Cruel King by Rina Kent Review: My Standards Have Left the Chat

Genre : Dark romance

Series : Royal Elite #0

Publication Date : November 20, 2019

Pages : 360

Format I read : Kindle

Rating : ⭐⭐⭐✨

Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Goodreads

“No one touches what belongs to me. Astrid Clifford is already mine. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

Apparently, my reading slump is over… but only when it comes to mafia and dark romances. The moment I try to pick up anything else, I find myself reading at a much slower pace, taking way too many breaks, and honestly, that pains me. 😭 But I have to do what I have to do and just keep pushing through it.

So, I decided to start the Rinaverse from the very beginning! I already read the Deception Trilogy years ago, but I thought it would be fun to go back and read everything in order. Now, I’m not exactly a fan of high school romances, especially at my big age LOL, but the idea of going through the entire universe sounded like a lot of fun. So, here I am!

Summary of Cruel King by Rina Kent

He’s no fairy tale king.

Levi

Here, little princess. I’m your king.

You have three rules.

Bow. Break. Bend the knee.

Fight me all you want, but soon enough, you’ll be chanting long live the king.

Astrid

One day I’m Royal Elite School’s small fly, the next I’m hunted and left to die.

He doesn’t only shred my life to parts, but he’s also coming after my heart.

He thinks he broke me, but the new princess will bring the king to his knees.

Review of Cruel King by Rina Kent

I honestly went into Cruel King by Rina Kent with pretty low expectations, but I ended up really enjoying it! While there were definitely moments and elements I wasn’t a huge fan of, some of those simply come down to my personal preferences. For example, I’m not particularly fond of high school settings or bully romances, and there are a few other things I’ll get into as this review goes on. But overall, I thought it was a good first book, and it managed to keep me engaged throughout.

Plot Analysis of Cruel King by Rina Kent

So, imagine this: You’re one of those invisible people at school, just trying to survive your final year at RES, stay under the radar, and get the hell out of there. Sounds simple enough, right? WELL, APPARENTLY NOT! 😭

Because guess what? Fate has other plans for you, and apparently, it has decided that you’ve had enough peace in your life. At a party your BFF drags you to, you end up getting drugged and landing in the hands of none other than Levi King, the cruelest boy in school. And because fate clearly thinks you haven’t suffered enough for one night, you also end up witnessing something you were NEVER supposed to see, getting caught up in a hit-and-run, and being left there to DIE. Yes, you read that right. TO DIE! 💀

Fast-forward through the summer, and because fate is apparently your biggest hater, you return to school only to find yourself being bullied by the meanest boy there. And as if everything you’ve already been through wasn’t enough, he decides to make it his personal mission to ruin your life and your final year of high school.

And all of this because you had the spectacularly bad luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I mean, CAN A GIRL CATCH A BREAK?! 😭

And because apparently being drugged, nearly dying, and having your senior year turned into a living hell wasn’t quite enough, let’s throw in a romance with the very boy who’s determined to ruin your life. Because nothing screams ROMANCE quite like falling for your personal tormentor, right? HOW ROMANTIC! 🙃❤️‍🔥

Characters of Cruel King by Rina Kent

Astrid Clifford: I honestly really enjoyed Astrid’s character development throughout the book, especially because, at first, I wasn’t her biggest fan. 😭 I have a hard time connecting with characters who don’t have much of a backbone, and there were moments when I genuinely wanted to shake her a little and tell her to STAND UP FOR HERSELF, PLEASE! Like, girl, you can’t keep letting people walk all over you! 😩 But as the story went on, I found myself liking her more and more, especially when she started standing up to Levi and, most importantly, her own family. I loved seeing that shift in her character, and it made me appreciate her so much more by the end. ❤️

Levi King: I kinda LOVED Levi’s character. WHO’S SURPRISED? I KNOW NO ONE IS! LMAO. 😂 Listen, around here, we love our obsessed and unhinged fictional men, and if that’s not your vibe, well… THE DOOR, PLEASE! 🚪💅

But jokes aside, I genuinely loved his character development too. Especially seeing him slowly grow out of that entitled little brat mentality where he thought he was untouchable simply because his last name was KING. And apparently, having a traumatic past meant he could do whatever the hell he wanted and everyone else just had to deal with it. Like, sir, I understand you have issues, but that doesn’t mean you get a free pass to be an asshole! 🙄

The romance: Their relationship dynamic is my BIGGEST HEAR ME OUT! 😭❤️‍🔥 For someone who claims not to like bully romances, I’m almost ashamed to admit that I ATE IT UP. LIKE, GIRL, WHERE ARE YOUR PRINCIPLES?! 😂

Now, don’t get me wrong, there were definitely moments that made me uncomfortable, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise just because I enjoyed the romance. Yes, it’s dark romance, and I know what I’m getting myself into, but that doesn’t mean everything automatically works for me. 🙃 And listen, I’m not the type to judge anyone for what they enjoy reading. If something really isn’t for me, I’ll simply DNF it and move on. No need to make a whole thing out of it.

My biggest issue with their romance was the dub-con aspect, which genuinely made me uncomfortable at times. But apparently, we’re throwing feminism out the window for a fictional man today. THE THINGS WE DO FOR THESE MEN, I SWEAR! 😭💀

Listen, I can joke about throwing feminism out the window for a fictional man all I want, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to ignore the things that bothered me. And don’t even get me STARTED on the enemies-to-lovers phase being pretty much over by the 30% mark. Like, EXCUSE ME?!

But other than that, I really enjoyed the tension between them, and once Astrid finally grew a backbone and started standing up for herself, their dynamic became SO much better. That’s when I really started enjoying them together. ❤️‍🔥

Pacing & writing style

The writing style in Cruel King was actually quite good and really easy to follow. I mean, I literally found myself finishing a book in 7 or 8 hours, and THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is quite an achievement for a slow reader like yours truly. LMAO. 😂👏

Honestly, I don’t have much to complain about when it comes to the writing itself. It was engaging and easy to get through, although I have to admit that it got a little cringey at times. But then again, isn’t that almost a requirement for dark romance at this point? 😭 I think the high school setting made the cringe even more noticeable, especially when it came to Levi. Like, BOY, CALM DOWN. YOU’RE JUST 18! Why are you acting like a 40-year-old mafia boss with three criminal empires to run?! PLEASE. 💀

I also felt like Rina Kent was really dancing on that fine line when it came to the dub-con and bully-romance elements, and there were definitely moments when I thought she was getting a little too close to crossing it for my comfort. I’m all for exploring darker themes in fiction, but that doesn’t mean I won’t side-eye certain choices along the way. 👀

Apart from that, though, the plot genuinely kept me hooked! I was invested, I wanted to know what would happen next, and I kept turning the pages like, YES, QUEEN, TELL ME MORE! 💅📖

And can we talk about how well this book sets up the rest of the series? Because I LOVE when a first book manages to tell its own story while making you curious about everyone else’s. The little glimpses we get of the other characters and their dynamics were enough to make me want to dive straight into their books. The side characters were genuinely interesting, and I can’t wait to read their stories and see what kind of chaos Rina Kent has in store for them. Because apparently, one emotionally questionable fictional man wasn’t enough for me. HERE WE GO AGAIN! 😭❤️‍🔥

The pacing was pretty decent overall, apart from the fact that we moved past the enemies-to-lovers and bullying phase WAY too quickly for my liking. Like, EXCUSE ME?! I was just getting comfortable with all that tension, and we’re already moving on? 😭 I would’ve loved for that part of their relationship to last a little longer.

BUT honestly, that’s my only real complaint about the pacing. The plot kept moving at a good, fast pace without losing my interest, and the mystery aspect definitely played a big part in keeping me hooked. I was genuinely curious to see how everything would unfold, and that made the whole reading experience even more enjoyable. 👀

Tropes and Trigger warnings of Cruel King by Rina Kent

Tropes of Cruel King by Rina Kent

• Bully Romance
• Enemies to lovers
• Boy obsessed
• High school setting
• Dual POV

Trigger warnings of Cruel King by Rina Kent

• Dub-con
• Threats of rape
• Drugging
• Death of a parent (off-page)
• Bullying

Final Thought

Overall, Cruel King was a surprisingly enjoyable start to my journey through the Rinaverse! I went into this book with pretty low expectations, especially considering my complicated relationship with high school settings and bully romances, but LOOK AT ME NOW, eating up a romance I would’ve sworn wasn’t my thing. THE HYPOCRISY! 😭😂

Was it perfect? Not even close. There were definitely moments that made me uncomfortable, some parts were a little too cringey for my liking, and I wish the enemies-to-lovers dynamic had been explored for much longer. BUT I can’t deny that I had a really good time reading it. Between the mystery, the character development, and the tension between Astrid and Levi, there was enough to keep me entertained and invested. And honestly, the fact that I managed to finish it in 7–8 hours while battling a reading slump says A LOT.

What I appreciate most is that this book didn’t just entertain me; it also made me excited to explore the rest of the series. I’m already curious about the side characters and their stories, which is exactly what I wanted when I decided to start this whole Rinaverse adventure.

So, 3.5 stars feels like the perfect rating for me. Not a new favorite, and certainly not without its flaws, but definitely a good time! And apparently, all it takes to get me out of a reading slump is an unhinged, obsessed fictional man with questionable morals. HOW EMBARRASSINGLY PREDICTABLE OF ME! 😭💅❤️‍🔥

About the author

Rina Kent is a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 bestselling author of all things dark romance.

Better known for writing unapologetic anti-heroes and villains, Rina weaves tales of characters you shouldn’t fall for but inevitably do. Her stories are laced with a touch of darkness, a splash of angst, and just the right amount of unhealthy intensity.

When she’s not busy plotting mayhem for her ever-expanding Rinaverse, she leads a private life in London, travels, and pampers her cats in true Cat Lady fashion.

Practical Information for Readers

Cruel King by Rina Kent Book Formats

Cruel King is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:

• Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
• eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
• Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
• PDF Cruel King : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.

Where to find Cruel King by Rina Kent PDF

1. Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
2. Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
3. Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.

Cruel King by Rina Kent Age Rating

I recommend Cruel King by Rina Kent to readers 18 and up. And YES, I know the characters are barely 17 and 18, and the story takes place in a high school setting, BUT trust me, this is NOT a book I would recommend to high schoolers. The themes and storyline are pretty dark and deal with some heavy stuff that I personally think is better suited for a more mature audience.

So PLEASE, I’M BEGGING YOU, CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS before picking this one up. I cannot stress this enough!! 🫠

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