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Scorpion Kings #1
The Venom We Bleed
Silverwood Public: Home to liars, thieves, and worst of all … the Scorpion Kings.
I was the Queen at my old school.
Born into wealth and power.
Now, thanks to my family’s deceit, I’m a pariah and a target.
I’ve got no friends. No parents. No money. And no fucks left to give.
If the Scorpion Kings want to damage the new outcast of Silverwood, they’ll soon learn that anyone can be a killer if you give them the right incentive.
*This is a Dark Enemies to Lovers WhyChoose Romance*
*Trigger Warning: If you are sensitive to content common in dark romance (content such as SA, graphic depictions of violence, murder, drug and/or alcohol abuse, physical abuse, mental and/or emotional abuse, traumatic events, unhealthy coping mechanisms, dubious consent etc.) then this book may not be for you. Please read responsibly.*
I was the Queen at my old school.
Born into wealth and power.
Now, thanks to my family’s deceit, I’m a pariah and a target.
I’ve got no friends. No parents. No money. And no fucks left to give.
If the Scorpion Kings want to damage the new outcast of Silverwood, they’ll soon learn that anyone can be a killer if you give them the right incentive.
*This is a Dark Enemies to Lovers WhyChoose Romance*
*Trigger Warning: If you are sensitive to content common in dark romance (content such as SA, graphic depictions of violence, murder, drug and/or alcohol abuse, physical abuse, mental and/or emotional abuse, traumatic events, unhealthy coping mechanisms, dubious consent etc.) then this book may not be for you. Please read responsibly.*
468 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2025
817 people are currently reading
2398 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Smoke
71 books2,805 followersLucy Smoke, also known as Lucinda Dark for her fantasy works, has a master’s degree in English and is a self-proclaimed creative chihuahua. She enjoys feeding her wanderlust, cover addiction, as well as her face, and truly hopes people will stop giving her bath bombs as gifts. Bath’s get cold too fast and it’s just not as wonderful as the commercials make it out to be when the tub isn’t a jacuzzi.
When she’s not on a never-ending quest to find the perfect milkshake, she lives and works in the southern United States with her beloved fur-baby, Hiro, and her family and friends.
When she’s not on a never-ending quest to find the perfect milkshake, she lives and works in the southern United States with her beloved fur-baby, Hiro, and her family and friends.
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March 18, 2025
📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog: ╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS
'𝐓H𝐄 𝐕E𝐍O𝐌 𝐖E B𝐋E𝐄D' Is the first full length enemies to lovers romance book in the 'Scorpion Kings' series by author Lucy Smoke.
At first as soon as that cover started making the rounds that was my deciding factor of adding it on here, then that synopsis sealed the deal. Once live, I dived in, and was sucked in straight away.
What to expect:
🔥Enemies to Lovers
🔥Why Choose
🔥Fallen Princess
🔥Psycho Stalker
🔥Hate to Love
🔥Found Family
🔥Forced Proximity
🔥Slow burn
This has so much to unpack, on Juliet's birthday everything turned to shit, first it started with catching her best friend and boyfriend in the act, then if that wasn’t bad enough arriving home she sees her father carted off in handcuffs.
And just like that her world imploded. Not even her mother stayed around, she took off before the ink was dry in a letter to Juliet as she ditched town.
“𝙰 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚗 𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚏 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚣𝚣𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍.”
From riches to rags. From private school, to public school. The princess has fallen off her throne and thrust into an unknown world where everyone is fighting to survive.
The sins of the father places a target on her back. Her very first day at her new school has her visiting the principal's office due to an altercation between her and one of the boys floozy’s. Like a pack of raging animals the whole school hates Juliet. Everyone in this town lost something because of her father. If she can lay low for a year until she graduates she can leave this town and its people behind her.
You can't help but feel for Juliet, everyone she loves had abandoned her, her father, mother, her friends, with noone on her side fighting in her corner she knows to survive in this world she has to be stronger than ever before, to show weakness will be her demise. With a backbone made of steel our girl is a fighter, she tougher than anyone gave her credit for. The last thing she wants though is to come under the radar of the boys who rule the school Nolan, Gio and Lex known as the 'Scorpion Kings.'
“𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝. 𝙳𝚛𝚞𝚐𝚜. 𝙶𝚞𝚗𝚜. 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚕. 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎. 𝙳𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚙𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚘 𝚅𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚜-𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚢 𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚢.”* Teaser used is off the authors facebookpage*
March 18, 2025
F—king wild! I love a good why choose enemies-to-lovers book, and this was perfection 😈Oh my, you will feel all the emotions with this one. Lucy doesn’t play. She loves to bring us dark and completely twisted books that I always devour. Ahh, these characters 😍, not to mention the MMCs, are unhinged, and usually, I have a favorite, but right now, I love them all! I want more of this world.
That cliffhanger, oh my god, Lucy, why are you doing this to me!! I need book two now!
That cliffhanger, oh my god, Lucy, why are you doing this to me!! I need book two now!
May 28, 2025
A rich girl who’s been misunderstood her whole life (apparently), needs to now fend for herself when her dad goes to jail for defrauding the whole town.
Juliet makes it known that the whole town hates her because of her dad’s crimes. So here is what I’m confused about:
- Why did she stay in the same town? I understand that she has no money and she is a minor (living on her own now, which also doesn’t make much sense….). But she makes it a huge point that everyone in town hates her. She sold off her expensive car to be able to afford a small apartment. Why didn’t she just buy a $5 bus ticket out of town to restart her life away from all the “haters”?
- Juliet tries to “blend in” (because the local high school students all want to beat the shit out of her apparently), but thinks it’s a good idea to dye her hair bright blue. How does this help her blend in?
- Juliet grew up rich, privileged, and pampered. But within 3 months she can now beat the shit out of all the students who try to bully her, even though these students apparently grew up “on the wrong side of town” so are known to be rough around the edges, and grew up fighting and fending for themselves. Make it make sense.
But also, what was the actual plot of this book? Nothing actually happened. No real character development for any of these characters, and I still don’t understand why all three MMCs (with the exception of MAYBE Lex) feel an attraction to Juliet…? No emotional connection at all and the relationship between Juliet and all three MMCs is forced upon the readers with no real substance between any of them.
This book was way longer than it needed to be. The writing is fine, but I was bored to tears for most of it. I kept reading it hoping things would get better and SOMETHING WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN, but I was so so wrong. Skimmed the last few chapters and still nothing really happened. The FMC’s “tough girl” act got annoying really quickly too. The ending made no sense at all. One of the MMCs “forgot” to pick Juliet up (he had good reason), and instead of calling to ask where he was or why he was late, she decides ALL THREE MMCs have wronged her and will no longer talk to any of them anymore. Also, it’s super obvious who the villain is in this story… I think most readers can pick up on who it is very early on.
Juliet makes it known that the whole town hates her because of her dad’s crimes. So here is what I’m confused about:
- Why did she stay in the same town? I understand that she has no money and she is a minor (living on her own now, which also doesn’t make much sense….). But she makes it a huge point that everyone in town hates her. She sold off her expensive car to be able to afford a small apartment. Why didn’t she just buy a $5 bus ticket out of town to restart her life away from all the “haters”?
- Juliet tries to “blend in” (because the local high school students all want to beat the shit out of her apparently), but thinks it’s a good idea to dye her hair bright blue. How does this help her blend in?
- Juliet grew up rich, privileged, and pampered. But within 3 months she can now beat the shit out of all the students who try to bully her, even though these students apparently grew up “on the wrong side of town” so are known to be rough around the edges, and grew up fighting and fending for themselves. Make it make sense.
But also, what was the actual plot of this book? Nothing actually happened. No real character development for any of these characters, and I still don’t understand why all three MMCs (with the exception of MAYBE Lex) feel an attraction to Juliet…? No emotional connection at all and the relationship between Juliet and all three MMCs is forced upon the readers with no real substance between any of them.
This book was way longer than it needed to be. The writing is fine, but I was bored to tears for most of it. I kept reading it hoping things would get better and SOMETHING WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN, but I was so so wrong. Skimmed the last few chapters and still nothing really happened. The FMC’s “tough girl” act got annoying really quickly too. The ending made no sense at all. One of the MMCs “forgot” to pick Juliet up (he had good reason), and instead of calling to ask where he was or why he was late, she decides ALL THREE MMCs have wronged her and will no longer talk to any of them anymore. Also, it’s super obvious who the villain is in this story… I think most readers can pick up on who it is very early on.
April 26, 2025
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Lucy Smoke is one of my favorite authors for a reverse harem bully romance. And this book is the perfect explanation for why. I loved our characters and their story and could not put it down. Juliet was just *heart eyes* in the way that she's a little broken with this 'I don't care' attitude that I loved and made me feel for her at the same time it made me so hot for her. Our men...yes please. Equally lovable even when I wanted to smack the hell out of them.
But that cliffy! The one thing that makes me hate Ms. Smoke just a little bit because man does she know how to keep you on your toes and leave you hanging over that cliff in the worst way.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Lucy Smoke is one of my favorite authors for a reverse harem bully romance. And this book is the perfect explanation for why. I loved our characters and their story and could not put it down. Juliet was just *heart eyes* in the way that she's a little broken with this 'I don't care' attitude that I loved and made me feel for her at the same time it made me so hot for her. Our men...yes please. Equally lovable even when I wanted to smack the hell out of them.
But that cliffy! The one thing that makes me hate Ms. Smoke just a little bit because man does she know how to keep you on your toes and leave you hanging over that cliff in the worst way.
March 31, 2025
⋆. 𐙚 ˚𝔞𝔯𝔠 𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴 ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
“ᴊᴜʟɪᴇᴛ ᴅᴏɴᴏᴠᴀɴ ɪꜱ ᴘᴀɪɴ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴɪꜰɪᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴇɴ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴜꜱ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛᴇ ʙɪᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴀɢᴏɴʏ. ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴠᴇɴᴏᴍ ɪɴ, ᴏᴜʀ ᴠᴇɪɴꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ ᴄᴀɴ ʟᴇᴛ ɢᴏ ᴏꜰ.”
OH MY GOD I am literally obsessed with everyone, they had be going through the five stages of grief I couldn’t put this book down for nothing
The angst, hate, and spice between them was done so well especially the plot of the book it was so dark and twisted in all the right ways, Juliet may be my favorite Lucy fmc ever cause DAMNNN
These four kept me on my freaking toes and I definitely wanted to throw my kindle because of that ending like I need book 2 next week!!
PLEASE CHECK TW!!
tropes ⋆｡°✩
-Fallen princess
-Dark why choose
-Forced proximity
-Hate to love
-Stalking
-Academy setting
-Bad boy/ crime
“ᴊᴜʟɪᴇᴛ ᴅᴏɴᴏᴠᴀɴ ɪꜱ ᴘᴀɪɴ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴɪꜰɪᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴇɴ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴜꜱ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛᴇ ʙɪᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴀɢᴏɴʏ. ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴠᴇɴᴏᴍ ɪɴ, ᴏᴜʀ ᴠᴇɪɴꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ ᴄᴀɴ ʟᴇᴛ ɢᴏ ᴏꜰ.”
OH MY GOD I am literally obsessed with everyone, they had be going through the five stages of grief I couldn’t put this book down for nothing
The angst, hate, and spice between them was done so well especially the plot of the book it was so dark and twisted in all the right ways, Juliet may be my favorite Lucy fmc ever cause DAMNNN
These four kept me on my freaking toes and I definitely wanted to throw my kindle because of that ending like I need book 2 next week!!
PLEASE CHECK TW!!
tropes ⋆｡°✩
-Fallen princess
-Dark why choose
-Forced proximity
-Hate to love
-Stalking
-Academy setting
-Bad boy/ crime
March 17, 2025
This was my first Lucy Smoke and MA’AM… I could not stop reading. Normally I keep checking % left etc but this kept my eyes ON THE PAGE. Trauma bonding, feminine rage, a massive fall from grace and a trio of HUGE BROODY MEN… I cannot RECOMMEND this HIGHLY enough! Just read it.
“Hiding, baby? I wonder as I stroke the curve of her cheek. There’s no use. No matter where you go, I’ll always have eyes on you.”
“I’m no one’s ‘pretty girl’, but I am… a killer now and I’m not sorry.”
“They’re my brothers. Bound in blood. Forged in fire. Raised in darkness. Without them, I’d be too far gone to even be remotely human.”
“Juliet Donovan is pain personified and men like us love a little bit of agony.”
“I want to hear you screaming my name when you see God so he knows who sent you.”
“Hiding, baby? I wonder as I stroke the curve of her cheek. There’s no use. No matter where you go, I’ll always have eyes on you.”
“I’m no one’s ‘pretty girl’, but I am… a killer now and I’m not sorry.”
“They’re my brothers. Bound in blood. Forged in fire. Raised in darkness. Without them, I’d be too far gone to even be remotely human.”
“Juliet Donovan is pain personified and men like us love a little bit of agony.”
“I want to hear you screaming my name when you see God so he knows who sent you.”
March 22, 2025
Dark & moody decadence!
This book kind of enslaved me from the get go.
The world building was brilliant, and the characters are so well done it’s easy for the reader to feel immersed in the trial and tribulations of the FMC.
The three MMC’s easily suck you into their web & I feel like everything just comes together so fluidly.
The writing is well done, and I can’t wait to see what else Lucy Smoke has on offer now I’ve discovered her & her writing style!
This book kind of enslaved me from the get go.
The world building was brilliant, and the characters are so well done it’s easy for the reader to feel immersed in the trial and tribulations of the FMC.
The three MMC’s easily suck you into their web & I feel like everything just comes together so fluidly.
The writing is well done, and I can’t wait to see what else Lucy Smoke has on offer now I’ve discovered her & her writing style!
March 14, 2025
Lucy has absolutely created and held her place in this genre of writing. It has a similar vibe to her Sick Boys series which I really enjoyed.
The plot was a solid one. A rich girl falls from her hierarchy after her father supposedly embezzles millions of dollars and ruins the lives of many in the town. She captured the attention of the three men in town you don’t want the attention of but after everything she has been through this fierce FMC can hold her own.
It’s moody, grungy, a bit suspenseful, and 1000% the most painful of slow burns. 😂 I of course loved the quiet, angstiest of the boys, Lex. The two others had their appeal but I love the broody type.
This was a great read. I think my only thing was that I have a hard time with high school books and the boys being this “tough”. The 15-20 year old boys I knew could never pull this stuff off lol.
The plot was a solid one. A rich girl falls from her hierarchy after her father supposedly embezzles millions of dollars and ruins the lives of many in the town. She captured the attention of the three men in town you don’t want the attention of but after everything she has been through this fierce FMC can hold her own.
It’s moody, grungy, a bit suspenseful, and 1000% the most painful of slow burns. 😂 I of course loved the quiet, angstiest of the boys, Lex. The two others had their appeal but I love the broody type.
This was a great read. I think my only thing was that I have a hard time with high school books and the boys being this “tough”. The 15-20 year old boys I knew could never pull this stuff off lol.
March 23, 2025
Holy Smokes!!! This author knows how to bring the heat 🔥🔥🔥
I read this on vacation and the plot just got me, I was a mess, but in the most perfect way!! I was in the sun on the sad and just drooling and dreaming. These characters were well written and man I wish they were real!
Just when I didn’t think this book couldn’t get any better, it ended. 🤯🤯🤯
Ima need the rest of this series stat!
I read this on vacation and the plot just got me, I was a mess, but in the most perfect way!! I was in the sun on the sad and just drooling and dreaming. These characters were well written and man I wish they were real!
Just when I didn’t think this book couldn’t get any better, it ended. 🤯🤯🤯
Ima need the rest of this series stat!
March 8, 2025
Wow, when I started reading this I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Juliet and the Scorpion Kings consumed me. This forced proximity, enemies to lovers, dark romance is something everyone who loves this genre must have in their TBR.
Book 1 end in a clliffhanger and more questions than ever and I cannot wait for book 2 to come out and see how the story develops.
Thank Lucy and the author agency for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Juliet and the Scorpion Kings consumed me. This forced proximity, enemies to lovers, dark romance is something everyone who loves this genre must have in their TBR.
Book 1 end in a clliffhanger and more questions than ever and I cannot wait for book 2 to come out and see how the story develops.
Thank Lucy and the author agency for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 15, 2025
Holy smokes this book was heavy asf and so amazing in every way. I could not stop rooting for Juliet the entire book and I loved how she was a baddie getting through everything thrown at them. The men were dark and delicious and each had their own demons they were trying to get rid of. I loved all the banter, emotional turmoil, psychotic stalker, the tough personalities of everyone. I am anticipating book 2 so I can see how everything plays out
March 1, 2025
Juliet and the scorpions. This book had me holding my breath until the very end, only to be left gasping on a cliff!
March 15, 2025
~My Arc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
~The Venom We Bleed~ Scorpion Kings Book 1~ Lucy Smoke ~
♡"She’s the kind of girl that’ll burn your house down and then fuck you in the ashes, and if that doesn’t make her the hottest woman I’ve ever known…"♡
♡Lucy to say I was ecstatic to meet The Scorpion Kings & Juliet would be an understatement and girl you did not disappoint!! The character building in this book is absolutely phenomenal and before anyone asks... no I can't pick a favorite Scorpion King. Lucy made me fall in love with Nolan, Gio, & Lex equally... but I can tell you that Juliet is freaking amazing and has easily become one of my all-time favorite books, FMC's!!
This book was dark and twisted in all of the right ways & kept me wanting more with each page I read. I'm in my whychoose book era, and Lucy knows exactly what she is doing to keep you on the edge of your seat. By the end of this book, I was begging her for book 2 immediately!! Come and meet Juliet and The Scorpion Kings you won't be disappointed!!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
~The Venom We Bleed~ Scorpion Kings Book 1~ Lucy Smoke ~
♡"She’s the kind of girl that’ll burn your house down and then fuck you in the ashes, and if that doesn’t make her the hottest woman I’ve ever known…"♡
♡Lucy to say I was ecstatic to meet The Scorpion Kings & Juliet would be an understatement and girl you did not disappoint!! The character building in this book is absolutely phenomenal and before anyone asks... no I can't pick a favorite Scorpion King. Lucy made me fall in love with Nolan, Gio, & Lex equally... but I can tell you that Juliet is freaking amazing and has easily become one of my all-time favorite books, FMC's!!
This book was dark and twisted in all of the right ways & kept me wanting more with each page I read. I'm in my whychoose book era, and Lucy knows exactly what she is doing to keep you on the edge of your seat. By the end of this book, I was begging her for book 2 immediately!! Come and meet Juliet and The Scorpion Kings you won't be disappointed!!♡
~As Always Happy Reading~
March 5, 2025
It is so hard to start a new series and that the first book leaves on a huge cliffhanger. I have read one series by Lucy Smoke and devoured it. So when I saw the arc for this next series, I had to sign up for it.
I love the strength of Juliette "prep-girl" and how she doesn't take any of the harassment lying down. She is a fighter. I love the banter between Juliette and the Scorpion Kings (Gio, Lex and Nolan). This first book has a lot of tension and the actual spice was minimal. I prefer that because these characters are seniors in high school, even though they are over 18. Juliette is alone in a new environment, but slowly is building that found family with two girls from school.
I cannot wait to see how this story unfolds for Juliette.
Tropes:
🖤 dark romance
💙 enemies to lovers
🖤 heroine in danger
💙 why choose
🖤 forced proximity
💙 bully romance
I love the strength of Juliette "prep-girl" and how she doesn't take any of the harassment lying down. She is a fighter. I love the banter between Juliette and the Scorpion Kings (Gio, Lex and Nolan). This first book has a lot of tension and the actual spice was minimal. I prefer that because these characters are seniors in high school, even though they are over 18. Juliette is alone in a new environment, but slowly is building that found family with two girls from school.
I cannot wait to see how this story unfolds for Juliette.
Tropes:
🖤 dark romance
💙 enemies to lovers
🖤 heroine in danger
💙 why choose
🖤 forced proximity
💙 bully romance
March 1, 2025
I'm super upset I took so long to read this book. But life right?
I was consumed with this book. It took over my brain. I love a good enemies to lovers, close proximity why choose book. It was a slightly slow burn, but the build up was addicting. I'm also a sucker for the way the MMCs talked.
Multiple POV. Ends on a cliffhanger. I need book two immediately. Like immediately.
I was consumed with this book. It took over my brain. I love a good enemies to lovers, close proximity why choose book. It was a slightly slow burn, but the build up was addicting. I'm also a sucker for the way the MMCs talked.
Multiple POV. Ends on a cliffhanger. I need book two immediately. Like immediately.
March 10, 2025
HHHHHHHHHH why do I do this to myself, get arcs of books with cliffhangers 😭 this book was DELICIOUS, Lucy ate with this one, Juliet is a bad bitch left no crumbs. She’s a queen and I’m glad the boys know it and relish in it. I loveeeedddd Nolan, Lex, and Gio so much so foiiine and psycho and obsessive. The plot kept twisting and turning and I cannot wait to see what Lucy has in store for us.
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Thank you to Lucy’s team for the arc opportunity!
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Thank you to Lucy’s team for the arc opportunity!
March 10, 2025
Juliet has had her entire life crumble around her in an instant. She went from a wealthy prep-school girl on her 18th birthday, to broke, alone and destitute with no one left to support her. She's trying to keep her head down and her grades up in order to get out of her small town, but she isn't expecting all eyes to be on her and actively pursuing her downfall.
*****
This wasn't a unique book in any form, but damn was it an addictive one. Juliet in her destitute era was fantastic. I loved how ruthless and borderline bloodthirsty she was, especially in taking no shit from her peers. The Scorpion Kings were a little bad-boy-lite when I expected darker, but I think its just that their alternative work is done off-page in this novel so we don't get as much of the impact. I do wish we got more a bit more character and relationship development between all four of them before the end of the book. I understand the cliffhanger and it was absolutely great and has me raging for the next book, but I felt like the cutoff was a bit too premature into the story. I'm also not sure why what happened wasn't relayed to Juliet, as it feels like an unnecessary miscommunication trope.
Despite that, I still loved this book and cannot wait for the next one to come out.
*****
Thank you to The Author Agency for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****
This wasn't a unique book in any form, but damn was it an addictive one. Juliet in her destitute era was fantastic. I loved how ruthless and borderline bloodthirsty she was, especially in taking no shit from her peers. The Scorpion Kings were a little bad-boy-lite when I expected darker, but I think its just that their alternative work is done off-page in this novel so we don't get as much of the impact. I do wish we got more a bit more character and relationship development between all four of them before the end of the book. I understand the cliffhanger and it was absolutely great and has me raging for the next book, but I felt like the cutoff was a bit too premature into the story. I'm also not sure why what happened wasn't relayed to Juliet, as it feels like an unnecessary miscommunication trope.
Despite that, I still loved this book and cannot wait for the next one to come out.
*****
Thank you to The Author Agency for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 6, 2025
Y’all are really gonna want to read this!
This hijacked my emotions… because as per usual Lucy creates characters that has me screaming at them in frustration but also rooting for them. Although I’d like to put Juliet in a headlock because, GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING??! You obviously want nothing but the best for her because she has been stripped of everything she’s ever known.
As if being betrayed by her boyfriend isn’t enough, the story just keeps piling it on, and it doesn’t stop piling.
I loved when Jules finally got the opportunity to dog walk Megan.
I’m still fairly new to the book world, so I can only assume this is a slow burn? But it did burn. It also burnt my chest and made my eye twitch, when I realized it was over. On page 459 I realized I only had 10 more pages to go, and the last 20 had been a ride so I knew the last 10 were going to be… not fun. But to my unfortunate surprise I only had six pages left. I feel gutted and am going to need Book 2 asap, please.
I took a brief pause from the Sick Boys to dive into this and it made me so happy to see Eastpoint mentioned.
A few of my favorite moments,
“I don’t want to be good. Not anymore.”
The scene with Lex and the splinter.
“If we catch you… we eat you.”
This hijacked my emotions… because as per usual Lucy creates characters that has me screaming at them in frustration but also rooting for them. Although I’d like to put Juliet in a headlock because, GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING??! You obviously want nothing but the best for her because she has been stripped of everything she’s ever known.
As if being betrayed by her boyfriend isn’t enough, the story just keeps piling it on, and it doesn’t stop piling.
I loved when Jules finally got the opportunity to dog walk Megan.
I’m still fairly new to the book world, so I can only assume this is a slow burn? But it did burn. It also burnt my chest and made my eye twitch, when I realized it was over. On page 459 I realized I only had 10 more pages to go, and the last 20 had been a ride so I knew the last 10 were going to be… not fun. But to my unfortunate surprise I only had six pages left. I feel gutted and am going to need Book 2 asap, please.
I took a brief pause from the Sick Boys to dive into this and it made me so happy to see Eastpoint mentioned.
A few of my favorite moments,
“I don’t want to be good. Not anymore.”
The scene with Lex and the splinter.
“If we catch you… we eat you.”
March 14, 2025
ARC review.
For starters, I loved Lucy’s books. I would read quite literally every thing she wrote. And this one is no different.
The Venom We Bleed is an enemies to lovers, why choose, dark romance. This book went hard on the enemies and I am so here for it. The spice wasn’t over the top and on the smaller scale but what was in this book was so hot.
Juliet is probably one of my all time favorite FMCs. She’s a badass. Her world has completely fallen apart and she doesn’t take shit from anyone. She’s stands up for herself and isn’t afraid to punch someone.
This book is part of a series that is not finished. I cannot wait for the next book. I have so many good quotes from this book that I am obsessed with.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Would tell anyone who will listen to read.
“Most people fear death. When it inevitably comes for them, they cry, kick, scream, and sometimes pray to some otherworldly being to help them—to give them just a little more time.”
“Sorry,” I say, not feeling the least bit sorry at all as I clench my hand into a fist. “The preppy bitch you were expecting couldn’t make it. I’m just a bitch.”
“My, my, how the mighty have fallen.”
“Don’t threaten her,” Lex growls. I blink and lean away from Gio’s hand. “I’m not threatening her, asshole.” My upper lip curls away from my teeth. “I’m threatening you!” Almost as if those were the magic words, Lex’s earlier tautness evaporates and he relaxes. “Oh, that’s fine then,” he says. I shake my head. “You fucking psychopath.”
For starters, I loved Lucy’s books. I would read quite literally every thing she wrote. And this one is no different.
The Venom We Bleed is an enemies to lovers, why choose, dark romance. This book went hard on the enemies and I am so here for it. The spice wasn’t over the top and on the smaller scale but what was in this book was so hot.
Juliet is probably one of my all time favorite FMCs. She’s a badass. Her world has completely fallen apart and she doesn’t take shit from anyone. She’s stands up for herself and isn’t afraid to punch someone.
This book is part of a series that is not finished. I cannot wait for the next book. I have so many good quotes from this book that I am obsessed with.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Would tell anyone who will listen to read.
“Most people fear death. When it inevitably comes for them, they cry, kick, scream, and sometimes pray to some otherworldly being to help them—to give them just a little more time.”
“Sorry,” I say, not feeling the least bit sorry at all as I clench my hand into a fist. “The preppy bitch you were expecting couldn’t make it. I’m just a bitch.”
“My, my, how the mighty have fallen.”
“Don’t threaten her,” Lex growls. I blink and lean away from Gio’s hand. “I’m not threatening her, asshole.” My upper lip curls away from my teeth. “I’m threatening you!” Almost as if those were the magic words, Lex’s earlier tautness evaporates and he relaxes. “Oh, that’s fine then,” he says. I shake my head. “You fucking psychopath.”
March 23, 2025
i dont think i took a solid gulp of air during the duration of this ride. our girl juliet is deliciously bloodthirsty post-fall from grace. while i wanted to choke her out & scream at her a couple times, i also just wanted to give her a hug- though i wouldnt want to piss off the scorpion king: by doing so, lol. the scorpion kings are every bit of chaotic and psychotic as i have come to expect from Lucy Smoke! that ending left me having way more questions than answers & i am in dire need of book two as soon as possible
tropes: why choose, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, strong heroine, dark romance, bully romance
vibes: dark fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, and Alcohol
tropes: why choose, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, strong heroine, dark romance, bully romance
vibes: dark fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, and Alcohol
March 31, 2025
Plot: 4.5/5 • Smut: 2.5/5 ———-> As far as dark high school romances go this one was pretty good. A once high and mighty prep school going girl falls from her high horse after her dad is convicted of embezzlement. The entire town loathes her. She has to transfer to public school where she meets the three scorpion kings. At first they don’t like her, and test the waters surrounding her, but soon after they all start to come together. They come to her rescue more than once. The drama unfolds and secrets are held close to the chest. Too close and things unravel.
The characters build throughout the entire story. Layers and layers. I would say our FMC is strong and brave. Our Scropions, well they’re all a little different. Ends on a cliffy. Wishing the next one was already out.
Smut was good. A little taste of each scorpion 😉 However, no M|M. 💔
The characters build throughout the entire story. Layers and layers. I would say our FMC is strong and brave. Our Scropions, well they’re all a little different. Ends on a cliffy. Wishing the next one was already out.
Smut was good. A little taste of each scorpion 😉 However, no M|M. 💔
March 14, 2025
LUCY THE CLIFFHANGER!
Typically I’m not built for cliff hangers. But this one has me needing answers! Venom We Bleed is book one in the Scorpion Kings series. With any story the fMC can make or break the story but Lucy score always delivers a strong resilient female lead. Despite Juliet’s life crumbling around her she still stands tall and comes back swinging. She doesn’t let anyone push her around Scorpion Kings included. Book one is filled with plot and world building and had me hooked from the very beginning. I can’t wait to see what answers we get in book two!
Typically I’m not built for cliff hangers. But this one has me needing answers! Venom We Bleed is book one in the Scorpion Kings series. With any story the fMC can make or break the story but Lucy score always delivers a strong resilient female lead. Despite Juliet’s life crumbling around her she still stands tall and comes back swinging. She doesn’t let anyone push her around Scorpion Kings included. Book one is filled with plot and world building and had me hooked from the very beginning. I can’t wait to see what answers we get in book two!
April 19, 2025
"Si hay alguien peor que los Scorpion King, esa soy yo."
"Juliet Donovan es un peligro para todos nosotros."
ME ENCANTÓ.
No sabía que la trilogía estaba incompleta, ahora no sé qué hacer, necesito la continuación.
"Juliet Donovan es un peligro para todos nosotros."
ME ENCANTÓ.
No sabía que la trilogía estaba incompleta, ahora no sé qué hacer, necesito la continuación.
October 27, 2025
I don't know about these high school kid plots. Yes, they're 18, but... 😬
March 9, 2025
COMPLETELY devoured this. 🥵
tropes:
🌀 why choose
🌀 stalkers
🌀 fallen princess
🌀 enemies to lovers
if there’s one thing imma eat up .. it’s an insane psycho stalker mmc … in other words LEX BBY I LOVE YOUUUU
but no honestly i had so much fun in this universe, it is set in a highschool setting but all characters are 18 and it makes sense for the plot. i loved seeing juliet’s change in such a short time and her basically having to force herself to be stronger. i also just love a fun hair colored fmc 🙂↕️
i can’t wait to see what happens with the guys and how certain characters play out 👀 lucy made it seem that a few need to be watched so, i need book 2 asap 🤣
thank you greys promo and lucky smoke for the arc! all thoughts and opinions are my own
tropes:
🌀 why choose
🌀 stalkers
🌀 fallen princess
🌀 enemies to lovers
if there’s one thing imma eat up .. it’s an insane psycho stalker mmc … in other words LEX BBY I LOVE YOUUUU
but no honestly i had so much fun in this universe, it is set in a highschool setting but all characters are 18 and it makes sense for the plot. i loved seeing juliet’s change in such a short time and her basically having to force herself to be stronger. i also just love a fun hair colored fmc 🙂↕️
i can’t wait to see what happens with the guys and how certain characters play out 👀 lucy made it seem that a few need to be watched so, i need book 2 asap 🤣
thank you greys promo and lucky smoke for the arc! all thoughts and opinions are my own
March 10, 2025
PLEASE CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK.
Tropes
Enemies to Lovers
Why Choose/Reverse Harem
Dark Romance
Fallen Princess
Poor/Rich dynamic
Forced Proximity
Hate to Love
Stalking
Bad Boys/Crime
💀 Dark Enemies to Lovers
💋 Why Choose / Reverse Harem
💰 Poor/Rich Dynamic
🔥 Hate to Love & Forced Proximity
This was definitely unexpected for me. I wasn't sure it would be my thing entirely.... But it definitely was and the ending........ I need the next book!
So about the story. We start off with a little background about the guys Nolan, Gio and Lex. They didn't have easy lives, they didn't live on the good side of town. They have a dark past and definitely filled with trauma.
Nolan.... Nolan starts with a very early background piece of information that definitely made me feel for him. We see him as the leader, the decision maker, the runner. Football player.
Gio..... His dad is the worst of the worst currently. He basically runs the town/owns and well his son has to basically fall in line. He's our resident playboy. Football Player.
Lex.... Lex.... He's focused, intelligent, and basically almost feral for being human. His past trauma shaped him into who he is, but his the guys who he sees as his brothers? They helped keep him present. He's also obsessed with our FMC. His past is traumatic and about made me cry.
Then we have our Elite Princess Juliet.... It just took one moment to lose it all. One thing happened and she lost her family, her boyfriend, her best friend, her school, social standing and everything she ever knew all in one fell swoop. But she doesn't let the world hold her down, no. This kitten has claws and she uses them. I love Juliet. I really do. The tidbits we find out about her past when her and the guys were kids..... <3 plain and simple.
Juliet is struggling with where she has fallen from grace. She's starting at the local public school and no longer going to her prep school, she has no friends, no money, and she definitely isn't the same girl she was before. Juliet surprises many people while even more underestimate her. I fell in love with the guys with each unexpected little thing they did (I'm not new to type romantasy and all that.... but it wouldn't strike as in their character) and I fell in love with Juliet with each swing she took and every time she stood up for herself.
Although by the end of the book I'm a little mad at 2 characters. I feel like I need to sit them down on the couch and give them a whole lecture! Bad choices. You both need to learn to listen. Now I have to wait for book 2!!!!!!!
Tropes
Enemies to Lovers
Why Choose/Reverse Harem
Dark Romance
Fallen Princess
Poor/Rich dynamic
Forced Proximity
Hate to Love
Stalking
Bad Boys/Crime
💀 Dark Enemies to Lovers
💋 Why Choose / Reverse Harem
💰 Poor/Rich Dynamic
🔥 Hate to Love & Forced Proximity
This was definitely unexpected for me. I wasn't sure it would be my thing entirely.... But it definitely was and the ending........ I need the next book!
So about the story. We start off with a little background about the guys Nolan, Gio and Lex. They didn't have easy lives, they didn't live on the good side of town. They have a dark past and definitely filled with trauma.
Nolan.... Nolan starts with a very early background piece of information that definitely made me feel for him. We see him as the leader, the decision maker, the runner. Football player.
Gio..... His dad is the worst of the worst currently. He basically runs the town/owns and well his son has to basically fall in line. He's our resident playboy. Football Player.
Lex.... Lex.... He's focused, intelligent, and basically almost feral for being human. His past trauma shaped him into who he is, but his the guys who he sees as his brothers? They helped keep him present. He's also obsessed with our FMC. His past is traumatic and about made me cry.
Then we have our Elite Princess Juliet.... It just took one moment to lose it all. One thing happened and she lost her family, her boyfriend, her best friend, her school, social standing and everything she ever knew all in one fell swoop. But she doesn't let the world hold her down, no. This kitten has claws and she uses them. I love Juliet. I really do. The tidbits we find out about her past when her and the guys were kids..... <3 plain and simple.
Juliet is struggling with where she has fallen from grace. She's starting at the local public school and no longer going to her prep school, she has no friends, no money, and she definitely isn't the same girl she was before. Juliet surprises many people while even more underestimate her. I fell in love with the guys with each unexpected little thing they did (I'm not new to type romantasy and all that.... but it wouldn't strike as in their character) and I fell in love with Juliet with each swing she took and every time she stood up for herself.
Although by the end of the book I'm a little mad at 2 characters. I feel like I need to sit them down on the couch and give them a whole lecture! Bad choices. You both need to learn to listen. Now I have to wait for book 2!!!!!!!
July 22, 2025
An MMC who stalks his obsession for years because she saved his life when they were kids by reporting his abuse to social services. Oh, how darkly romantic. Team Lex 100% 🖤
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 🌶🌶🌶
Tropes
✅️Dark Romance
✅️Fall From Grace
✅️Rich vs. Poor
✅️Reverse Harem
✅️High School
✅️Gangs
✅️Bullying
✅️Enemies-to-Lovers
✅️Found Family
Triggers
☑️Sexual Assault
☑️Child Abuse
☑️Domestic Abuse
☑️Stalking
☑️Drugs
Oh, the High School angst. I prefer more of a college setting, but the main characters were actually decently mature for being 18 years old.
Juliet's life is turned upside down after her father is arrested for embezzlement, and her mom skips town. I really admired the fact that she kept her head held high and pushed through all the shit that was thrown her way. She sold her BMW, got her own apartment, got a job, and was still able to focus on school despite everyone treating her like a pariah.
There is a decent amount of bullying when Juliet transfers to public school. A lot of the students have family that was affected by her father's actions, which put a target on her back. Not too much, though, which I appreciated. I hate when a bully romance is straight up, just bullying left and right with no end in sight.
What did give me the ick, is how Juliet's father's business partner Morpheus clearly sexually assaulted her at some point, but she can't connect the dots and still views him as a good guy. As the reader, her nightmares are clearly fragmented memories of the incident, but she was either so out of it or her psyche suppressed the trauma to protect her. The guy then has the gall to plead with her to move in with him so he can take care of her. Yeah....I see you. 🤨
Juliet is a pretty girl, and because of her family name, there are 2 other incidents where she comes close to being sexually assaulted. Just a fair warning to those sensitive to those situations.
Love the back story between Lex and Juliet 🖤
Dying to know what Juliet's reaction is going to be when she finds his wall of obsession after stalking her for years. Ahhhhh, the suspense is killing me.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 🌶🌶🌶
Tropes
✅️Dark Romance
✅️Fall From Grace
✅️Rich vs. Poor
✅️Reverse Harem
✅️High School
✅️Gangs
✅️Bullying
✅️Enemies-to-Lovers
✅️Found Family
Triggers
☑️Sexual Assault
☑️Child Abuse
☑️Domestic Abuse
☑️Stalking
☑️Drugs
Oh, the High School angst. I prefer more of a college setting, but the main characters were actually decently mature for being 18 years old.
Juliet's life is turned upside down after her father is arrested for embezzlement, and her mom skips town. I really admired the fact that she kept her head held high and pushed through all the shit that was thrown her way. She sold her BMW, got her own apartment, got a job, and was still able to focus on school despite everyone treating her like a pariah.
There is a decent amount of bullying when Juliet transfers to public school. A lot of the students have family that was affected by her father's actions, which put a target on her back. Not too much, though, which I appreciated. I hate when a bully romance is straight up, just bullying left and right with no end in sight.
What did give me the ick, is how Juliet's father's business partner Morpheus clearly sexually assaulted her at some point, but she can't connect the dots and still views him as a good guy. As the reader, her nightmares are clearly fragmented memories of the incident, but she was either so out of it or her psyche suppressed the trauma to protect her. The guy then has the gall to plead with her to move in with him so he can take care of her. Yeah....I see you. 🤨
Juliet is a pretty girl, and because of her family name, there are 2 other incidents where she comes close to being sexually assaulted. Just a fair warning to those sensitive to those situations.
Love the back story between Lex and Juliet 🖤
Dying to know what Juliet's reaction is going to be when she finds his wall of obsession after stalking her for years. Ahhhhh, the suspense is killing me.
March 9, 2025
To say I tore through this book would be an understatement. But then, as I started approaching the end of it I started to get that sinking feeling, which was only confirmed. CLIFFHANGER. (Boooo! Hisssss!)
Like, seriously. Why?!? I knew going in that this was a duet but FFS, that doesn’t mean it has to be a cliffhanger. Ugh. Whatever.
Aside from the cliffhanger, this was a fun read. It’s nothing new or groundbreaking (at least in this first book of two) as far as the plot and characters go, but it was easy to read and held my attention and I really liked all of the characters and will be first in line for the next one.
FMC Juliet Donovan’s having a really terrible life, but I think I prefer down and out Juliet to Prep Queen Juliet. She’s a little annoying in how quick she is to assume the worst in people, I mean, I get the why but it’s a little overkill. That said, I’m hoping in the second book we see her really leaning into her FAFO era. I know there is some shady biz going on with Morpheus and I need answers.
MMCs Lex, Gio, and Nolan are my favorite kind of toxic alpha smoke shows but there are a few things not adding up for me. I’m a little surprised that they aren’t rolling in money since they’re dealing drugs and working as enforcers for Gio’s dad. Unless maybe they’re squirreling it away for when they leave town? Also, I want to see them CLAIM the heck out of Juliet.
This book is not even slow burn, it’s no burn. Really hoping that ratchets up in the next book because it was pretty disappointing in this one. On a spice scale, this isn’t even a one out of five, it’s that tame. Book two better get filthy.
Like, seriously. Why?!? I knew going in that this was a duet but FFS, that doesn’t mean it has to be a cliffhanger. Ugh. Whatever.
Aside from the cliffhanger, this was a fun read. It’s nothing new or groundbreaking (at least in this first book of two) as far as the plot and characters go, but it was easy to read and held my attention and I really liked all of the characters and will be first in line for the next one.
FMC Juliet Donovan’s having a really terrible life, but I think I prefer down and out Juliet to Prep Queen Juliet. She’s a little annoying in how quick she is to assume the worst in people, I mean, I get the why but it’s a little overkill. That said, I’m hoping in the second book we see her really leaning into her FAFO era. I know there is some shady biz going on with Morpheus and I need answers.
MMCs Lex, Gio, and Nolan are my favorite kind of toxic alpha smoke shows but there are a few things not adding up for me. I’m a little surprised that they aren’t rolling in money since they’re dealing drugs and working as enforcers for Gio’s dad. Unless maybe they’re squirreling it away for when they leave town? Also, I want to see them CLAIM the heck out of Juliet.
This book is not even slow burn, it’s no burn. Really hoping that ratchets up in the next book because it was pretty disappointing in this one. On a spice scale, this isn’t even a one out of five, it’s that tame. Book two better get filthy.
March 22, 2025
I haven't read a high school bully romance in a minute and this reminded me why I love them.
The fmc, Juliet, is a badass is everything sense of the word. Her life gets thrown upside down and she completely changes and personally I would be scared of her. She's getting into fights at school and those girls are not listening! She warns them! Next thing you know....
The guys in this are so interesting, they're all tortured and traumatized and fun. One of the has been carrying a torch for our fmc and then next thing you know.. all of them get it and start carrying the torch. The guys also aren't saviors, the second Juliet gets into trouble they leave her to deal with the consequences but don't think that means they don't step in, they definitely do but not at school which i loved because they won't always be there to protect her.
Spice wise, this is just the beginning and a lot happens before they can even think to get spicy so there's not a ton but there's a little which each guy and the way the cliffhanger went, I think the next book is going to have groveling and "let me make it up to you" and i think that's going to get spicy for sure 😏
Thank you to lucy smoke and torchlitink for allowing me to ARC read!
The fmc, Juliet, is a badass is everything sense of the word. Her life gets thrown upside down and she completely changes and personally I would be scared of her. She's getting into fights at school and those girls are not listening! She warns them! Next thing you know....
The guys in this are so interesting, they're all tortured and traumatized and fun. One of the has been carrying a torch for our fmc and then next thing you know.. all of them get it and start carrying the torch. The guys also aren't saviors, the second Juliet gets into trouble they leave her to deal with the consequences but don't think that means they don't step in, they definitely do but not at school which i loved because they won't always be there to protect her.
Spice wise, this is just the beginning and a lot happens before they can even think to get spicy so there's not a ton but there's a little which each guy and the way the cliffhanger went, I think the next book is going to have groveling and "let me make it up to you" and i think that's going to get spicy for sure 😏
Thank you to lucy smoke and torchlitink for allowing me to ARC read!
March 17, 2025
I was fortunate to receive this as an early reader and I completely devoured it. As soon as I heard sick boys spin off I was chomping at the bit to read this.
Juliet's journey starts out very rough, and we learn a little about her old world, and new one. I'm still waiting for someone to serve Avery a big fat karma sandwich, in her face. We also get introduced to our super fine- steamy MMCS. Without any spoilers - I'll take all three as well please and thanks. I can't wait to learn more about them in book two.
Lucy hit it out of the park with this one, and I can't wait to see where book two leaves us considering the cliff I am currently hanging from. (So worth it though)
💙little bit of a slow burn
🖤 broody men ( in the best way)
💙BA FMC energy
Go meet the Scorpion Kings and their new obsession.
🌶️🌶️
Juliet's journey starts out very rough, and we learn a little about her old world, and new one. I'm still waiting for someone to serve Avery a big fat karma sandwich, in her face. We also get introduced to our super fine- steamy MMCS. Without any spoilers - I'll take all three as well please and thanks. I can't wait to learn more about them in book two.
Lucy hit it out of the park with this one, and I can't wait to see where book two leaves us considering the cliff I am currently hanging from. (So worth it though)
💙little bit of a slow burn
🖤 broody men ( in the best way)
💙BA FMC energy
Go meet the Scorpion Kings and their new obsession.
🌶️🌶️
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