Review: The Dark Kingdom series (Reread)

 

Title: Code of Silence

Series: The Dark Kingdom

Author: Shantel Tessier

Release Date: January 2020

A Mafia Romance

Dangerous and feared.

Those words describe my future husband. Who just so happens to also be my ex-boyfriend.

It’s complicated. Two years ago, he broke my heart when he left me to do his father’s bidding. After months of crying, I finally accepted he was gone and wasn’t going to look back. That maybe he’d never loved me at all. I never wanted to see Luca again.

Now a cruel twist of fate has signed me over to him in a heartless deal. I’m his. He thinks he did me a favor, but I feel like I’ve been given a death sentence. He doesn't want to get married because he still loves me. No, he did it for money. More power.

I’m going to be a mafia wife. And there’s only one way out of it. Death.

But as it turns out, someone else doesn’t want me to marry the ruthless Luca Bianchi. And if he has his way, I’ll see that early grave.

Due to mature content and themes this book is recommended for readers aged eighteen and over. Code of Silence is an arranged marriage and a complete standalone. This novel may contain triggers.

So to prepare for the release of Bones, I thought I would reread the whole Dark Kingdom series. And I love it just as much as I have before. 

Code of Silence is a mafia romance that follows Haven and Luca. They dated throughout college, but broke up when Luca lied and left Haven alone. But now, two years later, he is back and Haven is now signed over to him to soon be married. She will soon be a mafia wife to one of the most feared and dangerous men in Las Vegas, and the only way out is death. 

But Haven isn't the only person who doesn't want the wedding to happen. And if they get their way, Haven may see that early grave after all. 

I love Shantel's work, and this is no different. I loved Luca & Haven's relationship. The emotions and angst between them, and the danger and suspense of the world around them. I couldn't put the book down, and I can't wait to continue on with the Dark akingsim books, again, and look forward to Bone's story. 

If you love mafia romances or arranged marriage romances than you need to pick up this book. 

5⭐ out of 5⭐. 

3🌶️ out of 5🌶️

Title: Titan

Series: the Dark Kingdom

Author: Shantel Tessier

Release Date: May 2020

TITAN

I know I have a black soul. Bloodshed and danger are what I live for.

A King is supposed to rule his Kingdom using any means necessary to demand respect.

I’m not a weak man… A King kneels to no one. 

I’ve only ever cared about one other person in my life, but the thing is, she never belonged to me. And before I could tell her how I felt, she left. 

Now she’s returned, needing someone to save her. 

Emilee York was always meant to be mine, and I’ll see to it that happens. I always get what I want, even if that means I have to take it. 

And she’s no different. She’ll be my queen, one way or the other. 

EMILEE

When I left Sin City behind me, I had no plans to return. I avoided everyone, even my friends, to stay in my bubble. I’ve always been the kind to pull away and run when things get difficult. 

But one phone call changed everything, and I was racing back. If only I had known what was waiting for me. 

Titan reappeared like a ghost haunting me.

One look and I knew he recognized me. I never forgot him or what we shared. Those feelings that no one else knew existed between us. 

I ignored them back then, but now they are more intense than ever. 

“Get on your knees…” He demanded I kneel for him. 

I tried to act like he didn’t affect me, but he knew. He remembered the way I reacted when he would touch me. And just like he was taught to do—he used my weaknesses against me. 

He staked his claim, and I became his queen to use how he saw fit. 

What makes it worse is that I crave him, and when I kneeled, it was willingly. 

But was it for nothing?

Titan is one of the four Kings who rule over Kingdom, in the heart of Las Vegas. Danger and Bloodshed is what he lives for. And a King will use any means necessary to demand respect. Show no weakness. Kneel for no one. Not even Emilee York, the one girl who he actually cared about. She was never his to begin with. But now that she's back in town, Titan will make sure that she becomes his queen, one way or another.

Emilee had no plans of returning back to the city, but one phone call has her racing back. And just like a ghost from her past, haunting her, Titan appears back in her life, and with just one look, she knows he recognized her. She never forgot him, or what she shared. Or the feelings she had. She may have ignored him back then, but now that he rules over the city, it's harder then ever.

"Get on your knees..." He demanded of her. And just like he was taught to do, he used her weaknesses against her. He staked his claim, and she became his queen as he saw fit. Emilee kneeled willingly, but was it all for nothing?

Oh my goodness! I don't even know where to begin!!

I loved Titan. He is powerful, rich, and ruthless. He has had feelings for Emilee for years but couldn't act upon them, because she was taken. But now that she's back in town, he will stop at nothing to make her his.

I loved the back and forth between Titan and Em. He knew exactly what he wanted- her. She may have needed convincing, but the scenes between them were on fire. And I definitely would have loved more! Titan and Em were definitely HOT together. This book had the hot sex, the passion, the danger and the twists. It was dark, and sexy, and definitely will leave you satisfied. I can't wait to see what the other Dark Kings have in store. 

5⭐'s out of 5 ⭐.

4🌶️ out of 5🌶️

Title: Grave

Series: the Dark Kingdom series

Author: Shantel Tessier

Release Date: August 2020

GRAVE

My life went to hell years ago, and I've had a death wish ever since then with fast cars, women, and drugs. They don't call me Grave for nothing!

But I do it because I need to feel something... anything. What's life worth living for without the high?

And then I saw her!

She's too good for me, and I should stay away. But like an addict, I switch one drug for another, and I'll be taking her to hell with me.

APRIL

I'm anything but sweet, despite what people think, so when he tells me I'm too good for him and I'm better off without him, I don't listen.

My life was simple before Grave stepped through that door, but who wants simple?

He makes me feel alive. It took one touch, and I became addicted!

But therein lies the problem. Addiction is Grave's middle name, and when he tells me he's taking me to hell with him, I don't know whether to take that as a threat or a promise!

Grave's life went to hell all those years ago. Filling the void with fast cars, women, drugs and alcohol. There is a reason why he is called Grave, and it's for the fact that he has a death wish. He needs those things to help him feel something... Anything. Besides, without that high, is life even worth living?

Then he saw her. April. She's too good for him and he should stay away. But like an addict, he's switching one drug for another and taking her down to hell with him.

Despite what people thing, April is anything but sweet. So when she sees Grave, she doesn't listen to those warning her to stay away. Her life was simple before, Grave... But who wants simple? One touch made her feel alive. When Grave says he's taking her to hell with him, she doesn't know if it's a threat or a promise.

Oh My goodness!! I'm at a loss for words. I just finished Grave. And let's just say I was. Here. For. It.

I have been loving this series since the beginning. And I have loved every word of this story. Him and April's relationship was fire. It was fast, and crazy, and was just... Them.

Grave and April work together. He is the unobtainable bad boy, living the fast life with cars, drugs and sex. April is her own person, she's strong because she's always had to be. I loved this story, and world and cannot wait to dive more into the Kingdom series. 

5⭐ out of 5⭐. 

4🌶️ out of 5🌶️. 

Title: Cross

Series: The Dark Kingdom series

Author: Shantel Tessier

Release Date: August 2021

CROSS

Have you ever stood next to a fire and felt the heat of it on your skin? Stared into the flames and thought how amazing it would be to be that free? It changes direction with the wind, destroying everything in its wake.

That's what she felt like.

Alexa was a wildfire that torched everything she touched, and I couldn't wait to be consumed by her.

She was off-limits. Even though I promised to stay away, I couldn't resist. She was the spark I had been missing in my life. The fire I craved. I knew from an early age I was destined to burn in hell, but she was born to walk through fire.

ALEXA

I was single-minded, focused, and independent. Just how my mother raised me. I didn't have time for anything other than myself and work.

Funny how everything can change in an instant when you least expect it.

A King entered my life.

What was supposed to be one night ended up being too many to count. He was afraid that I'd see his darkness, but I couldn't get enough of him.

After all, a fire burns the brightest in the dark of night. And it only takes one match to cause total devastation.

CROSS is the third book in the Dark Kings Series and can be read as a standalone. Due to mature content and themes this book is recommended for readers aged eighteen and over. This novel may contain triggers.

Cross follows Cross one of the Dark Kings who own Kingdom. He was conditioned and groomed to be an owner of Kingdom and all that it entails- which is more than just the Casino and hotel in the middle of Vegas.

But when Alexa walks into his life, she lit his whole world aflame. She may have been off limits, but she consumed him like wildfire. 

Alexa was raised to be independent and focused, not having time for anything besides work. But you have the best laid plans out, and things can change in an instant. Which is what happened when Cross walked into her life. What should have been just one night ended up in them not getting enough of each other. But will Alexa stay once she sees how dark Cross really is?

Wow wow wow!

So I spent the past few days rereading the Dark Kingdom series, & getting immersed in their world and I can't believe I forgot how much I love it all. 

I honestly love the Dark Kings, the darkness of their world. Cross was definitely mysterious and I was excited to find out more about him (plus this cover was HAWT!!) I loved getting inside his head, to see him for who he was, and to see his queen, and their dynamic. Cross may have had a tough childhood, being through what he had, so he needed someone who can stand beside him. Someone who was not only strong enough to see him for who he is but also what he had been through and be there for him. He needed his own Queen- and that is what Alexa became. I loved them together. If you are looking for a new dark romance, that will set your kindle on fire this is it! 

5⭐ out of 5⭐. 

4🌶️ out of 5🌶️.