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Royals of Forsyth University #11
Barons of Sorrow
Beneath Forsyth University, something rotten stirs.
Girls are disappearing, and the Baron King wants answers. But inside his own House of Night, chaos is brewing. His new bride–young, dangerous, and bound to him by a blood-stained vow–refuses to stay tame.
And the two Barons who serve him, Hunter and DK, have their own desires that are becoming harder to control.
Barons of Sorrow releases in 2026. Preorder now and descend deeper into the dark.
Girls are disappearing, and the Baron King wants answers. But inside his own House of Night, chaos is brewing. His new bride–young, dangerous, and bound to him by a blood-stained vow–refuses to stay tame.
And the two Barons who serve him, Hunter and DK, have their own desires that are becoming harder to control.
Barons of Sorrow releases in 2026. Preorder now and descend deeper into the dark.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2026
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April 21, 2026
Barons of Sorrow is wasted potential.
The author tried to add more depth to her writing in this book, but it still missed the mark. For me, the parts where she tried to add depth were focused on the wrong things. One example of this would be when we learn about Arianette’s conditioner. How it’s “thick and silky, the kind that coats your hands and feels too soft to belong in a house where people are punished. A place built for comfort, not cages.” Later, we read how she’s so wet from her new hood piercing that she soaked through her leotard and therefore her “thighs are trembling so hard that the seams of her thighs whisper”. Um. What? “The bodice fits close, structured enough to suggest intention rather than invitation, the lace at the neckline a quiet edge. It isn’t meant to draw the eye so much as hold it, the way a blade does when you know it’s sharp”. Again…what? Please describe the foreboding and creepy feelings the atmosphere is supposed to invoke. Tell me about the setting. Not hygiene products and whispering seams. Inner monologues and purple prose should not be confused with depth and a well-written story.
I also think kink may not be this author’s thing. The piercing scenes leave a lot to be desired (HUGE and unforgivable fumble IMO). Also, can we get something else other than them CONSTANTLY tugging on her FRESH AND HEALING piercings? We are also frequently reminded of how her nipple piercings show through her outfits, to the point where I don’t care to hear about her piercings ever again (and the piercings were something I had hoped for before the Barons was even written). The “blood play/kink” in this book was bizarre and…not pleasant. The Baron King using his finger to taste Arianette’s period blood, commenting on how the scent of her period blood is “thick and intoxicating,” and the great detail of Hunter removing her bloody tampon is not my idea of blood play.
There’s also a bizarre scene where DK takes Arianette to a strip club, and they meet his mom, who is bartending there. Arianette is initially incredibly jealous, thinking that this woman is his ex until DK tells her she is his mom. DK tries to finger Arianette while there, to which she is weirded out. He thinks it’s funny and asks if that’s where she draws the line, his mom watching, to which she then says she doesn’t have any lines. WHAT ON EARTH. EW. Add onto that the weird incestuous daddy kink in this book, it’s toned down a bit from Decay, but yeesh, it’s not sexy or fun in any way.
The characters, unfortunately, haven’t improved in the slightest. Hunter and DK are completely interchangeable. I can’t tell one voice from the other. Hunter showed more personality as the mystery DJ in the books prior to Decay and Sorrow, which is a bummer, as I was so excited for him.
Nettie the Doll Baby (I am wheezing, but seriously, those are two of her nicknames) is described as fiery and stubborn and fierce, yet she is the worst sort of doormat. The soft FMC’s are my favorite, but Arianette is just annoying, a total wimp, and the most epically disappointing simpering pushover. Archie and Effie, the pets of previous Royals, had more personality than the heroine of this book. Later in this book, there’s a scene where Bronwyn, a crypt chaser, is going toe to toe with Arianette. Arianette gives her an ultimatum to stay and clean up and be useful for something other than sex or to leave. The irony of our heroine slut-shaming another woman, when this series is about dismantling the patriarchy within Forsyth, is wild, but it also adds insult to injury that Nettie herself is a doormat whose only desire is to sleep with her Barons and also prove herself to them by cleaning. With Arianette and her personality, we are continuously told who she is, but we never get to experience it. To quote DK, “I can’t ever tell if the Baroness is dumb, clueless, or just lost in her mind”.
The Baron King is probably the biggest disappointment for me. In fact, he is no longer the BK; his name is Timmy. The Baron King we met previously was a very stoic, controlled, and an incredibly sinister enigma. With him, we knew that he was always two steps ahead of everyone else. Yet in the actual Barons books, he is a petulant, hot-headed brat who is prone to temper tantrums and juvenile jealousy. He has no idea who he is anymore and gives himself pep talks to remind himself he is the Baron King. Graves, the Danner rip-off, has more gumption and foresight than Timmy. In fact, Graves is the one guiding him and his decisions and calling the shots from the background. The Baron King of previous books exists no longer.
In previous installments, the Barons were always the ominous shadows lurking that you didn’t realize were there, the sinister presence that you couldn’t shake. They would melt from the shadows at a moment’s notice, with everyone around them completely unaware. In this book, our Barons show up in their street clothes to collect a body in Count territory and are incredibly outnumbered. Previously, the Barons were always somewhat anonymous and mysterious. There is no ominous presence with these guys. Just like in Decay, the Barons and the whole frat are incredibly generic frat bros with no personality or atmosphere.
If you’re still around, I’m going to gripe a little more about how there still so many striking similarities between the goings-on in Sorrow and Decay and the previous books in the series. To the extent I still suspect the author fed the previous books into AI and then used that AI to write the book or generate ideas, or she just recycles ideas and marks things off on her trope checklist. While I won’t retype the whole list of similarities in the previous book, most still apply here, and you can find them in my review for Barons of Decay.
-Nettie is punished by being locked in a cage just like Lavinia in Dukes.
-Graves is a cheap imitation of Danner from Princes
-the scarred pentacle carved into Nettie’s chest (like Story in Lords), and frankly, this feels as though it was done for shock value or from AI, as this was never something indicated about previous Baronesses.
-Rebirth is frequently mentioned, like in Princes.
-“Cleansing” scene. This is a scene that Graves instructs Timmy to do, since he can’t think for himself. It’s a rip-off of the Cleansing in Princes. The guys jack themselves and each other off into a bowl and then paint Nettie with it. This all happens while she is hung on a cross, which is incredibly offensive and disgusting to do. At the very least, her being hung on a cross should be mentioned in the Trigger Warnings, as there are many readers who would consider this blasphemous and highly offensive, and unsurprisingly, it was not listed.
-During the “cleansing” scene, Hunter (I think?) uses the handle of a knife on Nettie, just like the Lords did in the Lords trilogy.
-DK’s mom feels like a weird stand-in for Mama B from Dukes and Princes in a way.
-Hunter puts himself in Nettie’s mouth while she’s sleeping and he’s stroking himself (very Killian coded in Lords).
-In previous books, it was established that the Countess wore the choker/collar. In this book, we come across a woman who has a tattoo of a snake on her lower back, indicating that she is “Count’s property”. Between the release of Decay and Sorrow, I had been discussing with Christina, the former (and only capable) alpha of the series, that it struck me so odd that the Countess no longer wears the collar, it’s the Baroness. She reminded me in the Duke’s trilogy, when Sy meets with the Baron King, Regina is there with a clear tattoo of the pentagram on her lower back that is visible to Sy. So the author clearly mixed up the two marks of ownership between the houses, which is an incredibly large error to make. I guess the “timeline math is hard yo” quote applies here, then?
-Nettie uses dicks as pacifiers (Princes) to keep her from having panic attacks or to calm down. No, I’m not making this up.
-There’s a part in the book where Nettie takes charge and instructs the frat on how to clean and whatnot, and she’s very pleased with herself about it. This is reminiscent of the scene with Verity in Princes where she realizes the frat needs a “mother”.
-Timmy refers to Nettie as “bleeding, ripe with life” during the tampon removal smut scene. This quote is something that Ashby would have said in Princes.
-Also, Arianette saves a kitten in the book. I’m a total cat lady, but this felt like a page literally taken from Dukes.
-Mention of the rod used on Nettie and how it’s barbaric. This is reminiscent of the whip in Princes.
-A smut scene between Hunter and Nettie where DK stands in to keep Hunter in line. This was very similar to a sleepwalking sex between Verity and Lex in Princes as well as the sex referee scene in Lords.
-The guys say that “no one touches what’s ours” when referring to Arianette. This is very reminiscent of Lords.
As far as errors, I’m sure as I mentioned previously that Lawson’s quote of “timeline math is hard yo” applies. However, maybe it would be best to verify the details of the story that you supposedly previously wrote before completely fumbling them.
-Ballsy was not the Fraternity President; he turned down becoming a Duke. This was established in Princes.
-It is mentioned that Nick brought a knife to a fight with Perez. When it was, in fact, Perez who brought the knife to the fight, which Nick snagged and used on Perez.
-The switching of Countess choker/collar and Baroness tattoo on the lower back.
-During the Ascension scene, it is said that Verity is ascending to Princess. She is already Princess, as she is carrying Justice during this scene. She is ascending to the reigning Queen/King, not Princess.
We do see previous beloved characters in Sorrow. They’re just blah and there and OOC. Killian, at one point, is SMILING and talking fondly of Mrs. Crane, their “crusty old bitch”. Completely OOC for him. After Nick calling Lavinia crusty in Decay (WILDLY OOC), can we just never use “crusty” again, please? Also, the attempt at writing Mrs. Crane was…just…no, as was the attempt at writing Jade from Dukes. Also, Remy tattooing a Baron? Yeah right. At least, not at this point. They haven’t even really joined forces or had any real interactions yet. The fight scene between Nick and Killian just felt like a scene that didn’t make sense. And of course it was a draw, there was no winner. Why would a King fight a rival house’s royal? Not even a rival king? The “for charity” reasoning was surely convenient, but it didn’t give authenticity to the scene. Story and Lavinia putting on a show and making out with the guys in front of the crowd was incredibly cheesy. Add to that Verity’s Ascension scene, where there’s back-and-forth commentary between characters that physically made me cringe. All while Timmy looks on fondly at his sons during their embarrassingly juvenile outbursts. This is so corny and cheesy. At this point, let our favorite Royals characters RIP. Don’t bring them back anymore.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, my biggest complaint is the lack of romance in this dark romance book. There’s no relationship and there’s no connection. We’re just told everything and not shown anything. The few minor scenes trying to build a connection are surface-level and juvenile. One instance of this is the Yule scene. For Christmas, Nettie gets a tiara, a music box with the word Periwinkle carved in it. This was a word she used to comfort herself when she was in captivity as a girl, and now Hunter proposes it become their safe word. Ugh. AND brand spankin’ new nipple rings! I. CAN. NOT. There is no atmosphere-building or emotion. The dialogue can be either confusing or, quite frankly, corny.
As an avid fan of the Lords, Dukes, and Princes trilogies in this series, I loved the characters and their relationship development, the world-building, and storytelling. Unfortunately, none of the things that made those books so great are to be found in Barons of Sorrow.
Strike two.
ARC received to review.
The author tried to add more depth to her writing in this book, but it still missed the mark. For me, the parts where she tried to add depth were focused on the wrong things. One example of this would be when we learn about Arianette’s conditioner. How it’s “thick and silky, the kind that coats your hands and feels too soft to belong in a house where people are punished. A place built for comfort, not cages.” Later, we read how she’s so wet from her new hood piercing that she soaked through her leotard and therefore her “thighs are trembling so hard that the seams of her thighs whisper”. Um. What? “The bodice fits close, structured enough to suggest intention rather than invitation, the lace at the neckline a quiet edge. It isn’t meant to draw the eye so much as hold it, the way a blade does when you know it’s sharp”. Again…what? Please describe the foreboding and creepy feelings the atmosphere is supposed to invoke. Tell me about the setting. Not hygiene products and whispering seams. Inner monologues and purple prose should not be confused with depth and a well-written story.
I also think kink may not be this author’s thing. The piercing scenes leave a lot to be desired (HUGE and unforgivable fumble IMO). Also, can we get something else other than them CONSTANTLY tugging on her FRESH AND HEALING piercings? We are also frequently reminded of how her nipple piercings show through her outfits, to the point where I don’t care to hear about her piercings ever again (and the piercings were something I had hoped for before the Barons was even written). The “blood play/kink” in this book was bizarre and…not pleasant. The Baron King using his finger to taste Arianette’s period blood, commenting on how the scent of her period blood is “thick and intoxicating,” and the great detail of Hunter removing her bloody tampon is not my idea of blood play.
There’s also a bizarre scene where DK takes Arianette to a strip club, and they meet his mom, who is bartending there. Arianette is initially incredibly jealous, thinking that this woman is his ex until DK tells her she is his mom. DK tries to finger Arianette while there, to which she is weirded out. He thinks it’s funny and asks if that’s where she draws the line, his mom watching, to which she then says she doesn’t have any lines. WHAT ON EARTH. EW. Add onto that the weird incestuous daddy kink in this book, it’s toned down a bit from Decay, but yeesh, it’s not sexy or fun in any way.
The characters, unfortunately, haven’t improved in the slightest. Hunter and DK are completely interchangeable. I can’t tell one voice from the other. Hunter showed more personality as the mystery DJ in the books prior to Decay and Sorrow, which is a bummer, as I was so excited for him.
Nettie the Doll Baby (I am wheezing, but seriously, those are two of her nicknames) is described as fiery and stubborn and fierce, yet she is the worst sort of doormat. The soft FMC’s are my favorite, but Arianette is just annoying, a total wimp, and the most epically disappointing simpering pushover. Archie and Effie, the pets of previous Royals, had more personality than the heroine of this book. Later in this book, there’s a scene where Bronwyn, a crypt chaser, is going toe to toe with Arianette. Arianette gives her an ultimatum to stay and clean up and be useful for something other than sex or to leave. The irony of our heroine slut-shaming another woman, when this series is about dismantling the patriarchy within Forsyth, is wild, but it also adds insult to injury that Nettie herself is a doormat whose only desire is to sleep with her Barons and also prove herself to them by cleaning. With Arianette and her personality, we are continuously told who she is, but we never get to experience it. To quote DK, “I can’t ever tell if the Baroness is dumb, clueless, or just lost in her mind”.
The Baron King is probably the biggest disappointment for me. In fact, he is no longer the BK; his name is Timmy. The Baron King we met previously was a very stoic, controlled, and an incredibly sinister enigma. With him, we knew that he was always two steps ahead of everyone else. Yet in the actual Barons books, he is a petulant, hot-headed brat who is prone to temper tantrums and juvenile jealousy. He has no idea who he is anymore and gives himself pep talks to remind himself he is the Baron King. Graves, the Danner rip-off, has more gumption and foresight than Timmy. In fact, Graves is the one guiding him and his decisions and calling the shots from the background. The Baron King of previous books exists no longer.
In previous installments, the Barons were always the ominous shadows lurking that you didn’t realize were there, the sinister presence that you couldn’t shake. They would melt from the shadows at a moment’s notice, with everyone around them completely unaware. In this book, our Barons show up in their street clothes to collect a body in Count territory and are incredibly outnumbered. Previously, the Barons were always somewhat anonymous and mysterious. There is no ominous presence with these guys. Just like in Decay, the Barons and the whole frat are incredibly generic frat bros with no personality or atmosphere.
If you’re still around, I’m going to gripe a little more about how there still so many striking similarities between the goings-on in Sorrow and Decay and the previous books in the series. To the extent I still suspect the author fed the previous books into AI and then used that AI to write the book or generate ideas, or she just recycles ideas and marks things off on her trope checklist. While I won’t retype the whole list of similarities in the previous book, most still apply here, and you can find them in my review for Barons of Decay.
-Nettie is punished by being locked in a cage just like Lavinia in Dukes.
-Graves is a cheap imitation of Danner from Princes
-the scarred pentacle carved into Nettie’s chest (like Story in Lords), and frankly, this feels as though it was done for shock value or from AI, as this was never something indicated about previous Baronesses.
-Rebirth is frequently mentioned, like in Princes.
-“Cleansing” scene. This is a scene that Graves instructs Timmy to do, since he can’t think for himself. It’s a rip-off of the Cleansing in Princes. The guys jack themselves and each other off into a bowl and then paint Nettie with it. This all happens while she is hung on a cross, which is incredibly offensive and disgusting to do. At the very least, her being hung on a cross should be mentioned in the Trigger Warnings, as there are many readers who would consider this blasphemous and highly offensive, and unsurprisingly, it was not listed.
-During the “cleansing” scene, Hunter (I think?) uses the handle of a knife on Nettie, just like the Lords did in the Lords trilogy.
-DK’s mom feels like a weird stand-in for Mama B from Dukes and Princes in a way.
-Hunter puts himself in Nettie’s mouth while she’s sleeping and he’s stroking himself (very Killian coded in Lords).
-In previous books, it was established that the Countess wore the choker/collar. In this book, we come across a woman who has a tattoo of a snake on her lower back, indicating that she is “Count’s property”. Between the release of Decay and Sorrow, I had been discussing with Christina, the former (and only capable) alpha of the series, that it struck me so odd that the Countess no longer wears the collar, it’s the Baroness. She reminded me in the Duke’s trilogy, when Sy meets with the Baron King, Regina is there with a clear tattoo of the pentagram on her lower back that is visible to Sy. So the author clearly mixed up the two marks of ownership between the houses, which is an incredibly large error to make. I guess the “timeline math is hard yo” quote applies here, then?
-Nettie uses dicks as pacifiers (Princes) to keep her from having panic attacks or to calm down. No, I’m not making this up.
-There’s a part in the book where Nettie takes charge and instructs the frat on how to clean and whatnot, and she’s very pleased with herself about it. This is reminiscent of the scene with Verity in Princes where she realizes the frat needs a “mother”.
-Timmy refers to Nettie as “bleeding, ripe with life” during the tampon removal smut scene. This quote is something that Ashby would have said in Princes.
-Also, Arianette saves a kitten in the book. I’m a total cat lady, but this felt like a page literally taken from Dukes.
-Mention of the rod used on Nettie and how it’s barbaric. This is reminiscent of the whip in Princes.
-A smut scene between Hunter and Nettie where DK stands in to keep Hunter in line. This was very similar to a sleepwalking sex between Verity and Lex in Princes as well as the sex referee scene in Lords.
-The guys say that “no one touches what’s ours” when referring to Arianette. This is very reminiscent of Lords.
As far as errors, I’m sure as I mentioned previously that Lawson’s quote of “timeline math is hard yo” applies. However, maybe it would be best to verify the details of the story that you supposedly previously wrote before completely fumbling them.
-Ballsy was not the Fraternity President; he turned down becoming a Duke. This was established in Princes.
-It is mentioned that Nick brought a knife to a fight with Perez. When it was, in fact, Perez who brought the knife to the fight, which Nick snagged and used on Perez.
-The switching of Countess choker/collar and Baroness tattoo on the lower back.
-During the Ascension scene, it is said that Verity is ascending to Princess. She is already Princess, as she is carrying Justice during this scene. She is ascending to the reigning Queen/King, not Princess.
We do see previous beloved characters in Sorrow. They’re just blah and there and OOC. Killian, at one point, is SMILING and talking fondly of Mrs. Crane, their “crusty old bitch”. Completely OOC for him. After Nick calling Lavinia crusty in Decay (WILDLY OOC), can we just never use “crusty” again, please? Also, the attempt at writing Mrs. Crane was…just…no, as was the attempt at writing Jade from Dukes. Also, Remy tattooing a Baron? Yeah right. At least, not at this point. They haven’t even really joined forces or had any real interactions yet. The fight scene between Nick and Killian just felt like a scene that didn’t make sense. And of course it was a draw, there was no winner. Why would a King fight a rival house’s royal? Not even a rival king? The “for charity” reasoning was surely convenient, but it didn’t give authenticity to the scene. Story and Lavinia putting on a show and making out with the guys in front of the crowd was incredibly cheesy. Add to that Verity’s Ascension scene, where there’s back-and-forth commentary between characters that physically made me cringe. All while Timmy looks on fondly at his sons during their embarrassingly juvenile outbursts. This is so corny and cheesy. At this point, let our favorite Royals characters RIP. Don’t bring them back anymore.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, my biggest complaint is the lack of romance in this dark romance book. There’s no relationship and there’s no connection. We’re just told everything and not shown anything. The few minor scenes trying to build a connection are surface-level and juvenile. One instance of this is the Yule scene. For Christmas, Nettie gets a tiara, a music box with the word Periwinkle carved in it. This was a word she used to comfort herself when she was in captivity as a girl, and now Hunter proposes it become their safe word. Ugh. AND brand spankin’ new nipple rings! I. CAN. NOT. There is no atmosphere-building or emotion. The dialogue can be either confusing or, quite frankly, corny.
As an avid fan of the Lords, Dukes, and Princes trilogies in this series, I loved the characters and their relationship development, the world-building, and storytelling. Unfortunately, none of the things that made those books so great are to be found in Barons of Sorrow.
Strike two.
ARC received to review.
April 8, 2026
**UPDATED**
Now that it's been confirmed that Samantha Rue wrote a significant majority of the first 3 Forsyth trilogies via her post on her group, Rue's Rogues, it finally makes sense as to why Barons of Decay didn't seem to fit in with the previous Royals and why their personalities did a complete 180 as to how they were previously written. I was unfortunately one of the many readers who had the misconception that Samantha mostly did the artwork and branding where as Angel did majority of the writing, and I feel terrible that I made such assumptions.
That said, I know Angel was also going through a lot of horrible life changing things at the same time that she was writing Decay solo, so I'm hoping that maybe she will be able to pull it together for the series and bring it back to the Royals we all know and love. So I'm going to give Sorrow a chance before deciding whether or not the series is done for me. I will update this post as soon as Sorrow is released.
Review of Sorrow:
I want to start off by saying Sorrow is a small improvement upon Decay, but it still felt like it was missing something. Honestly if this was a standalone series not connected to Forsyth, I would probably give it a solid 3.5 or 4, but as an installment into the Forsyth series as a whole, it's a 2.5 in my own personal opinion. Which is still better than I had anticipated as I was so disappointed with Decay I expected Sorrow to be just as bad if not worse.
The writing in this book has definitely improved, and that was a plus because Decay was painful to get through. I'm not sure if that's because Angel is back in a better headspace or she got better editors to help her out. Perhaps a bit of both. We get some more insight into what's happening with the girls, but this book still moved pretty slowly for me, however the second half was better than the first. The characters have improved slightly, but I still found myself forgetting who's chapter I was on because there wasn't a ton of individuality between them.
There were still recycled scenes from previous books that had slight adjustments to make them “different” but they were just missing that oomph factor. The spice level was maybe a 3, basically over before it really started which was disappointing since the spice of the previous trilogies were one of my favorite things about these books!
I still don't really care much about these characters, but I care a slight bit more than I had previously, so that's something. The Baron King seems like a completely different character than the one we were introduced to in Dukes and Princes, and it's not because we're getting further insight into his psyche. He comes off like one of the frat guys instead of the feared and sophisticated King we knew him to be. I mean Metallica? Really?
It's hard because the first 3 trilogies set such a high bar, that it's going to be next to impossible for Angel to be able to reach the level of greatness those books did on her own. It's just missing the deep and complex background with the plot and characters that the other books had. The angst, devastation, the richness, the small details that add to the bigger picture, it has none of that. It just feels very surface level, scenes that are built up to be huge ending up lackluster.
Did I h@te the book? No. Would I read it again? Also no, but I will continue on with the series since it seems like it's looking up and possibly book 3 will be the best out of the trilogy. I also really want to know what's going on and how the story ends, and am extremely curious about the Counts.
Now that it's been confirmed that Samantha Rue wrote a significant majority of the first 3 Forsyth trilogies via her post on her group, Rue's Rogues, it finally makes sense as to why Barons of Decay didn't seem to fit in with the previous Royals and why their personalities did a complete 180 as to how they were previously written. I was unfortunately one of the many readers who had the misconception that Samantha mostly did the artwork and branding where as Angel did majority of the writing, and I feel terrible that I made such assumptions.
That said, I know Angel was also going through a lot of horrible life changing things at the same time that she was writing Decay solo, so I'm hoping that maybe she will be able to pull it together for the series and bring it back to the Royals we all know and love. So I'm going to give Sorrow a chance before deciding whether or not the series is done for me. I will update this post as soon as Sorrow is released.
Review of Sorrow:
I want to start off by saying Sorrow is a small improvement upon Decay, but it still felt like it was missing something. Honestly if this was a standalone series not connected to Forsyth, I would probably give it a solid 3.5 or 4, but as an installment into the Forsyth series as a whole, it's a 2.5 in my own personal opinion. Which is still better than I had anticipated as I was so disappointed with Decay I expected Sorrow to be just as bad if not worse.
The writing in this book has definitely improved, and that was a plus because Decay was painful to get through. I'm not sure if that's because Angel is back in a better headspace or she got better editors to help her out. Perhaps a bit of both. We get some more insight into what's happening with the girls, but this book still moved pretty slowly for me, however the second half was better than the first. The characters have improved slightly, but I still found myself forgetting who's chapter I was on because there wasn't a ton of individuality between them.
There were still recycled scenes from previous books that had slight adjustments to make them “different” but they were just missing that oomph factor. The spice level was maybe a 3, basically over before it really started which was disappointing since the spice of the previous trilogies were one of my favorite things about these books!
I still don't really care much about these characters, but I care a slight bit more than I had previously, so that's something. The Baron King seems like a completely different character than the one we were introduced to in Dukes and Princes, and it's not because we're getting further insight into his psyche. He comes off like one of the frat guys instead of the feared and sophisticated King we knew him to be. I mean Metallica? Really?
It's hard because the first 3 trilogies set such a high bar, that it's going to be next to impossible for Angel to be able to reach the level of greatness those books did on her own. It's just missing the deep and complex background with the plot and characters that the other books had. The angst, devastation, the richness, the small details that add to the bigger picture, it has none of that. It just feels very surface level, scenes that are built up to be huge ending up lackluster.
Did I h@te the book? No. Would I read it again? Also no, but I will continue on with the series since it seems like it's looking up and possibly book 3 will be the best out of the trilogy. I also really want to know what's going on and how the story ends, and am extremely curious about the Counts.
April 6, 2026
11 books into this series and I think I’m starting to feel fatigued with this world and it’s characters
11 books into this series and I think I’m starting to feel fatigued with this world and it’s characters 😞😢
You can really feel Samantha Rue’s absence from this book, as well as the previous Baron book, Barons of Decay. I wish the partnership between Angel Lawson & Samantha Rue never ended because I think the writing really suffers.
For me the Barons & Baroness really fall flat, I didn’t quite connect with them in BoD and was hoping they would grow on me in BoS but I didn’t quite connect with them during this book either. The Barons seemed so dark & mysterious in previous instalments but so far they come across quite bland for my taste. I’m glad there was some progress in our main storyline, whilst it’s enough to keep me interested in the Forsyth Universe I’m not sure if that’s enough to keep me hooked to the Barons.
Whilst the series seems to be declining in quality for me I don’t think I can give up on Forsyth, I’m hoping the final Barons book will be better and I’m holding out hope that Angel Lawson will improve her writing skills (and hopefully recognise timeline & continuity errors) by the time we get to the Counts. I’ve made it through 2 kickstarters and 11 books, I’ve made it too far to quit now 😅🥲
11 books into this series and I think I’m starting to feel fatigued with this world and it’s characters 😞😢
You can really feel Samantha Rue’s absence from this book, as well as the previous Baron book, Barons of Decay. I wish the partnership between Angel Lawson & Samantha Rue never ended because I think the writing really suffers.
For me the Barons & Baroness really fall flat, I didn’t quite connect with them in BoD and was hoping they would grow on me in BoS but I didn’t quite connect with them during this book either. The Barons seemed so dark & mysterious in previous instalments but so far they come across quite bland for my taste. I’m glad there was some progress in our main storyline, whilst it’s enough to keep me interested in the Forsyth Universe I’m not sure if that’s enough to keep me hooked to the Barons.
Whilst the series seems to be declining in quality for me I don’t think I can give up on Forsyth, I’m hoping the final Barons book will be better and I’m holding out hope that Angel Lawson will improve her writing skills (and hopefully recognise timeline & continuity errors) by the time we get to the Counts. I’ve made it through 2 kickstarters and 11 books, I’ve made it too far to quit now 😅🥲
April 10, 2026
Truely devastated with the demise of this series.
April 29, 2026
*heavy sigh*
⭐️ 2.75
🌶️ 3
This was an improvement from Barons of Decay, however, I am still really missing Samantha Rue’s part of what made this series so good. It makes me so sad what Barons could have been with her involvement because I was the most excited for their house.
I will say, the only thing keeping me reading the series still is that the plot of the missing girls was genuinely interesting. That is really the only positive I have. However, it really didn’t start until 40ish percent, so I was contemplating DNF’ing until then.
I still don’t like Ari, and I’m really bummed about that. She had the potential to be such a strong and independent FMC, but instead we got a woman acting like a preteen with her tantrums and never using her brain. She was better than the last book, but again, that isn’t saying much.
The Barons are forgettable to me. It took me until about halfway into the book to even be able to tell who is who because they both have the personality of baked potatoes.
The BK himself is the biggest disappointment. I was so hoping he would be involved in the “harem” but now that he is, I hate it. His personality has done a complete 180 from how he was written in every other Forsyth book and he isn’t the big bad dominant man he was. The whole daddy and daughter sexual comments also really rubbed me the wrong way 🤢
There was a lot of spice, however I couldn’t get into any of the scenes. I either didn’t care about any of their relationships, or there was something that gave me such a strong ick. I got to the point eventually I was reading the spicy scenes with one eye shut because I was physically eye rolling from some of them.
All in all, I’m so sad of what could have been if Sam got to keep writing. She was clearly the magic.
⭐️ 2.75
🌶️ 3
This was an improvement from Barons of Decay, however, I am still really missing Samantha Rue’s part of what made this series so good. It makes me so sad what Barons could have been with her involvement because I was the most excited for their house.
I will say, the only thing keeping me reading the series still is that the plot of the missing girls was genuinely interesting. That is really the only positive I have. However, it really didn’t start until 40ish percent, so I was contemplating DNF’ing until then.
I still don’t like Ari, and I’m really bummed about that. She had the potential to be such a strong and independent FMC, but instead we got a woman acting like a preteen with her tantrums and never using her brain. She was better than the last book, but again, that isn’t saying much.
The Barons are forgettable to me. It took me until about halfway into the book to even be able to tell who is who because they both have the personality of baked potatoes.
The BK himself is the biggest disappointment. I was so hoping he would be involved in the “harem” but now that he is, I hate it. His personality has done a complete 180 from how he was written in every other Forsyth book and he isn’t the big bad dominant man he was. The whole daddy and daughter sexual comments also really rubbed me the wrong way 🤢
There was a lot of spice, however I couldn’t get into any of the scenes. I either didn’t care about any of their relationships, or there was something that gave me such a strong ick. I got to the point eventually I was reading the spicy scenes with one eye shut because I was physically eye rolling from some of them.
All in all, I’m so sad of what could have been if Sam got to keep writing. She was clearly the magic.
April 16, 2026
This series lives rent-free in my head. I have sooo many theories and speculations. Can't wait to dive back into the world of Forsyth with BoS!! (9/21/25)
Just finished. Come back 4/30 for the honest review. (2/26/26)
I honestly felt that characters were not as we were shown. They felt really different from what we had read on in previous books. The Baron King (I loved him) doesn't really appeal to me as he used to. The ending felt kind of rushed and out of nowhere as did the romance.
I am deeply saddened that I could not give you all a better review, but I am always honest.
This is my bittersweet goodbye to the world of ROFU. (4/16/26)
Just finished. Come back 4/30 for the honest review. (2/26/26)
I honestly felt that characters were not as we were shown. They felt really different from what we had read on in previous books. The Baron King (I loved him) doesn't really appeal to me as he used to. The ending felt kind of rushed and out of nowhere as did the romance.
I am deeply saddened that I could not give you all a better review, but I am always honest.
This is my bittersweet goodbye to the world of ROFU. (4/16/26)
April 15, 2026
The perfect example of wasted potential.
April 24, 2026
This book feels like it's missing something critical that the earlier trilogies in this series had. I am not convinced that our FMC is "strong" just because the men she's basically enslaved to are proud of her for wanting to be tortured by them. Honestly, this series just isn't telling the story I want to hear anymore - because what I wanted was for Ari to realize that she can have a personality separate from being "raised for" serving powerful men.
Also, I really liked the Barons in the previous books when they were in the background, but I find I don't like it quite so much when they're demystified. It feels like the sense of keeping things secret & carrying the secrets of the rest of the gangs that was their vibe in the previous books just isn't true anymore. And it's wildly disingenuous for them to care SO much about the missing girls plot when the point of these series is that the frats before their Queens rise don't think that women are people. And there's some big "reveals" later in the book that's information that the reader already has from previous trilogies, but the characters of this series are like shocked by it - and I really don't feel like the reveal is that shocking in comparison to stuff we see happen on page that we know that the barons are aware of and actively assisting in covering up & making disappear. It just feels like they lost the callous, uncaring, black-robed sentinel of Death thing that the Barons are supposed to have going on.
It was still a really propulsive story that kept me reading, but I don't like the relationships between any of the characters, and I don't see those relationships developing the way that I would want them to, so overall I have to rate this very low.
Also, I really liked the Barons in the previous books when they were in the background, but I find I don't like it quite so much when they're demystified. It feels like the sense of keeping things secret & carrying the secrets of the rest of the gangs that was their vibe in the previous books just isn't true anymore. And it's wildly disingenuous for them to care SO much about the missing girls plot when the point of these series is that the frats before their Queens rise don't think that women are people. And there's some big "reveals" later in the book that's information that the reader already has from previous trilogies, but the characters of this series are like shocked by it - and I really don't feel like the reveal is that shocking in comparison to stuff we see happen on page that we know that the barons are aware of and actively assisting in covering up & making disappear. It just feels like they lost the callous, uncaring, black-robed sentinel of Death thing that the Barons are supposed to have going on.
It was still a really propulsive story that kept me reading, but I don't like the relationships between any of the characters, and I don't see those relationships developing the way that I would want them to, so overall I have to rate this very low.
April 22, 2026
I can't do it anymore.. DNF at 49%. I've been trying to finish this ARC for almost a month and im finally calling it.
The biggest problem i have with this book is Timothy Maddox. We have been chanting "DEATH TO THE KING" since this whole series started. I tried to like him, I really did but he gives me the biggest ICK. Everytime I read his POV, it took me DAYS to read bc I just want him to stfu. Timmy needs to eat a fucking bullet. Im too loyal to Remy, Timmy doesnt deserve a redemption arc.
I even read the last chapter in the book to see if that'll keep me interested but sadly, it wasnt enough. And to me, thats very telling.
*SPOILERS*
I also feel very let down. Like The Fury! We get Pretty Nick and Killian in the ring and what happens? Ari gets fingered by Timmy during the fight and the guys tie. The whole thing was only 7 PAGES!! WHAT! I was so excited and scared for my boys only for it to be nothing.
And the Noctis Crucem ritual? You're gonna tell me that 40 frat guys cum in a big bowl only to write 5 cum symbols on her.. I dont think the Barons would waste that much cum for something so simple and stupid. "The House of Night may be healed, and be reborn with the seeds of Beta Rho Nu" bitch please.. Story and Verity had it MUCH worse with all their frat guys during their books.
Im disappointed. I know I shouldn't compare to the other trilogies, but I can't help it. They set such a high bar and it seems like it can't be reached without the other half of Forsyth U.
Im still not convinced that Ari will become the Baroness Forsyth needs or that the Barons become the badasses we were promised and Timmy...?
DEATH TO THE KING.
*I will try to finish this book but in my own time since im struggling to get through it* 4/21/26
Later, Doll Baby 😫
ARC READER
RTC
The biggest problem i have with this book is Timothy Maddox. We have been chanting "DEATH TO THE KING" since this whole series started. I tried to like him, I really did but he gives me the biggest ICK. Everytime I read his POV, it took me DAYS to read bc I just want him to stfu. Timmy needs to eat a fucking bullet. Im too loyal to Remy, Timmy doesnt deserve a redemption arc.
I even read the last chapter in the book to see if that'll keep me interested but sadly, it wasnt enough. And to me, thats very telling.
*SPOILERS*
I also feel very let down. Like The Fury! We get Pretty Nick and Killian in the ring and what happens? Ari gets fingered by Timmy during the fight and the guys tie. The whole thing was only 7 PAGES!! WHAT! I was so excited and scared for my boys only for it to be nothing.
And the Noctis Crucem ritual? You're gonna tell me that 40 frat guys cum in a big bowl only to write 5 cum symbols on her.. I dont think the Barons would waste that much cum for something so simple and stupid. "The House of Night may be healed, and be reborn with the seeds of Beta Rho Nu" bitch please.. Story and Verity had it MUCH worse with all their frat guys during their books.
Im disappointed. I know I shouldn't compare to the other trilogies, but I can't help it. They set such a high bar and it seems like it can't be reached without the other half of Forsyth U.
Im still not convinced that Ari will become the Baroness Forsyth needs or that the Barons become the badasses we were promised and Timmy...?
DEATH TO THE KING.
*I will try to finish this book but in my own time since im struggling to get through it* 4/21/26
Later, Doll Baby 😫
ARC READER
RTC
May 3, 2026
The Barons aren't hitting like the other groups in the series. The mmcs aren't as good as the previous mmcs. I really like aspects of the book like the mystery of the missing girls but i think that is the only reason i'm finishing the series is to find out who is behind it. I found myself skimming some pages. This one was better than barons of decay! I did like the fmc more after this book! I was able to understand the characters a bit more. I hope the final baron book will live up to my expectation!
April 29, 2026
Book Review – Barons of Sorrow (ARC)
I went into Barons of Sorrow really hoping to fall back in love with this world - and while I didn’t hate it, it didn’t hit the same as the earlier Forsyth books for me. As an ARC reader, I could see the potential here, especially with the darker themes and the continuation of the larger plot, but something just felt… off.
The biggest issue for me was the connection - both between the characters and with the reader. The Barons, who used to feel mysterious and intimidating, lost a lot of that edge, and I struggled to really latch onto their individual personalities. The romance also felt more told than shown, which made it harder to fully invest in the relationships.
That being said, I am still intrigued by the overarching storyline (especially the missing girls plot). There are moments where you can see what this book could have been, and I’m hoping the next installment leans into that more.
Overall, not my favorite in the series, but not a total miss either - more of a “I’m still here, but I need more” kind of read.
I went into Barons of Sorrow really hoping to fall back in love with this world - and while I didn’t hate it, it didn’t hit the same as the earlier Forsyth books for me. As an ARC reader, I could see the potential here, especially with the darker themes and the continuation of the larger plot, but something just felt… off.
The biggest issue for me was the connection - both between the characters and with the reader. The Barons, who used to feel mysterious and intimidating, lost a lot of that edge, and I struggled to really latch onto their individual personalities. The romance also felt more told than shown, which made it harder to fully invest in the relationships.
That being said, I am still intrigued by the overarching storyline (especially the missing girls plot). There are moments where you can see what this book could have been, and I’m hoping the next installment leans into that more.
Overall, not my favorite in the series, but not a total miss either - more of a “I’m still here, but I need more” kind of read.
April 15, 2026
More Barons...
Let me start off with saying that I love the majority of the characters, but I still can't seem to get my brain on board with one King... Anyway, it took me longer to finish this one than typical, pretty sure its me, but I could only handle a chapter here and there. The story doesn't read like the others, but it is still enjoyable. The ending was a bit crazy, but knowing that world, it was exactly what I was expecting. I have more questions than answers and I cannot wait for the next one to hopefully wrap it all up and maybe I will get on board with a certain someone..
Let me start off with saying that I love the majority of the characters, but I still can't seem to get my brain on board with one King... Anyway, it took me longer to finish this one than typical, pretty sure its me, but I could only handle a chapter here and there. The story doesn't read like the others, but it is still enjoyable. The ending was a bit crazy, but knowing that world, it was exactly what I was expecting. I have more questions than answers and I cannot wait for the next one to hopefully wrap it all up and maybe I will get on board with a certain someone..
April 8, 2026
I absolutely hated Barons of Decay so I wasnt expecting much from this, however, I was pleasantly surprised. I still think Ari is the weakest female character but she's growing on me. DK, Hunter and even the King (who I hated) are much improved. I also felt that the returning characters seemed like themselves and it's always fun to "see" them again. I'm enjoying the mystery story line, as well, and I'm excited to see where that goes.
The reason I'm only giving this three stars is because the story dragged at parts, the Noctis Crucem was lame and I just wanted more angst/intensity. Overall, though, this is a solid addition to the Forsyth world.
The reason I'm only giving this three stars is because the story dragged at parts, the Noctis Crucem was lame and I just wanted more angst/intensity. Overall, though, this is a solid addition to the Forsyth world.
April 13, 2026
The Barons have yet to steal my heart the way The Lords, The Dukes, and The Princes have. Don't get me wrong, I'm still in this for the long haul and enjoying the reads. And while I love the plotline about the missing girls and I aminvested in the story, I'm just lacking some sense of connection with these characters. It felt a bit slow paced, though I will say, it did end on a great note that left me looking forward to the next book in the series.
Read
May 11, 2026I'm in mourning for the Barons we could have had. I miss Sam, this isn't Forsyth and I'm honestly bored of the Barons they aren't as dark and mysterious as they should be and all 3 of them read the same and have no personality. Ari has no back bone and just accepts stuff and things. If Sam and Angel ever become friends again and do a re-write honestly just take all my money because this book like the last one isn't it. Disappointed again 😔
Side characters don't even read like themselves any more if you can't do them how they were don't mention them. Like Sy doing hypnotism as if that's something his mum would do and why didn't BK just get that b#tch therapist Remy had in Duke her manipulating the situation would read so much better and make sense than Sy reading as someone else 🙄😒 Remy doesn't read like Remy anymore 💔😭 he's got no colours, and a tattoo on the face just like Nick has I'm over these similarities 💔
Side characters don't even read like themselves any more if you can't do them how they were don't mention them. Like Sy doing hypnotism as if that's something his mum would do and why didn't BK just get that b#tch therapist Remy had in Duke her manipulating the situation would read so much better and make sense than Sy reading as someone else 🙄😒 Remy doesn't read like Remy anymore 💔😭 he's got no colours, and a tattoo on the face just like Nick has I'm over these similarities 💔
May 10, 2026
This just doesn’t hit the same as some of the earlier books. And if I read “Doll Baby” one more time I’m gonna throw my phone. And I get why Arianette is the way she is but I’m so annoyed by her, I don’t need a mentally unstable unreliable narrator FMC. OH who likes to suck 🍆 when she’s stressed like a freaking pacifier 🙃 at this point I just wanna know how this all ends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️ So much Sorrow for this trilogy........
Let’s jump right in…
The mystery of who is behind the disappearances has been a great hook for many of us readers and what kept me invested, especially waiting on the proof of Ballsy’s innocence.
However, the missing girls plot feels tired and overly familiar at this point. Put it to rest.
Apparently, kink is not the author’s forte.
The piercing scenes fall flat and grow repetitive, particularly with the incessant tugging on Arianette’s fresh, healing piercings, something that feels painfully overdone and unrealistic to anyone who has piercings IRL.
Speaking of Arianette, she still comes off as deeply irritating: a total pushover, weak-willed, and disappointingly spineless, the Royals’ pets had more character and fight. As DK aptly puts it for us in his own words, “I can’t ever tell if the Baroness is dumb, clueless, or just lost in her own head.”
The Baron King we encountered before was a stoic, controlled, and darkly enigmatic figure, always two steps ahead. But in this installment, he devolves into a petulant, hot-headed child prone to tantrums and immature jealousy. The formidable Baron King of earlier books is effectively gone. Daddy Maddy is still giving off a discount Batman storyline. Rich upper-class man by day, mysterious "Baron King of Darkness" by night.
The absolute frustration over so many recycled elements like ownership markings, themes, and timelines not flowing OR remixed from the earlier books and characters ....
🚩 If you look back to the Duke’s trilogy: Sy met with the Baron King, Regina has visible pentagram tattoo on her lower back that Sy can clearly see. The scarred pentacle etched into Arianette’s chest is heavy vibing from Story being marked in the fun house in Lords for me.
🚩 In prior books the Countess wore a choker/collar.
🚩 In Barons we come across a girl who has a tattoo of a snake on her lower back, indicating that she's “Count’s property”.....
❓A glaring mix-up between marks of ownership across houses? Or an author who doesn't care to review her prior material......I guess “timeline math is hard, yo”!
🚩 Arianette’s suffers punishment by being caged, mirroring Lavinia’s fate in Dukes.
🚩 Graves is still an unimpressive knock-off of Danner from our Princes.
🚩 The concept of rebirth and cleansing is frequently referenced, as it was in Princes.
🚩 Finally, Arianette’s act of rescuing a kitten, of ALL animals, felt like a cliché ripped straight from Dukes, it fell flat rather than adding any charm.
In sum the book struggles with originality and character development,
often leaning heavily on repetitive tropes and underwhelming character portrayals.
Let’s jump right in…
The mystery of who is behind the disappearances has been a great hook for many of us readers and what kept me invested, especially waiting on the proof of Ballsy’s innocence.
However, the missing girls plot feels tired and overly familiar at this point. Put it to rest.
Apparently, kink is not the author’s forte.
The piercing scenes fall flat and grow repetitive, particularly with the incessant tugging on Arianette’s fresh, healing piercings, something that feels painfully overdone and unrealistic to anyone who has piercings IRL.
Speaking of Arianette, she still comes off as deeply irritating: a total pushover, weak-willed, and disappointingly spineless, the Royals’ pets had more character and fight. As DK aptly puts it for us in his own words, “I can’t ever tell if the Baroness is dumb, clueless, or just lost in her own head.”
The Baron King we encountered before was a stoic, controlled, and darkly enigmatic figure, always two steps ahead. But in this installment, he devolves into a petulant, hot-headed child prone to tantrums and immature jealousy. The formidable Baron King of earlier books is effectively gone. Daddy Maddy is still giving off a discount Batman storyline. Rich upper-class man by day, mysterious "Baron King of Darkness" by night.
The absolute frustration over so many recycled elements like ownership markings, themes, and timelines not flowing OR remixed from the earlier books and characters ....
🚩 If you look back to the Duke’s trilogy: Sy met with the Baron King, Regina has visible pentagram tattoo on her lower back that Sy can clearly see. The scarred pentacle etched into Arianette’s chest is heavy vibing from Story being marked in the fun house in Lords for me.
🚩 In prior books the Countess wore a choker/collar.
🚩 In Barons we come across a girl who has a tattoo of a snake on her lower back, indicating that she's “Count’s property”.....
❓A glaring mix-up between marks of ownership across houses? Or an author who doesn't care to review her prior material......I guess “timeline math is hard, yo”!
🚩 Arianette’s suffers punishment by being caged, mirroring Lavinia’s fate in Dukes.
🚩 Graves is still an unimpressive knock-off of Danner from our Princes.
🚩 The concept of rebirth and cleansing is frequently referenced, as it was in Princes.
🚩 Finally, Arianette’s act of rescuing a kitten, of ALL animals, felt like a cliché ripped straight from Dukes, it fell flat rather than adding any charm.
In sum the book struggles with originality and character development,
often leaning heavily on repetitive tropes and underwhelming character portrayals.
April 18, 2026
Ok, I was VERY skeptical about liking the Barons trilogy due to Sam no longer co-writing with Angel, but I have officially eaten my words.
This is my absolute comfort series. Nothing else compares to me.
And Angel killed this one!
She gave crumbs of everyone we’ve come to love throughout the first 10 books, while still continuing to build the mystery surrounding what is going on in Forsyth with all the missing girls.
We got a few more answers, but just enough to keep you hanging on for the last of the Barons books.
And I have to say, Angel has some of the most beautiful, lyrical writing I’ve seen yet in this series.
“Masks upon masks, layers upon layers, unearthing the decay and sorrow and torment that festers beneath this city.”
“Memento Mori” 🖤
This is my absolute comfort series. Nothing else compares to me.
And Angel killed this one!
She gave crumbs of everyone we’ve come to love throughout the first 10 books, while still continuing to build the mystery surrounding what is going on in Forsyth with all the missing girls.
We got a few more answers, but just enough to keep you hanging on for the last of the Barons books.
And I have to say, Angel has some of the most beautiful, lyrical writing I’ve seen yet in this series.
“Masks upon masks, layers upon layers, unearthing the decay and sorrow and torment that festers beneath this city.”
“Memento Mori” 🖤
April 7, 2026
I went into Barons of Sorrow by Angel Lawson totally ready for dark, twisted chaos, and honestly, I had a great time... even if my brain kept asking “girl, what is happening.”
This book is messy. Like, full-on dramatic, confusing, emotional rollercoaster messy. And weirdly, I kind of loved that. It gave off this chaotic energy that made it hard to stop reading, even when I wasn’t sure what planet the story was on.
The pacing is fast, sometimes too fast. Scenes jump around, and I found myself thinking, did I miss something or did we just move on without me? It felt rushed now and then, but also added to the wild ride vibe that made me keep flipping pages.
I kept waiting for the story to go super dark and brutal since that’s what I expected, but it leaned more toward emotional confusion with a side of spice. Not exactly what I thought I’d get, but still entertaining. The characters didn’t hit quite as hard as in the earlier books. Some of the Barons blended together for me, and I definitely mixed up names once or twice. But they’re such beautiful disasters that I couldn’t help caring. These people are walking red flags, and yet somehow I wanted them all to be okay.
story ⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Darkness 🖤🖤
This book is messy. Like, full-on dramatic, confusing, emotional rollercoaster messy. And weirdly, I kind of loved that. It gave off this chaotic energy that made it hard to stop reading, even when I wasn’t sure what planet the story was on.
The pacing is fast, sometimes too fast. Scenes jump around, and I found myself thinking, did I miss something or did we just move on without me? It felt rushed now and then, but also added to the wild ride vibe that made me keep flipping pages.
I kept waiting for the story to go super dark and brutal since that’s what I expected, but it leaned more toward emotional confusion with a side of spice. Not exactly what I thought I’d get, but still entertaining. The characters didn’t hit quite as hard as in the earlier books. Some of the Barons blended together for me, and I definitely mixed up names once or twice. But they’re such beautiful disasters that I couldn’t help caring. These people are walking red flags, and yet somehow I wanted them all to be okay.
story ⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Darkness 🖤🖤
May 8, 2026
Overall:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
Romance:💜💜
I have enjoyed my adventure into the world of Forsyth University and still plan on finishing trilogy and last Frat house- The counts.
Barons of Sorrow improved a bit from Barons of Decay but unlike all the other trilogies; I still don’t feel connected and invested into the Barons, Baroness, and their King… The character development for me falls flat and do not seem fully developed even into book 2 of 3. The other complete trilogies each MMC stood out and had their own personality. I still have a hard time remembering which MMC is which with Barons of Sorrow and end up re-reading sections sometimes to make sure I understood who was in the scene.
The main plot line of figuring out who is taking the missing girls is what has kept me going with the trilogy and Ball sack being proved innocent. It feels like such a big part of the story line but is slow moving currently with Ari slowly getting her memories back with her flashbacks through the book.
I really wanted to like Ari but I still don’t. She is way too meek and just attention seeking compared to the other royal ladies. I really thought we would see her come into her own and become the strong royal we usually see the FMC start to become in book 2 but it all is just whiny attention seeking behavior thrown together with going from virgin to kinky freak in snap of a fingers. I know the baroness just like all the other royal women are their to serve her boys and the king but they all had experience to an extent or an understanding. Ari has been completely sheltered and just groomed to be a show piece and perform like a good housewife.
The Barons house as a whole changed so much from the creepy slinking around campus and that they would just appear out of nowhere to being more noticeable/ presents around campus. I feel letdown when it comes to the BK and the shift in his personality/ behaviors compare to his presents and the interactions with him in the prior books. He doesn’t give off the big bad feared dominant energy previously felt when reading scenes, he has been in. Like his man servant – Graves seem to be more in control and making decisions for the house than the BK is.
I don’t plan on giving up on the Forsyth universe because I have come too far and too invested in series to quit now. I really hope to see improvement in the final book of the trilogy. Fingers crossed for new spicy scenes for the Barons and Baroness and when Angel starts the counts.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🌶️
Romance:💜💜
I have enjoyed my adventure into the world of Forsyth University and still plan on finishing trilogy and last Frat house- The counts.
Barons of Sorrow improved a bit from Barons of Decay but unlike all the other trilogies; I still don’t feel connected and invested into the Barons, Baroness, and their King… The character development for me falls flat and do not seem fully developed even into book 2 of 3. The other complete trilogies each MMC stood out and had their own personality. I still have a hard time remembering which MMC is which with Barons of Sorrow and end up re-reading sections sometimes to make sure I understood who was in the scene.
The main plot line of figuring out who is taking the missing girls is what has kept me going with the trilogy and Ball sack being proved innocent. It feels like such a big part of the story line but is slow moving currently with Ari slowly getting her memories back with her flashbacks through the book.
I really wanted to like Ari but I still don’t. She is way too meek and just attention seeking compared to the other royal ladies. I really thought we would see her come into her own and become the strong royal we usually see the FMC start to become in book 2 but it all is just whiny attention seeking behavior thrown together with going from virgin to kinky freak in snap of a fingers. I know the baroness just like all the other royal women are their to serve her boys and the king but they all had experience to an extent or an understanding. Ari has been completely sheltered and just groomed to be a show piece and perform like a good housewife.
The Barons house as a whole changed so much from the creepy slinking around campus and that they would just appear out of nowhere to being more noticeable/ presents around campus. I feel letdown when it comes to the BK and the shift in his personality/ behaviors compare to his presents and the interactions with him in the prior books. He doesn’t give off the big bad feared dominant energy previously felt when reading scenes, he has been in. Like his man servant – Graves seem to be more in control and making decisions for the house than the BK is.
I don’t plan on giving up on the Forsyth universe because I have come too far and too invested in series to quit now. I really hope to see improvement in the final book of the trilogy. Fingers crossed for new spicy scenes for the Barons and Baroness and when Angel starts the counts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2026
I was a little scared to start this book as I love the series but did not enjoy the last book. However I was pleasantly surprised by my enjoyment of this book. It seems that what I loved from the previous trilogies seeped its way back into this book.
April 6, 2026
I've said in many reviews this year (and probably last year - what is time?) that I have struggled to read more often than not but returning to one of my favorite RH universes - Forsyth U - is always a welcome reprieve from my reading ennui.
This series is broken into trilogies, each set focusing on one heroine and three heroes. While each trilogy has a HEA for each group romantically, at 11 books in things are so enmeshed and overlapping that I do feel like you need to read from the beginning, in order, to be able to follow the overarching story line for the series. Barons of Sorrow is the second book in the Barons trilogy, so if you haven't started this trilogy (or the world, I would stop reading this review now!)
Barons is the first trilogy written solely by Angel Lawson (previous trilogies were a duo writing team of Angel and Samantha Rue) and as I said in my review of Barons of Decay, there is-of course-a difference in writing overall but I am no less entertained!
A hallmark of Forsyth is the kinky steamy times and the Barons show up and out in that regard too! While I personally could ALWAYS do with more Daddy kink I understand it is a polarizing kink so those that don't like it will be glad to hear that relatively there is not really much of that despite the Baron King being so Daddy and right there for it! LOL! I was definitely happy with the other kinky times - I know there is a list floating around out there if you are curious to be spoiled on it all.
Though steam is always a major factor for me so it gets first mention, this sophomore Baron book also provides movement on the missing girls mystery, deepening emotional relationships between the Barons and their Baroness, and many cameos of past, well-loved Forysth characters. Not to mention a climactic ending that has you wondering what the heck is coming next in their finale! Looking forward to it, as always.
4.5 Stars
This series is broken into trilogies, each set focusing on one heroine and three heroes. While each trilogy has a HEA for each group romantically, at 11 books in things are so enmeshed and overlapping that I do feel like you need to read from the beginning, in order, to be able to follow the overarching story line for the series. Barons of Sorrow is the second book in the Barons trilogy, so if you haven't started this trilogy (or the world, I would stop reading this review now!)
Barons is the first trilogy written solely by Angel Lawson (previous trilogies were a duo writing team of Angel and Samantha Rue) and as I said in my review of Barons of Decay, there is-of course-a difference in writing overall but I am no less entertained!
A hallmark of Forsyth is the kinky steamy times and the Barons show up and out in that regard too! While I personally could ALWAYS do with more Daddy kink I understand it is a polarizing kink so those that don't like it will be glad to hear that relatively there is not really much of that despite the Baron King being so Daddy and right there for it! LOL! I was definitely happy with the other kinky times - I know there is a list floating around out there if you are curious to be spoiled on it all.
Though steam is always a major factor for me so it gets first mention, this sophomore Baron book also provides movement on the missing girls mystery, deepening emotional relationships between the Barons and their Baroness, and many cameos of past, well-loved Forysth characters. Not to mention a climactic ending that has you wondering what the heck is coming next in their finale! Looking forward to it, as always.
4.5 Stars
May 3, 2026
I flipping love these books and this series. They are usually good for saucy scenes and I like the under lying plot across the series. I usually dont look any deeper than that and i probably wont be for the rest of the series either. That being said was this my favourite book in the series? No but the barons havent been my favourite set either so maybe its just me. For me it is Dukes, Lords, Princes and Barons. Thats not to say i think these books are awful. They still fill the trigger warning books that I like to read that dont involve alot of brain power for the plot.
Im still trying to understand how it went from the last book it was interesting to see inside a Kings head , to this book where it kind of felt like he was one of the 'boys'. For a man that was praised for having control he seemed to be stroppy and lose it a bit.
again not a complete ruiner for me but just confusing. Cant wait to see how it all wraps up in the 3rd book for this series
Im still trying to understand how it went from the last book it was interesting to see inside a Kings head , to this book where it kind of felt like he was one of the 'boys'. For a man that was praised for having control he seemed to be stroppy and lose it a bit.
again not a complete ruiner for me but just confusing. Cant wait to see how it all wraps up in the 3rd book for this series
April 7, 2026
4.5 out of 5 is what I would give this book, but as Stars I would say 5 cause again this rating is for me and how it impacted me as a reader, and to me it’s a memorable one.
I have to say for me personally, The Barons are Ranking to be my number 1 in the entires series only because I really clicked with this one for some reason.
This book kept my attention throughout, and I loved how long this book was and it flowed really well for me.
There’s growth and they are visibly becoming a unit and thoroughly entertaining and kept me engaged and motivated to solve the mysteries 😆
Heat wise definitely 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance and Relationship: MFMM, so far female focused, the romance is growing visibly even if reluctant.
Suspense and Drama is equally tied in this book, you’re just waiting to see what’s around the corner in each chapter, I’m loving the keeping on your toes feeling.
To be honest I love all the guys a lot, but the King is surpassing with flying colors.
When the Audiobook comes out I will be adding that to this review, I’m eagerly anticipating it.
Can wait to see what’s next for the Barons, and I have my suspects 😆😉
I have to say for me personally, The Barons are Ranking to be my number 1 in the entires series only because I really clicked with this one for some reason.
This book kept my attention throughout, and I loved how long this book was and it flowed really well for me.
There’s growth and they are visibly becoming a unit and thoroughly entertaining and kept me engaged and motivated to solve the mysteries 😆
Heat wise definitely 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Romance and Relationship: MFMM, so far female focused, the romance is growing visibly even if reluctant.
Suspense and Drama is equally tied in this book, you’re just waiting to see what’s around the corner in each chapter, I’m loving the keeping on your toes feeling.
To be honest I love all the guys a lot, but the King is surpassing with flying colors.
When the Audiobook comes out I will be adding that to this review, I’m eagerly anticipating it.
Can wait to see what’s next for the Barons, and I have my suspects 😆😉
April 6, 2026
I need more Daddy in my life!
The Barons, a group of misfits, have found their way. Not only as individuals, but as a group. After the last Barons book, I really had no idea what to expect. Yes, we get more clues and a LOT more answers to the ongoing mystery. By the end, my jaw was hanging open and I was already desperate for the next book. I have no idea how I will wait! I need to know what will happen because it ends it utter chaos!
As far as the relationships, I don't want to spoil, but I love them. The rocky dynamics we saw in Decay...change. In a dramatic and fantastic way. In a way that kept me turning the page to read what was going to happen next. And these four? Their spark and chemistry?
They fit.
On a technical point, the prose in this novel had me in awe. It was artistically gorgeous. I highlighted and meditated on several sentences like they were tasty treats. From subtle descriptors to the "I've been there before" feelings they evoked, just stellar work.
Cannot wait for the next book, especially after reading the bonus scene... (IYKYK)
The Barons, a group of misfits, have found their way. Not only as individuals, but as a group. After the last Barons book, I really had no idea what to expect. Yes, we get more clues and a LOT more answers to the ongoing mystery. By the end, my jaw was hanging open and I was already desperate for the next book. I have no idea how I will wait! I need to know what will happen because it ends it utter chaos!
As far as the relationships, I don't want to spoil, but I love them. The rocky dynamics we saw in Decay...change. In a dramatic and fantastic way. In a way that kept me turning the page to read what was going to happen next. And these four? Their spark and chemistry?
They fit.
On a technical point, the prose in this novel had me in awe. It was artistically gorgeous. I highlighted and meditated on several sentences like they were tasty treats. From subtle descriptors to the "I've been there before" feelings they evoked, just stellar work.
Cannot wait for the next book, especially after reading the bonus scene... (IYKYK)
April 8, 2026
one word: redemption
i honestly did not like the first barons at all but this one blew me out of the water. I understood this was the first series where the authors split and it was obvious in the writing in the first one- but she learned her lesson and wrote a great book that reminded me of the books before.
i was against the group not knowing eachother because i really enjoyed the found family trope but it did not seem to matter here. the characters were more fleshed out and i loved how they all developed together.
the mystery is still ehhh to me? how long have we been on this missing girl plot….i mean its probably because they want it to be pushed into the counts- WHICH i believe the sofia girl who was mentioned is going to be the next leading lady
also if you haven’t read the bonus scene ignore but uhhh i thought lars was dead ? 😭😭😭 i thought all the counts were? who knows interested to see!
the spice? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
ifykyk but the way they calm her down >>> AHHHH!!
i am so excited for the next book! i’m happy to enjoy being back in forsyth!
i honestly did not like the first barons at all but this one blew me out of the water. I understood this was the first series where the authors split and it was obvious in the writing in the first one- but she learned her lesson and wrote a great book that reminded me of the books before.
i was against the group not knowing eachother because i really enjoyed the found family trope but it did not seem to matter here. the characters were more fleshed out and i loved how they all developed together.
the mystery is still ehhh to me? how long have we been on this missing girl plot….i mean its probably because they want it to be pushed into the counts- WHICH i believe the sofia girl who was mentioned is going to be the next leading lady
also if you haven’t read the bonus scene ignore but uhhh i thought lars was dead ? 😭😭😭 i thought all the counts were? who knows interested to see!
the spice? 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
ifykyk but the way they calm her down >>> AHHHH!!
i am so excited for the next book! i’m happy to enjoy being back in forsyth!
April 6, 2026
Barons of Sorrow by Angel Lawson was honestly so good. Like one of those books you start and suddenly it’s 2 a.m. and you’re still saying “just one more chapter.”
The whole world with the Barons and that mix of power, control, and emotion just pulls you in fast. The characters are messy in the best way, and the relationships are intense and a little toxic but in that way you can’t look away from.
There’s so much tension the entire time, and it keeps building without ever feeling slow. If you like dark romance with morally gray characters and high stakes, this one absolutely delivers. I’m still thinking about it days later, which says a lot.
The whole world with the Barons and that mix of power, control, and emotion just pulls you in fast. The characters are messy in the best way, and the relationships are intense and a little toxic but in that way you can’t look away from.
There’s so much tension the entire time, and it keeps building without ever feeling slow. If you like dark romance with morally gray characters and high stakes, this one absolutely delivers. I’m still thinking about it days later, which says a lot.
April 8, 2026
Ooooooof that ending! The mystery of the missing girls in Forsyth is truly chilling and genuinely has me a bit spooked. I love DK in this one, he’s so sweet. I’m still on the fence with Hunter and godddddd one minute I love Timothy and the next I loathe him. Ari is a wonderful and chaotic fmc. Can’t wait for the next one.
April 11, 2026
I love a good Angel Lawson mystery! This book started out slow for me but quickly built traction, sending me into a binge spiral. For the first time in a long time, I was pulled in by the mystery of this story first until Daddy Baron stepped it up a notch. Can’t wait for the next book to see how this dynamic fully comes together and how this Queen takes the throne.
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