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Masterpiece Duet #1
The King
The highest stakes…
My father gambles every night, falling deeper and deeper into debt. When he hits the bottom, he places a new his daughter. I’m his entry bet to the biggest underground poker game.
Every kind of danger circles the velvet-covered table, but only one man makes me tremble.
A trailer park princess.
The son of a criminal king.
We don’t belong together, but I’m caught in a twisted game.
His eyes meet mine with dark promise. And when he puts down his cards, I know I’m going to lose more than my body. I’m going to lose everything.
* * * * *
THE KING is the first book in the new Masterpiece duet about risking your heart and finding yourself. It’s a spin-off from the USA Today bestselling trilogy but can be read separately.
My father gambles every night, falling deeper and deeper into debt. When he hits the bottom, he places a new his daughter. I’m his entry bet to the biggest underground poker game.
Every kind of danger circles the velvet-covered table, but only one man makes me tremble.
A trailer park princess.
The son of a criminal king.
We don’t belong together, but I’m caught in a twisted game.
His eyes meet mine with dark promise. And when he puts down his cards, I know I’m going to lose more than my body. I’m going to lose everything.
* * * * *
THE KING is the first book in the new Masterpiece duet about risking your heart and finding yourself. It’s a spin-off from the USA Today bestselling trilogy but can be read separately.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2017
1393 people are currently reading
5278 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 595 reviews
August 24, 2017
Skye Warren always writes a good book. Filled with betrayal, forbidden love and mystery. Nothing like getting sold out by your own father and given to the devil himself. Penny is broken and so is Damon. Can they somehow make it through the darkness and into the light together as a couple? Probably not until Penny is of legal age, until then, I'm sure Damon has enough reasons for going to jail. He doesn't want to add dating a minor to his list of crimes.
Looking forward to The Queen to find out if Penny's desires to leave Tanglewood have changed now that she's gotten a taste of Damon Scott.
Until then....
Looking forward to The Queen to find out if Penny's desires to leave Tanglewood have changed now that she's gotten a taste of Damon Scott.
Until then....
August 4, 2017
Lost in a world that is brutal and uncaring Damon would rather walk away from his family than suffer the daily torment at the hands of his warped father. Yet the delightful presence of a sassy young girl that strikes an unlikely friendship with makes him re evaluate the value of his freedom. Years later fate once again brings them together yet Damon is no longer the boy of her fond reminisces. Caught in a tangled web of addiction, debt and lies can Penny save her father from himself or will she the ultimate price in her efforts to be his champion?
This is the spin off series from the Endgame series and provides an insight into how Damon became the man we are familiar with. He is an enigma that hinted at something more and his story is filled with sadness and unbridled strength. He makes choices no one should ever have to just because of the sins of his father leave him needing to make amends for the horror he has left in his wake. The connection between Damon and Penny is deep and provides them with purpose that motivates them through the darkest of times. This story is darkly captivating as the children pay for the father's sins ...causing endless misery and suffering, yet somehow in the darkness they find a spark of light in each other. Skye Warren has a talent of writing flowing prose that weave into the reader's heart stirring emotions that leave you haunted by the characters long after the last page is read. I can't wait to read the conclusion to this story.
A five star hauntingly dark and captivating read.
~*~ Reviewed on behalf of Obsessed by Books ~*~
This is the spin off series from the Endgame series and provides an insight into how Damon became the man we are familiar with. He is an enigma that hinted at something more and his story is filled with sadness and unbridled strength. He makes choices no one should ever have to just because of the sins of his father leave him needing to make amends for the horror he has left in his wake. The connection between Damon and Penny is deep and provides them with purpose that motivates them through the darkest of times. This story is darkly captivating as the children pay for the father's sins ...causing endless misery and suffering, yet somehow in the darkness they find a spark of light in each other. Skye Warren has a talent of writing flowing prose that weave into the reader's heart stirring emotions that leave you haunted by the characters long after the last page is read. I can't wait to read the conclusion to this story.
A five star hauntingly dark and captivating read.
~*~ Reviewed on behalf of Obsessed by Books ~*~
August 24, 2017
Skye Warren is one of those authors that you know will absolutely blow your mind. Every single one of her books has so many twists and turns, you never know where you will wind up. When I found out The King - a story featuring Damon Scott from The End Game Series - was coming out, I was beyond excited. I knew we would have intense. I new we would be lead through a labyrinth of intrigue, suspense, angst and sexual tension. Her books remind me of a puzzle, so many aspects and surprises around every corner.
While The King is a spin off from The End Game Series, you should really do yourself the favor and read those. You dont need to, and really, you dont lose anything by not reading it. I just feel like you get to know Damon a little more, and it adds to the draw of the story.
Penny is one tough girl. Sure, at times she might be naive. But what this girl endures and survives makes her strength shine through brightly. She's a deeply loving girl, one that you just hope all the best things for.
I can't wait for The Queen! A must read book in my opinion. Get the other books too :)
While The King is a spin off from The End Game Series, you should really do yourself the favor and read those. You dont need to, and really, you dont lose anything by not reading it. I just feel like you get to know Damon a little more, and it adds to the draw of the story.
Penny is one tough girl. Sure, at times she might be naive. But what this girl endures and survives makes her strength shine through brightly. She's a deeply loving girl, one that you just hope all the best things for.
I can't wait for The Queen! A must read book in my opinion. Get the other books too :)
July 30, 2017
It's a game of chess played with poker cards. "I'm a farmer in this concrete land, money my tool, fear a steady fall of rain. And very soon, I'll pick the sweetest peach for myself." Your heart aches for the young girl that chases an infancy love dream that takes early shape in the dark undercurrent of deep waters that whirl down onto a sharp rock filled bottom, or green old cracked tiled pool floor. But the old saying about a fat lady that needs to sing the end will make you cry at the abrupt cliff that leads to the Queen book to come. I want a loving end for this struggling and twisted couple that only deserves the best of a corrupted and painful world. Stay Inspired !!
July 18, 2017
I have been dying to get my hands on Damon Scott's story ever since he was introduced in 'The Pawn'. He was just so sexy and dangerous that I couldn't help but be drawn to his character. At the same time, it was clear that he wasn't entirely "bad". He had an underlying protective, even kind, nature that would sometimes shine through. When Penny was later introduced, the obvious tension and history between the two piqued my interests even more. I had to have this book.
Thankfully, I can say that this book did not disappoint. The Damon and Penny's story was absolutely captivating. It was a story of youthful innocence against the backdrop of the city's gritty criminal underbelly. It was also a story of innocence lost, addiction, betrayal and other unspeakable acts. There were so many facets of this story and I loved every single one.
Penny first meets Damon when she is a young girl. Living on the streets to try and escape his crazy father, a teenaged Damon grows fond of the bold little girl from the trailer park near the woods where he was camped. Left on their own as Penny's father leaves her for days at a time to feed his gambling addiction, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. In many ways, Damon becomes an older brother type of figure in her life, although it is apparent that some of his feelings aren't very brotherly.
Eventually, the two lose contact, but neither one forgets about the other. Penny grows into a teenager, struggling to make ends meet while her father continues to gamble away every bit of her money that she earned waiting tables. Meanwhile, Damon rises up from the back alleys to become a king of sorts in the criminal underground, his power surpassing even his own father's.
When Penny's father's addiction places her in grave danger again, she finds herself in the crosshairs of Jonathan Scott. Knowing that his son cares about Penny only makes her an irresistible temptation for Damon's deranged father. While Damon works hard to try and free Penny from the situation that her own father placed her in, Jonathan Scott sets out to harm Damon and he plans to use Penny as the tool to do so.
If you've read the 'Endgame' series, then you're already aware of the outcome for Jonathan Scott and the state that Penny was left in. This book provides the backstory that was not provided in that series. It details the events leading up to Penny's horrible attack and provides far more details about the events that followed. Some of the timeline overlaps with the 'Endgame' series, but most of it does not.
This book leaves off with a lot of questions unanswered, which is no big surprise since there is another book expected in this series. I am dying to see how Damon and Penny will move forward. I'm not even humoring the thought that they won't be moving forward together at this point. It just isn't going to happen. No way!
I will certainly be reading the next book as soon as it is released. There is no way that I would miss it. If you are a fan of the 'Endgame' series, you don't want to miss this spin-off series. If you haven't read the 'Endgame' series, I would recommend that you start there. You could certainly read this series as a standalone, but you'll miss a lot of the backstory and details that are provided in that series. They're both wonderful though, so enjoy!
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
Thankfully, I can say that this book did not disappoint. The Damon and Penny's story was absolutely captivating. It was a story of youthful innocence against the backdrop of the city's gritty criminal underbelly. It was also a story of innocence lost, addiction, betrayal and other unspeakable acts. There were so many facets of this story and I loved every single one.
Penny first meets Damon when she is a young girl. Living on the streets to try and escape his crazy father, a teenaged Damon grows fond of the bold little girl from the trailer park near the woods where he was camped. Left on their own as Penny's father leaves her for days at a time to feed his gambling addiction, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. In many ways, Damon becomes an older brother type of figure in her life, although it is apparent that some of his feelings aren't very brotherly.
Eventually, the two lose contact, but neither one forgets about the other. Penny grows into a teenager, struggling to make ends meet while her father continues to gamble away every bit of her money that she earned waiting tables. Meanwhile, Damon rises up from the back alleys to become a king of sorts in the criminal underground, his power surpassing even his own father's.
When Penny's father's addiction places her in grave danger again, she finds herself in the crosshairs of Jonathan Scott. Knowing that his son cares about Penny only makes her an irresistible temptation for Damon's deranged father. While Damon works hard to try and free Penny from the situation that her own father placed her in, Jonathan Scott sets out to harm Damon and he plans to use Penny as the tool to do so.
If you've read the 'Endgame' series, then you're already aware of the outcome for Jonathan Scott and the state that Penny was left in. This book provides the backstory that was not provided in that series. It details the events leading up to Penny's horrible attack and provides far more details about the events that followed. Some of the timeline overlaps with the 'Endgame' series, but most of it does not.
This book leaves off with a lot of questions unanswered, which is no big surprise since there is another book expected in this series. I am dying to see how Damon and Penny will move forward. I'm not even humoring the thought that they won't be moving forward together at this point. It just isn't going to happen. No way!
I will certainly be reading the next book as soon as it is released. There is no way that I would miss it. If you are a fan of the 'Endgame' series, you don't want to miss this spin-off series. If you haven't read the 'Endgame' series, I would recommend that you start there. You could certainly read this series as a standalone, but you'll miss a lot of the backstory and details that are provided in that series. They're both wonderful though, so enjoy!
Check out more of my reviews at www.bookaddicthaven.com
August 2, 2017
This story is raw, gritty, intense and down right painfully broken. The struggles that both Penny and Damon have to go through in their lives are emotional and heartbreaking. The King is everything you wanted it to be with the way Skye brought angst with Penny and Damon.
Penny pulls at your heart in every way you can think off. She's strong yet damaged.
Damon as we all know from The End Game Series is dark, and will haunt you. He is overwhelming air of mystery and complexity that leaves you guessing.
Both of them have demos they have to over come yet they both don't know how to. You feel for them and just want to see them happy.
Penny pulls at your heart in every way you can think off. She's strong yet damaged.
Damon as we all know from The End Game Series is dark, and will haunt you. He is overwhelming air of mystery and complexity that leaves you guessing.
Both of them have demos they have to over come yet they both don't know how to. You feel for them and just want to see them happy.
July 21, 2017
This story was so hauntingly beautiful, I loved every minute of it. It's dark and damaged in such a gut wrenching, heart pounding way that it grabs you and draws you in and drowns you with each word.
Penny just tears you up she's so strong yet so damaged and Damon is so tortured that you don't know whether to love him, hate him or pity him.
I don't know how Skye Warren does it but she constructs such beautifully dark masterpieces and I can't wait to read the conclusion of Damon and Penny's dark and deadly yet enchanting story.
****I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review****
Penny just tears you up she's so strong yet so damaged and Damon is so tortured that you don't know whether to love him, hate him or pity him.
I don't know how Skye Warren does it but she constructs such beautifully dark masterpieces and I can't wait to read the conclusion of Damon and Penny's dark and deadly yet enchanting story.
****I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review****
June 27, 2017
5 STARS
So I loved the Endgame Series from this author but I love this first book in the spin-off.
This (duet is Damon and penny's story and what a dark, damaged, beautifully told story this author delivers. Damon is mad I say mad he is damaged and tortured and it is hard to find his light. Penny is young innocent but oh so broken and she is split in half by one of the most insane men ever to be written Johnathon Scott.
Skye Warren is a story teller that is uniquely her. You can be guaranteed an emotional ride of all proportions and characters that you just fall in love with. If you are looking for dark, dangerous, emotional, tragically beautiful then this is the book for you and of course I recommend The Endgame Series as well. Kudos to this author for a truly magnificent spin off that grabbed me and carried me through to the very last word!! I so look forward to more of Damon and Penny's story.
I volunteered to review an Advance Reader Copy of this book for Rockstar Book Muse
So I loved the Endgame Series from this author but I love this first book in the spin-off.
This (duet is Damon and penny's story and what a dark, damaged, beautifully told story this author delivers. Damon is mad I say mad he is damaged and tortured and it is hard to find his light. Penny is young innocent but oh so broken and she is split in half by one of the most insane men ever to be written Johnathon Scott.
Skye Warren is a story teller that is uniquely her. You can be guaranteed an emotional ride of all proportions and characters that you just fall in love with. If you are looking for dark, dangerous, emotional, tragically beautiful then this is the book for you and of course I recommend The Endgame Series as well. Kudos to this author for a truly magnificent spin off that grabbed me and carried me through to the very last word!! I so look forward to more of Damon and Penny's story.
I volunteered to review an Advance Reader Copy of this book for Rockstar Book Muse
June 25, 2017
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The King by Skye Warren was a great 5 star read.
We start with The Prince, this is where we get a glimpse into Penny’s childhood and meet Damon for the first time. She lost her mother to a drug addiction and her father has another type of addiction,gambling. When he disappears for a few days, Penny ends up meeting Damon, he becomes protective of her and tries to help her. There is a twist that Penny figures out and confronts Damon on. Can he protect her?
We jump into “The King”, Penny is 15 and her father has once again gotten himself into trouble with the gambling. A ghost from the past shows up at their apartment looking for his money, he is even more handsome than Penny remembers. We also get a glimpse at the horrific and dangerous man Jonathan Scott, Damon’s father. Damon is trying to keep Penny safe from his father, however there is a big shocking twist that spirals Penny into a very dark place. This is heartbreaking and had me in tears.
Sometimes the best way to get past something is to go through it.
Damon and Penny have quite the connection, although Damon is trying desperately to stay away from her, she’s too young. If I’m so young, why are you here? He is trying to help her while trying to find his father, can he keep her safe?
Damon Scott is lightning, so bright he’ll blind you.
I absolutely loved this story, there is so much going on you can’t put it down until your done. It’s a dark, thrilling, and suspenseful read with twists and surprises. I really like the secondary characters, they added a great element to the story as well. Just when things are really getting good we end in a cliffhanger, nooo. Now I have to wait impatiently for “The Queen”. If you're looking for a great read that pulls you right in get started on this great new series today.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
The King by Skye Warren was a great 5 star read.
We start with The Prince, this is where we get a glimpse into Penny’s childhood and meet Damon for the first time. She lost her mother to a drug addiction and her father has another type of addiction,gambling. When he disappears for a few days, Penny ends up meeting Damon, he becomes protective of her and tries to help her. There is a twist that Penny figures out and confronts Damon on. Can he protect her?
We jump into “The King”, Penny is 15 and her father has once again gotten himself into trouble with the gambling. A ghost from the past shows up at their apartment looking for his money, he is even more handsome than Penny remembers. We also get a glimpse at the horrific and dangerous man Jonathan Scott, Damon’s father. Damon is trying to keep Penny safe from his father, however there is a big shocking twist that spirals Penny into a very dark place. This is heartbreaking and had me in tears.
Sometimes the best way to get past something is to go through it.
Damon and Penny have quite the connection, although Damon is trying desperately to stay away from her, she’s too young. If I’m so young, why are you here? He is trying to help her while trying to find his father, can he keep her safe?
Damon Scott is lightning, so bright he’ll blind you.
I absolutely loved this story, there is so much going on you can’t put it down until your done. It’s a dark, thrilling, and suspenseful read with twists and surprises. I really like the secondary characters, they added a great element to the story as well. Just when things are really getting good we end in a cliffhanger, nooo. Now I have to wait impatiently for “The Queen”. If you're looking for a great read that pulls you right in get started on this great new series today.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
June 28, 2017
My heart is in my throat right now. Wow. My emotions are all over the place. It's been a little while since a book gave me with a visceral response like this.
We were given aspects of Penny and Damon's story in the Endgame Trilogy and it left me intrigued. Both have been through so much at the hands of an evil man. Will they be able to help heal one another or will they be forced apart?
Warren's almost poetic prose is the perfect contrast to the dark and gritty world she creates for her characters. Having been shaped by their circumstances, Damon and Penny are fractured. The connection, the chemistry between them, somehow makes the cold, the pain, the ache, just a little better. Sometimes that's not enough though and we are left wondering how things will turn out.
As usual, Warren brings us right to the edge of a cliff and leaves us, precariously on the ledge. I am so eager to find out where she is going to take us with this story. I have a feeling it's going to put me through the ringer. Bring it on, Ms. Warren.
June 27, 2017
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
So if you have been following my reviews, you are well aware that I was obsessed with the Endgame Series and couldn’t wait to get my greedy hands on Damon Scott in The King. The man behind the suit has always been an enigma. He exudes power, dominance and control and yet we know very little of him except that his only enemy is his father. So what layers of Damon will be revealed?
Gabriel Miller is as bold as thunder, rumbling, unmistakable. Damon Scott is lightning, so bright he’ll blind you. They’re both forces of nature but only one will kill you just to touch him. Only one will burn you in a flash.”
Damon Scott is the newly appointed king of the city. He has wealth and power. He runs his empire with an iron fist but tries to be nothing like his father. He hates his father with a passion and soon readers will begin to discover a new side to Damon. His one fatal flaw. His forbidden attraction to a very young girl. His baby genius. His Penny.
The King picks off from The Endgame Series and so readers are treated to a little backstory of how Damon and Penny met. Was it fate? Coincidence? Or sheer luck? Either way, the meeting of Damon and Penny is a significant part in the story. Their lives are shaped by this meeting.
I have this sense that everything has led me to this moment. Everything has led me to Damon Scott.”
Penny didn’t have the best childhood. She grew up in a trailer park with a mother who chose drugs over taking care of Penny. And so when Penny went to live with her father, it wasn’t all that great especially since her father has a major gambling addiction leaving Penny to fend for herself at a young age. Penny was forced to be an adult at the age of seven. Unlike her peers, Penny found comfort, solace and happiness in learning math. She was doing and solving mathematical equations that were high school and college level. Numbers were her addiction.
When Jonathan Scott, a known sadistic criminal learned of Penny’s gift, he wanted her. Penny tried her best to stay clear of Jonathan since she has heard of how cruel and ruthless he was. Damon was well aware of his father wanting Penny so he warns Penny to stay away and lay low. For several years, Penny was able to stay under the radar that is until Jonathan Scott walked backed into her life when her father owed so much money and Jonathan came to collect Penny.
Damon is right. He is a riddle I can’t solve, and I’ve had so few of those. He’s a warm, breathing puzzle with wooden parts and hidden clasps.”
If you remember in The Castle, Penny was rescued by Damon Scott. And so in The King, we revisit that day when Penny was rescued. Readers get a glimpse of how sadistic and cruel Jonathan Scott was and what he did to Penny. We also get to understand the bond that Damon and Penny have for one another.
We have something in common now. We’re both monsters. Not the kind you can see on the outside. He wears a secret smile on his handsome face. Bruises faded back to pale skin on my naked body. It’s only inside that something can never be repaired. Only inside that I never really leave the water. Inside that I learn to need the dark.”
What makes this book very different from Gabriel’s story is that it is not erotic or sexual in a sense, but it’s more of a deep sexual tension brewing between Penny and Damon. While there is an age difference and Penny is very young, I didn’t feel weirded out by how old Penny was because she was very mature for her age since she had to grow up and take care of herself and father at a very young age.
The King ends in a major cliffhanger that begs readers for more. Seriously, I’m itching to get my hands on the next book because I need to know what happens with Damon and Penny. The sexual tension is killing me.
Because I did dream of you, Penny. I dreamed of you and I watched you and I wanted you. Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t stop. It isn’t about how old you are—it’s you. It’s only ever been you.”
Overall, this book was a suspenseful slow burn dark romance. I loved Penny’s character so much. She was strong, resilient, smart and yet had that vulnerable aspect to her. I love her connection with Damon and how Damon affected her. As for Damon, you can’t helped but love him. He had this magnetic persona and aura that drew you to him. You wanted to know more of this mysterious and quiet man. And so, I can’t wait to discover what layers of Damon will be revealed and how far will he go to make Penny his.
Skye Warren
So if you have been following my reviews, you are well aware that I was obsessed with the Endgame Series and couldn’t wait to get my greedy hands on Damon Scott in The King. The man behind the suit has always been an enigma. He exudes power, dominance and control and yet we know very little of him except that his only enemy is his father. So what layers of Damon will be revealed?
Gabriel Miller is as bold as thunder, rumbling, unmistakable. Damon Scott is lightning, so bright he’ll blind you. They’re both forces of nature but only one will kill you just to touch him. Only one will burn you in a flash.”Damon Scott is the newly appointed king of the city. He has wealth and power. He runs his empire with an iron fist but tries to be nothing like his father. He hates his father with a passion and soon readers will begin to discover a new side to Damon. His one fatal flaw. His forbidden attraction to a very young girl. His baby genius. His Penny.
The King picks off from The Endgame Series and so readers are treated to a little backstory of how Damon and Penny met. Was it fate? Coincidence? Or sheer luck? Either way, the meeting of Damon and Penny is a significant part in the story. Their lives are shaped by this meeting.
I have this sense that everything has led me to this moment. Everything has led me to Damon Scott.”Penny didn’t have the best childhood. She grew up in a trailer park with a mother who chose drugs over taking care of Penny. And so when Penny went to live with her father, it wasn’t all that great especially since her father has a major gambling addiction leaving Penny to fend for herself at a young age. Penny was forced to be an adult at the age of seven. Unlike her peers, Penny found comfort, solace and happiness in learning math. She was doing and solving mathematical equations that were high school and college level. Numbers were her addiction.
When Jonathan Scott, a known sadistic criminal learned of Penny’s gift, he wanted her. Penny tried her best to stay clear of Jonathan since she has heard of how cruel and ruthless he was. Damon was well aware of his father wanting Penny so he warns Penny to stay away and lay low. For several years, Penny was able to stay under the radar that is until Jonathan Scott walked backed into her life when her father owed so much money and Jonathan came to collect Penny.
Damon is right. He is a riddle I can’t solve, and I’ve had so few of those. He’s a warm, breathing puzzle with wooden parts and hidden clasps.”If you remember in The Castle, Penny was rescued by Damon Scott. And so in The King, we revisit that day when Penny was rescued. Readers get a glimpse of how sadistic and cruel Jonathan Scott was and what he did to Penny. We also get to understand the bond that Damon and Penny have for one another.
We have something in common now. We’re both monsters. Not the kind you can see on the outside. He wears a secret smile on his handsome face. Bruises faded back to pale skin on my naked body. It’s only inside that something can never be repaired. Only inside that I never really leave the water. Inside that I learn to need the dark.”What makes this book very different from Gabriel’s story is that it is not erotic or sexual in a sense, but it’s more of a deep sexual tension brewing between Penny and Damon. While there is an age difference and Penny is very young, I didn’t feel weirded out by how old Penny was because she was very mature for her age since she had to grow up and take care of herself and father at a very young age.
The King ends in a major cliffhanger that begs readers for more. Seriously, I’m itching to get my hands on the next book because I need to know what happens with Damon and Penny. The sexual tension is killing me.
Because I did dream of you, Penny. I dreamed of you and I watched you and I wanted you. Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t stop. It isn’t about how old you are—it’s you. It’s only ever been you.”Overall, this book was a suspenseful slow burn dark romance. I loved Penny’s character so much. She was strong, resilient, smart and yet had that vulnerable aspect to her. I love her connection with Damon and how Damon affected her. As for Damon, you can’t helped but love him. He had this magnetic persona and aura that drew you to him. You wanted to know more of this mysterious and quiet man. And so, I can’t wait to discover what layers of Damon will be revealed and how far will he go to make Penny his.
Skye Warren
September 30, 2019
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Stephanie's Book Reports.
The King is the first book in Skye Warren's Masterpiece Duet. Notice duet ....that way your not left with your mouth hanging open when the book ends in a cliff.
Penny's father gambles every night and is so deep in debt he will never get out of it. When he places rock bottom he places a new bet....his daughter Penny. She is his entry into the biggest underground poker game. The players are politicians, mafia men and so much danger lurks. But it is only the man that Penny once thought she loved that makes her shake. A man who betrayed her.....Damon Scott.
This story is absolutely amazing and kept me reading from start to finish. I knew that Damon Scott would have one heck of a story to tell but this is just the first half and I am so curious about what is going to happen next. Penny's dad is in a mess to say the least but from some reason Jonathan Scott has his eyes set on Penny and Damon is not going to let that happen. His father is probably the most evil, although crazy, person on the planet. Damon and Penny meet in a unconventional way and Damon makes a huge sacrifice and choice to keep Jonathan away from Penny. Does it work? Is Penny in serious danger? What could Jonathan Scott want with a girl who has so many numbers in her head? Well...you just have to read the book and find out. It is nothing like I thought it would be. It was better. The story unwinds in Penny's voice and head and what a story it is. That girl is unbelievably smart and really only has ever wanted to be loved in life. When your mom is an addict and your dad a gambler there just isn't much love to go around. This poor girl had to grow up by the time she was six and Damon enters her life. I liked both these characters. But hey, who didn't leave the Endgame Series not wanting to know more about Damon Scott.
Grab this book and just read. Skye Warren has woven a complicated, suspenseful story that will having you turning the pages as fast as you can. I so can not wait to get my hands on The Queen. When it comes to dark reads Skye Warren is right up there as a you don't want to miss a thing she writes list.
The King is the first book in Skye Warren's Masterpiece Duet. Notice duet ....that way your not left with your mouth hanging open when the book ends in a cliff.
Penny's father gambles every night and is so deep in debt he will never get out of it. When he places rock bottom he places a new bet....his daughter Penny. She is his entry into the biggest underground poker game. The players are politicians, mafia men and so much danger lurks. But it is only the man that Penny once thought she loved that makes her shake. A man who betrayed her.....Damon Scott.
This story is absolutely amazing and kept me reading from start to finish. I knew that Damon Scott would have one heck of a story to tell but this is just the first half and I am so curious about what is going to happen next. Penny's dad is in a mess to say the least but from some reason Jonathan Scott has his eyes set on Penny and Damon is not going to let that happen. His father is probably the most evil, although crazy, person on the planet. Damon and Penny meet in a unconventional way and Damon makes a huge sacrifice and choice to keep Jonathan away from Penny. Does it work? Is Penny in serious danger? What could Jonathan Scott want with a girl who has so many numbers in her head? Well...you just have to read the book and find out. It is nothing like I thought it would be. It was better. The story unwinds in Penny's voice and head and what a story it is. That girl is unbelievably smart and really only has ever wanted to be loved in life. When your mom is an addict and your dad a gambler there just isn't much love to go around. This poor girl had to grow up by the time she was six and Damon enters her life. I liked both these characters. But hey, who didn't leave the Endgame Series not wanting to know more about Damon Scott.
Grab this book and just read. Skye Warren has woven a complicated, suspenseful story that will having you turning the pages as fast as you can. I so can not wait to get my hands on The Queen. When it comes to dark reads Skye Warren is right up there as a you don't want to miss a thing she writes list.
June 25, 2017
4.5 Underwater Stars!!
I couldn’t gush enough about Skye Warren. If you know me at all, you know I am a HUGE fan. This series is one of my favorites of hers, after the Stripped and Endgame series. Lol. Ok. I love all her books. Leave me alone!! Her writing is able to capture beauty in the darkness. And there is A LOT of darkness in her books. Just gimme all the darkness.
We have something in common now. We’re both monsters. Not the kind you can see on the outside. He wears a secret smile on his handsome face. Bruises faded back to pale skin on my naked body. It’s only inside that something can never be repaired. Only inside that I never really leave the water. Inside that I learn to need the dark.
There was a turning point in this book that I loved. I could literally FEEL the words turning to a dark place. There is a pivotal before and after to Penny’s story, and to be completely honest, I prefer the AFTER. Skye’s writing just hits me harder when it’s darker and gritty and honest.
Penny. She is young and very smart, like genius with numbers, rain man style. Penny’s father has a gambling addiction, and Penny gets caught in the crossfire of her father’s addiction, and it doesn’t end well. Her body and mind are dragged through the fire, and let me tell you, I am glad that Skye didn’t give us all the details on this because I don’t think I could have handled it. Penny is ruined in this book, and Damon is on the other side to throw his soul off a cliff for her.
Damon. He is a tortured soul….literally. His father tortured his body and his mind when he was young. I am aching for more of him. I really appreciate that Skye included The Prince as part of the prequel to this story because it gives us more little morsels into what makes Damon tick. But I really do need MORE of Damon!!
Damon & Gabriel. Gabriel & Damon. Just put me in the middle of that delicious sandwich, please. I loved the snippets of Gabriel in this book (BECAUSE HE’S MINE!!).
Gabriel Miller is as bold as thunder, rumbling, unmistakable. Damon Scott is lightning, so bright he’ll blind you. They’re both forces of nature but only one will kill you just to touch him. Only one will burn you in a flash.
Most of this book is a re-telling of the Endgame series, but from Penny’s pov. It definitely helped to fill in the blanks with Damon and Penny and how they get to where they are at the end of the Endgame series.
Yes, this ends in a cliffy. Do I care?
Not.
One.
Bit.
Skye could write cliffhangers all day long, and I wouldn’t stop reading them. It’s her words that matter and her words that I love.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
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I couldn’t gush enough about Skye Warren. If you know me at all, you know I am a HUGE fan. This series is one of my favorites of hers, after the Stripped and Endgame series. Lol. Ok. I love all her books. Leave me alone!! Her writing is able to capture beauty in the darkness. And there is A LOT of darkness in her books. Just gimme all the darkness.
We have something in common now. We’re both monsters. Not the kind you can see on the outside. He wears a secret smile on his handsome face. Bruises faded back to pale skin on my naked body. It’s only inside that something can never be repaired. Only inside that I never really leave the water. Inside that I learn to need the dark.
There was a turning point in this book that I loved. I could literally FEEL the words turning to a dark place. There is a pivotal before and after to Penny’s story, and to be completely honest, I prefer the AFTER. Skye’s writing just hits me harder when it’s darker and gritty and honest.
Penny. She is young and very smart, like genius with numbers, rain man style. Penny’s father has a gambling addiction, and Penny gets caught in the crossfire of her father’s addiction, and it doesn’t end well. Her body and mind are dragged through the fire, and let me tell you, I am glad that Skye didn’t give us all the details on this because I don’t think I could have handled it. Penny is ruined in this book, and Damon is on the other side to throw his soul off a cliff for her.
Damon. He is a tortured soul….literally. His father tortured his body and his mind when he was young. I am aching for more of him. I really appreciate that Skye included The Prince as part of the prequel to this story because it gives us more little morsels into what makes Damon tick. But I really do need MORE of Damon!!
Damon & Gabriel. Gabriel & Damon. Just put me in the middle of that delicious sandwich, please. I loved the snippets of Gabriel in this book (BECAUSE HE’S MINE!!).
Gabriel Miller is as bold as thunder, rumbling, unmistakable. Damon Scott is lightning, so bright he’ll blind you. They’re both forces of nature but only one will kill you just to touch him. Only one will burn you in a flash.
Most of this book is a re-telling of the Endgame series, but from Penny’s pov. It definitely helped to fill in the blanks with Damon and Penny and how they get to where they are at the end of the Endgame series.
Yes, this ends in a cliffy. Do I care?
Not.
One.
Bit.
Skye could write cliffhangers all day long, and I wouldn’t stop reading them. It’s her words that matter and her words that I love.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on
June 30, 2017
I never know quite what I'm going to get when reading a book by Skye but I do know I'm never going to be disappointed.
We start the story finding out how Damon and Penny meet when they were children, it all seems very pure and innocent. Next we move to the future and we meet the devil incarnate Damon's father Johnathan Scott, this is where the authors words are used to devastating effect. Skye very easily paints the multi faceted elements of Johnathan's personality perfectly, we feel the evil pouring off him when he goes to the diner Penny works at he really is a crazy scary dude.
Penny may be young but when you learn her back story seems like she has lived a thousand lives in that short time. However she's no victim she's strong and courageous even if she makes some dodgy decisions. Damon is an enigma, his outside facade is one of a tough businessman who no one questions but with Penny he's different he's protective and almost tender.
Set against a backdrop of gambling we see what the addiction has done to Penny's father and subsequently her whole life. Every decision that Damon forces her to make is a gamble but will that the final gamble at the end of the book finally break their budding relationship?
I can't wait to get my hands on book 2
reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood
We start the story finding out how Damon and Penny meet when they were children, it all seems very pure and innocent. Next we move to the future and we meet the devil incarnate Damon's father Johnathan Scott, this is where the authors words are used to devastating effect. Skye very easily paints the multi faceted elements of Johnathan's personality perfectly, we feel the evil pouring off him when he goes to the diner Penny works at he really is a crazy scary dude.
Penny may be young but when you learn her back story seems like she has lived a thousand lives in that short time. However she's no victim she's strong and courageous even if she makes some dodgy decisions. Damon is an enigma, his outside facade is one of a tough businessman who no one questions but with Penny he's different he's protective and almost tender.
Set against a backdrop of gambling we see what the addiction has done to Penny's father and subsequently her whole life. Every decision that Damon forces her to make is a gamble but will that the final gamble at the end of the book finally break their budding relationship?
I can't wait to get my hands on book 2
reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood
June 29, 2017
Title: The King
Author: Skye Warren
5 amazing stars
After the Endgame series, Skye Warren created a monster in me - i wanted to know so much more about the players that she introduced us to and i know that she heard the many voices of her readers asking for the same thing. One thing's for certain - Mason's story was nothing like i had imagined but everything i could have hoped for in this illusive man's story.
4.5 sexy dreams
Having had read The Prince beforehand, i now knew how it was that Mason and Penny first got together and their relationship was forged. I wish i could say that i had enough with The King - that all my questions were answered but i can't since so many more popped up in the mean time and their relationship more than a little intriguing. With each new book that Skye Warren releases, they simply get better and better and one thing's for certain, i look forward to watching her be spectacular.
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books
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Author: Skye Warren
5 amazing stars
After the Endgame series, Skye Warren created a monster in me - i wanted to know so much more about the players that she introduced us to and i know that she heard the many voices of her readers asking for the same thing. One thing's for certain - Mason's story was nothing like i had imagined but everything i could have hoped for in this illusive man's story.
4.5 sexy dreams
Having had read The Prince beforehand, i now knew how it was that Mason and Penny first got together and their relationship was forged. I wish i could say that i had enough with The King - that all my questions were answered but i can't since so many more popped up in the mean time and their relationship more than a little intriguing. With each new book that Skye Warren releases, they simply get better and better and one thing's for certain, i look forward to watching her be spectacular.
*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books
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June 23, 2017
The King is the first installment (a duet) in the spin-off of Skye Warren's Endgame Series, where we first met Damon Scott and Penny. It mirrors that portion of the story where Jonathan Scott, Damon's father, gets what he deserves, from Penny's POV, and all the events leading up to that and the resulting emotional aftermath. Jonathan Scott was a vile, evil monster...did he get exactly what he wanted all along?
I'm always blown away by the amount of emotion I experience with a Skye Warren story, at various times throughout the story I was elated and happy, frightened and angry, raw and sad, appalled and vindicated, resolute and resigned.
This is Damon and Penny's story. Penny, so young, but so strong. Having to deal with adult problems way before she should, she's naive and scared, but plunges headlong into the responsibility like no child should. Damon, still watching out for her, still protective, has become someone she doesn't want to care about, but he made a sacrifice, a choice for her, a long time ago, one she is well aware of but hates how it's changed her "wild boy".
There's a big cliffie, we leave Damon and Penny at a crossroads, did he cheat? No not that kind, but Damon is making a choice again...if you love someone, set them free, if they come back again....well, you know the rest, but I don't think Damon sees a happy ending.
I love these characters, Damon is rock solid and all bad boy, but sometimes you have to play the cards your dealt and Penny is age appropriate and believable as written, I'm so anxious to see where The Queen takes us. PS...thanks for giving us a little more Gabriel and Avery!
As part of the Launch Team, I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
I'm always blown away by the amount of emotion I experience with a Skye Warren story, at various times throughout the story I was elated and happy, frightened and angry, raw and sad, appalled and vindicated, resolute and resigned.
This is Damon and Penny's story. Penny, so young, but so strong. Having to deal with adult problems way before she should, she's naive and scared, but plunges headlong into the responsibility like no child should. Damon, still watching out for her, still protective, has become someone she doesn't want to care about, but he made a sacrifice, a choice for her, a long time ago, one she is well aware of but hates how it's changed her "wild boy".
There's a big cliffie, we leave Damon and Penny at a crossroads, did he cheat? No not that kind, but Damon is making a choice again...if you love someone, set them free, if they come back again....well, you know the rest, but I don't think Damon sees a happy ending.
I love these characters, Damon is rock solid and all bad boy, but sometimes you have to play the cards your dealt and Penny is age appropriate and believable as written, I'm so anxious to see where The Queen takes us. PS...thanks for giving us a little more Gabriel and Avery!
As part of the Launch Team, I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
June 26, 2017
Whenever I start a Skye Warren book I have to take a deep breath and immerse myself in her genius. I may not understand how exactly the pieces will fall but I have to trust that my mind will be blown. That's exactly how she left me after reading The King. I was elated, moved and HUNGRY for more. I could not get enough of Damon and his Penny and wait with bated breath for The Queen.
If you steadily followed Penny and Damon's story from the beginning we see how they met in the Prince and her capture as a player in Jonathan Scott's diabolical game in Orchard. From there in The Castle we see the aftermath of those actions but never really see and feel it from Penny's eyes. The King gives us this missing perspective we needed. We get to see it all in the perspective of the "Peasant" in the land of Princes and Kings. Like Avery before her, Penny is the noblest of creatures willing to sacrifice her dignity and self-worth in the name of her father. But unlike Avery, Penny paid the price at the hands of Jonathan Scott who left her broken - mind and body. Now in The King we see the ramifications of that and the electric and fiery chemistry between Penny and Damon. She is his weakness and as a result, paid the ultimate price. But what happens to the noble Peasant in the land of the new King? Will she ultimately become the strongest player in the game?
What I loved about The King is that throughout the different books and novellas, the author geniously kept Penny as one of the strongest players on the board. Yes - she was victimized and brutalized. But she never really lost her strong voice and convictions. Through everything she's been through - one thing has always remained constant: she has always wanted to remain free and in control of her own mind and body. And Damon. Oh sweet, protective, dark and cunning Damon. He was the most amazing character of all. We saw him truly evolve from The Prince all the way to The King. From protector and confidant to magnificent Dark Savior and like a fine wine, over the years their relationship evolved and dark passion simmered between them. Taboo? Yes. Equally exciting and delicious? HELL YES! But fact is fact - She is his Penny and he is her King.
I am so deeply excited about The Queen as I have to know what happens between them. The author left me needing more and on the precipice of a cliff. I am slowly dying for more but honestly it's the best way to go. No one can write like Ms. Warren. They can try but they really can't. It's fact. Her storylines are golden and her words are almost lyrical. This is why she is on another level. The King was sensual and filled with a dark promise of what's to come. I for one am excited to find out.
Skye Warren really is brilliant. She left us little breadcrumbs in Orchard, the Prince, The Castle and finally in The King and it's up to us to put it all together. Every little piece and player has their own part and when she decides it's time.. all the pieces fall together perfectly. She is the ultimate maestro in a perfectly played orchestra. We just need to sit back, enjoy and prepare to be blown away. Bravo! 5 Stars! ~Ratula
If you steadily followed Penny and Damon's story from the beginning we see how they met in the Prince and her capture as a player in Jonathan Scott's diabolical game in Orchard. From there in The Castle we see the aftermath of those actions but never really see and feel it from Penny's eyes. The King gives us this missing perspective we needed. We get to see it all in the perspective of the "Peasant" in the land of Princes and Kings. Like Avery before her, Penny is the noblest of creatures willing to sacrifice her dignity and self-worth in the name of her father. But unlike Avery, Penny paid the price at the hands of Jonathan Scott who left her broken - mind and body. Now in The King we see the ramifications of that and the electric and fiery chemistry between Penny and Damon. She is his weakness and as a result, paid the ultimate price. But what happens to the noble Peasant in the land of the new King? Will she ultimately become the strongest player in the game?
What I loved about The King is that throughout the different books and novellas, the author geniously kept Penny as one of the strongest players on the board. Yes - she was victimized and brutalized. But she never really lost her strong voice and convictions. Through everything she's been through - one thing has always remained constant: she has always wanted to remain free and in control of her own mind and body. And Damon. Oh sweet, protective, dark and cunning Damon. He was the most amazing character of all. We saw him truly evolve from The Prince all the way to The King. From protector and confidant to magnificent Dark Savior and like a fine wine, over the years their relationship evolved and dark passion simmered between them. Taboo? Yes. Equally exciting and delicious? HELL YES! But fact is fact - She is his Penny and he is her King.
I am so deeply excited about The Queen as I have to know what happens between them. The author left me needing more and on the precipice of a cliff. I am slowly dying for more but honestly it's the best way to go. No one can write like Ms. Warren. They can try but they really can't. It's fact. Her storylines are golden and her words are almost lyrical. This is why she is on another level. The King was sensual and filled with a dark promise of what's to come. I for one am excited to find out.
Skye Warren really is brilliant. She left us little breadcrumbs in Orchard, the Prince, The Castle and finally in The King and it's up to us to put it all together. Every little piece and player has their own part and when she decides it's time.. all the pieces fall together perfectly. She is the ultimate maestro in a perfectly played orchestra. We just need to sit back, enjoy and prepare to be blown away. Bravo! 5 Stars! ~Ratula
June 22, 2017
Skye Warren delivers a heartbreaking, dark, intensely emotional story with The King. Warren masters dark romance brilliantly and with ease, giving Penny and Damon's story a layered complexity that leaves the reader breathless.
I loved the way the story was laid out, as we are given a taste of a younger Damon and Penny before their main story begins. The way their journey begins only solidifies their bond and their love for each other. These were two characters with vastly different backgrounds with different expectations, yet they felt a pull towards each other that only intensified with time. Warren takes the time to flesh out the story and delves deep into the characters and what they are feeling. What they experienced at the hands of a monster was heart-wrenching to read. The author is so skilled at writing about difficult subjects in a way that makes me, as the reader, feel each and every emotion the character is experiencing. I was absolutely captivated while reading, knowing that the odds were stacked high against this couple but hoping that they would defy those odds.
The storyline flowed so well, I had to read the book in one sitting. Each and every scene with Damon and Penny was so full of tension and jam-packed with angst. I fell in love with Damon and Penny and am hoping that they will finally find their much-deserved happiness in the next book. Fans of dark romantic suspense will love this story, and I will be anxiously awaiting the conclusion to this duet.
July 15, 2017
Title: The King
Author: Skye Warren
Category: Dark Romance
Series or Standalone: Series, Book #1
POV: First Person, Heroine's PoV
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Scorching Level: 5
HEA: Um...hello. Not telling.
OMG. Damon Scott & Penny. I Repeat, DAMON SCOTT & PENNY. I love, love these two characters so much!!! Skye Warren shocked me with this one! Why??? Because Penny 's story impacted me in such a way that I devoured the book!!!
Trapped after her father keeps giving into his weakness for gambling, she is indebted.
To whom? Hmm, this is a good question.
This is where Damon Scott comes in...Or is this where he comes back. If you have already read The Prince then you already know how these two met and what Damon sacrificed for Penny.
If you have not read the prequel, no worries. It is included in the book.
Damon is mysterious, handsome but also very, very cold. His past is obscure, his power in the darkness quite certain. He has a way to save Penny's father but Jonathan Scott will ruin everything.
Who is Jonathan Scott??? A hated character that I was first introduced to in the Sweet Villaintine anthology and I would be lying if I said that he didn't fascinate me.
His role in this book is a pivotal one. He is the darkness, he is a monster, he is the devil that breathes and lives in your worst nightmares.
His purpose? Penny.
His goal? To hurt his son, Damon.
Will he succeed? Read to find out!
Enter Skye Warren 's world of debts and danger and you won't be disappointed.
Also, Gabriel and Avery appear in the book and OMG! I loved it.
Expect the delicious chemistry we have come to know from this author.
The forbidden bond between Penny & Damon is out of this world. Penny 's age and innocence is what drives Damon and I just loved it.
I cannot wait for more!!! I am ready for The Queen!!
June 23, 2017
What is the highest stake you would be willing to bet? What if you had no money, no assets, nothing of value except your own body? Would you still be willing to play and place your highest bet?
The first part of this book is called The Prince. It introduces us to how Damon and Penny met. It is a heart-racking story of sacrifice and survival. It also shares with us the connection our two characters make that will last a lifetime.
The second part is The King. Jonathan Scott in all his evil, psychotic, and prurient glory. He is the puppeteer in charge of everyone around him. He knows how to manipulate and force people to move in a way that is gainful to him... like a master chess player. What he does to Penny in order to trap Damon is beyond belief. I must warn you it is not for the faint of heart.
Penny is still struggling to survive and find her own way. Damon is still denying the connection they have. The temptation is strong and life, as Damon knows it, would never forgive him if he trapped Penny to him. What is Penny going to do?
Masterfully written, this book is only the first of the duet featuring Damon and Penny. Unbelievably gripping, I read this book in one sitting. I could not stop until I found out what happened next. Now, I am eagerly awaiting the release of The Queen. Will I be able to last that long?
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the author for sharing a copy of this book with me.
The first part of this book is called The Prince. It introduces us to how Damon and Penny met. It is a heart-racking story of sacrifice and survival. It also shares with us the connection our two characters make that will last a lifetime.
The second part is The King. Jonathan Scott in all his evil, psychotic, and prurient glory. He is the puppeteer in charge of everyone around him. He knows how to manipulate and force people to move in a way that is gainful to him... like a master chess player. What he does to Penny in order to trap Damon is beyond belief. I must warn you it is not for the faint of heart.
Penny is still struggling to survive and find her own way. Damon is still denying the connection they have. The temptation is strong and life, as Damon knows it, would never forgive him if he trapped Penny to him. What is Penny going to do?
Masterfully written, this book is only the first of the duet featuring Damon and Penny. Unbelievably gripping, I read this book in one sitting. I could not stop until I found out what happened next. Now, I am eagerly awaiting the release of The Queen. Will I be able to last that long?
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I thank the author for sharing a copy of this book with me.
June 28, 2017
Holy hell, Skye Warren... what have you done to me now?
I can't get enough. I can't. Skye Warren's writing is my drug. Her books offer euphoria, an addiction that, even in its darkness, its ugliness, its ability to pull you into the deep recesses of despair, it feels so lush going down. Warren's writing is nothing short of stunning in The King, her storytelling grows darker, smarter, more beautiful, the crafting more meticulous with each new storyline. Skye Warren demonstrates her genius in the first half of this duet, weaving a complex story of terror and treachery and unrequited longing,a story with a jaw-dropping ending that has left me starved for more, desperate for another hit.
I've decided that what I love most about Skye Warren's books, what I find so addictive about them, is the dynamic she creates with her characters, the juxtaposition of a vulnerable, broken female desperate for warmth with an impenetrable, hardened man who rarely shows softness toward her. It's an addiction, this need to see him brought down, to find the cracks in his armor, to see him show kindness and affection when it's so clearly against his nature to do so. Her stories often involve a remote, emotionally unattainable man whose only soft spot is a woman, but where the evidence of that truth we're so rarely allowed to see. That is true for Damon and Penny, and my need to see him succumb, to allow himself to be what she wants when it seems so impossible, that, along with this captivating, horrifying storyline, had me turning these pages hungrily.
Damon's world is one of darkness and sin, a war to survive amidst the most undesirable dregs of society. Somewhere along the way he met Penny and found in her something that he had to protect. Despite the fact that she's so young, despite the fact that he never showed her that he had any solid plans to be with her, never showed her any affection, there's no denying something was there. And that something drives this plot, holding me ensnared in a storyline that never felt good to read, as Warren's stories often don't, but that I couldn't look away from.
Children paying for the sins of the fathers with skin and sex and soul has been a recurring theme through many of Skye Warren's last few books. I was first introduced to Damon Scott in The Pawn, a story where a naive but privileged girl loses everything due to her father's reckless greed, so she reluctantly auctions off her virginity in order to save the only thing she has left. In The King, an equally naive but destitute girl finds herself in the harrowing position of being forced to pay her father's debts with the only thing she has to her name... her soul. I thought the dynamic between Gabriel Miller and Avery James (The Endgame Series) was a complicated one. The circumstances surrounding Damon Scott and Penny might be even more so. Their situation is just as complicated, woven together by a similar pain, by a war with a common villain, but in many ways it's even more insane. This story is so dark, so twisted, so gripping, I couldn't get enough. I'm DYING for The Queen, for some hope, for a chance at a happy ending in a world where they don't exist.
I can't get enough. I can't. Skye Warren's writing is my drug. Her books offer euphoria, an addiction that, even in its darkness, its ugliness, its ability to pull you into the deep recesses of despair, it feels so lush going down. Warren's writing is nothing short of stunning in The King, her storytelling grows darker, smarter, more beautiful, the crafting more meticulous with each new storyline. Skye Warren demonstrates her genius in the first half of this duet, weaving a complex story of terror and treachery and unrequited longing,a story with a jaw-dropping ending that has left me starved for more, desperate for another hit.
I've decided that what I love most about Skye Warren's books, what I find so addictive about them, is the dynamic she creates with her characters, the juxtaposition of a vulnerable, broken female desperate for warmth with an impenetrable, hardened man who rarely shows softness toward her. It's an addiction, this need to see him brought down, to find the cracks in his armor, to see him show kindness and affection when it's so clearly against his nature to do so. Her stories often involve a remote, emotionally unattainable man whose only soft spot is a woman, but where the evidence of that truth we're so rarely allowed to see. That is true for Damon and Penny, and my need to see him succumb, to allow himself to be what she wants when it seems so impossible, that, along with this captivating, horrifying storyline, had me turning these pages hungrily.
Damon's world is one of darkness and sin, a war to survive amidst the most undesirable dregs of society. Somewhere along the way he met Penny and found in her something that he had to protect. Despite the fact that she's so young, despite the fact that he never showed her that he had any solid plans to be with her, never showed her any affection, there's no denying something was there. And that something drives this plot, holding me ensnared in a storyline that never felt good to read, as Warren's stories often don't, but that I couldn't look away from.
Children paying for the sins of the fathers with skin and sex and soul has been a recurring theme through many of Skye Warren's last few books. I was first introduced to Damon Scott in The Pawn, a story where a naive but privileged girl loses everything due to her father's reckless greed, so she reluctantly auctions off her virginity in order to save the only thing she has left. In The King, an equally naive but destitute girl finds herself in the harrowing position of being forced to pay her father's debts with the only thing she has to her name... her soul. I thought the dynamic between Gabriel Miller and Avery James (The Endgame Series) was a complicated one. The circumstances surrounding Damon Scott and Penny might be even more so. Their situation is just as complicated, woven together by a similar pain, by a war with a common villain, but in many ways it's even more insane. This story is so dark, so twisted, so gripping, I couldn't get enough. I'm DYING for The Queen, for some hope, for a chance at a happy ending in a world where they don't exist.
June 29, 2017
I'm giving this all the hauntingly beautiful stars because that's what this book deserves. Skye Warren exceptionally continues to blow my mind with every work of hers that I read. The King was compellingly dark and just so heart wrenching. I guess this is why she considered it as YA: there weren't really graphic, gruesome scenes, yet she was still able to conjure such dark and heavy emotions from you. Which makes this that much more amazing in my book. She also left spaces in the story for you to fill in yourself. She let you use your own thoughts to connect the dots and figure out what happened in those gaps. And it completely worked for me. I loved how she let your imagination run wild with Penny and Damon. It truly gave this story an even more unique twist.
And as usual, the cliffhanger... is killer. Just a fair warning. If you're not a fan of those, you might not be happy with how this one ends. But seriously, with how brilliantly devastating this book is, I don't think it's worth putting off. It's something you need to read right now and just endure the pain of waiting for the next book. It's that worth it to me. I mean, those last few chapters had my heart pounding, my hands sweating and my adrenaline pumping like there's no tomorrow. And then BAM! I turn the next page and it's over. That ending was so brutally abrupt, it cut me deep. And here I am, again, trying to psych myself into thinking of other things so I won't have to dwell on and drive myself to insanity, pondering on what will happen next.
I can't really say that I obsessed over Damon Scott entirely when he was introduced in the first book of the Endgame series, but he did pique my interest. More so as the series went on and most especially in that last book. But after this one? I can't even. He OWNED ME. I knew he had a very interesting back story, but I didn't expect to be this GUTTED over it. I broke alongside this man. The things he gave up, sacrificed and went through in his life made me want to weep. He stole more and more of the shattered pieces of my heart and soul the more his story unfolded.
And then there's Penny. Sweet, smart, brave little Penny. I fell in love with the strength of this girl's mind. She was so fearless, yet so vulnerable at the same time. Her innocence brought such a fresh feel to this book that just made it all the more addictive to me. She was forced to grow up and fend for herself at a very young age, which led her to meeting the young and wild boy in the woods—Damon. And no matter how many times her only family let her down, to the point she's even lost claim to herself, she never had the heart to give up on them. No matter how broken and brutalized her mind and body was, you'll still feel that spark of hope deep inside her.
These two—this poor girl who lives in a trailer park and this man who had to live in his evil and criminal father's shadow his entire life—are both so battered and damaged, inside and out, but make no mistake... they will utterly burrow themselves in the deepest darkest corners of your heart after reading this book. They did me. Now I'm going to sit here, twiddle my thumbs until they go stiff and wait for The Queen's release...
And as usual, the cliffhanger... is killer. Just a fair warning. If you're not a fan of those, you might not be happy with how this one ends. But seriously, with how brilliantly devastating this book is, I don't think it's worth putting off. It's something you need to read right now and just endure the pain of waiting for the next book. It's that worth it to me. I mean, those last few chapters had my heart pounding, my hands sweating and my adrenaline pumping like there's no tomorrow. And then BAM! I turn the next page and it's over. That ending was so brutally abrupt, it cut me deep. And here I am, again, trying to psych myself into thinking of other things so I won't have to dwell on and drive myself to insanity, pondering on what will happen next.
I can't really say that I obsessed over Damon Scott entirely when he was introduced in the first book of the Endgame series, but he did pique my interest. More so as the series went on and most especially in that last book. But after this one? I can't even. He OWNED ME. I knew he had a very interesting back story, but I didn't expect to be this GUTTED over it. I broke alongside this man. The things he gave up, sacrificed and went through in his life made me want to weep. He stole more and more of the shattered pieces of my heart and soul the more his story unfolded.
And then there's Penny. Sweet, smart, brave little Penny. I fell in love with the strength of this girl's mind. She was so fearless, yet so vulnerable at the same time. Her innocence brought such a fresh feel to this book that just made it all the more addictive to me. She was forced to grow up and fend for herself at a very young age, which led her to meeting the young and wild boy in the woods—Damon. And no matter how many times her only family let her down, to the point she's even lost claim to herself, she never had the heart to give up on them. No matter how broken and brutalized her mind and body was, you'll still feel that spark of hope deep inside her.
These two—this poor girl who lives in a trailer park and this man who had to live in his evil and criminal father's shadow his entire life—are both so battered and damaged, inside and out, but make no mistake... they will utterly burrow themselves in the deepest darkest corners of your heart after reading this book. They did me. Now I'm going to sit here, twiddle my thumbs until they go stiff and wait for The Queen's release...
June 26, 2017
5 royal stars! Only the Prince with the help of the Knight will destroy the King.
Holy Batman! The King by Skye Warren is a darker bomb. I can’t still savour this book. I couldn’t put it down. I loved every minute of it. This book is the first part of the Masterpiece Duet. The plot is deeply dark and it makes my heart beat faster. The author delivered an intense story that will leave her readers breathless.
The King is a about Damon and Penny’ story, characters introduced on the Endgame Series. It’s told by the heroin's POV. In this book you will read how much trauma suffered Damon Scott, all inflicted by his father. He has a dark soul. He is a wild boy with a golden heart. Damon is like a fallen angel: dark and bright. Darkness is trying to consume his broken soul, fearing to be like his father. In the past he tried to Scape his father’s claws but someone made him sacrifice himself. Being a heartless criminal will be his fate and the only way to save his baby genius is to eliminate any threat for her.
Penny has going thought a bad life. She lost her mom and she has to move with her Daddy, and irresponsible father, who has a game addiction. She feels alone in the world. As a child she suffered hungry. She was a smart little girl who caught the attention of a monster. To survive, she will follow the advice of a wild boy who is also the son of the monster. She will hide her ability with numbers.
Penny and Damon have a rough start in life and later on they will share the same trauma which will be inflicted by Jonathan Scott.
Only the Prince with the help of the Knight will destroy the King.
Many scenes took my breath away. I felt myself deeply immerse in the story. The intensity level was overwhelming. Warren is one of the best writers of the genre dark romance. She always delights us with her elegant writing.
(ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review)
Holy Batman! The King by Skye Warren is a darker bomb. I can’t still savour this book. I couldn’t put it down. I loved every minute of it. This book is the first part of the Masterpiece Duet. The plot is deeply dark and it makes my heart beat faster. The author delivered an intense story that will leave her readers breathless.
The King is a about Damon and Penny’ story, characters introduced on the Endgame Series. It’s told by the heroin's POV. In this book you will read how much trauma suffered Damon Scott, all inflicted by his father. He has a dark soul. He is a wild boy with a golden heart. Damon is like a fallen angel: dark and bright. Darkness is trying to consume his broken soul, fearing to be like his father. In the past he tried to Scape his father’s claws but someone made him sacrifice himself. Being a heartless criminal will be his fate and the only way to save his baby genius is to eliminate any threat for her.
“It’s so much more interesting than a princess, don’t you think? A pretty face has its appeal, but a sharp mind is a goddamn aphrodisiac.”
Penny has going thought a bad life. She lost her mom and she has to move with her Daddy, and irresponsible father, who has a game addiction. She feels alone in the world. As a child she suffered hungry. She was a smart little girl who caught the attention of a monster. To survive, she will follow the advice of a wild boy who is also the son of the monster. She will hide her ability with numbers.
“My sweet Penny. So smart. So pretty. So fucking little. And you’re right.” His words are low, bouncing off the bricks as if they’re coming from the night itself. “I lived so long underwater that I became a part of it. I rule this place.”
Penny and Damon have a rough start in life and later on they will share the same trauma which will be inflicted by Jonathan Scott.
“And when I win, what will you give me? I think you know the answer to that. You’ll stay here with me. You’ll be mine. Mine to keep, Penny. Mine to protect.”
Only the Prince with the help of the Knight will destroy the King.
“Because I did dream of you, Penny. I dreamed of you and I watched you and I wanted you. Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t stop. It isn’t about how old you are—it’s you. It’s only ever been you.”
Many scenes took my breath away. I felt myself deeply immerse in the story. The intensity level was overwhelming. Warren is one of the best writers of the genre dark romance. She always delights us with her elegant writing.
(ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review)
June 27, 2017
Can you hear that? The sound of my heart breaking; the sound of my insides swirling; the sounds of tears and sobs flowing from my face. The King has broken me. Made me wish for a love that can overcome the pain of childhood tortures. Made me hope that people can overcome their faults for love. Made me long to see that what lies inside is truly good and the façade is just that—a veil erected to protect and hide from the truth.
The King is book one of The Masterpiece series, the story of Damon and Penny. Both were introduced in the Endgame Series and The King takes us back to The Castle, giving us a look from other eyes. The King gives us the missing pieces that were just hinted at before. It answers questions that were left dangling. What a brilliant thing to do! Skye Warren’s writing in The King is nothing short of extraordinary. A brilliant mind game, a game of wills and risks, or two tortured souls bound to be together but fighting it all the way.
The sexual tension between Damon and Penny is definitely palpable. The little birthday taste that Damon allowed himself to have set the course of his future.
Skye has given us all something to contemplate. Something so profound in this Series that starting it all over from the beginning seems like the right thing to do. The Endgame and Masterpiece Series’ both have so many hidden gems and tidbits of information. Now that I’ve read them all and have all the puzzle pieces, I need to start again, start the process of putting everything together. Never before have a read a series of books that intertwine so beautifully and I truly believe there are hidden innuendos in Skye’s words that I have missed. The King has been an amazing addition and I now wait with baited breath for what Skye has in store for us when she gives us the conclusion of Damon and Penny’s story in The Queen.
The King is book one of The Masterpiece series, the story of Damon and Penny. Both were introduced in the Endgame Series and The King takes us back to The Castle, giving us a look from other eyes. The King gives us the missing pieces that were just hinted at before. It answers questions that were left dangling. What a brilliant thing to do! Skye Warren’s writing in The King is nothing short of extraordinary. A brilliant mind game, a game of wills and risks, or two tortured souls bound to be together but fighting it all the way.
The sexual tension between Damon and Penny is definitely palpable. The little birthday taste that Damon allowed himself to have set the course of his future.
…I did dream of you, Penny. I dreamed of you and I watched you and I wanted you. Even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn’t stop. It isn’t about how old you are—it’s you. It’s only ever been you.He will never forget how Penny’s lips feel against his and he will never be powerful enough to let Penny go. I don’t believe Penny will let him no matter how hard he fights, Penny is strong enough to push past his walls, break them down, to let her love him. Let her heal and protect him. To back the childhood debt of sacrificing himself to save her. I can’t even imagine a world where Damon and Penny don’t reign as the true King and Queen of Tanglewood.
Skye has given us all something to contemplate. Something so profound in this Series that starting it all over from the beginning seems like the right thing to do. The Endgame and Masterpiece Series’ both have so many hidden gems and tidbits of information. Now that I’ve read them all and have all the puzzle pieces, I need to start again, start the process of putting everything together. Never before have a read a series of books that intertwine so beautifully and I truly believe there are hidden innuendos in Skye’s words that I have missed. The King has been an amazing addition and I now wait with baited breath for what Skye has in store for us when she gives us the conclusion of Damon and Penny’s story in The Queen.
June 26, 2017
I have found myself lost for words, lost to the darkness that is the writing of Skye Warren. The King which is Damon Scott and Penny's story, it is an intense read that will have you feeling for these two characters. It is a story of torment, betrayal, lies, desire, love, loss, pain and realizing everything you want is forbidden.
Damon Scott is a broken man, he lives with the demons that were brought on by his father and now has made a name for himself. He may be dark and dangerous but he's more the man than his father ever is. Damon is all alpha man, it may seem that his personal life is a nightmare. He has restrained himself from wanting what he may never have, on the exterior he is in control, demanding and feared. I so want for him to have some light in all his darkness.
Penny will soon be sixteen and she has lived a hard life, having to keep her love of numbers and the feelings for the young man that saved her years ago a secret. She has moved on and tried to be as normal as possible that is until her gambling addicted father puts her into a situation she can't find a way for them to get out of. Will the young man who saved her before be able to save her again or will he now be someone she wants to run away from?
I couldn't put this book down, my eyes are burning and tired from the loss of sleep... It's worth every minute. This is one story that will keep you on your toes, it had me trying to figure out, who can I trust and will Penny's nightmares ever end? My heart is torn with this forbidden romance, Skye Warren left me saying " What The Hell, you can't leave me like this." Oh, Yes she did! I am in need of that next fix which is The Queen. I do recommend that you read the End Game series which introduces us to Damon Scott. The King is 5 Dark Stars of a must read.
Damon Scott is a broken man, he lives with the demons that were brought on by his father and now has made a name for himself. He may be dark and dangerous but he's more the man than his father ever is. Damon is all alpha man, it may seem that his personal life is a nightmare. He has restrained himself from wanting what he may never have, on the exterior he is in control, demanding and feared. I so want for him to have some light in all his darkness.
Penny will soon be sixteen and she has lived a hard life, having to keep her love of numbers and the feelings for the young man that saved her years ago a secret. She has moved on and tried to be as normal as possible that is until her gambling addicted father puts her into a situation she can't find a way for them to get out of. Will the young man who saved her before be able to save her again or will he now be someone she wants to run away from?
I couldn't put this book down, my eyes are burning and tired from the loss of sleep... It's worth every minute. This is one story that will keep you on your toes, it had me trying to figure out, who can I trust and will Penny's nightmares ever end? My heart is torn with this forbidden romance, Skye Warren left me saying " What The Hell, you can't leave me like this." Oh, Yes she did! I am in need of that next fix which is The Queen. I do recommend that you read the End Game series which introduces us to Damon Scott. The King is 5 Dark Stars of a must read.
June 23, 2017
All the books in this series are similar so basically the same comments apply. They are always a fantastic representation of the story found within. The author has a theme that continues through both series. So that creates a nice unity. The typography is eye-catching and interesting. That said it loses a star for the author's name being larger than the title.
Hmmm...I am trying to put my thoughts into words on how I felt about this one. I enjoyed it A LOT there is no doubt about that, but I also felt a little bit disappointed with the lack of connection I felt between this couple. Or maybe it was more the lack of intimacy. I'll explain more in a bit.So, let us start with the good stuff. This author certainly knows how to spin a good tale. The writing was fantastic. The pace was excellent. I never grew bored or felt the need to skim. There was plenty of angst. No OW/OM drama. All wrapped up in a nifty little cliffy that will surely have you dying to get your hands on book two.
So what didn't work for me? And I am not even sure I would say it didn't work so much as I felt something was missing. There is no sex in this book at all. Just a kiss. Now I get that the heroine is only 15, and I don't know if I forgot or it was never mentioned, but I was a bit taken back by how young she was. For some reason, I thought she was older when . I also thought Damon was older (he is only 25). In any case, because of her age, I guess I shouldn't have expected full-on erotica, but it did hinder me feeling a fuller connection between these two. On top of that, I don't feel like I got to know Damon very well. Or at least not much more about him than I already knew from reading the ENDGAME series. Actually, now that I think back on what I just read I realize that these two spend VERY little actual time in each others company with Penny's history taking up the majority of the pages.
But like I said I still found myself sucked into the story and I am hoping that a lot of the things that bothered me about this one will be worked out in the second book (fingers crossed). This still earns a two thumbs up from yours truly.
June 27, 2017
Skye Warren is back to breaking our hearts in the most dark and delicious way with The King, the first in a new spinoff duology. These two books are about Damon and Penny who we met in her Endgame series. Having been intrigued by both characters and having adored that series, I was extremely happy to have heard about this new duet and The King did not disappoint.
Penny's father gambles away everything material worth anything and then uses his daughter as his last gambling chip. Penny is young, but extremely strong. She is well aware of the types of men that frequent the places her father gambles. When she finds herself the newest pawn in his addiction, she sees Damon staring at her across the table. Damon has already broken her heart and she knows if he wins her pain will only multiply.
Damon is a good man who has to do bad things because of the hand life has dealt him. His father is an absolute monster and how anyone can retain their humanity being exposed to that man on a daily basis speaks to his strength and force of will. He loves Penny, but is torn because of his father and the world he lives in. What his father does to Penny in an effort to trap his son is absolutely sickening and gut wrenching.
The King is dark and emotional. At various points Warren will tear your heart out and stomp on it. I was so invested in Damon and Penny's story I found it hard to breath while reading at times it gets that intense. We already know what happens to Jonathan, but seeing everything set up from the perspective of Damon and Penny gives this story a new and gripping layer. I am anxious for The Queen so we can see what becomes of Damon and Penny.
Penny's father gambles away everything material worth anything and then uses his daughter as his last gambling chip. Penny is young, but extremely strong. She is well aware of the types of men that frequent the places her father gambles. When she finds herself the newest pawn in his addiction, she sees Damon staring at her across the table. Damon has already broken her heart and she knows if he wins her pain will only multiply.
Damon is a good man who has to do bad things because of the hand life has dealt him. His father is an absolute monster and how anyone can retain their humanity being exposed to that man on a daily basis speaks to his strength and force of will. He loves Penny, but is torn because of his father and the world he lives in. What his father does to Penny in an effort to trap his son is absolutely sickening and gut wrenching.
The King is dark and emotional. At various points Warren will tear your heart out and stomp on it. I was so invested in Damon and Penny's story I found it hard to breath while reading at times it gets that intense. We already know what happens to Jonathan, but seeing everything set up from the perspective of Damon and Penny gives this story a new and gripping layer. I am anxious for The Queen so we can see what becomes of Damon and Penny.
June 25, 2017
Dark poetry. One of the aspects I care for most is this author's intricate, subtle sensibility in her writing. Words that touch deep and resonate with so much knowledge of the pain a heart can harbour in silence. I feel every word as if it reflects who I am even though I couldn't dream of expressing it in any way similar to her talent.
This is a very dark story. Penny is a victim of an atrocious crime which contrasts vividly with her tender heart and sharp wit. So young in the face of two evils, one of which is a man who can be both saviour and trigger of bad things. I suffered along with her, but I also admire her resilience, her loyalty to her lost father, her heroic spark of life. The dialogues and scenes with Damon Scott pulse with a tense, sensual beat despite their impossible bond. If Gabriel Miller was hard on Avery (The Pawn), Damon is just a demon, cold and taunting.
The relationship is so complex that it hovers between risk and an epiphany. I loved how the plot mingled with that of The Endgame series. The first part of this duet is taut with very dark deeds, life-changing gambling, and the most tortured man who cannot love a woman for fear of destroying her. I'm really clawing at the walls with need to read the second part. The Queen is going to be one hell of a comeback on Penny's part. I hope she wins her freedom , her deserved dignity, and the man she can and must save. Skye, you're my writing goddess!
This is a very dark story. Penny is a victim of an atrocious crime which contrasts vividly with her tender heart and sharp wit. So young in the face of two evils, one of which is a man who can be both saviour and trigger of bad things. I suffered along with her, but I also admire her resilience, her loyalty to her lost father, her heroic spark of life. The dialogues and scenes with Damon Scott pulse with a tense, sensual beat despite their impossible bond. If Gabriel Miller was hard on Avery (The Pawn), Damon is just a demon, cold and taunting.
The relationship is so complex that it hovers between risk and an epiphany. I loved how the plot mingled with that of The Endgame series. The first part of this duet is taut with very dark deeds, life-changing gambling, and the most tortured man who cannot love a woman for fear of destroying her. I'm really clawing at the walls with need to read the second part. The Queen is going to be one hell of a comeback on Penny's part. I hope she wins her freedom , her deserved dignity, and the man she can and must save. Skye, you're my writing goddess!
June 27, 2017
If you were like me and followed this dark world since The Endgame series then you know exactly who Damon Scott is. We even get a brief introduction into Penny except for how she got where we find her in The Castle (My Review).
I was fascinated with Damon and what made him tick from the beginning... even more so when Penny was thrown into the dark world of underground of all things that are just so f*ed up. No one has a perfect life in this series and reading through this book was like picking at a scab and getting it infected again. Where The Endgame series ends in HEA we are thrown back into the time when Damon's evil dad ruled and tormented all. So many cans of worms are opened that terrifies me even more so because Penny in present time is just barely 16.
While no explicit things happen the fact that Penny is young is overshadowed by how much she had to grow up and quickly since meeting Damon at age of 5.
The first 25% of the book is titled The Prince which was released as novella earlier which focuses on the time when Penny was just a kid and Damon trying to survive and escape his dad's clutches. In part 2 of the book titled The King we just forward and see the different side... Penny's side as the events of The Castle unravel.
In Skye Warren's usual style I was left wanting more... and NOW when the final (for this first part of the duet) bomb drops.
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I was fascinated with Damon and what made him tick from the beginning... even more so when Penny was thrown into the dark world of underground of all things that are just so f*ed up. No one has a perfect life in this series and reading through this book was like picking at a scab and getting it infected again. Where The Endgame series ends in HEA we are thrown back into the time when Damon's evil dad ruled and tormented all. So many cans of worms are opened that terrifies me even more so because Penny in present time is just barely 16.
While no explicit things happen the fact that Penny is young is overshadowed by how much she had to grow up and quickly since meeting Damon at age of 5.
The first 25% of the book is titled The Prince which was released as novella earlier which focuses on the time when Penny was just a kid and Damon trying to survive and escape his dad's clutches. In part 2 of the book titled The King we just forward and see the different side... Penny's side as the events of The Castle unravel.
In Skye Warren's usual style I was left wanting more... and NOW when the final (for this first part of the duet) bomb drops.
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June 27, 2017
Although all of her storylines are thoroughly unique, I feel as though every review I write of Skye Warren’s books sounds the same. I chalk it up to the fact that every one of her books has a style that is characteristically hers and utterly amazing. They all have the same undercurrent of dark danger and seamy seductiveness that permeate them. They all have a feel of despair; of clawing out of the depths to survive and conquer, and they never cease to amaze me in their way of pulling me in to a world of Skye Warren’s own making.
The King (with the Prince comprising the first few chapters) is a fantastic spinoff of the Endgame saga. We continue to see Gabriel and Avery from that series, but here they are peripheral characters, with their events happening simultaneously with the events of Penny’s and Damon’s lives. Here, we get the backstory on Damon and Penny’s meeting when Penny is a child, and continue to follow their lives through the horror of Penny’s torture by Damon’s father and the aftermath for both of them. It is harsh and sad and darkly engrossing.
One thing that surprised me was Penny’s age. At fifteen when the main part of the story picks up, I was concerned how this was going to play out with an under-aged heroine. How on earth was this going to be written with the hero of the book not coming across as a creeper? However, as much as there was in this book to make the average person definitely feel uncomfortable, I was never uncomfortable with the interactions between Damon and Penny. There was no sex between them, and although he certainly had feelings for her and may have had ulterior motives, for the most part Damon’s actions towards Penny were possessive and defensive. He was her protector rather than her seducer.
At its core, The King was a set up. It was a preface to what I hope is the relationship between Penny and Damon when she comes of age. It was the story of the horrors both of them faced at the sadistic hands of Damon’s father, and it was necessary to fully appreciate these two people and their unique connection.
I am, as always, in awe of Skye Warren’s storytelling. She is a master at her craft of taking the seedy and sordid and elevating it to the sublime. And the King is just the beginning to what I’m sure will be a fabulous duet.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
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