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From #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes the next installment in her Wicked series.

As Caden and Brighton's attraction grows despite the odds stacked against a happily ever after, they must work together to stop an Ancient fae from releasing the Queen, who wants nothing more than to see Caden become the evil Prince once feared by fae and mortals alike.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 23, 2019

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About the author

Jennifer L. Armentrout

126 books113k followers
Hey Guys! Please note: I don't send out ARCs for review. If you're interested in reviewing a book of mine before release date, please contact the appropriate publisher. I also do NOT check my Goodreads email.

To email me, please use the below addy.
jenniferlarmentrout@live.com

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
Profile Image for ☆she's book obsessed☆.
431 reviews152 followers
June 22, 2021
The King
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Trigger warnings:
Torture (a major part of the book)
Violence
Kidnapping

This is pure fu*king PERFECTION-
Wow, just wowowow-

First off, this was some deep, deep sh*t and I absolutely LOVED IT.
I loved it, and I have no other words. And I'm also shocked, like I can't speak. I just slapped my hand over my mouth so hard I'll probably get a mark-

Don't mind me, I'm just going to stay up all night to read the last book because I have no other choice. But it's fine because I got summer vacation today, so I have nothing to do for 2 months (other than read ofc), yay!
Profile Image for Lori Dunn.
458 reviews18 followers
July 14, 2019
If this book is even half as good as the Wicked trilogy and the first novella The Prince then it will be well worth these 5 stars. The Prince left us in an OMG place and I for one can't wait for the continued story of Caden and Brighton. I am hoping that The King picks up immediately where The Prince ended.

7/13/19--- well I just officially finished this book and my first reaction was OMG you didn't Jennifer, how could you? This book totally lived up to the hype and surpassed it. I went back and reread the prince first then read The King today. It really put me through the emotional wringer. It is a great story and I was so ready for a HEA, not the shocking cliff hanger I got. I was totally not aware that another novella was coming and if she doesn't have plans for one she better watch her back. Im just sayin.

Go out and get this story if you haven't yet Itasca total winner. 5/5 stars again.
Profile Image for Jen ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥.
505 reviews305 followers
July 28, 2019
The King was action packed, emotional and there was even more sexual tension between Brighton and Caden *fans face*. When I finished that last page, I was shocked again that I read a novella. At almost 200 pages, there was so much packed into this book and I even found myself crying because I was so emotionally invested. The King was definitely a phenomenal follow up to The Prince! So if you're a fan of The Wicked Trilogy, fae or Jennifer Armentrout then you have to pick this one up!
The King was quiet for several moments, and then he looked at me. “If you knew that someone you…you looked fondly upon was doing something that would surely lead to their demise, would you not try to stop them?”
“Are you saying you look fondly upon me, King?”
His head tilted, and then he looked away.

The story started two years after The Prince ended. Brighton was focused on hunting down the fae who killed her mother and nearly killed her too. It didn't matter that she had never hunt fae for The Order, she'd been trained just like everyone else. So while Brighton was out for revenge and redemption, Caden seemed to turn up wherever Brighton was.
Part of me hated how my body responded to him, how my heart swelled and raced whenever he was near. All of me wanted him, though, and I loathed that most of all.

Caden and Brighton traveled down a forbidden path that had me absolutely addicted. He's fae, she's in The Order. They should not be together, but their story was oh so seductive and sexy. And when we learned both of their secrets, ohhhhhh it was so good! With twists and turns, it was impossible to put this book down. Especially since you can binge it in one sitting. While one of the twists hurt my heart, the other one I saw coming! But hold on because there are also some dark and twisted moments that left me horrified to read what unfolded next.
This was insane. I was mad at him, and he was beyond frustrated with me, but this… God, this felt right, and I was so full of raw, painful need that I didn’t care what came next.

With lots of angst, my emotions were through the roof. And while this story pulled at my heart, there was also moments of lightness since we got to spend time with our favorites. Tink was hilarious as ever with his Amazon addiction and his antics with Dixon. Ren, Ivy and so many others we cared for from The Wicked Trilogy were in the story too. Plus I loved watching how much Brighton grew emotionally and physically. And Caden. Sigh. He stole my heart even more. Caden was beyond protective and while I knew he had to have a huge heart, well, I can't say more other than he easily became one of my book boyfriends!
“Duty should never supersede what is right,” he said. “No matter the cost.”

So yes, I definitely recommend this book! But start with The Prince. And if you even want to go further back, then you can pick up The Wicked Trilogy. They're all so amazing! Now I'm counting down the days until I can read the third and final book about Caden and Brighton. That ending has me desperately wanting to know what happens next but also left me screaming and smiling I Knew It!! Enjoy!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

For more of my reviews, please visit:
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Profile Image for Sentranced Jem.
1,059 reviews568 followers
August 24, 2019
Such a thrilling read!
There is a reason why this author is one of my go-to authors!
The King was so worth all that excitement. King and Caden are omg 😍🤤
This book was jam packed with so much goodness that it's hard to believe it's a novella yet things aren't rushed or chaotic at all.

I can't wait to read more!
Profile Image for Stacie.
1,925 reviews185 followers
July 24, 2019
5 "This book should be retitled BRIGHTON." Stars!

Wow, wow, wow! does this novella pack a punch! It leaves you satisfied, yet craving more. This is a must read for fans of the Wicked Trilogy- now turned saga. I don't think this is a standalone.

I don't want to say much, but here it is:
1. This was surprisingly dark.
2. Though Brighton started off on my nerve, she has earned my utmost respect.
3. Caden need to learn to share his thoughts.
4. I cannot wait for The Queen. A WHOLE FREAKING YEAR! That is just not right... 😫

Happy reading!
Profile Image for Jasmine.
436 reviews702 followers
July 30, 2019
***Actual Rating: 5/5 Brighton-ing Stars***

Okay, before I start fangirling over The King (Ha! Pun intended!), I’d like to admit some trivial stuff. First of all, The King is book #3.6 in the Wicked Trilogy, which was published several years ago (even earlier than my discovery of Jennifer L. Armentrout for the first time); thus, it’s understandable that I haven’t heard or read the series yet. Even though I’ve seen it somewhere, sometimes, the trilogy just never piqued my interest enough to allure me into its fantastical realm called the Otherworld. Well, what a huge mistake I’ve made. Not too surprisingly, after picking this novella up and devouring it in a go (C’mon, it’s Jennifer L. Armentrout, for God’s sake!), all I can think about now –day and night and day and night–is to start savoring the Wicked trilogy from the first page till the last.

That being said, despite the fact that I haven’t read the original series, these additional novellas can apparently be read as standalones, which serve as the perfect teasers for both JLA fans and newbies. For those who’ve never read JLA’s books, I highly recommend starting with these novellas since you’ll be amazed by how easily Jennifer’s writing style can draw your full attention with simply the first sentence of each chapter, each book.

As far as I’m concerned, The King is the second novella in the Wicked trilogy, with The Prince being the first spin-off bonus. In the Wicked trilogy, the main plot revolves around Ivy and Ren, whom I believe are halflings, meaning both of them are half human, half Otherworld-species. *sorry in advance if I couldn’t quite point out their features considering that I jumped into this book without knowing anything about their world beforehand* Since Ivy and Ren got their what-I-hope-would-be happy ending in the trilogy, it’s time the evil, lesser known side characters got their own. See, this is how JLA rolls: Everyone has their own stories to share, and Jennifer will make sure they all get a chance to tell them to your face. *insert my worshipping gif*

As a result, The King focuses mainly on the evil characters in the trilogy, Caden the King of Summer Fae, and Brighton, a seemingly ordinary human girl. Deep down, I know I should’ve read The Prince before starting this one because Caden used to be the Prince prior to ascending the throne. Anyway, I love every single detail in this novella thanks to Jennifer’s typical writing style. In order not to spoil anything, all I can say is that Brighton suffers through 70% of the book, which reminds me of Alex from the Covenant series, but all those gory and slightly violent (mercifully, the content won’t make you uncomfortable) scenes captivate me even more. I’ll always have a soft spot for Caden, regardless of whatever terrible things he’s done in the past.

However forbidden Caden and Brighton’s love is, I can’t wait to witness how Brighton alters the future because she’s badass like that and based on the MAJOR CLIFFHANGER we’ve got in this book, I am 200% sure she’s going to make history. All in all, The King is a rather delightful read to me and as much as I’m excited for the next novella, The Queen, which will be out sometime in June, 2020, I’m currently having my nose buried in the Wicked trilogy and that’s kinda enough for now.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND TRILOGY TO EVERYONE!

***Thanks to InkSlinger PR and the author for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Profile Image for Larissa Ione.
Author 82 books9,807 followers
October 31, 2019
This was an intense read, a difficult read at times...which is precisely why it was so damned good. It tugged at my emotions and nearly had me in tears. The heroine is strong beyond belief, the hero hotter than hell and so protective I was melting. A solid read and now I can't wait for the next book in the series. Jennifer Armentrout has become an auto-buy for me!
Profile Image for Fanny.
2,115 reviews54 followers
February 13, 2020



The King si que es una secuela impactante, personalmente creo que es superior a su predecesora en todos los sentidos, ademas ese final aunque lo vi venir, me dejo con taquicardia al pensar que voy a tener que esperar mas de seis meses hasta poder leer The Queen.

Esta segunda parte es mucho mas dinamica e interesante que The Prince, no solo la trama me hechizo inmediatamente sino que encima pude conectar de manera mas profunda con la pareja protagonista, senti que en esta continuacion tanto Caden como Brighton adquieren mucha complejidad, que fue uno de los aspectos que extrañe en la novela anterior.

Lo que es obligada a vivir Brighton es horrible e insoportable ( aparte de angustioso ), dichas escenas no son sencilla de leer pero hay que admitir que es precisamente esas vivencias las que me hicieron comprenderla mejor, de Caden no aprendemos tanto, un hecho que espero que en el proximo tomo se resuelva.

En fin, The King supera con creces a su antecesor. Es adictiva, trepidante y muy amena, y ese capitulo final ( no hay epilogo ) fue cruel hasta limites insospechados, de aqui a la publicacion de el ultimo libro no me quedaran uñas sanas que morder.

4 Estrellas!!
Profile Image for em.
366 reviews1,156 followers
July 24, 2019
"I feel more awake than I have in centuries."

Oh Caden, you've stolen the words from my lips.

To say I'm obsessed would be putting it lightly. The Prince and The King are far, faaaar, better than the Wicked trilogy and hell, I don't even know what to do with myself until next year.
Profile Image for Nadine.
1,140 reviews217 followers
June 25, 2020
The King picks up after the events of The Prince. Brighton is still hell bent on getting revenge and Caden, now the King, is determined to keep her safe.

What I enjoy most about these novellas is Brighton as a character. She’s the perfect mix of a capable badass while not letting her skills define her as a person. Watching her grow from the character she was in the original trilogy to who she is at the end of this novella has been a journey to say the least.

Brighton and Caden’s chemistry is spicy. It’s a mix of will they won’t they with a sprinkle of forbidden romance. A lot that is revealed in The King that explains Caden’s behaviour and his link to Brighton. This information is immensely satisfying. A lot of times when information is hinted at in a previous book, but not revealed until a later book doesn’t feel as impactful as it could. Thankfully, that is not the case with The King.

The only criticism I have and the reason I rated the novella four stars instead of five is that The King is very similar to some events that take place in the original trilogy. When I say similar, I mean almost exactly like those previous events. This lessened the impact of these events for me and their consequences moving forward.

I was not expecting there to be another novella after The King, so I was pleasantly surprised and disappointed that I have another year wait for the next novella. Especially after the information that’s revealed at the end!

Overall, The King is another great addition to the Wicked universe. Brighton is a wicked character that I’ll follow until the end.

***I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Christy Hall.
255 reviews54 followers
July 30, 2022
The King is the sequel to The Prince. I really only continued reading because of the cliffhanger from the first one. Brighton continues to be a contradiction. Supposedly smart and scrappy, she makes poor decisions that put her in harm’s way. Caden is supposedly swoon-worthy and protective, but he really just comes off as an ass. This book focuses on Brighton being kidnapped by a powerful Fae named Aric who tortures her because he has nothing else to do. Aric wants to set the Winter Queen free from her world into the human world but he would rather waste his time in a crypt torturing a human. It’s like he didn’t have a plan and was just waiting for the lightbulb to go off. This is really most of the book. I really wish it had been shortened, combined with the first book and then sharpened into a real story with purpose and a strong plot.
Profile Image for Alexandra.
1,838 reviews10 followers
July 15, 2019
I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

Following the events of the first tie-in novella, The Prince, I truly didn't expect an e-book so small to inflict so much PAIN and FEELS! Brighton and Caden, now King of the Fae, fall between duty, love, and secrets as the threat rises in the world of the Courts and the Order needs desperately help. Now there isn't much action here and there are some scenes that might cause disturbing images to form, but Jennifer is a master of words and delivers a heart-pounding novella sequel despite the absence of action and yet filled with revelations and secrets.

The ending was also a cliffhanger!
Profile Image for Clau.
825 reviews117 followers
July 24, 2019
¿Y ahora tengo que esperar UN AÑO para ver qué pasa? ¡Un año! 😭

Definitivamente mejor que el anterior.
En The King, Brighton está enfocada en completar su venganza, deshaciéndose de un psicópata antiguo, enfocado en su plan malvado para destruir el mundo de los humanos. Caden quiere lo mismo, aunque tiene sus propios motivos para querer acabar con el antiguo, Aric.
Y así es como empieza. Caden y Brighton tratando de anticiparse al otro. Caden peleando con ella, porque Aric es muy peligroso y Brighton no es más que una humana indefensa, que no sabe en qué se está metiendo.
La verdad es que Brighton me parece un personaje un poco plano, a pesar de que gana profundidad en esta segunda parte. El problema está en que sigue dándome la impresión de que es un personaje secundario al cual le pasan un par de cosas interesantes y que por alguna extraña y casi incomprensible razón, atrae la atención del Rey de los Fae.
Tengo dos comentarios más:
1. Los giros que da la novela fueron DEMASIADO PREDECIBLES. No me sorprendí para nada.
2. No me gusta nada el tipo de escenas que vemos a partir del capítulo 8 (creo) , pero tengo que reconocer que está demasiado bien lograda esa parte. Juro que mi ansiedad subió bastante cuando llegué a esa parte.
Profile Image for Francesca.
2,037 reviews146 followers
July 31, 2019
This second novella is improving, it’s spectacular, surprising and so painful! I wasn’t expecting it at all, I cannot wait to see what’s next!

On avait laissé Brighton et Caden sur un cliffangher, et j’étais curieuse de voir comment leur histoire allait évoluer. Cette suite est une excellente surprise, elle passe à un autre niveau, maintenant que le cadre a été remis en place.

Le récit est à la fois surprenant, bourré d’action et de violence, et en même temps très intense émotionnellement. Je ne m’attendais pas du tout à ça, JLA n’a pas choisi la voie la plus facile encore uns fois pour ses personnages, on souffre avec eux. Brighton est remontée dans mon estime grâce à son courage et sa volonté. Quant à Caden, on comprend tout de suite la raison de son comportement, et j’aurais aimé avoir un peu de son point de vue.

Il s’agit d’une novella, mais pour une fois, je ne me suis pas plainte de la longueur du texte, car il se passe plein de choses et je ne me suis pas rendue compte que les pages se tournaient à toute vitesse, à part à la fin où j’ai commencé à avoir des doutes sur la manière dont l’auteure allait réussir à tout boucler. Et en fait, je n’avais tout simplement pas pensé qu’il y aurait un troisième tome ! Bizarrement, on était beaucoup à penser qu’il n’y aurait que 2 novellas.

Tant mieux en tout cas, The Queen sortira en juillet 2020 en VO.
Profile Image for mandy ♡.
249 reviews94 followers
July 11, 2019
4 'You are my everything' Stars!

*ARC provided in exchange for honest review.*

The King starts off two weeks after the end of The Prince. We see Brighton dealing with the aftermath of Caden pushing her away even after all they've shared. Caden being in his new position of power prevents him from being with her. As a reader, that's a pretty obvious conclusion. But our lovely Brighton thinks otherwise. In this installment, she really has a hard time believing that Caden ever truly wanted her at all. She doesn't see how amazing she truly is. Which is no surprise when she's been considered less than among Order members - never being included in important missions. In her mind, she's insignificant. Just a ghost. Caden eventually does make her realize her mistake in thinking this, though.

Despite all the obstacles standing in Caden and Brighton's way, their attraction to one another has not diminished one bit. It comes to a boiling point in this novella and boy was the wait worth it! These two are just oozing chemistry and heat. Besides all the smutty times, which we were great, the real shining moments for them were the emotional stuff. I got a major case of the feels more than once while reading this. Caden's feelings for Brighton are just so beautiful and you really get to see it this time around.

We also get a lot of answers to questions that we brought up last time. Some I saw coming. But most of them were a shock to me. Jennifer always knows how to keep her readers on their toes. There is never a dull moment when it comes to her stories and this one delivered.

The only complaint I really have is that I feel as though a certain situation that Brighton gets caught in during the middle of the book dragged on too long. And because of it, I feel as though we didn't get as much Caden/Brighton content as we did in the last novella. It probably won't bother other people. Maybe it's just me being selfish because I only wanted to read about them alone lol I will say one thing, though. I would love for a Caden POV next time around. I wanted so badly to read his thoughts during this story.

Overall, this was another solid addition to the Wicked world. With how this ended, I am dying to get my hands on the next (and hopefully last because I can't with these cliffhangers anymore!) novella. I need it RIGHT NOW! Make sure to get your copy of The King when it releases July 23rd! You won't be disappointed!
Profile Image for micolreads.
310 reviews24 followers
June 25, 2020
The sequel novella of The Prince starts with a blast, you don’t have time to think, only to know what’s happening. We follow Bri and Caden, my new favorite couple from Jen’s books, as they fight against an old enemy. This book was a lot more mature, had a lot of difficult themes, and a few scenes were even crude (perfect for the type of book in my opinion). I finished it in a day, I had to know how Bri and Caden’s relationship was going to go and I couldn’t wait to see a few characters again.

Final vote: 4,25/5
Profile Image for Maria Naydenova.
706 reviews51 followers
July 24, 2019
4.5 stars

Wow! Holy fae babies, everywhere. What a kingly way to get back in this world once again. I’m starting to fall head over heels in love with these characters and I need more!

This story was so unexpected and a bit bordering on the dark side, but I loved the way it managed to surprise me and all the emotions it gave me even though it was just a novella. Sigh, how I wish this was a full-length novel. I really fell under the spell of this magical fae world and didn’t want to leave it.

The book picked up where The Prince left. It started a bit on the slow side and I thought we may get more of a romantic type of story than an action-packed one, but boy was I wrong. And how much this lazy beginning with flashbacks to the past calmed me and gave me the sense of ease and fooled me to believe we’re getting a lighter story. And then BAM! Everything started happening one after another and then all at once. So many twists, so many unexpected truths revealed, so many new things happening. And the romance in between was so well intertwined. Swoonworthy moments there. Movie-worthy. I kid you not.

Also, the passion and chemistry were off the charts hot and so intense.

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Fans self. Really steamy.

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I wasn’t a big fan of Caden at first and he earned so many black points in my book, but I have a thing for these bad boys after all. Plus he kind of redeemed himself eventually. He was trying to act this strong, unbreakable alpha that he was, and I could understand his reasons for being this way, but at the end of the day, he had such a soft spot for the people he loved.

I wish we could have heard his voice. I’m sure he had a lot to say at some point in this book.

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I loved Brighton. She was one of the quiet ones that turned into a real force to be reckoned with in this book. And although I hated what she had to go through, I was in awe with her strength and determination.

I felt like my heart was squeezed in a vice a good 30-40% of the book and I was biting my nails so hard at some point I don’t think I have a single one left that isn’t chipped. It was so intense, so painfully raw, dark and even frightening at places. This was a level of darkness I’m not quite familiar coming from Jen, but it was so well written it gave me all the feels and then some. I wanted to shout and scream at what was happening. I wanted to press undo and go back to the beginning where everything seemed sweet and cheerful. But I kept reading and it only got better and better.

I loved the action in this book and the intense, put-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments, but the emotional, romantic ones at the end were just as amazing.

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And it had plenty of those. This book brought me to tears even though it was barely 200 pages. It was raw, dark, and painful and managed to surprise me in so many ways, but all the feels were present and you wouldn’t want to miss this exceptional adventure in this unique fae world. Now I need more. I can’t wait to see how the story would evolve in The Queen. So many possibilities to go from here and I’m bouncing with excitement to discover every single one of them.
Profile Image for Kris (frantic4romantic).
199 reviews34 followers
February 15, 2020
This was a fantastic continuance to Brighton & Caden’s story. It was twisted and cruel. The writing was on point, as always. The incredible strength shown by Brighton in this book was admirable and shed a new light on her as a character. I have a new appreciation for her.

All this book really did was make me want to read the next one, so I guess it did it’s job.
Profile Image for Nancy The book junkie.
2,948 reviews10 followers
October 20, 2019
Rating: 4.5/5

I must start with how speechless I was left when I finished this book. You have to understand that for some unknown reason when I first started the book, I thought it was a duology… so you can imagine my mindset when I realized their was no way the plot was resolved at the end of the book. I was devastated to think I’ll have to wait another year to know the ending, but nothing new I’m pretty much devastated every time I must wait for Jen’s next book!

This second installment start right where the prince ended. Like his predecessor its action packed, funny and the chemistry between Brighton and Caden is still as thick as ever. Where the first one was a little lighter this one has is dark moment. It’s about revenge and what it can make you do but also about resilience. The plot will suck you in and you’ll find yourself devouring it in one sitting. And then you’ll reach the end and you’ll be left with your jaw on the floor and your brain going through all the possibility for the next book (and then you’ll realize you have to wait a year for the conclusion…welcome to my universe!) Overall, it’s an amazing addition to the wicked universe and a great way to get you Tink fix!
Profile Image for .*•.  ☾  sephia  ☾ .•*..
258 reviews22 followers
June 14, 2020
Ahh that cliffhanger! It’s I shame I have to wait for the last book, I’m seriously wondering how Brighton is going to react.
Profile Image for Amy .
2,691 reviews
July 23, 2019
“He kissed–God, he kissed like a man starving. He kissed as if he were going to devour me, and I wanted that. I needed it. It was all I could think about. Or maybe I wasn’t thinking at all. Instead, I was feeling. I was just letting myself feel.”

“Now, you’re seen, and you’re heard. You stand up for yourself. You’re living. They did take a lot from you, Brighton. Your mother. Your contentment. But it also seems like you gained a lot. Not from them, but from yourself.”

“You are my strength. My sun. You are my heart.”

Man, oh man, was it great to be back in this world again. The King picks up right where The Prince left off and there is never a dull moment. Yes, this book hits the ground running and just totally sucks you back in to The Wicked World. Now, don’t be fooled by the fact that this book is a novella because let me tell you, this little novella packs a punch. It will easily consume you and will leave you hanging on each and every word.

Since this book is a novella, I’m going to keep my review short and sweet and just say I LOVED this book!! I loved it. Within seconds of starting this story, everything from The Wicked Series came rushing back to me. I remembered why I originally fell in love with this series and all of the characters. The King is easily a novella that you can finish in just a few short hours.

The King is sexy and smartly written. The characters pull you into their story immediately. There is humor and angst. There is drama and moments that will leave you holding your breathe. There are moments where you’ll find yourself screaming at your kindle and ferociously flipping the pages to see how the story will play out. The King had it all and then some.

The King was a thrilling ride from beginning to end. From will they/won’t they moments, to lots of delicious tension & steam to danger around every turn…. I just couldn’t get enough. And with an ending I never saw coming, all I can say is when do we get our hands on the next book???!!

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for • Lindsey Dahling •.
282 reviews591 followers
March 3, 2021
I’m in love with Brighton. I was in love with Caden for about 75% of the book. Dude caught a case of the dumb for a bit.
Profile Image for Patricia's Book Kingdom.
213 reviews14 followers
November 20, 2020
I don't even know where to start. Probably by saying that The King was so freaking amazing, I could not put it down. It was everything I hoped for it to be and more. So much more.

My heart broke for Brighton. And I'm not ashamed to admit that few tears have made it to the surface. The King was such an emotional read. A lot happens in this novella, things that make me admire the hell out of Brighton. I can honestly say she's one of favourite heroines. And Caden, although there were times when he deserved some serious ass kicking, you can't help but fall in love with him.

And that ending! Jennifer, how can you be so cruel to end a book like that and then make us wait a year before the next novella comes out. You're one wicked lady (I mean it in the most loving way possible).

I can't wait for The Queen to come out, I already marked it into my diary! July 14th 2020 can't come soon enough! If you haven't read this one yet, do so right now because you don't want to be missing out Brighton and Caden's story.
Profile Image for AJ.
2,829 reviews921 followers
July 22, 2019
4.5 ‘holy freaking fae’ stars!

Wow! JLA has taken us on a wildly intense ride with this book, and I was captivated!

As part of the 1001 Dark Nights collection, this book is publicised as a standalone. It’s not. At all. Not only is it a spin-off from the Wicked series, but it’s a direct continuation of The Prince, and it has a cliffhanger of its very own, with another book to come. So despite assurances to the contrary, don’t try to read this one on its own. And if it’s been a while since you’ve read The Prince, I would recommend a reread before diving into this one to remind you of what happened because there’s a lot that has gone on and there’s not a lot of recap

This book picks up right where the first one left off, taking us back to the streets of New Orleans, to where the fae exist amongst humans, and The Order, a group of human warriors, fight to maintain peace and protect mankind from the evil of the Winter Fae. Now working with the good fae of the Summer Court, behind-the-scenes Order member Brighton continues to buck the rules and is out hunting Aric, the fae that attacked her so brutally, determined to end him and the threat that he poses to the whole world. But she still has a major obstacle in her way – Caden.

After that huge reveal at the end of The Prince, everything seems to have changed for our dripping-with-chemistry-almost-lovers, but their mad lust for each other has not. Though they have more hurdles to cross now, including Caden himself, there’s still sizzling UST with every encounter, with a healthy dose of anger as Brighton defies all instruction, and Caden’s wishes, and continues to put herself in danger.

It’s fast-paced and exciting with a sense of anticipation as you just wait for something to happen, and OMG, I was so excited as we finally get some romantic development for these two. With Caden’s enigmatic stoicism, and Brighton’s brave and stubborn sass, they are a fantastic duo, and I just love them together. But their story takes one hell of a twist… more than one, actually, and OMG, I was not expecting the direction it went.

Surprising, dark, intense, and a little bit shocking, I could not put this book down! It’s full of big reveals which add a lot of depth to the story, and more than one surprise that had me on the edge of my seat.

Written entirely from Brighton’s POV, I love that Caden remains this big mystery, because it makes every time he opens himself up absolutely fantastic! Without any clue what he’s thinking or doing behind the scenes, we get to experience him as Brighton does, and that brings so much wonder and excitement to the story and I was bouncing up and down as particular scenes in this book played out.

Series favourites Ivy, Ren and Tink all appear, and I loved seeing them. But this book is wholly Brighton’s as she battles the unimaginable, and I loved getting to see her deal with it all. Her strength is incredible, and we get to see so much more of that in this book, and seeing that, combined with her all-too-realistic vulnerabilities, made me love her even more. And given all that she’s been through, the unexpected fallout and yet another massive cliffy, I can’t wait to see what the next book has in store.

A fantastic read – 4.5 stars.

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.


Profile Image for Yvette ~ Nose Stuck in a Book.
629 reviews652 followers
July 26, 2019
Not knowing The Prince had a cliffhanger at the end just about killed me so I feel like I have to note that The King doesn’t wrap up Caden and Brighton’s story. Considering the next novella is already available to pre-order, I don’t think that’s a spoiler (or at least I hope it isn’t). It definitely helped to know that there would be a third installment to follow The King, especially after that jaw-dropping ending. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

When we last left Caden and Brighton, Caden had just ascended the throne to become King of the Summer Court. Being a human and a member of the Order tasked with hunting fae makes Brighton's attraction to Caden forbidden. Yet, in spite of Caden's best efforts to distance himself from Brighton, the two are irresistibly, irrevocably drawn to each other. Brighton's anger and resentment is no match for the electric chemistry and potent sexual tension between them. While Caden presents a detached, enigmatic front, Brighton evokes his fiery, passionate side, pushing and challenging him with every move. Their quick-witted, quick-tempered rapport is a battle of wills, that's frustrating (on Brighton's part), amusing (on Caden's part), and entertaining (on my part).

While I was most interested in the progression of Brighton and Caden's romance when diving in to The King, I was equally captivating by the subplot involving disappearing fae that began in The Prince. The forbidden romance aspect of the novella provides plenty of drama and heartache but there's also the added elements of danger and suspense that kept me guessing and had me dying to know what happened next.

After waiting a year to get my hands on The King, I must say I was not disappointed. Gut-wrenchingly emotional, overwhelming intense, and undeniably riveting, The King is a jaw-dropping second installment in the Wicked spin-off series from Jennifer L. Armentrout, and I can't wait for the continuation of this story.

*complimentary copy provided by publisher for an honest review

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Profile Image for Rebecca.
2,820 reviews141 followers
August 1, 2019
Even though I don’t get to read that many paranormal romances anymore, due to my blogging and editing schedule, I’ll always be the first in line to read and to get wicked when Jennifer L. Armentrout releases one.

Armentrout’s Wicked trilogy illustrates the good and evil that comes with power and how the crown has the ability to both restore and destroy, especially when there are those who want the King to become their dark and dangerous minion instead of the lasting light so many others crave.

Readers familiar with this Trilogy know who Caden and Brighton are and understand what seems to be building between them, but in The King, their connection grows even stronger and both seem to come into their own as the story progresses.

Readers get another side of Caden - one that is less formal and more real and Brighton proves just how strong she is compared to how she’s portrayed herself up to this point. These two have so many obstacles to contend with, but it’s clear that if they stand by each other and fight for what they want, both with one another and with the world they live, they’ll be able to defeat those looking to control the crown.

Caden and Brighton’s journey does not end with The King, which means that readers will need to wait to see what those against these plan to do to acquire the throne and what that means for everyone involved on both sides.

4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)
Profile Image for Jypsy .
1,523 reviews74 followers
July 30, 2019
I received a complimentary copy.
All opinions expressed are my own.

*Review*
I'm new to Jennifer Armentrout, so I had no idea what to expect. I do wish I had read The Prince first because reading this story forward instead of backwards would obviously be better. Still, The King was an excellent read with depth I didn't expect for a novella. Brighton is a substantial character with so much strength and resilience. She's an underestimated woman, as women often are, but there's no quit in this girl. I just feel for her in all possible ways. Caden is a well written character too, but I didn't like him as much. I was surprised by how much I was invested in the outcome, but, frustratingly, no resolution is given yet. What!? It's an engrossing story with a wonderful setting, and time flies when you're in it. I will read The Prince now. I definitely recommend if you are a fan of the author or the genre.
Profile Image for Amal.
191 reviews
May 16, 2020
OH MY GOD!!!

Some parts of the novella were absolutely painful to digest but the gift of a forthcoming and honest Caden at the end of it was... totally worth it. I hate to say it, but it was just so good, sigh. Also, I don't know what this admission makes me, but I must admit it all the same- I LOVED THE NOVELLAS MORE THAN THE ACTUAL TRILOGY!!!!! <3

I just love Caden, OMG. Can't believe I actually hated him once upon a time, but dude, I have forgiven him for things he did that he had no control over. Even if he couldn't forgive himself.

THE QUEEN!!!! I WISH IT WAS HERE ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait. Fingers crossed that The Queen is the last one in the Wicked series. It's been like 5 years or so and the waiting period SUCKS!!!

But knowing that JLA always has awesomies in store makes up for all the waiting. The woman is something else after all!!! :DDDD
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