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Prince of Hate
A forced royal marriage.
A prince she hates.
And a crown built on grief, secrets, and obsession.
Prince of Hate is a gripping morally grey royal biker romance about loss, duty, and a marriage forged in hatred.
Prince of Hate is a gripping morally grey royal biker romance about loss, duty, and a marriage forged in hatred.
After the tragic death of her fiancé, Prince Phillip of Harlington, Amalia Perlington is bound by an unbroken contract to marry his younger brother-Prince Nicolas, a morally grey prince who is cold, arrogant, and unapologetically ruthless.
Detached. Defiant. Unpredictable.
They despise each other, trapped between grief, obligation, and burning resentment. But Amelia hides a dark secret—one powerful enough to destroy the crown, the marriage, and them both.
In this game of power and hate, only one can win.
Nicolas
Yes, this is a royal story—but don’t let the golden crowns and noble titles fool you.
I’m no noble prince riding in on a white horse to save you, Goldilocks.
Quite the opposite.
I’m the one who’ll push you into the abyss.
You’re everything I never wanted. Everything I despise.
And yet, somehow, you’ve left your mark on me.
And now, Goldilocks…
no one can save us.
Amalia
They say marrying a prince is every little girl’s dream.
Well, it’s not mine.
Because my prince is a nightmare—arrogant, selfish, and full of himself.
And he hates me.
But I made a promise I can’t break.
And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it—even if it destroys me.
Because one thing’s for
If I go down, I’m taking him with me.
TropesArranged Marriage
Enemies to Lovers
Royal Prince x Biker
Morally Grey & Possessive MMC
Strong, Brave FMC
Touch Her and Die
Best Friend’s Brother
Power Struggles & Forced Proximity
Content & Trigger Warning
This story deals with grief and loss, bullying, cyberbullying, emotional abuse, and depictions of domestic violence.
Prince of Hate is not a Dark Romance.
It is a soft, emotionally intense romance featuring a morally grey, possessive male protagonist, high conflict, and dark themes handled with care.
Readers sensitive to these topics are advised to proceed with caution.
A prince she hates.
And a crown built on grief, secrets, and obsession.
Prince of Hate is a gripping morally grey royal biker romance about loss, duty, and a marriage forged in hatred.
Prince of Hate is a gripping morally grey royal biker romance about loss, duty, and a marriage forged in hatred.
After the tragic death of her fiancé, Prince Phillip of Harlington, Amalia Perlington is bound by an unbroken contract to marry his younger brother-Prince Nicolas, a morally grey prince who is cold, arrogant, and unapologetically ruthless.
Detached. Defiant. Unpredictable.
They despise each other, trapped between grief, obligation, and burning resentment. But Amelia hides a dark secret—one powerful enough to destroy the crown, the marriage, and them both.
In this game of power and hate, only one can win.
Nicolas
Yes, this is a royal story—but don’t let the golden crowns and noble titles fool you.
I’m no noble prince riding in on a white horse to save you, Goldilocks.
Quite the opposite.
I’m the one who’ll push you into the abyss.
You’re everything I never wanted. Everything I despise.
And yet, somehow, you’ve left your mark on me.
And now, Goldilocks…
no one can save us.
Amalia
They say marrying a prince is every little girl’s dream.
Well, it’s not mine.
Because my prince is a nightmare—arrogant, selfish, and full of himself.
And he hates me.
But I made a promise I can’t break.
And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it—even if it destroys me.
Because one thing’s for
If I go down, I’m taking him with me.
TropesArranged Marriage
Enemies to Lovers
Royal Prince x Biker
Morally Grey & Possessive MMC
Strong, Brave FMC
Touch Her and Die
Best Friend’s Brother
Power Struggles & Forced Proximity
Content & Trigger Warning
This story deals with grief and loss, bullying, cyberbullying, emotional abuse, and depictions of domestic violence.
Prince of Hate is not a Dark Romance.
It is a soft, emotionally intense romance featuring a morally grey, possessive male protagonist, high conflict, and dark themes handled with care.
Readers sensitive to these topics are advised to proceed with caution.
- GenresDark RomanceRomance
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2026
14 people are currently reading
1015 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 14, 2026
Got an early copy of this plus the audio book and let me just say I had no idea what to expect but it was INSANE. Binged a day.
May 6, 2026
*Thank you Blue Nose Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review*
This was my first book by this author, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. But when I saw Savannah Thomas was narrating, I was immediately sold, she’s one of my favorites. And I’m so glad I gave this one a chance because I binged it in a day and a half!
Just a heads up, this isn’t a dark romance, but it does explore some darker themes. It’s also a bit different from what I usually read, but I wasn’t disappointed at all.
I really liked both Nicholas and Amalia. The hate-to-love tension was so good, and their chemistry was strong from start to finish. The pacing worked really well for me and kept me hooked the entire time.
Savannah and Joe did an amazing job with the narration. They truly brought these characters to life and delivered all the emotions in such a powerful way.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable listen, and I’d definitely recommend it!
This was my first book by this author, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. But when I saw Savannah Thomas was narrating, I was immediately sold, she’s one of my favorites. And I’m so glad I gave this one a chance because I binged it in a day and a half!
Just a heads up, this isn’t a dark romance, but it does explore some darker themes. It’s also a bit different from what I usually read, but I wasn’t disappointed at all.
I really liked both Nicholas and Amalia. The hate-to-love tension was so good, and their chemistry was strong from start to finish. The pacing worked really well for me and kept me hooked the entire time.
Savannah and Joe did an amazing job with the narration. They truly brought these characters to life and delivered all the emotions in such a powerful way.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable listen, and I’d definitely recommend it!
May 7, 2026
*𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧*
This book was such an addictive read and honestly the perfect mix of romance tropes and drama. The whole royal biker setting combined with the arranged marriage storyline made it impossible to put down. Nicolas and Amelia had amazing chemistry. The tension, the banter and the hate-to-love dynamic kept me hooked the entire time.
What I loved most was Amelia. She wasn’t just a “good girl” FMC, she actually stood her ground and pushed back when needed, which made her super enjoyable to read about. Nicolas could be frustrating at times but that’s also what made their relationship so entertaining. The story had enough drama and twists to keep things exciting without feeling overwhelming.
I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a romance with darker themes, strong tension and a fun, addictive storyline.
This book was such an addictive read and honestly the perfect mix of romance tropes and drama. The whole royal biker setting combined with the arranged marriage storyline made it impossible to put down. Nicolas and Amelia had amazing chemistry. The tension, the banter and the hate-to-love dynamic kept me hooked the entire time.
What I loved most was Amelia. She wasn’t just a “good girl” FMC, she actually stood her ground and pushed back when needed, which made her super enjoyable to read about. Nicolas could be frustrating at times but that’s also what made their relationship so entertaining. The story had enough drama and twists to keep things exciting without feeling overwhelming.
I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a romance with darker themes, strong tension and a fun, addictive storyline.
May 3, 2026
Audiobook 4.5 ⭐️
Spice 2🌶️
Story 3.5⭐️
Prince of Hate by Michelle Thate is the first book in Royal Bikers Series. This book is NOT a dark romance, it has dark themes.
If you want to just into a darker theme Brigeton, well this one is for you, our MMC, Nicolas, gave me Antony Brigeton (season 1) right from the beginning till the end. I have to say he is not the highlight of this story, the FMC, Amelia is. Thankfully, she is a good girl that has a back bone and can bite back, she is the one that let me invested in the story.
Audiobook: performed in duet style by Savanah Thomas and Joe Arden they shine so bright in this book! Savanah brought to the table the forces energy, and delivered a memorable performance. Joe ( I call him in my mind the brat tamer) well this time he became the brat, and I couldn’t stop laughing, this mmc is so easy to dislike, is incredible what an amazing actor Joe is to deliver such a strong performance.
Overall i will recommend this for anyone who would like to dip their toes into dark romance and have a good time.
Thank you Blue Nose Audio for this ALC, my opinions are my own.
Spice 2🌶️
Story 3.5⭐️
Prince of Hate by Michelle Thate is the first book in Royal Bikers Series. This book is NOT a dark romance, it has dark themes.
If you want to just into a darker theme Brigeton, well this one is for you, our MMC, Nicolas, gave me Antony Brigeton (season 1) right from the beginning till the end. I have to say he is not the highlight of this story, the FMC, Amelia is. Thankfully, she is a good girl that has a back bone and can bite back, she is the one that let me invested in the story.
Audiobook: performed in duet style by Savanah Thomas and Joe Arden they shine so bright in this book! Savanah brought to the table the forces energy, and delivered a memorable performance. Joe ( I call him in my mind the brat tamer) well this time he became the brat, and I couldn’t stop laughing, this mmc is so easy to dislike, is incredible what an amazing actor Joe is to deliver such a strong performance.
Overall i will recommend this for anyone who would like to dip their toes into dark romance and have a good time.
Thank you Blue Nose Audio for this ALC, my opinions are my own.
May 5, 2026
ALC Review for Blue Nose
Being given the privilege of hearing some of this being recorded by Joe Arden in his audio attic and then being given access to the ALC was absolutely incredible. The talent of this man to bring MIchelle Tate’s story to audio was thrilling. His performance had me on edge the entire time and we all love unhinged Joe. The beautifully talented Savannah Thomas was an incredible artist to bring the female characters to life. She was very gripping and her vocal range was spectacular to listen to. Her performance really drew you in from start to finish. Overall a really spectacular audiobook for Michelle’s Prince of Hate.
Being given the privilege of hearing some of this being recorded by Joe Arden in his audio attic and then being given access to the ALC was absolutely incredible. The talent of this man to bring MIchelle Tate’s story to audio was thrilling. His performance had me on edge the entire time and we all love unhinged Joe. The beautifully talented Savannah Thomas was an incredible artist to bring the female characters to life. She was very gripping and her vocal range was spectacular to listen to. Her performance really drew you in from start to finish. Overall a really spectacular audiobook for Michelle’s Prince of Hate.
May 6, 2026
I received the ALC Blue Nose Audio. Thank you!
This was my first Michelle Thate book! But not my first time listening to Joe Arden and Savannah Thompson. I went in blind and was not disappointed. It was fast paced and I binged it in one day. Prince of Hate is a biker MMC, enemies to lover, brother's best friend with an arranged marriage. Add in 'Touch her and die' deliciously narrated by Joe Adren and I am sold. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next book in the series.
This was my first Michelle Thate book! But not my first time listening to Joe Arden and Savannah Thompson. I went in blind and was not disappointed. It was fast paced and I binged it in one day. Prince of Hate is a biker MMC, enemies to lover, brother's best friend with an arranged marriage. Add in 'Touch her and die' deliciously narrated by Joe Adren and I am sold. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next book in the series.
Review of advance copy
I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of the audiobook from Blue Nose. This author is new for me, and as a dark romance enthusiast, I was excited to dive into this book. Plus, the cover is so cool; I was immediately drawn to it.
Let's first talk about that prologue - talk about pulling your readers in early. There was so much chaos and commotion in the prologue, I couldn't put the book (well audiobook) down. This book is less dark than I'm used to, but it did have my favorite dark-ish elements - morally gray, grumpy, bratty, touch her and die MMC, plus a strong FMC with arranged marriage and enemies to lovers tropes. OMG, I love touch her and die men. OH, also, he fell first - even if he didn't want to fall first, he did.
Nicolas and Amalia were actually perfect for each other. Amalia is a tough one who knew how to rein the bratty Nicolas in. Although their relationship was based on royal expectations and obligations, their shared grief over loss created a lovely story with push and pull that ultimately resulted in love. I am obsessed with books that start off with hate and end up with love. The progression and roller coaster of emotions you go through to get you from point A to point B are my favorite things as a reader. That said, the author did a great job of turning toxic elements and external stimuli into a story of love and trust between the MMC and FMC.
For the audiobook: I know this goes without saying, but Joe Arden does unhinged, morally gray MMCs perfectly. He was so perfect as Nicolas (and the secondary characters). Every chapter was filled with the proper emotion. His narration immersed me into the story so well. I normally have to eyeball read while listening to the audiobook, but because of Joe's flawless narration, the audiobook was enough for me. For the FMC, Savannah Thomas was the perfect choice. I was not familiar with her narration before this book, but she really wowed me. She was the perfect counterpart to Joe Arden and played her character so well through her inflection and the emotions in her voice. A 5 star audiobook, honestly.
Let's first talk about that prologue - talk about pulling your readers in early. There was so much chaos and commotion in the prologue, I couldn't put the book (well audiobook) down. This book is less dark than I'm used to, but it did have my favorite dark-ish elements - morally gray, grumpy, bratty, touch her and die MMC, plus a strong FMC with arranged marriage and enemies to lovers tropes. OMG, I love touch her and die men. OH, also, he fell first - even if he didn't want to fall first, he did.
Nicolas and Amalia were actually perfect for each other. Amalia is a tough one who knew how to rein the bratty Nicolas in. Although their relationship was based on royal expectations and obligations, their shared grief over loss created a lovely story with push and pull that ultimately resulted in love. I am obsessed with books that start off with hate and end up with love. The progression and roller coaster of emotions you go through to get you from point A to point B are my favorite things as a reader. That said, the author did a great job of turning toxic elements and external stimuli into a story of love and trust between the MMC and FMC.
For the audiobook: I know this goes without saying, but Joe Arden does unhinged, morally gray MMCs perfectly. He was so perfect as Nicolas (and the secondary characters). Every chapter was filled with the proper emotion. His narration immersed me into the story so well. I normally have to eyeball read while listening to the audiobook, but because of Joe's flawless narration, the audiobook was enough for me. For the FMC, Savannah Thomas was the perfect choice. I was not familiar with her narration before this book, but she really wowed me. She was the perfect counterpart to Joe Arden and played her character so well through her inflection and the emotions in her voice. A 5 star audiobook, honestly.
May 6, 2026
Prince of Hate, book one in the Royals if Harlington series is a mix of romance and drama, with a captivating prologue that sets a high-stakes tone right from the start. It’s fascinating how the author weaves together elements of chaos and commotion to hook readers immediately. The dynamic between Nicholas and Amelia is compelling, especially with the incorporation of popular tropes like arranged marriage and enemies to lovers. These elements create a rich tapestry of emotional tension and growth. Nicholas’ character, with his “touch her and die” attitude, adds a protective and intense layer to the romance, while Amelia’s strength and ability to manage his bratty nature bring balance to their relationship. The shared grief and gradual transformation from animosity to affection craft a story that resonates with readers who revel in emotional depth and complexity. It’s a testament to the author’s skill in turning potentially toxic dynamics into a narrative of healing and mutual respect, making for a truly engaging read.
The audiobook performed by Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden, and produced by Blue Nose Audio, truly stands out as a phenomenal piece of audio artistry. Savannah Thomas’ voice captures the essence of her characters with remarkable precision. Her portrayal of Amelia, in particular, showcases her ability to convey both subtle control and intense emotion, creating distinct and memorable female characters. Her interpretation of the Queen is especially notable, adding depth and uniqueness to her performance. Joe Arden, on the other hand, brings Nicholas to life with a commitment that highlights the character’s complexity. His skill in embodying intense, morally ambiguous protagonists is unmatched, providing a powerful and emotional listening experience. Joe’s theatrical talent shines through, with a range and depth that elevates every chapter. The synergy between Savannah and Joe is seamless, resulting in a harmonious blend of voices. The production quality, along with the diverse accents and characters, contributes to an extraordinary audiobook experience that captivates the listener from start to finish.
The audiobook performed by Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden, and produced by Blue Nose Audio, truly stands out as a phenomenal piece of audio artistry. Savannah Thomas’ voice captures the essence of her characters with remarkable precision. Her portrayal of Amelia, in particular, showcases her ability to convey both subtle control and intense emotion, creating distinct and memorable female characters. Her interpretation of the Queen is especially notable, adding depth and uniqueness to her performance. Joe Arden, on the other hand, brings Nicholas to life with a commitment that highlights the character’s complexity. His skill in embodying intense, morally ambiguous protagonists is unmatched, providing a powerful and emotional listening experience. Joe’s theatrical talent shines through, with a range and depth that elevates every chapter. The synergy between Savannah and Joe is seamless, resulting in a harmonious blend of voices. The production quality, along with the diverse accents and characters, contributes to an extraordinary audiobook experience that captivates the listener from start to finish.
May 6, 2026
ALC Review | Prince of Hate – @michelletate✨
4.5⭐️ | 1.5🌶️ | ♾️🎧
My thoughts:
I love that I’ve reached a point where I know exactly what I enjoy in a book, and because of that, this one absolutely did not disappoint.
I just finished Prince of Hate by Michelle Tate, and I got pulled in from the very first chapter. You’re thrown straight into the story, and I was instantly hooked. I needed to know what was going on, and that curiosity never let up.
I did feel a bit conflicted at times. The FMC frustrated me because sometimes it’s better to let someone in and be vulnerable, but then again, some secrets were not hers to share. I did love how loyal and feisty she was. No one messed with her friends. I loved her character development🥰. And the MMC? Let’s just say I had moments where I wanted to shake him and tell him to wake up!! We do NOT like Sara, and Amelia doesn’t deserve his wrath.
But honestly, that push and pull? I loved it. The tension, the attraction, the secrets it all built so well and kept me fully invested. And that twist? Completely caught me off guard. I thought I had everything figured out, but nope. Some parts I guessed, sure, but this one still hit like a slap in the face in the best way. Even though there were still some secrets, I loved how they started to trust each other and find solace together.
And the nickname Goldilocks?? How can a nickname be an insult, hot, and sweet all at the same time 🤭 I love it!
Also, I have to mention Nic’s sister, Amelia’s best friend. She was a breath of fresh air, so fierce and loyal, and exactly the kind of friend and sister they both needed. I loved every scene she was in.
🎙️ And the narrators? Incredible. Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden absolutely brought these characters to life. The emotion, the conflict, the vulnerability 🥹 they both portrayed it so powerfully. This is exactly why I love audiobooks so much. I know I keep saying this, but it’s true 🤭
Honestly, 10/10 for the narration no notes 🫶🏾 I genuinely enjoyed this book.
⚠️ This is not a dark romance, but I would still recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading.
4.5⭐️ | 1.5🌶️ | ♾️🎧
My thoughts:
I love that I’ve reached a point where I know exactly what I enjoy in a book, and because of that, this one absolutely did not disappoint.
I just finished Prince of Hate by Michelle Tate, and I got pulled in from the very first chapter. You’re thrown straight into the story, and I was instantly hooked. I needed to know what was going on, and that curiosity never let up.
I did feel a bit conflicted at times. The FMC frustrated me because sometimes it’s better to let someone in and be vulnerable, but then again, some secrets were not hers to share. I did love how loyal and feisty she was. No one messed with her friends. I loved her character development🥰. And the MMC? Let’s just say I had moments where I wanted to shake him and tell him to wake up!! We do NOT like Sara, and Amelia doesn’t deserve his wrath.
But honestly, that push and pull? I loved it. The tension, the attraction, the secrets it all built so well and kept me fully invested. And that twist? Completely caught me off guard. I thought I had everything figured out, but nope. Some parts I guessed, sure, but this one still hit like a slap in the face in the best way. Even though there were still some secrets, I loved how they started to trust each other and find solace together.
And the nickname Goldilocks?? How can a nickname be an insult, hot, and sweet all at the same time 🤭 I love it!
Also, I have to mention Nic’s sister, Amelia’s best friend. She was a breath of fresh air, so fierce and loyal, and exactly the kind of friend and sister they both needed. I loved every scene she was in.
🎙️ And the narrators? Incredible. Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden absolutely brought these characters to life. The emotion, the conflict, the vulnerability 🥹 they both portrayed it so powerfully. This is exactly why I love audiobooks so much. I know I keep saying this, but it’s true 🤭
Honestly, 10/10 for the narration no notes 🫶🏾 I genuinely enjoyed this book.
⚠️ This is not a dark romance, but I would still recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading.
May 7, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐-> ♾️🌟
🌶️🌶️🌶🌶.275
🖤 Arranged Marriage 💍
✨️ Best Friend's Brother
🖤 Enemies To Lovers
✨️ Royal Prince x Biker
🖤 Touch Her & ☠️
✨️ Power Struggles
🖤 Morally Grey & Possessive MMC
✨️ Power Struggles
🖤 Strong Brave FMC
✨️ Forced Proximity
⚠️ CHECK YOUR CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS! Protect your mental peace ☮️⚠️
✨️ 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️
🎙Narrators: Savannah Peachwood & Joe Arden 🎙
Savannah and Joe never disappoint when they narrate, and this is no different for this audiobook. They did an amazing job on bringing these characters to life. I loved their inflections in their tones and the emotions that dripped into my ears as I listened.
✨️📖 On To The Book Review 📖✨️
This story had sooo much going for it. Abuse, grief, obsession and secrets. Add all of that to the jixing pot with romance that is morally grey with plenty of tension and you have this masterpiece. With everything that happens in this story you get a good dose of hatred and misundersstandings throughout this romance.
I have been loving all Royal Romances and this dedfinitely fed my addiction. Nicolas is the second born within the royal family but never meant to wear the crown. But he isd now forced to marry his brother's ex fiance to hold up the deal that was made.
Amalia was in the vehicle with her ex-fiance when he passed away but was quickly shown that the deal will still stand even with Phil being gone. she doesn't know if anything with Nicolas will ever be easy, but she is willin to pull up her boot straps in order to complete the deal made.
This story was full of angst, lust, and compromise. There is nothing easy about what this couple has had to go through but they know that there is no other way to make everything work.
Nicolas and Amalie quickly gave us all the spice we were hoping for!! This book was soo good! I can't wait to read the next in the series!!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Michelle Thate & Blue Nose Audio ✨️ for the complimentary 🎧 ALC 🎧. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
🌶️🌶️🌶🌶.275
🖤 Arranged Marriage 💍
✨️ Best Friend's Brother
🖤 Enemies To Lovers
✨️ Royal Prince x Biker
🖤 Touch Her & ☠️
✨️ Power Struggles
🖤 Morally Grey & Possessive MMC
✨️ Power Struggles
🖤 Strong Brave FMC
✨️ Forced Proximity
⚠️ CHECK YOUR CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS! Protect your mental peace ☮️⚠️
✨️ 🎧 ALC 🎧 REVIEW ✨️
🎙Narrators: Savannah Peachwood & Joe Arden 🎙
Savannah and Joe never disappoint when they narrate, and this is no different for this audiobook. They did an amazing job on bringing these characters to life. I loved their inflections in their tones and the emotions that dripped into my ears as I listened.
✨️📖 On To The Book Review 📖✨️
This story had sooo much going for it. Abuse, grief, obsession and secrets. Add all of that to the jixing pot with romance that is morally grey with plenty of tension and you have this masterpiece. With everything that happens in this story you get a good dose of hatred and misundersstandings throughout this romance.
I have been loving all Royal Romances and this dedfinitely fed my addiction. Nicolas is the second born within the royal family but never meant to wear the crown. But he isd now forced to marry his brother's ex fiance to hold up the deal that was made.
Amalia was in the vehicle with her ex-fiance when he passed away but was quickly shown that the deal will still stand even with Phil being gone. she doesn't know if anything with Nicolas will ever be easy, but she is willin to pull up her boot straps in order to complete the deal made.
This story was full of angst, lust, and compromise. There is nothing easy about what this couple has had to go through but they know that there is no other way to make everything work.
Nicolas and Amalie quickly gave us all the spice we were hoping for!! This book was soo good! I can't wait to read the next in the series!!
Thank you 🫶🏻 to ✨️ Michelle Thate & Blue Nose Audio ✨️ for the complimentary 🎧 ALC 🎧. ✨️ All opinions are my own, honest, and voluntary✨️.
Review of advance copy
Let me start by saying, this is NOT a dark romance. There are some darker trigger warnings you’ll want to check before going in, but if you’re new to the dark romance space, this could actually be a great entry point. It gives you that taste of the genre with lighter character dynamics and a story that doesn’t go full intensity.
The story follows our FMC Amilea, the Lady of Pearlington. She’s set to marry Prince Henry until a fatal car crash takes his life, but not hers. Because the houses have already arranged for her to marry their heir, she’s now being forced to marry Henry’s brother, Nicholas. Amilea is sassy, witty, stubborn, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. She is genuinely the highlight of this book. I loved her personality, especially seeing how strong she is after everything she endures, she just keeps fighting.
Our MMC Nicholas starts out as a judgmental a-hole who sees Amilea as the reason his brother is dead. But there’s so much more to that story than what meets the eye. He does come off as a brat at times, which isn’t personally my favorite in an MMC, but watching his growth from that to genuinely caring for Amilea was a really satisfying journey. You could see how as time passed and he actually got to know her instead of listening to the rumors, he truly started to fall for her.
The story takes a very interesting turn at the end regarding how Henry actually died, and it’s not one I saw coming.
I listened to the ALC, which was duet narrated by Joe Arden and Savannah Thomas. Joe Arden did an amazing job making you feel just how much of a brat Nicholas really was. His narration skills brought Nicholas to life in a way I wasn’t expecting, I’ve never heard him voice this kind of character before and he nailed it. Savannah did an equally phenomenal job making you feel every emotion Amilea felt and really letting her personality shine. Her voice range was incredible.
Thank you to Bluenose Audio for the gifted ALC in return for an honest review.
The story follows our FMC Amilea, the Lady of Pearlington. She’s set to marry Prince Henry until a fatal car crash takes his life, but not hers. Because the houses have already arranged for her to marry their heir, she’s now being forced to marry Henry’s brother, Nicholas. Amilea is sassy, witty, stubborn, and not afraid to get her hands dirty. She is genuinely the highlight of this book. I loved her personality, especially seeing how strong she is after everything she endures, she just keeps fighting.
Our MMC Nicholas starts out as a judgmental a-hole who sees Amilea as the reason his brother is dead. But there’s so much more to that story than what meets the eye. He does come off as a brat at times, which isn’t personally my favorite in an MMC, but watching his growth from that to genuinely caring for Amilea was a really satisfying journey. You could see how as time passed and he actually got to know her instead of listening to the rumors, he truly started to fall for her.
The story takes a very interesting turn at the end regarding how Henry actually died, and it’s not one I saw coming.
I listened to the ALC, which was duet narrated by Joe Arden and Savannah Thomas. Joe Arden did an amazing job making you feel just how much of a brat Nicholas really was. His narration skills brought Nicholas to life in a way I wasn’t expecting, I’ve never heard him voice this kind of character before and he nailed it. Savannah did an equally phenomenal job making you feel every emotion Amilea felt and really letting her personality shine. Her voice range was incredible.
Thank you to Bluenose Audio for the gifted ALC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Audio - 5 Star
Story - 4.25
Spice - 2 peppers
Prince of Hate is dramatic, high-society chaos with a royal twist.
From the beginning, the tone is intense and emotionally charged. Both Nicolas and Amelia are dealing with deep loss, and being forced into an arranged marriage only adds more tension to an already volatile situation.
Nicolas starts off as a very hard character to like (but I liked him anyway). He's moody, reckless, and morally gray. He definitely gives off that “problematic but intriguing” energy. I loved Amelia's character. She has strength, resilience, and just enough bite to stand her ground. Even when everything around her feels suffocating she never folds.
Their dynamic is built on tension, anger, grief, attraction, and resistance all tangled together. It’s very much a push-and-pull relationship with strong “love-hate” energy. I love a good emotional buildup and Prince of Hate delivered.
The audiobook is performed in duet style by Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden.
Savannah Thomas... she has such a lovely voice. She's just so good at capturing both the quiet control and the emotional breaking points. Perfect for Amelia!
Joe Arden absolutely commits to Nicolas. He leans fully into the character’s intensity, moodiness, and internal conflict. Joe has range for days.
Together, their duet narration makes the story incredibly immersive. The production quality is smooth, clear, and easy to get lost in.
If you’re looking to ease into darker themes without going full dark romance and you love angst, royal drama, and complicated characters this is a great one to pick up on audio.
My only complaint of this entire book was the style of retelling something we had already heard happen from one POV again right afterwards in the opposite POV.
Story - 4.25
Spice - 2 peppers
Prince of Hate is dramatic, high-society chaos with a royal twist.
From the beginning, the tone is intense and emotionally charged. Both Nicolas and Amelia are dealing with deep loss, and being forced into an arranged marriage only adds more tension to an already volatile situation.
Nicolas starts off as a very hard character to like (but I liked him anyway). He's moody, reckless, and morally gray. He definitely gives off that “problematic but intriguing” energy. I loved Amelia's character. She has strength, resilience, and just enough bite to stand her ground. Even when everything around her feels suffocating she never folds.
Their dynamic is built on tension, anger, grief, attraction, and resistance all tangled together. It’s very much a push-and-pull relationship with strong “love-hate” energy. I love a good emotional buildup and Prince of Hate delivered.
The audiobook is performed in duet style by Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden.
Savannah Thomas... she has such a lovely voice. She's just so good at capturing both the quiet control and the emotional breaking points. Perfect for Amelia!
Joe Arden absolutely commits to Nicolas. He leans fully into the character’s intensity, moodiness, and internal conflict. Joe has range for days.
Together, their duet narration makes the story incredibly immersive. The production quality is smooth, clear, and easy to get lost in.
If you’re looking to ease into darker themes without going full dark romance and you love angst, royal drama, and complicated characters this is a great one to pick up on audio.
My only complaint of this entire book was the style of retelling something we had already heard happen from one POV again right afterwards in the opposite POV.
May 2, 2026
ALC received via Blue Nose Audio 🎧
Prince of Hate is not a dark romance: it felt like Gossip Girl, but make it royalty with some intense themes.
Our MMC, Nicolas, was super bratty at the start. He reminded me of Sebastian (from Cruel Intentions) with how morally grey he is- plus, he falls first. And Amalia? Listen, she's an overall good girl who bites back - she can stand on her own. There were times I wanted Nic to jump in, but he was like "nah, she's got it."
While it may appear that she has it all, do not be fooled, as she's been through some difficult situations. I usually struggle with liking FMCs, but all in all, I liked Lia. The villainous side characters, however, are truly heinous. Henry & Sarah, I'm watching you!
Now I listened to the audiobook, which was phenomenal; the performances really elevated the story. Plus, the audiobook production was clear, had great sound & voice acting quality, and consistency. Basically, the top-notch production you can expect from Blue Nose.
For a character like Amalia, Savannah Thomas was absolutely perfect! Her pacing was excellent, plus her rendition of all the female characters was great. She was able to make them all unique and different. I especially enjoyed how she played the Queen.
When it comes to Joe Arden... well, you know he's one of my favorite narrators. There could have been no better Nicolas IMO. His performance is always very theatrical, and I love that. Even more so during difficult scenes and spicy times. So, so good!
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I was left wanting MORE. More of the biker side of things, a bit more plot, and spice - the latter, while the scenes were well written, they were brief. UGH!
Thank you, BNA, for the advanced copy!
Prince of Hate is not a dark romance: it felt like Gossip Girl, but make it royalty with some intense themes.
Our MMC, Nicolas, was super bratty at the start. He reminded me of Sebastian (from Cruel Intentions) with how morally grey he is- plus, he falls first. And Amalia? Listen, she's an overall good girl who bites back - she can stand on her own. There were times I wanted Nic to jump in, but he was like "nah, she's got it."
While it may appear that she has it all, do not be fooled, as she's been through some difficult situations. I usually struggle with liking FMCs, but all in all, I liked Lia. The villainous side characters, however, are truly heinous. Henry & Sarah, I'm watching you!
Now I listened to the audiobook, which was phenomenal; the performances really elevated the story. Plus, the audiobook production was clear, had great sound & voice acting quality, and consistency. Basically, the top-notch production you can expect from Blue Nose.
For a character like Amalia, Savannah Thomas was absolutely perfect! Her pacing was excellent, plus her rendition of all the female characters was great. She was able to make them all unique and different. I especially enjoyed how she played the Queen.
When it comes to Joe Arden... well, you know he's one of my favorite narrators. There could have been no better Nicolas IMO. His performance is always very theatrical, and I love that. Even more so during difficult scenes and spicy times. So, so good!
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I was left wanting MORE. More of the biker side of things, a bit more plot, and spice - the latter, while the scenes were well written, they were brief. UGH!
Thank you, BNA, for the advanced copy!
May 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A crown built on grief, a marriage built on hate, and a prince who was never meant to save her
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Pages: 268 & 🎧 Audiobook Length: 8h 24m
Audiobook Performance by Joe Arden (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) & Savannah Thomas: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Day: April 6th, 2026
Series: Book 1 of Royals of Harlington
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher Blue Nose Publishing, and the narrators who put on an INCREDIBLE performance, Joe Arden (LOVE!!!!!!!!!!) and Savannah Thomas. This is my honest, voluntary review.
This morally gray (not dark) royal biker (I know, unique, right!?!!?!?!) romance gave me all the tension, heaviness and cruelty I look for in the couple, FMC and MMC, respectively. Amalia and Nicolas were exquisitely played by Joe Arden and Savannah Thomas.
Joe has to be one of my all time favorite audiobook narrators. IYKYK.
The forced marriage, the grief, the secrets, and the resentment all built a really entertaining story and gave me all the dangerous and charged feels without going into dark romance, which I also happen to love. This was a character driven story and truly unique.
💫 Tropes
👑 Arranged Marriage / Forced Marriage
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🏍️ Royal Prince x Biker
🌑 Morally Grey, Possessive MMC
💪 Strong, Brave FMC
🛡️ Touch Her and Die
👀 Best Friend’s Brother
⚔️ Power Struggles & Forced Proximity
✨ Micro Tropes
💔 Grief bound marriage contract
🥀 Cold, ruthless prince with a hidden soft spot
🔐 A secret that could destroy the crown
🧨 Hate laced chemistry that snaps and sparks
🥃 Emotionally damaged MMC who pushes everyone away
🌫️ Resentment masking obsession
🩶 “If I go down, I’m taking you with me” energy
🛑 Enemies trapped by duty, not choice
👑 Royal politics + biker grit
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Pages: 268 & 🎧 Audiobook Length: 8h 24m
Audiobook Performance by Joe Arden (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) & Savannah Thomas: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Day: April 6th, 2026
Series: Book 1 of Royals of Harlington
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher Blue Nose Publishing, and the narrators who put on an INCREDIBLE performance, Joe Arden (LOVE!!!!!!!!!!) and Savannah Thomas. This is my honest, voluntary review.
This morally gray (not dark) royal biker (I know, unique, right!?!!?!?!) romance gave me all the tension, heaviness and cruelty I look for in the couple, FMC and MMC, respectively. Amalia and Nicolas were exquisitely played by Joe Arden and Savannah Thomas.
Joe has to be one of my all time favorite audiobook narrators. IYKYK.
The forced marriage, the grief, the secrets, and the resentment all built a really entertaining story and gave me all the dangerous and charged feels without going into dark romance, which I also happen to love. This was a character driven story and truly unique.
💫 Tropes
👑 Arranged Marriage / Forced Marriage
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🏍️ Royal Prince x Biker
🌑 Morally Grey, Possessive MMC
💪 Strong, Brave FMC
🛡️ Touch Her and Die
👀 Best Friend’s Brother
⚔️ Power Struggles & Forced Proximity
✨ Micro Tropes
💔 Grief bound marriage contract
🥀 Cold, ruthless prince with a hidden soft spot
🔐 A secret that could destroy the crown
🧨 Hate laced chemistry that snaps and sparks
🥃 Emotionally damaged MMC who pushes everyone away
🌫️ Resentment masking obsession
🩶 “If I go down, I’m taking you with me” energy
🛑 Enemies trapped by duty, not choice
👑 Royal politics + biker grit
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
✨ ALC Review ✨
Audiobook Production: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Tropes:
💍 Arraigned Marriage
👑 Royal Family
⚔️ Enemies-to-Lovers
🖤 Touch Her & ☠️
✨ Best Friend's Brother
Plot: Prince of Hate started off SO strong. I was immediately hooked with that prologue. However, as the story progressed, it really felt like there was not a lot of plot or momentum to the story for a good chunk of the middle of the book. We see Amalia and Nicolas love-hate each other, and we see some others try to ruin their engagement, but that's about it. The plot was moving slowly, and then for the last part of the book it felt like too much was crammed into the end. I wish the pacing felt more consistent throughout so that the ending events got more time.
Characters: Nicolas was a great morally gray MMC with touch her and die vibes. Amalia was a strong FMC, and I felt like she was a perfect match for Nicolas. The chemistry and tension between them was SO good.
Audiobook Production: The narrators for this audiobook were phenomenal! They did a great job not only voicing Nicolas and Amalia, but they also did great voicing each of the other characters. It was so easy to differentiate who was speaking when there was dialogue. The emphasis and delivery of the lines was also spot on. 10/10 performance!
Final Thoughts: Although there were some pacing issues, I thought the book was still enjoyable! I am not sure how the story will continue in the next book as it feels like it wrapped up well at the end of this one. However, I'm still curious to see where the story goes!
Thank you Blue Nose Audio for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
Audiobook Production: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Story Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Tropes:
💍 Arraigned Marriage
👑 Royal Family
⚔️ Enemies-to-Lovers
🖤 Touch Her & ☠️
✨ Best Friend's Brother
Plot: Prince of Hate started off SO strong. I was immediately hooked with that prologue. However, as the story progressed, it really felt like there was not a lot of plot or momentum to the story for a good chunk of the middle of the book. We see Amalia and Nicolas love-hate each other, and we see some others try to ruin their engagement, but that's about it. The plot was moving slowly, and then for the last part of the book it felt like too much was crammed into the end. I wish the pacing felt more consistent throughout so that the ending events got more time.
Characters: Nicolas was a great morally gray MMC with touch her and die vibes. Amalia was a strong FMC, and I felt like she was a perfect match for Nicolas. The chemistry and tension between them was SO good.
Audiobook Production: The narrators for this audiobook were phenomenal! They did a great job not only voicing Nicolas and Amalia, but they also did great voicing each of the other characters. It was so easy to differentiate who was speaking when there was dialogue. The emphasis and delivery of the lines was also spot on. 10/10 performance!
Final Thoughts: Although there were some pacing issues, I thought the book was still enjoyable! I am not sure how the story will continue in the next book as it feels like it wrapped up well at the end of this one. However, I'm still curious to see where the story goes!
Thank you Blue Nose Audio for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
April 28, 2026
Set in the fictional royal world of Harlington (no ties to real life monarchy), this story starts off devastating - and honestly never really lets up emotionally.
From that prologue… I was locked in.
Both Nicolas and Amelia are carrying so much grief, and being forced into an arranged marriage because of royal expectations and familial obligations only adds fuel to the fire. They hate each other… but that shared pain over the loss of someone they both loved creates a pull they can’t ignore.
The tension between them is layered: anger, attraction, resentment, understanding. And it made their dynamic so compelling to watch unfold.
And the external pressures were crushing.
The crown, the expectations, the constant scrutiny of the press … it all adds this heavy weight to their story.
The paparazzi elements especially gave me strong echoes of real world royal tragedy, which made certain moments hit even harder emotionally.
Also. Sarah 🚮
Could not stand her.
Amelia’s life overall just felt so small and controlled. I was rooting for her freedom the entire time.
🎧 Narration:
Joe Arden and Savannah Thomas delivered such an immersive performance. The emotion, the tension…they brought it all to life beautifully. These are two of my favourite narrators of all time and they did NOT disappoint.
I was completely hooked and didn’t want to stop listening!
Overall, this is a grief heavy, tension filled romance with high emotional stakes and a compelling enemies to lovers journey
From that prologue… I was locked in.
Both Nicolas and Amelia are carrying so much grief, and being forced into an arranged marriage because of royal expectations and familial obligations only adds fuel to the fire. They hate each other… but that shared pain over the loss of someone they both loved creates a pull they can’t ignore.
The tension between them is layered: anger, attraction, resentment, understanding. And it made their dynamic so compelling to watch unfold.
And the external pressures were crushing.
The crown, the expectations, the constant scrutiny of the press … it all adds this heavy weight to their story.
The paparazzi elements especially gave me strong echoes of real world royal tragedy, which made certain moments hit even harder emotionally.
Also. Sarah 🚮
Could not stand her.
Amelia’s life overall just felt so small and controlled. I was rooting for her freedom the entire time.
🎧 Narration:
Joe Arden and Savannah Thomas delivered such an immersive performance. The emotion, the tension…they brought it all to life beautifully. These are two of my favourite narrators of all time and they did NOT disappoint.
I was completely hooked and didn’t want to stop listening!
Overall, this is a grief heavy, tension filled romance with high emotional stakes and a compelling enemies to lovers journey
Review of advance copy
🎧 Audiobook Review (ALC) ��
I binged the audiobook of Prince of Hate by Michelle Thate in one day & the duet narration by Savannah Thomas & Joe Arden did not disappoint!
Savannah Thomas was perfect playing the FMC Amelia and really brought to life her character. She did a phenomenal job playing all the emotions and showing her vulnerability but also her strength especially with the heavy theme of domestic violence (not from MMC) in the book.
The character of Amelia was definitely my favorite with how much growth she had to experience throughout the story.
Joe Arden did an excellent job playing the MMC and we definitely get some of his unhinged acting in this performance. He really plays with a lot of emotions and you can feel it all in his voice especially during the POV of the MMC with all his thoughts going through his mind. Joe Arden also did multiple voices/accents for each male characters which really brings this book to life and makes it a fun immersive experience.
I really enjoyed this story and the characters and I am curious to see what happens in future books. I have a feeling it won’t be about these characters since I feel like we had our HEA and it will most likely be about some of the side characters.
This was my first book by Michelle Thate and I am happy it was made in English from the original German version since that gave us this amazing audiobook.
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (rounded up to 5)
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Audiobook: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Audiobook Format: Duet Narration
Tropes in this book:
💚 Royal Biker Romance
💚 Arranged Marriage
💚 Best Friend’s Brother
💚 Forced Proximity
💚 Royal Biker Prince
💚 Kind of Enemies to Lovers
💚 Touch Her & D!e
💚 Morally Grey MMC
💚 Possessive MMC
💚 Domestic Violence (not from MMC)
Thank you to Blue Nose Audio and Michelle Thate for the advanced copy of this audiobook. These are my honest thoughts.
I binged the audiobook of Prince of Hate by Michelle Thate in one day & the duet narration by Savannah Thomas & Joe Arden did not disappoint!
Savannah Thomas was perfect playing the FMC Amelia and really brought to life her character. She did a phenomenal job playing all the emotions and showing her vulnerability but also her strength especially with the heavy theme of domestic violence (not from MMC) in the book.
The character of Amelia was definitely my favorite with how much growth she had to experience throughout the story.
Joe Arden did an excellent job playing the MMC and we definitely get some of his unhinged acting in this performance. He really plays with a lot of emotions and you can feel it all in his voice especially during the POV of the MMC with all his thoughts going through his mind. Joe Arden also did multiple voices/accents for each male characters which really brings this book to life and makes it a fun immersive experience.
I really enjoyed this story and the characters and I am curious to see what happens in future books. I have a feeling it won’t be about these characters since I feel like we had our HEA and it will most likely be about some of the side characters.
This was my first book by Michelle Thate and I am happy it was made in English from the original German version since that gave us this amazing audiobook.
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (rounded up to 5)
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Audiobook: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Audiobook Format: Duet Narration
Tropes in this book:
💚 Royal Biker Romance
💚 Arranged Marriage
💚 Best Friend’s Brother
💚 Forced Proximity
💚 Royal Biker Prince
💚 Kind of Enemies to Lovers
💚 Touch Her & D!e
💚 Morally Grey MMC
💚 Possessive MMC
💚 Domestic Violence (not from MMC)
Thank you to Blue Nose Audio and Michelle Thate for the advanced copy of this audiobook. These are my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I got this review as an ALC from Blue Nose Audio
From that PROLOGUE??? Yeah no. I was locked in. No escape!
Fictional royal world (aka stress, trauma, zero privacy). Nicolas & Amelia are forced into an arranged marriage while drowning in grief... and they HATE each other.
The pressure??? Insane. Crown, expectations, paparazzi in their BUSINESS 24/7... Some of those moments hit a little too close to real-world royal tragedies and I was just sitting there like oh...🙃
Amelia??? My girl could NOT catch a break. PLEASE let her breathe???
Now the vibes??? Royal prince... but biker... but UNHINGED?
Nicholas is basically:
touch her & die + emotionally constipated + "I don't want her but I will commit crimes for her" Grief-stricken... unfortunately still hot about it.
Amelia??? Quiet strength until she SNAPS. And when she does???
THEATRICAL.
The tension??? INSANE. The angst??? delicious. Slow emotional unraveling??? inject it. And the growth??? Nicolas actually evolving??? we love to see it.
Narration
Joe Arden & Savannah Thomas??? EXCUSE YOU???!!!
Savannah: lett no crumos. The quiet strength, the emotional build-up... the BREAK??? chills.
Joe Arden: needs to be studied. The grief, the denial, the "I want her but I can't" angst??? sir that was personal.
I was fully immersed. Like reality who???
From that PROLOGUE??? Yeah no. I was locked in. No escape!
Fictional royal world (aka stress, trauma, zero privacy). Nicolas & Amelia are forced into an arranged marriage while drowning in grief... and they HATE each other.
The pressure??? Insane. Crown, expectations, paparazzi in their BUSINESS 24/7... Some of those moments hit a little too close to real-world royal tragedies and I was just sitting there like oh...🙃
Amelia??? My girl could NOT catch a break. PLEASE let her breathe???
Now the vibes??? Royal prince... but biker... but UNHINGED?
Nicholas is basically:
touch her & die + emotionally constipated + "I don't want her but I will commit crimes for her" Grief-stricken... unfortunately still hot about it.
Amelia??? Quiet strength until she SNAPS. And when she does???
THEATRICAL.
The tension??? INSANE. The angst??? delicious. Slow emotional unraveling??? inject it. And the growth??? Nicolas actually evolving??? we love to see it.
Narration
Joe Arden & Savannah Thomas??? EXCUSE YOU???!!!
Savannah: lett no crumos. The quiet strength, the emotional build-up... the BREAK??? chills.
Joe Arden: needs to be studied. The grief, the denial, the "I want her but I can't" angst??? sir that was personal.
I was fully immersed. Like reality who???
May 6, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Prince of Hate, and the fact that it was described as a non-dark romance immediately caught my attention.
This story delivers on drama: death, arranged marriage, abuse, tension, secrets and a jaw-dropping plot twist I genuinely didn’t see coming.
At times, the pacing felt a little too fast. Some twists came so quickly that it was hard to fully process how everything connected, and I found myself rereading certain sections to piece it all together.
The spice was well-timed and fit naturally into the story, though personally, I would have liked a bit more. While the heroine is described as not being a prude, the relationship still felt somewhat vanilla when it came to intimacy, which didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
One of the highlights, though, was the banter between the friends. Their interactions felt natural, often made me laugh, and added a lot of warmth to the story. I especially enjoyed following those relationships.
Also… are Ced and Liz closer than we think? Because now I need answers.
Overall, I think this comes down to personal taste. I tend to lean toward darker romances, so while I enjoyed this, I was left wanting more intensity. That said, for readers who are new to darker themes and still want a happy ever after, this is a great place to start.
This story delivers on drama: death, arranged marriage, abuse, tension, secrets and a jaw-dropping plot twist I genuinely didn’t see coming.
At times, the pacing felt a little too fast. Some twists came so quickly that it was hard to fully process how everything connected, and I found myself rereading certain sections to piece it all together.
The spice was well-timed and fit naturally into the story, though personally, I would have liked a bit more. While the heroine is described as not being a prude, the relationship still felt somewhat vanilla when it came to intimacy, which didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
One of the highlights, though, was the banter between the friends. Their interactions felt natural, often made me laugh, and added a lot of warmth to the story. I especially enjoyed following those relationships.
Also… are Ced and Liz closer than we think? Because now I need answers.
Overall, I think this comes down to personal taste. I tend to lean toward darker romances, so while I enjoyed this, I was left wanting more intensity. That said, for readers who are new to darker themes and still want a happy ever after, this is a great place to start.
May 1, 2026
Prince of Hate by Michelle Thate is set in the fictional, royal world of Harlington and delivers a trope-filled romance that was hard to put down. With arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, best friend’s brother, and touch her and die vibes, the author blended everything together into a story that kept me invested from beginning to end. Overall, I gave it 4 stars.
Nicholas and Amelia are both carrying the weight of grief after the loss of Nicholas’s brother, while being pushed into an arranged marriage by the king and Amelia’s abusive brother. Their chemistry was full of tension, and I really enjoyed watching Nicholas grow and develop throughout the story. Amelia was a strong, resilient FMC from start to finish, which made her easy to root for.
Between the pressure of the crown, the constant presence of paparazzi, and their desire to create a life of their own, the story had twists and turns I didn’t expect.
The audiobook narration by Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden was well done, and I’d give it 4 stars.
The spice felt intimate and endearing rather than over the top, earning 3 stars from me.
This was my first book by Michelle Thate, and I’m definitely interested in continuing with the next book in the series.
Nicholas and Amelia are both carrying the weight of grief after the loss of Nicholas’s brother, while being pushed into an arranged marriage by the king and Amelia’s abusive brother. Their chemistry was full of tension, and I really enjoyed watching Nicholas grow and develop throughout the story. Amelia was a strong, resilient FMC from start to finish, which made her easy to root for.
Between the pressure of the crown, the constant presence of paparazzi, and their desire to create a life of their own, the story had twists and turns I didn’t expect.
The audiobook narration by Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden was well done, and I’d give it 4 stars.
The spice felt intimate and endearing rather than over the top, earning 3 stars from me.
This was my first book by Michelle Thate, and I’m definitely interested in continuing with the next book in the series.
May 5, 2026
Format: Audio
c/o: Blue Nose Audio
Narrators: Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden performed in duet
Tropes: arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, royal prince biker, morally gray & possessive MMC, strong, brave FMC, touch her and die, best friend's brother, forced proximity
Narration: 5/5
Story: 4.5/5
Spice Level: 3/5
We can all rejoice because Joe Arden has gloriously returned to a non-dark romance and he's back with hella theatrics and a dynamic duet partner in Savannah Thomas.
It's no new revelation that Joe Arden is one of the most theatrically talented voice artists in the industry- the range and depth he brings to ever audio is always ridiculous... But what somewhat surprised me in this audiobook was just how well Savannah kept up... more so how well they blended perfectly together. Now maybe I just haven't had the chance to experience her with this type of theatrical peformance, in which case, do share with me details!!! BUT WOW. I just can't get over how good this audiobook was. From the production to the range of narration accents, characters and emotions.... everything about it was fabulous.
Now for the story...
I was actually really impressed with the story. This is book 1 in the Royals of Harlington series. Amelia is arranged to marry Prince Phillip until he unexpectedly passes. Much to her dismay, the arrangment isn't null and void-- in fact now, she has to marry his brother, Nicholas. Nicholas thinks of Amelia as his brother's perfect, prim and proper fiance and wants nothing to do with her. There's angst and the mental tug of war game of will they- won't they is so good. Highly recommend!
c/o: Blue Nose Audio
Narrators: Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden performed in duet
Tropes: arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, royal prince biker, morally gray & possessive MMC, strong, brave FMC, touch her and die, best friend's brother, forced proximity
Narration: 5/5
Story: 4.5/5
Spice Level: 3/5
We can all rejoice because Joe Arden has gloriously returned to a non-dark romance and he's back with hella theatrics and a dynamic duet partner in Savannah Thomas.
It's no new revelation that Joe Arden is one of the most theatrically talented voice artists in the industry- the range and depth he brings to ever audio is always ridiculous... But what somewhat surprised me in this audiobook was just how well Savannah kept up... more so how well they blended perfectly together. Now maybe I just haven't had the chance to experience her with this type of theatrical peformance, in which case, do share with me details!!! BUT WOW. I just can't get over how good this audiobook was. From the production to the range of narration accents, characters and emotions.... everything about it was fabulous.
Now for the story...
I was actually really impressed with the story. This is book 1 in the Royals of Harlington series. Amelia is arranged to marry Prince Phillip until he unexpectedly passes. Much to her dismay, the arrangment isn't null and void-- in fact now, she has to marry his brother, Nicholas. Nicholas thinks of Amelia as his brother's perfect, prim and proper fiance and wants nothing to do with her. There's angst and the mental tug of war game of will they- won't they is so good. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Blue Nose Audio and the author for the opportunity to listen to this book before release day!
For lovers of Sons of Anarchy and all Jax Teller stans, this might be just the book for you!
I was drawn in by the book initially by the narrators and the fact that it's not marketed as "dark romance" but "soft, emotionally intense romance featuring a morally grey, possessive male protagonist, high conflict, and dark themes handled with care." This is also a new author for me and I love discovering new authors.
Tropes:
- royal biker/MC romance
- arranged marriage
- enemies to lovers
- best friend's brother
- secrets revealed/plot twists
- power dynamics and political tie-ins
- loss and grief
- forced proximity
Nicolas of Harlington is straight out of SOA- I pretty much pictured Jax Teller from the very beginning. This book navigates loss, grief, revealed secrets, and healing as our main characters are forced into an arranged marriage. This was not easy for Amalia and Nic, as they are still mourning the loss of her fiance and his brother.
The narration was phenomenal, making it an immersive reading experience. I loved the amount of suspense and thrill along with the angst and tension. I am looking forward to any upcoming books in this series!
For lovers of Sons of Anarchy and all Jax Teller stans, this might be just the book for you!
I was drawn in by the book initially by the narrators and the fact that it's not marketed as "dark romance" but "soft, emotionally intense romance featuring a morally grey, possessive male protagonist, high conflict, and dark themes handled with care." This is also a new author for me and I love discovering new authors.
Tropes:
- royal biker/MC romance
- arranged marriage
- enemies to lovers
- best friend's brother
- secrets revealed/plot twists
- power dynamics and political tie-ins
- loss and grief
- forced proximity
Nicolas of Harlington is straight out of SOA- I pretty much pictured Jax Teller from the very beginning. This book navigates loss, grief, revealed secrets, and healing as our main characters are forced into an arranged marriage. This was not easy for Amalia and Nic, as they are still mourning the loss of her fiance and his brother.
The narration was phenomenal, making it an immersive reading experience. I loved the amount of suspense and thrill along with the angst and tension. I am looking forward to any upcoming books in this series!
May 6, 2026
This book did a wonderful job tackling some very heavy issues while also delivering a lovely romance. In addition to the enemies to lovers, best friend’s brother tropes, there was other woman drama, bullying, miscommunication, severe abuse and sensitive handling of diversity issues. At the heart of it all, there were two wounded, grieving souls that deserved their happy ending. The author’s writing is descriptive and her banter is top-notch. She also does a great job providing side characters that you want to get to know better. Just when you think you’ve figured out the “big” secret, you learn that there is so much more to discover. I think this book is best enjoyed knowing nothing else but these big themes…you’ll enjoy discovering the secrets better that way. I enjoyed the audio production of this book performed by Savannah Thomas and Joe Arden. Savannah does a wonderful job portraying Amelia’s heart and strength in very difficult circumstances. Joe gives us a tortured Prince who comes into his own to become his Goldilocks’ Prince Charming. Overall, this was a 4-star read with 5-star performances and 2 spicy peppers.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I got the ALC of the audiobook
I ATE THIS ONE UP! Michelle Thate's writting of this book is so Amazing!! This is one of my Top reads/ listens this year. Loved this book!
The Narrators are perfect for the FMC and MMC. Savannah Thomas was incredible. Brilliant!!!
And Joe Arden....I mean I would listen to Joe read absolutely anything! The emotion he puts into his narrations....There is no other narrator that makes feel so much...gives me goosebumps...makes me ball my eyes out. I don't even have words to explain how amazing Joe is and how much I love him in audiobooks and all of his work! And the spicy scenes.....holy sh!t! They way he makes me melt....omg 🤤 😻
This book had me in a chokehold the whole way through! The plot was scandalous and heartbreaking. The Spice was perfection 👌 and soo addicting. Nicholas and Amalia loved to hate eachother, and hated to love eachother. If I could give this one 6 stars I would! I can not wait for the rest of this series!
#mcromance #enemiestolovers #foryou #touchheranddie #booktok
I ATE THIS ONE UP! Michelle Thate's writting of this book is so Amazing!! This is one of my Top reads/ listens this year. Loved this book!
The Narrators are perfect for the FMC and MMC. Savannah Thomas was incredible. Brilliant!!!
And Joe Arden....I mean I would listen to Joe read absolutely anything! The emotion he puts into his narrations....There is no other narrator that makes feel so much...gives me goosebumps...makes me ball my eyes out. I don't even have words to explain how amazing Joe is and how much I love him in audiobooks and all of his work! And the spicy scenes.....holy sh!t! They way he makes me melt....omg 🤤 😻
This book had me in a chokehold the whole way through! The plot was scandalous and heartbreaking. The Spice was perfection 👌 and soo addicting. Nicholas and Amalia loved to hate eachother, and hated to love eachother. If I could give this one 6 stars I would! I can not wait for the rest of this series!
#mcromance #enemiestolovers #foryou #touchheranddie #booktok
Review of advance copy
Title: Prince of Hate
Written by: Michelle Thate
Narrated by: Savannah Thomas & Joe Arden
Rating: ♡5🎧♡5⭐♡4🌶️♡
Tropes:
💚Arranged Marriage
🖤Enemies to Lovers
💚Royal Prince Biker
🖤Morally Gray &
Possessive MMC
💚Strong, Brave FMC
🖤Touch Her and Die
💚Best Friend's
Brother
🖤Power Struggles
💚Forced Proximity
🎧🤍Savannah Thomas - 🤌🏻 Left no crumbs ma’am. I love that she is quietly fierce until she needs to explode. Tears do not mean weakness. Someone’s actions do not make you weak. Goldie Locks you found you Bear 🥰
🎧🖤Joe Arden - 🙇🏻♀️ we are not worthy. I will never stop singing your praises. There are no words to express the depths at which you have a handle on my soul. It is a gentle fragile thing. The MMC is unhinged but I don’t have to tell you that’s how we love you best 😉
📚🩵 Michelle Thate - this was a first for me. Somewhat shorter than I usually get but was intrigued nonetheless. Can’t wait to see what that next one’s like 🫣
Written by: Michelle Thate
Narrated by: Savannah Thomas & Joe Arden
Rating: ♡5🎧♡5⭐♡4🌶️♡
Tropes:
💚Arranged Marriage
🖤Enemies to Lovers
💚Royal Prince Biker
🖤Morally Gray &
Possessive MMC
💚Strong, Brave FMC
🖤Touch Her and Die
💚Best Friend's
Brother
🖤Power Struggles
💚Forced Proximity
🎧🤍Savannah Thomas - 🤌🏻 Left no crumbs ma’am. I love that she is quietly fierce until she needs to explode. Tears do not mean weakness. Someone’s actions do not make you weak. Goldie Locks you found you Bear 🥰
🎧🖤Joe Arden - 🙇🏻♀️ we are not worthy. I will never stop singing your praises. There are no words to express the depths at which you have a handle on my soul. It is a gentle fragile thing. The MMC is unhinged but I don’t have to tell you that’s how we love you best 😉
📚🩵 Michelle Thate - this was a first for me. Somewhat shorter than I usually get but was intrigued nonetheless. Can’t wait to see what that next one’s like 🫣
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an ALC given to me by Blue Nose Audio and the author. I thoroughly enjoyed this audio, which was narrated by Joe Arden and Savannah Thomas. The pair together was a total vibe and made the whole experience such a fun and enjoyable read. The touch her & die vibes mixed with a Royal Prince Biker was a totally different vibe for me and I was here for every second of it. The MMC was entirely unhinged, which is my favorite type of MMC, and the FMC was a fierce type that was just a wrecking ball. She's been through it and the possessive side of the MMC will stop at nothing to protect her. Also, the pet name Goldie Locks, totally here for it. There was great tension that had me weak at the knees wanting more and more. But let me not forget the spice in this is hella steamy and it did not leave any crumbs for us to pick up. I was snapped in from the prologue, and I didn't stop until I was done. This was my first read by the author and won't be my last.
May 6, 2026
Audio Review🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration is top tier - Joe Arden is a fave of mine and his crying voice makes me tear up!
I really loved Savannah’s narration. I think this is the first book I’ve read where she’s the FMC (I mostly listen to MM) consider me a fan Savannah!
Honestly fucking Amazing! I have so many thoughts: first of all the fucking prologue is wild! It was giving Princess Diana - and it had me shook!
The rest of the book keeps the prologue momentum and Nic the MMC is so scary and rude but so hot, he is a red flag, but daddy I love him 🤣
Amelia our FMC is very likable. I love that she’s not a pushover and is able to deal with Nic!
Did I mention Lia (Amelia) was the fiance of Phillip, Nic’s older brother, needless to say Lia and Nic get together out of a marriage of Convenience/arranged.
I do need more and I wanna know more about the side characters!
I lurve a dark morally grey romance ❤️🔥
Narration is top tier - Joe Arden is a fave of mine and his crying voice makes me tear up!
I really loved Savannah’s narration. I think this is the first book I’ve read where she’s the FMC (I mostly listen to MM) consider me a fan Savannah!
Honestly fucking Amazing! I have so many thoughts: first of all the fucking prologue is wild! It was giving Princess Diana - and it had me shook!
The rest of the book keeps the prologue momentum and Nic the MMC is so scary and rude but so hot, he is a red flag, but daddy I love him 🤣
Amelia our FMC is very likable. I love that she’s not a pushover and is able to deal with Nic!
Did I mention Lia (Amelia) was the fiance of Phillip, Nic’s older brother, needless to say Lia and Nic get together out of a marriage of Convenience/arranged.
I do need more and I wanna know more about the side characters!
I lurve a dark morally grey romance ❤️🔥
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
I had the ALC for the audiobook of Prince of Hate by Michelle Thate and I was hooked from the start.
The narration was so well done and really brought everything to life—you could feel the tension, the anger, the grief… all of it. It made the story hit way harder than I expected.
Amelia’s character growth was one of my favorite parts. She’s strong, but in a real way, and you actually see her evolve through everything she’s dealing with. And Nicolas is exactly what you want—cold, frustrating, and very morally grey.
The forced marriage and enemies to lovers dynamic kept things messy and intense the whole time, but it still had a lot of emotional depth underneath it.
Overall, it kept me fully engaged, had a ton of emotion, and was just a really solid listen. Definitely worth it if you like darker romance with strong character growth
I had the ALC for the audiobook of Prince of Hate by Michelle Thate and I was hooked from the start.
The narration was so well done and really brought everything to life—you could feel the tension, the anger, the grief… all of it. It made the story hit way harder than I expected.
Amelia’s character growth was one of my favorite parts. She’s strong, but in a real way, and you actually see her evolve through everything she’s dealing with. And Nicolas is exactly what you want—cold, frustrating, and very morally grey.
The forced marriage and enemies to lovers dynamic kept things messy and intense the whole time, but it still had a lot of emotional depth underneath it.
Overall, it kept me fully engaged, had a ton of emotion, and was just a really solid listen. Definitely worth it if you like darker romance with strong character growth
May 7, 2026
Before you go any further, I just want to recommend that you grab the audiobook. It is narrated by Joe Arden and Savannah Thomas. Yes, that is right. This powerhouse duo voices Nicolas and Amalia. I guarantee that you are going to want to hear Savannah and Joe in your ears!
This book starts out right away. I did not know anything about Amalia's prior relationship with Nicolas's brother. Yet, I could tell that genuine feelings were felt and that he must have been nice to her, unlike Nicolas. Nicolas is a bully with a capital "B". I wanted to dislike him, but I feel for the bad boy.
The emotions are running high throughout this book. The further I got into the story; I was so invested. Once you got to know Nicolas, you realize that some of his actions are due to hurt pain. This book is one that you will not want to miss.
This book starts out right away. I did not know anything about Amalia's prior relationship with Nicolas's brother. Yet, I could tell that genuine feelings were felt and that he must have been nice to her, unlike Nicolas. Nicolas is a bully with a capital "B". I wanted to dislike him, but I feel for the bad boy.
The emotions are running high throughout this book. The further I got into the story; I was so invested. Once you got to know Nicolas, you realize that some of his actions are due to hurt pain. This book is one that you will not want to miss.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I binged this in one day. I honestly signed up for the ALC of this book because of the narrators being Joe Arden and Savannah Thomas!! Love them both and neither of them disappointed in this book!!
I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this book but it was a wild good ride. There was some spicy scenes as well! I also found all of the stuff happening to the FMC hard because she definitely didn't deserve anything that happened to her. I'm glad they she ended up finding her own family and finding happiness.
It was an insane amount of stuff happening to these people but I love the way the characters were developed and I loved the writing of this book!!
I would highly suggest the audiobook because they legit did such a good job!! Savannah Thomas is just a queen in every book she does 😍😍
I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this book but it was a wild good ride. There was some spicy scenes as well! I also found all of the stuff happening to the FMC hard because she definitely didn't deserve anything that happened to her. I'm glad they she ended up finding her own family and finding happiness.
It was an insane amount of stuff happening to these people but I love the way the characters were developed and I loved the writing of this book!!
I would highly suggest the audiobook because they legit did such a good job!! Savannah Thomas is just a queen in every book she does 😍😍
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