An adult romance. Sexually explicit. Check your trigger warnings before you start it.
Bryn Meara wins a weekend in Vegas after losing her job and figures what the hell, so she goes to Vegas. But after meeting the hotel owner her first night there, she wakes up hungover and married to him. Then he turns out to be the king of the Dark Fae... ( )

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥.5
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨

First Impressions
The Dark King was a really fascinating fantasy romance. This is the type of fantasy romance that is part of our world currently. I really enjoyed the setup and I don't get a chance to read books with fae in them that much especially with this type of setup, so I was highly intrigued. I am not sure I have even read this author before, I am pretty sure that I haven't although I have most defiinitely seen her around quite a bit. This is a trilogy about three brothers and a very interesting lineup of the fae courts. This also blends in a forced proximity/mating type of situation as well that really brought a interesting dynamic to the relationship.

First Line
Sex Sells

Summary
When our heroine, finds herself being let go of her job, but having an opportunity to take a free trop to Vegas, she can't resist the temptation. So she goes to Vegas and she runs into Caiden Verran, and instantly the chemistry between them is instant and strong. Caiden is the king of the Dark Fae who was rejected by the courts because of his grandparents, and now he is stuck in the mortal realm alongside with his family. When he and Bryn wake up, after being drunk, they realize they both married and were mated and now their fates are sealed. Until Caiden can find a way out of this, he has to force Bryn to stay with him. But their relationship with be packed with conflict as Bryn doesn't understand why, and Caiden is used to being the leader and having to make the tough calls. But together they slowly learn to trust in each other. But there is a evil plot to destroy them both and only by working together can they defeat a hidden enemy.

What I Loved
So there were many aspects to this story I enjoyed. I really loved the hero. There is something about a stubborn commanding alpha male that I am just immediately drawn to. I also loved the way he is a leader and has to make the tough calls. He is fair and just though with his people and I really respected that even though you can see how tortured he is at times. The heroine was sassy and strong willed and got a bit creative and I admired that from her. The plot was by far the best part of the book. I found the whole their lives being in danger and the whole third act was so intense I guarantee it will keep you at the edge of your seat. I also enjoyed how the family interacted with each other, it was so infectious. If you need strong spice levels in your stories, I can guarantee that the steam in this book will literally SINGE YOU!! Whew this book was SPICY!! haha But much of the emotional aspects of the relationship were built so well in these scenes and I really respected that about this author instead of it just being about the sex only.

What I Struggled With
The angst in the relationship was a bit too much at times. I really wanted to see more teamwork and to be honest I never really understood why they were so against one another. I mean they were both in the same situation so why attack one another? It just didn't make much sense.

Narration
The narration on this was super well done and I am glad that I was able to listen to this one. It was truly delightful.

Overall View
I found The Dark King to be a spice filled fantasy romance that will keep you on edge and be regularly delivering the thrills and fire up the senses for the adventure, intrigue and passion!

Favorite Quote(s)
I'd rather be sorry for taking a thousand risks than be safe for never taking any.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Fantasy Romance, Erotic Romance
Character Types: Fae, Royalty
Themes: Family Bonds, BDSM, Hot Smexy Times, Vegas Wedding
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Marriage of Convenience

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A blend of both

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.

Narrators:
Avery Reid, Aiden Snow ( )

3.75 stars. I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this one. I enjoyed it, but I didn't love it. I love dark dirty romance, but I'm not a fan of bdsm. The plot was good, and I'm always down for royal intrigue, curses, and banishments. I may have to sit with it a bit more before I can give a better review. I will be checking out the next story. ( )

This book really surprised me. With the way it was presented I was expecting it to focus more on the spicy bits than the story, but I was very pleasantly surprised that the author had spent time worldbuilding and developing the characters.

A sure fire way to bring me in to a story is with good banter, and this book delivers on that front. I liked both characters. We get to know Bryn and Caiden pretty well, but I would have liked a little more backstory on both, especially more on the dynamic between Caiden and his brothers.

The world building was done pretty well, I liked this twist on the fae world, as I've found I'm not typically a fan of books based on fae.

My one big gripe is the spice. I am not a fan of bdsm at all, and I hurried through those scenes as it just left me cold. However if you're in to that this might be the perfect book for you.
I will give the spice aspect a plus as Maxwell works her way up to it, and the connection between Caiden and Bryn develops before they get to the 'real stuff'.

I would have enjoyed a little more at the very end of the book, but understand that this will be a series, so I see why Maxwell would chose this spot to leave off with Bryn and Caiden.
I am curious about the next book, but at the same time hesitant about it as it seems to continue with the bdsm spice.

For the story alone I enjoyed it very much, so am giving it 4 stars. ( )

I mean, I know it's a smutty book, but I would have liked a bit more substance. I think there was great potential for further character development and worldbuilding. ( )