Cruel. Heartless. Quarantined. The ruthless boys of Everlake Prep never saw lockdown coming. But the virus isn’t their number one enemy.
I am.
And as if being confined to a boarding school for the elite wasn’t bad enough, now I’m stuck in isolation with the boys who hate me most too.
Saint, Kyan and Blake. The Night Keepers. Or so they call themselves. They’ve embodied the Native American legend which lives in this valley, taking on the role of the monsters who lurk in the forest. And though they act like beasts, they may also bethe most tempting creatures I’ve ever seen.
With the virus escalating and my dad’s name splashed through the news, my entire world is falling apart. What he did has cast a dark shadow over me. And the Night Keepers want to make me pay for his crimes.
Then things went from bad to worse when I touched the sacred rock. A rock which supposedly holds a curse to bind me as the Night Keepers’ slave. And as crazy as it sounds, I decided to play along. Because there are things about me they don’t know. Things my dad has hidden from me for years. All I can be sure of is that I have to find a way to escape this school. But until then, those savage boys are making my life a living hell.
As the virus sweeps through the country and the world twists into something ugly and unknown, the kings of this school become true monarchs. Even the teachers bow to them now. And I’m kinda glad about that ‘stay six feet away from one another’ rule, because without it, I know they’d rip me apart.
At least there’s a silver lining. I’m cosying up to Coach Monroe. My hot as hell, brooding P.E. teacher who has a vendetta of his own against the Night Keepers. And with his help, I may succeed at doing more than escaping the clutches of these heartless fiends. I might even destroy them along the way.
My father taught me how to be strong.
How to prepare for the end of the world.
So this isn’t going to be the end of my world, mark my words.
But if I’m able to use my mind and body to bring these assholes to their knees, it might just be the end of theirs.
This is a high school bully RH series with off the charts angst, dark themes and is not for the faint of heart. Prepare to enrol at Everlake Prep. Bring your hand sanitiser, face masks and toilet paper to barter with, but don’t expect to hold onto them for long. Because it’s time to go into quarantine with the Night Keepers. And everything you own now belongs to them.
I'm a #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Zodiac Academy series. I write all things dark romance, from fantasy to contemporary, high school bully to mafia, there's bound to be a book for you!
Me and my sister Susanne Valenti now write books together and we've built the most amazing, fun, crazy reader group on Facebook which we would LOVE you to join. Be the first to get teasers of upcoming books, plus interact with us daily, asks us questions, make friends with other book junkies and find your reader home.
It's really, really difficult for me to say that I don't like a book by the Peckham/Valenti sister combo, but it's official: I don't like this book. I only got like 33% in before I threw in the towel.
I normally love their books, and while this isn't my first DNF for them, it's the first time I've actively disliked one of their books. Here are all the reasons why:
❌ The prose is really, really overwrought. Like, almost C.M. Stunich-level purple. One example: A heavy arm fell over my shoulders and the scent of gasoline and shattered hearts told me that it belonged to Kyan. Nooo, no no no no no. I could have just about accepted that this random teenager would smell like gasoline, but SHATTERED HEARTS don't smell of anything. What the hell. There are lines like this (and worse) throughout the book, and it really started to grate on my nerves.
❌ We all like a tough heroine, but Tatum just seemed OTT alpha-girl. Like, she's a beautiful, long-legged, busty, blue-eyed blonde WHOSE DAD GIVES HER A GUN TO SNEAK INTO THIS ELITE BOARDING SCHOOL (because that's definitely not asking for a school shooting) and loves casual sex and, if I remember correctly, is trained in multiple martial arts. You know what that is? That's what we call a goddamn Mary Sue.
❌ The reason the boys bully her is just stupid. I really enjoy these authors' other series, Zodiac Academy, because there's an actual justifiable, clever reason for the bullying (the girls are heirs to the throne to the boys want, so obviously they want to boot them out of the school. It makes sense). Here... Tatum's scientist father is responsible for unleashing the highly deadly Hades Virus which one of the boys' mothers died from. So naturally, all three of them immediately blame this scientist's obviously innocent daughter in wildly disproportionate, irrational, and frankly moronic ways.
❌ I'm not someone who's wildly socially left-wing when it comes to things like 'cultural appropriation' and stuff like that, but even I felt uncomfortable with the premise of this book. The authors have invented a Native American tribe called the Kotari, complete with its own legends about 'Night Keepers', and then these three boys - who, as far as I am aware, have no NA ancestry (please correct me if I'm wrong) - have come along to use these NA legends for their own purposes, which just feels incredibly wrong to me.
❌ The bullying... well, this is a bully romance. They throw rotten fish stew at her, which is pretty standard I guess, but they also film her having sex with one of them and edit the video.
❌ I feel zero connection between them as characters. They're all just super-ultra-attractive Barbie dolls who want to bang each other. The first 20% of the book was like reading a book in fast forward - everything just happened so quickly that it gave me whiplash.
❌ One of the harem members is a teacher and honestly... the levels of unrealism is just wild. Like, I know the premise of the whole book is unrealistic anyway, but the way this teacher swears/speaks to his students is just insane. Basically, he speaks like the teacher Orion in ZA, but that's A FANTASY BOOK where my tolerance level is higher. Here, in a contemporary, the impossibility is made even more apparent. I also loathe, loathe, loathe the common NA bully romance trope of 'boys who inexplicably and improbably rule the school.' I won't go on about it here, because I've done that many times in reviews before, but seriously.
Overall
I suspect this book was written very quickly, and to be honest - it shows. Definitely not their best work, which is a shame because I know they're capable of good things.
I swore I wouldn't read quarantine romance, but my friend, Natalia, talked me into this one. 🙄
Thanks, Nat! 😜💋 I'm diving into book 2 asap!
Update:
The Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep have become my favorite contemporary RH series of ALL TIME!!!
It took another book for me to warm up to Saint, but when it hit me, it hit me! 😭 I adore the fuck out of all of them now. The relationship between the guys is perfection. I love it as much as I love the romance.
If you haven't read this series, and you're a RH, bully romance fan, what are you doing with your life?! Caroline and Susanne are RH fucking queens. Nobody does it better!
Meet the boys: Saint, the leader of the group (over the top OCD, his daddy was one of the most powerful within the state, Blake (quarterback of the football team), Kyan (He got off fighting). They call themselves the 'Night Keepers.' And the girl they love to hate: Tatum
This was recommended to me from a friend on here, and I’m so glad I one clicked this, straight away I was pulled into the storyline, an awesome escape, these guys took their bullying ways up to a whole new level! They literally ruled the whole school with an iron fist, from their peers to the teachers themselves. To the one girl who they made her life a living hell.
The story kickstarts off with seventeen year old Tatum's dad dropping her off at her new boarding school, which is shrouded in folklore, most dads would give the usual speech and then be on their way but not this dad, he makes sure she's got her pepper spray, her tactical pen and then proceeds to hand over a gun. She'll be attending a boarding school for the richest kids in Sequoia State and beyond. With the Hades Virus taking its grip on the world she'll be in one of the safest places on earth. Her dad's a scientist and with the state of the Hades Virus taking over many townships they need his experience at the front line. Needless to say she's been trained to shoot. fight and forage for food if it ever arises where she'll have to rely on her survivor instincts.
Tatum just wanted to slide through her year here at boarding school, make a few girlfriends until the next chapter in her life takes place. Things were going sweet there for a while, she got on with her new roomie, caught the eye of Blake, and things between these two really heated up, but then they found out that her dad is on the run and that he in fact may have been the one who released the virus and that's when all hell breaks loose. Because you see, Blake had only just recently lost his mum to this virus. Now him and his best mates were going to make her pay for the sins of her father, and they are no strangers to breaking people.
These three guys won't crawl into your heart and take up space because trust me they just won't!! I even struggled to find one thing I even liked about them individually, but came up zilch lol Though I was leaning towards liking one more than the other two though even that was a struggle at times. These boys were just rotten and spoilt to the core, they got away with everything, one could even say murder. Out of these three boys Saint was by far the worst, and I'm really not sure at this stage if he can redeem himself in my eyes in the next book.
"Survival came down to one thing ultimately. Choices. And if you made the wrong ones, it would cost you your life."
Everlake Prep. School to the most elite kids in America. Their parents have power and control. But so do they. Saint Memphis, Blake Bowman, and Kyan Roscoe. The Night Keepers. Tatum Rivers is about to find out what happens in Everlake Prep. What happens when you become the main attention of the Night Keepers. And how everything she knew is going to be flipped upside down. They want to ruin her. They want to destroy her. They want to break her. But Tatum Rivers is not someone that breaks down easily. The Night Keepers are about to find out that this girl is so much more than they expected.
"We're monsters of a particular kind. And we feast on things that others don't understand."
✨ Reread ✨ You already know. YOU ALREADY KNOW!! This is one of my favorite series by the twisted sisters. They really brought this book out, said deal with it, and I eat it up every single time. I mean the banter, the drama, the hierarchy and world that they created sucks me in every single time no matter the reread 💫💫
"Some people will never break. But everyone bends."
I absolutely ADORE Tatum - she takes no shit even when being in the situations that she is placed in. Saint Memphis will forever be 🦑🦑 (IYKYK) and he is one of my top book boyfriends. Kyan is Kyan and that is the best compliment, Black is the golden boy with the dark side, and Coach Monroe is… Well let's just say yummy doesn't even begin to do him justice. I have always loved this story and the United States of Anarchy - one of my favorites and rereading it just cements that more and more 🖤🖤 These characters have such development (imo) throughout this whole series so going back to the first book you can't help but see things differently each and every time and no matter the reread I fall in love with this series more and more (and I did not think that was possible!!)
"How could I destroy three monsters without becoming one myself?"
Anyone ask for a dark preppy bully romance aesthetic playlist and didn't get one?? Because these are the songs that I added that just give me that vibe 😇😇
🎶 "IF THERE IS A GOD, IT'S ME" - PLVTINUM 🎶 "Feel Like GOD" - NIKKO, Kiraw 🎶 "Rich Kids" - Bea Miller 🎶 "Ugly Heart" - G.R.L. 🎶 "Greek God" - Conan Gray 🎶 "Apple" - Charli xcx 🎶 "Older" - Sasha Alex Sloan 🎶 "Rain" - Sleep Token 🎶 "It's ok, I'm ok" - Tate McRae 🎶 "Devil's Worst Nightmare" - FJORA 🎶 "Devil Doesn't Bargain" - Alec Benjamin 🎶 "American Money" - BORNS 🎶 "Blood // Water - Remix" - grandson, King Kavalier 🎶 "Too Easy" - Tanner Adell 🎶 "Survivor" - 2WEI, Edda Hayes 🎶 "I Survive" - We Came As Romans 🎶 "Psycho Crazy" - Halestorm 🎶 "vicious" - Tate McRae 🎶 "Little Girl Gone" - CHINCHILLA 🎶 "Savage" - Bahari 🎶 "trouble" - Camylio 🎶 "You Don't Know Me" - Liz Gillies 🎶 "You Don't Own Me" - SAYGRACE, G-Eazy 🎶 "Predators" - We Are the Catalyst 🎶 "Animal" - Troye Sivan 🎶 "Beauty" - Layto 🎶 "HAUNTED" - Isabel LaRosa 🎶 "Astronaut In The Ocean" - Our Last Night 🎶 "Swim" - Chase Atlantic 🎶 "Long Live The King" - I Prevail 🎶 "Little Black Dress" - One Direction 🎶 "Too Sweet" - Ryan Mitchell 🎶 "HER" - J. France 🎶 "The Top" - Natalie Jane 🎶 "Drive You Insane" - Daniel Di Angelo 🎶 "RE-IGNITION" - VALORANT, ARB4, Jazz Alonso, Emei 🎶 "Don't Stop The Party" - Drunk Girl, Deanna 🎶 "Drip Off" - Austin Giorgio 🎶 "The Drug In Me Is Reimagined" - Falling In Reverse 🎶 "Queen" - Loren Gray 🎶 "A Little Death" - The Neighbourhood 🎶 "We Are The Champions" - Queen 🎶 "Enter Sandman" - Alessia Cara, The Warning 🎶 "greedy" - Tate McRae 🎶 "I hope ur miserable until ur dead" - Nessa Barrett 🎶 "A Grave Mistake" - Ice Nine Kills 🎶 "Rainy Day" - Ice Nine Kills 🎶 "Cut the Cord" - Shinedown 🎶 "Hammer to the Heart" - Teddy Swims 🎶 "Sweet 'n' Savage" - Kxlly 🎶 "As They Bloom" - Unlike Pluto 🎶 "Fake Fiction" - Picturesque 🎶 "Poison - Remix" - Rita Ora, Krept & Konan, Zdot 🎶 "99 boys" - EMELINE 🎶 "Cologne" - SM6 🎶 "BREATHING UNDERWATER" - Hot Milk 🎶 "Big Bad Wolf" - Roses & Revolutions 🎶 "Can't Tame Her" - Twenty One Two 🎶 "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" - Set It Off 🎶 "Don't Make Me" - MALINDA 🎶 "Whore" - In This Moment 🎶 "KNIVES" - Neoni, Savage Ga$p 🎶 "Bleed" - Connor Kauffman 🎶 "Run" - AWOLNATION 🎶 "Eyes Closed" - Connor Kauffman 🎶 "Parasite" - Connor Kauffman 🎶 "You Call Me a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing" - Halestorm 🎶 "Darkness in Me" - Fight The Fade 🎶 "Still Alive" - Demi Lovato 🎶 "Run Boy Run" - Woodkid 🎶 "Knife Under My Pillow" - Maggie Lindemann 🎶 "do you really want to hurt me?" - Nessa Barrett 🎶 "Cross My Heart I Hope U Die" - Meg Smith, Chandler Leighton 🎶 "Kill or Be Killed" - New Years Day 🎶 "Unbreakable" - New Years Day 🎶 "Shatter Me" - Lindsey Stirling, Lzzy Hale 🎶 "Hate" - Plush 🎶 "Nightmare" - UNDREAM, Neoni 🎶 "One Way Ticket" - No name faces 🎶 "Rich Kids - [Middle Cla$$ MIX]" - New Medicine 🎶 "BOO HOO" - Neoni, RIELL 🎶 "Tantrum" - Charlotte Sands 🎶 "DARKSIDE" - Neoni 🎶 "Anarchy" - Lilith Czar 🎶 "Parasite Eve" - Bring Me The Horizon 🎶 "100 Little Deaths" - Lilith Czar 🎶 "If I Were You" - Nothing But Thieves 🎶 "My Name Is" - Eminem 🎶 "Kill Of The Night" - Gin Wigmore 🎶 "Call Out My Name" - The Weeknd 🎶 "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" - Lorde 🎶 "I Hate Everything About You" - Three Days Grace 🎶 "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? - Cover" - Remember the Monsters 🎶 "Heaven" - jsthebg 🎶 "Elastic Heart - Rock Version" - Written by Wolves 🎶 "Running With the Wolves" - AURORA 🎶 "Like You Mean It" - Steven Rodriguez 🎶 "House of the Rising Sun" - Jeremy Renner 🎶 "PIECES" - Elley Duhe 🎶 "You Made a Monster" - Nick Kingsley, Hannah Hart 🎶 "Watch Me" - The Phantoms 🎶 "This Is Gonna Hurt" - Sixx:A.M. 🎶 "As Above, So Below" - In This Moment
And just because it's the first book doesn't mean the twisted sisters were holding out on us 🌶️🌶️
"Are you gonna beg, princess?"
"I want to know if you taste as sweet as you look."
"Do you have any idea how much I've wanted you at my mercy like this?"
🪶 Tropes 🪶
🖤 Why Choose Romance 🖤 Dark Romance 🖤 High School Bully Romance 🖤 Student x Teacher Romance 🖤 Enemies to Lovers
What did I like about this book? Pretty much nothing 😑 I don't even know where to start...
❌ I'VE READ MY SHARE of bully romances and this one is just so much worse because there is absolutely nothing likable about any of the characters. Their bullying is so extreme and just unbelievable.
❌ THE LOGIC BEHIND why everyone had such hatred for Tatum was ridiculous. It's all because her dad was supposedly the cause of this Hades virus 🤔🤔🤔 It actually pissed me off how angry Blake was about it - why blame her for something she didn't even do??!?
❌ I'LL SAY IT AGAIN... the bullying was so extreme and just made me angry and uncomfortable. It wasn't even all pointed towards Tatum - just the general way these boys treated everyone at their school was disgusting.
❌ THE VIRUS PLOTLINE (if you can even call it a real plot 😑) was ridiculous, especially at the end with the townies.
Basically, I was cringing the entire time I read this and I most definitely won't be continuing with the series. I couldn't even really tell you what the overarching goal or plot of this is? Anyway, I don't mean to rain on your parade if you liked this series but it just wasn't for me ☹️
i wish i could throw saint memphis off a fucking cliff and watch as his eyes widen in horror seconds before he meets his doom 🙏🏼 this whole book is basically just saint throwing a tantrum like a spoiled toddler.
"she's ours" "she belongs to us" "you're ours" "you're our possession" okay dudes shut the hell up and go do your HIGH SCHOOL homework.
blake was a crybaby, i empathized with his situation but i fear "everyone deals with grief differently" doesn't apply to digging a grave for the fmc and shoving her there with a gun to her head with the intention to blow her skull off 🙏🏼
monroe was okay. almost forgot about him that's how unmemorable he was.
kyan was the only one i could tolerate but that was mostly because i didn't know what his problem was lol.
also the "battle" at the school towards the end was hysterical. "let'S DEFEND ouR SCHooL!!" brother please.
it reminded me of that battle in harry potter when they were protecting hogwarts except in this book they were fighting over toilet paper.
this book would have probably been better if it was 60% shorter 🙏🏼
there was too much nonsense and at this point i'm afraid it's just the authors' style of storytelling, because ruthless boys of the zodiac had the exact same issue.... like please love writing a little less so your books could be shorter therefore more enjoyable. i beg 😭
──────✧ pre-read let's see if i can finish this damn book this time lol
--------- soft dnf @27% I feel a slump coming and committing to this long ass series doesn't seem like a good idea right now 😭 I don't have any issues with the book tho it's just slow af, so I will continue this later when I have more patience
3.5 Continuing on my journey to read all the twisted sister series we have arrived at last at KoQ and I don't really know where to land this one yet. I kind of hated it, kind of loved to hate it, kind of still really want the tea, can't stop reading bc I need to know. 😂
Tatum Rivers arrives at an exclusive boarding school, Everlake Prep when the world is on the brink of a global pandemic. The school is ruled by the Night Keepers, three rich and influential boys that terrorize the students and staff. The only one who doesn't bend to them is Nash Monroe, a teacher with his own secrets. When information is released about Tatum's father it draws all the wrath and fury of the Night Keepers upon her and she is at their mercy while they have to shelter in place at the school.
This book is way darker than anything I have ever read from the sisters. These guys make the Heirs look like puppies. I was not expecting it to be so brutal, the abuse they level at Tatum is HORRIBLE! These guys all need to be in a psyche ward or jail or both. I HATE them so much I can't imagine ever rooting for them, but I also know that this is the way these books tend to go but I just feel like this one may have gone too far for me to ever come back and like them. But if anyone can do it, the sisters can......... maybe.
The one thing keeping me in it, is Tatum! This girl is awesome, and a fighter and I am going to stick around for her bc I really want her to get some payback! And that ending was really good!!
The Night Keepers: Saint- Is Satan. Kyan- The only one I think I could maybe like at some point. Blake- I can't believe he did that to her. Monroe- Gives me the ick! (Sorry, this is not Lance and Darcy!) DO NOT COMPARE! But he also is the only one who is actually halfway decent to Tatum.
I am going to keep reading and hoping Tatum gets her revenge!
Very rarely do I want to 1-star a book/dnf it and still end up finishing it. (All 653 pages of it. Why was this book that long?) This was honestly so bad I couldn’t put it down. 😂 I mean, honestly, a bunch of 17-year-olds?? The only character I liked was Monroe, the 23-year-old hot teacher. And no, I didn’t even like the Mary Sue h - and the boys’ entitlement and power trip drove me up the wall.
I don’t often read (bully) reverse harem but I loved Trickery (Curse of the Gods) a few years back so I keep trying to find another one I enjoy. This doesn’t even come close though. It was really, really bad. But I still read it so here we are. I guess it deserves another star for making me finish this?
After putting my thinking cap on, it occurs to me I might need a combination of RH and fantasy as in the Curse of the Gods series? Maybe that series was enjoyable because it was hilarious as well? Maybe I need fantasy to better stomach entitlement? Or maybe CutG was just a one-off? I guess I’ll find out when I read Zodiac Academy which is still on my TBR.
Genre: contemporary romance, bully romance, RH Trigger Warnings: violence, death, bullying, explicit sex scenes, vulgar language Tropes: RH, academy romance, lockdown Series: Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #1 Cliffhanger: Yes Spice: 3.5/5 🌶 Rating: 5 ⭐
All I can say is: I've found another guilty pleasure. I don't know how Caroline and Suzanne do it, because I just hate RHs. The concept seems so wrong and unthinkable until I pick up one of their books. Then I start cheering the entire idea on and on, like it's the most wonderful thing in the universe.
“What if I command it?” I asked in a deadly tone. “You can command a broomstick to climb right up your ass, but I doubt the thing will leap on up there for you,” Kyan replied.
But they just have a way with words; you get an emotional roller-coaster and you're hooked with no chance of escaping. That's how I feel every time I've tried something from them and this book was no different. I can't explain why or how; it just happens.
》》The Plot《《
Tatum Rivers has spent all her 17 years with her father, a virusolog, traveling all around the country. Never stayed enough to have real friends or boyfriends and never particularly wanted them. So when her father decides to enroll her into Everlake Prep for a full year, she doesn't understand why she can't just go with him. Or why is that school full of incredibly hot guys. Because Blake, Kyan and Saint, the three guys that run the school, calling themselves the Night Keeper after an old legend, and make even teachers bow to their will are the definition of perfection. Not to mention Nash Monroe, the illegally hot P.E teacher.
“You really think we can make her bow?” Blake asked. “I do.” “Well, I’ll believe it when I see it,” Kyan announced.
But despite starting on good terms with the three school kings and getting hot and spicy with Blake, after news break out that Tatum's father is the one responsible for the killing virus that turns into a pandemic, the situation goes down pretty fast. Because the three of them are doing everything to ensure Tatum is paying for her father's crimes. The only highlight? Monroe seems to hate the three Night Keepers just as much as she does and he's willing to form an alliance.
》》Characters and Relationships《《
👩🏼 Tatum Rivers
“If she makes a habit of running later than you then there’s no hope for her anyway,” I said dismissively. “The way Blake told it last night, she could be later than the devil to a church service and you still wouldn’t kick her out of bed,” he replied.
Well, she's a real badass. If you've read Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, she reminds me a lot of Elise. I liked her a lot throughout this book, having good retorts and a predilection for banter and I think she really did have a lot of good moments, but I'm waiting to see how her story will turn out.
🧑🏿💼 Saint Memphis
"More likely, she took one look into baby Saint’s evil little eyes and tried to give him a pious name to ward off the demon she could see peering back out at her from within them."
He's the leader of the Night Keepers, with a clear OCD and a permanent obsession to be in utter control. I can sense there's a lot of damage that we'll have to wait and discover, but, for now, he's just the definition of sheer cruelty.
🧑🏻 Blake Bowman
“Beautiful.” “Typical,” I tossed back and he growled low in his throat, the sound setting my skin on fire. “You didn’t let me finish, Tate. Beautiful would be an insult to you tonight. Hypnotising is closer. But enslaving is the closest.” “If I make a slave of you then why isn’t there a drink in my hand yet?” I teased.
The golden boy whose mom's death messed him up in a way that made him go all hot and cold. At least he gave us the spice scenes we've been craving and I really liked his chemistry with Tatum before turning all hell bent on revenge.
🧑🏽 Kyan Roscoe
“You can’t compare the three of us, baby. If Blake’s sugar, I’m spice. And Saint is…fucking arsenic.”
I think Kyan was my favorite in this book. He clearly has the darkest past so his excuse for being a total monster holds better, but somehow I felt like he was the tamest while dealing with all the bullying. And I feel there's a lot of room for a good character arc here.
🧑🏼Nash Monroe
“Was that another attempt on my life or are you really just as thick as you look?” he deadpanned and anger clawed its way under my skin. “If I made an attempt on your life, you wouldn’t still be breathing,” I said coolly and he laughed so hard it made my insides shrivel.
I feel some strong Lance Orion vibes here and I'm really waiting for some proper scenes with him and Tatum. I liked the protective attitude he started having towards her, despite their rookie beginning. But at least the banter was good.
🧑🏽🧑🏻🧑🏿💼The Night Keepers
"Sometimes I had to wonder about the three of us. On the surface, we were the luckiest sons of bitches I knew. We had money, influence, power. Every material thing we could ever ask for and girls begging us for a taste of our bodies on a daily basis. But we were the most fucked up people I knew too. Three monsters who dwelled in darkness while gilded in gold. "
They share one of those unique bonds that stronger than family, forming a brotherhood of choice. I think that for Saint and Kyan, their little group is more precious than even their families, with all their dark past and shitty experiences. And while Blake’s family was by far better, he clearly loves the two other guys with the same intensity and fierceness. A bit like the Heirs in Zodiac Academy; or at least that's the vibe they gave me.
👩🏼🧑🏽🧑🏿💼🧑🏻 Tatum and the Night Keepers
“You have to do everything we say. But it doesn’t have to be all bad.” “You are all bad,” she replied. “Bad to the bone, every one of you.” “Rotten to the core too,” I replied
Even if the start was good, all that bullying was rough. I can see how they are obsessed with her even while they are hating her, and her feelings are exactly the same, hating them with passion in return. There's a lot of toxicity going on, but man, as I was saying, Caroline and Suzanne have a way of writing this that you can't be fully bothered. But I'm waiting for the boys' redemption before I'll be satisfied with any relationship they might have in the future. Because what they did in the end shows they care for Tatum, but one good deed does not absolve them of their cruel treatment up until that point.
》》Favorite Scenes《《
👩🏼🧑🏻 Tatum meeting Blake 🧑🏽 Kyan murmuring random stuff in his sleep 🧑🏽🧑🏿💼🧑🏻 Kyan, Saint and Blake calling dibs on Tatum at breakfast
“Mine,” Blake growled beside me as he realised what we were looking at. “Fuck that,” I muttered. “A girl like her is gonna want the top dog, sorry asshole.” “Bullshit. She wants someone who can make her laugh, not a dipshit who doesn’t know to loosen his tie,” he goaded. “Besides, when did I ever agree that you were top dog?” “You don’t need to agree, I just am,” I said dismissively and he bristled.
👩🏼🧑🏼 Tatum realising Monroe is a teacher 👩🏼🧑🏻 Tatum and Blake's night after the initiation 🧑🏽🧑🏿💼 Kyan annoying Saint with unordered things to poke his OCD 👩🏼🧑🏽 Tatum and Kyan in the hot pool 🧑🏿💼👩🏼 Saint having a special wardrobe for Tatum 🧑🏼👩🏼 Monroe hiding Tatum under his desk 🧑🏼👩🏼 Monroe and Tatum training together and agreeing to take the Night Keepers down 👩🏼🧑🏽 Kyan taking Tatum for a night of fights and letting her sleep in his bed afterwards 👩🏼🧑🏼 Tatum comparing Monroe to Dumbledore and all the Harry Potter references
"It occurred to me that Harry Potter had had it easy in comparison to the Lord Coldemort who was currently making my life a misery. At least Harry had had friends. And Dumbledore. Man, I wish I had a Dumbledore. I supposed Monroe kinda counted. He was like a hot Dumbledore you wanted to Slytherin to bed with and suck his Elder wand."
👩🏼🧑🏼🧑🏿💼🧑🏽🧑🏻 The ending when they knew they will be bound forever by that secret
》》Conclusion《《
“You lost, baby?” Kyan purred as he towered over her and her jaw ticked as her gaze dragged over him. “I was told to take a seat beside the biggest asshole in the room so I’m pretty sure I found the right place,” she replied coolly. “Naw,” he replied casually. “You’d wanna sit next to Saint in that case.”
I loved it and I have a new guilty pleasure. The banter was excellent, the characters are strong and intriguing and I can't wait for the relationships to start forming. As expected, there's no RH yet, but, judging based on previous books from these authors, it will go that way further on in the series. I'm just excited to see how they'll make each relationship between Tatum and the guys special, because I know they have a special way of doing that. I liked that, as usual, we have chapters from multiple POVs, getting to see things from Tatum, Saint, Blake, Kyan and Monroe's eyes. The ending, as expected, is a cliffhanger, but waaaaay tamer than those I had to suffer through while dealing with Zodiac Academy.
“Wit will get you one place with me, Barbie. Crushed beneath my heel. And you might be able to get a good lay by licking your adequate lips and pushing up your mediocre cleavage, but you don’t get a mind-blowing fuck with a god unless you’re something special.” “I imagine the only one you deem special enough to fuck you is yourself. So give your right hand my regards. She’s a very lucky girl.” I winked and ran away, hearing him coming after me as more laughter bubbled from my chest. Holy hell, why does taunting the devil feel so good?
It's a great first book and it just has everything you're expecting from a series by these two amazing sisters.
Ok what the fuck? Kings Of Quarantine is the shittiest romance ever. It’s so obvious that at the end, Tatum will probs end up with all of them, despite the fact that they fucking bullied her for a sin she didn’t even do. I fucking hate that. And don’t give me that redemption arc type shit. Who fucking cares if they turn soft? They still bullied her for some shit she didn’t do, and they are all fucking aware of it. I’m just so mad because Tatum is so fucking horny and everyone’s so fucking horny all the time, and she’s probably still going to be fucking them at the end of this fucking series. These three boys are supposed to be kings, and they’re kings all right. They’re just so fucking disgusting most of the time. And what is up with Saint? Seriously dude, that guy is hella weird and a fucking creep. He talks like he’s some sort of devil and his fucking upset over the simplest things that shouldn’t even affect him, like whenever Kyan doesn’t wear his uniform properly, Saint practically turns into this huge ball of fucking fire. Just stop. Fucking stop. You are overreacting, bro. And Blake is just this dumb shit that can’t get over his mommy’s death, which I understand (totally), but for Christ’s sake stop blaming Tatum for shit she didn’t do. It’s as if Tatum was holding a knife that killed his mom or something. Those three guys are reckless, and it’s not cute. IT’S NOT CUTE. And yet.... Tatum is still fucking horny for them. Good for her and her vagina. Good for her.
I could not stand that fucking scene when Blake filmed the sex tape. Have some fucking respect, bro. You are just a kid. A kid who has a twitchy dick and is still in mourning after your mom died. For fuck’s sake, I don’t even want to read their POV’s anymore because they are all so fucking annoying. I can NOT stand the way they scheme over what they’re planning to do to Tatum like she’s an object. The three of them are just the usual preppy rich snobs who likes sex, and is constantly stirring up trouble. Also, I fucking hate the teachers. They are all so useless they should all be fired. They just stand there while Saint is practically beating the shit out of someone like it’s a declaration of God. Just saying this makes me realize how the three of them are fucking evil. Straight up fucking evil. Even if they are hot, Tatum should know better. She’s kinda stupid because she thinks with her vagina sometimes, but that’s about it. I don’t care about these rich motherfuckers, I just want them to stop bullying Tatum. And I want Tatum to stop drooling over these boys even after they bullied the shit out of her like she’s worthless shit. But I know that won’t happen because hello, this is a reverse harem so it’s bound to happen anyways. She’s gonna get them all (for fuck’s sake). This shit won’t be a reverse harem if there are no dudes around, right?
It seems like the only one I’m rooting for is actually Monroe, which is the P.E. teacher. I don’t normally like teacher-and-student romance tropes because ew, but I totally dig this one, maybe because it aint really pedophilia since he’s only a few years older than her. But those other three dickheads who call themselves kings? Hope they suck their own dicks tonight because they fucking suck. The only things they have is: hot bodies, monstra dicks, and a foul mouth and some other personal dark shit they have that is supposed to turn girls on? .... And they’re fucking obsessed with these folklore shit about some native tribe. This book would have been maybe a tinsy bit better if there weren’t any “magic” involved, because that just made them look like geeks and shit, and because it was completely irrelevant. I have this strange feeling that the authors just HAD to put this one in here just so that they could somehow “bind” Tatum to the Night Keepers, mind body and soul, and for the sake of plot.
Everyone at this fucking school is so fucking worthless too. Even the guards are scared of these three little mofos like they’re the king of the galaxy or something. And everyone’s so fucking dumb, blaming shit on someone who didn’t do shit. It doesn’t make sense. Even with money, they shouldn’t be able to get away with shit like this and own the whole school. It’s just a load of bull! Nobody in this shit school is acting rational, which I suspect is what the authors are trying to portray, but goddammit it’s gotten to the point where it’s just hard for me to read. It’s just hard, and no matter how much they bully Tatum, she just keeps getting horny asf as if her life wasn’t on the line. I feel ashamed just by reading this book, mostly because this shit is just dumb. Maybe the book would have been better without Saint and stupid Blake? I’m ok with Kyan because he’s one less of a motherfucker, and Monroe is cool too, but I hate Saint and I hope he chokes himself. Stupid shit.
••••“You think you’re funny, Barbie?” he asked coolly. “Because humour will only get you one place with me. Bent over my knee with my hand against your ass. Now sit down and eat your own breakfast.” My heart lurched and heat spilled through my body at his words. I tried not to blush, but shit, that image had been kinda hot. ~Tatum Fucking Rivers••••
See what I mean? Despite what these assblunts keep on doing to her, Tatum just can’t get over the fact that she’s addicted to abuse and is practically turned on by it. I mean if that’s her kink, then whatever. That’s her fucking problem, but I just get to sit by and read her POV’s and just facepalm my head because she’s not being smart. I don’t get it. Why why why? They dip her head in water long enough to drown her, push her on a puddle of rocks, leave her out in the storm, feed her breakfast lunch and dinner with only lettuce, play her sex tape for the entire school to hear, and basically order her to fondle their dicks all night. That’s fucking abuse right there and she is more than turned on by it and you know why? It’s because she might whine about how shitty they kept treating her, but at the sight of their gorgeous hot abs, she practically salivates to the point it filled the bathtub she sleeps in. (Inside joke right there, for those who actually read it.) It’s so fucking stressful. I don’t care if she’s addicted to sex, I just see it as problematic and ridiculous that she still got the hots for her murderous bullies. Ahh, yuck! She needs a fucking therapist ASAP.
Oh and have I mentioned that they treat her like a dog? No, I haven’t, but I made it clear. I know it’s supposed to be kinky, but in this case, it’s just .... it’s disgusting, man. Bend her over their laps and hoist up her skirt then slap her ass like she’s a fucking child-dog that needs some good spanking, and Tatum fucking loves it? Seriously, this girl has problems she needs to resolve. Make up your fucking mind, girl. Do you hate them or do you want to fuck them?
••••Saint flipped my skirt back down to cover my no doubt reddened ass cheeks then pulled me upright. I scrambled back onto my feet, pushing my hair back out of my face, unsure what the fuck to do with myself. I was flustered and hot, humiliated and turned on all at once. What the hell just happened? And why did I like it?••••
Go to church.
Get it? Because they live in a church?
🖕🖕
But I have to admit, the ending was really unexpected. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes every time the book mentioned TOILET PAPER. It’s so ridiculous. So basically there was this climax at the end where a bunch of intruders break into Everlake Prep and shit goes down and Tatum nearly gets raped by this guy she beat up one time. That scene was intense. And, I don’t know, the guys show up (the three of them + Monroe) and they took the blame for knifing the rapist to die so she wouldn’t drown in regret or something for killing someone. And while I still think it’s pretty cliche and corny at the end, I am still interested in the second book, mostly because Tatum finally wore her big girl panties and got over her chronic hormones. I just wish that she won’t forget the shit she had to endure when she was practically their slave. Took her long enough to figure that shit out and I don’t want it vanishing in an instant, because if that happens, I’m so fucking done.
So fucking done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
*sigh… So our Mc is seventeen years old. Long perfect blonde hair, with perfect boobs, perfect legs and a perfect ass with perfect plump lips and just perfect everything..DUH.
Her dad taught her all of the things in life. And you will NEVER forget it. EVER. seriously, you will be reminded of this CONSTANTLY. So of course she can kickbox like a professional. she is proficient in self defense. She is also a great swimmer who can hold her breath for an insane amount of time, oh and she also took gymnastics, so she’s fLeXiBLe. She’s a tree climbing monkey (courtesy of dads encouragement obvs) She can handle anything ice cold because her dad takes her to Alaska every year and makes her dunk in the glacier water because sUrViVaL skills. She can also survive in the wild on her own because of dear old dad, oh and don’t forget she can fight off a black bear too! #truestory She has a vag that is hairless due to electrolysis (yes, she’s still a 17 year old teenager) She can also throat punch a grown ass man and bring him to his knees. (She does this to multiple grown ass men, but don’t forget she’s this perfect little petite waif) Oh and she can also turn the tables during a kickboxing match on the teacher who is lusting after her because her kickboxing class was the one thing she never gave up in life. *puke* She can also punch a grown ass man in a gnarly ring fight so hard that she’s able to over power him. And then pin him down while straddling him and beating the crap out of him….. ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME…. Authors, if you’re gonna write the worst MC ever to be written in the history of the universe, please at least make her an effing adult AND NOT A DAMN TEENAGER. 🙄🤦🏻♀️
All the men pant after her including the hot to trot teacher, who hated her for the first couple of weeks and then decided she’s perfection out of the blue and must love a d protect her at all costs. Oh man and don’t forget when he called her a girl and she said NO IM A wOmAn. Child. Sit down and shaddap.
And this is a dark bully romance? Bully yes. Dark no. Maybe in a juvenile way perhaps. And how the men constantly talk about “unleashing the demon inside” I could see teens liking this thinking it’s “edgy” or whatnot. But no..
I’m sorry, but this is embarrassing. Bella from Twilight is a better MC than Tatum. Which is HORRIFYING for me to say.
I truly DONT understand why people like this series so much. And anytime someone recommends it, I question any other recommendation they make.
this is hard to rate. on one hand, it was addictive and pretty well written, plus it was funny because of the toilet-paper hoarding etc. however, on the other hand i hated the boys. i'm all up for dark, bully romances, but i need to like the boys at least a little. just a little! just one redeeming feature! but these guys gave me nothing. yeah i really don't know what to think.
“We were bound by something so much purer than death. We were bound by her. This girl who’d shown up out of nowhere and managed to claim a hold on the corrupted souls of four broken monsters.”
This book will not be for everyone. It's dark and puts the bully in bully romance. But with that being said I absolutely loved this book it was *chefs kiss* and I immediately started the second book in the series🤭
Tatum Rivers our FMC is dropped off at Everlake Prep, school for the elite as her dad has to go a help find a cure for the virus that is spreading around the world killing people. Enter The Night Keepers Saint, Kyan and Blake the boys who rule the school and embody the ancient legend taking on the role of the monsters.
Following the initiation party everything seems to be going good for Tatum until Saint receives a call from his dad informing him someone has been identified as the person who released the virus into the world. The evidence is pointing to none other than Tatum's dad. Blakes mum had caught the virus and died so when he finds out Tatum's dad had released the virus he snaps, and along with the other Night Keepers they decide to make Tatum's life a living hell. Enter Monroe, the silver lining aka the hot as hell brooding teacher who has his own vendetta against The Night Keepers.
Quotes I loved:
Characters could never escape me. Not when I could trap them in my kindle for the rest of time. Suckers. - 🤣🤣
“Mine,” Blake growled beside me as he realised what we were looking at. “Fuck that,” I muttered. “A girl like her is gonna want the top dog, sorry asshole.” 🥵
“I imagine the only one you deem special enough to fuck you is yourself. So give your right hand my regards. She’s a very lucky girl.” - I love this girl 😭
If darkness was thrilling, Saint Memphis was an ocean of it. - 🥵😅
If Saint was ice, Blake was fire. And I didn’t know which one I preferred to die by.
I was high on this girl and I never wanted to come down.
Tatum Rivers belonged to me and I had no intention of that ever changing. She’d wormed her way beneath my skin and I’d given my word to protect her as my own.
That she didn’t need to thank me. That I’d do that a thousand times and more for her. Kill for her. Paint my soul in blood for her.
2 stars This book was not your stereo typical RH, I can say that. Gritty, raw, and dark this book turned quarantine to a whole new level.
I did enjoy this book as a whole but personally I like my men to not fantasize about killing me. They took the bullying to far and a lot of it was just harassment and assault.
The virus was also not thought out very well. I would have liked more backstory. While we are on the topic of backstory, what is the deal with the MC? Why did she learn so many types of martial arts? Why did her dad give her a gun? I would’ve liked more behind this. It just feels like this book was rushed.
Overall wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read, but I wouldn’t recommend.
(This review was edited after having a few weeks to think about it)
Avoid at all costs. Popularises Abuse and disappointing storyline
I was excited to read this, given the good reviews. The storyline is predictable and I found myself skipping to the end. This is not a romance but a cautionary tale which romanticises physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Anyone who thinks that the qualities of the male leads are desirable has obviously got some deep mental issues. I find it shocking that someone can condone such violent and abusive behaviour. The irony of this is that the story is set during a pandemic, during the real life pandemic, domestic violence (especially against women) increased. In a world where women die daily via domestic violence, all male violence toward women should be condoned!!!!
Dude this was way intense and I’ve got to say if you’ve only ever dipped your toe slightly in the bully romance genre then this one is probably not the best one to start off with because man it was bloody brutal and way way extreme at times it was also quite hard to read and this one is definitely not for the faint of heart the bullying of Tatum is full-on no holds barred vicious and cruel and really makes you want to hate the night keepers all the more because of it.
The only one that seemed slightly redeemable here is kyan and believe me he is also a total shit-bag to our girl but compared to Blake and the worst one of them all Saint he’s practically all warm and fuzzy. We also have Monroe the PE teacher who’s a bit of an all-around asshole but does find his agenda matching Tatum’s he wants to destroy Saint’s family so with goals aligned he finds himself becoming her reluctant knight and protector.
This was all sorts of fucked up I can’t stress enough how extreme the bullying was here. Saint is especially unredeemable in his actions not just to Tatum but to all else. I’m fact these boys are complete monsters in the way they treat everyone and they have such a sense of superiority it’s unreal. They really are entitled silver-spoon ass-holes.
You may ask the reason behind this supposed hatred and harsh treatment well Tatum’s dad is apparently the one to unleash the Hades virus on the world. The same one that killed Blake’s mum so poor Tatum is given the blame by the whole school for this even though she’s actually blameless.
Tatum well this girl has nerves of steel and is not easily cowed despite everything she’s been put through she comes up fighting. Refusing to break and giving as good as she gets. Totally addictive reading but man I wanted to knock some heads together preferably Saint’s and Blake’s.
Saint is a total control freak with a god complex he’s cold psychotic and lacks a conscience. Blake blames Tatum for his mum's death which is a totally idiotic mindset considering she had nothing to do with it seeing him go from warm to the total opposite with Tatum was hard and he really seems to actually venomously hate her. kyan was a little better he’s the tattooed fighter of the group but he still didn’t stand up for Tatum. The worst part of this for me was when Saint burnt something precious of Tatum’s and he could see how much it affected her and the other two didn’t even try to stop him it was just so spiteful, there was also a scene with Blake that completely shocked me as well. Thank god for the addition of Monroe he was Tatum’s only lifeline here.
This is the first book in a four-part series it’s set at a boarding school during a pandemic and it’s relatively slow-burn reverse-harem so you're going to see a lot of abuse in this first book. Got to say discounting Monroe and maybe Kyan slightly these boys definitely have an uphill battle to redeem themselves in my eyes. I won’t be holding my breath at the moment I’d gladly shoot Saint and Blake, kyan has escaped the same fate literally by the skin of his teeth and I’m definitely team Monroe all the way.
I’m still slightly stunned and shell-shocked by this one I feel like I’ve been thrown in the deep end and it’s sink or swim my previous exposure to this particular genre well let’s just say that was at about a ten and this is definitely at a hundred. But I will be definitely reading the next book in the series how could I not and also a heads up this book is a long one.
“Each of us was capable of real ferocity when it came to protecting what was ours. And Tatum Rivers was ours. We’d written it in blood.”
saint:
blake:
monroe:
kyan:
tatum:
the night keepers:
me:
i didn't know who was who until like 60%. i thought saint and caynne pepper kyan were the same person LMAOOOO. i like saint tho <3 and monroe <3 the rest idk? blakey boy was sobbing for mommy dearest :) all :) the :) fucking :) time :). i liked tatum too<3 but who the fuck are mila, jess, deepthroat, and punch ????? i have no fucking clue :)
the fish stew scene was still the BEST thing ever. i fucking LOVED it so much BHAHAHAHHA. i was rolling on the floor whilst tatum was suffering LMAOO.
i can't take this book seriously its just way too fucking funny. to the people who got offended by this and said "wtf they were so brutal" BAHHAHAHAHAHA i can't this was so funny I CANT.
i was DYING of laughter at the ending. i can't that was comedy central. caroline and susanne are just so fucking funny LMAO. i feel like if it weren't for me mixing up all the characters i would've given it 4 stars because it was truly comical.
Great dystopian, reverse harem, bully romance about a virus similar to Covid but deadlier and an isolated school ruled by three rich bullies that it suddenly needs to be in locked down. It is a captivating story if you love reverse harem stories. I couldn't put the book down. The main female character is one of the strongest I have ever read. Totally unapologetic, confident, badass, uncompromised - even when her patience and limits are tested. If you dislike stories with humiliation scenes, I have to warn you that there are plenty in this book. Or you may want to test your limits, too 😉
This one was as disappointing as it could get for me. This story could’ve been told just fine in a half of the length, without repetitive jibber jabber, about how dangerous and angry the characters were, and then going on and on about how they will make her suffer, on every goddamn page. I’m yet to read about characters that are this self unaware. There is a chapter in which Saint is talking about people being vultures, hoarding things, all the while he with his gang, hoarding toilet paper and food. I don’t mind dark stories, but there must be purpose to characters madness. The “I’m dangerous, I’m the shit” attitude got boring really quick, then author kept repeating and repeating and repeating it throughout the book.
The more of the story I read, the less I liked it. Like, what’s the point. To reek havoc for the sake of reeking a havoc? Oh, you gonna say “You knew it’s a dark story? What did you expect?” Sure, I did. But I expect for the story to make sense! I just read Borned Darkly. That was some dark sh!t. But there wasn’t a word out of place. I’m giving a star for the potential that this story had, but there was so much that pissed me off. I dove in thinking this will be epic, after all the hype on YouTube and TikTok. Readers comparing to Devil’s Night series. Are you serious? Good for you for enjoying it, but it’s not even close. It’s a bunch of dicks being dicks for the sake of being dicks. Double the size of a normal book. I get it, they are all dicks, now move the story along. How many times are you going to repeat that they are this and that?
Some chapters were almost 200 digital pages long, told from one character’s POV, repeating how big, or important, or clever of a sh!t they were. Game of thrones you are not. Heroine getting hot and bothered by 4 guys is fine. Not an issue. In a well written story, go for it, hun. But I never got what exactly did it for her. Was is them calling her a bitch? Starving her? Humiliating her in front of the whole school. Leaving her in a storm outside for 4 hours? If you think it’s a part of the kink think again. The author never explained why the heroine felt the way she felt about them. She used hundreds of pages to describe useless BS, repeating it in every chapter. They made her eat a lettuce leaf and nothing else the whole day. But hey, they gave her hot looks and that’s why she wouldn’t mind f@cking them. In what universe does that makes sense? Getting the whole school to pour a fish stew over her head was ok by them. Kneeling for hours daily, for no reason , was to their liking. But, oh no, if anyone else did anything to her, wasn’t. The first book can be split into three parts. First is about her being a Barbie rich girl and everyone trying to get a piece of her. The second, she a bitch, we’ll make her pay for something she didn’t do. The third, solving a mystery of who stole the toilet paper. I’m not even kidding about the last part. It happened and it was quite dramatic *eye roll*. What is this book about!!!? But wait. So what does the biggest and the baddest wolf of them all do, when cornered or confronted? Threatens to call his mom of course! Are you kidding me?
All 4 dudes are constantly raging for no known reason. Like, all the fucking time! You keep reading on repeat “I felt the rage”. They wanna fight, steel, dominate. Show some character growth for crying out loud. People kept telling me to read on, that it gets better, that the character development will be amazing. Are you kidding me? Point me to a single scene where it shows character development, I dare you. It went from torture and humiliation at school, in front of everyone, to torture and humiliation in their home. Is that it? Is this what you consider a character growth? You wonder how the book ends?
“You’re not in charge of me,” Blake snarled. “Or me,” Kyan echoed. “Me neither,” I agreed in a deadly voice”
At least Saint used a deadly voice. Yeah, okay. That’s pretty much sums the story up.
I looked up the page count for the next book in the series. Guess if the author is planned to be more on point the second time around? The second book is as long as three book! I’ve spend a weak on this one. I’m not about to waste anymore of my time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was just not for me! I have to be honest I DNF this book because while I do enjoy a good RH and don't mind some bullying this was next level not ok for me. The boys really were brutal in the worst way, and while it started a little like bullying it all of a sudden got out of control and for me as a reader it was not something I felt like they could come back from. Also while I don't mind pushing the limits of reality a little in my books this was beyond the realm of that, having these 17 year old teenagers act the way they did was not for me. This is my honest and unbiased review.
This book was provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti!
Kings of Quarantine is the first book in the Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep series and tells the story of Tatum and her four men: Blake, Kyan, Monroe and Saint.
When Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti shared that they were going to write a new series inspired by the current situation (Covid-19) I was so excited! Kings of Quarantine was such a good book and so hard to put down. I just had to know what was going to happen to Tatum and her four men. I think Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti did an amazing job with this book!
I love love love Tatum. She’s such a badass character, and she’s just so strong. I love that she’s amazing at kickbox and that she knows how to fend for herself. As for the guys, I have two favourites. The first one is Monroe. I’ve always been a fan of student/teacher romance (only when the age difference isn’t that big, so it’s not creepy) so reading about Monroe was just perfect. My second favourite is Kyan. At first I thought I wasn’t going to like him, but he and Tatum are somewhat similar and his bullying isn’t as bad as Saint and Blake’s bullying.
Kings of Quarantine was an amazing book, and I didn’t expect anything else. The story is so well written and fast paced, I finished this book in one day, I just had to know how the book was going to end. I still have so many questions about Tatum’s dad and some questions about the things that happened at the end of the book. I’m looking forward to the sequel, Kings of Lockdown, so I can get to read some more about Tatum and her four men.
I also want to share my favourite quote of this book. I’m a Harry Potter fan and when I read this, I couldn’t stop laughing!
"Man, I wish I had a Dumbledore. I suppose Monroe kinda counted. He was like a hot Dumbledore you wanted to Slytherin to bed with and suck his Elder wand."
The first 1/3 of this book was difficult to get through. I kept hearing from others how great of writers these authors are but the first part of this book? They struggled with first person, present and past tense. It made it very frustrating to get through. About halfway in the tense seemed to go back to normal - either that or I got used to it. I was pretty annoyed to find that when I read other reviews only ONE person mentioned that.
So I’m mentioning it now. There are some editing issues and let it be known that it may very well detract from the enjoyment of the book.
I wanted to give this book less than three stars initially - but it did get better editing wise (I think).
So this book is dark. The anti-heroes are hands down horrible people. I’ve read quite a few bully romances and this is one I don’t know if I can ever see redemption for the love interests. It’s making me hesitate to read the sequel when it comes out. I can’t imagine ever finding myself liking Blake or Saint again. And I can’t imagine readers finding these characters attractive anymore - they are such horrible people. Kyan and Monroe at least I could get behind but I have no idea how the authors are going to make me okay with Tatum ending up with Saint and Blake in the end.
I think the authors attempted to try and push the group together with the ending of this book. They tried to make the three jerks seem like such great guys saving Tatum. But I really only cared about Monroe.
I guess this book could appeal to readers who seriously love dark romance. I personally love RH - and this one is fairly low on the totem pole for me. I enjoyed Tatum and Monroe as characters - and Kyan somewhat.
But I have no idea how the authors are going to make the second book an enjoyable read unless she cleans up Blake and Saint somehow - magically. Good luck trying to make that happen.
"Because as insane as it sounded even to me. I was willing to kill for her."
I'm not surprised I adored this book considering I literally worship the ground Caroline and Susanne walk on. It had everything I wanted and more, a super good plot twists and omg here we go again, I'm obsessed with this series...
"Not because of you. For you. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
God I fucking love Nash. He is like an Orion 2.0 (though I still prefer Orion, let's not get ahead of ourselves) but yeah I think I might just be in love with her.
This book also made me sob at some point so that's how quickly I got attached to the characters. Loved it.