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Forsaken #1
The Forsaken King
New York Times bestselling author Penelope Sky releases her first sexy fantasy romance under Penelope Barsetti. Readers have said, "It's got everything I love in her contemporary novels. Feisty Heroine. Action. Betrayal. Pretty much everything!"
Ivory:
I see him watch me.
Everywhere I go—he follows.
He’s one of my father’s guards at the castle. Goes by the name Mastodon.
There’s something about him I don’t like, but my warnings are never taken seriously. But I bet if my brother voiced the same concerns that would be no issue…just because he has balls and I don’t.
Well, I have bigger balls than he ever will.
When I leave for the Capital, Mastodon escorts me. And just as I feared, he kills my guards and captures me.
At least he tries to capture me. There’s a lot of running and chasing. I land an arrow right in his neck, but it does nothing. It’s like he doesn’t even feel it.
He takes me into a cavern and we descend deep underground—to the Bottom of the Cliffs. Then he tells me why he’s doing this.
Because my family took everything from him—and now he’s about to do the same.
Mastodon:
Her father murdered mine then raped my mother—and forced me to watch.
Then he pushed us over the cliff—to our deaths.
But we survived—and now we’re ready for revenge.
She’s the key to that. After she helps us get what we need, I’ll hang her by her pretty neck and watch her take her last breath.
I steal her from Delacroix—and of course, she fights me the whole way. Not just with her fists, but her mouth too.
If she wasn’t my pawn, I might actually like her.
When I hand her over to my mother, I realize she has far more sinister plans. She tells me to do exactly what her father did—and force her.
That’s not the kind of man I am, so the answer is no.
But then she asks Geralt—the most barbaric man I’ve ever met.
So I volunteer—because I know she’d rather it be me than anyone else.
This book contains dark themes and subject matter that may be difficult for some readers
Ivory:
I see him watch me.
Everywhere I go—he follows.
He’s one of my father’s guards at the castle. Goes by the name Mastodon.
There’s something about him I don’t like, but my warnings are never taken seriously. But I bet if my brother voiced the same concerns that would be no issue…just because he has balls and I don’t.
Well, I have bigger balls than he ever will.
When I leave for the Capital, Mastodon escorts me. And just as I feared, he kills my guards and captures me.
At least he tries to capture me. There’s a lot of running and chasing. I land an arrow right in his neck, but it does nothing. It’s like he doesn’t even feel it.
He takes me into a cavern and we descend deep underground—to the Bottom of the Cliffs. Then he tells me why he’s doing this.
Because my family took everything from him—and now he’s about to do the same.
Mastodon:
Her father murdered mine then raped my mother—and forced me to watch.
Then he pushed us over the cliff—to our deaths.
But we survived—and now we’re ready for revenge.
She’s the key to that. After she helps us get what we need, I’ll hang her by her pretty neck and watch her take her last breath.
I steal her from Delacroix—and of course, she fights me the whole way. Not just with her fists, but her mouth too.
If she wasn’t my pawn, I might actually like her.
When I hand her over to my mother, I realize she has far more sinister plans. She tells me to do exactly what her father did—and force her.
That’s not the kind of man I am, so the answer is no.
But then she asks Geralt—the most barbaric man I’ve ever met.
So I volunteer—because I know she’d rather it be me than anyone else.
This book contains dark themes and subject matter that may be difficult for some readers
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2021
2569 people are currently reading
10510 people want to read
About the author
Penelope Barsetti
30 books927 followersPenelope Barsetti is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her beloved novels have sold more than 5 Million copies, and her work has been translated into a dozen languages. Readers may know her by another name, Penelope Sky, where she writes contemporary dark romance.
An avid wine drinker, napper, and Netflix junkie, she lives in California with her family, but if she could live anywhere, it would be Florence, Italy. For those familiar with her work, you’ll know exactly why that’s the case.
Fantasy Romance is her favorite genre to read, and she’s excited to release her own novels into the world.
An avid wine drinker, napper, and Netflix junkie, she lives in California with her family, but if she could live anywhere, it would be Florence, Italy. For those familiar with her work, you’ll know exactly why that’s the case.
Fantasy Romance is her favorite genre to read, and she’s excited to release her own novels into the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 744 reviews
September 7, 2023
2 stars
- the writing is atrocious (mostly because the lingo the characters use sound modern day and has a lot of slang as well)
- the world building is non existent really - I still have no idea what the hero and heroine are? Clearly more than humans but also not!? We are never told why the hero heals so quickly? WHAT IS HE? it drives me crazy. The other beings in that world as well, they are so random and without method or reason.
- the plot is meh
- the characters are very .. unlikable and that’s because both MCs have very flimsy morals, attitudes and personalities.
- the heroine entered a very Stockholm-y stage pretty early on- too early for it to even qualify as Stockholm. The hero’s mother ordered her rape twice, abused her, punched, kicked and hit her numerous times while the hero looked on. She was humiliated, starved, thrown naked outside in the winter while someone dropped an ice bucket on her. The hero always treated her after - got her food, let her sleep in his warm cabin etc- but you know - hiding from anyone seeing him do it. He is a “yes, mommy”. And they still treat the heroine like she is a bad person, or like she is a villain only because things her father did when she wasn’t even born. Not to mention everyone excuses that awful excuse for a human being that is the hero’s mother (the Queen). Even the heroine has excuses for her. And no matter what his mother did, or the fact that he did nothing to stop her way too many times - she still slept with him every night. Given the circumstances and the fact that the heroine was sheltered, alone and abused, that scenario was very rapey to me. Too rapey.
- the hero is a mama’a boy and I think he’s pretty old to still be that. Given he was 11 and the heroine wasn’t even born, he must be pretty advanced in age so it strikes me as weak and pathetic that he can’t stand for right and wrong, for what he believes in. He knows that what he is fighting for makes him no better than the heroines father. He wants to get the kingdom back so he and his family can love the good life but he never thought of changing the life of the poor and the ones being eaten alive by other creatures. He knows they are all rotten to their core but he still has the guts to feel self righteous? He can get fucked.
- descriptions arent good enough. I barely know how the heroine looks like.
- the sex scenes read like an account of the male gaze. Also, very repetitive. It doesn’t seem like the heroine is actually enjoying it - we know that because we get told she comes, but I don’t see it. Reading them feels like reading about a woman being used - a lot. Made me uncomfortable.
- the writing is atrocious (mostly because the lingo the characters use sound modern day and has a lot of slang as well)
- the world building is non existent really - I still have no idea what the hero and heroine are? Clearly more than humans but also not!? We are never told why the hero heals so quickly? WHAT IS HE? it drives me crazy. The other beings in that world as well, they are so random and without method or reason.
- the plot is meh
- the characters are very .. unlikable and that’s because both MCs have very flimsy morals, attitudes and personalities.
- the heroine entered a very Stockholm-y stage pretty early on- too early for it to even qualify as Stockholm. The hero’s mother ordered her rape twice, abused her, punched, kicked and hit her numerous times while the hero looked on. She was humiliated, starved, thrown naked outside in the winter while someone dropped an ice bucket on her. The hero always treated her after - got her food, let her sleep in his warm cabin etc- but you know - hiding from anyone seeing him do it. He is a “yes, mommy”. And they still treat the heroine like she is a bad person, or like she is a villain only because things her father did when she wasn’t even born. Not to mention everyone excuses that awful excuse for a human being that is the hero’s mother (the Queen). Even the heroine has excuses for her. And no matter what his mother did, or the fact that he did nothing to stop her way too many times - she still slept with him every night. Given the circumstances and the fact that the heroine was sheltered, alone and abused, that scenario was very rapey to me. Too rapey.
- the hero is a mama’a boy and I think he’s pretty old to still be that. Given he was 11 and the heroine wasn’t even born, he must be pretty advanced in age so it strikes me as weak and pathetic that he can’t stand for right and wrong, for what he believes in. He knows that what he is fighting for makes him no better than the heroines father. He wants to get the kingdom back so he and his family can love the good life but he never thought of changing the life of the poor and the ones being eaten alive by other creatures. He knows they are all rotten to their core but he still has the guts to feel self righteous? He can get fucked.
- descriptions arent good enough. I barely know how the heroine looks like.
- the sex scenes read like an account of the male gaze. Also, very repetitive. It doesn’t seem like the heroine is actually enjoying it - we know that because we get told she comes, but I don’t see it. Reading them feels like reading about a woman being used - a lot. Made me uncomfortable.
February 2, 2022
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🗣 In the interest of female solidarity it is my duty toforce covince everyone to read this gem and introduce them to my mighty King Huntley.🗣
I cannot begin to explain the adrenaline that flooded my system after I read the storyline of this book. It had all the elements to get my heart racing and my skin tingling, and so I was naturally trepidatious of the book not living upto the premise but it actually kind of delivered!?!?
Now I usually steer clear of paranormal or fantasy romance because the paranormal shii usually ruins the romance for me, but maybe it was my lucky day and because I was delirious with sleep when I read the blurb, and I just had to read the words ’Her father murdered mine then raped my mother—and forced me to watch…. And now we’re ready for revenge’ to add it to my library, fantasy and paranormal shit be damned! 👹🧚🏻♀️
First let me just write how I felt about Ivory (h) and get it out of the way because I don’t have much to say:
Ivory was a fuck girl, you know like a fuck boy, she sneaked boys into her room at night (which I loved for her, you go girl) and then she kicked them out, she also broke the heart of one of her many lovers and kicked him outta her room after giving him the equivalent of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech.
I only liked her when she was in bed with Huntley. That was when she was most useful and likable lol.
That’s it, this is all I have to say about the h, now onto my man Huntley.
I’m a whore for ’kidnapping the enemy’s (innocent) daughter as payback’ trope, because you know
And I always gleefully wait for the H to lay them upon the h, and I waited obsequiously for Huntley (H) to lay Ivory’s (h) father’s sins on her BUT Huntley’s bloody conscience got the better of him.
I was really holding out hope that Huntley would be really villainous and barbaric but he wasn’t. 🥺 The only slightly barbaric thing he did was suffocate Ivory until she blacked out. And that was the beginning and end of his barbarity, and the beginning and end of my tremulous hope.
Can you guess how long it took for Huntley to look at Ivory with lust too? Well, not long, and usually it’s the biggest dealbreaker for me when the H becomes sexually aware of the h and suddenly forgets his revenge mission and starts showing subtle acts of kindness which inevitably and ultimately leads to his heart clenching in pain when he thinks about actually inflicting pain on the h. This is what I hate the most in revenge books, I understand it is inevitable that the hero develops feelings for the h but I don’t like it when it happens three chapters into the book. But something about Huntley made me overlook his empathetic behavior 🥱
I liked how Huntley was laconic and cold to Ivory in the beginning and looked at her with contempt and said ”There’s not enough magic in the world to ever make me desire you.” but I didn’t like how he
🌪 saved Ivory from falling to her death
🌪 shared his food and bedroll with her
🌪 snuggled her to keep her warm
🌪 carried her through the snow
This all happened shortly after he kidnapped her, and it was too early for him to develop feelings of affinity for the daughter of his enemy, so it did throw me off a bit, now arguably, he WAS trying to keep her alive because he needed her help BUT idc he acted like a total wuss 😫 he could have acted like a real man and found other less heroic ways to keep her alive 😗
Call me anachronistic, but I feel like Huntley betrayed his mother by pitying Ivory. Why did he kidnap her in the first place if he wasn’t going to subject her to any harsh treatment and say that she wasn’t like his father? His moral righteousness hurt me more than it did his mother. Queen Rolfe deserved better from his son. There was just one moment in the entire book where he kind of did right by his mother👇🏻
A man who is possessive of his lady is hot BUT a man who is possessive of his momma is even HOTTER, I don’t care what anyone says 👹
This might have been the moment I fell in love with Huntley, he sounded like a man who doesn’t let the magic pussy of his mortal enemy’s daughter change his loyalty for those he loves, but it was a great let down when this same man sat and listened to Ivory call his mother a cunt 🧚🏻♀️
So much for being unflinchingly loyal to his mother! Could he really blame his mother for treating the daughter of the man who raped her with anything less than unbridled hatred? Maybe if his mother had been fucking Ivory too she could have been a bit more charitable?
In my opinion, Huntley did his mother a great disservice by warming up to Ivory, he could have at least treated her indifferently or maybe just a little coldly and roughly.
Okay, he was a man of impeccable morals but when his mother sent him to rape Ivory did he really have to make it so pleasurable for her!?!? His misplaced gallantry really infuriated me, and him turning her supposed punishment into a full out love making session even more so. I didn’t want him to turn completely heartless (lies ☺️) but couldn’t he have pretended that he absolutely didn’t desire her and maybe show a little distaste for her and maybe push her around a bit and pull her hair and slap—
No, I don’t have a rape kink. Huntley could’ve been a little chivalrous is all I’m saying. 😊
Regardless of Huntley’s unsavory ways that sometimes caused me immense pain I still loved him, he might be my favorite morally grey character. I loved how he sneaked Ivory into his cabin some nights and gave her a hot bath and an appetizing dinner and a good fuck.
I found myself thinking one too many times:
Do I like really love Huntley or do i just love the way he looks and fucks?
When no answer was forthcoming I knew it was the latter. Sometimes it’s alright if you just love a character for his sinfully good looks and his notorious skills in bed. 🤰🏻
SPOILER:
I hated Huntley for marrying Ivory and for promising not to murder her father.
I love you Huntley but fuck you.
Highlight of the book:
There was a moment in this book that made me giddy with amusement and turned my heart into a mush and made my toes CURL lol, it was when Huntley’s mother confronted him about lying about raping Ivory and he said:
Love me a blunt King 🤰🏻🤰🏻🤰🏻🤰🏻
🗣 In the interest of female solidarity it is my duty to
I cannot begin to explain the adrenaline that flooded my system after I read the storyline of this book. It had all the elements to get my heart racing and my skin tingling, and so I was naturally trepidatious of the book not living upto the premise but it actually kind of delivered!?!?
Now I usually steer clear of paranormal or fantasy romance because the paranormal shii usually ruins the romance for me, but maybe it was my lucky day and because I was delirious with sleep when I read the blurb, and I just had to read the words ’Her father murdered mine then raped my mother—and forced me to watch…. And now we’re ready for revenge’ to add it to my library, fantasy and paranormal shit be damned! 👹🧚🏻♀️
First let me just write how I felt about Ivory (h) and get it out of the way because I don’t have much to say:
Ivory was a fuck girl, you know like a fuck boy, she sneaked boys into her room at night (which I loved for her, you go girl) and then she kicked them out, she also broke the heart of one of her many lovers and kicked him outta her room after giving him the equivalent of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ speech.
“I’ve given myself to men before you, and I will do so after you. I’m sorry that you feel this way, but trust me, I’m not worth it. Your family should be proud of you because you’re a great man, and someday, you’ll meet a beautiful girl who thinks the same. I’m not that girl. I’m not worthy of your heart.”
I only liked her when she was in bed with Huntley. That was when she was most useful and likable lol.
That’s it, this is all I have to say about the h, now onto my man Huntley.
“The helmet concealed his forehead and everything below his eyes. Only his eyes were visible.
Bright blue. Striking. Deadly.”
I’m a whore for ’kidnapping the enemy’s (innocent) daughter as payback’ trope, because you know
’The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children.’
And I always gleefully wait for the H to lay them upon the h, and I waited obsequiously for Huntley (H) to lay Ivory’s (h) father’s sins on her BUT Huntley’s bloody conscience got the better of him.
I was really holding out hope that Huntley would be really villainous and barbaric but he wasn’t. 🥺 The only slightly barbaric thing he did was suffocate Ivory until she blacked out. And that was the beginning and end of his barbarity, and the beginning and end of my tremulous hope.
“His only crime was his look.
I’d been the recipient of many looks from men, mostly lust, but that wasn’t it either.
This was hatred. Pure hatred.”
Can you guess how long it took for Huntley to look at Ivory with lust too? Well, not long, and usually it’s the biggest dealbreaker for me when the H becomes sexually aware of the h and suddenly forgets his revenge mission and starts showing subtle acts of kindness which inevitably and ultimately leads to his heart clenching in pain when he thinks about actually inflicting pain on the h. This is what I hate the most in revenge books, I understand it is inevitable that the hero develops feelings for the h but I don’t like it when it happens three chapters into the book. But something about Huntley made me overlook his empathetic behavior 🥱
“I’m no benefit to you dead, right? It’s in your best interest to help me stay alive.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing on every step of this journey?” He turned his head to meet my look head on. “Do you think I like sharing my bed with the enemy? You think I like carrying you through the snow? You think I like looking at your face as I speak—when you have his eyes? If so much weren’t at stake…I’d let you freeze to death.”
“I’m not your enemy—”
“I am yours.” His tone hardened like a block of ice. “Make no mistake.”
I liked how Huntley was laconic and cold to Ivory in the beginning and looked at her with contempt and said ”There’s not enough magic in the world to ever make me desire you.” but I didn’t like how he
🌪 saved Ivory from falling to her death
🌪 shared his food and bedroll with her
🌪 snuggled her to keep her warm
🌪 carried her through the snow
This all happened shortly after he kidnapped her, and it was too early for him to develop feelings of affinity for the daughter of his enemy, so it did throw me off a bit, now arguably, he WAS trying to keep her alive because he needed her help BUT idc he acted like a total wuss 😫 he could have acted like a real man and found other less heroic ways to keep her alive 😗
Call me anachronistic, but I feel like Huntley betrayed his mother by pitying Ivory. Why did he kidnap her in the first place if he wasn’t going to subject her to any harsh treatment and say that she wasn’t like his father? His moral righteousness hurt me more than it did his mother. Queen Rolfe deserved better from his son. There was just one moment in the entire book where he kind of did right by his mother👇🏻
“I shook my head slightly, having no idea what he was talking about. “I’m sorry about your mother—”
His hand shot out to my neck instantly, his fingers getting a good grip in a flash. “Don’t talk about her.” He gave me a hard shove.”
A man who is possessive of his lady is hot BUT a man who is possessive of his momma is even HOTTER, I don’t care what anyone says 👹
This might have been the moment I fell in love with Huntley, he sounded like a man who doesn’t let the magic pussy of his mortal enemy’s daughter change his loyalty for those he loves, but it was a great let down when this same man sat and listened to Ivory call his mother a cunt 🧚🏻♀️
“Your mom’s a cunt, you know that?”
I stared at the map without really looking at it.
“A fucking cunt…”
The insult from somebody else would result in a bloody tub. But I didn’t defend my mother’s honor—not when it wasn’t right.”
So much for being unflinchingly loyal to his mother! Could he really blame his mother for treating the daughter of the man who raped her with anything less than unbridled hatred? Maybe if his mother had been fucking Ivory too she could have been a bit more charitable?
In my opinion, Huntley did his mother a great disservice by warming up to Ivory, he could have at least treated her indifferently or maybe just a little coldly and roughly.
I’m not going to force a woman who just saved my life. I’m not going to force any woman—not after what I had to watch with my own eyes.”
Okay, he was a man of impeccable morals but when his mother sent him to rape Ivory did he really have to make it so pleasurable for her!?!? His misplaced gallantry really infuriated me, and him turning her supposed punishment into a full out love making session even more so. I didn’t want him to turn completely heartless (lies ☺️) but couldn’t he have pretended that he absolutely didn’t desire her and maybe show a little distaste for her and maybe push her around a bit and pull her hair and slap—
No, I don’t have a rape kink. Huntley could’ve been a little chivalrous is all I’m saying. 😊
Regardless of Huntley’s unsavory ways that sometimes caused me immense pain I still loved him, he might be my favorite morally grey character. I loved how he sneaked Ivory into his cabin some nights and gave her a hot bath and an appetizing dinner and a good fuck.
I found myself thinking one too many times:
Do I like really love Huntley or do i just love the way he looks and fucks?
When no answer was forthcoming I knew it was the latter. Sometimes it’s alright if you just love a character for his sinfully good looks and his notorious skills in bed. 🤰🏻
SPOILER:
I hated Huntley for marrying Ivory and for promising not to murder her father.
I love you Huntley but fuck you.
Highlight of the book:
There was a moment in this book that made me giddy with amusement and turned my heart into a mush and made my toes CURL lol, it was when Huntley’s mother confronted him about lying about raping Ivory and he said:
“You lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie.”
“You told me she cried and pleaded.”
“She did—just not in the way you wanted.” I couldn’t believe I’d said that to my mother…”
Love me a blunt King 🤰🏻🤰🏻🤰🏻🤰🏻
October 23, 2023
I can forgive a lot of things while reading fantasy... cringiness isn't one of them.
I'll just say this, try reading this without cringing, I challenge you.
Let's see, we've got:
- "Baby" used as a pet name.
And it's even worse because this is supposed to be a fantasy world (you know, that medieval-ish setting) with "whores" and stuff (the author's words not mine), and then they throw around "You aren't my baby"... I will kms, I can't handle it.
- The sex scenes as a whole. There are like 20 too many, but the real crime is how badly written they are.
The author used many words, really, a lot (virginal body, grand finale, a pool of tears (yes she means... whatever)), specially to describe the enormous dick of the guy, but she really couldn't seem to find one for the female counterpart, and I'm sorry but that's a red flag.
That said, for me, the biggest crime of all is, without a doubt, the word... cream .
I could get into the sexism, the not like other girls protagonist, the use of rape as a threat every single chapter, the absolute lack of psychological depth these character had, and all in all, how bad the writing is, but I'll leave this review fun and simple.
I love hate reading books, so I may try to read the second book, but please don't be like me, respect your time a little more and find something else that deserves your attention.
I'll just say this, try reading this without cringing, I challenge you.
Let's see, we've got:
- "Baby" used as a pet name.
“Are you my baby or not?”
And it's even worse because this is supposed to be a fantasy world (you know, that medieval-ish setting) with "whores" and stuff (the author's words not mine), and then they throw around "You aren't my baby"... I will kms, I can't handle it.
- The sex scenes as a whole. There are like 20 too many, but the real crime is how badly written they are.
The author used many words, really, a lot (virginal body, grand finale, a pool of tears (yes she means... whatever)), specially to describe the enormous dick of the guy, but she really couldn't seem to find one for the female counterpart, and I'm sorry but that's a red flag.
That said, for me, the biggest crime of all is, without a doubt, the word... cream .
I could get into the sexism, the not like other girls protagonist, the use of rape as a threat every single chapter, the absolute lack of psychological depth these character had, and all in all, how bad the writing is, but I'll leave this review fun and simple.
I love hate reading books, so I may try to read the second book, but please don't be like me, respect your time a little more and find something else that deserves your attention.
February 23, 2022
Part 1
3,5 💘👑🏰⭐️s❗️
I will post my pov for this series on the 3rd part.
3,5 💘👑🏰⭐️s❗️
I will post my pov for this series on the 3rd part.
June 24, 2023
What to say about this book… let me start with that the overall plot had the potential to make this a good book. But otherwise everything else is a nightmare. I couldn’t finish I just… couldn’t. This is a book that is supposed to be happening in a story line of a fantasy/medieval world and you might say great just what I wanted but the language that’s is used is totally messed up. You have a dialog that comes from the present days, with no consistent whatsoever. The sex scenes have no taste, it’s just huge dick this big dick that. I don’t mind sex scenes in books of this kind but if found them so stupid and pointless that I couldn’t phantom why they were there. But since the book is almost around that maybe that’s the point. The most unforgiving thing is that the male character at one point starts to use the pet name baby to his partner which is just bad taste and storytelling in a medieval/fantasy world. This could work if the author was writing a romance in a modern world but in this world she created with a supposed ruthless and badass guy is just a complete nonsense. The ultimate part that made me say enough is enough is the contradiction in most of the descriptions. First is described a boat that is so small it barely fits 2 people but once sailing away you find out that actually this boat has a cabin that has a bed, an armchair and a table… so maybe not that small at all, the author disregarded her first description introduced a bed because sex time needed to happen and that’s it… examples like this can be found throughout the book. I was expecting much more quality from an overall review of 4* but was incredibly disappointed. In summary if you care for good writing and coherence skip this reading is not for you. If you are here just for no taste and tacky sex scenes go ahead. But I dare say there are plenty of other books with erotic scenes much hotter than these and that don’t offend your own intelligence out there… is just my opinion.
January 26, 2022
✨⚔️ 4.5 stars ⚔️✨
Omgahhhh! 🙌🏻 Finally, a Penelope hit because baby girl be releasing books that are a losing game lately.
Omgahhhh! 🙌🏻 Finally, a Penelope hit because baby girl be releasing books that are a losing game lately.
February 5, 2022
Great premise ✔️
Don’t know If I care enough to continue with this series though.
Don’t know If I care enough to continue with this series though.
January 25, 2022
Okay, so I liked this book so much in the beginning. I was a bit thrown off by the American modern day vernacular in this fantasy world- but I looked past it, because the story was interesting and really drew me in. I loved Ivory’s personality- she was so blunt and did not give any fucks- and I appreciated that. She didn’t take herself too seriously, and was actually funny at the start. I’m huge fan of enemies to lovers- so ate up everything that was thrown at me with the MCs- the broody Huntley and the feisty Ivory was exactly what I read romance for.
Not only that but the world building was cool, and seemed to get even more “cooler” literally - especially with Yetis and ice mountains.
But quickly went down hill. Huntley’s whole mommas boy, mother drama trauma kind of got old, and icked me out.
Then came the sex scenes. Now. I’m a lover of smut. But this book had A LOT of it. So much of it. It was welcomed at first- but quickly got repetitive. And… maybe it’s just me… but, was this written by a man? I just felt it was very male-gaze-ey. Wasn’t romantic at all. Which was fine at first, but it never got there through the many, many scenes. I felt that if there were no smut, this book would be like 150 pages. I guess I wanted more of those awesome action scenes. And Yetis. Less peen so big it almost hurt every. Single. Time.
Not only that but the world building was cool, and seemed to get even more “cooler” literally - especially with Yetis and ice mountains.
But quickly went down hill. Huntley’s whole mommas boy, mother drama trauma kind of got old, and icked me out.
Then came the sex scenes. Now. I’m a lover of smut. But this book had A LOT of it. So much of it. It was welcomed at first- but quickly got repetitive. And… maybe it’s just me… but, was this written by a man? I just felt it was very male-gaze-ey. Wasn’t romantic at all. Which was fine at first, but it never got there through the many, many scenes. I felt that if there were no smut, this book would be like 150 pages. I guess I wanted more of those awesome action scenes. And Yetis. Less peen so big it almost hurt every. Single. Time.
December 10, 2021
Interesting fantasy story.
Dual POV, mostly the heroine.
She is no shrinking violet and he isn't really a villan.
Interesting world building with potential for more books about side characters, siblings or even other Kingdoms.
There are no intimate detailed scenes other than the Hero and heroine but....
The heroine ends a no commitment relationship with a man at the start, he is dressing, no details of sex.
After the Hero kidnaps the heroine and returns to his base he has 2 whores waiting for him, who he joins in bed, fades to end of chapter.
Ends on a cliffhanger.
My old pet peeve that there is nothing in the blurb to say how many books to the HEA, book 2 is listed for pre-order so it is it duet? Trilogy? Why why not tell the reader before hand.
The blurb for book 2 gives away the cliffhanger.
Dual POV, mostly the heroine.
She is no shrinking violet and he isn't really a villan.
Interesting world building with potential for more books about side characters, siblings or even other Kingdoms.
There are no intimate detailed scenes other than the Hero and heroine but....
The heroine ends a no commitment relationship with a man at the start, he is dressing, no details of sex.
After the Hero kidnaps the heroine and returns to his base he has 2 whores waiting for him, who he joins in bed, fades to end of chapter.
Ends on a cliffhanger.
My old pet peeve that there is nothing in the blurb to say how many books to the HEA, book 2 is listed for pre-order so it is it duet? Trilogy? Why why not tell the reader before hand.
The blurb for book 2 gives away the cliffhanger.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2023
They talk like it’s set now but it’s a medieval, and the story/smut is really good that I don’t find it so jarring. RTC!
*Full Review*
Entertaining, even though it has no right to be. Modern humour (blunt and vulgar at times, and at other times, rom-com). Decent fantasy world-building and plot. Hot smut. The closest thing to The Forsaken King that I've read is Meg Xuemei X's Wicked Witch series, although Barsetti has Xuemei X on the bedroom factor. There was a lot of smut in this and I liked it!
Do you ever read a kidnap-revenge plot and wish the heroine would just tell the hero off?
The Forsaken King will satisfy your every wish with that.
"I'm not going to spend the final days of my life begging for something I shouldn't have to beg for. I'm not thankful for the bread or the water. I'm not thankful that you saved me from falling to my death. The reason I'm even here in the first place is because of you, because your need for revenge blinds you to everything else that matters."
This isn't the only time Ivory makes her case to Huntley that kidnap revenge is dumb, and it was not only fresh but cathartic to have this, because kidnap revenge is such a common trope in romance, but for all that it is so common, rarely does anyone ever challenge the hero on the stupidity of it. I guess it would break the fantasy logic, but it worked well here.
From the beginning, Ivory is a heroine after my own heart. She is funny, outspoken, and does not have qualms about sex.
If she falls under a mould, it's the fantasy heroine that kicks ass, and it works. I don't really care if the heroine is "perfect" so long as it's believable in the story and engaging to read. I felt like Ivory was a great example of the fantasy baddie.
Some of my favourite one-liners from Ivory:
Right from the jump...
"Not until I kick this b***h right in the c**t."
"I'm sure it'll hurt," I said. "Since I have bigger balls than you-"
This is after one of the guards punches her and she doesn't react, so he tries to do it again, but she knees him in the balls.
And towards the end of the novel...
"If we're going to survive out here, you need to do what I tell you. No questions asked. Alright?"
"Yeah... we're going to die."
Ivory is the princess of the kingdom and she is immediately suspicious of the new guard that has been watching her. Her instinct is right and the guard, Mastadon (Huntley) kidnaps her when she is about to set off to a neighbouring kingdom for a potential marital match with the son and heir. Instead, he takes her to a wintery land full of monsters where her whole worldview comes crashing down...
While I did feel Huntley was a little bit of a Momma's Boy, I could also sense he was torn and conflicted about how his mom treated Ivory. Props to Huntley because while he was an honest guy, he was rough around the edges, not one to mince words or make them sound palatable, he also wanted that from his partner. He liked Ivory's baddie ways, and was turned on by her.
The smut is pretty glorious for a fantasy romance. I beginning to realize that I'm not the ideal fantasy romance reader, who seems to prefer clean romance. Anytime I come across halfway decent worldbuilding and/or writing style, I feel like the romance development is a bit of a gamble.
*Full Review*
Entertaining, even though it has no right to be. Modern humour (blunt and vulgar at times, and at other times, rom-com). Decent fantasy world-building and plot. Hot smut. The closest thing to The Forsaken King that I've read is Meg Xuemei X's Wicked Witch series, although Barsetti has Xuemei X on the bedroom factor. There was a lot of smut in this and I liked it!
Do you ever read a kidnap-revenge plot and wish the heroine would just tell the hero off?
The Forsaken King will satisfy your every wish with that.
"I'm not going to spend the final days of my life begging for something I shouldn't have to beg for. I'm not thankful for the bread or the water. I'm not thankful that you saved me from falling to my death. The reason I'm even here in the first place is because of you, because your need for revenge blinds you to everything else that matters."
This isn't the only time Ivory makes her case to Huntley that kidnap revenge is dumb, and it was not only fresh but cathartic to have this, because kidnap revenge is such a common trope in romance, but for all that it is so common, rarely does anyone ever challenge the hero on the stupidity of it. I guess it would break the fantasy logic, but it worked well here.
From the beginning, Ivory is a heroine after my own heart. She is funny, outspoken, and does not have qualms about sex.
If she falls under a mould, it's the fantasy heroine that kicks ass, and it works. I don't really care if the heroine is "perfect" so long as it's believable in the story and engaging to read. I felt like Ivory was a great example of the fantasy baddie.
Some of my favourite one-liners from Ivory:
Right from the jump...
"Not until I kick this b***h right in the c**t."
"I'm sure it'll hurt," I said. "Since I have bigger balls than you-"
This is after one of the guards punches her and she doesn't react, so he tries to do it again, but she knees him in the balls.
And towards the end of the novel...
"If we're going to survive out here, you need to do what I tell you. No questions asked. Alright?"
"Yeah... we're going to die."
Ivory is the princess of the kingdom and she is immediately suspicious of the new guard that has been watching her. Her instinct is right and the guard, Mastadon (Huntley) kidnaps her when she is about to set off to a neighbouring kingdom for a potential marital match with the son and heir. Instead, he takes her to a wintery land full of monsters where her whole worldview comes crashing down...
While I did feel Huntley was a little bit of a Momma's Boy, I could also sense he was torn and conflicted about how his mom treated Ivory. Props to Huntley because while he was an honest guy, he was rough around the edges, not one to mince words or make them sound palatable, he also wanted that from his partner. He liked Ivory's baddie ways, and was turned on by her.
The smut is pretty glorious for a fantasy romance. I beginning to realize that I'm not the ideal fantasy romance reader, who seems to prefer clean romance. Anytime I come across halfway decent worldbuilding and/or writing style, I feel like the romance development is a bit of a gamble.
March 2, 2022
La familia Rolfe es despojada de su reino por Faron Hughes y sus hombres. Asesina al rey, viola a la reina y obliga al hijo mayor de ésta a presenciarlo. Luego avienta a la reina y a sus dos hijos por un precipicio.
Sobreviven.
Veinte años después, inician su venganza y su plan para recuperar el trono.
El plan consiste en secuestrar a la hija de Faron, y que ésta les ayude con una parte (algo que solamente ella puede hacer).
En el proceso, Huntley (el hijo mayor de la reina) y Ivory (hija de Faron) se sienten atraídos a pesar de ser enemigos.
La trama en sí, es buena, me gusta.
La ejecución... No mucho.
Es la primera historia de fantasía de esta autora y se nota. El uso de vocabulario contemporáneo no queda con la ambientación que plantea. El uso de 'baby', 'divorcio'... me tenían jalándome los cabellos.
No creí que fuera a decir esto pero... Hay demasiado sexo 👀 Llegué a un punto donde dije ¡Ay, otra vez?! 🤦🏻♀ Que ya entendimos que el chico tiene mucha pila. 🤣
La reina no es el típico personaje bondadoso y compasivo. Es una ogt, pero por un lado medio la entiendes aunque no apruebes sus decisiones. 🤷🏻♀️
Los protagonistas me gustan. Huntley empieza muy rudo, pero se vuelve un pan muy rápido. 😅 Ivory, es una loca que no sigue las reglas, mayormente. Y que mete chicos a su recámara a escondidas. #girlpower
Continuaré con los siguientes por que en vdd quiero saber que pasa después de ese maldito final.
Sobreviven.
Veinte años después, inician su venganza y su plan para recuperar el trono.
El plan consiste en secuestrar a la hija de Faron, y que ésta les ayude con una parte (algo que solamente ella puede hacer).
En el proceso, Huntley (el hijo mayor de la reina) y Ivory (hija de Faron) se sienten atraídos a pesar de ser enemigos.
La trama en sí, es buena, me gusta.
La ejecución... No mucho.
Es la primera historia de fantasía de esta autora y se nota. El uso de vocabulario contemporáneo no queda con la ambientación que plantea. El uso de 'baby', 'divorcio'... me tenían jalándome los cabellos.
No creí que fuera a decir esto pero... Hay demasiado sexo 👀 Llegué a un punto donde dije ¡Ay, otra vez?! 🤦🏻♀ Que ya entendimos que el chico tiene mucha pila. 🤣
La reina no es el típico personaje bondadoso y compasivo. Es una ogt, pero por un lado medio la entiendes aunque no apruebes sus decisiones. 🤷🏻♀️
Los protagonistas me gustan. Huntley empieza muy rudo, pero se vuelve un pan muy rápido. 😅 Ivory, es una loca que no sigue las reglas, mayormente. Y que mete chicos a su recámara a escondidas. #girlpower
Continuaré con los siguientes por que en vdd quiero saber que pasa después de ese maldito final.
November 4, 2021
HOLY WOW what a great book, I literally could not put the book down and I am counting the days til the next book. The story lines completely draws you in and holds you there. You will fall in love with Ivory and Huntley, their story is a great enemies to lovers. Happy reading.
Read
March 21, 2022repetitive of things i didnt care of
November 24, 2021
If I could give this more than 5 stars.. I WOULD!! This book is freaking GOLD!
There is angst and romance (plenty of smut), action, adventure, and conflict. AND THERE'S DRAGONS!!!!
This story is of epic proportion. I have liked books, maybe loved them. I have not been this emotionally invested in a book in quite a while. Like to the point I can barely form complete thoughts on the level of excitement that this book gave me.
I kind of regret asking for the ARC, because now I have to wait even longer for book two. You would never know that this is Penelope's first fantasy book because she NAILED it.
If you liked From Blood and Ash and ACOTAR, you will LOVE this book.
There is angst and romance (plenty of smut), action, adventure, and conflict. AND THERE'S DRAGONS!!!!
This story is of epic proportion. I have liked books, maybe loved them. I have not been this emotionally invested in a book in quite a while. Like to the point I can barely form complete thoughts on the level of excitement that this book gave me.
I kind of regret asking for the ARC, because now I have to wait even longer for book two. You would never know that this is Penelope's first fantasy book because she NAILED it.
If you liked From Blood and Ash and ACOTAR, you will LOVE this book.
May 2, 2022
Spoilee
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This book seemed good. I was excited for the series. But I DNF’ed when the queen ordered for her son to SA the women they kidnapped. After he was forced to watch the queen his mother being SA’d by the women’s father in the past. That was a hard no for me and makes all the characters involved irredeemable.
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This book seemed good. I was excited for the series. But I DNF’ed when the queen ordered for her son to SA the women they kidnapped. After he was forced to watch the queen his mother being SA’d by the women’s father in the past. That was a hard no for me and makes all the characters involved irredeemable.
January 1, 2023
What a great find! And a good book to herald in 2023..
April 20, 2022
The Forsaken King is a dark fantasy romance. What’s not to like? I had high expectations starting this book, but unfortunately, they weren’t fulfilled. It had a lot of potential and the idea was amazing but I feel like it could have been done better.
✅ Great world-building
✅ Snarky and strong female lead
✅ Very morally grey love interest hell-bent on revenge
✅ Toe-curling smut 🌶🌶🌶🌶
✅ Nicely written villain (I hated her with my whole heart)
❌ Little character development
❌ Love interest was a little too obsessed with his mother (it was good at the beginning but there was no development)
❌ Cliffhanger ending
❌ Nothing got resolved
❌ Even at the end, the love interest still blamed the female lead for something that was obviously not her fault.
Trigger warnings:
❗️R*pe (not of the main character)
❗️Abuse
❗️Violence and gore
Tropes:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ One bed trope
✨ Touch her and you die
✨ Captor x captive
✨ Forbidden love
✨ Forced proximity
In the beginning, I devoured this book. It seemed to have all I enjoyed in books. The problem was that the characters didn’t change much and the story seemed to become monotone.
All in all a good book, and I still recommend you give it a try and see if you like it.
✅ Great world-building
✅ Snarky and strong female lead
✅ Very morally grey love interest hell-bent on revenge
✅ Toe-curling smut 🌶🌶🌶🌶
✅ Nicely written villain (I hated her with my whole heart)
❌ Little character development
❌ Love interest was a little too obsessed with his mother (it was good at the beginning but there was no development)
❌ Cliffhanger ending
❌ Nothing got resolved
❌ Even at the end, the love interest still blamed the female lead for something that was obviously not her fault.
Trigger warnings:
❗️R*pe (not of the main character)
❗️Abuse
❗️Violence and gore
Tropes:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ One bed trope
✨ Touch her and you die
✨ Captor x captive
✨ Forbidden love
✨ Forced proximity
In the beginning, I devoured this book. It seemed to have all I enjoyed in books. The problem was that the characters didn’t change much and the story seemed to become monotone.
All in all a good book, and I still recommend you give it a try and see if you like it.
March 30, 2022
Oh. My. God. WHAT THE F*CK WAS THAT. this book was absolutely insane. Like craziest plot line ever. I was speechless. PLUS the spice had me BLUSHING asf. I kinda hated the main guy AND girl for 99% of the book but the last like two chapters redeemed them??? idk i can’t even process this right now.
Ivory kind of gave Poppy from FBAA. She swore like excessively and was definitely entitled. And the way she just jumped into bed with her captor??? Had me shook fs.
Huntley kinda literally sucked. Who lets their girl get beat in front of them 💀💀💀.
I liked this book but I don’t think I’m gonna read the sequel. Was quite traumatic.
Ivory kind of gave Poppy from FBAA. She swore like excessively and was definitely entitled. And the way she just jumped into bed with her captor??? Had me shook fs.
Huntley kinda literally sucked. Who lets their girl get beat in front of them 💀💀💀.
I liked this book but I don’t think I’m gonna read the sequel. Was quite traumatic.
February 18, 2024
This had SMUT. REVENGE. BETRAYAL. ENEMIES TO LOVERS. A petty ass mom.
Idk what else to say, it was a good time. Read it.
Idk what else to say, it was a good time. Read it.
April 4, 2023
I must have gotten this audio book awhile ago when it was on sale. I'm not sure what made me buy it, but I wanted to grab a book that has been sitting around on my TBR audio pile for a bit, and this one grabbed my eye. Fantasy and romance? Dish it out to me. I generally love these stories. But this one? Well, it was ... horrible. The fantasy part of the story was not well developed. The romance wasn't much better, and I might go so far as to call it disturbing. Huntley was forced at a young age to watch as the king of an invading country forcefully rapes his mother after murdering his father, the king, on his throne. Huntley's mother is now queen of the displaced kingdom, and she has been planning her revenge for years. The main crux of that revenge involves grabbing the daughter of the man who conquered and raped her and using that daughter to destroy her father. Huntley gets himself integrated as a guard in Ivory's kingdom, and eventually he makes his move ... grabbing Ivory and forcing her back to his hidden kingdom. They hate each other at first, but one thing leads to another, and they begin to slowly (maybe) fall in love.
I think the premise behind this story was promising, but the execution was just icky in spots. Huntley's mom is a piece of work. Her planning for Huntley to rape Ivory was disgusting. How can someone force that on another person, knowing how it feels to be so violated? I get that she is terribly broken after her experiences, but there's really no excuse for her horrible behavior. I also had a hard time feeling the love of Huntley and Ivory. I normally like enemies-to-lovers stories, but they have to make sense. You have to be able to see the slow progression of the change in feelings, but this story does not do that. Why do Ivory and Huntley change their feelings of hatred so quickly? It could have been better written.
The audio book of this story was awful as well. I DID NOT like the two narrators. I can't exactly explain why. I just found them to be grating. This probably caused me to dislike this story more than I would have. It drug a two star story down to one star.
This is the first book in a series, but I didn't feel tied to the story enough to continue on. I'm glad to finally get this off my shelf, but I wish it had been a better listening experience.
I think the premise behind this story was promising, but the execution was just icky in spots. Huntley's mom is a piece of work. Her planning for Huntley to rape Ivory was disgusting. How can someone force that on another person, knowing how it feels to be so violated? I get that she is terribly broken after her experiences, but there's really no excuse for her horrible behavior. I also had a hard time feeling the love of Huntley and Ivory. I normally like enemies-to-lovers stories, but they have to make sense. You have to be able to see the slow progression of the change in feelings, but this story does not do that. Why do Ivory and Huntley change their feelings of hatred so quickly? It could have been better written.
The audio book of this story was awful as well. I DID NOT like the two narrators. I can't exactly explain why. I just found them to be grating. This probably caused me to dislike this story more than I would have. It drug a two star story down to one star.
This is the first book in a series, but I didn't feel tied to the story enough to continue on. I'm glad to finally get this off my shelf, but I wish it had been a better listening experience.
May 7, 2022
This is not fantasy, this is rapist porn disguised as romance. Fuck to the no! There’s all kind of wrong things about this book. But I will address just this:
The sex scenes are way to many are written in a very toxic manner and most often what leads up to them is a situation totally degrading for the MC.
She is always desperate for sex even when the guy humiliates and degrades her. And not in a BDSM kinda of way.
Also he rapes her when she is asleep. How is that ok ?
I thought this was going to be similar to From blood and ash, but is nothing like apart from the premise.
The actually relationship is disgusting
DNF at 75%
The sex scenes are way to many are written in a very toxic manner and most often what leads up to them is a situation totally degrading for the MC.
She is always desperate for sex even when the guy humiliates and degrades her. And not in a BDSM kinda of way.
Also he rapes her when she is asleep. How is that ok ?
I thought this was going to be similar to From blood and ash, but is nothing like apart from the premise.
The actually relationship is disgusting
DNF at 75%
December 19, 2021
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4.5/5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : yes
Hero : Mastodon
Heroine : Ivory
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 5/10
Heat Rating : 6/10
Triggers Involved : Kidnapping , Torture , Dub Con
Review :
Okk, so I was a bit confused when I saw this authors username because her first name was of one of my favorite authors and the last name was of of of my favorite characters 🤣🤣💀
That's when I got to know that Dark Romance Author Penelope Sky has made a new pen name for her Fantasy Books!! I was just so excited lol. Her books was this amazing darkness that many books lack and I always read them all in a single go.
This one was like that only. It was a fantasy based dark romance with a twisted hero and a heroine who was a casualty of war. Ivory's family killed Mastodon's and now the only thing he and his left over family members want is revenge. They want to destroy Ivory and everything he loves. And the task of destroying her is given to Mastodon. He is going to enjoy every single bit of it.
This book is the first part of a series and ends in a cliffhanger. I won't say that the cliffhanger was brutal but yeah it was bad nonetheless. This one was dark and had kidnapping themes with light torture and dub con. I am just so excited for more of this series!! All this fantasy stuff is hooking me in and I am already addicted ❤
Definitely recommending this one to all the dark fantasy romance loving people out there!
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November 1, 2023
The queen needs to go
November 5, 2021
*ARC provided in exchange of an honest review*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
And once again, Penelope didn't disappoint 🛐
I LOVED IT, I couldn't stop reading, it was so so good. This is the first time that Penelope write fantasy but honestly it was GOOD. I mean I felt it first a little like The Camp in ways like the protagonist hates the girl, but at the same time protect her to all costs BUT I enjoyed this book more and definitely as you keeps reading, you know that it's not the same AT ALL and this is where I talk about the fantasy, I loved it, I like very much the story in this world, and I feel so relief that the terms and story where not so overwhelming, because I'm such a huge fan of fantasy but I've to admit that sometimes I can't with the story, sometimes it's to much to know, too much terms and suddenly you're like: wait…….what is that again? Who is he? Did already mentioned it? You know what I mean? And with the Fosaken King didn't happen at all, I enjoyed so much, I understand the story, the characters and I feel grateful that it was like that, easy to read and comprehend.
And now.….let's talk about the 🔥 scenes OMG Penelope’s a queen to write this kind of scenes lol they were hot,
and it last a decent time, because I've read some books where you're starting to enjoy the scene when suddenly ends and that's it, when it just getting started hahaha here were perfect and the amount of scenes for me it was on point I really loved them.
Also, the relationship between Ivory and Huntley?? That's it, Huntley it's fighting to be my favorite man written for her 🛐. Love their relationship, how Ivory didn't shy anything, felt confident with her sexuality, fight for what she believes and for what it wants as same as Huntley, like at the end of the book when he was fighting with his mom and yelling at her for what she did to Ivory, HUNTLEY MY MAN. Definitely
calling Ivory "baby" was my weakness and I can't' wait to get to the moment when they finally admit their feelings.
The Forsaken king becomes one of my favorites in my category of fantasy and also from her books lol,
Buttons and Lace keeps the first place yet but I don't what exciting things it's going to bring us this story
and I can't wait to find out specially with THAT ENDING.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
And once again, Penelope didn't disappoint 🛐
I LOVED IT, I couldn't stop reading, it was so so good. This is the first time that Penelope write fantasy but honestly it was GOOD. I mean I felt it first a little like The Camp in ways like the protagonist hates the girl, but at the same time protect her to all costs BUT I enjoyed this book more and definitely as you keeps reading, you know that it's not the same AT ALL and this is where I talk about the fantasy, I loved it, I like very much the story in this world, and I feel so relief that the terms and story where not so overwhelming, because I'm such a huge fan of fantasy but I've to admit that sometimes I can't with the story, sometimes it's to much to know, too much terms and suddenly you're like: wait…….what is that again? Who is he? Did already mentioned it? You know what I mean? And with the Fosaken King didn't happen at all, I enjoyed so much, I understand the story, the characters and I feel grateful that it was like that, easy to read and comprehend.
And now.….let's talk about the 🔥 scenes OMG Penelope’s a queen to write this kind of scenes lol they were hot,
and it last a decent time, because I've read some books where you're starting to enjoy the scene when suddenly ends and that's it, when it just getting started hahaha here were perfect and the amount of scenes for me it was on point I really loved them.
Also, the relationship between Ivory and Huntley?? That's it, Huntley it's fighting to be my favorite man written for her 🛐. Love their relationship, how Ivory didn't shy anything, felt confident with her sexuality, fight for what she believes and for what it wants as same as Huntley, like at the end of the book when he was fighting with his mom and yelling at her for what she did to Ivory, HUNTLEY MY MAN. Definitely
calling Ivory "baby" was my weakness and I can't' wait to get to the moment when they finally admit their feelings.
The Forsaken king becomes one of my favorites in my category of fantasy and also from her books lol,
Buttons and Lace keeps the first place yet but I don't what exciting things it's going to bring us this story
and I can't wait to find out specially with THAT ENDING.
January 27, 2022
Oh. My. Gods. I’m obsessed. I need more IMMEDIATELY. nobody touch me. NOBODY TOUCH ME.
December 4, 2021
The first fantasy romance from Penelope Sky aka Penelope Barsetti, and I'm Thorn in two sides.
A light fantasy romance, which I love, Forsaken King bring the old tale or power, revenge, love, lust, family and mythical beings.
For the first part of Ivory captivity, I love the dark idea of kidnapping your enemy daughter for revenge. And the journey to the other world at the bottom of the Cliff is amazingly gloomy and scary and majestic. Love it!
But when Mastodon become Huntley, the true heir of the Kingdom, he become full pledge hero.
Nothing wrong with it, but the darkness of the story I anticipated dissipated in a poof when he choose to be a good man and in the next second it's like, "you're my baby. "
I mean... Under 50% and the smeksi scenes are going strong, with Ivory still act like a spoiled princess keeping him wrap around her pinky with smeksi, I was flabbergasted. Too soon for me. Feels too easy for me. I just wish more darkness in him before he become the hero. Or anti-hero even the villain in the first part would be more heart pounding.
On the positive side of their chemistry, I love how Ivory challenge him. I love Huntley dominant side. They are like cat and dog but perfectly match together in their heat.
But in the same time, their chemistry, their relationship isn't balance. She ask so many. He give so many. At some point, feels like she walk on his head while he have to bow down to protect her. I don't like this dynamic between them.
While on the fantasy part, it's light like I said before. The plot on this part is easy to follow for me. Clean and tidy, for me who love chemistry between characters more than details on background. I love the fantasy part.
The action and fighting scenes, I can see them like movie roll. Love how Ivory isn't damsell in distress. Love how Huntley move in the battle field.
But there's a scene that make me have to go back to the previous chapter. When Ivory finally meet the repercussions of her father crime in flesh and blood, her shock reaction is, how should I said this without being more spoiler... 🤔
It seems like the author forgot Ivory already know what/who the person standing before her, her reaction somehow erased the previous chapter. Which I feel weird cause this genre maybe new for the author but she's definitly not an amateur to forgot that simple fact that Ivory already knew and said out loud too so why is that reaction in that chapter??!!
Yes, it bugged me so much.
Overall, like I said my feelings is thorn with love and hate for the characters.
Also for few annoying unimportant moments in the book.
All the four star for the fantasy part. Not a fan for the romance, unfortunetly.
A light fantasy romance, which I love, Forsaken King bring the old tale or power, revenge, love, lust, family and mythical beings.
For the first part of Ivory captivity, I love the dark idea of kidnapping your enemy daughter for revenge. And the journey to the other world at the bottom of the Cliff is amazingly gloomy and scary and majestic. Love it!
But when Mastodon become Huntley, the true heir of the Kingdom, he become full pledge hero.
Nothing wrong with it, but the darkness of the story I anticipated dissipated in a poof when he choose to be a good man and in the next second it's like, "you're my baby. "
I mean... Under 50% and the smeksi scenes are going strong, with Ivory still act like a spoiled princess keeping him wrap around her pinky with smeksi, I was flabbergasted. Too soon for me. Feels too easy for me. I just wish more darkness in him before he become the hero. Or anti-hero even the villain in the first part would be more heart pounding.
On the positive side of their chemistry, I love how Ivory challenge him. I love Huntley dominant side. They are like cat and dog but perfectly match together in their heat.
But in the same time, their chemistry, their relationship isn't balance. She ask so many. He give so many. At some point, feels like she walk on his head while he have to bow down to protect her. I don't like this dynamic between them.
While on the fantasy part, it's light like I said before. The plot on this part is easy to follow for me. Clean and tidy, for me who love chemistry between characters more than details on background. I love the fantasy part.
The action and fighting scenes, I can see them like movie roll. Love how Ivory isn't damsell in distress. Love how Huntley move in the battle field.
But there's a scene that make me have to go back to the previous chapter. When Ivory finally meet the repercussions of her father crime in flesh and blood, her shock reaction is, how should I said this without being more spoiler... 🤔
It seems like the author forgot Ivory already know what/who the person standing before her, her reaction somehow erased the previous chapter. Which I feel weird cause this genre maybe new for the author but she's definitly not an amateur to forgot that simple fact that Ivory already knew and said out loud too so why is that reaction in that chapter??!!
Yes, it bugged me so much.
Overall, like I said my feelings is thorn with love and hate for the characters.
Also for few annoying unimportant moments in the book.
All the four star for the fantasy part. Not a fan for the romance, unfortunetly.
March 26, 2022
I've Fallen Prey To Booktok Yet Again
This story just fell flat to me. That's how everything seemed - the romance, the characters, the angst, the conflict. There is a great premise and potential, but the writing seemed lackluster.
This was my first book by Penelope Barsetti but after seeing this trilogy pop up on my FYP constantly I decided to give it a shot.
I wish I hadn't
Now the one great thing is that I didn't buy this book and waste my money (thank you Kindle Unlimited) .
Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of Dual POV books, but I was willing to give it go. Overall, it wasn't too confusing to follow from both viewpoints but BOY did Huntley's POV make me irate. Not only did he repeatedly insult and disrespect Ivory (H), but he also allowed others to physically hurt her - even after they became involved.
His mother continued to disrespect and assault her, with Huntley refusing to intervene despite somehow loving "his baby". The was also a really random confession of attraction that came out of nowhere. Overall, everything about their relationship seems forced upon you. The author explains everything horrible that happened to our H because "without it they wouldn't have ended up together this way". Ivory slowly became one of my most unlikable main characters. After the first time with Huntley, she suddenly loses all backbone and caves into whatever Huntley wants because "she just can't help herself". Not once did Huntley apologize for his actions or the actions of others. And we're told to accept this because it's the nature of the brutal world the characters live in ???
.
Overall, this book had great potential and ideas for a new fantasy world but it ended up being lackluster.
This story just fell flat to me. That's how everything seemed - the romance, the characters, the angst, the conflict. There is a great premise and potential, but the writing seemed lackluster.
This was my first book by Penelope Barsetti but after seeing this trilogy pop up on my FYP constantly I decided to give it a shot.
I wish I hadn't
Now the one great thing is that I didn't buy this book and waste my money (thank you Kindle Unlimited) .
Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of Dual POV books, but I was willing to give it go. Overall, it wasn't too confusing to follow from both viewpoints but BOY did Huntley's POV make me irate. Not only did he repeatedly insult and disrespect Ivory (H), but he also allowed others to physically hurt her - even after they became involved.
His mother continued to disrespect and assault her, with Huntley refusing to intervene despite somehow loving "his baby". The was also a really random confession of attraction that came out of nowhere. Overall, everything about their relationship seems forced upon you. The author explains everything horrible that happened to our H because "without it they wouldn't have ended up together this way". Ivory slowly became one of my most unlikable main characters. After the first time with Huntley, she suddenly loses all backbone and caves into whatever Huntley wants because "she just can't help herself". Not once did Huntley apologize for his actions or the actions of others. And we're told to accept this because it's the nature of the brutal world the characters live in ???
.
Overall, this book had great potential and ideas for a new fantasy world but it ended up being lackluster.
January 11, 2022
The prologue of The Forsaken King really drew me in and piqued my interest. It had all the elements to kick off a DARK romance- mystery, murder, depravity- and descriptive writing that painted a vivid picture of each scene. The next couple chapters left me with questions, most were eventually answered later in the book. Time period and location were the biggest questions I had. I struggled to reconcile the modern slang in a fantasy with historical elements, but the further I read this became less important. Scenes and descriptions in later chapters helped give me more perspective of the place/geography where the story was occurring.
I went back and forth between rating this book a 3 or 4 star- mostly because of some of the confusion mentioned above. Once my questions were addressed, I was able to embrace the story and the fantasy aspect and landed firmly on 4-stars. I loved the changing dynamic between Huntley and Ivory, as well as her strength and determination. I didn’t get much context regarding Ivory’s relationship with her father in the opening chapters, which was a bit of a void for me. However, as Ivory starts to examine their relationship we get greater context and perspective.
I struggled to find compassion for Huntley’s mother after the first chapter. While her story is horrific and traumatic, I felt her treatment of Ivory was unforgivable. I also found it difficult to forgive Huntley ignoring the physical abuse inflicted on Ivory by his mother. I am curious to see how his mother's character develops in the next book.
I also hope in the next book I learn more about the dynamics between Ivory’s father and the king. As the primary villain in the opening, I was surprised that Ivory’s father was a duke and not the king. I wonder if there is a story there or if that will become more of a power struggle in the future. The same with Ivory’s mother- how did she die? Will this come out later and influence Ivory in some way? There are still a lot of questions I would like to see addressed and I am anxious to see if get answers in the next book!
I went back and forth between rating this book a 3 or 4 star- mostly because of some of the confusion mentioned above. Once my questions were addressed, I was able to embrace the story and the fantasy aspect and landed firmly on 4-stars. I loved the changing dynamic between Huntley and Ivory, as well as her strength and determination. I didn’t get much context regarding Ivory’s relationship with her father in the opening chapters, which was a bit of a void for me. However, as Ivory starts to examine their relationship we get greater context and perspective.
I struggled to find compassion for Huntley’s mother after the first chapter. While her story is horrific and traumatic, I felt her treatment of Ivory was unforgivable. I also found it difficult to forgive Huntley ignoring the physical abuse inflicted on Ivory by his mother. I am curious to see how his mother's character develops in the next book.
I also hope in the next book I learn more about the dynamics between Ivory’s father and the king. As the primary villain in the opening, I was surprised that Ivory’s father was a duke and not the king. I wonder if there is a story there or if that will become more of a power struggle in the future. The same with Ivory’s mother- how did she die? Will this come out later and influence Ivory in some way? There are still a lot of questions I would like to see addressed and I am anxious to see if get answers in the next book!
December 8, 2021
3.5 stars.
I'd give it more, but I had to gloss over too many sex scenes, which aren't my thing. I also couldn’t get on board with what the queen was demanding be done. As well as what Huntley was doing.
Other than that, the book is great.
The characters, setting, and plot included very different elements that worked really cohesivly. The Fantasy aspect of the novels was immense, I still need a bunch of answers, but perhaps those will come with book two.
The ending ripped my heart out and I can't wait to see what happens.
Trigger warning:
Rape
I'd give it more, but I had to gloss over too many sex scenes, which aren't my thing. I also couldn’t get on board with what the queen was demanding be done. As well as what Huntley was doing.
Other than that, the book is great.
The characters, setting, and plot included very different elements that worked really cohesivly. The Fantasy aspect of the novels was immense, I still need a bunch of answers, but perhaps those will come with book two.
The ending ripped my heart out and I can't wait to see what happens.
Trigger warning:
Rape
November 22, 2022
I think I speak more formally than the characters in this medieval fantasy setting do. Sorry like ?!? I can’t do it
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