First off, I want to thank the team at Entangled Publishing, Red Tower, and the incredible Jade Presley for allowing me the privilege of reading The Kings' List early in exchange for my review.
WHAT. A. RIDE.
The Kings' List starts off right at the edge of the cliffhanger that The Never List left us on, and thankfully so. Jade is truly an expert at crafting emotional, action-packed moments that leave her audience begging for more, and this book is no exception. From the very first pages, the tension picks up immediately, pulling readers right back into the story and refusing to let go.
The story picks up immediately after Rylee survives the last phase of The Choosing Ceremony in the Athanry, only to discover that surviving it isn’t enough to secure her place as queen. The ruling kings still have their own set of trials for her to face, each one seemingly designed to make her fail before the council ever casts their vote. Throughout these trials and tribulations, we are able to see Rylee grow as our main heroine, and the payoff is remarkable.
The true heart of the book is Rylee's relationship with the Legends of Chaos. The author does an amazing job of balancing Rylee's individual connections with each of her mates (The Dreamer, The Player, The Mind, and The Nightmare) while continuing to solidify their group bond. The loyalty, trust, and devotion that the fivesome share is unparalleled, and it is a treat as a reader to see their love continue to grow and flourish from where they started off in the first installment. Don't even get me started on the spice level - now that their bond is solidified and even stronger than before, the need for each other is even more intense, making the spicier moments even HOTTER.
The Kings' List has the perfect combination of high-stakes action and thoughtful character development, allowing the story to feel both exciting and emotionally grounded. Each challenge Rylee faces forces her to become stronger and more determined, showing just how much she has evolved since the beginning of the series.
And the cliffhanger at the end? SHOOK ME TO MY CORE. Once again, I am left shaking the book (or in this case, my Kindle) in agony. To say that I need the next installment in this series is an understatement, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
TLDR? If you haven't read this series, you NEED to.