Soren

by Kat King

I shouldn’t have played the game. I knew I couldn’t win.

When the man I loathe the most used bribery to mess with my academic achievements, almost getting me expelled from the best private academy on the continent, I didn’t think twice before starting to plot my revenge.

Soren Ford might seem like the world’s biggest gentleman, but underneath the mask he's nothing but a predator. And the worst part? The predators always find their prey.

Now he’s trapped me, caged me up and vowed never to let me go.

Not until he breaks me.

Not until he ruins me.

Not until he owns everything that I am.

But even the weakest prey can become a predators worst nightmare — and that’s exactly what I’ll be.

Genres: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, College, Dark, Romance, College Romance, Dark Academia

494 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2026

Reviews

[klinta · Rating 2 out of 5]

“You fucking tattooed me in my sleep,” I spit.
“Mhmm. Property of Sophia Sloane. Now you know who your owner is. Bark for me, bitch.”

sexiest scene of the book. 10/10 no notes

everything else? i fear this is nightshade 2.0 for me. the tropes, the ingredients. it was ALL there and yet everything felt so surface level. their rivalry, for example. these two used to beat each other tf up and what if i said i wanted more of that. she literally took a sledgehammer to his knee in the past. girl take his other knee out too and do it on screen this time. yes she drugged him and tattooed her name on him while he was knocked out but her only other running gag of the book was calling him a bastard. like that’s it??

he also never even told her he loved her??? she’s supposed to be the biggest bitch at the academy and said “i love you” first. BOO 👎🏼

love the cover. the tropes speak to the slut in me. i just wish sorensophia had too

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia Sloane and Soren Ford have been sworn enemies since, well, forever. Things have reached a fever pitch as they enter their final year at Saint Valley Academy.

Each trying to one up the other, their need for revenge has caught the attention of those running the anonymous Sinners & Saints gossip website. With their antics now being broadcast to the entire student body, they find themselves protecting more than just their own reputations.

While I enjoyed the strategy of their cat and mouse game, the psychological warfare, and ultimate fireworks when Soren and Sophia gave in to their chemistry, I had a little trouble connecting with Sophia, if I’m being honest. She was, by all accounts, not a good person, either superficially or at her core. She was conniving, manipulative, and downright mean. Don’t get me wrong, a badass bitch is sexy AF, but I don’t get hot for a mean girl. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy their story, because I loved the unique dual-bully aspect and, of course, that their love was forbidden, which is one of my favorite tropes. I love Kat and I’ll definitely continue reading this series!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😬🤭😳🥵😍
Darkness: 🩶🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨ Tropes: Billionaire, Bully, Enemies-to-Lovers, Family Saga, Forced Proximity, One Bed, Revenge Porn, Rival Families, Secret Relationship, Stalker
 
💫 Microtropes: Boy Obsessed, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Hand Necklace, Hate Fcuk, It’s Always Been You, Panty Thief, Pet Name (Princess), Pierced 🐓, Sassy FMC, Tattooed MMC, Virgin FMC, “We’ll Make It Fit”, “You Take Me So Well”

🔆 Character: Student

💋 Kinks: Biting/Marking, Body Betrayal, Breeding, Degradation (Mild), Dirty Talk, Discipline/Punishment, Domination, Fear Play, Finger Licking Good, Power Exchange, Primal, Public Play, Spanking, Spitting, STFUATTDLAGG, Squirting

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Branding, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, MINE!

⛔️ Safety Squad: Drugged (by FMC), OM Drama (One Sided), OWDrama (Not Really/Before Together), Rough Handling of FMC (by MMC), and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page and in the past and/or present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: College, New York 🇺🇸

📣 Type: Soren is the first book in the Saint Valley series, but can be read as a standalone.

⚠️ Warning: This angsty and steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[౨ৎDOUAE౨ৎ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly idk if I’m more annoyed that I wasted my time or that I still haven’t learned my lesson and keep trusting booktok recs 😭.
The book started pretty good tbh. We got into the plot fast which I liked But after a few chaps everything went downhill. The writing wasn’t great either 😃.
What still doesn’t make sense to me is the MMC for more than 20 chapters this man couldn’t stand the FMC, Every time he saw her he was insulting her (even in his own head). And then suddenly a few chapters later he’s like “she’s mine.” Excuse me??? Weren’t you literally thinking about killing her two days ago 🤡?
The whole relationship felt like lust from beginning to end, not love. I really didn’t feel any emotional connection between them.
And the chars? I’m sorry but they were unbearable. Acting like middle school kids instead of uni students. The FMC was honestly the only character I somewhat liked.
Also I hate how the author made the sibling dynamics so weak. I still don’t get why Sawyer was defending *** instead of Sophia, his ONLY sister. Same w Astrid and Soren. I hated that. Personally I’d always defend my siblings before anyone else 🙏🏻.
At some point I kept reading just bc the plot became so ridiculous it was funny 😭😭.

[Mrgn! · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too bad, writing really wasn't that good.
Rating- 2/5
Would I recommend? No..

[⟡ Liz ⟡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 60%
Author is in dire need of an editor. Writing is terrible. I hate when I feel like I’m missing something or accidentally skipped a few sentences and that happens A LOT in this book.

[beca · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ probably her best book.

[ApoorvaReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

give me the next book now!!

[hitynka]

Kocham laskę

“Mhmm. Property of Sophia Sloane,” she quotes the tattoo, her smirk widening. “Now you know who your owner is. Bark for me, bitch.”

przez pierwsze parę rozdziałów po prostu się leją(prawdziwi enemiesXD))


Silent dnf

[charisse ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ 5 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

holy fucking shit, this was actually SO GOOD?? i fear this series is gonna have me in a chokehold lol

i really liked the gossip girl vibes where everyone at the academy can send anonymous scandals to sinners & saints and like actually trying to figure out who's behind it all was crazy.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• soren ford
he's very unhinged, probably a raging red flag irl. *cough* the snake scene *cough* anyways, i love his obsession with sophia tho and the touch her and die vibes was done very well.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• sophia sloane
i loved how she held her place and doesn't back down. she literally just gives off blair waldorf vibes but meaner and i'm here for it. i love how she's always in a "fuck shit up" mode

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧• astrid (soren's younger sister) & sawyer (sophia's older brother)
all i have to say is get fucked! i absolutely hated these two, they were just so self absorbed. i hope they're gonna divorce each other and be done.

anyways, i loved this book so much, i need a spin-off with lila and the hot priest, and avalon with colton the dean.. with that being said i will never ever ever ever ever shut up about this book! asgsghsaka-

⤷ thank you to the author, kat king, for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
i got the arc!!! hoping this book will deliver since i like the tropes and the cover is pretty ~

[Wazeeha Rohman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6⭐️

Dark Academia × Gossip Girl

I love it when in enemies-to-lovers the enemies are real enemies. I ate this up.
Safety
college bully romance
H(23), h(22)
OW drama
virgin h
hea

[Layoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in 3 hours at school because it was THAT good. I need more of Soren and Sophia, like i actually love them so much 🥹 at the start I honestly hated they way he would subconsciously say that she was a ‘toy’ etc like Im going to act as if that wasn’t mentioned in the book. 🤗 sooo many characters pissed me off but I loved Sophia’s friend group sm, I hate how some stuff are left unsolved, who is behind the website?? Also this is probably a hit or miss read 🫣
I forgot to mention a few things, there were a few grammar mistakes and a chapter with Sophia written on top but it was actually Sorens POV, also when they were referring to a girl and ‘he’ was typed instead. I also can’t help but feel like there is a lot of stuff mentioned that reminded me of different books/media.

[becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best book ever

[maryam · Rating 2 out of 5]

the writing was sooo off omg 😭 one thing i couldn’t stop noticing was how the word “rather” kept popping up in spoken dialogue like bffr nobody talks like that?? it kept taking me out of the story. anyway the book was kinda mid but still a bit fun.

[Alexis Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely a 10 out of 10 form me. and Sophia the fmc was the perfect badass. Soren comes out February 24th and anyone who finds this book definitely needs to read it

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Obsessed is too much of an understatement for how much I fucking loved this book.

I did struggle to get into at the beginning because the characters felt very juvenile, which is why it’s not 5 stars. But then shit got good 😂

Sophia is a grade A bitch and Soren is a playboy, both characters think the world revolves around them because their families are rich. It’s giving Blair and Chuck but make it way darker.

Both MC’s were bullies to each other, Sophia has got claws and she is not afraid to let them out. The revenge from both Sophia and Soren was amazing, I was laughing out loud and what they did to each other.

The enemies to lovers was fully happening in this book. Both characters CANNOT stand each other but shit happens and they finally get a taste of each other 😏 Safe to say they are both equally as obsessed with each other after this.

I really liked how Sophia softened towards Soren, they both brought out a possessive yet soft yearning side towards each other. They are definitely a power couple and they both thrive in chaos.

Thank you to the author for the ARC.

❗️WARNING ❗️
There is a third act breakup and OW drama, it get’s messy but there’s a reason for it all.

[Ashly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preface: This is not my normal review format, this review is based on VIBES ONLY

Ok, so based on vibes alone I liked this read. It was toxic AF and I was absolutely here for it. Soren, the level of fucking unhinged he is was just chef's kiss. Absolutely a walking red flag [many many many flags], and yet...I was rooting for him. I know, I am a villains girl through and through.

Sophia, sheesh....Ice Queen is an understatement truly. She is vindictive, cold hearted, and she lives to be the biggest bitch. She has a soft spot for her people, and somehow that also translates to Soren. But holy hell, if you cross her...RUN [even though you cant escape her]. The tattoo....IYKYK

I am looking forward to the next book because I cant wait to see if Kat can top this level of unhinged.

[💌 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the authors for gifting me an early copy to read and review.

I don’t really know what to say except that I didn’t like it. It was entertaining at times and some parts intrigued me, however it felt dragged out whilst also feeling rushed at the same time?? I don’t even know.

[Cristina]

Well I’m too old for this one. The MCs sound like middle schoolers and I need a higher level of maturity to continue reading.

[Emmy P · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a beta reader she may be biased, however I fear this read was everything I have come to love from a story.

Bullies, gossip, and a whole host of bad intentions. Kat has served us a FMC with no holds barred and an MMC to keep her steady.

Flawless I fear. Simple and easy yes from me. Screamed.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Soren is a dark, obsessive cat-and-mouse romance that sinks its teeth in early and refuses to let go. From the first chapter, the power imbalance is sharp, the tension suffocating, and the danger unmistakable.

Sophia's choice to fight back after her academic future is nearly destroyed feels raw and justified, even when you know revenge comes with consequences. She’s not reckless for the sake of drama; she’s cornered, furious, and unwilling to bow. That defiance makes what follows hit even harder when the tables turn and Soren closes the trap.

Soren Ford is chilling in the best way. Publicly polished, privately predatory, he embodies the kind of villain who doesn’t need to raise his voice to terrify. His control is methodical, his obsession absolute, and his vow to break and own her is as disturbing as it is compelling. This is not a softened antihero, this is a man who knows exactly what he is and embraces it.

What makes the story work is the psychological war between them. The captivity isn’t just physical; it’s all in the mind, emotional, and deeply personal. And yet, Sophia refuses to become small. Even when caged, she adapts, sharpens, and turns survival into strategy. Watching her shift from prey to threat is deeply satisfying.

Soren is not a comfort read; it’s dark, possessive, and unapologetically intense. But for readers who crave twisted dynamics, morally black characters, and a heroine who learns how to bare her teeth, this book delivers a haunting, addictive experience that lingers long after the final page.

[KayBeReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia and Soren have a bully/academic/family/ rivalry going on, it’s been the way since childhood. But Sophia isn’t your regular degular girl. She doesn’t no just let Soren push her around she fights back, literally! These two are at each other’s throats and trying to one up each other. The bully is not one sided in this one. It’s tit for tat. Sophia is a b***h with a capital B that needs to grow up and Soren is a menace who needs some act right and needs to learn how to take his own advice. Like how are you going to lecture your sister on growing up but you need to the same thing. All of them are too old to be acting like they are. I will tell you the only time miss mamas is not a complete b***h is when Soren has his “hands on her”. She turns into an entirely different person. It’s a joy to read. She is softening for him( a bit) and he’s just obsessed and territorial. I don’t know how any of these young adults have such great grades because all they do is dig up dirt and plot revenge on their enemies. This book was a trip, we just kept going down the rabbit hole and never stopped. I don’t think I have ever read a book where both of the MCs were the bully. They matched each other’s crazy on so many levels. This was a crazy story. I hope to see the stories of some side characters.

[Kate Pazanin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soren is a dark, obsessive enemies-to-lovers romance set in an elite academic world filled with rivalry, revenge, and toxic attraction. The story follows Sophia and Soren, heirs to rival families whose hatred evolves into something far more dangerous and consuming. Their relationship thrives on manipulation, power plays, and psychological warfare, blurring the line between love and destruction. �
Goodreads
What worked best for me was the intensity of their dynamic. Soren is cold, calculated, and unapologetically possessive, while Sophia refuses to be weak or submissive. Their constant push-and-pull creates strong tension, and the obsessive undertone makes their connection feel volatile and unpredictable. The private academy setting adds to the atmosphere, creating a world where reputation, control, and secrets hold real power.
However, while the premise was compelling, the execution didn’t fully deliver the emotional depth I was hoping for. At times, the characters felt more driven by revenge and obsession than genuine emotional growth, which made it harder to fully connect with them. Some of the darker elements felt repetitive, and the pacing occasionally dragged in the middle.
Overall, Soren is a solid dark romance with strong tension, toxic chemistry, and morally gray characters. While it didn’t completely pull me in emotionally, it still offers enough drama, obsession, and intensity to keep dark romance readers engaged.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you so much for letting me read this book in advance 🩷🩷.

I love the Gossip Girl vibe and I love the FMC, she reminds me a lot of Blair, and the dynamic between the MCs was perfect.

I didn't expect the betrayal between the siblings, but honestly, it added a dramatic touch to the story (I love drama 🤣). I liked that they didn't forgive their siblings easily and that their relationship with them was a little broken at the end of the book. I think it was very realistic because I wouldn't forgive them easily either.

The only thing that bothered me was the fact that I felt Sophia gave too much to Soren and Soren wasn't on the same level. He kept saying he would kill Damien, and in some parts of the book I really believed he would, but in the end it was just a simple warning. He also never said "I love you" to Sophia. I know that sometimes actions speak louder than words, but in this case, given that Sophia is a bitch (according to him and other people) and she said those words to him, I expected him to at least reciprocate.

In any case, I had a great time reading this book and enjoyed it very much. 🩷

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from the Author

This book is absolutely phenomenal. The author delivers two strong characters who constantly clash. I love that the heroine knows how to stand her ground and isn’t afraid to make her opinions clear.

The story is packed with revenge, intense tension, powerful emotions, fierce rivalry, and relentless competition. The male lead is determined to break the FMC at any cost, bringing obsession, cruelty, heavy dark elements, and morally gray characters who turn into lovers after sharing a deep, mutual hatred.

Soren is a perfectly crafted character. He isn’t looking for redemption, he only wants to claim his prey, take control, and prove that he’s the strongest one.

[_teeny.reads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat King
You really DID THAT!
I absolutely loved this book, I love the relationship between Sophia and Soren and how it builds from the very start.
I love that Sophia is an absolutely crazy ass bitch that you do not want to mess with but that crazy is so easily matched by Soren.
I NEED to know more about the saints and sinners BC wtf!? and Lila? omg I really honestly loved this book it's so well written I loved the characters I was meant to and hated the ones who deserved it. I will be talking about this book for a while, and will just be on my way to buy literally every book Kat has written.

absolutely smashed it with this one, amazing.

[Tracy McDonell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
Soren by Kat King was the definition of enemies to lovers. Thank you for the opportunity to read Soren as an ARC.

Absolutely loved the chemistry, banter, the toxicity, the unhinged revenge that these two have! Holy cow they are king and queen of pettiness!

The story was ok… I sometimes struggle with academia settings. The pace at times was slow.. all in all, a decent read

[Caitlyn Zedack · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:

I couldn’t put this book down. I finished in under 24 hours and I wish I could read it again for the first time. This book has everything you need. Enemies to lovers, forbidden love, dark romance/dark academia. Who could ask for more? I was hooked from the first few chapters of the book! A five star read and a great starter book for anyone who is wanting to dip their toe into the world of dark romance. Cannot wait for physical copies to add to my shelf.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophie and Soren are UNHINGED!

Their spites are more and more wicked, intense just like them!

A true enemies to lovers with bullies, gossip girl vibes, and bad, twisted intentions.

An addictive reading that lingers!

[Kalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drama, extreme, high society, tension
Gossip Girl Dark Romance
Think revenge plots, anonymous gossip column & spice

[AislinSian · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC