The Bully

Kingmakers #3

by Sophie Lark

The Bookish Box Exclusive Luxe Edition details:
- Signed by the Author
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I Know Her Secret…

Cat is in so much trouble. She did something bad, and I saw.

I’ll keep her secret... for a price.

Poor, sweet, timid Cat should never have come to Kingmakers. It’s a place for monsters and killers. People like me.

She wandered into the lion’s den and now she’s mine.

Mine to play with. Mine to torment. Mine to break...

Genres: Romance, Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Mafia Romance, Dark, New Adult, College

348 pages, Hardcover

First published June 16, 2021

About the author

Powerful Romance

Special Editions & Exclusive Stories:
https://sophielark.com/

Sophie lives in Southern California with her husband and three children. Her favorite authors are Emily Henry and Freida McFadden. She’s an Aquarius who loves fitness and looks forward to Halloween every year.

Reviews

[⚔Irunía⚔ · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.1 stars. ✨This rant got a bit out of hand. Sorry in advance, no hard feelings ✨🙇🏼‍♀️

DNF at around ~50% since self-love hasn't been canceled yet. One question is currently bugging my mind: how is it even possible that this book (at the time of writing this review, which is 22nd July 2021) has 20❗ one-star ratings AGAINST 1516❗ five-star ratings? 😭

This is fucking insane. I feel insane ✌️ because I've n e v e r come across such an objectively bad book with such an insanely good average rating. I've gone out of my way trying to find a single negative review for this *sighs* mess (besides the one 1-star review from my friend. Say hi, Mattie✨) among all the mocking my *slipping through the fingers* sanity 5 stars, but no such luck. ✌️

*Sigh* Dat book was so inexplicably bad, guys... terrible actually... even for a high school, bully, mafia romance 🤡 (not necessarily in that order). So terribly bad that I'm on the verge of upping ratings for all the other books residing on my *wtf-did-i-just-read* shelf. 😂 So bad that it is by no means good. So bad that I fail to come up with a single positive thing to convey about it. And I always have a lot to say, good and bad, about every damn book I've read. I'm so traumatized I needed to put across this point only a few dozens times.

There are so many high-quality stories out there that have low ratings simply because they include disturbing themes, or unfavorable tropes (cheating, *cough*cough*). There are so many low-quality, trashy books out there that provide us with the cringiest but satisfying entertainment...
And then there is this *eats her words*.

Now I'll just stop ugly crying and cut to the chase.

⛔ The first few pages might have elicited involuntary laughter from me a couple of times, you know?? In the light of this, lemme introduce y'all to my initial, innocent reactions to the story:

➡️ Mentions of Russia? Wow, I thought, those never fail to crack me up. 🤡
A Molotov cocktail? Russians don't like westernized names?? Russian mafia buys tickets to ballet in the Bolshoi only to sell them later to the public at double the face value??? Author, with a stroke of her pen, portraying the theatre's ballerinas as prostitutes???? CUTE.



I guess I just failed at the suspension of disbelief game we are playing here, after all. 🤡

➡️ The most boring mafia gathering in the whole history of mafia gatherings at the Bolshoi theatre — of all the places? Leave the sacred theatre out of these dirty little fantasies, hadn't the poor building been destroyed so many times by now to deserve being dragged in a filthy little book too? 😭



➡️ Bad writing, huh? I'll stick to the story, I mused, brushing off the issue. Indeed, when did the bad writing ever stop me? 🤡
➡️ The villainous *a fit of coughs* (hope it's not covid) hero who acts like a little dumb piece of shit? Nah, I don't care. I've seen worse. 🤡
➡️ The hero ordered the heroine to walk him from class to class carrying his books?? WHY, THIS GUY IS LIVING MY DREAM, Y'ALL 😭😭😭 *jealous eyes*

So, what's my point? Notwithstanding the above, the thought occurred to me, oh so n a t u r a l l y... why not continue?? I'll read this book for all the LOLs it can give me. What can possibly go wrong?? 🤡

LOLS DIED (THE PAINFUL DEATH) IN MY THROAT, that's what happened. So by the 50% mark, aunty Irunía had been thoroughly pissed. And it shows, no? 😈

⛔ Shall we begin this lil roasting session with the protagonists for an easy start?

➡️ I generally tend to find these notorious, most vicious boys at school (the quote from this book, lol) lowkey adorable? I can still see breast milk on his lips, but he somehow owns the whole school and all the people in it? Sure thing, I'll take your word for it, babes. 🤱🏼

But you know what is actually not adorable? When everyone in the book is telling me how Conniving. Skilled. Most feared. Vicious. Dangerous. Psychotic. the pussyboy I'm reading about is.

My first year at school was bitter, due to my disastrous infatuation with Anna Wilk. Since then, I’ve become master of my emotions and master of my domain at this school.

Boy, you tell when you don't have the sophistication to show. That's the rule of life, ain't gonna change this.

Obviously, I should have shown (the irony 💀) good sense and DNF the story the exact moment he called himself a master of his domain😭 (Erotic Storm, hello (who knows knows) 🤡). But I had less common sense than that.

When I read a few reviews which, following in the footsteps of this book, portrayed him as a villain? I WANTED TO GRAB A DICTIONARY AND —
throw it at the hero's head so he would actually start acting like one (after getting the concussion and personality transplant). 😪

So, one might wonder, how did this cringey lil teen with enormous ego that is somehow supposed to compensate for his tiny brain, manage to make the heroine fall for him?

➡️ MUHAHAHAHA. All the fun just begins.
THE HEROINE. How could I forget? 🥰

I’ll do anything for a compliment.
I want praise. I want it badly. And I especially want it from this man, who doesn’t like anyone or anything.

That's the only thought that flooded the girl's brain after he had asked her:
1) to become his w̶h̶o̶r̶e̶ slave of the month
2) to get naked so he could appraise the newly acquired assets.

The event that occurred after a week or so, during which the guy made her carry his books from class to class, feed him from hand and write the assignments for him. 😭 I suggest "The bully of the year" for his gravestone. 💀😂😂

Suffice it to say, I'm too old for:
1) dumb, juvenile shit.
2) heroines with no self-worth.

With approximately half of the book revolving around juvenile antics, I couldn't bring myself to give a damn about some stupid ass spy whose POV I had been cursed with before leaving this epitome of ridiculousness. Was I supposed to become intrigued? Bye, I have exactly zero damns to give. 💀

Did Cat (h) and Dean (H) have a single meaningful conversation throughout the book?



I have no way of knowing for sure since I bailed out at around 50%, but from what I remember, their interactions consisted of:
1) Cat (h) sucking him off.
2) Dean eating her out.
3) their fucking each other in a mechanical porno style.
4) exchange of cringey phrases (dirty talk, updated version) during sex.

I feel half asleep, floating in this erotic dream-state where I’m a good little pet earning my reward. After all, is it so bad to be a pet?

Nonetheless, the girl's mind was occupied with the kind of nonsense that would have probably made me laugh if it made any sense (and was actually funny)?

I’ve always been a good girl, eager to please . . .
Maybe I needed a master all along . . .

The girl wasn't even into BDSM, what's up with this master thing that had jumped out of fucking nowhere? All this rope play pulled out of the author's pocket killed my last brain cells. 😭

CAT, GIRL, FUCKING TALK TO HIM FIRST. FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A GUY'S DICK. 🤡

As if it weren't enough, this girl was so desperate for an orgasm that she had revealed her friend's secret to the hero just to get off. 🙄 Cat, don't you have fingers or something? 😭

I can speak only about the first half of the book, and there you won't find any relationship development besides them fucking like rabbits and random master/slave antics thrown in out of the blue.



Introducing BDSM elements by forcing your characters to play on repeat the "master/slave" formula in their dialogues? The whole thing came off as so FAKE and RANDOM.



But let's be honest, the whole relationship thing, main characters, plot, secondary characters, minor characters, LITERALLY EVERYTHING about this book was so random and fake. 😒


Make it make sense. Even if I loved sex-crazed *I'll do anything for one orgasm* junkies as my heroines, it would still take the character and relationship development (as well as chemistry) to make me invested. I didn't sympathize with anyone in this story but my poor brain cells that didn't deserve the fuckery. 😢

But let's move on from one of the most basic, one-dimensional characters I have read about in my entire life, skip the plot issues (the lack of any coherent plot up until the 50 % mark at a minimum) and dive straight into the writing style that is complete and utter shit. 🚬

⛔ From now on, I'll allow the book to speak for itself so that anyone willing to make their own judgment can do just that.

➡️ The most mechanical sex scenes I've ever had the pleasure to read. I skimmed to get to them and then I ACTUALLY SKIMMED THEM. What a joke. 🗿🚬

I keep sucking his cock.
After ten or twenty minutes, Dean reaches down between my thighs and rubs my pussy. He rubs me in time with my sucking. I moan around his cock, grinding my pussy against his hand.
The dual sensation of his warm flesh in my mouth and his warm hand against my clit is phenomenally satisfying. I want to keep sucking and I want to keep grinding against him.
I fell half asleep...

I KNOW, Cat, RIGHT? The irony... 🚬🚬🗿

➡️ Wattpad, bless this soulless thing, has seen better writing.

She draws back and looks at me.
“Your father was drinking . . . because of what Leo’s father did to him. Because of the burns.”
“Yes.”
“Do you hate him still?” Cat asks.
I know she means Leo, not my father.
“No,” I sigh. “I’m tired of hating him.”
“It’s so sad,” Cat says. “That your father did love your mother once . . .”
“The more he loved her, the more he felt he wasn’t worthy of her,” I say.
“That’s just wrong!” Cat cries.
I nod.

Cat asks. I sigh. Cat says. I say. Cat cries. I nod. 🤡
The deepest conversation between the main characters, too. 🤡

WTF IS THIS. HOW TF BOOKS WITH GOOD WRITING DON'T HAVE SUCH HIGH RATINGS. My 13-year-old ass wrote more eloquent essays. 💀

Do I even have to mention that the book is all about telling (sometimes the weirdest shit) and not showing??

Neither of the male characters sounded or acted like a man.
....

I'm out because I have so many more ugly things to say.

Meanwhile, my facial expression while I was writing this review:



P. S.
I read another book by this author, Stolen Heir, and while I wasn't necessarily impressed, at least it was readable.

Original reaction

How come I NEVER LEARN MY LESSON?
*BREATHES AGGRESSIVELY*

[Jessica ❥Chatterbooks Book Blog❥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fucking LOVE it when an author takes a villain and turns him into a hero I can get behind. That's exactly what Sophie Lark did with The Bully. Though I never doubted her abilities, she more than met my expectations!



Dean was a hot mess in The Heir. I felt for him in the beginning, but as the story progressed, I was ready to drown his ass! He didn't do himself any favors in The Rebel either, but that bathroom scene with the music linked in the book had me in tears. It made me feel like maybe there was hope for him after all, and I wasn't wrong!



When we first meet Cat, she appears to be an innocent, naive teenage girl, but before the end of The Rebel, we see her transform into a fierce lioness. I couldn't wait to read her story with Dean, because I knew if anyone could handle his crazy ass, it would be her. She is the perfect combination of strength and sweetness, and she has a slightly imperfect moral compass that allows her to forgive him certain indiscretions that others may not.



Cat and Dean's sexual chemistry is intense! They set the pages on fire from the start and the heat just increases with every chapter. Seriously, bring a fan and a bottle of water, because this story is hot, y'all!



My favorite part of the book was watching Cat put her boot on Dean's neck after he fucked up. She didn't let him off the hook easy. She gave him a taste of his own medicine, and it was *chef's kiss* perfection!



Dean makes a transformation of his own in this one, and I enjoyed getting to see inside his seemingly cold, black heart and watching it thaw out little by little. He had some help getting there from Cat and Snow in particular, but I have to give credit where it's due. He really turned himself around, and ultimately, it was something only he could make happen.



Dean made the changes, searched his soul, and opened his heart. Shit, it made me a little teary writing that! LOL That just shows Sophie Lark did her job well! She made me feel so much for someone who at one time, I didn't think I would ever even truly be able to like much less shed tears over.



Before I go, I have to mention how fucking excited I am for The Spy! We got a lot of little hints at what has been going on behind the scenes this whole time that none of us were aware of. I'm so ready for all of it! Thankfully, I don't have to wait much longer, because The Spy releases July 28th!



Bottom line, The Bully is fantastic! Cat and Dean are perfect for one another, and the character growth is everything I hoped it would be. The steam is next level, and there is added mystery that will have you salivating for more. I just can't get enough of this world! I'll be sad when this series is over. It's been everything I didn't know I needed.



Mafia and NA, Bully romance fans, this one's for you!

[Warda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I INHALED this! Best book in the series by far. Tears came out of my eyes several times.

Dean!! 😭
I’m not going to get over his character arc. From book 1 till now, Sophie Lark developed his character extremely well. Stupidly well.
He’s an antihero with layers. There was depth to him. It’s my absolute weakness when those layers are uncovered and explored and though their actions are disgusting and cross several lines and boundaries, you understand them deeply. You connect with them.
There’s so much that gets them to this stage where they almost become horrible human beings, but when a redemption arc is introduced, these types of heroes or characters are by far some of the best to read about.

Dean’s had a horrible childhood. Too much shit has stemmed from his trauma and neglect and the abuse he’s gone through. I love that the author chose to explore the difference between a healthy and unhealthy childhood upbringing and what that can do to your psyche.

This is the case for both Dean and Cat.

I’m genuinely proud of these characters. They’ve come such a long way. And this story was only their beginning. I want so much more!! 🥺

Also highly, highly recommend reading Ivan and Snow before you read The Bully.

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has a hunger inside her. And when she’s hungry, she’ll do anything to eat.

I mean. I legitimately don’t want to say anything, because although we know the heroine is Cat and the hero is Dean, I feel like everything else in this story you just need to find out for yourself. Cat and Dean they just, my goodness they are EVERYTHING. They were just so unexpected and just absolutely nailed everything that I wanted from them.

The heat level in this book is just through the freaking roof, and yeah. I also CRIED multiple times while reading. I freaking CRIED people, so you know the emotional aspect hits just right!! That Dean man. He’s going to surprise the hell out of you. What I will spill is that Dean Yenin made me swoon at least 100 times, and Cat has grown so so much. I just loved seeing Cat’s day to day and how she dealt with Dean and stood on her own without her sister.

Sophie’s writing truly just grabbed me in this one. I loved The Rebel, but The Bully was truly another level for me. I love all the little breadcrumbs she drops for the next book in the series, and honestly I love every single character that is added into this series. I feel like I’m part of their friend group, and even wonder about the enemies to the core group. I’m even invested in the characters who don’t have books and I’m not sure if they ever will, but they 100% could have books because Sophie has truly built a fully fleshed out world. Kingmakers is treacherous as hell, but I’d willingly stay there forever because I am OBSESSED with all the potential stories that Sophie gives us in each book.

Anyway. If you haven’t read The Heir and The Rebel then I advise that you do RIGHT this minute. Get Dean and Cat’s beginnings and invest in this world. The Bully is here, and now I’ll just be sitting here staring at my countdown for the next book 🤣

AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC

[Matilda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh, this truly wasn’t memorable in any way

This is supposed to be a bully romance and enemies to lovers with a mafia subplot, but it really felt like a YA book I would have read when I was a teenager. Both the main characters were unremarkable in every possible way and the mafia subplot felt super pointless and didn’t really affect the story.




‼️ Small plot spoilers below ‼️

People that act like they hate each other-to-lovers

To all the authors out there that want to write an enemies-to-lovers romance. STOP MAKING THE MAIN CHARACTERS LOVERS SO FAST.

There truly was no reason, in my eyes, for the MCs to hate each other. The ‘relationship’ between Dean (H) and Cat (h) begins when Dean figures out that Cat killed someone. In the mafia community, they believe in an eye or an eye, so if anyone found out, Cat would be killed. Dean uses this to his advantage by making Cat do "humiliating" things which somehow accounts to bullying??? Some of these things include making her feed him grapes in front of the cafeteria and carry his books around. This isn't bullying, this seems to be him fucking with her. Then, about 25% of the way through the book, they kiss.

That’s the end of the enemies to lovers trope and the ‘bully’ trope (which didn’t really exist). After they kiss, a friends-with-benefits relationship forms when Cat, despite “hating him” agrees to be his ‘slave’ (their words not mine) for a month. I mean why is it so hard to find an actual enemies to lovers book?

The Hero

Dean is kinda a dick and by "kinda" I mean he’s a dick. Dean has a messed-up childhood. His father was a mess and his mom left him when he was young. To help Dean, Cat decides to try and find his mom, which she does. When she confronts Dean with the news, he gets pissed.

“You don’t fucking know me at all. You thought I would like that? Are you fucking stupid?”

Whenever a hero insults a heroine, I’m automatically really pissed. She was just doing something she thought would help you and you call her stupid? Cancelled.

Let’s also not forget the part when he also tells Cat

“You’re nothing to me.”

Only 4 chapters before he told Cat he loved her. The romance in this book is clearly top notch



“Mafia” romance

It’s laughable to me that this can be called a mafia romance. The only mafia aspect is the school where this book is set. Kingmakers is a school where the children of mafia families attend and they learn specific skills needed to become part of the family business (combat training, interrogation, torture techniques). I mean this is fine ig, but it’s super unrealistic. I like how subtle the school name is, Kingmakers, lol. Now Dean is supposed to be the up-and-coming Pakhan in the Bratva one day. This man has to be the least capable in history for the job. My pinkie has a better capability of being the leader of the freaking Russian mafia.

Dean is one of those stand-offish people that think they’re better than everyone else. At one point he thought he could beat his boxing teacher in a fight. Mind you the boxing teacher was a former world champ. Surprise, surprise he lost badly. He also beat up some poor kid in class just to prove he was better. Like the kid doesn’t know how to fight, stop acting tough

Dean also displays every possible emotion he’s feeling on his face, in his words, and in his body language. Emotions are good, but I’m supposed to believe a Pakhan would act this way, specifically in public? No. Every. single. mafia romance I’ve read had a tough as shit hero that almost never expressed his emotions and when he did, it was never in public.

Sex that brings down structures…literally

Dean and Cat fucked so hard at the end of the book they almost made the bell tower they were in, collapse.

He slams me against the crumbling tower wall and gropes my body with both hands. Bits of mortar and stone rain down on our heads, covering us in soot and dust, but we don’t give a fuck...The whole floor splits beneath us, the bell tipping down through the jagged hole

UHHHHHH HELLO? You really want to die while getting dicked down?! I guess there are worse ways to go


⇾ The fact that I stayed up till 8:30am to finish the book and write this review is sad.

Edit: Changing my rating to 1 star 😴

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️ DEANNNNNN MFFFF YENIN 🥵🥵🥵 I don’t have enough words to describe the chokehold this man had on me throughout this series. I was immediately obsessed from the heir & he did not disappoint!!!! I loved the plot of this book (the plot being dean) 😮‍💨 no but actually I did love the plot, the romance, the spice, and the SET UP FOR THE SPY?? yes pls! Cat was the perfect balance between a good & bad girl, and my queen KILLED it w bringing this man to his KNEES 💅🏻 as she should. overall, amazing vibes.

did I mention I love dean? 🤠

“You don’t know what a monster I can be, but I’ll be your monster. Everything I do will be for you. To protect you. To help you. To love you every day of my life. I’ll burn this whole fucking world down for you if that’s what you want.”

[Sophie Lark]

My very first inspiration for Kingmakers was Dean Yenin. I wanted to write a true anti-hero, with a character arc spanning three books. Dean will make you feel all the things, sometimes against your will. You’ll love him and hate him and love him again, and never get him out of your head.

Join the Love Lark Letter:
https://sophielark.com/signup/

Brutal Birthright Series
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Underworld Series:
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[annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i knew i'd love dean yenin and I DID. this book is pretty cliché and just like the other books by this author. it's not very detailed and tbvh it's filled with a lot of smut, but it was really fun to read.

⌞ Catalina Romero & Dean Yenin ⌝
sister of Zoe Romero - cousin of Leo Gallo

it's about Dean finding out that Cat killed someone, and he blackmailed her into becoming his personal slave. he made a deal with her, for one month, she'll do whatever he says.

now, i actually found her really horny though skznsj, and the smut was A LOT. some reviews were right about them barely having meaningful conversations. it's actually 415 pages, but tbvh, i can barely think there was enough of them since i finished it so quickly. it was really good with the mild bullying, and then came the groveling.

Dean is the broken boy of this series, and well, i cried a little. his character was all too similar to some of the best broken characters, aka aaron warner & damon torrance. NOW DON'T COME AT ME SKSHJS, HE WAS NOT SIMILAR BUT RATHER THE ISSUES SOMEHOW AND HOW HE WAS WRITTEN. nvm, i loved him. more than Cat.

as for why he groveled, he shouted at her and said that she meant nothing to him, even though he told her he loved her ksjsjs. so she was like IT'S OVER. that whole scene was literally very unserious in my opinion, but at least the groveling was fun to read. and i really wanted to know if he becomes pakhan in the end or not, but i guess i have to read the last book to find that out. i'm not in the mood rn lol.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

***AVAILABLE NOW - KINDLEUNLIMITED ***

5 STARS

WOW. Just wow. I didn’t want to love Dean. Truly, I didn’t. I thought he was irredeemable, a true villain, the antagonist, but Sophie made me see him differently in this one.

What I loved most about Dean and Cat was their co-evolution. This is what made me love them both. The seemingly docile Cat embraced her darkness with Dean. She had the strength to love him, while also not being a doormat for him. As he was making her stronger, she was showing him that he was someone worthy of love, happiness and family.

Their physical chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS. Lord, Sophie Lark took it to the next level with light BDSM style kink, and I was here for it on every level because it wasn’t just there for the spice in the story but it was a true part of who they were as people and a couple.

While Dean and Cat’s story can be read as a standalone, the events of this story will have a different impact if you have read The Heir and The Rebel. The moment of redemption will shatter your heart if you have read the previous books, as the characters truly learn love and sacrifice.

I’m utterly and completely obsessed with Sophie Lark’s Kingmakers. I’m dreading the final book because I never want it to end. It’s an experience, a whole world housed in the pages of a book and I LOVE all of these characters.

ARC review

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread for my 2021 faves.
.
*Thank you to the author for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.*

Ummmm... what is this book?

How to I capture it in a review? How do I convey how much it moved me? I laughed, cried, grit my teeth, and swooned with these characters. I am still a bit shell-shocked from this novel and the journey it took me on.

The romance in this book was intense, but how could it be anything else with Dean Yenin at the center? He's the guy we love to hate, but we have seen his soft side before and though it is hidden well, Cat Romero is up to the task to find what makes him tick. If she can survive their "deal" that Dean has forced her into.

I knew I was going to love this book, the last 2 novels have teed us up for their interactions. I was expecting Dean to be brutal and cruel, and he definitely is but in dealing with Cat, he is unprepared for her curiosity for each thing he does to her and the feelings it starts to evoke for them both. I am literally smiling thinking about some of their evenings in the tower. I mean.... you are not prepared.

This book really did pull in some characters I was very excited to see and if you are someone who read Snow before this one, you will be well rewarded. I was so happy to see our big bulky fighter again. He plays a very pivotal role in Dean's life actually and it was heartwarming for me to see it. Dean doesn't have any good role-models in his life, so a man like Snow if very good for him.

Cat goes through an amazing transformation in this series too, and seeing who she is by the end of this book and looking back on her journey from the Rebel... It was so great to see who she is becoming. I want more of that so badly. The way Dean builds her up and makes her strong is fantastic. There were times I thought Dean was going to far and then I would see the reason for it and feel their connection and I would be right back in it.

This couple is fire, I can't go into details because spoilers but... this book had one of the hottest intimate moments I have read from Sophie Lark... I has goose-bumps... and a few other feelings (wink wink) while reading it. To have that in a book about a Mafia School for young adults.... well, who better to be exploring themselves. But I was moved.

Well, I could go on for ages but basically, you are in for a ride. And when its done, you will be so ready for The Spy. I mean, I think I know who it is, but I have so many questions.... I'm so ready for it.

6/5 stars... just wow.

[Lori [semi-hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I wanted and more
Usually my 5* go to books where I like both the hero and the heroine, and I'm invested in their connection. This was so good on all fronts! I absolutely loved Cat and how she turned from this shy, almost wallflower type of girl, to a confident and playful woman. It was amazing to watch how Dean pushed all her right buttons and helped her bloom.
Dean, while I had my reservations because he was the OM in the first book, I knew he had the potential to be my favorite hero from the series so far!
He was so disciplined with absolutely everything in his life, and it was wonderful to see him lose control with Cat.
The first scene where they kissed? SMOKING HOT! I absolutely adore that type of passion filled with hate dynamic.
Their chemistry was so good moving forward!
There were a few too many sex scenes for my liking (usually), but they were super hot 🥵
The groveling was also a nice touch and served to solidify their connection beyond a sexual one.
I truly loved this one 😭

*I still don't like Anna. (h from 1st book)

Safety: no cheating, no OW/OM. Dean didn't seem to be a manwhore previously and he'd never gone down on a girl before Cat. He had a lot of firsts with Cat (very hot ones 🥵) so I LOVED that! Cat had never been kissed before and she was a virgin. There is some type of dom/sub dynamic going on and Cat sometimes calls him Sir.


-----------------------------------------
Fingers crossed I'm not disappointed in Cat and Dean 🙏 been anticipating this for a while

[logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is truly no better couple than Dean & Cat. I was hesitant about Dean after the Heir, but I knew he would have a heck of a redemption arc. This is Dean’s 3rd year at Kingmakers, and Cat’s 2nd year. It’s her first year without her sister, so add to that that she is now in servitude to the merciless Dean Yenin, she doesn’t have high hopes for the year.

Dean knows Cat’s secret, and he intends to keep it, so long as she agrees to be at his beck and call all year long. From the minute they step on the ship back to Kingmakers, Dean is determined to make life difficult for Cat. But, soon their arrangement changes to something more… carnal. The two cant deny their chemistry, and for as much as Dean loves being dominant and controlling, Cat loves being submissive and willing to Dean’s every wish. I’m honestly amazed at how Sophie can continue to write so many characters with different personalities, but still match them up as if they were made for each other. Dean and Cat were no exception. I love that Dean remains true to who he is, though perhaps in a less murder-y way, while encouraging Cat to give into her instincts and be who she really is. Cat goes from questioning her place at Kingmakers to confidently owning her skills and coming out of her shell. Seeing Dean be so cute and soft for Cat in a few rare moments was so fun and made me hardcore swoon.

I also absolutely loved the relationship between Dean and Snow. I was totally in love with Snow in his book, so seeing him be a mentor/father figure to Dean was just the icing on the cake for this book. Dean and Cat are definitely my favorite Kingmakers couple, this book was EVERYTHING I was wanting and more. I’m ready to be collared.

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I'm reading this author and the series. I know alil about the series and know Dean was the "om" in book 1 and was a huge douche and still is lol.

Dean is that type of bully that's a jerk but not to bad sometimes he knows Cats secert and he uses that to blackmail her into doing things for him that he knows makes her feel humiliated which to be honest wasn't to bad for a humiliation kink. The two start getting hot and heavy and a deal is made between the two dom/sub relationship Cat giving herself freely to him. We saw Dean change he WENT DOWN ON HER AND HE NEVER ATE THE KITTY BEFORE 🔥⭐⭐👅💦
Beside there relationship there are other things like Deans fighting and getting his ass handed to him few times which I love by his fighting coach. I almost forgot there was some mafia mixed with this...And there was a misunderstanding between the two that caused a tiny sorta break-up and I love that Cat made Dean grovel!!! It was a good grovel... I enjoyed it so much.

Low angst, No ow/om drama, no cheating, drama, slight secondary character, sexy times, virgin gal and no manwhore (but he was the guy in book 1)

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶🌶


Slowinsta
Push/pull between both
Violence
Anal play/sex
Humiliation
Masturbation
Dom/sub kink
Punishment
multiple orgasms
Tiny sorta pet play
Spanking
Hea
Epilogue

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ DEAN YENIN I NOW LOVE YOU — I just knew Sophie was going to write an amazing redemption arc for Dean. When I read the Heir I was very hesitant about him and I really did not like him. This book definitely changed my mind.

I adored getting to see him grow from being this mean, angry person to a caring, loving one. Cat was the best thing that ever happened to him and their relationship was so pure and vulnerable. I also loved getting to see Cat evolve into this firecracker of a person. They are both just amazing and I love them so much.

One last thing I loved about this book was the closure we got with the feud between the Gallo’s and the Yenin’s. I am so happy that Dean opened up and let people love him the way he deserves.

NOW… let’s go see who that Spy is. I have a feeling I know who it is and I am excited!

“I’ll burn this whole f— world down for you if that’s what you want.” 💛

[Camila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the best one of the series. I really liked Dean and his rare vulnerable gut-wrenching moments. I also liked Cat, she was both cute and devious. She reminded me of Nessa and Aida combined. Loved Snow and how he took Dean under his wing. A heartwarming story.

It's funny how the top review is a negative one and the person is just babbling on nonsensically. It's just ott anger and it's weird. So, my advice is don't listen to the 1-star reviews for this one, make your own judgment ♥️

Ratings:
The Heir: 2.7/5
The Rebel: 3.8/5
The Bully: 4.5/5
The Spy: 3/5
The Savage: 1/5

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when the doe is caught by the mountain lion?

Even if you think you don’t like bully romances…you will adore the whole hell out of this book.

The conversations and healing that arise out of Dean & Cat’s dom/sub relationship is beyond special. Sophie handed their healing and the ways in which they came to term with their guilt and trauma with a delicate hand, and it only enchanted the quality of this story.

The relationship between Dean and his boxing instructor almost made me cry my eyes out (I was in the car so I just furiously blinked my eyes) because while everyone thinks Dean is the villain (and yes, he did some messed up things in book 1), he is a boy who was so badly traumatised and abandoned that his perception/belief of love became increasingly twisted.

Dean and Cat will do anything for one another and their love is that of an eternal flame—once lit, it can never be put out.

And also…the spice in this book is on a whole other level. Oh my stars I have never read anything so sensual…i was tempted to Google and see if it was a real thing. Sophie, A+ content.

Also… I HAVE SO MANY THEORIES FOR BOOK 4 THAT I AM GOING NUTS OVER ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. AH.

*please read the Brutal Birthright series and books 1-4 of the Underworld series before delving into Kingmakers. It’ll make the experience 17x better

[benevolent bastard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a fan of this book! Bully? Where?? More like a Dom sub relationship. Omg. I loved the steam and everything about it. I might give the others a try!

[Carolina Batista · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW WOW

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I knew it was everyone’s favorite and I get it now, it’s mine too.

Everything about this book is captivating. Read it in one day and that should tell you all.

The plot was not heavy and perfectly blend with the world that is built.

The romance was exceptional from the start you can see that interest and spark. Building that spark into something that they could never thought they had. To actually feeling free and wow. It’s amazing and I love them as pair. They are truly meant for each other.

The spice was exceptional. Sophie’s best spice hands down (although from what I have seen, The Savage may take this titlte😉)

THE CHARACTERS GROWTH? DEAN? BEST REDEMPTION ARC. Also, Cat’s character growth is exceptional too.
Snow was exceptional, without spoiling, I love the role he took.

The ending was so perfect. Dean deserve that ending so much and it made my heart warm.

Overall, one of her best work. I just love when she focus on the romance those are some of her best book. Can’t wait for The Spy, I have some theories…

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the fuck happened?

Either Sophie Lark hired a ghostwriter for this book, or she had a personality transplant before she started this one!

Cause wow...

This was MILES better than anything I have read from her so far, and mind you, I read the whole Brutal Birthright series, plus the 2 first books that came before this one, and NONE of them, and I mean NONE of them were as good as this one...

This is the best couple Sophie Lark has written. I didn't know she had it in her! The chemistry between Dean and Cat was terrific!

Best hero AND heroine as well.

And also her best plot/story.

If she was capable of this all this time, why hadn't she done this with all her previous work?

I am part frustrated and part happy to give this the 3 stars it deserves.

[chaity · Rating 2 out of 5]

thats pretty much like every american high school in netflix movies. i mean they act like kids. get treated like adults. and no one is really mature. the story is ott. the content is mostly problematic, and the characters, well, most of them need therapy. that all said, i couldn't stop reading this book. i was addicted to this book, and now i want more. i need to go through lark's backlist.


the ebook is a pure delight (my fav song was recommended, there were two arts etc). i have not

[Par par · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG. I just finished this book in one sitting and I just like to scream because it was freaking awesome.
Sophie Larks writing is truly addictive and mesmerizing .the way she portrayed dean in this book was so beautiful ,I didn't like him much in the first book but in this I was truly rooting for him he is such sweetie in heart.the spice in this book was everything I can read it 1000 more times.i think this book is the best in the series.5/5

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with this, I think you really need to read the previous 2 books because I didn't quite get what the world setting. It was an OK read.

[Jennifer Hinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean is bad for me. I’ve known that from the beginning. And yet my body craves him like fresh oxygen.




The Bully is the third installment in the Kingmakers series, featuring the enemies to lovers romance of Dean Yenin and Cat Romero. He knows her secret, one that has deadly consequences if he spills it to anyone. It’s the perfect tool to make her do as he wishes…..at first it starts as a way to break the weak girl who has no business at the school that produces the next gen of mafia royalty. It soon becomes an addiction, neither of them can get enough. He is wanted to break her, but could she be the one that saves him instead?

He towers over me like a god. I want to be on my knees before him. I want to worship him.

Hi again, broken record here reminding you how obsessed I am with Sophie Lark…..

I mean at this point I’m not sure if she is capable of writing a bad book because I haven’t come across it yet. I was most excited for Dean’s installment, having a soft spot for his father in Brutal Birthrights and subsequently having one for him in The Heir. There is just something about misunderstood broken antiheroes that reduces me to mush.

I wasn’t sure how a heroine like Cat was going to tame the untamable BUT she did so in GLORIOUS fashion. Producing a book that is not only my favorite of the series, but my favorite of Sophie’s and my favorite new read of 2021 so far. It’s THAT good.

“I’m jealous,” I say, seizing her arm and pulling her close. “Any time anyone looks at you, or speaks to you, I’m jealous. I want all your minutes, and all your words. I want all of you, all the time.”


My Thoughts:
As I said above, Dean Yenin has had a special place in my heart even when he was the “bad guy”……Sophie did a phenomenal job giving him a back story that makes his actions understandable in a way, she gives him a character arch that is just as brilliant. He’s not perfect, but he constantly gets better and better. I loved him, he became my favorite character of Kingmakers. His grovel y’all…..

YOU AIN’T READY.

As for Cat Romero, Sophie could’ve gone all wrong with her since she’s on the “weaker” side of things…..instead I loved how she fit into their dynamic perfectly. There was no need to change who she was, she was a great balance of strength and softness. The way she brings out the best in Dean while loving the brokenness of him as well made her dart right up in the top part of my favorite Lark heroines.

Together? They were so fucking hot…..
“We don’t have to fight, little kitten,” he says. His voice is smoother than melted butter. “If you’re an obedient pet, I could be a very kind master . . .”

…....I mean if you are familiar with Sophie’s writing you should know this woman is a smut writing goddess, but there was something about these two that was just a little extra something. Dean is quite dominant, but he doesn’t try to bend her to his will or force him to just take him as he is, instead she gives him a reason to become the man he would’ve become had his childhood been different. Never have I cried from the simplicity of an antihero coming to the realization and then professing their love to the heroine, but I did here.

They were just good together, one of the few times in a book where being together made both characters truly better.

And support characters? There is a plethora of amazingness to choose from……
There is Rakel’s spunk…..
“Let go of her,” Rakel says. “Fuck off, Black Death,” Dean snarls at her. “Eat shit, Zack Morris,” Rakel sneers back at him.
Snow who made me immediately download his book…..
“I knew I would win because I promised Sasha I would,” he said. “And I’ve never failed her yet.”
…..to Bram who ended up being my big surprise “love” of this book…..
“Wish I had someone to do weird kinky shit with at lunch,” he says, stuffing half a bacon sandwich in his mouth. He looks across the table at Rakel. “You look like you know how to get nasty . . .” he says, mouth full of sandwich. “How about it?”
…..of course there are the already establishes faves, but Sophie just keeps giving more and more characters to love.

And finally, I won’t even pretend to understand how she plans out her stories……

……whether she plots them LONG ahead of time or not, but it sure felt that way. I felt like The Bully was the final closure to Heavy Crown, it felt like a full circle. Especially with the epilogue…..

….it made me cry just as much as it made me the happiest I’ve been reading in a while.


The Verdict:

I’ve had a hard time saying a book was my top read of the year with absolute conviction, and I think it’s because my heart knew this book was coming and what it would do to me. The Bully is Sophie’s best work to date, giving me a story that I can wholeheartedly say is the ever elusive “more” l search for. I am obsessed, and with The Spy up next? Let’s just say I have my theories, I cannot wait to see everything revealed. For now though, do yourself a favor and get to know Dean & all the Kingmakers guys…..you WILL not regret it.


“Cat,” I say. “You don’t know what a monster I can be, but I’ll be your monster. Everything I do will be for you. To protect you. To help you. To love you every day of my life. I’ll burn this whole fucking world down for you if that’s what you want.”

[mira · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

“Any time anyone looks at you, or speaks to you, I’m jealous. I want all your minutes, and all your words. I want all of you, all the time.”

when i tell you i ate this book up—i fucking ate this book up. no joke i loved this from beginning to end. also its shocking that this is only my second 5 star read for sophie because i love all her books, but i feel like this and broken vows just HIT and ivan obvi (4.75).

my baby fucking dean. i cried for this boy. no joke i just SOBBED for him. him and cat are perfection. also i'm so shocked at cat because she's wow. i didn't expect that like she transformed into this woman that doesn't take anyone's shit. i love her.

i don't know what it is with boys who make the girl wear a collar but i fucking LOVE it. is this a kink because i'm loving it?

i'm gonna cry in the spy — i just know who it is about and i know i'll be sobbing because ugh my heart can't handle that shit. like when i guessed who he was, i was connecting all the points and what gave it away was sasha looking at miss robin at that point i was like FUCK because miss girl you can't keep this puzzle from me i was paying attention in snow. mhm.

THIS BOOK JUST HITS ON ANOTHER LEVEL.

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a redemption arc for a hero, this book is for you. I loved the romance between this couple because it was such a character growth study for Dean. Just beautiful.

But definitely not for anyone who thinks this is going to be a sweet from the beginning romance. It's called The Bully for a reason.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾⭐️s A MASTERPIECE, SOPHIE ARE YOU KIDDING?!?! This was AMAZING!!! Dean?!?! Omg that man. I was not expecting this book to go down like it did and I was obsessed. So much great spice I couldn’t deal 🥵I loved Cat & Dean so much, this is easily my fav Sophie Lark book next to Stolen Heir…..INCREDIBLE!

[Sammy ❤️Just Let Me Read Blog ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bully is an emotional and incredibly sexy romance with an intriguing storyline. This book had angst and hate and lust all rolled together in a deliciously entertaining story. Sophie Lark really brought the heat and emotion with Cat and Dean’s story, and I loved every minute of it.

“I’ll twist you and stretch you and bend you till you break. And you’ll do as I fucking say, or you’ll suffer the consequences.”

This story was so far from the typical bully romance. This author has such a unique tone to her writing and it really shined in this book. I really enjoyed the way Cat and Dean’s relationship progressed in a natural way. Lark really takes the time to make the reader truly feel the growing connection between them. These were two people who really saw each other for more than what was on the surface. The intimacy between them was so incredibly hot, and their shared kink led to some seriously sizzling scenes. I loved the way each time they came together led to something new and exciting, and those scenes further strengthened their lust and obsession with each other.

“Any time anyone looks at you, or speaks to you, I’m jealous. I want all your minutes, and all your words. I want all of you, all the time.”

The world building in this series is phenomenal. The author makes you feel as if you are living among the characters at Kingmakers through her characterizations and descriptions of the settings. There is such an authenticity to the way the story is told, and I love the way the romance arc flowed through the descriptions of the characters’ daily lives. The plot was perfectly paced and kept me engaged the whole way through. The inclusion of characters from this author’s previous series was so great to see. The setup for the next book has me beyond excited for what’s coming next. Sophie Lark has created such a fantastic series here and I am so glad that there is more to come.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this book was going to put me in a chokehold and I was RIGHT. Dean Yenin clawed his way into my heart and he's never getting out. Sophie deserves all the props in the world for orchestrating his character arc so beautifully.

The Dean we see in The Heir is jealous, spiteful, and full of misplaced anger. In The Bully, he (eventually--nobody's perfect) becomes a man capable of giving and receiving love. All of that anger he was holding onto was just shrouding a very lonely, broken boy, and it took the tutelage of Snow and his unconventional relationship with Cat to burn that shroud away. And we LOVE to see it.

Dean is a goddamn treasure, Cat grew into a feisty firecracker, and I don't think it's possible for me to love this book more.

Their spicy scenes in the bell tower?? BYE. Dean can collar me up any day of the week.

[Milinas Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew i would adore this book because I adored dean from his very first chapter in the heir, he’s the exact type of complex character i love. Understanding why someone so aggressive and mean acts the way he does is my favorite thing and Sophie set it all up so well. Cat is being blackmailed by Dean because of what she did in the second book, at first that means he humiliates her but slowly their attraction to one another grows and in their hatred they start having passion. It’s hot. Through their sexual relationship, they help one another a lot and also they end up falling in love. The character development for both of these characters was so good. I loved it. Sophie is honestly a genius and does enemies to lovers perfectly.

[Zizi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited for this book, but I might dislike it the most. Dean calling Kat "Kitten" drove me nuts. I also don’t really forgive Dean for nearly drowning Leo... I skipped ALL the smut, but the ending was way more entertaining. Also love Lola’s new haircut! 2.7