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The Dark Kings #2
The Jaded King
Once upon a time, there was a man named Gerard and a woman named Betty. He was Kingdom’s most notorious Lothario. She was a librarian from Earth. Magic brought them together. And a love was born that created one of the most enduring fairy tales of all time. This was where their story should have ended. Happily ever after forever and ever…
But that same magic that brought them together would also cruelly rip them apart. Causing them both to forget the other and the daughter they’d created out of true love. Nothing can save them or their love except for one very reluctant hero.
No one could ever accuse Rumpelstiltskin of being a good man, but the dark magician will do anything—even kill—to set right what’s been made wrong. You see the daughter Gerard and Betty forgot, her name was Shayera, and she was Rumpel’s truest love. The dark prince will stop at nothing to bring her back. Nothing…
But that same magic that brought them together would also cruelly rip them apart. Causing them both to forget the other and the daughter they’d created out of true love. Nothing can save them or their love except for one very reluctant hero.
No one could ever accuse Rumpelstiltskin of being a good man, but the dark magician will do anything—even kill—to set right what’s been made wrong. You see the daughter Gerard and Betty forgot, her name was Shayera, and she was Rumpel’s truest love. The dark prince will stop at nothing to bring her back. Nothing…
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2017
84 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Jovee Winters
37 books503 followersJovee Winters is the pen name for a USAT Bestselling author of twisted fairy tale romances.
Jovee Winters loves fairy tales. But she especially loves twisting up the fairy tales you thought you knew. You can visit her on the web at
https://www.facebook.com/joveewinters...
Jovee Winters loves fairy tales. But she especially loves twisting up the fairy tales you thought you knew. You can visit her on the web at
https://www.facebook.com/joveewinters...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 10, 2017
Gerard and Betty weren’t one of my favorite couples in the series (no particular reason I just didn’t connect) but I loved their family and the close knit family unit they created later on in the series.
This go around, they get stuck together by Rumpel-he has a great reason-in hopes they’ll remember the other and rediscover love lost. I still didn’t connect with these two, but I can honestly admit I only read The Jaded King because of my favorite brokering, demon prince, Rumpelstiltskin!
Rumpel’s grief and despair had so many feels..holy cow I needed tissues for those moments! Granted, he went to extreme lengths to bring his wife’s parents back together, but I couldn’t blame him for doing what he thought necessary to “fix” his cursed future. And the ending..I still have *sniffles* thinking about it!
I am itching to dive into The Magic King and hope I get serious HEA resolution!
This go around, they get stuck together by Rumpel-he has a great reason-in hopes they’ll remember the other and rediscover love lost. I still didn’t connect with these two, but I can honestly admit I only read The Jaded King because of my favorite brokering, demon prince, Rumpelstiltskin!
Rumpel’s grief and despair had so many feels..holy cow I needed tissues for those moments! Granted, he went to extreme lengths to bring his wife’s parents back together, but I couldn’t blame him for doing what he thought necessary to “fix” his cursed future. And the ending..I still have *sniffles* thinking about it!
I am itching to dive into The Magic King and hope I get serious HEA resolution!
July 18, 2017
I loved this book. Even though the book is told from 4 different POV's I found that it flowed beautifully. When your in the mindset of whichever character she's writing in, your right there with her. You don't feel muddled or that your getting too much information, or that your missing out on anything.
The story was structured well. Not only was it structured well it was just a beautiful story. Here we are at a time when kingdom has been shook up. A curse has swept the whole of it, and here you are rooting for everyone. Cause everyone deserves their happy. It played out beautifully. The story was beautiful and heartbreaking all in one. The last chapter left devastation in it's wake for me.
Rumple was one of my favorite characters from the original Kingdom books, and I got so much more out of him in this story. Rumple is a man that would do anything for the woman he loved. He would do it at any cost. A love like that...A love like that is beautiful and deadly. Gosh I have so many feelings, but I cannot and will not spoil it for others. So many thoughts and feelings. Overall though this book knocked it out of the park.
Honestly? I can't see how someone can not read this book and not get emotions. It's beautifully heartbreaking at times, then just beautiful. The struggle to get that love back. the struggle you have within yourself to trust yourself, to know what you feel is real. Feeling the other half of your soul being ripped away. Feeling yourself become whole again. It's just so good.
I cannot recommend this book enough. The whole of Jovee Winters work is stunning and beautiful.
The story was structured well. Not only was it structured well it was just a beautiful story. Here we are at a time when kingdom has been shook up. A curse has swept the whole of it, and here you are rooting for everyone. Cause everyone deserves their happy. It played out beautifully. The story was beautiful and heartbreaking all in one. The last chapter left devastation in it's wake for me.
Rumple was one of my favorite characters from the original Kingdom books, and I got so much more out of him in this story. Rumple is a man that would do anything for the woman he loved. He would do it at any cost. A love like that...A love like that is beautiful and deadly. Gosh I have so many feelings, but I cannot and will not spoil it for others. So many thoughts and feelings. Overall though this book knocked it out of the park.
Honestly? I can't see how someone can not read this book and not get emotions. It's beautifully heartbreaking at times, then just beautiful. The struggle to get that love back. the struggle you have within yourself to trust yourself, to know what you feel is real. Feeling the other half of your soul being ripped away. Feeling yourself become whole again. It's just so good.
I cannot recommend this book enough. The whole of Jovee Winters work is stunning and beautiful.
May 10, 2019
OMG!!!!!!!
The retelling of these stories is amazing. I fell in love with each character before, always imajining me as the female, and know to see from the males view I love the couples even more.
The retelling of these stories is amazing. I fell in love with each character before, always imajining me as the female, and know to see from the males view I love the couples even more.
August 17, 2021
Long Live Kingdom!
Kingdom has been turned inside out and reassembled and I love it. I've loved this series from the first book, but I'm truly head over heels for it now. I always suggest this series be read in order, starting with Her Mad Hatter written under the pen name Marie Hall, but it's generally not necessary. That being said, this story takes place after major events that happened in The Fairy Queen and I don't feel it can be fully appreciated without having at least read that book first. Gerard and Betty, from Gerard's Beauty, have been torn apart by a curse that has affected everyone in Kingdom and must remember what they mean to each other all over again. If they fail to do this their daughter, aka Rumpelstiltskin's true love, will never be born...
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the new Betty and Gerard and will be immediately diving into The Magic King to find out Rumpelstiltskin's new fate.
Kingdom has been turned inside out and reassembled and I love it. I've loved this series from the first book, but I'm truly head over heels for it now. I always suggest this series be read in order, starting with Her Mad Hatter written under the pen name Marie Hall, but it's generally not necessary. That being said, this story takes place after major events that happened in The Fairy Queen and I don't feel it can be fully appreciated without having at least read that book first. Gerard and Betty, from Gerard's Beauty, have been torn apart by a curse that has affected everyone in Kingdom and must remember what they mean to each other all over again. If they fail to do this their daughter, aka Rumpelstiltskin's true love, will never be born...
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the new Betty and Gerard and will be immediately diving into The Magic King to find out Rumpelstiltskin's new fate.
November 5, 2017
Still not 100% sold on the recon of this series.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
July 24, 2017
Loved and Can't wait for the next one!
I love the Kingdom series, and Gerard and Betty are one of my favorite couples. It was interesting to read this version of their story and the curse that has affected our favorite characters' happily ever afters has me on my toes with anticipation to read how it will all turn out. I'm curious to see if the author will fix the timeline with some changes, or if the timeline will stay changed. I like both versions and seeing how characters changed and make decisions. Gerard and Betty go through a lot that made me yell, smile, and really think. This version of Kingdom is darker in my opinion, but it works with the storyline. I devoured the book in a few hours and cannot wait for the next Dark Kings and Dark Queens books.
I love the Kingdom series, and Gerard and Betty are one of my favorite couples. It was interesting to read this version of their story and the curse that has affected our favorite characters' happily ever afters has me on my toes with anticipation to read how it will all turn out. I'm curious to see if the author will fix the timeline with some changes, or if the timeline will stay changed. I like both versions and seeing how characters changed and make decisions. Gerard and Betty go through a lot that made me yell, smile, and really think. This version of Kingdom is darker in my opinion, but it works with the storyline. I devoured the book in a few hours and cannot wait for the next Dark Kings and Dark Queens books.
July 19, 2017
Read all the books!
So freaking fantastic! I love love love this fractured fairytales so much! All the twists and turns, the adventures, the trials and tribulations of the characters sink deep down in my soul and latch on to me...I feel it all, every range of emotion that has whispered across the pages touch me and make me fall head over heels for them and my heart hurts at all they go through to find their way back and to that elusive happily ever after! Read this book! Read all the books! Such a wonderful escape!
So freaking fantastic! I love love love this fractured fairytales so much! All the twists and turns, the adventures, the trials and tribulations of the characters sink deep down in my soul and latch on to me...I feel it all, every range of emotion that has whispered across the pages touch me and make me fall head over heels for them and my heart hurts at all they go through to find their way back and to that elusive happily ever after! Read this book! Read all the books! Such a wonderful escape!
July 21, 2017
Why can't you write faster????
I absolutely love this new series and can not wait to read the next one. I have read all the Kingdom and Queens series and I am constantly looking for something new from you. You make your characters so believable that I can picture what is going on in my head as I am reading. I feel as if I know the characters, as if they were my friends and I feel what they are going through. I absolutely love your books and can't wait for the next one. Hurry please.
I absolutely love this new series and can not wait to read the next one. I have read all the Kingdom and Queens series and I am constantly looking for something new from you. You make your characters so believable that I can picture what is going on in my head as I am reading. I feel as if I know the characters, as if they were my friends and I feel what they are going through. I absolutely love your books and can't wait for the next one. Hurry please.
July 16, 2017
Poor ole Rumpy. He's devastated!
This is the saddest book in places!!! But the best book also! My heart went out to Rumple. Poor guy, he is desperately trying to get his beloved back. But to do that he has to get Betty and Gerald back together, which proves to be more difficult than he expects.
This entire series is fantastic but this book is the best so far! They just keep getting better and better! Highly, highly recommend!
Excellent book!!
This is the saddest book in places!!! But the best book also! My heart went out to Rumple. Poor guy, he is desperately trying to get his beloved back. But to do that he has to get Betty and Gerald back together, which proves to be more difficult than he expects.
This entire series is fantastic but this book is the best so far! They just keep getting better and better! Highly, highly recommend!
Excellent book!!
July 17, 2017
Love love love!!!
It breaks my heart to see these two have to start over again but I loved the changes at the same time. It was nice seeing Danika get back on the horse (or wings?) and taking a slightly more active part. My heart it's grieving for Rumple in a way that didn't even gotten in his own book. All this to say that once again the author has written a great addition to the collection!
It breaks my heart to see these two have to start over again but I loved the changes at the same time. It was nice seeing Danika get back on the horse (or wings?) and taking a slightly more active part. My heart it's grieving for Rumple in a way that didn't even gotten in his own book. All this to say that once again the author has written a great addition to the collection!
July 27, 2017
So Bittersweet!!
I have read and own every single book in this series! I have laughed and cried thru them all and have impatiently waited for each new thread of the tale to be spun...but have to say by far this is my FAVORITE. So unfair the pain Rumple is enduring...and the unfairness of how he is being judged! Pins and needles for his story!! Thank you again for continuing this series!
I have read and own every single book in this series! I have laughed and cried thru them all and have impatiently waited for each new thread of the tale to be spun...but have to say by far this is my FAVORITE. So unfair the pain Rumple is enduring...and the unfairness of how he is being judged! Pins and needles for his story!! Thank you again for continuing this series!
August 1, 2017
The Agony of Love Forgotten
The retelling of Betty and Gerards love story is painful but full of hope at the same time. Rumple's place in this story is heart wrenching. I read this book straight thru hoping that the 2 couples would have their happily ever after by the end. Almost.....Almost.......
I can hardly wait for the next book of Kingdom and the happily ever after that reunite.
The retelling of Betty and Gerards love story is painful but full of hope at the same time. Rumple's place in this story is heart wrenching. I read this book straight thru hoping that the 2 couples would have their happily ever after by the end. Almost.....Almost.......
I can hardly wait for the next book of Kingdom and the happily ever after that reunite.
September 19, 2017
I loved Betty and Gerard the first go around... Betty was ok this time, but Gerard was sooo whiney. I found myself rooting for them, but only for the sakes of Shay and Rumpel.
And omg Rumpel... for the love of Kingdom, give him his Carrots back. I was in literal tears for him. My heart is broken...
Very curious as to what has happened with Trishelle... I have thoughts, but i guess we'll wait and see.
And omg Rumpel... for the love of Kingdom, give him his Carrots back. I was in literal tears for him. My heart is broken...
Very curious as to what has happened with Trishelle... I have thoughts, but i guess we'll wait and see.
October 8, 2017
I absolutely loved this book. at first I was scared Gerard and Betty would not fall in love again. but, it happened. you could not help but learn for true love there is no stone left unturned or bridge you would not cross to get to be with that person. my heart aches for Rumpled. you could not help but feel his anger, heartache, and love that is all jumbled into one. I could not put this book down
September 28, 2023
Unrequited love, well not exactly.
In this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, we see a different side to our beloved dark sorcerer. When the love of his life is torn from him along with his children, he will go to any lengths to get them back. Even if it means almost killing someone near and dear to her heart. The curse has taken so many and Rumple is just one among them to loose. Will he ever get back what was lost? Read on because the story is going to surprise you.
In this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, we see a different side to our beloved dark sorcerer. When the love of his life is torn from him along with his children, he will go to any lengths to get them back. Even if it means almost killing someone near and dear to her heart. The curse has taken so many and Rumple is just one among them to loose. Will he ever get back what was lost? Read on because the story is going to surprise you.
January 7, 2018
A good second chapter of the Dark Kings series. I do like Jovee Winters. I didn't like it as much as the first one. This book was supposed to be about Betty and Gerard, but there was also a lot about Rumpelstiltskin. It was more like a pre-third book in the series than about Betty and Gerard trying to find their happily ever after. This is why I gave it 3 stars.
July 28, 2017
Fantastic read
These aren't the fairytales you grew up with (or they wouldn't be called Dark Kings and Queens). I have read every story in the series and had fallen in love with them all. Now I get to do it all over again because a horrible curse has befallen Kingdom. The bar has been set high and Jovee Winters hits a grand slam every time. I cannot wait for the next story.
These aren't the fairytales you grew up with (or they wouldn't be called Dark Kings and Queens). I have read every story in the series and had fallen in love with them all. Now I get to do it all over again because a horrible curse has befallen Kingdom. The bar has been set high and Jovee Winters hits a grand slam every time. I cannot wait for the next story.
July 30, 2017
I love these tragic twists!
You are so talented! My world has been transformed by this book. Reading the way it went and now reading how much sorrow they have to go through to get each other back was epic! I can't wait to have more! I'm ready to hear about the rest of the bad five now.
You are so talented! My world has been transformed by this book. Reading the way it went and now reading how much sorrow they have to go through to get each other back was epic! I can't wait to have more! I'm ready to hear about the rest of the bad five now.
July 17, 2017
Everlasting Love
Yet again with reading this book you are taken on a wonderful journey. One filled with fantasy,magic,and happy ever afters. But just like in life sometimes you can only dream of your happy ending.
Yet again with reading this book you are taken on a wonderful journey. One filled with fantasy,magic,and happy ever afters. But just like in life sometimes you can only dream of your happy ending.
July 19, 2017
So good!
More....we need more! There is such tragedy in love ripped apart. This story focuses more on Gerard and Betty than on Rumpel. I would have liked to see him more, but it was really good. I can't wait for the next installment.
More....we need more! There is such tragedy in love ripped apart. This story focuses more on Gerard and Betty than on Rumpel. I would have liked to see him more, but it was really good. I can't wait for the next installment.
July 25, 2017
Love it
Like always the author have bring us a master piece. I love it and enjoy the reading very much. I want so bad to know about the dark prince and his bride. I hate betty for what she did. Yeah i love bad boys.
Like always the author have bring us a master piece. I love it and enjoy the reading very much. I want so bad to know about the dark prince and his bride. I hate betty for what she did. Yeah i love bad boys.
July 28, 2017
This book was wonderful. I couldn't put it down. The curse that has ripped through Kingdom is heart breaking. watching some of my favorite couples find their way back to each other is amazing. Characters are true to their natures can't wait to see what's next as always Jovee has outdone herself.
July 29, 2017
Wow!
I was transfixed by the sheer mastery of the weaving of this tale. I really didn't want to like Rumplestilskin but the vulnerability, the humanity written into his character...just wow can't wait for the rest
I was transfixed by the sheer mastery of the weaving of this tale. I really didn't want to like Rumplestilskin but the vulnerability, the humanity written into his character...just wow can't wait for the rest
August 7, 2017
Oh my heart!
Each book in this series has pulled on my heart strings, but this one was devastating. I'm glad the main characters got their HEA back, but poor Rumple!
Loved this book as much as all of Ms. Winters other writing.
Each book in this series has pulled on my heart strings, but this one was devastating. I'm glad the main characters got their HEA back, but poor Rumple!
Loved this book as much as all of Ms. Winters other writing.
August 9, 2017
True love with s again!!!,
The series just keeps getting better each book! I am so afraid to read Rumples heartbreaking story, but really excited to find out about Hades and Calypso!!!
The series just keeps getting better each book! I am so afraid to read Rumples heartbreaking story, but really excited to find out about Hades and Calypso!!!
June 13, 2019
Really not find of the dark aspects
Disappointed that such a powerful character is so dark the entire book. The dreary aspects pervade the book not really giving the readers a chance to hope for a good ending or even like the characters.
Disappointed that such a powerful character is so dark the entire book. The dreary aspects pervade the book not really giving the readers a chance to hope for a good ending or even like the characters.
July 18, 2017
I couldn't stop reading it! Grabbed me at the first page & wouldn't let go!! I love how you wrote Gerard & Betty's take 2!!
October 20, 2017
The book was awesome
I love how the two got back together again but felt so bad for rumple. His story is sad one but i love the book very much.
I love how the two got back together again but felt so bad for rumple. His story is sad one but i love the book very much.
December 8, 2018
Another great book in an amazing series!!!
February 19, 2019
The true beauty and beast we needed but didn't know
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews