King Me

by K.D. Tabith

HAVING WED HIMSELF TO THE DEMON PRINCE…

Luka Lockehart, trapped in marriage and psychically bound to the Snake of the South, rides for northern Kitera. There, he hopes to find the allies he needs to return home and save his brother from his mother’s claws.

HAVING TRADED HIS LOVER’S KINGDOM FOR FREEDOM…

Theodori Hunter escaped captivity – but only after promising to retake Luka’s home country in the name of the demon prince-turned king. He will need help to do so, but he doesn’t know if he will find it in this homecoming to Kitera. Kitera, where if Luka and Theo’s mating bond is discovered, Theo’s people will finally have the leverage they’ve always wanted.

But when Luka and Theo arrive at the northern capital, the return of an old enemy ruins their plans.

One execution and prison break later, Luka and Theo are left fleeing the capital into the winter. Luka, desperate to save his brother, and Theo, terrified to break his promise, must turn adversaries into allies to survive. Their only constant is their ever-growing, undeniable need for each other – and the demon king in their way.

CAN LOVE SURVIVE A REVOLUTION?

Genres: Fantasy

280 pages, Paperback

Published December 30, 2024

About the author

K.D. Tabith writes books about angry men who turn into wolves who sort their feelings out by grunting, growling, and maybe a bit of groveling because they don’t know how to communicate.

When they're not writing (a rare sight), they're entertaining their fur babies or listening to audiobooks at two times speed (highly recommend to meet your Goodreads goal).

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book advanced the plot of this series SO well! It kind of dragged in the beginning/middle, but once it got going I really enjoyed it.

I was kind of sad that we didn’t get as much interaction between Theo and Luka in this one and I think it was harder for me to get through because of that, but I absolutely loved getting to know Cathalan more!

This book felt very much like the third in the series where some of the plot needed to start wrapping up and that was done very well, while also allowing for more possibilities for future installments.

I would love to continue getting to know some side characters like Cathalan, Xyla, and Darri as well as seeing what Theo and Luka are up to in the future!!

Thank you to BookSirens for sending me an eARC for an honest review!

[korinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Checkmate trilogy by K.D. Tabith has been among my most anticipated upcoming series. The first book really caught my attention—it was campy, fun, played on classic tropes we all know and love, and was just good queer fiction. The second book, Pawn’s Sacrifice, had a rocky beginning—I wasn’t feeling that spark that Checkmate had given me initially, but by the end, I found myself captivated again, and the ending left me hungry for the third and final entry, King Me. And now I am here, and I’m horribly sad to say that this book fails to live up to its predecessors.

It’s not bad per say, but it did feel overall weaker. There was a severe lack of chemistry between the characters, I found myself uninterested in the story beats, and generally was unemotional while reading. I felt there was a lot of unnecessary recap, especially for a series that released quite close to one another. I will say it did have the opposite problem that Pawn’s Sacrifice had. Whereas that book was a bit of a slow burn, this book was a crash out. I’d enjoyed myself in the beginning for a few chapters, but it slowly lost me, and by the end, I was just thankful to be done.

Though I can understand splitting your story into multiple books, I think after reading the conclusion, this story would have really benefitted from being contained into one novel. With some trimming and general rewrites for cohesion, I could see myself really enjoying this series as a whole, rather than just bits and pieces of it. There were some minor plotlines I was interested in which were either not concluded at all, or forgotten about entirely (such as the marriage bond), which was unsatisfying. On the flip side, there were plotlines that I felt were random or uninteresting (such as Octavian). I didn’t think the grand conclusion was that satisfying either, it happened quickly with little to no buildup, but at least the epilogue was sweet.

In general, I think if you have followed the series up til this point, you should read this book. You might enjoy it more than I did. I do recommend this trilogy overall, and I will definitely be reading more from K.D Tabith in the future. They are an underrated gem, irregardless of my feelings towards this novel.

I was provided an e-ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Sachin Karnik]

"King Me" by K.D. Tabith is the third exhilarating installment in the Checkmate Series and takes the reader on an intense journey of love, loyalty, and power. Imagine a world where every decision you make could mean life or death, loyalty or betrayal. Have you ever felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on you, knowing that every choice could change your destiny?

In this captivating tale, we follow Luka Lockehart, who, bound by marriage to the demon prince, finds himself thrust into a perilous quest. His journey to northern Kitera is fraught with danger as he seeks to rally allies and save his brother from their tyrannical mother's grasp. Every step is a test of his resilience, cunning, and the strength of his bonds with those he trusts. Have you ever had to summon every ounce of courage to protect the ones you love?

Theodori Hunter, meanwhile, is navigating the treacherous political waters, having traded his lover's kingdom for a fleeting taste of freedom. Theo's journey is one of strategy and sacrifice, as he must turn adversaries into allies to fulfill his promise. The tension between his loyalty to his people and his love for Luka creates a dynamic that is both heart-wrenching and compelling. Can you imagine the torment of being torn between duty and desire?

Tabith’s writing is masterful, weaving a rich narrative of detail and emotion. The world-building is immersive, painting a vivid picture of a kingdom on the brink of revolution. The characters are complex and relatable, each with their own struggles and growth throughout the story. The chemistry between Luka and Theo is palpable, their bond both a strength and a vulnerability in the face of impending chaos. How far would you go to protect the person who holds your heart?

The plot is a rollercoaster of action, intrigue, and romance, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The twists and turns are unexpected, leaving you guessing and eager to see how the story unfolds. The blend of fantasy and romance is seamless, making "King Me" a standout in its genre.

In conclusion, "King Me" is a thrilling and emotional journey that delves deep into love, loyalty, and power complexities. It's a story that resonates with the reader, leaving you pondering the lengths you would go to for the ones you love. If you're a fan of fantasy and romance, this book is a must-read.

QOTD: "Can love survive a revolution?"

#Fantasy #Romance #BookReview #KingMe #CheckmateSeries #KDTabith #EpicSaga #MustRead #BookLovers #LoveAndPower #ThrillingRead

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the previous installments of the series, and this seems to be the final book. At first, I appreciated the world building and the slow burn romance. There was a lot of tension building up in book one, then a bit more in the second, with all of that leading to this final third book.

To sum it up, this didn’t feel like a finale. The ending felt rushed while the rest of the story was a slow build up. What was odd for this to be the last book in a trilogy was that there was not much time spent with Luka and Theo together. Yes, the tension was finally resolved between them and there were a couple spicy scenes, but that’s it after waiting for three books.

The pacing was a bit odd and frustrating as a lot of time was spent reading about characters traveling to a destination, only to arrive at said destination and just turn and go back where they just came from.
During this, characters happen to miss each other due to lack of communication.

There were plot threads that felt rushed to wrap up. What about the different nations and their animosity towards each other? That seemed to be a huge conflict that was built up through the world building and current events, but ultimately fizzled out and was tentatively resolved within a few pages.
What about Cathalan and his kingdom? There was a bit more character development for him this time, but the story just ends.

And then other character development is suddenly revealed and not fleshed out, with Dari and with Luka’s family. These were all interesting points that sadly weren’t elaborated on.

The ending just fizzles out after reading two-thirds or more of build up.

What still remains consistent is the author’s writing style. That did not hinder the reading experience for me.
There is a decent amount of character development for the main couple, and I liked how both of them worked on healing themselves from their personal traumas.
I also did enjoy the ultimate ending for Luka and Theo, but it would have been nice to have a couple extra chapters showing a bit more of their new life. For so much build up and a very slow burn romance, it just didn’t feel like a satisfying payoff.
It almost felt as if the author was rushed to finish.

Overall, it was a decent trilogy, and I look forward to the author’s future stories.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Danielle Mund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like several other reviewers, I struggled with this final chapter to what has otherwise been a very enjoyable series. There are parts I really liked such as the social commentary but that was a much softer hit than it was in the first book, despite certain revelations.

I also feel that there's all this sexual tension that really went nowhere. There were two actual sex scenes and neither were very detailed. 35 mentions of "cock" without it really being used.

From the beginning, Cess is described as very sexual but the details were glossed over. I took this as the author finding their footing, deciding which way to go, maybe just not wanting to be explicit outside of the main couple which is slow build. But when it finally happens, it's rushed and minimal. Spice isn't everything, don't get me wrong, but the hotness level should fit the book, relationships, and anticipation. And this didn't

I still do recommend this series (especially the first book). It's worth reading the conclusion. I would like to return to the world and get more stories (though I'm not as invested in Cathalan's mating journey as I anticipated). Interested to see what this new author does next

**This is an ARC review**

[C.E. McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ending!! I’ve been obsessed with Theo and Luka ever since CHECKMATE, and couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion to the trilogy. Both of them have come so far and grown so much, and I loved getting to see them finally face their demons and get together!! 😭😭❤️

Picking up from where the second book left off, we get plenty of plotting and political scheming, and a very fun prison break in Kitera’s icy capital city… I was also thrilled to see a heaping portion of my favourite side characters, including Octavian (you scheming bastard you ❤️), Cathalan, and Xyla (their chemistry is insane, and Cathalan’s determination to flirt with her while ALSO being the sexy psychically-bound third wheel in Luka & Theo’s relationship is both fantastic and hilarious 😂).

Romance, suspense, revolution, & a beautifully touching finale - I was so happy to see Luka & Theo get the ending they deserve, and this series will stick with me for a long time!!

[Courtney|the.bookcourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the Checkmate series has us following Theo and Luka right where they left off in Pawn’s Sacrifice.

This book put me through alll the emotions. With the escapes that had me on the edge of my seat, the plot twists that had my heart breaking, and that slow burn romance finally coming to a head with so much passion and love.

I truly loved how the world building and history really came together in this book, the truths that came out flowed well with the story and definitely kept me interested throughout.

I had hoped we would get more of Cathalan and Xyla so if there is more books coming I will jump at the chance to read their story if it exists. And I want more of Theo and Luka’s little family. Seeing them grow together through these books has been so precious.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emily Lupo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did a great job of advancing the plot and wrapping things up. Unfortunately, it dragged a little bit in the beginning and middle. There weren’t as many Luka and Theo interactions as I personally would have liked but I enjoyed getting to know some of the side characters more. Maybe I missed it as well, but I feel the whole marriage bond plot was dropped without any real conclusion. Overall, this was a great read and I enjoyed the recap of what happened in the previous novels as I actually didn’t read them, but am definitely intrigued after reading this one. I could see how people who did read all of the books would feel the recap unnecessary, however.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Checkmate . . .

This final book in the trilogy wasn’t the best or most captivating for me. It seemed to lack balance somehow and made it feel as though there wasn’t much chemistry between the characters. Parts of it were great; but other parts made me feel like I wanted more than what we were given. Luka Lockehart is distracted by his strong focus on saving his brother Cassian from their horrible mother. Time is running out for finding allies and in two months' time, when Cassian fails the Bombani Exam, their mother will kill him. Theo Hunter also seems to have a number of distractions holding him back. Will completing their bond help them or hurt them in reaching their goals? And will the demon king continue to interfere with them?

[Sara Irons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luka and Theo continue on a twisted journey. They find themselves tricked into doing things they wouldn't have normally been inclined to do.

Luka is married to Cathalan because he still doesn't know Theo is his mate and he believes it is the only way to save his siblings.

Cathalan has tricked Theo into helping him achieve his goals in order to keep Luka safe.

Theo now knows he needs to do everything in his power to save Luka and to make him his in every way. To complete the mating bond.

The world building is very well done and the characters are wonderful.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[JabberwockyStories · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Can Theo and Luka save Cassian from their mother in time? King Me is the third installment in the Checkmate series and picks up right where the second, Pawn's Sacrifice, left off. This story is dramatic from start to finish! I loved getting more of Theo and Luka together and even seeing Xyla again!

I wanted to see more of Cathalan's character/background and left hoping to see him and Xyla again!! I was kept surprised for most of the twists which I enjoyed but also made my stomach drop a few times.

I hope to find myself back into this world and what the next adventure could be for some characters!

[Maria Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the plot of the books, it gives the same feelings as watching a great fantasy movie as it draws you into the scene, the writing creating this new world around you. I hope there is a future book solely about the brother because I think that would also be an amazing read. The characters are well written and you can feel their emotions and thought processes.
it's a great series, I would suggest reading all of them to get a better context but you can kinda read this as a standalone and get the gist. The writing was a little awkward at the start but quickly balanced out (only because of the perspective).

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this like I loved the first book, but I just felt disappointed in the final book. I kind of wished this was condensed into one big book and some things removed as the characters lost their lovely chemistry they had in book 1. I may give it some time and read all 3 again but at the same time to maybe have a better read. I almost didn’t rate this at all, because the first was so good and then the second got better towards the end, so again was a bit disappointed in this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

That felt…anticlimactic.

Don’t get me wrong, the ending was tense and interesting, but I would have liked the final conclusion to be a more satisfying epilogue which explored the changed dynamics a bit more. Instead, it felt tacked onto the end of the action like an afterthought.

Other than those complaints, the final book in Theo and Luka’s trilogy is my favorite of the three. The stakes feel higher and the action tighter. I was so happy to hear that the series will continue with a different pair later on.

I need more Cathalan in my life lol.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a strong third entry in the Checkmate series, it had that fantasy element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the previous two books. The characters were everything that I was wanting and was engaged with how everything worked together to the story. It was a fantastic fantasy element that I wanted and was glad I got to read this. K.D. Tabith has a strong writing style and hope there is more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andrew Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and fitting end to the Luka and Theo trilogy, full of adventure, romance and plenty of political turmoil!Everything from the previous two books comes into focus here in a story wrapped in gorgeous and surprising imagery, as well as a deeper look into the emotions and memories of our heroes.

The plot was a little confusing a times, though in a way that serves the story and adds to the suspense of what will happen. No spoilers here!! but well worth reading, if you’re thinking of picking this up and are looking for a cozy and adventurous world to spend time in.

[Anushka Bagde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read by this author and I really liked it. It was interesting, oriented in a interconnected history with kingdoms vying for power and resources. I liked the romance between Luka and Theo and how the story progresses. The ending is bittersweet but I enjoyed where the characters ended up :) Looking forward to more stories from this author!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Raven E Majors · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I was an ARC reader for this book**
Many Romantasy books these days are heavy on the romance, light on the fantasy. King Me does a good job of balancing the two genres pretty evenly. There is plenty of world building while still getting a bit of the feel good romance we all love. I was very relieved when Luka finally grew a backbone. It's nice to see him take care of business and have a bit more character depth. Overall I quite enjoy this series

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the conclusion of the series and the author did a good job of bringing Theo and Luka's journey to their HEA to a conclusion. I appreciated the author wrapping up a few loose ends. There was not a lot of time on page for our main couple in this one which was a bit disappointing but still a good final installment.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Twinkle.butt.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where the world building is great, I feel like the “filler” parts were lacking just a bit. As the grand finale I would have like to see more chemistry between the characters. All in all it’s a great work of imagination and was an extremely enjoyable read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephanie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally!

We've reached the conclusion of this series and I personally loved this one more than the others. Almost everything tied together nicely. I kind of swayed a little near the end, but nonetheless loved it overall.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dani ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some parts to King Me that I really enjoyed, but I don’t think it was as enjoyable as the first in the series. I think that the books could have been two instead of three, but three was important to see how the characters got to their destinations. The world building was great, I was just missing the chemistry of the main characters that I got in the first book. Overall, if you’ve read the first and enjoyed it I would say to keep reading to get more of the story! Moving forward I will definitely be reading more from K.D. Tabith, because I really enjoyed their writing style!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Janelimay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like this author. Read the first two of this series. Many series only review old material. This series gives new information with the old material. Will continue reading this author. (I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[Lauren Head · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely will be reading the first two.

[Alba Dorado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed this read. The world building was great and there was plenty of it. And I love the feel good romance here.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book