Scorched Kingdom

by C.J. Primer

This pre-order is a placeholder and will be updated. Planned release in Fall of 2025. Blurb & Cover coming soon!

Genres: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, College, Secret Society

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 24, 2026

About the author

C.J. Primer is an award-winning, bestselling author of steamy romance novels. She specializes in angsty, spicy love stories full of twists and turns and hard-fought happy endings. She writes in multiple genres, including paranormal romance, dark romance, contemporary romance, and fantasy romance. Her most popular books are the bestselling six-pack series, a collection of werewolf shifter romance novels that have captivated millions of readers worldwide across multiple reading platforms.

Follow CJ on Instagram to keep up with all of her latest releases: @c.j.primer

Reviews

[Asti · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a way to end book 2. That plot twist! 😱 I’ve lost count of how many times my heart has broken for Ava, only to somersault back to life. I love her perseverance, character development, and the way she’s owning her sexuality. But I also love Wes, Ford, and Raf in their own effed up ways. Am I wrong for wanting them all to end up together? After Ava gets her revenge and has them eating out of the palm of her hand, though.

This reverse harem is written so damn well… it’s extra spicy, and deliciously dirty. The group play is 🔥👌🏽

I have no idea where we go from here, but I’m honestly waiting with bated breath for Queen of the Ashes.

Thank you CJ Primer and BookSirens for this ARC. 🖤

What to expect:
🖤 bully romance
🖤 dark romance
🖤 academia setting
🖤 why choose
🖤 touch her & 🔪
🖤stepbrother & his best friends
🖤toy play
🖤group play
🖤cherry pop

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when the irredeemable look like there’s a chance for redemption . . . Book 2 is filled to the brim with harrowing, nail biting, breath stealing moments.

Raf, Wes, and Ford find out Raf’s father is responsible for Ava’s absence—they arrange her extraction. Though they won’t admit it, the Kings are softening to their Queen. Little by little, against their code, under their radar, she’s managed to matter to each one—they just haven’t recognized it yet.

Ava embraces her new found sexuality. Denying her feelings for Wes, Ford, and Raf exist, Ava makes the unwise decision to create a wedge between the Kings. As soon as that plan leaves her mouth, I got a stone in the pit of my stomach. Neon signs flashing above her head ‘bad idea! bad idea!’ screaming in my head.

Book 3 is supposed to bring their HEA. Thank God. I am frazzled. Especially after the last few chapters—Nothing, and I do mean nothing, prepared me for the cliffhanger.

Nothing.

*** Recommended ***

HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨Cliffy, To Be Continued
Series:
🌗Book 2: Kings of Corvus College
MMC:
✨Wes
✨Ford
✨Raf
FMC:
✨Ava
Tropes:
👉Dark College Romance
👉Bully to Romance
👉Reverse Harem
👉MFM + M
Triggers: 🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️1/2, MFMM, open🚪sex
💥Violence
💥Human Trafficking
💥Kidnapping
💥Murder
💥Abuse
💥Profanity
💥Mental Health Issues
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Taryn Eskra · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! CJ has done it again!! I was so excited for this one and it did not disappoint!!! It picks up right where Paper Doll left us hanging and just WOW!! 👏🏼this one takes it up a notch from book 1 and I was here for it!! Ava definitely grows her back bone in this one!! The guys are just as ruthlessly delicious as they were before😈 I loved seeing Rafs darkness but also glimpses of his softer side, Wes and his gentleness but fords inner monologue had me rolling. And the spice…the spice was🔥🔥 I LOVED IT!! The bombs that were dropped in this one were EPIC!! That cliffy though….IM DYING FOR BOOK 3!!!! Need it NOW!! 🖤

[Lemon Loser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: 4/5 • Spice: 3/5 ➡️➡️➡️ This picks up where we left off. Ava wakes up in the Dollhouse. She has been sold. Her and her virginity up for auction to the highest bidder.


Help comes in an unlikely form. Bailey and her men help Ava escape and back into the Kings arms. Reluctantly. At the drop off point she eventually succumbs and goes with Raf, Ford and Wes again. Right back where she started.


She kind of grows (somewhat) of a backbone in this book. During her “Pop the Cherry” party the guys hold, which embarrasses the hell out of, she finally gives in to Raf. She wants this. She wants all of them. Physically. Mentally? ehh.


We get a couple group scenes. She’s initiated. But we
do not get to her first trial. The guys are on to her. They know she’s trying to bend their will. They break her first.


Ava’s mother resurfaces in the last chapter. Trying to reconcile and tell her everything she can about the Dollhouse. When they get into the car they’re attacked and both taken back there. The kings have no clue what went down. They left after telling her they know what she’s doing and walked out the door. …and this is where book 2 ends.


I should have damn waited. March 2027 for boom 3? Ah hell no. I hate tbe waiting game. I really want to know if Raf finally breaks like the other two seem to be and come rescue her… again.

[Merissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

the cliffhanger!!!

Ugh, I immediately started this book after binging book one. I needed to know what happened next. There was definitely so many twist and turns in the book that had me on edge. I’m so pissed at myself because I thought this was a completed series and now I have to wait for book 3. I hope our girl gets the revenge that she deserves and she gets her HEA. This series has consumed me. I started book one last night and I’ve finished both within 24 hrs if that tells you anything.

[Sanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just couldn't stop reading. AGAIN.

But I am not fine. This author know how to grab you hold you. Put you trough the suffers and doesn't let you go. And holy plot thickening. Around 80% /85% I got the feeling. Wait a second it's not gonna end here…..

Thank you once again. Definitely a rec

The first book already was a ghost in my brain this one will be too. Some books i barely remember this I will.

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

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was so ready for this book after the cliffhanger in book one. I ate this up. It was a wild ride from the start. Couldn’t put it down. Ford was my favorite after book one but now give me Raf and let me hug Wes. Ford is an unapologetic d!ck and I was still here for him. Can’t wait for book three. Check TWs but definitely give this series a try.

[Jess McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more!

That twist at the end.. I didn't see it coming until about a few paragraphs before the reveal! I enjoyed this one just as much, if not more than book 1. Once Ava was back at Corvus, I kept waiting for the Dollhouse to jump out and take her back at any moment. Ava is growing into herself and getting a stronger backbone against the kings. The guys don't have many redeeming qualities right now, but hope that changes pretty soon... I cannot wait until.book 3!

[imareader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my I didn't realise I was holding my breath all the way through to the end.
When I started reading the book I was thankful that the cliffhanger from the last book was addressed but the end of this one has left me wanting answers just as much.
I understand Raf's anger but it's not justified while Wes appeared to be getting softer Raf would say while Ford's sense of humour is entertaining. I'm so glad to see Ava's character growth and I look forward to seeing the progress in the next

And their group “bonding” activities? Let’s just say… they’re definitely something.

If you’re a dark romance reader, I’d absolutely recommend this one. Just make sure you read Paper Doll first—you’ll need that foundation before diving into this story.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted a little more out of Ava but I guess realistically her being a mastermind is unlikely. She’s tougher but still such a victim. Also this book felt rushed. Ava’s revenge plot could’ve gotten another 30 pages before she got caught. It was like she made one move, a big one for sure, gets caught and then boom running and cliffhanger. However. I will read book 3, though a year is too long.

[Booksbystarlightandshadows · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tension when Ava was in the Dollhouse had my completely on edge, especially when it became clear Gideon had covered his tracks. My heart was slowly sinking for that section of the book. Once we were back on campus little had changed for Ava, and the Kings go back to being their usual possessive selves. Ava decides she won't be a passenger in her life anymore though which I loved but I'd have liked to have seen more of her plan to make the Kings unravel as so far the Kings have had zero consequences or regrets about how they treated her. There is also zero grovelling (Wes does apologise for the hallway but that's about it) and Ava 100% deserves some for being dropped in a game she knew nothing about.

I know the MMCs are villains but I am struggling a little with them; they still treat Ava awfully and if there is only one book to go, and judging by the POVs we see even after the Dollhouse threat, none of them seem to really like her beyond that initial possessiveness. Wes is probably the closest but Raf is still name calling and lashing out about Daphne (he lost all the points from the French Toast breakfast) and although he does have some decent one liners, Ford's party execution was just gross and it just feels like there is no thought for Ava the person at all in this relationship. I'm rooting for Bailey to steal her away at this point! There were a few moments where I felt like I had a missed something too or would have loved an on page conversation on (like Ford, Wes and Raf after the fight, or Ava bringing up her collateral) which I was looking for to even out some of the faster paced chapters.

Honestly, I wouldn't be mad if there was a fourth book as the Secret Society element hasn't really started and I was invested in the Invictus plotline from the get go. I am looking forward to the trials and am trusting the process that it will all come together, and somehow the Kings are going to realise they are currently not worthy of Ava and need to start treating her as more than a Doll.

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

My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read

[agirlandhercats · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished Scorched Kingdom by C.J. Primer, book two in the Kings of Corvus series, and I’m giving it 3 stars.

Now, I gave the first book, Paper Dolls, five stars. Not because it was wildly original, but because I’m a massive fan of The Royals of Forsyth U. Specifically the Lords, the Dukes, and the Princes. Those books are god-tier reverse harem for me. So even though Paper Dolls was basically following the exact same blueprint, I still had a really good time with it.

Here’s the problem though.

You can maybe get away with that in book one. By book two? You have to start making these characters their own people.

Instead… it just keeps copying the formula.

The biggest issue is that it never builds its own identity. Every time I thought the story was finally going to separate itself, it just… didn’t.

The opening, where she gets taken to the dollhouse after the ending of book one, dragged forever. It felt like almost a hundred pages of absolutely nothing. It was boring, repetitive, and honestly could have been cut down dramatically without changing the story.

Then we get her big revenge arc… and it’s laughably underwhelming. She’s internally acting like she’s this mastermind, but the revenge lasts all of five minutes before everyone catches on. It never feels satisfying. It never feels earned.

My biggest complaint, though, is the romance.

I’m two books in, and I still don’t buy that these men actually care about her.

Not one of them.

And honestly? I don’t really think she cares about them either beyond the fact that they’re sleeping together constantly. That’s not enough to sell me on a reverse harem. I need emotional investment. I need obsession. I need devotion. I need to believe these people would burn the world down for each other.

Right now, I don’t believe any of that.

I’m still going to finish the series because it wasn’t bad enough for me to DNF, and I’m hoping book three finally lets these characters become their own thing instead of living in another series’ shadow.

But after two books, I’m still waiting for this story to convince me that it’s more than just a very familiar formula with different names.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scorched Kingdom is Book 2 in the Kings of Corvus College series and cannot be read as a standalone. Picking up right where Paperdoll left off, we’re thrown straight back into the dark, brutal world of Corvus College—and the aftermath of that massive cliffhanger.

Ava is no longer the same girl we met in Book 1. Shaped by her trauma, she’s now on a journey of self-discovery, breaking down the beliefs she once held because of her upbringing and her mother’s influence. This time, she’s not just surviving—she’s ready for revenge.

The power dynamics within the Kings’ circle are shifting in a big way. What started as a cruel game is no longer so one-sided. Raf, Ford, and Wes are beginning to realize just how vulnerable they are to their “Doll.” And Ava? She knows it. She’s learning how to use that power to her advantage, all while maintaining the illusion of innocence.

The stakes are higher, the circle of enemies is expanding, and long-buried secrets are finally starting to surface. The tension—both emotional and psychological—keeps building, making this book a strong bridge toward what promises to be an explosive conclusion.

As with Book 1, check the trigger warnings—this series doesn’t hold back.

And yes… we’re left with another major cliffhanger. Thankfully, Book 3—the final installment—is expected later this year, and I cannot wait to see how everything unravels.

If Paperdoll pulled you in, Scorched Kingdom will have you fully hooked.

[Laura Montesinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Kings of Corvus College series, and let me tell you, Ava Baby comes back with a vengeance.

In book 1, Paper Doll, we were left off with a cliffhanger that had me sitting on the edge of my seat every second that I had to wait for this book to be done. The anticipation alone was enough, but then book 2 came out, and it was everything and then more.

Ava finds herself waking up in an unknown room, memories of how she got there and what transpired were foggy. What she could remember was the Kings, and her decision to leave them. White walls and bright lights were all that she saw, until she found out what happened, where she was at, and worse of all, who was behind it.

The Kings were busy thinking nothing had happened, no one ever crosses them or would have it in them to leave. Until her. When they get a call about where Ava is, everything changes. A plan forms and they get their Doll back.

Through everything that Ava went through, she decided that she was ready to start taking back what little control she could. Now she just had to make sure that she executes it without getting caught. But when the Kings start to catch on, and Ava's mom finally calls, we are left on another cliffhanger that has me itching for the third book and wanting, no, needing to know how this is going to end.

Be on the lookout for book 3 in the Kings of Corvus College series, Queen of the Ashes.

[*-The Pink Dahlia -* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well ok then, holy shit. Ms Primer is not fucking around.

This was definitely a bit darker than the first book which was mainly a bully romance.

In this book, we see the darker side of things, a bit more of the cult, and we finally get to see the first scene in the first book played out. IYKYK.

So, verdict?

The plot is compelling. I’m invested. The cliffy of this book is 🤯 (big boom sounds)

I’m intrigued as to how/if the MMC’s are ever going to become redeemable. Thus far? I’m not certain they can be redeemed. They’re honestly, all three of them, pretty despicable.
They are truly awful humans. So….yeah I’m not holding my breath. There’s weird chemistry between the MMC’s and FMC, but pretty much zero affection. Which is strange to read.
They are almost incapable of softness, love, anything positive really except giving her a good dicking.

The FMC is so fucking traumatized that she doesn’t know which way is up.

Again, it’s sort of like watching a car accident happen in slow motion, you know the car is off the bridge, heading for the water, and they’re probably all going to die - but maybe….maybe they manage to jump out at the last minute or something so they’re saved.
This series is like that.
I’m pretty sure that the MMC’s are just horrible and irredeemable and the story is going to suck by the end. But maybe…maybe they will pull a rabbit out the hat and end up pulling through for her.

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so this one pissed me off a bit. I was close to DNFing at about 70%.

I really liked how in the first book she talked about her ambitions and wanting to stay strong and not make guys her priority, but this book it all flew out the window. Like yeah I get it, she’s never had any sexual experiences and so it’s alluring, but come on girl.

Also the losing the virginity scene but having penetrative sex with all three of them straight after the other. No f***ing way. Pain city, but she’s supposedly loving it, so unrealistic.

The main thing that pissed me off was when Ava was furious at Ford and says “this is war”. Yet two chapters later, the first one in her perspective again she is throwing herself at him and wants to have sex with him, with no hint at it being part of a revenge plan. It made absolutely no sense!

Now I like Raf, he actually has a developed backstory so I can see him and Ava falling in love and him developing as a character. I have some understanding of Wes. But Ford makes zero sense, he’s a complete ass and I can’t stand him.

This only has one book to go and I have no idea how we are magically supposed to fall in love with him, no thanks.

Also - spoilers

The dad plot was pretty obvious, I knew he would come into play. Don’t expect it to be Voss (ew) but in the last chapter I was like yep it’s all clicking now.

Anyway I will read the next book, I’ve come this far. But seems to me like there’s a lot of things to be worked through.

[Destiny Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless. Unhinged. Vengeful.

Trigger warnings absolutely matter with this series because Scorched Kingdom does not hold back. This book picks up right where the first one ended, and the chaos only gets darker from there. Wes, Ford, and Raf are still completely brutal in their own ways, and I actually appreciated that the author didn’t suddenly soften them into sweet, redeemable love interests overnight. These boys are pitch black, manipulative, violent, obsessive, and at times genuinely feel like Ava’s worst nightmares come to life. Even as little cracks begin to show in their armor, they never lose that dangerous edge that makes this story feel so intense and emotionally volatile.

What I loved most was watching Ava stop surviving and start becoming just as dangerous as the people trying to destroy her. The power shifts, the mind games, the revenge, and the constant tension had me fully invested in where everything was heading. The relationships are messy in the best possible dark romance way, where trust barely exists and every interaction feels like it could explode. I also liked that the story never tries to excuse the damage these characters cause; it leans fully into the darkness while still giving moments of vulnerability underneath all the rage and destruction. By the end, everything feels scorched earth emotionally, and I was completely here for the chaos.

[BookboundandBlushed · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) | Dark, fast-paced, and full of revenge energy

Book 2 sets us up for more, Ava’s journey starts with the stakes already sky-high, and this time she is angry, hurt, and ready for revenge.

First things first: please read the trigger warnings before starting this series. This is definitely a darker read, and you’ll want to know what you’re walking into.

After Ava is caught by the Dollhouse, she’s trapped between a rock and a hard place, trying to figure out which evil is worse — because sometimes it really is the devil you know. That tension kept the story moving, and I found this one fast-paced, intense, emotional, and addictive. I devoured it.

What I really enjoyed was how the book continues to build Ava’s world and raises the stakes around power, control, and survival. There’s a lot of anger and heartbreak woven through the story, and it kept me invested in where Ava’s path is heading next.

I was hoping for a bit more focus on the secret societies, but it feels like the series is still setting the stage. We haven’t fully delved into the darker underground world of secret societies, upper-class power plays, and the people pulling the strings yet — but the potential is absolutely there.

Overall, this series has so much promise, and I am definitely here for the ride.

Sonya
Bookbound and Blushed

[Harleem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I typically gravitate toward romances with a protective, possessive, alpha MMC, and I don’t usually pick up bully romance. But there’s something about C.J. Primer’s writing that keeps pulling me back—I genuinely don’t want to put her books down once I start.

Scorched Kingdom is no exception.

What stood out most for me was the writing itself: the character work, pacing, and the way the plot continues to develop in a way that keeps you engaged and invested, even when the dynamic between the characters is more intense or uncomfortable than my usual preference.

This is a dark bully romance, so definitely check the trigger warnings going in. It’s also a very mature read with explicit content throughout.

It is not a standalone! Reading the previous book in the series is necessary to fully follow the storyline—and it ends on a cliffhanger, with the HEA coming in the final book.

For me, this was one of those books where the writing and overall story momentum outweighed my usual genre preferences. I’m still not naturally drawn to bully romance, but I trust this author enough to keep following the series through to the end.

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

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is action-packed. Ava's life has been upside-down since joining her step-brother at Corvus. Her life has not been her own. Her step-brother and his two friends, Wes and Ford, have made her life a living hell. Until she wakes up at the Dollhouse, then she realises her life has taken an even bigger downward turn.

The men think Ava is hiding from them, looking for sympathy and attention, and they are not playing ball, that's until they received a phone call. Then they need to work out how to get their 'doll' back.

Ava realises she needs to fight back; she is sick of being the victim. Can she find a way to bring the Kings to their knees? She'll play the game, she'll let them think they are in control. But a twisted part of her likes their eyes on her as well as other parts of their bodies!

Damien Voss, owner of the Dollhouse, doesn't lose; the Kings may run the college and think they own Ava, but Ava's his, bought and paid for.

This book leaves the story on another cliffhanger, which means I have to wait nearly a year for the next book to be released, and I don't think I can last that long without knowing what happens next!!!!

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

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3🌶️🌶️🌶️

I. Ate. This. Up. Zoomed through this book. I cannot get enough of this series, of Ava and her men, Raf, Ford and Wes. With one book left to go in this series, Scorched Kingdom does end on a cliffhanger, BUT WHAT A CLIFFHANGER!

Scorched Kimgdom picks up right where book 1, Paper Doll ended. (You must read Paper Doll first). Ava has been deceived…she thought she’d escaped from Corvus College and The Kings….but the ultimate deception existed beyond the schools gates. Kidnapped and left in a sterile, white room. Ava has no idea where she is or how she’ll get out, but if the rumors are true, it’s nowhere good and time is ticking…

The Kings think that Ava left of her own free will. No love is lost between them and Ava still, but no one escapes The Kings….she’ll be dragged back kicking and screaming to Corvus if they have anything to do with it.

Ava is a hot commodity and The Kings don’t like to lose their playthings….bringing her back is the only option.

The final twist is a big one and could change the whole dynamic between Ava and The Kings….but I can’t wait to read the final book, Queen of the Ashes.

[Brandie Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect combo of dark and spicy!

I have been ready for this book to come out since the last word in book 1 and CJ didn't disappoint. As soon as it hit my email, I hit pause on everything and dove in.

Scorched Kingdom is book 2 in the Kings of Corvus College series. Paper Doll must be read before this one. Picking up right where Paper Doll left off, things are intense right from the start. I was here for every single dark, depraved, underhanded twist and turn that CJ gave us. We get a bigger glimpse into the guys and their personalities. Raf is ruthless, closed off yet has a vulnerable side he suppresses. Wes is all about image yet has deep seated insecurities. And Ford! Ugh my FAVORITE! He's unapologetically himself and his inner thoughts had me dying. Ava finds her spine and is determined to turn the games back on the guys. I wanted to rage out at her by the end, but trust the process. And the spice, the SPICE was delicious and depraved. I don't just want book 3, I NEED BOOK 3!

[Gimmie A Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well. Shit! This is getting interesting.

Ok, first... I basically inhaled this book, and nope, I'm not regreatting it .

We get to see a little bit more of Raf, who in my very much personal opinion is the one I'm craving to see more, and although he's still fighting with himself, I enjoyed seeing him give up to Ava in the most delicious way

Ford is like a sin in the flesh. Stupidly funny but dangerous af. And Ava baby can't seem to defeat him.

Wes, oh poor lovely Wes, is my favorite martyr here. He's trying so hard to take back that shitty episode that happen at the end of PD... and just when it looks like it's working... here comes Ava.

Now, Ava. I still have mix feelings about her. Sometimes I thing she is getting smarter... and some others I think the complete opposite. But I still have my hopes on her.

Now mommy dearest finally showed up!! Aad girl, she came with some tea!!

Queen of the Ashes, I'm waiting for you to come 😌

[Stephanie Strader · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Paper Doll Left You Hanging, This One Pushes You Over the Edge

Wow—if you were hooked by the first book in this series, Paper Doll, you won’t be disappointed by this follow-up. I was first introduced to CJ’s dark romance with Split, which I loved, and CJ writes dark romance with multiple MMCs like no one else. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t usually enjoy books with multiple MMCs.

I was initially unsure about the premise for this series—the bully dynamic at the academy—but there are unique elements to the lore and backstory that keep it interesting, in addition to the very, very hot scenes with the MMCs.

This book ends with another twist, leaving the reader panting for the next installment. If Paper Doll left you hanging on a cliff, this one will leave you staring up at the cliff and wondering how you ended up at the bottom.

[Kelly - Kelly's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa! What a dark, wild and twisty book that had me HOOKED from the very beginning. I seriously couldn't put this book down!

This is BOOK 2 of the Kings of Corvus College series. You MUST read BOOK 1, Paper Doll, first. And please read the trigger warnings because this is a very DARK, high bully, why choose romance.

This is a captivating, interesting and thrilling story and it had me feeling so many things for Ava and even the Kings. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster ride. One that I CRAVED to be on. Kudos C.J. And dont get me started on the SPICE in this book...next level...NEXT FREAKING LEVEL.

That cliffy hit HARD and I can't wait for book 3. I need it now! It's a neeeeeeeed.

(Beta/ARC reader)

[Naty's Naughty Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Book 2 in the Kings of Corvus College series did not disappoint. Please note book 1, Paper Doll, must be read before reading Scorched Kingdom.

Ava continues her way through processing her new reality full of secrets, lies and secret societies. In a world where nothing is what it seems she struggles to find her truths. Her relationship with Ford, Wes and Raf evolves some as she attempts to gain the upper hand on them and we learn more about what makes the 3 of them the way they are. I appreciated learning more about the boys. The manipulations become darker and the game deadlier as the book ends on an rollercoaster cliffie.

I highly recommend this story and am impatiently waiting for Book 3.

[Tara Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am almost speechless on this next installment for The Kings. The shift for our female lead was very welcomed but of course in my HEA brain, I was looking for an overall shift in the relationships, but CJ, in all her genius, decided she’d layer the complexity a bit more and take me for a ride I wasn’t expecting and now I’m just hanging on for dear life while Ava navigates her new world. Overall, I really enjoyed this part of the story, but I do wish I’d seen more of Raj’s POV and there were some places I had to double back for myself because I thought I skipped pages. CJ weaves an intricate story but there were a few places I feel like I could have used more insight/detail for me to pull it all together.

[Krista Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read book one last year and instantly fell in love with it. It was my first dark romance and I waited patiently for book two and was not disappointed. All I wanted was for Ava to get a backbone even if it cost her and CJ did not miss. This book was like the Twilight Zone where Ava was mean and the Kings had emotions. It gave me whiplash and a good way. The spice in this book was off the charts. I was glad to see changes in Raf and Wes, but did wish we got more of Ford's vulnerable side. There were moments when talking about the past and I wish for a little flashback like maybe the day Raf and Ava met or a little history about Bailey. Overall I finished it in one day and reread it again. I recommend this book and can't wait for book 3.

[XenyMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She tastes like coffee and fear.”

This book picks up exactly where Paper Doll left off, and let me tell you, it's even better than PD.

Ava is such a badass queen. I loved seeing her grow into her own and go for what she wants, and play the boys at their own game. I also loved seeing the guys fight their feelings for her, each of them in their own way. But trust me, they are still just as cruel and vicious as they were in the first book.

I will also say that those last 2 chapters had me literally screaming at my phone. Because what the fuck, CJ! I can't wait to see what happens next in this trilogy.

Quote: “I like this new version of her. Less scared rabbit, more mean little hellcat. I could spend all day poking her just to watch her bare her teeth.”

[Cristy Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!!! Scorched Kingdom by C.J Primer is Book 2 in the Kings of Corvus series. Paper Doll ended on a torturous cliffhanger & now Scorched Kingdom has got me panicked from another hell of a cliffhanger. Raf, Ford, & Wes are still ruthless beautiful monsters but Ava is no longer the scared innocent girl she was. She is slowly turning into the badass queen she needs to be. Poor Ava still being put through the ringer but she is standing her ground. Im dying to read Book 3! Need it ASAP! Ofcourse the spice in Scorched Kingdom is just as Hot & Degrading as Paper Doll. You can't go wrong with wall to wall orgasms from 3 hot as hell heathens!!!