I was awarded a full scholarship to the most prestigious collegiate academy on the east coast. The thing is, I never applied. I’ve never been one to let an opportunity pass, so I accept the anonymous generosity.
Abel is not happy about my decision. I thought he’d be pleased. We were close once, but he’s completely changed, and not for the better. Now I have to see him every single day, whether I want to or not. He’s not going to let a moment pass without reminding me I do not belong in his world.
Pranks and gossip distract me from all I’ve ever an education, so I can rise above. If it wasn’t for my other step-brother Blake and roommate Kailey, I would’ve tucked tail and left Malum. Abel would’ve won.
I’m glad I didn’t leave. As the year goes by, Abel’s cruelty hardens me. It teaches me lessons I should’ve learned years ago.
Lessons I won’t need to learn twice.
If Abel thinks he can banish me from his so-called court, he’d better think again. I have just as much right to be here as he does. Perhaps it's time for a queen to overthrow the king.
Chan has had a difficult life, her mother being addicted to drugs and men. Constantly in and out of relationshipts all of Chan's life. After multiple failed marriages Chan's mom abandoned her for her latest rich husband.
Chan lucked out tho having her boarding school paid for by one of her former step fathers who had a soft spot for her.
Eventually Chan's luck continued through college when she recieves an acceptance letter to a prestigeous college she didn't even apply to. Not wanting to question this amazing gift of an opportunity she finds herself moving into the dorms of the Academy.
After multiple former family reunions of step brother after step brother the intense story starts of this bully romance. Abel one of her ex step brothers is hell bent on making Chan's life a living nightmare.
It gets so intense I questioned how Chan held it together because my emotional ass wouldnt have been able to in the real world.
Check out the Bully's Pawn to see how this intense story turns from Bully to Romance.
So Cora reached out to me on tiktok asking if I'd be interested in reading either of her new books as an ARC reader. I love a dark romance but this was my first real bully romance where it was deep twisted darkness and hate. I have to say, I really loved it. Yea some parts were a bit triggering for me and i had to walk away but I couldn't put it down for long because the story was just so good. I cannot wait for the second book in this series!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow what a book!!! When Chan gets accepted into a prestigious college, she doesnt look a gift horse in the mouth. Coming from nothing she is determined to make the most out of the college life. And when she sees her ex step brother, who she was so close to and loved as a kid, she thought it couldnt get better. But suddenly when shes face to face with him, he is far from the boy she knew. Abel is livid shes there and determined to make her life a living hell! Not understanding his hatred towards her, Chan does the best she can to live with his sudden rejection and meanness and avoid him, but Abel proves hes not easy to forget or ignore. I was so trapped in this story I did not want to put it down. With the love hate relationship the FMC and MMC have its addicting to read, and with the side characters it's the easiest read you'll find.
The Bully's Pawn by Cora Masters and Ebby Rose is a dark academy romance. This is the first book in the Malum Kings College series.
Cora and Ebby did a great job pulling me into this book. I couldn't help but binge the book in one sitting. I was intrigued with the little nuggets of Abel and Blake's history that were given from the time they were separated from Chantilla.
I am really enjoying the chemistry between Abel and Chantilla. Their relationship is messy and very toxic. But I can't help but root for them. I can't wait to see how their relationship will progress over the series.
I can't wait for the next book in the series to be announced.
I would recommend this book if you like dark romances, bully romances, or ex-stepbrother romances.
4-4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this bully enemies to lovers story. It was dark, emotional, and pulled me in right away. The author did a great job keeping me hooked, and as soon as I finished I had to start the next book. This was an entertaining and gripping read.
DAMN! I love bully/enemies to lovers’ stories, and this was amazing! It had my heart ready to burst out of my chest at any given moment and my emotions were being pulled all over the place. The story was dark, angsty, emotional, slightly violent, suspenseful and thrilling. What a crazy rollercoaster ride that was!
Chan is an exceptional young woman with a tough past. When she gets accepted into a prestigious college that she did not apply to, Chan decides to accept the gift and hope for the best. Little does she realize that her ex-stepbrother Abel goes to the same school and unbeknownst to her, Abel has a bone to pick with her.
Abel has also had a tough life and he fully places all the blame on Chan and her gold-digging mother. After seeing Chan at his school, he decides then and there to make her life a living hell in hopes that she will leave. Abel then continually plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Chan.
I loved the feisty back and forth banter that Chan and Abel have. It is filled with intense animosity, anger and hate but there is an underlying sexual chemistry between them that just oozes off the pages. They are toxic together but somehow just work. You can’t help but root for them.
Really great story that had me on the edge of my seat, yelling at the characters that just seem to frustrate me like crazy, and then left me shocked with the way it all ended. I devoured every moment and could not get enough of Chan and Abel. I need to know how their story progresses and I need answers to some of the many questions that I have been left with.
Honestly I’m not sure about this book… I feel so conflicted whether the female main character was a strong enough ‘heroine’, if that. I also absolutely hated Abel the male main character honestly he was just so controlling and I detested him for that, apparently he loved her and she wasn’t his ‘pet’ and didn’t ‘service’ him anymore but then he made her and, even worse, she did, she followed his orders. And Chan (FMC) questioned herself and was questioned by others several times, why? Why she went along with it- with following him like a puppy. And I didn’t even know why let alone her. I just disliked it all in general, I feel as though it was missing plenty of things, love included as I felt that what Chan and Abel has was NOT love, it was very domestically controlling and it just felt so childish the way Abel embarrassed her and the supposedly college community treated her in response/retaliation. All in all, I probably won’t read again for a ‘refresh’ like I normally do with good books. I didn’t hate the storyline I just felt the characters did it for me. Although I did like Hailey and Emma, they had more sense than the FMC and had better personalities too. I feel like Chan did not know what she wanted half/most/majority of the time and it just frustrated me really, I was counting down the pages till it was finished to be honest. I would not recommend either, xoxo.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
Looking for that dark, college, bully book.... This will be your next go to.
Our FMC Chan has been shuffled around her whole life due to her mother's relationship status. Chan had no choice but to follow her mom along as they jumped from one house to the next. Most men her mom married had kids of their own, boys. Then the newest husband does not want kids so Chan's mom let her go off to the boarding school the ex-husband paid for.
Due to Chan's mother being focused on the men in her life Chan knew she would be on her own, so when the university sent her the acceptance letter she knew this was her chance to better herself. However, Chan had no clue how she was accepted since she never applied due to knowing she would never be able to afford going but took this opportunity and was going to make the best of it.
Chan had always been an introvert but with this new opportunity given to her and her amazing roommate she was going to make her college experience different. They go to the first party of the year to start off their college experience, where Chan sees Able-MMC- one of her ex step-brothers. Chan is so excited to be near him again because they always had a good relationship when their parents were married, yet Able is not happy to see Chan.
Able blames Chan and her mother for how his relationship with his father turned after the divorce. Due to Chan being there at the University he makes it his mission to make her life hell, just like his was with his father after Chan's mother left. Chan has not clue what has happened between them and just wanted to have Able as a friend again. She learns fast that unfortunately that will not be happening in her first class Able is there and has promised to make life hell of Chan as long as she stays.
Enter the teachers assistant Blake, another ex step-brother. Chan had a great relationship with Blake when their parents were married and is so excited to have a big brother around to be he support. Yet it seems Blake has his own agenda is store when it comes to Chan....
This story definitely has drama and some suspense mixed within. So many different ways this story can go so of course our amazing authors us on a cliffhanger.... Just waiting to see what will happen to Chan with the new information she got at the end. Will Able get over his "hate" towards Chan and acknowledge he cares for Chan? What is Blakes issue though the whole story?
*My review will not contain any spoilers (ot at least very minimum), but just my opinion and how I felt*
Cora and Ebby did a fantastic job with this book. I couldn't put it down once I started, and I finished in one sitting.
Makes sure you check trigger warnings before reading, but if you don't have any triggers, I'd highly suggest diving right in!
I love Chan's innocence even with as much as she went through. But I do feel as if her character development went down a little as she didn't fight as much as she did, like I expected to fight everything Able told her to do. Don't get me wrong, I loved every second of reading this book, so don't get discouraged from that. And Able, good gods, has me melting, and I need more, though I didn't like him in the beginning, which is natural considering he was the bully. Honestly, this book has made it one of my new favorite tropes.
I'm thankful to have been given an ARC copy, and I can't wait until the next book because THAT CLIFFHANGER!! 🙏
Chan the FMC has had it rough with her absent mother fluttering from one relationship to the next. Chan is invited to go to a prestigious college on a full scholarship. She is excited when she sees her ex-stepbrother Abel at the school but for some reason, he's extremely mean to her. It takes her off guard because he had always been so kind to her in the past and regretted never saying goodbye. Able tries to make Chan's life hell. Then in walks in Blake the teacher's aide and another of Chan's ex-stepbrothers. The plot thickens. He on the other hand is actually happy to see Chan and is very kind to her. I love the multi POV. Finding out why Able was so angry kept me reading, I needed answers. The chemistry between them was so good.
Ends in a cliffhanger, ready for the next book in the series to see what happens.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Pros: Sexual tension was good Pros: kept me reading to the very end which is RARE lately Pros: LOVED the Step-brother & virgin Trope Pros: Enemies to Lovers
Cons: Blakes reaction of Chan at his laptop was unwarranted. That caught me off guard. He had strong mental issues. Cons: I thought there would be more to Blake & Elle. Cons: I noticed she had no female role models in her life and just older men from her mothers past relationships paying her way through life. Cons: Chan taking the SD card at the end. Just leave things alone... you folloe every one of Blakes orders like a doormat that is embarrassing, so why now would you defy him?! Make it make sense
A wonderful read! I read this book easily in one sitting because I just had to keep reading. I felt the pacing was done really well and allowed me to remain engaged throughout. The dynamic between Chantilla and Abel, could have been even darker, but their interactions managed to keep me hooked and who can deny enjoying a protective MMC with "touch her and unalive" energy. There are plenty of questions that need to be answered, so I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series. A good introduction for those new to bully romance books, but please check out the trigger warnings because some themes may not be suitable for all readers.
Ok so Chan and Abel’s story: friends to enemies to lovers? The two get off to a rocky start after having been close in the past, and it takes a little bit for Abel’s motivation to be revealed to the reader. I feel like the character development is good in this book series, not just of the H and h but if the ancillary characters as well, and that helps you get invested! Definitely a real page turner, and by the time you reach the cliff you’re panting for more of their story. I am super excited for their next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you love dramaaa, mixed with bully, touch her and ☠️ vibes, and love/hate relationship…this book delivers it! Abel is determined to make his ex-step sister life literal heeellll for being accepted to the high end college he goes to. Even though Chantilla, has no idea why he’s acting like ass or how she got accepted since she never applied because of her financial status. She’s not going to let anyone ruin her opportunity or will he…I really enjoyed this story. The pace was good I read it in one sitting, and the plot will have you wanting more. Make sure to check TW’s!
I thought this was such an entertaining romance. Chan's mother seems to collect stepfathers, which meant that Chan has step family who may or may not want to see her. Chan is confused by her feelings and the way Blake and Abel treat her just seems to confuse her further. There are some things at play that we don't all see here and will have to wait until the next book. I found this book fun to read and cannot wait to see what happens next.
I received a free advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest review.
I am glad I didn't DNF this one . I am not big on bully romances but I am glad I stuck it out . This book is a rollercoaster . Wicked lure follows Chantilla and Abel. It's duel pov .its a bully romance , dark romance , and based in a private college setting . I really felt for Chantilla. Her relationship with Abel is off at a really rough start. But I am still grateful I decided to finish and see where it ended . So if you are looking for a well written and angsty bully turns to lovers romance . Give this one a shot !
The Bully's Pawn by Cora Masters and Ebby Rose is a dark academy romance. This is the first book in the Malum Kings College series. Per usual Cora doesn’t let me down with her stories! Make sure to mind your trigger but if you have none then make sure to add this to your TBR. I binged it and was not able to put it down! The chemistry between Abel and Chantilla is intense, messy, toxic hot mess you can’t get enough of! I’m excited to see where this series goes and to read the next one!
This book takes you through all the emotions. My heart broke for Chan but I hated that she allowed Able to treat her like a doormat. I'm not sure how to feel about blake. I know he has a thing for her and that he's protective of her but something just seems off. As for able he is a bully but I do understand that hurt people hurt people. I can't wait to get into the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Abel and Chantilla. He use to be her stepbrother before her mother left his father to marry anther rich man. Now she's at Malum University on a scholarship. She's delighted to see Abel but he wants revenge for what her mother did to his father and hes going to make her pay. But he finds out there's a thin line between hate and love. Loved their story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What an amazing intro in Bully romance! I honestly didn't know what to expect going into this book but I fell in love with it quickly. There is great character growth throughout the book but I must warn you -- cliff hanger alert. I can't wait for the next in the series.
Wicked Lure by Cora Masters Freaking love a good stepbrother story and this one didn’t disappoint. So get this exciting unexpectedly fantastic story in your library.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
DNF @ 11%… just felt like I was reading a Wattpad fanfiction. Didn’t like how it started felt like it was half way through the book like “so then we got up and went shopping” like huh wait what’s going on? The interaction scene in the party with Abel was also cringe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book was just a fun bully/stepbrother romance. It felt like I was watching the tv show the OC in the best way. The spice wasn't my favorite spice, but it was only about 1.5/5 on my spice scale. I had a good time and I devoured it quickly. I will definitely read the next book in this series.
“You like that, don’t you? You love the way I handle you and tøuch your bødy."
That cliffy ending though!! Sooo when's the next coming again 🤣? I kid, I kid.
Thank you so much for letting me Arc read for you, I loved this enemies to lovers college būlly romance.
I cannot wait to see what's end game for these two and if our MFC heals from some of her past/how the relationship with her mother ends up long-term. Also what's up with Blake? Can't wait for more!
DAMN! I love bully/enemies to lovers’ stories, and this was amazing! It had my heart ready to burst out of my chest at any given moment and my emotions were being pulled all over the place. The story was dark, angsty, emotional, slightly violent, suspenseful and thrilling. What a crazy rollercoaster ride that was!
Chan is an exceptional young woman with a tough past. When she gets accepted into a prestigious college that she did not apply to, Chan decides to accept the gift and hope for the best. Little does she realize that her ex-stepbrother Abel goes to the same school and unbeknownst to her, Abel has a bone to pick with her.
Abel has also had a tough life and he fully places all the blame on Chan and her gold-digging mother. After seeing Chan at his school, he decides then and there to make her life a living hell in hopes that she will leave. Abel then continually plays a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Chan.
I loved the feisty back and forth banter that Chan and Abel have. It is filled with intense animosity, anger and hate but there is an underlying sexual chemistry between them that just oozes off the pages. They are toxic together but somehow just work. You can’t help but root for them.
Really great story that had me on the edge of my seat, yelling at the characters that just seem to frustrate me like crazy, and then left me shocked with the way it all ended. I devoured every moment and could not get enough of Chan and Abel. I need to know how their story progresses and I need answers to some of the many questions that I have been left with.
I enjoyed Chan and Abel’s book. Abel Hartford reigns at Malum Kings College. They awarded her a full scholarship to the most prestigious collegiate academy on the East Coast. The thing is, she never applied. But despite that, she’s never been one to let an opportunity pass, so accepts the anonymous generosity. Abel isn’t happy about her decision.They were close once, when their parents were married, but he’s completely changed, and not for the better. Now she has to see him every single day, whether she wants to or not. He won’t let a moment pass without reminding me that she doesn’t belong in his world. It was an intriguing read. And this was a new author, for me. Hopefully I can read more books in this series. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
I originally read this book when it was titled The Bully's Pawn:
This is the first book in the Malum Kings College Elite series.
Cora and Ebby did a great job pulling me into this book. I couldn't help but binge the book in one sitting. I was intrigued with the little nuggets of Abel and Blake's history that were given from the time they were separated from Chantilla.
I am really enjoying the chemistry between Abel and Chantilla. Their relationship is messy and very toxic. But I can't help but root for them. I can't wait to see how their relationship will progress over the series.
I would recommend this book if you like dark romances, bully romances, or ex-stepbrother romances.