As far as first dates go, you can’t go wrong with a moonlit trip to the crematory.
Marshall: I’ve lived a carefully cultivated life on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac. My anonymity and meticulous routine are all by design. No one knows of the monster that lurks inside me, this insatiable urge to commit murder, that thrives just beneath my pastel sweater vests and buttoned-up demeanor. No one, that is, until my tiny menace of a neighbor comes along and ruins everything.
Felix Finley and I have nothing in common. He’s small and pretty, all friendly chatter and soft features, fair skin and pearly sharp teeth. He’s intriguing and I hate it, loathe him entirely. Definitely don't want to kiss his stupid, gorgeous lips.
But late one night, when I witness him dragging a lifeless corpse from his home and across his front lawn, I wonder if maybe Felix and I have more in common than I thought. Maybe Felix Finley needs my help, my expertise, and this is my time to shine. He’s batty and wicked in a way I never expected. Because I may have lived years of cautiously concealed truths, but in the wake of Felix’s pouty lips and sad eyes, I’m tempted to spill every secret at his feet. And that thought alone, is more terrifying than any monster.
King of Hollywood is a standalone MM romance novel as part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card The Emperor.
King of Hollywood is a standalone high heat MM romance with lots of laughs, a HEA, and no cliffhangers. It features a relationship between a prickly serial killer who wears sweater vests and his bite-sized fanged neighbor. Together they’re comedic, possessive, playful, and sweet. If you like dark comedy with mystery, suspense, lots of cats, men that think acting out pornos is an excellent way to seduce someone, and characters that make you laugh your head off, read on!
This is my first full novel by Fae Quin and I had such a good time reading it! I love a good vampire story and this one was really fun. And there were cats! Which is always a plus for me.
I really enjoyed the way this book started off. It just dumps you right into the story and takes off from there. Turns out the neighbor (Felix) that Marshall is so annoyed by is a bit more interesting that he originally thought. These two were a lovely match.
This book is told from Marshall's POV, who is such a grouch btw and I loved that. And Felix is just a cutie pie.
My only small criticisms is that the story seemed to lag a little bit in the middle, but it did pick up again. I also wished to see a little bit more of them at the end.
I received an ARC of this book from GRR and this is my honest opinion.
This was such a mixed bag for me! I was truly loving this book up until around the 60% mark, and I did start skipping sex scenes because they weren't all moving the plot along - I struggle to stay engaged when it's just a sex scene for the sake of it.
Like I said, initially I loved this book - especially when the opening line is 'It was a nice night for murder' - which is completely up my alley and I was excited to read more and see what happened. Marshall was so easy to identify with for me and I loved his inner monologue so much - I have so much highlighted! Marshall is legit OBSESSED, obsessed with Felix, if you love a toxic relationship then you will probably enjoy this.
Where it all started to go a bit wrong for me though was when it felt like Marshall was being mocked. He's clearly a neurodiverse character, which came across really clearly, but there were just some parts where it felt like we were supposed to be laughing at him in a mean way, rather than laughing with him. That just made me uncomfortable and it just didn't sit well with me.
I also think it was a little on the too long side because it was extremely obvious about what Felix actually is, yet it was drawn out to show Marshall's lack of understanding and inability to process social cues.
This book was influenced by The Emperor card but there was only one brief mention of Tarot in the entire book and I was expecting there to be more emphasis on it I guess? Instead it was way more subtle, as though Marshall's entire personality was reflective of The Emperor card as he is very rigid, enjoys rules and is focused on stability and security - he's especially protective of Felix and he's all in with their relationship almost immediately. Felix also displays traits of The Emperor card but he's much more evasive - the whole book is from Marshall's POV too so we don't really get to see inside Felix's head.
I do think the two characters go well together though, they're both 'monsters' and super questionable citizens 😂 There is a lot of entertainment throughout the story, there's a million insulting and creative nicknames for Barry, and there's also a load of cats which is always a bonus!
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review
All opinions are my own. Question: does "cosy murder romance" count as a genre of its own? Because this was it. Neighbours Marshall and Felix come together when sweet tiny Felix has to get rid of a body (yeah, he's just killed someone, accidently ofc) and he asks for Marshall's help. Good thing Marshall is a killer and knows what to do. Marshall is very fussy and fastidious, he hates everyone and almost everything, but Felix. Not only does he not hate him, he is OBSESSED. Like certifiable unhinged obsession, with his collages and stalking and cameras. Felix is the man of his life, but he has to do some research because Marshall is demi and a virgin. I loved how endearing he was, because he was earnest in his desire to make Felix happy. But Felix is keeping secrets, a huge one at that, and Marshall can be patient as long as Felix is smiling. This book was super cute for how murdery and stalkery, and awesomely weird and unhinged their relationship was. It's not a slow burn in term of relationship, but it is slow burn in terms of heat. Their dates are so precious. And it was awesome how Felix accepted all of Marshall's quirks, and how Marshall was the most protective mf ever. The way their secrets were revealed was kinda funny and the epilogue was great.
Also, Marshall relationship with Winny was perfection
I really loved this book, it was cute and wholesome and weird and lovely.
It's Marshall's pov only, for those of you who love dual pov. But you won't miss a thing.
Another fantastic read by Fae Quin! I haven't read a book by her, I haven't loved yet! Not to mention, I love all the characters she creates, and Marshall and Felix were no different. I loved their grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and the dark humor was everything. I laughed so much, it was great! It's definitely a slow burn, but it's still so hot. Marshall, finally having intimate feelings for someone for the first time ever, was so entertaining in so many ways! I don't think I read a book where the kissing was so freaking sexy! I loved their journey to their HEA, definitely recommend!
Thank you, Fae Quinn for a chance to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
| Highlights of "King of Hollywood" |
• Let me start by saying the demisexual representation in this book is one of the best I've come across. It’s paired well with the demiromantic-rep (which I hadn't read about before this book).
• Marshall, the MC and narrator, identifies as demisexual demiromantic. The romance has a very nice pacing, it felt really good to read about demisexuality in the way that was depicted here. I felt tons of connection with MarMar, with the exception of his thirst for murder (of course) 😉👉👉. His demisexuality, antisocial behavior, and even his love for organization and cleanliness (tho I have my off days) were very relatable.
• Marshall is 38 years old, and I loved that this is your classic vampire romance age-gap with a 38yo MC! (still an age-gap cause Felix is like 70?80? But in vampire years!😅).
• the dates between Marshall and Felix were adorable! It would have been a great opportunity for Felix's POV during these moments. It would have been a nice addition to see how he felt about Marshall’s attention and devotion.
• the Light BDSM aspect was great, specially the power dynamics between Marshall and Felix. Tis a very kinky book indeed.
• I was completely captivated (and entertained) by Marshall's antics, his overthinking, and his constant spiraling. Even though his inner monologues sometimes interfered with the dialogue..
• lol many many times!
• "The Club" was a fun element for the book. As well as the "SAC".
• Cats! There were cats in this book, and that’s always a win for me.
• Also a very special thank you to the author for making sure there were no pets present in the room when the MCs were getting frisky! It's a sad, sad reality for me that that is something I have to look out for when reading a romance book, so thank you Quinn for making sure the pets were safe and comfortable in any other space/room. 🙏
| Top Favorite Quotes |
》"The idea of willingly inviting someone I didn’t know into my bed was abhorrent. What if their shampoo stank? They’d ruin my carefully cultivated ecosystem. Oh god. No thank you."《 - I loved Marshall's antisocial diva moments. As someone who can’t stand strong fragrances, I related to this so much.
》"...and I was officially annoyed. Well, I mean, I’d been annoyed before that moment too. I lived in a constant state of annoyance. It was my comfort zone, and I liked it there."《
| Not so Highlights "King of Hollywood" |
• "Tarot" as the theme of the series was barely mentioned. Although a tarot deck was briefly referenced, it wasn’t a focus in the story. The card for this book is "The Emperor", but wasn't much of a thematic presence or at least an emphasis on its archetype. However, in my opinion, Marshall is very "Emperor-coded".
• I didn’t realize this series had another recurring theme beyond tarot. And that is "The Magic Shop" (or Bookshop, in this case), and its mysterious "Owner" who gives the main characters a tarot reading. My friends explained this to me and how it plays a significant role in other previous books in the series, like "The Magician's Heart" and "Cleric of Desire". Unfortunately, this element was missing in "King of Hollywood," which was a bit disappointing. While both main characters did visit the magical bookshop, they did so separately and at different times. Though the magical bookshop ultimately guided their decision about where they live now and then to their eminent connection, it wasn’t detailed on page, leaving readers with just the crumbs of that experience.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance with a touch of kink, dark humor, and of paranormal!
This is the second Fae Quin book I’ve read, and they definitely have a distinct writing style that may or may not vibe with everyone. For me personally, I’m kind of into it. This book had no right to be as funny, weird, creepy, and downright adorable as it was.
We figure out Felix’s secret pretty early on as readers, but we get to watch poor dumb Marshall — the serial killer — try to piece it together while basically trying to date the guy at night. There’s really no mystery here if you’ve ever read a paranormal book before, but that’s fine. What’s interesting is how cute and sweet the interactions are between these two morbid weirdos as they fall in love through murder and mayhem. I love that for them, honestly. So cute.
I mean, installing cameras in a dude’s house so you can watch him, and he catches you but is somehow down with it? That’s an A+ on every stalkerish boyfriend’s wishlist.
Anyway, it’s a silly, out-of-pocket paranormal murder-romance that you can just sit back with, relax, and have a fun, ridiculous time reading — and I loved it for that.
Downgrading my original rating to one star because I wasn't aware Marshall was autistic-coded when I read and rated the book. My original interpretation of Marshall was that he was written as an OTT idiot for comedic effect. Looking at that with new information paints that in a very different light, one that I'm not comfortable giving more than one star to. Grateful as usual for insight from people who are more knowledgeable pointing out why something is problematic, harmful, and hurtful.
I REALLY enjoyed about 70% of this book. It felt like not a lot happened in the first half, but I didn’t mind so much because Marshall’s inner monologue was amusing as hell, and the situations between him and Felix were funny. Had me cracking up like crazy. I stayed up until 4 am reading this, and read 80% of it in one sitting.. you don’t do that with a book that is just “meh”. But none of the plot actually happens until the last 20% of the book, and at that point it felt a bit rushed, and there were a few loose ties (I skimmed the epilogue so maybe they were tied up there?). This would have easily been a 5 star read if it didn’t take so long to reach the main plot, and if she had spent a few more chapters talking about things like Marshall’s past, or his serial killer adventures. Like, why have a serial killer but leave out them doing actual crime..?? Again, unless I missed it? But something like that shouldn’t be easy to skim over.
A Dark MM RomCom, with a big size difference, neighbors to lovers in a small town! It's a paranormal romance, but reads like a slowburn contemporary with killers for most part until the vampire secret is found (which happens very late btw). This was a delight to read! I loved Marshall & Felix. We only get M's POV, & as readers already knew of F, but this still added to the mystery! I got my #ARC as I wanted to try Fae's book, & devoured it in 6hrs. I love the cover 💙.
Marshall (38) is a serial killer with reason. M's socially awkward but tries to fit in. He starts out as confident, cold but as M falls in obsession/love, his cute, emotional side comes out! Loved his sis. Felix is M's enigmatic neighbor of 10yrs. F's a social recluse, bumbling, talkative, a sunshine who never goes out in sun with pet cats! F's graceful side is beautiful, especially in matters M's inexperienced in (like sex 😉).
We get right into the thick of things as M helps F with his "accidental" kill. From those 1st talks; M got curious, excited & obsessed for F. M+F's Love's a cute slowburn, with plenty of dates for build up! It's a lil kinky, with usual vamp ones & some voyeur 🥵. M researching about his sexuality was a good touch (#demirep). It has dark themes, but kinda low angst overall, & read like a RomCom. That climax is emotional & killller 😁. That epilogue is so big & awesome! RTC.
P.s. It's funny how M was disregarding evidence of F's vampire side which were so obvi 🤣.
❥ Single POV ❥ MM Romance ❥ Serial K!ller ❥ Vampire x Human ❥ Mürder Meet Cute ❥ Demisexual Rep ❥ Virgin Top x Power Bottom ❥ Size Difference ❥ Grumpy x Sunshine
It’s been a while since a book has made me laugh this much.
King of Hollywood follows Marshall’s POV, who’s a serial killer in Beach Town. He’s not doing much serial killing though, because as we start the book, he’s occupied with helping his neighbor get rid of a body. Felix, his neighbor of 10 years, has accidentally killed someone, and Marshall is quick to step in as Felix’s knight in shining armor.
Marshall is very intrigued by his little neighbor, who only leaves his house at night, always wears an ugly hat and sunglasses, and who’s very, very pretty, if you ask Marshall. It’s something new for Marshall, to be interested in someone, because he hates people, he hates a lot of things actually. It’s clear that Marshall is neurodivergent, and it’s clearly pointed out as we follow his thoughts. It’s funny because it’s in many ways so relatable. I’m also going to keep Marshall in mind for future dating, and ask myself “do I have it in me to shop for another person for Christmas?”.
Another thing Marshall is, is obsessed. He’s so head-over-heels obsessed with Felix. For all of us who enjoy a proper toxic relationship, you’ll have to read this. The dedication he shows in pursuing Felix is out of this world, it’s hours of watching porn (since he’s a virgin), hours of listening to cat sounds to acclimate himself to Felix’s cats. That’s another thing, if you like cats, like I do, you’ll love this book. Marshall hates cats, but.. it’s a whole storyline on its own.
It’s also obvious to the reader that Felix isn’t exactly human, and it takes a long time for Marshall to realize that something is off, and it made me think… As a reader, we’ve opened our minds to the unknown to happen, so someone being something other than human isn’t that unusual, but if it was real life… I think it would take some hard proof before I’d consider that my neighbor wasn’t human, and even then I’d still question it, a lot.
Together, Marshall and Felix make a perfectly odd couple. Marshall being a big, grumpy, obsessed and inexperienced weirdo (in the best way) and Felix being a tiny but very toppy bottom with a habit of accidentally murders, a taste for blood and a big love for cats.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Read the full review on my blog here with edits and quotes.
"The dominos had fallen. The results were in..." 4,5 Stars
ARC Read: 19/08/2024 I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you, Fae Quin for this gift. 🥰
What to expect from this book? 🤔
❤️🔥 Adult MM Paranormal Romance 🥵💦 👉 Small Town Next-Door Neighbor 📬📦 👉 Opposites Attract 🧲 🤌 Size Difference 😘🐨 Mutual Insta-Crush 🚨 Stalking & Possessiveness & Obsessive Behavior As A Love Language 📸 ☀️💼👉 A Grumpy Businessperson, Oblivious, Rule Sticker Himbo Murderer 🍕 & 🧢🕶📽👉 An Adorable, Cute, Old Hollywood Actor, Teasing Vampire⚰️🩸 🙌 Demi Sexual & Romantic Rep 🥵 Slow Burn (👉 It's Worth The Wait, Believe Me) 😳 A Horny Virgin Praise Slut Top x A Bossy Power Bottom That Bites 👀 ✨️Mysterious Gothic House 🔭 😆 Murder Meet Cute 🔪Dark Hilarious Antics & Cute Dates 🪦 🧶Cat & Crochet Lover 🩸Finally As U Can Expect In A Vampire Book: Biting, Blood Kink & Some Primal Play 🩸
👀👀 I apologize for the extended trope list but nobody could contain me 🤗 (and emoji usage)
Series: Tales From The Tarot #5 Cover: 5/5 Story: 5/5
This book was super cute and hilarious, despite how murdery, stalkery and darkish and deliciously unhinged Marshall and Felix's relationship was. Even though it’s a slow burn (something that usually turns me off) I found myself enjoying it. The slow pacing was done surprisingly well, mainly because the dates between Marshall and Felix were precious, funny and just cozy. When the story hits around 60% 😳, it gets seriously hot, spicy, and bloodier than before. I ATE IT UP.
Genre/Trope:Adult/MM Romance/Slow Burn/Size Difference/Opposites Attract/Queer First Times/V Card/Cranky Nature/Sun Kissed Spirit/Ace Rep/Paranormal/Fantasy/Sweet Tooth/Vampire/Age Gap/Angel Or Demon/Beast Glamour/Not Too Much Darkness/Mild BDSM/Bite Isn't Enough/Mystery/ Suspense/Dark Comedy/LGTBQIA Plus/New Authors/Off Grid Attraction/ Possessive Mc Or Caveperson/Oblivious Mess/Ximbo/Bimbo/Aesthetic Romance/Pet Lovers/Very Tempting Neighbor/ARC Content/Trigger Warnings: Plot: 5/5 POV: 1
Marshall’s hatred for everyone and almost everything, except for Felix, is just chef’s kiss. He’s such a grump, and I love it. He’s completely OBSESSED with Felix. I’m talking full-on, certifiable, unhinged obsession, complete with collages, stalking, and cameras.
I also adore the cute little nicknames Marshall comes up with for Felix. They’re all in his head, of course—he never actually says them out loud: “My chivalrous little gremlin.” “My rabid little chihuahua man.” heheheh, he’s so funny. 😄
At around 38%, I found myself thinking: “Come on, Marshall, you’re smarter than this! Have you never heard of basic vampire rules? Are you that oblivious? You’re lucky I find it hilarious. 😆 You’re such a Ximbo (aka himbo/bimbo but neutral)!
Really, it was the most obvious suspicion, leading to the only logical conclusion… Felix is an adorable vampire! BTW the vampire traits are: no breathing, looks like porcelain skin, cold touch, no eating, shadows under the eyes, statue-like stillness, eye color changes, super speed, and strength. (but they can vary from vampire to vampire)
Felix was adorable, between shyness and bursts of confidence, he’s was building up trust with Marshall to be himself. It was beautiful how he cherished Marshall’s quirks and antics, all while trying (and failing) to hide the fact that he was a vampire. I love the fact that he was always crocheting and his admiration for stars!
Tarot Card: The Emperor
I don’t know much about Tarot, just bits and pieces from what my sibling tells me. I expected it to play a bigger role in the story, but it didn’t come up as much as I thought it would. Sure, they mentioned tarot cards, but they were just a set lying around in Felix’s house. It felt like a missed opportunity.
For example, it would’ve been fun if Felix had been reading the cards, and Marshall, doing his usual sneaky thing, was hiding in the bushes taking pictures. Imagine if Felix lifted The Emperor card right as Marshall snapped a photo, perfect for his collage. Or maybe something involving Felix’s cats stealing the cards, specifically The Emperor card. That would’ve been hilarious.
Also, I was expecting more scenes (not just flashbacks) from when they were in the Magic Shop and met The Owner. A friend of mine, who’s read the previous books in the Tales From The Tarot series, mentioned that in those, the MCs had interactions with The Owner, and that they would do a reading and the card would be the theme card of the book. But here, all we got was an old poster of the card in Felix’s mess of a house.
🤗 But I'm no writter! I was just expecting more focus on Tarot and The Owner, that's all. Without that fact (that tarot was the theme) this book was a riot!
Side Characters: 5/5
Oh, Barry, Barry, Barry... What are we going to do with you? Marshall hates you so much, and I’m with him... you’re insufferable! But really, Fae Quin did a great job making Barry's moments hilarious. There’s so much entertainment in this story, especially with all the creative and insulting nicknames Marshall has for Barry!
Winnie & Marshall’s sibling moments were super cute and funny. The most hilarious thing is that Winnie has this uncanny sixth sense, knowing exactly when to call Marshall at the most embarrassing moments or when he’s on the verge of a meltdown.
Does she help him? Of course not! She just teases and mocks him a lot. 😆
Ahhhhh, the cats... I do love cats! And these two were hilarious. Marshall was so adamant about hating them until he realized that Felix’s life included Dolly and Tiffany, he had to figure out a plan to get used to them. Those moments were some of the funniest in the book!
Humor: High Focus Angst: Low Focus Steam Level: 5/5 Romance: High Focus Cheating? Cons:The only thing I didn't need was the specifics on the food. My favorite kinds of books are the ones that don't describe the food the characters are eating in every scene, or at least only once or twice. It's not just because I'm vegan, I respect everyone's choices, but I also don't think it's necessary to define a character's lifestyle or personality by their food preferences. That's why I don't read chef or food-related books. That being said, I don't think Marshall's very specific, supposedly boring and plain, food choices were necessary. The detailed descriptions didn’t add much to the story, if the food had been described vaguely it would have had the same effect. In my opinion, oatmeal would have been perfect. As Holt says in B99, "Love, it sustains you. It’s like oatmeal." This quote would have been a great fit for this couple 😅 The Ending: 5/5 HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger?
The epilogue, the end was amazing. Even though we didn’t get Felix’s POV. 😗
*throws a tantrum*
Don’t get me wrong this book was awesome 👌, but we could’ve, AT LEAST, had Felix’s POV in the epilogue!!! … Felix's emotions were all over the place, and there were so many conversations, backstories that were hinted at but never fully answered, especially about his past. It felt like some threads were left hanging. I get that explaining everything would probably require a full-length book, but it still felt like something was missing.
If I had to point out a few things: 🐱 It took me about 10% of the book to get fully immersed in the story, but that’s probably just me being impatient due to insomnia. So that was total a ME thing. 😿 I really missed Felix’s POV. Without his perspective, the story felt a bit unfinished. Considering how much Marshall spirals in his thoughts, we would have had space for a few chapters, or even just a glimpse of Felix’s input, especially in the epilogue. By then, Felix had moved on from his past, thanks to Marshall, who made him feel seen, loved, and no longer alone. Felix would’ve been focused on the present, and his POV there would have been perfect. 👌 😽 Marshall’s tendency to overthink and walk in circles fits his personality as a planner and indecisive person (which I totally relate to), but sometimes it dragged on a bit. The constant back-and-forth inner monologues occasionally took me out of the interactions between the MCs or the story. It could’ve been trimmed down a bit, but it didn’t ruin the book for me. Just another ME thing, specifically bc it’s a slow burn.
😸But honestly, despite these things, I loved the book and would 100% recommend it! 😻😻😻
Favorite character? Would I read more of this author? Yes Would I recommend this book? Yes Will I read this again in the future? Yes
!! I don't equate fiction stories to real life. It's a matter of personal taste and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect and remember that it's just a book!!
5⭐️ This book is so well written, and so unique. I absolutely devoured it! Do note, there are themes of murder, so please check the TWs! (Though the tone of this book is more light)
This book is 1st person single POV, following our main character, Marshall. Marshall is the CFO of a company, extremely particular, and his sister is his only friend. Oh..and he has a little side hobby of murdering! Marshall quickly finds himself enamoured with his quirky and elusive neighbour. This book starts off by immediately hooking you in, with Marshall helping Felix (his neighbour) with a little body-hiding problem.
This book is absolutely genius, because the book is told from the perspective of Marshall, who has no idea what’s going on with Felix, but is obsess with him anyways. However, as the reader, the author cleverly adds details that make it very obvious what’s actually happening. This makes it so interesting to see from Marshall’s POV. On top of this, Marshall has an incredibly unique way of thinking and viewing the world, which is sometimes dark, sometimes funny, and always very matter of fact.
The author did an excellent job of balancing dark themes like murder and heavy emotional themes with humour and the sweetness of falling in love for the first time.
The pacing of this book is also great! Marshall is demi, and his feelings for Felix seem really genuine in his own way. You’re going to have to wait for the spicy scenes in this book, but that makes it so much better. Their intimacy is so well done, and when it gets steamy, then it gets VERY steamy.
Rapid fire content: -neighbours (murdery ones) -human/ vampire (the human is oblivious) -Demi rep -cats! -annoying neighbours -obsession!!
This book was really enjoyable for me because of the really unique premise, the contrast between the tone and the subject matter, and the excellent writing. Though I didn’t find myself loving the characters as people, I thought they were both really interesting and great characters! Awesome book!
I initially thought this was going to be darker than it was, but it was actually funnier and I’m not at all disappointed that I was wrong!
Marshall is so grumpy and awkward, I love him so much. Some of the things he said me made me laugh so hard. And Felix is adorable but clearly has more than one secret. They fit really well together, they might be my new fave Fae couple!
FAVORITE FAE BOOK - it has been declared. I’m obsessed with how Marshall’s brain works, and he made this book so much fun. I also really loved the classic slow burn of learning about the supernatural MC. Absolutely obsessed.
Also, let me state here that the sibling situation was just like ANY SIBLING SITUATION. There’s no malicious intent against autistic people in this book…. Calm down and stop seeing zebras everywhere.
This book was soooo much fun! What happens when a socially awkward serial killer meets a slightly hopeless vampire? You get this book; a surprisingly wholesome story about love, acceptance and the importance of not stealing your neighbour’s parcels.
Marshall is a CFO for a pharmaceutical company, a lawn-care enthusiast and a serial killer. He hates people and has no patience for anyone… until he meets Felix Finley, who looks oddly familiar, and is trying to hide a dead body. Marshall is determined to win over the scrappy, sweet Felix and if that includes helping Felix hide dead bodies, all the better!
Marshall and Felix strike up an unlikely friendship, which slowly turns into more, but Marshall can’t understand why Felix keeps inviting people over to his house… and how those people keep turning up dead?
Honestly this book was silly, sweet and I found both characters utterly charming in their own quirky ways. Marshall is clearly neurodivergent (reads as autism, but isn’t named) and Felix is just so on board with absolutely everything he does; right down to Marshall literally stalking him and installing cameras in his house on the grounds of ‘protecting him’ 🤣 I just loved that acceptance and the unhinged possessiveness and obsession Felix receives in return from Marshall.
All in all, absolutely loved this one (as I do all of Fae’s work!) and absolutely recommend it for all fans of lighthearted paranormal romance 💕
Read King Of Hollywood for: ✨ Vampire x Human ✨ Serial killers in love ✨ Husbands who murder together, stay together ✨ Adopting cats to show your crush you care ✨ Slow burn, but when it gets going, whew 🥵 ✨ Neurodivergent MC ✨ Virgin Top x Dom Bottom ✨ Demisexual, Demiromantic MC ✨ ‘Let me help you hide that dead body darling’ ✨ Stalking as a love language
Thank you to Gay Romance Reviews and the author for an ARC of this book! It’s out on 2nd September 2024 💕
In a world where murder and stalking somehow become... adorable, King of Hollywood delivers a deliciously twisted romance that’s as endearing as it is unhinged. It is like stepping into a Tim Burton-esque world where cuteness meets the delightfully twisted and macabre. If you told me that a book about a fussy recluse with a penchant for stalking would be this adorable, I might have raised an eyebrow (who am I kidding, I wouldn't)—but Quin pulls it off with charm, wit, and just the right amount of unhinged obsession.
Marshall, our eccentric and undeniably obsessive lead, is a character that’s terrifyingly meticulous in everything he does and thus hilariously endearing. He has a fervent hatred for almost everything and everyone—except for Felix. Oh, Felix. Sweet, mysterious Felix. Not only does Marshall not hate him, but he’s also utterly and certifiably obsessed. We're talking collages, cameras, and a level of research that would make even the most dedicated academic proud.
But this isn’t just a one-sided affair—Felix has his secrets too, big ones, and watching these two navigate their bizarre yet oddly heart-warming relationship is an absolute delight. The murdery, stalkery vibes are somehow softened by their mutual cluelessness, as both oddballs stumble around in the dark, unaware that their attraction is entirely mutual. Their relationship, despite all the weirdness, is both super cute and hilariously awkward. I found myself rooting for Mar-Mar as he spiralled deeper into his “research” on how to help Felix with his “health problems”—oh, the lengths this man goes to!
The supporting characters also do not disappoint. Winny brings the laughs with impeccable timing, and Barry—oh, Barry—is the perfect dipshit, rounding out this weird and wonderful story.
While the book is a riot from start to finish, my one tiny gripe (and why this isn't a full five stars) is the lack of Felix’s point of view. Marshall’s spiral into love is a joy to witness, but I found myself desperately craving a peek into Felix’s thoughts, especially in that epilogue! There was ample room for just a chapter or two from Felix’s perspective, and it would have added a perfect touch to an already captivating story...
In conclusion, King of Hollywood is a bizarrely cute, darkly comedic and oddly heart-warming tale. It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on you with its peculiar charm and leaves you grinning, even as you shake your head at the ridiculousness of it all. A must-read for anyone who enjoys their romance with a side of eccentricity and a dash of dark humour.
This book. What can I say? I adored it! No surprise there, but dang I had such a heckin good time reading this one! It was equal parts funny, sweet, and heckin hot! Marshall is uptight, but so caring! He shows his love perhaps differently than others, but is still a Casanova (ahem, pizza. IYKYK). Felix is so teeny and cute! You just want to protect him from the world! FOREVER. Just another pair that owns my soul. 😍😍😍
Marshall, disliker of people and occasional serial killer, believes he is the scariest man on the block, not realizing that his adorable twink of a neighbor is an even bigger predator than he is.
For a story revolving around some murderers, accidental and otherwise, this was pretty cute but a bit overly long. I would have liked more of the magic shop and tarot to have been involved, but it was great seeing a tiny glimpse of Elmwood!
vampire x serial killer romance. murder is literally their love language.
marshall was such a fun mc bc he was so wacky and weird, and it felt genuinely like we were in the head of someone who was a believable serial killer which was so interesting. but he was so obsessed with, and loved felix so much and felix loved marshall right back !!! even after he learned about all of his weird bits !!! so cute !!!
Firstly this is so sweet you might get a cavity reading it - but it's worth it. Honestly super sweet next door romance with a splash of murder and some vampires. The romance was sweet and I loved the characters, our MC tries so hard to impress - they are a good couple. It's a cute and easy read.
This was so fun!! And hot! Mutually obsessed boyfriends? Kill /and/ die for you? Yes please and thank you. All I can say is, is somebody gonna match my freak?
Another gem by author Fae Quin!!! The Kings of Hollywood is a delight . A paranormal romance between a vampire and a serial killer that starts with a murder meet cute . Plus there's Demi rep , a size difference, stalking , cats , snark and steam !
I liked, not loved both Christmas books by Fae Quin, but this one was quite exhausting. It's just endless monologues from Marshall with repetitive observations about Felix. How it took him until 80% to find out the truth is beyond me. And Felix's character just didn't make sense to me at all.
* How did he find out he could be turned into a vampire? * Felix wanted to be a vampire, because he loved the attention and love he got as an actor. But did he not think about how, as a vampire, that attention would still be temporary, because he couldn't be 30 forever? * Felix hid away at his house, because he can't be seen and recognised. But he loved it when Marshall took photos of him and plastered them all over his screensavers, showed them to anyone he came into contact with and eventually all over Instagram. And those were not photos of him with his sunglasses and hat on. ?? * What did Felix do all night? Did he work? Did he live off his Hollywood money? And I get why he didn't maintain his yard, but why couldn't he clean his house? Etc. etc.
The author was quite vague about Marshall's background too. His mother apparently died, but no idea how and when. His sister died, apparently because of bullying, but again, no details provided whatsoever. Marshall started killing bullies on the anniversary of her death (or her birthday, can't remember), but how and when did he decided to do that? How did he connect with The Club?
I don't always have trouble with surface level characters like this, but I really have to like them or I have to be so invested in the romance that I don't miss details like that, but that wasn't the case here. The story was way too long, there wasn't a lot happening plotwise and Felix was kind of an enigma, not helped by having Marshall as a sole pov for the whole story. So, cute idea, but nog great in execution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Unfortunately I couldn't connect with the story or the characters.
I'm not sure what the Tarot universe is about, and that is on me because I skimmed the posts, but then again each author might have done things differently. From what I understood, from what I came across here, the connector throughout is a disappearing bookshop that helps set you in the right path for your HEA...
I'm not sure what in the Tarot universe connects with vampires, how Felix is "The Emperor" and when and where the Hollywood came to play since at the point I DNFed it wasn't even mentioned. But again those things might have nothing to do with the universe as a whole and how Fae wrote her story.
Anyway, as I said in the beginning, I couldn't connect with the characters, Marshall had exhausted me with his continuous waxing of poeting about Felix in his endless inner monologues. The story for more than 150pgs was going round and round and it felt like a chore to continue. And Felix was just there hardly doing anything. So I'm out.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Yet another book I can add to the ever growing list of books I love by Fae Quinn.
This has been recommended to me a few times and I just got to reading it. But damn I should have read it sooner.
There’s definitely a slow burn, a build up of character if you will. I love how oblivious Marshall is until suddenly he isn’t. There are mentions of hints all through the book and Far does a good job of showing them but then being able to ignore and move past them without complete disregard that they were there.
Felix is such a sweet kind hearted little gremlin. And I fell in love with him just as Marshall did. He has such a soft side presented, but he definitely has claws that will come out to defend Marshall. They are ultimately perfect for one another.
I always love the paranormal edge that Quinn writes and this was no different. Highly recommend this if you want a fun yet slightly different kind of experience.
"I'd never contemplated Heaven. Even if it existed-I knew I'd never make it there. But now I realized that if Heaven was real-It looked like Felix's smile. It sounded like his laughter. And it smelled like lemon soap."
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Marshall Warden is the star of this book. The story is told solely from his POV and he is simply precious and must be protected at all cost. I *adored* him. Although it is not directly stated, it can be inferred that Marshall is neurodiverse...and neurodiverse characters are some of my absolute favorites to read. I just love their innocence and Marshall is no different.
His inner monologue is written quite brilliantly. And, it has to be to carry a whole book from one POV. I much prefer dual POV, but it worked perfectly here. As a reader, you are drawn in to his world and you won't want to leave. Also, it keeps Felix a mystery to us a reader, much as he is to Marshall.
And...Marshall is obsessed with Felix. Like...can focus on nothing else. He becomes his world.
This was my first Fae Quin book and I fell in love with her writing. The snark. The dry humor. The sweet, delicious fluffiness that she gave these characters and their story. It's perfection and everything that I look for in a book.
If I were to make any criticism, and this is very minor, it's that I loved the slow burn of their relationship and towards the end, things progress pretty quickly and I just wish the pacing would have stayed the same throughout. BUT, the Epilogue more than makes up for it. It goes back to what I loved for the first 80% of the story and closes their story out on a high note.
If you enjoy sweet fluffy romances with a bit of humor thrown in, I can't recommend this enough. At some point my husband asked why I was giggling and I just told him, "Why, because of Marshall Warden, of course."
Here's to: Lovely Lemon Shampoo, Cherry Chapstick, Cats called Vlad the Im-paw-ler, Neighborhood Barry's, Floppy Hats, Murder Mansions & Tiny Little Accidental Killers
Nicknames/Endearments: Sweetheart
Felix beamed up at me, his smile positively sunny. For a man that was allergic to daylight, he sure looked like the sun. My cheeks hurt, and I was suddenly quite certain I was smiling too.
My heart was so full. I didn't think it'd ever been full before.
"Looking up at the stars was the closest to seeing the sun as I'd gotten, till I saw you."
Special news alert: cute aggression levels reaching maximum peak, feral possum noises and much hand flapping occurring as a result of reading King of Hollywood. Pterodactyl screeching has been heard, be on the lookout for rabid Marshlix fans.
This book has slayed me, everyone. I cannot even describe to you how much I want to just eat this book. Or maybe marry it. Both. Marry then eat. Marshall and Felix are my new best boys. I am not kidding, I woke up at 5am because I couldn’t wait to read more of their wonderfully unhinged, hilarious romance.
Marshall is grumpy mcgrumpersten who hates everything, except he secretly has a soft spot for Felix that grows into obsessive feelings that would be terrifying if Felix wasn’t totally into it and it wasn’t all mildly ridiculous. The man listens to ten hours of cat noises in preparation for spending time with Felix and his cats. He’s also a serial killer but hey that means he has a lot of muscles from carrying bodies around sooooo… yay!
Felix is sunshine and silliness and he is fanboying so hard over Marshall it’s adorable. But he is also lonely and sad and I want to hug him so much. Precious baby! He’s also the worst at hiding the fact he is a vampire EVER, which I loved. Felix is just everything sweet and he deserves so much happiness. Which apparently comes in the form of a grumpy, blunt, giant of a serial killer (oh yeah, we gots size difference!)
Shout out to Marshall’s relationship with his sister Winnie for best banter award. I loved all their scenes and texts!
Romance wise you can expect Marshall and Felix to express interest in each other relatively early on and start dating, but the spice is a slow burn because Marshall is demisexual - and this is portrayed really well. The build up is ADORABLE though, really sweet. And once the spice hits it’s sizzling!
King of Hollywood is an instant favourite of mine and I spent my whole read spamming my bestie with unhinged live reactions because I needed to SCREM about this book! So if you like a slightly dark paranormal romcom you need to read this asap!