The Queen's strength will be tested, but she is the most formidable when protecting her Kings.
I was never supposed to survive Wayward Academy.
They called me fragile. A pawn. A girl too soft to stand against kings built from cruelty and blood. But every scar carved me into something harder. Every betrayal made me stronger. Every loss turned me into the one thing they never saw coming…their Queen.
Now the board has changed. My enemies are closer, their knives aimed at the people I love most. My Kings are at my side, but even they can’t shield me from the truth—power has a price. But I’m done letting others decide what my price will be.
Because I’m not the only queen they should fear. My mother’s secrets are rising from the shadows, ready to burn the game to ash.
This is my reckoning. My redemption. My crown.
Vexatious Queen is the explosive conclusion to the dark mafia, sports, academy romance series, The Kings of Wayward Academy. Packed with obsession, betrayal, redemption, and a love fierce enough to survive the ruin. Ren’s story ends here with a checkmate no king can see coming.
Writing is not just a passion for me. It is a lifeline to my sanity.
I have always loved writing but suffer from severe dyslexia and short-term memory retention issues. I struggled in school while I worked every night on re-training my brain.
I was frequently treated like I would never succeed, and I found myself putting my love for writing on a shelf.
Even at the age of six, I found it easier to communicate with animals than people, which was a big reason why I was drawn to dressage horseback riding. I remained focused on my passion for riding until I had to step away from the competition world for personal reasons.
Today, my desire for writing and storytelling has been rekindled. I have published multiple books and will never let anyone or anything hold me back again. I am a proud romance author who offers my readers morally grey heroes, a ton of spice, epic journeys, and redemption stories. -Follow Your Dreams-
Wasn't my favorite in the series but still enjoyed it. Felt rushed and the dynamic was so focused on only Nash and Ren it felt lacking. The whole Myles and Blake thing was a weird curve ball that wasn't really resolved within the story so it felt really unnecessary. Still a great series and I'm still happy with the outcomes, just wanted a little more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
When I say I LOVED this series I mean it! I’m still not a Nash girl. I like his redemption arc. But I still don’t think he fits the group! But I will say I was kind of disappointed in this book. I feel like there was too many POVs so it took away from the story! Also what the hell is introducing Myles and Blake making out but never bringing it back up again??? I loved the series as a whole but I didn’t like this last book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Infinite Stars. The Kings of Wayward Academy by Brooklyn Cross is by far one of my all-time favorite series that I have ever read. And Vexatious Queen is one of the best finales to a series. Emotionally explosive and powerful this is the culmination each previous book has led us to. The Kings and Ren continue to evolve and grow their unconventional relationship together. Their intoxicating chemistry, never ending loyalty and unconditional love for each other allows them to overcome some incredibly difficult circumstances. These incredible characters are taken through some turbulent highs and lows to say the least. While I feel sadness that this series has come to an end, this book could not have been written better and I have a complete sense of satisfaction. Everything that I could have wanted was delivered and then some. This mafia world, full of secrets, violence, unwavering love, betrayal , found family, action, and sizzling spice is masterfully written and completely addictive. I felt like I was part of these character’s lives and everything they experienced. As much as each and every character is special, Myles has and will forever be my man and eternally live in my heart. His sweet thoughtful yet powerful disposition is just perfect. Each King has his special something that he brings to the group and is given time to shine. This series is one I will continually recommend. Have tissues and emotional support snacks ready cause this is an emotional ride worth every tear.
So I am just going to say it, I am in tears writing this review. This series is everything and I just love everything about it so to get the conclusion to Ren and her guys story is great but so sad it is over.
Brooklyn Cross has done it again and just made me fall in love with each character all over again.
Ren became the woman she was supposed to and claimed what was rightfully hers. The way she grew and became who she was with all the guys right there by her side is truly beautiful.
I don't want to ruin everything but know you need to buckle up for this ride because it is a doozy. Absolutely loved this and so excited there will be books for some of the side characters too! Cannot recommend enough!
Spoiler alert I didn’t love this last book in the series. I very much disliked Blake and Myles kissing and making out. It was totally out of the character’s characters and was the beginning of so many other things that made zero sense in this last book. It’s like the author forgot about the previous books and decided to not worry if things made sense but tried to add in a bunch of mini cliffhangers for future books with some of the supporting characters instead of focusing on this one.
Was good but I was expecting more. There’s still lots of questions but I know the author has a whole world planned so hopefully they get answers. I also felt like relationship wise it heavily focused on Nash and her but I did like the sprinkle of Myles and Blake and would love to see more scenes of them. Also nice to see Eddie and Ana finally be able to be together in the open.
We find out that Ren’s mom is alive. And we find out that Lawrence raped her😭 I learned to love Nash and Ren’s marriage. At first I didn’t like very much that he forcibly married himself to her, but then their marriage grew stronger. I liked how the author wrote about it. Ella, Blake and Theo’s mom, dies or rather she gets killed😭Ethan, their dad, is doing much better in the end but still struggling.
I love how separate each relationship felt but as the same time, they all felt together. I loved Theo, Ren, and Liam’s relationship. They r so cute together. I love how Liam loves to push Ren, but also love to support her and let her lean on him when needed. Liam was being an asshole in the beginning of their relationship, but now it’s better than ever. I love how supporting Theo is. He’s just in his own way supporting her, not like the others. Another relationship was Blake, Myles, and Ren. I love them. I love how Blake is with ren all throughout the book. One thing he kept doing that was a good thing is right before he kissed Ren, he wouldn’t fully kiss her. Like he would hover his lips near hers and wait til she went the rest of the way. I also love how he tells her about the product and how he was using it and how it went from fine to bad. I love her and Myles too. They are like an og couple. Love them. One thing that caught me off guard asf is the fact that the author includes Blake and Myles kissing in the beginning, but then never talks about it again and it never happened again 😒😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Vexatious Queen by Brooklyn Cross absolutely devoured me.
This finale? Ruthless. Addictive. Emotional in the way that grips your chest and doesn’t let go. From the first page to the last, I felt like I was watching a woman step fully into her power — not softly, not halfway — but unapologetically.
The tension was suffocating in the best way. The chemistry? Explosive. Every confrontation felt earned. Every moment of vulnerability hit harder because of everything these characters survived to get here. This wasn’t just a love story — it was a war, a reckoning, and a coronation.
What I loved most is that this book didn’t water her down. She stayed fierce. He stayed intense. And together? Absolute chaos and devotion wrapped into one intoxicating storm.
Brooklyn Cross gave us a finale that felt complete. No loose ends. No rushed emotions. Just a queen claiming her throne and a love that felt powerful enough to burn kingdoms down.
If you love: 👑 Strong, dominant FMC energy 🔥 High-stakes tension 💣 Explosive chemistry 🖤 Morally gray intensity 💍 A hard-earned HEA
This one is IT.
I’m not okay. I’m not moving on. And honestly? I don’t want to.
Vexatious Queen is a powerful, emotionally charged finale that delivers on every promise this series has been building toward. The character growth alone makes this book unforgettable.
Watching the heroine rise from being underestimated & controlled to fully claiming her power was deeply satisfying. Every hardship, betrayal & sacrifice shaped her into a queen who commands respect & fear. Her journey is raw, empowering & beautifully written.
The romance is intense & unwavering. The bonds between her & the Kings are built on loyalty, obsession & trust forged through fire. Their dynamic adds depth to the story without overshadowing the heroine’s personal evolution.
Brooklyn Cross balances high-stakes tension with heartfelt moments perfectly. Secrets unravel, past choices come due & the plot never slows down. Every thread is tied together in a way that feels earned &. emotionally rewarding.
If you love dark academy romance, why choose dynamics & strong female leads who refuse to stay broken, this book is an absolute must read.
A flawless ending to an unforgettable series & a crown well earned.
WHAT TO EXPECT: ✔️ Why Choose ✔️ Found Family ✔️ Academy Rivalries ✔️ Mafia Secrets ✔️ Possessive Love ✔️ Obsession ✔️ Betrayal
⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers
Thank you, Brooklyn Cross, for not leaving me on edge with another cliffhanger in Ren’s story with her men. Vexatious Queen was a beefy book coming in at almost 800 pages, and what a rollercoaster ride it was! I enjoyed all the angst, twists and spice leading up to the conclusion I needed for these characters. The storyline kept me on my toes until the very end. Even though this is the conclusion of Ren, Nash, Miles, Blake, Liam and Theo’s story, I am excited to hear that more stories are coming in this world, with a few characters we met in the Wayward Kings Series. The Wayward Kings series is my favourite of Brooklyn’s books, with the Lost Souls MC a close second, so I thoroughly enjoyed the shared universe between the two. I still have a hard time deciding which of Ren’s men were my favourite, as they all had some redeeming qualities by the end. I am giving Vexatious Queen a rating of 4.5/5 stars, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Where do I even start to find the right words to express how heartbreaking it’s going to be for me to see this series end !!! But oh what a perfect and epic conclusion it was and is !!! Ren , Blake , Theo , Nash , Myles and Liam , each one of these characters truly had a piece of my heart ❤️. I feel like I’ve gone through it all with them , experienced the happy times , experienced the struggles and the heartbreak and oh how I smiled , laughed, cried ugly tears even yelled outta pure frustration and yes actually threw me iPad right across the room all while rooting so freaking hard . This series , each and every installment has been an emotional rollercoaster In every sense of the word. All the angst , the darkness and spice , the twists and turns , the secrets , the revelations , the heartbreak , the betrayal, the forgiveness the love and the passion , the redemption , the second chances , the family and friendships , the complexities . I truly could not have asked for a more perfect ending to such a phenomenal series
This series has become one of my favorites. Characters, storylines, and most importantly, storytelling.
In a world of chaos, this story actually gives every character a second chance. Some deserve it; some don't. In other perspectives, characters do not at all change from what we see at the beginning, but they evolve. I loved every one of the main characters from the book one. Much like Ren, I can't choose a favorite.
From the first scene of the series, we see the message from the author that this world is not fair and not everyone gets a happily ever after. And the last book showed how true that statement was.
It was a roller coaster of journeys and full of shocks and twists. Even though I wanted to reach in the pages and slap some of the characters. It was worth every second of it.
I really hate saying goodbye to these characters. but I am so happy to meet them. I hope we see glimpses of them in the new future series. Because I am certainly going to give a chance to everything this author publishes.
I truly don’t even have the words for this series. I’ve been invested for over a year. Brooklyn managed to captivate me from the beginning and I’ve been obsessed since. I’m so happy Ren and the kings got their HEA. She became the queen she was always meant to be with all her *deliciously hot* kings by her side. I was not expecting some of the plots in book #7 (like can we talk about Chantry at the end?!?) but I’m just grateful there were no loose endings and everything was answered. I just have to say for the record I love all the Kings for different reasons just like Ren I suppose but Nash has really grown on me, I’d go as far as saying he’s become a favorite but how can I choose just 1 when they are all amazing.
Kings of Wayward is my favorite series I have ever read and I seriously fear nothing will bring me the same feeling this world did. I’m not one to reread books because of how long my tbr is but this will be a first and a must. I need these on my shelves asap
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
WOW! What an absolutely thrilling, entertaining and spicy conclusion this was. It was filled to the brim with a little bit of everything, suspense, drama, angst, emotional turmoil, violence, vengeance, smut and such incredible love between the main characters.
Right from the very start I was glued to the pages, needing to know exactly what would happen next. And I was not disappointed for one second.
Ren is finally the Queen she was born to be, and I loved seeing how much stronger she has become. Her men have finally figured out the best way to protect Ren and be the unique family that she needs.
There are still many uphill battles that Ren and her men need to go through in order to get to their happy ending, but all of the hardships, betrayals and secrets continue to help tighten their bond.
This final story was so freaking good. I laughed, I cried and I fell hopelessly in love.
It’s hard to let this series and characters go. Ren, Nash, Myles, Blake, Theo, Liam and all the many side characters are in my heart and soul now. It’s been an emotional roller coaster. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve wanted to throw my kindle across the room and I’ve missed so many hours of sleep reading this series. Brooklyn did a phenomenal job writing. This has been an angst driven, emotional ride and I’ve been obsessed with this series and characters since page one of Disobedient Pawn. So many twists and turns. Betrayal and chaos. Heartbreak and love. Redemption and forgiveness. Vexatious Queen is the epic conclusion we needed and I am so happy with the ending. I love this series and wish I could give it ten stars. This series is a must read.
Wow, wow, wow… Where do I begin? This book was the perfect ending to this series. Ren and her Kings have certainly been on a wild ride this entire series and it is good to see how far they have come since Disobedient Pawn.
I loved the twists in this one and how you didn’t know who you could fully trust.
The way Brooklyn has built up this world is great and if I could visit a place for the day I would choose Wayward.
This whole series has been superb and I have loved every book. I cannot recommend this series enough. If you have not already started it…. Why not???
What an ending to an amazing series!!!!! While I’m so sad this series has ended, I absolutely loved this book and the ending!!!
The boys - just as obsessed REN- she has really embraced her role as the queen she was always meant to be. The Knick names- still love them!!! The villains- still suck lol REN’s mom being back- Golden….
Seriously what a way to go out with a HUGE ❗️
Brooklyn just has this way of writing to make you fall into the world you are reading. You feel like you know the characters and are seriously offended by the villains.
Oh this book was so heart felt knowing that Rens story with her Kings was coming to an end. You Brooklyn are an absolutely amazing author and brought the ending of there story together in such an amazing way. These characters grew so much from the beginning and this book truly showed how much they have grown and became who they needed to be for one another. Ren will be a ruthless new Queen with her Kings beside her and I am upset there story came to an end but I know Brooklyn well enough that I know I will see them pop up somewhere in another book.
The only complaint i have is this is spells the end of this great series 😢 The questions get answered and loose threads get tied up. It’s wonderful to see Ren finally become the woman she was meant to. It was a little Nash heavy and i would have liked to see more of the other guys. Oh, and we do get to learn a little more about more about the mysterious Dean! The good news is that the author planning a few more books adjacent to Wayward where we get to focus on other characters we met in this series like Ivy and Lizzy. I’m excited for things to come!
OMG!! What a finale!! I loved this book & is a continuation of Ren & her guys' story! Ren rose up through some horrible stuff to become the queen & the guys are just as obsessed with her as they always have been. Everything comes to the light; there were some twists that I did not see coming & all questions are answered. Vicky stepped up which I loved! Justice is served all around! The spice was fantastic & the story was awesome! Highly recommend this series & author!
This is series is so good, I’ll read it twice or maybe I think it’s time for the audiobook and put some voices to these amazing characters!!
The character development, the twists and SPICE !! This series is a MUST READ! Why choose, academy dark romance. Personally I’m am a HIGE fan of Brooklyn’s work and these books had me emotionally all over the map.
This is the final book in the story and it’s perfect!!
Brooklyn brought alot into the fold. The uncertainty of the relationship between Vicky and Ren whether they ever be friends or sisters. The grief for Theo and Blake and how it effected everyone else as well. The new riddles, twists and surprise return of someone thought to be dead. The revenge and the guys and the dynamics of their relationship with each other and Ren. Then there is Sabastian, Ivy and ZigZag.. so many moving parts. So good and engaging and consuming.
This book truly wrapped the series up amazingly. i loved every second of reading it and tried to slow down to savor it but knew i needed to know how it ends. Ren, Blake, Myles, Nash, Theo and Liam hold a special piece of my heart. i loved Edmundo too and ugh I’m just so sad the series is over but it was absolutely amazing. i cried so hard, smiled so much and gasped so loud throughout. chefs kisses all around Brooklyn Cross i love ya
Vexatious Queen is the amazing conclusion to the Kings of Wayward Academy series. Brooklyn Cross has outdone herself again with this roller coaster ride of angst, emotions, secrets, love and betrayal. In true Brooklyn fashion, this book is full of twists, humor, and lots of spice. I did not want this book to end! I have absolutely loved this series so much. If you love dark academia why choose romance then you have to read this series.
The epic conclusion for the series! And what a story its been a rollar coaster ride, Ren and her kings are unstoppable when together, th steamy chemestry between them all is epic! And not to be missed. The action and drama that unfold as Ren comes into her own (even more so than before) will have you hooked! Well written engaging steamy desires drama action, why choose, mafia and more!
The final book of Ren and the guys story. It’s bitter sweet I want to cry but be happy for them! So many mysteries and secrets were uncovered the biggest secret of all had me jumping up screaming. Nash will always have my heart! This book had me crying, screaming and so happy! Loved the twists and turns! In the end everybody gets what they deserve eventually 😈!
I'm not crying you are!! What an ending to the series! The was an emotional roller coaster! The spice oh my goodness! that part when they are in the art room! than all of them together! Then you got the unexpected twist! Absolutely love Brooklyn's writing!! can't wait to see where this ending goes because she left it open for other books :) Yes, I caught that at the end! :)
What a emotionally charged finale. This book was everything the series has been working up too. The character development the rise of the heroine. The dark romance I loved every bit of it. I have to admit I didn’t want this world to end. This series is top notch and worthy of a spot of your shelf. Thank you Brooklyn!! I’m so excited for what you bring us next.