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The Soulless King
A love story 3,000 years in the making…
Maeve Perryman has glossed over the reputations of celebrities, athletes, and even world leaders. She’s a PR rock star, but boy, has she drawn the short straw on her current assignment—repair the soiled images of Symmachia, a council of seven who oversee the seedy underbelly of the supernatural world of the Shadows. Not a day in, Maeve realizes she's in over her head. The King of Shadows, a thousand-year-old vampire, takes moody and overbearing to the next level. Not to mention the fanged beast is otherworldly sexy. He’s stretching her patience to the limit and, if he gets his way, will have her breaking her most sacred rules.
Aristotle Crane carved a path to the throne with steel and fang and blood, though his only real desire has been to end his existence. If he’s right, the annals will reveal how, once he finds them. Meanwhile, in struts a feisty little human harboring secrets of her own. Maeve’s crawled under his skin, and for the first time in a millennium, he finds himself wanting to break his one and only rule too.
THE SOULLESS KING is the introductory novel in a series, a DARK paranormal romance riddled with salacious acts, and secrets. Thus begins a love story, a redemption story, a story where nothing is forbidden, and everything is about to unravel.
Maeve Perryman has glossed over the reputations of celebrities, athletes, and even world leaders. She’s a PR rock star, but boy, has she drawn the short straw on her current assignment—repair the soiled images of Symmachia, a council of seven who oversee the seedy underbelly of the supernatural world of the Shadows. Not a day in, Maeve realizes she's in over her head. The King of Shadows, a thousand-year-old vampire, takes moody and overbearing to the next level. Not to mention the fanged beast is otherworldly sexy. He’s stretching her patience to the limit and, if he gets his way, will have her breaking her most sacred rules.
Aristotle Crane carved a path to the throne with steel and fang and blood, though his only real desire has been to end his existence. If he’s right, the annals will reveal how, once he finds them. Meanwhile, in struts a feisty little human harboring secrets of her own. Maeve’s crawled under his skin, and for the first time in a millennium, he finds himself wanting to break his one and only rule too.
THE SOULLESS KING is the introductory novel in a series, a DARK paranormal romance riddled with salacious acts, and secrets. Thus begins a love story, a redemption story, a story where nothing is forbidden, and everything is about to unravel.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2024
About the author
April Wildman
1 book3 followersAward winning storyteller of salacious romance.
Lives in Northern Nevada. Big mooches to my fluffy pupper, Ginger, who stands by as sentry while I work. In my free time, I spend my time beside, or on, the cool blue waters of Northern California lakes.
Lives in Northern Nevada. Big mooches to my fluffy pupper, Ginger, who stands by as sentry while I work. In my free time, I spend my time beside, or on, the cool blue waters of Northern California lakes.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 3, 2024
⋆ ˚｡⋆ ୨୧ ˚┊#ARCREVIEW : The Soulless King by April Wildman .┊
2.25 ✰’s
The premise of this book is extremely interesting but I didn’t love how it was executed. It literally says on the description ’A love story 3,000 years in the making…’ With a line like that I’d expected a bit more world building woven into the story but unfortunately there just wasn’t.
While I was pretty intrigued at times, I found myself very bored throughout the majority of this novel. I really struggled to connect with any element of this story.
I did enjoy the romance between our two leads but that was about it. I didn’t find the main plot of the book very captivating. It honestly, just felt like a bit of a messy first draft. While that is a bit harsh, I also, spent my time reading this, so this is just my thoughts and opinions. And you can feel free to read this and feel differently. However this was my experience.
It is not the worst that I’ve read but I do know that there’s better out there.
Special thanks to netgalley, April Wildman, and publishers for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.
Quotes that particularly stuck out to me:
’Their conversations were like kindling, he mused, little bits tossed on dying flames to keep them burning. And her mouth, her skin, her everything else would be the lighter fluid sending him to nirvana, if only for the time their bodies lay tangled together.’
‘If anyone could survive having their soul returned after a thousand years, it was Aristotle fucking Crane.’
‘Aristotle rested on his elbows, peering down at the being who had stolen his freshly returned soul. She can have it. It will be useless without her, after all.’
2.25 ✰’s
The premise of this book is extremely interesting but I didn’t love how it was executed. It literally says on the description ’A love story 3,000 years in the making…’ With a line like that I’d expected a bit more world building woven into the story but unfortunately there just wasn’t.
While I was pretty intrigued at times, I found myself very bored throughout the majority of this novel. I really struggled to connect with any element of this story.
I did enjoy the romance between our two leads but that was about it. I didn’t find the main plot of the book very captivating. It honestly, just felt like a bit of a messy first draft. While that is a bit harsh, I also, spent my time reading this, so this is just my thoughts and opinions. And you can feel free to read this and feel differently. However this was my experience.
It is not the worst that I’ve read but I do know that there’s better out there.
Special thanks to netgalley, April Wildman, and publishers for providing me with an ARC. As always, all thoughts are my own and are in no way influenced by early access to this title.
Quotes that particularly stuck out to me:
’Their conversations were like kindling, he mused, little bits tossed on dying flames to keep them burning. And her mouth, her skin, her everything else would be the lighter fluid sending him to nirvana, if only for the time their bodies lay tangled together.’
‘If anyone could survive having their soul returned after a thousand years, it was Aristotle fucking Crane.’
‘Aristotle rested on his elbows, peering down at the being who had stolen his freshly returned soul. She can have it. It will be useless without her, after all.’
December 17, 2024
A dark, broody romantasy following a PR queen who doesn’t need saving learning to get along with a grumpy vampire king. Maeve is sassy, capable, and gloriously unwilling to compromise her standards. Aristotle, might be ancient, but his modern respect for Maeve’s choices and consent makes him stand out in the best way.
The banter? Delicious. Maeve doesn’t back down, and Aristotle meets her sass with equal parts intensity and wit. Wildman gives us a wonderful mix of flirtation and fire, making every scene between them hot. Favorite bit? Aristotle offering not just respect but vulnerability:
What I loved most:
- Maeve’s strength—she sets her boundaries and sticks to them
- Aristotle’s explicit consent and respect (seriously, more of this in romance, please!)
- Their tension-laced banter that never feels forced
Final Thoughts: The Soulless King delivers exactly what it promises—a dark, sexy, and surprisingly respectful romance. If you like powerful women, boundary-respecting brooding vampires, and snarky chemistry, this book’s for you. Can’t wait for the next one.
I'd like to thank BookGoSocial, April Wildman, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The banter? Delicious. Maeve doesn’t back down, and Aristotle meets her sass with equal parts intensity and wit. Wildman gives us a wonderful mix of flirtation and fire, making every scene between them hot. Favorite bit? Aristotle offering not just respect but vulnerability:
“I’ll do well enough to pretend I don’t have a soul, Maeve. Do give me the luxury of not having to be someone other than myself in private with you.”
What I loved most:
- Maeve’s strength—she sets her boundaries and sticks to them
- Aristotle’s explicit consent and respect (seriously, more of this in romance, please!)
- Their tension-laced banter that never feels forced
Final Thoughts: The Soulless King delivers exactly what it promises—a dark, sexy, and surprisingly respectful romance. If you like powerful women, boundary-respecting brooding vampires, and snarky chemistry, this book’s for you. Can’t wait for the next one.
I'd like to thank BookGoSocial, April Wildman, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 11, 2024
An Epic Unputdownable Love Story. This is Romantasy at its best!
My favorite Romantasy books are character-led love stories set in a magical world and “The Soulless King” by April J. Wildman DELIVERED. I’m so glad I discovered this book on NetGalley and received an eARC. Let’s get into it… 🥁🥁🥁
Aristotle Crane, is the King of Shadows, a 1000+ year old sexy AF broody vampire who leads the creature world and is trying to undo a curse to regain his soul. Maeve Perryman, is a sharp-witted PR executive, a mere human, who’s brought in to reshape the image of the dangerous creature world. (Short version: the creatures have a bad habit of doing debaucherous acts, which isn’t a good look on Insta) 😜
The TENSION between Aris and Maeve starts immediately – witty banter, a curious draw to one another, protective “who touched you” vibes, and a deep adoration that flies off the page in the spicy explicit scenes. 🔥
Pacing in a fantasy book is so important. IF it’s too fast - I’m lost. IF it’s too slow - I’m bored. ‘The Soulless King’ has brilliant pacing. It is unputdownable and you appreciate each OMG revelation as it unfolds!
Sometimes, in Fantasy books the female heroine is meek or has to “grow” into her powers or learn from the men around her, but there is NONE of that happening here. Maeve is intelligent, powerful, and passionate and I appreciate how the author made her Aristotle’s equal.
Earlier this year, I read ACOTAR (Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thornes and Roses series), which admittedly set a high bar for the Romantasy genre for me. I’m confident that if you enjoy ACOTAR, you’ll love this one, too! I’m very excited to read ‘The Death Queen — CHRONIKA, PART 2’ publishing in early winter 2025!
Thank you, NetGalley, April Wildman, and BooksGoSocial for the eARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
My favorite Romantasy books are character-led love stories set in a magical world and “The Soulless King” by April J. Wildman DELIVERED. I’m so glad I discovered this book on NetGalley and received an eARC. Let’s get into it… 🥁🥁🥁
Aristotle Crane, is the King of Shadows, a 1000+ year old sexy AF broody vampire who leads the creature world and is trying to undo a curse to regain his soul. Maeve Perryman, is a sharp-witted PR executive, a mere human, who’s brought in to reshape the image of the dangerous creature world. (Short version: the creatures have a bad habit of doing debaucherous acts, which isn’t a good look on Insta) 😜
The TENSION between Aris and Maeve starts immediately – witty banter, a curious draw to one another, protective “who touched you” vibes, and a deep adoration that flies off the page in the spicy explicit scenes. 🔥
Pacing in a fantasy book is so important. IF it’s too fast - I’m lost. IF it’s too slow - I’m bored. ‘The Soulless King’ has brilliant pacing. It is unputdownable and you appreciate each OMG revelation as it unfolds!
Sometimes, in Fantasy books the female heroine is meek or has to “grow” into her powers or learn from the men around her, but there is NONE of that happening here. Maeve is intelligent, powerful, and passionate and I appreciate how the author made her Aristotle’s equal.
Earlier this year, I read ACOTAR (Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thornes and Roses series), which admittedly set a high bar for the Romantasy genre for me. I’m confident that if you enjoy ACOTAR, you’ll love this one, too! I’m very excited to read ‘The Death Queen — CHRONIKA, PART 2’ publishing in early winter 2025!
Thank you, NetGalley, April Wildman, and BooksGoSocial for the eARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
October 11, 2024
The Soulless King was a fast paced, thrilling and engaging read, delivering exactly what I crave in a dark paranormal romance. From the slow-burn romance to the dynamic chemistry between Maeve and Aristotle, this book kept me hooked from start to finish.
Maeve is a standout female lead—strong, witty, and fearless, with a commanding presence that fits right in with the supernatural world she’s thrown into. I loved how she held her ground with Aristotle, the brooding, dangerous King of Shadows. Aristotle himself is an unforgettable character—he’s the quintessential dark, protective antihero, and I found myself completely smitten with him. He embodies that "touch-her-and-die" energy perfectly, which added to the tension and excitement in the romance.
The slow-burn relationship between Maeve and Aristotle was beautifully done. April Wildman allowed the tension to simmer and build, making each interaction between them feel electric. The "big reveal" moments felt a slightly rushed for my taste. I would’ve preferred more time to let those secrets unravel slowly, adding an extra layer of suspense.
That said, the book is packed with action, steamy moments, and a fascinating world filled with supernatural intrigue. This was an exciting start to the series, and I’ll definitely be thinking about Aristotle for a long time to come.
If you’re looking for a dark, spicy paranormal romance with strong characters and a world that pulls you in, The Soulless King is the book for you!
Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC!
Maeve is a standout female lead—strong, witty, and fearless, with a commanding presence that fits right in with the supernatural world she’s thrown into. I loved how she held her ground with Aristotle, the brooding, dangerous King of Shadows. Aristotle himself is an unforgettable character—he’s the quintessential dark, protective antihero, and I found myself completely smitten with him. He embodies that "touch-her-and-die" energy perfectly, which added to the tension and excitement in the romance.
The slow-burn relationship between Maeve and Aristotle was beautifully done. April Wildman allowed the tension to simmer and build, making each interaction between them feel electric. The "big reveal" moments felt a slightly rushed for my taste. I would’ve preferred more time to let those secrets unravel slowly, adding an extra layer of suspense.
That said, the book is packed with action, steamy moments, and a fascinating world filled with supernatural intrigue. This was an exciting start to the series, and I’ll definitely be thinking about Aristotle for a long time to come.
If you’re looking for a dark, spicy paranormal romance with strong characters and a world that pulls you in, The Soulless King is the book for you!
Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC!
October 1, 2024
When I tell you this author and book is the REASON I love this genre now would be an understatement!
The word choice, phenomenal! Character development, phenomenal!
There are trigger warnings for the violence which I appreciated, however the violence was the cherry on top for me personally. It added so much to the depth of Aristotle and the time frame of certain events within the book
Something major to me when I read is I’ll look up real places or people to get an idea while I’m reading. This was NEVER needed while reading the Soulless King and I thank the Author for this truly! It’s very hard to captivate emotions,smells, and textures while also maintaining the story itself. On that note, they truly are their own and there’s nothing out there like this book.
Read it and see just what I mean (literally)
The word choice, phenomenal! Character development, phenomenal!
There are trigger warnings for the violence which I appreciated, however the violence was the cherry on top for me personally. It added so much to the depth of Aristotle and the time frame of certain events within the book
Something major to me when I read is I’ll look up real places or people to get an idea while I’m reading. This was NEVER needed while reading the Soulless King and I thank the Author for this truly! It’s very hard to captivate emotions,smells, and textures while also maintaining the story itself. On that note, they truly are their own and there’s nothing out there like this book.
Read it and see just what I mean (literally)
October 7, 2024
If you’re looking for a spicy (3/5 🌶️) dark paranormal romance for this spooky season, this is a perfect choice.
Maeve is a PR badass. Aristotle is a 3,000 old vampire who’s in desperate need of an image makeover. What they discover about themselves and each other will change them both forever.
I really enjoyed this book. I really liked that she kept the vampires as actual killers. I also like the way she writes for both POVs. Maeve sounds like a 21st century woman, while Aristotle sounds like a very old vampire. Very believable characters.
The only thing I didn’t like is that Maeve refers to herself as “chick” constantly. A couple times probably would have been fine, but it was a bit overdone.
However, Aristotle was a wicked, wicked man and it more than made up for it 🥵
A 5 star read for me.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this great book!!
Maeve is a PR badass. Aristotle is a 3,000 old vampire who’s in desperate need of an image makeover. What they discover about themselves and each other will change them both forever.
I really enjoyed this book. I really liked that she kept the vampires as actual killers. I also like the way she writes for both POVs. Maeve sounds like a 21st century woman, while Aristotle sounds like a very old vampire. Very believable characters.
The only thing I didn’t like is that Maeve refers to herself as “chick” constantly. A couple times probably would have been fine, but it was a bit overdone.
However, Aristotle was a wicked, wicked man and it more than made up for it 🥵
A 5 star read for me.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this great book!!
September 26, 2024
A huge thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story as an ARC!
Maeve Perryman, a sassy badass living in a world where humans and supernatural beings intermingle, lands a PR job for the King of the Shadows. She gets to know Aristotle Crane, Helene, Sephora, and the other members of Symmachia, as well as learns more about herself. Complete with humor, action, and a slow-burn sexy romance, The Soulless King is a phenomenal read and I already can't wait to read the next book in the series!!
Maeve Perryman, a sassy badass living in a world where humans and supernatural beings intermingle, lands a PR job for the King of the Shadows. She gets to know Aristotle Crane, Helene, Sephora, and the other members of Symmachia, as well as learns more about herself. Complete with humor, action, and a slow-burn sexy romance, The Soulless King is a phenomenal read and I already can't wait to read the next book in the series!!
October 3, 2024
Fantastic book! 4/5 spice level, great scenes. While this book is the first of a series, there is NO cliffhanger. The author has a great way with words and descriptions left me feeling like I was right there. The plotline took a bit to set up and then the rest of the book was a lot of action, which was fine by me. Can't wait to read more in this world.
September 30, 2024
I'm not exactly convinced about this book. I mean, the story itself was quite captivating, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down, as I was enjoying it very much. I'd say this book has its ups and downs.
Maeve is a human in a world where supernatural beings are out and about. She finds a PR job in Symmachia, basically the board of directors of all supernatural beings, led by Aristotle Crane. While in this job, Maeve gets to learn a few things she had not idea, about herself, the supernatural world and about Aristotle himself.
Aristotle is a character I have enjoyed reading about a lot. It's a story told in third person but inside both Maeve's and Aristotle's pov. A new things but not necessarily bad.
When they say this book is dark and a steamy slow burn, well, yes, it is dark and the steamy slow burn is very steamy and very, very slow.
The plot is meh, I mean, some things were easy to spot a mile away, and the real plot of the novel fell a bit flat for me. So that's why I can't give it more than 3 stars. But, I still would like to find out how the story continues.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for having me reading this novel, coming out October 1st
Maeve is a human in a world where supernatural beings are out and about. She finds a PR job in Symmachia, basically the board of directors of all supernatural beings, led by Aristotle Crane. While in this job, Maeve gets to learn a few things she had not idea, about herself, the supernatural world and about Aristotle himself.
Aristotle is a character I have enjoyed reading about a lot. It's a story told in third person but inside both Maeve's and Aristotle's pov. A new things but not necessarily bad.
When they say this book is dark and a steamy slow burn, well, yes, it is dark and the steamy slow burn is very steamy and very, very slow.
The plot is meh, I mean, some things were easy to spot a mile away, and the real plot of the novel fell a bit flat for me. So that's why I can't give it more than 3 stars. But, I still would like to find out how the story continues.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for having me reading this novel, coming out October 1st
October 1, 2024
Did I love this book? No. Did I like it enough to want to know what happens next, totally!
I don’t usually read dark romantacies, and yet I didn’t find it THAAAT dark. Maeve, a human, is tasked with the challenge of helping create a newer and better image for the Symmachja, a group of vampires and other shadowy characters. Aristotle, the leader of the group, is a centuries old vampire, brooding, tall, dark, and handsome, typical romantacy MMC.
Was it spicy. Yes. Different, sure. There was even some decent banter. Plot wise, part of me felt like there really wasn’t so much of a plot until the second half of the book.
Again, was it awful, no. Definitely intrigued to see how the next book turns out. Not giving up on Chronika.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
I don’t usually read dark romantacies, and yet I didn’t find it THAAAT dark. Maeve, a human, is tasked with the challenge of helping create a newer and better image for the Symmachja, a group of vampires and other shadowy characters. Aristotle, the leader of the group, is a centuries old vampire, brooding, tall, dark, and handsome, typical romantacy MMC.
Was it spicy. Yes. Different, sure. There was even some decent banter. Plot wise, part of me felt like there really wasn’t so much of a plot until the second half of the book.
Again, was it awful, no. Definitely intrigued to see how the next book turns out. Not giving up on Chronika.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
September 23, 2024
The author does an amazing job with her characterization. Her world choice is unique and captivating. The lingering spice in her novel makes the reader turn the pages. But be warned that there are many dark themes and elements that might be triggering. Definitely can't wait for the next one.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
October 1, 2024
3.5 stars. When the description says dark, it means dark; I wish the author had a trigger warning before the book to warn the reader! This is a good book with a compelling storyline and a good love story, and the writing is excellent. I would go into this book knowing it's a dark romance, and you should be prepared for those themes.
November 22, 2024
If you love a spicy, deliciously dark, paranormal romance as much as I do, this book is for you. I love how the author integrated a modern day woman with a vampire. That's my kind of spice. This book was difficult to put down. It is not the first book that I have read by this author and it certainly will not be the last. Highly recommended read.
November 15, 2024
Maeve and Aristotle! Aristotle the supposedly heartless vampire and Maeve is a “human” who has to work with all of the craziness. This book is exceptionally awesome! Thank you Good reads for letting me read it and thank you April Wildman!
November 3, 2025
"The Soulless King" is a dark paranormal romance that draws you in from the first page.The story follows a PR expert and an enigmatic ancient vampire king working together, blending suspense, passion, and supernatural elements beautifully. With its slow-burn romance and spicy moments, the book strikes a wonderful balance of tension and release. Readers should be aware of the high spice level and read trigger warnings for violence, but most dark romance fans will be familiar and feel comfortable.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews