo be repaid for his wrong imprisonment. Both men agree with Beckham sneaking into her room and leaving notes and Wilder playing nice guy. Something something feelings that never left burn brighter something something sex something something the real bad guy appears, and Royal finds out he has a son.
Book 2.. With Echo terrified about a man coming into her room and leaving notes, she and her elder sister and brother involve the police. Royal reconciles he has a son, and that he was in the wrong for thinking Echo is at fault for what happened to him. Echo cries and cries about not trusting the trio after learning and dealing with their assholery, but, as we all know, sex is always on the table. They need to remain on campus as to not involve Echo and Royal’s son into this, per the bad guy. And…
Hmm…
Ah! Freya (Echo’s sorority big sister who is hardly there) and her boyfriend Zane die!
Book 3. Murder mystery! Who dunnit? Well, this is where the book is basically Royal understanding his dynamic with Wilder and Beckham, how SIN is some secret “justice league” underground society with connections everywhere, and…yeah?
Huh.
Take my advice: go watch CW’s Riverdale.
This was a trilogy that was very CW and that is not a compliment. Everything felt so contrived and last minute in all these reveals on top of reveals on top of reveals. They remind me of CW shows that really wanted to look smart and mysterious, but the creators had no idea how to do it, so they pulled connections out of their ass and hoped we would all gasp.
The gasp that I did not, in fact, guspt.
WHAT WOULD HAVE IMPROVED MY RATING.
✨ A bit more from Echo, honestly. I understand she never stopped loving Royal, but she does have a son now. That doesn’t mean she needs to be perfect. She should make mistakes. But her flaws should be recognized as flaws. Having her make these mistakes and then snap-to. I want more indicators that she was hiding something. We have her POV for the love of Christ, be useful with it! I wanted more raw mother bear anger from her regarding what all three men did. I wanted to see when she went cold, and how she decides her son’s safety takes priority, meaning she’s staying away from the three men who, by correlation, caused this shit into her home after her parents died.
✨ A little less from Echo’s brother. He’s a bit too over the top. And that’s a flaw of his, understandably. But as the trilogy progressed…why didn’t he receive any sort if character arc in simmering down? He feels like the Walmart version of Killian. Speaking of the Lords…
✨ Why is Beckham a voyeur? Tristian in Royals of Forsyth is an artistic voyeur and I love him for it. He’s a control freak. Naturally, voyeurism is there too. And this is nonsexual surveillance for him too. This extends to his mates and his little sisters. You could say this stems from his ex cheating on him. So why is Beckham a voyeur? You don’t need to psychoanalyze him but give some sort of basis. Let alone, when he revealed he was a voyeur to a rightfully upset Echo, the fuck was he whispering sensually about explaining himself. That entire scene tanked my like of Echo and Beckham’s dynamic.
✨ Romantic nonsexual bonding needed a priority. It just felt like the author thought “If they have enough sex, it’ll be a relationship!” No! Echo and Wilder honestly had the most romantic chemistry while Royal and Echo had the most sexual chemistry. I wanted to see nonsexual intimate bonding with all the relationships involved. Instead, sex = romance. Sex can contribute to romance but romance is a collective effort of various intimacies. But all right 😒
Only reason this series gets 2⭐️ is that this had good bones. It just needed some more developmental editing, IMO.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2025
Oh my god, this book was so good. But that cliffhanger!! I love this author and have read several series by her. She doesn’t disappoint. On to the next one…immediately!!
November 28, 2023
Omg omg!!! If you loved Brothers of Hawthorne Hall and Bastards of Bainbridge Hall you will 100% love Royal!!
Echo, Royal, Beck and Wilder are 1000% amazing!!! Leila James fantasticfantastic job!!!
Echo, Royal, Beck and Wilder are 1000% amazing!!! Leila James fantasticfantastic job!!!
November 27, 2023
First of all, thanks to the author who was kind enough to bestow me with an ARC of this b*tch for an honest review!
All I'm gonna say is...THAT F*CKING ENDING!!! Ugh...ok.. now that I got that out of the way...Holy sh*t! F*cking loved this book! I can't give out too much cuz I don't want to spoil this b*tch, but here goes. First, if you haven't read the previous 2 series set in the same world, highly recommend to do so before you start this one. Although not required, go read them, you won't regret it! Now, to this b*tch... the story starts with our MFC (Echo). We find out that something horrible happened years ago and has made her afraid of someone who is supposed to be in jail for the horrible sh*t that happened. She finds out the f*cker got out of prison and ended up living next door to her. Our prison MMC (Royal) wants to make Echo miserable because she was the catalyst that landed him in prison. To do this he ropes in two of his best friends (our other MMC's from the harem, Beckham and Wilder) to f*ck with her so that Royal can get his revenge...and I'm gonna leave it at that! Sweet Dumbledore, so much sh*t happens and I can't tell you anything else!
Now, my thoughts on this b*tch... I did have trouble differentiating Beckham and Wilder, character wise. I had to go back to the beginning of the chapter to make sure I was reading the right character perspective. Also, there were some parts that felt a little bit like filler, that I think if it was cut out it wouldn't have affected the story in the least, maybe a little bit more editing would have helped. Other than that, I loved the dynamic of the characters and the sm*t was f*cking on point!
So, if you're in to multiple POV books, why choose reverse harems, bully romance, primal play, some nice f*cking sm*t, panty melting dirty talk, some potential stalking, and 3 f*cking delicious men you want to f*cking lick then I would highly suggest this b*tch!
All I'm gonna say is...THAT F*CKING ENDING!!! Ugh...ok.. now that I got that out of the way...Holy sh*t! F*cking loved this book! I can't give out too much cuz I don't want to spoil this b*tch, but here goes. First, if you haven't read the previous 2 series set in the same world, highly recommend to do so before you start this one. Although not required, go read them, you won't regret it! Now, to this b*tch... the story starts with our MFC (Echo). We find out that something horrible happened years ago and has made her afraid of someone who is supposed to be in jail for the horrible sh*t that happened. She finds out the f*cker got out of prison and ended up living next door to her. Our prison MMC (Royal) wants to make Echo miserable because she was the catalyst that landed him in prison. To do this he ropes in two of his best friends (our other MMC's from the harem, Beckham and Wilder) to f*ck with her so that Royal can get his revenge...and I'm gonna leave it at that! Sweet Dumbledore, so much sh*t happens and I can't tell you anything else!
Now, my thoughts on this b*tch... I did have trouble differentiating Beckham and Wilder, character wise. I had to go back to the beginning of the chapter to make sure I was reading the right character perspective. Also, there were some parts that felt a little bit like filler, that I think if it was cut out it wouldn't have affected the story in the least, maybe a little bit more editing would have helped. Other than that, I loved the dynamic of the characters and the sm*t was f*cking on point!
So, if you're in to multiple POV books, why choose reverse harems, bully romance, primal play, some nice f*cking sm*t, panty melting dirty talk, some potential stalking, and 3 f*cking delicious men you want to f*cking lick then I would highly suggest this b*tch!
October 29, 2024
I’ve read and enjoyed Brothers of Hawthorne Hall and Bastards of Bainbridge Hall, the Bastards better than Hawthorne. But just from book 1 of The Brutal Boys of SIN it looks like this series is going to be the best!
I had already guessed Echo’s big secret before it was revealed in the end, and all I can say is- because I’m really liking her, is I hope she has one very good reason for keeping it from Royal because this is one of my biggest dislikes about a woman. I don’t like when they keep this kind of secret, it’s selfish and really pisses me off. So I’m crossing my fingers she has a good reason, otherwise my opinion about her is going to drastically change.
As much as Royal is being an ass, I’m actually really liking him and kinda feel bad for the guy. It’s obvious he’s been through some tough shit and got the shitty end of the deal. I’m really anxious to find out exactly what happened between him, Echo and her brother to divide them.
I need more of Wilder and Beckham! Those two are hot together and I loved how things started off steamy between and we didn’t have to wait. I’m looking forward to seeing these two guys with Echo, but they got some serious groveling to do to earn her forgiveness and trust.
Diving into book 2 now!
I had already guessed Echo’s big secret before it was revealed in the end, and all I can say is- because I’m really liking her, is I hope she has one very good reason for keeping it from Royal because this is one of my biggest dislikes about a woman. I don’t like when they keep this kind of secret, it’s selfish and really pisses me off. So I’m crossing my fingers she has a good reason, otherwise my opinion about her is going to drastically change.
As much as Royal is being an ass, I’m actually really liking him and kinda feel bad for the guy. It’s obvious he’s been through some tough shit and got the shitty end of the deal. I’m really anxious to find out exactly what happened between him, Echo and her brother to divide them.
I need more of Wilder and Beckham! Those two are hot together and I loved how things started off steamy between and we didn’t have to wait. I’m looking forward to seeing these two guys with Echo, but they got some serious groveling to do to earn her forgiveness and trust.
Diving into book 2 now!
January 27, 2024
I really enjoy all of Leila's books. My favorite out of the trio of series has definitely been Bastards of Bainbridge Hall. The tension and dynamic between Lennon, Mason, Bear and Duke was 😮💨. That being said, Brothers of Hawthorn Hall is excellent too and so far the first book for the Brothers of SIN, is muy caliente.
I find the first book in any of these trios is where a lot of the stage building happens. Leila introduces us to these characters and usually the MFC and a MMC have known each other previously and have some kind of history, which is the source of tension between them. The other two MMCs are usually friends of the first MMC and brought in for whatever agenda the first MMC has for the MFC. Because Leila takes the time to build these characters, their world, and the mystery around them, she really sucks you in and leaves you hanging onto every chapter eager to learn more and more. So to say I'm ready for the second and third book is an understatement. I know Leila will continue to deliver on her storytelling.
In this series, our MFC, Echo has a past that she is trying to start over from. What happened in her past is a mystery and something that kept me turning pages to find out what happened. Royal is part of her past and whatever happened has burned him, leaving him angry and wanting to lash out at her. Beckham and Wilder are his two friends and fellow frat brothers. They know a limited amount of Royals history, but not a lot, because part of being in the their fraternity is not asking questions of brothers that do not want to share. Also, because they've only known him short time. But because they are friends and frat brothers, they are loyal to him and want to support him. Part of that support is playing into Royal's plans for Echo. However, while helping fulfill Royal's plans, they too start developing feelings for Echo and they start questioning what it is they are doing.
This book leaves us on a major cliffhanger. What happened at the end, I could kind of guess was coming due to some hints dropped here and there. However, even though I was expecting the ending, it still delivered on shock factor because another one of our characters was not expecting it, at all. Not knowing their reaction to the big revelation leaves you with so many questions and dying for the next book. So, let's go book #2 - Beckham!
I find the first book in any of these trios is where a lot of the stage building happens. Leila introduces us to these characters and usually the MFC and a MMC have known each other previously and have some kind of history, which is the source of tension between them. The other two MMCs are usually friends of the first MMC and brought in for whatever agenda the first MMC has for the MFC. Because Leila takes the time to build these characters, their world, and the mystery around them, she really sucks you in and leaves you hanging onto every chapter eager to learn more and more. So to say I'm ready for the second and third book is an understatement. I know Leila will continue to deliver on her storytelling.
In this series, our MFC, Echo has a past that she is trying to start over from. What happened in her past is a mystery and something that kept me turning pages to find out what happened. Royal is part of her past and whatever happened has burned him, leaving him angry and wanting to lash out at her. Beckham and Wilder are his two friends and fellow frat brothers. They know a limited amount of Royals history, but not a lot, because part of being in the their fraternity is not asking questions of brothers that do not want to share. Also, because they've only known him short time. But because they are friends and frat brothers, they are loyal to him and want to support him. Part of that support is playing into Royal's plans for Echo. However, while helping fulfill Royal's plans, they too start developing feelings for Echo and they start questioning what it is they are doing.
This book leaves us on a major cliffhanger. What happened at the end, I could kind of guess was coming due to some hints dropped here and there. However, even though I was expecting the ending, it still delivered on shock factor because another one of our characters was not expecting it, at all. Not knowing their reaction to the big revelation leaves you with so many questions and dying for the next book. So, let's go book #2 - Beckham!
November 27, 2023
Talk about off to the races from the Very 1st page!
I’m completely taken with this new series, and freaking Kingston University… OMGG That University to me, was what we’ve already read, Loved, and knew about from the first 2 series, I never actually really gave it any thought to being further than the characters we already knew! But now this place has exponentially exploded in size in my mind!! I love where this series has already only started to go and has me completely enthralled!!
Ooohh let me tell you this fraternity of SIN brothers are the worst of the worst, which, in other words means the hottest of the hot AF, and least we not forget. It also means there is a dark, dark side to these guys!! Why were they selected for this fraternity in the first place?
Who are they really? And What Dark, twisted secrets are they hiding??? So we already know Royal, has a past with Echo, so there’s a lot more beneath the surface that’s not yet come to light! Then you have Wilder, And Beckham, They’re Royals bro’s now, so you know that they are going to have his back and do whatever he wants because they know him to a certain extent, but they don’t know sh*ttt about Echo, Except She’s apparently done Their boy Dirty and Now she hast to pay and Woww…
She’s really being put through the ringer by constantly having someone toy with her emotionally,and mentally, Plus She’s nefariously being stalked, and we all know she’s being hunted, Cuz Royal’s anger towards her and past situation has been festering for years, so yeah, he’s Really bitter and resentful, and eventually things are gonna come to blows… it’s inevitable!!!
But let me tell you, Echo Is incredibly strong and resilient, and this girl has built and reinforced these walls. She keeps around her heart because that’s the part of her that’s vulnerable and scared!! So that’s why she’s so suspicious of everyone and doesn’t want anyone too close!!!
One final thing…Once you start this journey, You are not gonna want to put this book down for a second and then you’re gonna be like me and just Sooo Excited and NEEDY For this next book!!! Yess it ends on a cliffy,
But that Only makes me Super stoked , that I read it in the 1st place••• Because I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE WHO MISSES OUT ON A STORY LIKE THIS!!!!!
I’m completely taken with this new series, and freaking Kingston University… OMGG That University to me, was what we’ve already read, Loved, and knew about from the first 2 series, I never actually really gave it any thought to being further than the characters we already knew! But now this place has exponentially exploded in size in my mind!! I love where this series has already only started to go and has me completely enthralled!!
Ooohh let me tell you this fraternity of SIN brothers are the worst of the worst, which, in other words means the hottest of the hot AF, and least we not forget. It also means there is a dark, dark side to these guys!! Why were they selected for this fraternity in the first place?
Who are they really? And What Dark, twisted secrets are they hiding??? So we already know Royal, has a past with Echo, so there’s a lot more beneath the surface that’s not yet come to light! Then you have Wilder, And Beckham, They’re Royals bro’s now, so you know that they are going to have his back and do whatever he wants because they know him to a certain extent, but they don’t know sh*ttt about Echo, Except She’s apparently done Their boy Dirty and Now she hast to pay and Woww…
She’s really being put through the ringer by constantly having someone toy with her emotionally,and mentally, Plus She’s nefariously being stalked, and we all know she’s being hunted, Cuz Royal’s anger towards her and past situation has been festering for years, so yeah, he’s Really bitter and resentful, and eventually things are gonna come to blows… it’s inevitable!!!
But let me tell you, Echo Is incredibly strong and resilient, and this girl has built and reinforced these walls. She keeps around her heart because that’s the part of her that’s vulnerable and scared!! So that’s why she’s so suspicious of everyone and doesn’t want anyone too close!!!
One final thing…Once you start this journey, You are not gonna want to put this book down for a second and then you’re gonna be like me and just Sooo Excited and NEEDY For this next book!!! Yess it ends on a cliffy,
But that Only makes me Super stoked , that I read it in the 1st place••• Because I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE ONE WHO MISSES OUT ON A STORY LIKE THIS!!!!!
November 24, 2023
Holy shit! Once again, Leila delivers a book that has me on the edge of my seat the entire time I’m reading. I have to say, there’s nothing like sitting down to read only to look up and realize that hours have passed because you’ve been so engrossed in the book, and that’s exactly what I got when reading Royal. Add in that my attention span has been crap lately because I’ve been sick, the fact that I could focus on this book for hours at a time is a true testament.
I loved these characters so damn much! I feel like we’re still getting to know Echo and there are parts to her that we’ve only seen glimpses of. I loved the few times that we got see her feisty side come out and I can’t wait to see more of that from her in the next book. Wilder seems to be the sweet caretaker character with definite golden retriever energy and I think he may be my favorite. Beckham has that unhinged stalker personality that intrigues me and I love him for it. Now Royal, there is some major damage there and some obvious secrets that even he isn’t aware of and I can’t wait to get to the bottom of it and to come to love him just as much as the other guys.
The quick glimpses we got of characters from the two previous series made me all kinds of giddy and I’m excited to see what glimpses we get of them in the next books.
There’s so much intrigue and mystery about Royal and Echo’s pasts that I just want to yell at Leila until she spills all the secrets! No, seriously, I NEED to know all the things, and I don’t want to wait! 😅 I have theories about certain things and while a few of them ended up being right, I’m excited to see what else, if anything, I’m right about. And in true Leila fashion she drops a bombshell at the end of the book leaving us with a major cliffhanger. And I have to admit that even though I had called that info bomb at the end since around the middle of the book, it still shocked the hell out of me and had me yelling at my kindle when I read it.
Alright Leila, I’m going to be sitting here impatiently waiting on the next book. When is that going to come out again? 😂
I loved these characters so damn much! I feel like we’re still getting to know Echo and there are parts to her that we’ve only seen glimpses of. I loved the few times that we got see her feisty side come out and I can’t wait to see more of that from her in the next book. Wilder seems to be the sweet caretaker character with definite golden retriever energy and I think he may be my favorite. Beckham has that unhinged stalker personality that intrigues me and I love him for it. Now Royal, there is some major damage there and some obvious secrets that even he isn’t aware of and I can’t wait to get to the bottom of it and to come to love him just as much as the other guys.
The quick glimpses we got of characters from the two previous series made me all kinds of giddy and I’m excited to see what glimpses we get of them in the next books.
There’s so much intrigue and mystery about Royal and Echo’s pasts that I just want to yell at Leila until she spills all the secrets! No, seriously, I NEED to know all the things, and I don’t want to wait! 😅 I have theories about certain things and while a few of them ended up being right, I’m excited to see what else, if anything, I’m right about. And in true Leila fashion she drops a bombshell at the end of the book leaving us with a major cliffhanger. And I have to admit that even though I had called that info bomb at the end since around the middle of the book, it still shocked the hell out of me and had me yelling at my kindle when I read it.
Alright Leila, I’m going to be sitting here impatiently waiting on the next book. When is that going to come out again? 😂
November 25, 2023
Excuse me, please. EXCUSE ME! If you're on the fence about reading this book, jump off and go one click. Right this freaking moment! I'm not even kidding.
Let me tell you, I was not prepared for how much I ended up LOVING the primal play and the determination of Royal in this book!
Echo - I love how real she is. She's relatable, raw, and shows real emotion. This is fantastic because it's so easy for a female character to get lost in a RH/Why choose book. Her identity doesn't become the main focus of the group. Instead, she's strong, with personality and fiery attitude. The way she wasn't afraid to tell someone to eff off had me cheering for her! Go ahead, girl! Not only that but she didn't back down from the challenges she was facing. I'm so excited to see where this goes.
Royal - Dude. I went from liking him to not liking him to wanting to stomp him to then being ok with being chased. Look, it's complicated, ok? Just as much as he's complicated. I'm literally so anxious to find out what his background is, and why he is the way he is. He's got so much anger built up in him for things that have happened that I have no idea about and it's making me nuts! Ok, so nuttier. I have no doubt his backstory is going to be epic. I loved that his emotions all felt real and on point.
I don't know what is happening with SIN and the whole sorority, I just know I'm here for it. I need more, like yesterday. The way it ended has me side-eyeing the author and debating on telling her to stay in her writing cave until she's done writing. She's grounded! We needed the next two books yesterday!
Seriously, such a strong start to this series. I knew she was going to do fantastic with this series, but I never expected her to set the bar as high as she has. I need to know ALLLL the things. Right now.
Let me tell you, I was not prepared for how much I ended up LOVING the primal play and the determination of Royal in this book!
Echo - I love how real she is. She's relatable, raw, and shows real emotion. This is fantastic because it's so easy for a female character to get lost in a RH/Why choose book. Her identity doesn't become the main focus of the group. Instead, she's strong, with personality and fiery attitude. The way she wasn't afraid to tell someone to eff off had me cheering for her! Go ahead, girl! Not only that but she didn't back down from the challenges she was facing. I'm so excited to see where this goes.
Royal - Dude. I went from liking him to not liking him to wanting to stomp him to then being ok with being chased. Look, it's complicated, ok? Just as much as he's complicated. I'm literally so anxious to find out what his background is, and why he is the way he is. He's got so much anger built up in him for things that have happened that I have no idea about and it's making me nuts! Ok, so nuttier. I have no doubt his backstory is going to be epic. I loved that his emotions all felt real and on point.
I don't know what is happening with SIN and the whole sorority, I just know I'm here for it. I need more, like yesterday. The way it ended has me side-eyeing the author and debating on telling her to stay in her writing cave until she's done writing. She's grounded! We needed the next two books yesterday!
Seriously, such a strong start to this series. I knew she was going to do fantastic with this series, but I never expected her to set the bar as high as she has. I need to know ALLLL the things. Right now.
November 27, 2023
ARC Review
🖤Royal🖤
Brutal Boys of SIN #1
By Leila James
⭐ 5/5 ❤️ 2.5/5 🌶️ 5/5
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Why Choose Romance
🖤 College Romance
What… a… start
Echo
A girl with secrets that is only trying to move on from her past
Royal
A confused boy full of anger, hurt and out for revenge
Wilder
A loyal friend, with golden retriever charm, but with a conscience
Beckham
Protective, possessive with his own goals
Stepping out of view, my back hits the wall, and I slide down it, emotionally exhausted. He's lost the right to ask anything of me. I'll never forgive him now.
Kingston University has a new story to tell and it is bigger, better and full of tension and secrets.
Open your mind and put the previous stories at the back because this is so much different than the ones before. And you are not ready for these characters and their stories.
They are new, they are different and their dynamic is not what you knew from the others.
So many secrets, so many mysteries and never be sure with anyone or anything. The story is well paced so that you read it in one sitting because it holds your interest and curiosity.
We have a closed off girl only trying to move on from her past and survive. An angry and hurt boy who is making her responsible for his misery. And his two friends who have both their own secrets and goals. Friendships on the test bench. And we see that friendship and closeness sometimes is not enough to let someone in and trust.
There are booms at every corner and a cliffhanger that leaves you with mixed feelings. Never wished for the second book in a series so immediately than here.
My thoughts:
The characters are very intriguing, we have things handled here differently than before and it fits this story so well and makes everything new and interesting. I really am curious where everything will lead to and end, because I can’t see or imagine it, everything is possible.
The ending was something I did not expect in my wildest dreams and I can’t wait to see how this will turn out or going on. And I hope that there is a lot of groveling to come.
🖤Royal🖤
Brutal Boys of SIN #1
By Leila James
⭐ 5/5 ❤️ 2.5/5 🌶️ 5/5
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Why Choose Romance
🖤 College Romance
What… a… start
Echo
A girl with secrets that is only trying to move on from her past
Royal
A confused boy full of anger, hurt and out for revenge
Wilder
A loyal friend, with golden retriever charm, but with a conscience
Beckham
Protective, possessive with his own goals
Stepping out of view, my back hits the wall, and I slide down it, emotionally exhausted. He's lost the right to ask anything of me. I'll never forgive him now.
Kingston University has a new story to tell and it is bigger, better and full of tension and secrets.
Open your mind and put the previous stories at the back because this is so much different than the ones before. And you are not ready for these characters and their stories.
They are new, they are different and their dynamic is not what you knew from the others.
So many secrets, so many mysteries and never be sure with anyone or anything. The story is well paced so that you read it in one sitting because it holds your interest and curiosity.
We have a closed off girl only trying to move on from her past and survive. An angry and hurt boy who is making her responsible for his misery. And his two friends who have both their own secrets and goals. Friendships on the test bench. And we see that friendship and closeness sometimes is not enough to let someone in and trust.
There are booms at every corner and a cliffhanger that leaves you with mixed feelings. Never wished for the second book in a series so immediately than here.
My thoughts:
The characters are very intriguing, we have things handled here differently than before and it fits this story so well and makes everything new and interesting. I really am curious where everything will lead to and end, because I can’t see or imagine it, everything is possible.
The ending was something I did not expect in my wildest dreams and I can’t wait to see how this will turn out or going on. And I hope that there is a lot of groveling to come.
November 23, 2023
🔥 Academy Setting (Over 18)
🔥 Bully
🔥 Second Chance? Maybe
🔥 Reverse Harem w/MM
It's the start of a new trilogy at the Kingston University Campus. We get some glimpses from both the Brothers of Hawthorne Hall and the Bastards of Bainbridge Hall. I loved seeing some of these characters again!! You don't need to read any of them to get the full story but I so would because they are just that good!
Echo, Royal, Wilder and Beckham...Secrets can kill and these 4 have their share of them. It's definitely something that sucks you in and makes you want to continue reading every book that follows. Every time you think you've figured it out, another curve is thrown! Like that cliffy! I had a feeling that was one of the secrets but didn't want to get my hopes up!!
Favorite Guy? Wilder has the sweet, golden retriever energy that I am always drawn to while Beckham has the protective, touch her and die vibes that I just love! Not sure about Royal yet. He done pissed me off!!
My Personal Ratings:
5 Stars: Loved it! Emotional Damage!! Couldn’t put it down or obsessed about it while needing to get to the end of it. Had to share some bits with my hubby!! Usually read in less than 2 days cause a girl has got to sleep sometime. Will be reading everything this author has to offer and most likely reread the series as next books in the series are released.
4 Stars: Really Good. Whether the story drew me in or a specific character, will definitely continue the series and look into more books by this author.
3 Stars: Enjoyed something about the book, whether it be the storyline or a character but also may have not liked something. Sometimes the book is great but needs some TLC from an editor. May or may not continue the series.
🔥 Bully
🔥 Second Chance? Maybe
🔥 Reverse Harem w/MM
It's the start of a new trilogy at the Kingston University Campus. We get some glimpses from both the Brothers of Hawthorne Hall and the Bastards of Bainbridge Hall. I loved seeing some of these characters again!! You don't need to read any of them to get the full story but I so would because they are just that good!
Echo, Royal, Wilder and Beckham...Secrets can kill and these 4 have their share of them. It's definitely something that sucks you in and makes you want to continue reading every book that follows. Every time you think you've figured it out, another curve is thrown! Like that cliffy! I had a feeling that was one of the secrets but didn't want to get my hopes up!!
Favorite Guy? Wilder has the sweet, golden retriever energy that I am always drawn to while Beckham has the protective, touch her and die vibes that I just love! Not sure about Royal yet. He done pissed me off!!
My Personal Ratings:
5 Stars: Loved it! Emotional Damage!! Couldn’t put it down or obsessed about it while needing to get to the end of it. Had to share some bits with my hubby!! Usually read in less than 2 days cause a girl has got to sleep sometime. Will be reading everything this author has to offer and most likely reread the series as next books in the series are released.
4 Stars: Really Good. Whether the story drew me in or a specific character, will definitely continue the series and look into more books by this author.
3 Stars: Enjoyed something about the book, whether it be the storyline or a character but also may have not liked something. Sometimes the book is great but needs some TLC from an editor. May or may not continue the series.
November 28, 2023
Royal ( Brutal Boys Of Sin Book # 1 ) Tropes 🖤Why Choose 🖤Dark College 🖤Bully romance Well I really was just taken on the ride of my life and completely blown away in all the best ways . Leila nailed it once again and delivered one of the best books I’ve read this year . Royal was and is everything, i mean everything. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that plays on all your emotions in ways you won’t even be expecting. It’s like being on the wildest ride at the amusement park and not knowing which way is up and which way is down . You’ll experience everything from being utterly speechless, to yelling outta pure frustration. Your heart will feel like it’s beating so fast and then bam being crushed with tears streaming down your cheeks , you’ll be glued to the edge of your seat anticipating what will happen from one second to the next . And you’ll find yourself rooting so freaking hard from page one I knew I was in trouble, I knew I was in for a long night of reading. Echo is one kick@@s heroine ( smart, feisty , and not afraid to speak her mind and then we have our three bad boys Royal , Beckham and Wilder each so different, so complex and Hot AF . Something pulled me to these four like a moth to a flame 🔥 to the point I was devouring every single word while fighting to keep my eyes open because it’s just that addicting. Angst , witty banter , humor , dark , raw , gritty and extremely emotional, intrigue , suspense revenge , , secrets , revelations, heartbreaking and heartfelt moments, love , passion , drama , tragedy, non stop action, family , friendships and so much more . As per usual Leila has exceeded all my expectations. Royal is a must read , a 10/10 Chefs Kiss 💋
November 29, 2023
Oh boy these men… These 3 beautiful smokin’ hot men. These bad boys of SIN are darker than what Leila James has written before and I’m all for it.
One of my great joys in life is diving into one of her new series. James’ books take the reader on a wild ride. And Wow, this book did not disappoint. Man, that ending??? I was NOT expecting that. One thing I can always count on with Leila James books is from page one you are hooked. And this one is no different jumping right into the action. The build-up of the sexual tension and steam is off the charts. I can’t give specifics as everything seems like a spoiler.
After a trauma in her past, Echo is taking steps to get back into the world by starting college and joining a sorority. What she doesn’t know is her ex-boyfriend and now enemy is living in the frat house next door. Now, someone is targeting her with taunts and cryptic messages and she’s not sure why. Royal wants her to pay for ruining his life but struggles staying on task when his desire for her clouds his focus. Throw in 2 more hot men who she’s trying to not feel attracted to and we have a perfect complex mix of a sexy mystery.
Although, this book took a bit to get into I found the unfolding of these characters alluring. It’s different than anything James has written before: darker characters, darker sexual themes and a more cryptic plot. Echo, Royal, Wilder and Beckham make up this entangled why-choose story with a compelling plot that I can’t wait to continue in book 2.
I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
One of my great joys in life is diving into one of her new series. James’ books take the reader on a wild ride. And Wow, this book did not disappoint. Man, that ending??? I was NOT expecting that. One thing I can always count on with Leila James books is from page one you are hooked. And this one is no different jumping right into the action. The build-up of the sexual tension and steam is off the charts. I can’t give specifics as everything seems like a spoiler.
After a trauma in her past, Echo is taking steps to get back into the world by starting college and joining a sorority. What she doesn’t know is her ex-boyfriend and now enemy is living in the frat house next door. Now, someone is targeting her with taunts and cryptic messages and she’s not sure why. Royal wants her to pay for ruining his life but struggles staying on task when his desire for her clouds his focus. Throw in 2 more hot men who she’s trying to not feel attracted to and we have a perfect complex mix of a sexy mystery.
Although, this book took a bit to get into I found the unfolding of these characters alluring. It’s different than anything James has written before: darker characters, darker sexual themes and a more cryptic plot. Echo, Royal, Wilder and Beckham make up this entangled why-choose story with a compelling plot that I can’t wait to continue in book 2.
I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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