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Never List #2

The Kings' List

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A woman's search for her missing sister instead brings her four powerful princes of chaos in this steamy, why-choose romantasy perfect for fans of Bonded by Thorns, Gild and The Serpent and the Wings of Night.
They said the trials were over. They were wrong.

I survived the Choosing. I claimed my mates. I became immortal. But the kings weren't finished with us yet.

Four princes. Four thrones. And a final season designed to decide if we're worthy to rule. Every task is a test. Every smile a lie. The people judge. The council votes. And the kings are waiting for us to fail.



I was never meant to be queen. I was an Ashlander who broke into a palace searching for her sister. Now I stand beside the Legends of Chaos, holding power the kingdom fears and love fierce enough to burn it all down.

To win the crowns, we'll have to survive the Kings' List.


Failure isn't an option.

Because this time, we're not just fighting for the throne-we're fighting for each other.

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 19, 2026

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About the author

Jade Presley

11 books899 followers
Jade Presley is a pen name created to write romantasy stories that pair rich world building with characters that will make you blush and leave you thirsting for more. When not writing, I’m going on epic quests during game night or hanging with my family and Irish Wolfhound in my mountain home.

source: Amazon

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5 stars
223 (39%)
4 stars
245 (43%)
3 stars
80 (14%)
2 stars
15 (2%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
3 reviews
Want to Read
February 17, 2026
FYI, I don't know who wrote this description, but this is a *series*. These books are NOT "stand-alones". The first book (The Never List) was left off on a cliff-hanger.
Profile Image for Nancy Weiler.
149 reviews3 followers
May 18, 2026
I wanted to desperately love this so much but unfortunately didn’t hit the mark for me.

We immediately start off where we left off in book 1 (also huge shout out for the mini catch up in the beginning). Rylee and the princes now have another test to complete from the kings to decide whether they are fit to be on the throne, of course this comes as a shock for them all.

Huge stakes in this book with a lot more attention to the plot which I loved, new characters developing and learning the connections between each one. Love the rebellion element however I felt it was grazed over, I would personally would have loved to dive deeper into that. Nevertheless, it was super interesting finding out the cause of the rebellion and the tactics behind the magical powers.

The first 60% I was addicted and couldn’t put it down, it was spicy and full of action which I loved! Unfortunately where it didn’t hit the mark for me was the 20% after that, I felt as I was reading it was a little repetitive and not progressing forward within the plot. But the ending? God, I loved that so much - really brought it all together!

Thank you so much to the Author and Arcadia Books for the early review copy.
Profile Image for Corinne’s Chapter Chatter.
1,187 reviews52 followers
March 9, 2026
Second books in a series can be tricky—but this one proves they don’t have to be.

I always get a little nervous about sophomore installments because they’re often the hardest to land. Thankfully, Jade Pressley absolutely delivered here. My only real complaint? Having to wait for book three—especially after that massive cliffhanger… and the fact that it involves my favorite character.

I love a good why choose romance, and this one fully commits to the trope. Rylee is balancing four very different men, and she handles the chaos with gusto and panache. Of course, even in a “why choose,” we all end up with favorites. I won’t reveal mine because it would definitely be a spoiler, but let’s just say I’d happily sacrifice the other three for him.

One of the things I enjoyed most is Rylee’s strength. She endures so much throughout the story, yet keeps pushing forward with love at the center of what motivates her. I also appreciated that while this is technically fantasy, it leans more toward fantasy-light, which keeps the pacing moving and allows the characters and relationships to really shine.

And yes—the spice is SPICY. But what I appreciated most is that the story never loses sight of the plot. The romance and heat enhance the narrative rather than replacing it, which made the whole reading experience feel balanced and engaging.

You’ll definitely want to read book one before diving into this installment to get the full impact. That said, there is some light repetition included to help refresh readers on earlier events, so you wouldn’t feel completely lost if you jumped in here. My only small critique is that a few moments felt slightly repetitive and could have benefited from a bit tighter editing, but nothing that significantly detracted from the overall experience.

Overall, I definitely recommend this one—and now comes the hardest part: waiting for book three after that ending.

If you love why-choose romance, spicy fantasy-light worlds, and characters you can’t help but root for, this series is absolutely worth the ride.

I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Entangled Publishing which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
Profile Image for Lemon.
872 reviews24 followers
May 22, 2026
Plot: 5/5 • Spice: 3/5 ➡️➡️➡️ be still my beating heart. So much happens in book two. I thought book one was top tier, but this did not miss.


Four princes, Axel, Pierce, Jax and Kal. I still love all of them and each thing they bring to the table. Jax, top spot in my heart. We all love a brooding bad boy.


Their love for Rylee still knows no bounds. The list the kings send them on is bullshit. Once again trying to prove their worth. Three out of the four accomplish their task with time. All the while Rylee is figuring out how to rid Tox. Erin makes her debut appearance in Fader form. Rylee really starts to get the hang of sharing and using the guys powers.


The cliffy. JAX?! my darling prince. Gut me. If Rylee went awol to rescue him without the guys i’ll lose it. She wouldn’t be that dumb… but it doesn’t officially say.


Holy fuck. I need book three. 😳😳😳😳😳
Profile Image for Cyd’s Books.
684 reviews23 followers
April 16, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

I have been desperate to get back in this world & I swear to god I manifested this ARC!

We pick up in the thick of it after book 1 with the dire consequences of the ritual, things look bleak to say the least. Things obviously take a turn or it would be a short read. During this book we get lots more spice which was chefs kiss if i do say so myself, but my fav part of this was exploring the faders, what the kings list is and the mysterious sister causing havoc. As we expand on the plot we get more secrets and revelations plus lots more scheming and misaligned intentions from various angles. I found it hard to put this down.

I’m looking forward to book 3 after that ending, I can’t believe we left it there.
Profile Image for Mikaela.
62 reviews26 followers
March 24, 2026
So excited to back in this world with my four princes.
Each of them continue to be so unique and loving to Rylee and I’m here for it.
Although the story did seem to start off a little slower, it definitely picked up and I was NOT expecting it to go where it did. More secrets, and truths need to be revealed and excuse me…my nightmare does not deserve that, he’s good. 😭
And I really want to see more of Rylee getting used to her powers, and also share a bit more..our guys deserve it.
Profile Image for Freya.
266 reviews7 followers
April 20, 2026
This author is trying to kill me!! Another crazy cliffhanger?!?! AHHHH!! 🤯 This book had me hooked! You will be held in suspense throughout the whole thing. I stared at the last page in shock for a long time trying to gather my thoughts about everything that was revealed in the last 20% of the book.

Just when they all think it is over and they can go live HEA, the Kings inform them of another list. The King’s List. Each in their own way, the princes show their love and support of Rylee while she learns to control these new powers. We get to see the characters more intimately while they navigate through this list and handle their ongoing dilemmas. This book went in a direction that you will not see coming. I was slack jawed with all the twists and reveals. We get to see more of Erin and learn what she got herself into. The faders get more dangerous and the enhancement drugs become deadlier. Also, King Baydel is a demented a$$hole!!🤬. Ugh, I hate him sooooo much!! Our Prince of Nightmares!!! 😩

🖤Why Choose
💙Fated Mates
❤️Dark Romance
💚Touch Her & Die
🖤Morally Grey Characters
💙Deadly Trials
❤️Spicy 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to the author, @entangled @redtower and @netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Laurie.
512 reviews16 followers
May 18, 2026
BOOK REVIEW: The Kings’s List by Jade Presley

The Kings’ List is book 2 in the Never List series by Jade Presley and it picks up right where the cliffhanger in book 1 left off! Riley and The Legends of Chaos are navigating the aftermath of The Choosing only to find out that the trials are not over yet. They now must complete The Kings’ List, trials designed to determine whether or not the Legends are ready to step into their fathers’ roles and rule the kingdom.

Read this one if you love:
🤎fated mates
🤎why choose
🤎dark romance
🤎magic
🤎lots of action
🤎multiple POV
🤎lots of spice🌶️🌶️🌶️

This spicy romantasy is full of magic, rebellion, trials, suspense and so many secrets! The Faders are still causing mayhem, death and destruction, something new is killing people throughout the kingdom and Riley is receiving strange messages from the goddesses. So many questions still left unanswered and this book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger! This was another fun, spicy read. If you loved The Never List, you will definitely love this book! Now I will be waiting impatiently for book 3! (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Thank you to Jade Presley, Entangled Publishing, LLC (Red Tower Books) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of The Kings’ List. All opinions in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Jordan Zajac.
229 reviews6 followers
April 27, 2026
Ahhh this series has me in a chokehold. Thank you so much Jade for sending me an early copy.

The world building, the character depth, the storyline, the romance…all of it is perfectly done and well executed. Sometimes in a why choose, you either feel like the characters blend together or there are some that you don’t love as much. However, that is never the case in Jade’s books and especially not in this series. I have so much love for every single character and they all feel so uniquely them. I will say though, I’m definitely a Jax girl through and through haha. But no surprise there if you know me.

I have been off fantasy books for a while and predominantly have been reading thrillers or contemporary romances. I think I just needed a break from wrapping my head around different worlds, but Jade managed to suck me back in and my love for fantasy is back once again.


If you loved book 1, I promise you will love this book just as much!
Profile Image for Meggan.
36 reviews1 follower
May 21, 2026
4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an early copy!

These books are just a vibe. A sequel that was just as good as the first!

The Kings List is a why choose romantasy. The pacing is well done, I couldn’t put it down. I appreciated that we got some answers from the first book even with all the new questions thrown at us. Those answers were surprising and I am intrigued by how the story is going to go now. That ending though! I also loved the character developments and that the princes are who they are. I love them. I love this story and I can’t wait for the next!
Profile Image for Alexandria Williams.
858 reviews68 followers
May 19, 2026
The Kings’ List picks up RIGHT after book one. Just when Rylee thinks surviving The Choosing means she can finally breathe… BOOM 💥 another set of deadly trials, manipulative kings, political games, betrayals, secrets, and everyone waiting for her to fail.

This series scratches every single itch in my brain:

🖤 why choose��
🔥 fated mates

👑 deadly royal trials

⚔️ touch her & die energy

🖤 morally gray men

🌶️ spice that is SPICING

✨ powerful FMC energy

😩 emotional damage

These men have me feral. Every single one of them brings something different to the relationship and Jade does SUCH a good job making them all feel distinct and important instead of blending together. The bond between all of them felt even stronger in this one.

I loved seeing Rylee grow into her power while still holding onto her heart. She’s fierce, emotional, stubborn, protective, and refuses to break even when everyone keeps trying to tear her apart. Every time I thought I had things figured out Jade said “that’s cute” and ripped the rug out from under me 😭. The reveals. The betrayal. THE ENDING.

I need book 3 immediately because I am NOT okay after that cliffhanger. NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT.

Read if you love:

👑 fantasy romance

🖤 reverse harem/why choose

🔥 fated mates

⚔️ deadly trials

🌶️ spicy romantasy

🖤 protective MMCs

✨ magic + rebellion

😩 “who did this to you?” energy

👀 cliffhangers that ruin your life

Jade Presley really said “what if I emotionally destroyed my readers but make it sexy” and honestly… respect 🫡🔥
Profile Image for Nicole.
73 reviews7 followers
May 21, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

“You want to tattoo me, butterfly?” 🦋

think: political games and scheming, histories to uncover, and alll the RH open door spice 😏

Featuring:
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Multi POV
🌬️ Goddesses, Demis + humans
👑 Political intrigue
😶‍🌫️ Hidden motives
🧠 Unique magic
💊 Murder mystery drug(?)
🖤 Reverse harem
🥵 High on the spice scale!

In terms of spice - definitely up there on the scale! my girl Rylee is mated to FOUR princes, none of which are strangers to sharing 🤭. multiple open door spice scenes throughout the story, featuring reverse harem and toy use.

Overall, this was good!
I adored the characters, their differing personalities, relationship qualities, and overall growth from book 1. (I am forever a Jax girl 🖤) the plot and pacing were good, and the RH spice was RH spicin’. was it one of the best books ever written? eh maybe not. but the vibes are solid and I was sat 🤷🏻‍♀️. would have loved some deeper lore dives and a little less repetition, but I’ll definitely be reading book 3!
PS - is anyone else suspicious about the cat? 🤔🐈‍⬛

“One impossible situation at a time.”
“We should embroider that on a pillow.” 🪡


TLDR; book 2 of an incomplete reverse harem romantasy trilogy. more political scheming, more action & more spice! recommend for the vibes 😏

Series Rating:
- The Never List: 4⭐️
- The King’s List: 3.5-4⭐️, 4.5🌶️
Profile Image for Brit.Readz.
430 reviews10 followers
May 23, 2026
Jade is one of those authors that just knows what she's doing.

I am purely obsessed with this series so far!!
Riley is showing her strength in surviving the Anthanry by proving herself to the "Kings". Little does she know she has her work cut out for her. Kal, Axl, Pierce, and Jax are right by her side every step of the way... Until they aren't. The Kings decide that Riley hasn't quite earned their vote so they created this "List" and she has to secure the votes of not only the kings but the people.

Our MMC's are so ready to worship Riley but first they must follow her lead in getting through this list. As we follow them all in different challenges we also see glimpses of a theory coming to light. I can not wait to find out if I am correct here with this!! The Magic that is shown in this is so cool by the way I love the way that there isn't too much magic. Literally this series is so well rounded with no plot holes at all. It's literally so easy to Binge!!

The spice that is on paper here is just delicious! I love how we get to see her individually with each mate and even together with multiples!! It's just sooooo good!

The end though, the end leaves us on a MASSIVE Cliff... So that was really annoying but also it's just soooo good so Jade you're forgiven but I need a book 3 like ASAP!
Profile Image for Kaitlyn Schmid.
42 reviews
March 23, 2026
The King’s List makes my A+++ List!

I absolutely LOVED this sequel to The Never List. If you were a fan of the first book, go read book two immediately. All the elements that I enjoyed in book one are absolutely here. A feisty heroine, four MMC leads that absolutely cannot make me choose, new trials, and LOTS of spice to make a girl blush. The spice hits about 10-15% of the way in, so consider yourself warned if that’s not your thing. For me, 🪄 + 🌶️ = 🤯😱.

This book is really just so much fun. I loved the descriptions of all the different royal cities in book one and really enjoyed getting to learn a little more about some of the neighboring kingdoms. Jade did an amazing job of carrying over some of the small details from book one & I absolutely enjoyed that as well. I only wished that we had gotten more detail or POVs on how some of the negotiations went for the other Legends (not just Rylee & Pierce). But selfishly, I think I thought that because I just wanted more pages to live in this world a little longer.

Thank you Jade Presley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC and having the opportunity to read The King’s List a little early. I cannot sing my praises for this book enough and cannot wait for book three. Rylee and the Legends will be living rent-free in my head for quite some time (especially after that darn cliffhanger). 🖤🦋
Profile Image for Flame and Fable.
57 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ I 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book is a bit of a mixed bag. There was definitely more plot compared to book one, which I appreciated, and we also get more of Jax’s playroom 😜 …he’s still my favourite out of all four Princes and the spice was absolutely spicing 🥵🥵

I do feel like the beginning was a bit anti-climatic, seeing as book one was left on a cliffhanger. The first 50% felt slow paced and was basically Rylee getting to grips with her powers and being trained individually by each Prince, which is fine but it did seem to drag on.

Whereas, the final 50% of the book did pick up the pace. We get to see Rylee’s female rage and the cliffhanger ending was strong enough to leave things on a much more exciting note.

Overall, this was a fun, spicy read with some entertaining moments, but I’m still not fully convinced enough to rush for book three when it releases.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the chance to read this book.
Profile Image for Kat (IG: bookish_kat_reads).
369 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2026
Review of advanced copy from NetGalley

I’ve spent the last few days trying to reconcile the two very different experiences I had while reading The Kings List. I absolutely loved The Never List, it was a standout for me last year, so I went into this sequel with massive expectations. What I found was a classic case of second book syndrome, though one that thankfully finds its feet just when you think it might be losing the plot.

The first half of the story felt jarringly different from the debut. We’ve gone from high-stakes survival to a middle-of-the-series slump where the narrative gets caught in a loop of training sequences and spicy interludes. While I’m usually the first person to advocate for high heat, here it felt like it came at the expense of the plot and pacing. It was as if the urgency of the Kings’ List was put on hold, and I found myself waiting for the story to actually start.

Even the MMCs felt a bit muted during the first few hundred pages. In the first book, their distinct personalities and the unique friction they brought to the group was what made the "why choose" dynamic so compelling. In this instalment, those sharp edges seemed smoothed over, making them feel a little less like individuals and more like interchangeable parts of a collective. It’s hard to stay invested in a possessive, morally grey dynamic when the characters lose the specific traits that made them "unhinged" in the first place.

But then, almost like a switch was flipped, the second half arrived and everything changed. The political intrigue finally sharpened, the action kicked into high gear, and some of the emotional weight I’d been missing came rushing back. The way the plot unravels toward the end is genuinely impressive, moving with a speed that makes the earlier sluggishness worth pushing through. It culminates in an ending that literally had me screaming at the pages.

It’s a real mixed bag of a read. Is it my new favourite? No. But does Jade Presley know how to stick a landing? Absolutely. Despite the rocky start, the payoff and the sheer drama of those final chapters have me back on the hype train. If you’re a fan of the first book, stick with this one through the slow bits, the ending alone ensures I’ll be reaching for book three the second it drops.
Profile Image for Kerry.
733 reviews23 followers
May 23, 2026
I really enjoyed book 1, but book 2 didn't work as well for me - it was a lot of set up for the very obvious cliffhanger into book 3, and the repetitive training sessions dragged down the plot momentum despite the very high stakes set from the start. The number of times I yelled at the fmc to "use your brain, that's that lump 3 feet above your ass" was extremely high. Seriously, every "surprise" and twist was so unbearably obvious it made all of the characters look like idiots for not putting anything together. Leaving this at 3 stars for the first time through, maybe I'll be more generous in future rereads.
Profile Image for Cassie Nosko.
239 reviews39 followers
May 21, 2026
Ahhh I've been eagerly awaiting to read The King's List ever since I finished book 1 and it definitely didn't disappoint. As a person who isn't the biggest fan of why choose, this book absolutely restores my faith and let's just say I'm a huge fan 🥵

Rylee oh how I wish I was you 😂 we got FOUR (yes you heard me right) FOUR different men and Rylee manages them all so well. This book has plot but it also delivers HARD on the spice!

I truly don't know how I'm going to carry on waiting for book 3 but atlas I will somehow survive (barely)!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5
Profile Image for Makenzie Shane.
75 reviews
May 23, 2026
Waited for this one for a year. Finished it in less than 48hrs. This is easy reading.

I preferred book one but I think that is because this book felt like a lot of set up for book 3. The magic system itself is very interesting to me, I just wish the way the characters engaged with the magic was more complex. Also. TEAM PIERCE. Jax is so strongly positioned as the lead romantic but his character arc/depth just isn't there for me

Note: this is a spicy, why-choose romance. While I do really think Jade uses the details of sexual encounters for character insight..... buckle up.
Profile Image for Nicole.
739 reviews15 followers
May 20, 2026
Holy crap what was that ending!? I loved this book so much. Of course there is spice - I mean Rylee has 4 mates. But I really liked her figuring out the powers and how to mange things with and without her mates. The twist with her sister was wild and I’m so anxious about Jax! I need to know more about what is happening over there and the Kings need to know about what Jax’s dad is up to. When is book 3?????
Profile Image for Angelina.
44 reviews24 followers
May 20, 2026
We barely got the legends pov in this one. Probably 5 chapters altogether and the rest we’re in Rylee’s pov who spends the whole book pushing against anyone telling her she’s going to be the future queen. As if this book wasn’t about Her having to do a series of “tests” to prove herself as the future queen. The “tests” felt pointless and the time spent inbetween each one consisted of monthly time skips from chapter to chapter which grew old fast. Everyone around her is talking in riddles and telling her to “wake up” and accept her future and the powers that come with it. Overall, a disappointing sequel that tried to really milk the “high stakes” in the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Samantha.
452 reviews24 followers
May 20, 2026
I have had zero luck when it comes to book 2 in a series. This book annoyed me. Everything about the group is luke warm and boring. The one mate that is remotely interesting is off page for most of the book and half way through you figure out why. Believe me it doesn’t take a genius to guess right. I feel like they are the scooby gang and instead of having a dog they have a cat. I’ll hold out hope that book 3 is better than this.
Profile Image for Emelie Rombe.
26 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2026
I absolutely loved book 1 and I was so excited to start this one!
This one was a lot more heavy on the spice than the first. I wanted a little more plot but it still kept me intrigued and turning the pages! The princes are still *chefs kiss*. And yes, im still on team Pierce!💚
And that ending🤯 it tied the whole book togheter and now I cant wait for book 3! ❤️💙💚🖤

If you enjoy spicy why choose fantasy with intriguing plot and crazy twists this is definitely something for you!
Profile Image for Ireland.
68 reviews
May 22, 2026
I’m not going to lie, if I stopped this book at 70%, it would’ve gotten 2 stars. The last bit saved it in a way - the plot picked up and got INTERESTING. The first 3/4 of the book was so boring omg!!! And stop with the sex for gods sake! Never thought I’d say that. Really hated this until the end and I have to admit the end is compelling / redeeming.
Profile Image for Christi Goodwin.
Author 1 book3 followers
May 21, 2026
I didn’t get too far in before déjà vu hit. Unfortunately, this plot is so much like so many other fantasy series. Yes, there is a why choose, that should help, but the magic and wars for a kingdom just doesn’t keep my interest anymore.
Profile Image for Meagan Kinard.
35 reviews
May 20, 2026
I am so sick of having to wait for the next book 🥲🥲 I love my legends of chaos. I need more now
Profile Image for Haley Beth.
143 reviews5 followers
May 21, 2026
Are you kidding?!? That ending!! I need the next one ASAP!!! Idk if I can wait til next year 😭
Profile Image for Sissa.
182 reviews8 followers
April 23, 2026
The King’s List by Jade Presley
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5/5)
This picks up right where book one left off, and the stakes definitely feel higher. Once Rylee completes the goddess list, she quickly learns the kings have a list of their own for her to tackle… and it’s not any easier 👀
I really enjoyed being back in this world, especially with the added trials and tension. That said, I do think book one was a bit stronger overall, but this was still a fun and engaging continuation of the series.
👑 Why Choose / Reverse Harem

👑 Fated Mates

👑 Trials
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! ✨
Profile Image for Megan Danielle.
510 reviews15 followers
May 20, 2026
WTFFFFF. I just finished this and first off…. How DARE Jade Presley write a book this good?! I was hooked from the second I picked it up until the very end. And now I’m just sitting here, jaw hanging open, flabbers fully gasted. This woman is the queen of a suspenseful cliffhanger. I already need the next. I’m so impressed with how Jade keeps the spicy scenes with the princes fresh and not repetitive. Legit there aren’t enough stars in the galaxy for this book! 🤩🤩🤩 You DONT want to miss this one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews