King of Wrath (Kings of Sin #1) by Ana Huang - Restarting July 16th, 2023

[Johanna]

She’s the wife he never wanted…and the weakness he never saw coming.

Ruthless. Meticulous. Arrogant.

Dante Russo thrives on control, both personally and professionally.

The billionaire CEO never planned to marry—
until the threat of blackmail forces him into an engagement with a woman he barely knows.

Vivian Lau, jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy.

It doesn’t matter how beautiful or charming she is. He'll do everything in his power to destroy the evidence and their betrothal.

There’s only one problem: now that he has her...he can't bring himself to let her go.

***
Elegant. Ambitious. Well-mannered.

Vivian Lau is the perfect daughter and her family’s ticket into the highest echelons of high society.

Marrying a blue-blooded Russo means opening doors that would otherwise remain closed to her new-money family.

While the rude, elusive Dante isn't her idea of a dream partner, she agrees to their arranged marriage out of duty.

Craving his touch was never part of the plan.

Neither was the worst thing she could possibly do: fall in love with her future husband.

King of Wrath is a steamy billionaire/arranged marriage romance. It contains explicit sexual content, profanity, and mild violence. Recommended for mature readers only.

[Maddie]

Page 25 (view spoiler)[I'm glad we found out the blackmail already! I like the plot so far, good background (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Page 100 (view spoiler)[Those desserts don't sound good at alll.. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[Okay that's cute that he wants to get her soup (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I'm not feeling their relationship in the slightest, it feels so unfounded. I know it's arranged blah blah, but they go from nothing to fucking and it doesn't make sense to me. I want more sexy quotes from him and more angst not just actual sex

[Maddie]

Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[I don't feel a thing for their relationship, they have no chemistry, they're not even trying to make it work, and their fucking makes no sense. Just had a 4 page BJ where she was gurgling and her eyes were watering from how deep she was taking him in her throat. Then she somehow got the seats of the limo wet with her juices that somehow leaked from around his cock and down their thighs and he made her lick it up on all fours. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

I'll keep going so I can read the others in the series but wtf this is so gross

[Maddie]

If the rest of the series was about these characters I'd dnf but I know it's not so I'll keep going

[Maddie]

And (view spoiler)[ why did she let him think she's still in love with Heath when she knows she isn't?? (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Turns out I have a lot of passion about this book lol will finish up tomorrow

[Johanna]

Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[I am really intrigued, I didn't know that this was about arrenged marriage. But I guessed immediately who is going to be her love interest. I hate her parents and how superficial their life is. But it doesn't look good: Dante seems to dislike the situation and isn't impressed by her either. I like how she wants to work for her money (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Aaaand then I noticed how my page 25 isn't even near of yours 😭

[Johanna]

Maddie wrote: "Page 25 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It seems I read this too early and this was propably update after chapter 3. I had no idea that there could be blackmailing behind the arrangements!! And that his brother's life is in danger?! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Oh no yeah my Chapter 3 was on page 24!

[Maddie]

Johanna wrote: "Maddie wrote: "Page 25 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It was mentioned at the start of Chapter 3 that Dante was blackmailed (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 2
[spoilers removed]"

Yeah I hate families like hers too!

[Johanna]

Chapter 10
(view spoiler)[This is unbelievable intriguing to read. I can't believe that she really broke up with her boyfriend for her family! She has money to live but so it's hard to understand her decision. I really love the pacing, and enjoying reading (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

I might have estimated pages wrong again 😒

[Johanna]

Maddie wrote: "Page 100 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yep I estimated it wrong, you were talking about chapter 11.
"A crime against humanity" - I laughed 🤣🤣🤣
And hey, "don't knock it till you have tried it" 🤣 (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 10
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[And the fact that she knows that it's wrong that they do it but she thinks it's acceptable that they don't love her because of all they gave up. It's ridiculous and frustrates me so much (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Johanna wrote: "I might have estimated pages wrong again 😒"

Ahhhhh sorry! I'll give you Chapters for the last bits!

[Maddie]

I updated the comments I don't think you've read yet

[Johanna]

Maddie wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Chapter 10
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I agree!! And I also really felt for her loneliness, when Dante left her alone for a month immediately after she had moved in. I just started to think all those pretty houses we can have but how it tells nothing. You can be happy in any house, it's not about surroundings. And even when they posed for the pictures: how many pretty pictures you see on IG for example but what is really happening under the surface?? (hide spoiler)]

And you're too kind, but thank you! It helps 😄

[Johanna]

Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[I laughed when Vivian's friend asked how her character should murder someone and Vivian chose poison and she thanked and chose the bloodiest alternative 🤣
I would have loved to have a bit more development at this point but it seems like too little happens between them. There are glimpses but rarely.
I didn't like how they beat criminals, I thought that he was a business man not a part of mafia. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Maddie wrote: "I'm not feeling their relationship in the slightest, it feels so unfounded. I know it's arranged blah blah, but they go from nothing to fucking and it doesn't make sense to me. I want more sexy quo..."

Yep that scene felt strange!! It usually is quite uncomfortable if there is only sex without talking/emotions. I felt uncomfortable because it felt so strange.

[Maddie]

Johanna wrote: "Chapter 17
I laughed when Vivian's friend asked how her character should murder someone and Vivian chose poison and she thanked and chose the bloodiest alternative 🤣
I would have loved to have a bi..."

Yeah it feels weird too, but I like the darker side

[Maddie]

Johanna wrote: "Maddie wrote: "I'm not feeling their relationship in the slightest, it feels so unfounded. I know it's arranged blah blah, but they go from nothing to fucking and it doesn't make sense to me. I wan..."

Exactly! It all feels so wrong to me!

[Maddie]

Review: Well the first 2/3 of this were dnf-worthy but the last 1/3 made up for it by being PERFECT and what I wanted all along. It almost gave me whip-lash. This was a whole lot of show not tell. I didn't understand either character until the last third, but even then it didn't feel true to what little I actually knew of them. I buddy read this with a few people and we all agree: MORE ANGST AND TENSION PLEASE. It just felt like a lot of 'let's fight and then let's fuck and then let's ignore each other for another few weeks' and I'm not about that. But as I said, the last third was perfect

I gave it 3.5 stars

[Johanna]

Chapter 27
(view spoiler)[I was so afraid of what's coming because you had so strong feelings about something. Was it the IPO, hmm let's see your comment to find out... (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Maddie wrote: "Chapter 27 [spoilers removed]"

Hahahahahhah

Now I know what got those emotions to wake

[Maddie]

DISGUSTING

[Johanna]

Finished
(view spoiler)[I really liked this, at the end. I loved how disfunctional their families were because I am tired of reading about perfect lives & family relationships. This was easier to relate to. I also adored Dante and they had several cute and fun converstations. This was really fun book to read and I liked this much more than I thought I would! I also loved how there wasn't unnecessary drama. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Maddie wrote: "Review: Well the first 2/3 of this were dnf-worthy but the last 1/3 made up for it by being PERFECT and what I wanted all along. It almost gave me whip-lash. This was a whole lot of show not tell. ..."

I somehow loved how slowburn this was emotionally. Maybe it was refreshing because most books have it otherwise.

[Maddie]

Yeah I liked how it was more realistic, but I wish they'd had less sexual stuff and more sweet endearing emotional moments in between their fights

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting July 16th 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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[Courtney]

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ I couldn't imagine being in Dante and Vivian's situation. Arranged marriage is a new trope for me but I have heard great things about this author so im excited to get more into this. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ Vivian's dad threatened to kill Dante's brother if he doesnt marry her. What the fuck man? (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

I‘ll start reading tonight. :)

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

Courtney wrote: "Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Arranged marriage has been hit or miss for me in the past, but I've heard great things about the author. I'm excited to see how this turns out. (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

Courtney wrote: "Chapter 3 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I didn't expect that one. Vivian's father seems ruthless. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[ I like Greta, and Dante is definitely coming off harsh. (hide spoiler)]

[Courtney]

Chapter 8 (view spoiler)[ I love how petty Vivian can be, but I also feel bad that they are both put into this situation when they dont even know each other. (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

Chapter 14 (view spoiler)[That scene in the Valhalla Club was hot.

I still don't really understand why Vivian is going through with this wedding. She doesn't even like her parents... (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

Chapter 21 (view spoiler)[So far I have to say I really like this book. I wonder how Vivian would react if she knew how her father blackmails Dante. (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

Chapter 25 (view spoiler)[Dante made a good point. Heath showing back up again now that Vivian is engaged seems highly suspicous. (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

Chapter 32 (view spoiler)[Why didn't he tell her about the blackmail?!

BTW even after her explanation to Dante why she acts that way around her parents, I still don't understand it... They are horrible to her and don't have any redeeming qualities... (hide spoiler)]

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

The End (view spoiler)[I'm glad she stood up to her parents at last and that she made Dante work a little more to win her back. I think this was a solid 3 star read for me. (hide spoiler)]

[Fernanda]

Ch 15: (view spoiler)[ the Valhalla scene is perfect, but as this is my 2nd read of this book, im not feeling their relationship as I did the 1st time, Vivian is stubborn and that pisses me off a little bit, Dante is sexy enough to carry this book for me atm (hide spoiler)]

[Fernanda]

Ta || bookishbluehead wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Ana is my go to predictable writer, along with Lauren Asher and Ali Hazelwood

[Fernanda]

CH 30 (view spoiler)[ Vivian's family just pisses me off non stop!! They are more then delusional, and just plain crazy! (hide spoiler)]