Deviant King: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Royal Elite)

I totally enjoyed this book, I read Cruel King first and was a little bit doubtful about this book because I LOVED LEVI but AIDEN is so mysterious such a good character, and I want to know more about him, I was a little bit disappointed because I really enjoy dual pov on my books but on this one I think Elsa’s only pov added to all the mystery surrounding Aiden, tbh I hated Aiden at the beginning, All that attitude towards Else I didn’t get it, but then Aiden is not a normal morally grey person so I became obsessed with him because I do enjoy a good morally grey MMC, I am only at the beginning of this world and I can’t wait to know more about it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.7️⃣5️⃣ This book was so much better than Cruel King. I read that one a few weeks back and put Deviant King off because I wasn't that impressed with CK. But, this one pulled me out of a slump. I ate it up over the course of a day.

Is it a phenomenal read? Not really. It's just a good time. It reads easy. It brought some exciting angst - not too much, not too little, just the right amount. The writing is good. The character dialog is decent. I appreciated the number of interactions between the mmc and fmc. All too often there isn't enough of it to convince me that the mc's actually do grow to care about each other. That is not the case here. They really do get a lot of scenes together. Loved that!

I'm anxious to hop into Book Two, Steel Princess. So, that's what I'm off to do, 😉.

I recently got into the darker/bully romance genre via the L.J. Shen gateway, and some of my main gripes are predictability, repetitiveness, lack of nuance, and one dimensional characters. This is the first one I've read that didn't have me rolling my eyes at some point.

First, Aiden and Elsa break the mold of your typical main characters. While Aiden is definitely hyper-alpha and Elsa has some of that typical "I'm strong, but I'm weak" back and forth thing going on, they each have a lot of other aspects to their characters, including an occassional sense of humor, which is so often lacking in angsty novels. Aiden sucks the reader in on several levels, including his particular brand of possessiveness, and how he is always thinking 10 steps ahead. I'd rank him up there with Baron "Vicous" Spencer from LJ Shen's All Saint's High series.

The mystery aspect of the Elsa and Aiden trilogy was actually intriguing and not super obvious. There weren't twist thrown in for no apparent reason, or events that seemed totally random or out of place. Each novel in the trilogy did a good job of revealing a bit more of Elsa and Aiden's past.

One thing that initially put me off, but that I ended up really loving was Kent's writing style itself, and I don't mean anything due to her being a British author. Her sentence construction, at first, seemed to show a lack of editing (and who knows, maybe it was) but once I got used to it, it almost came off poetic at times. The flow was pretty funky, but in a good way that was a nice change up from many of the authors I've read.

The final acheivement of this novel was the secondary characters. While some were kind of annoying (Ronan and Kim...not my favorites), and I absolutely hate that Ronan throws a French phrase into every bit of dialogue that he has for no apparent reason (maybe the reason will be revealed in Ronan's novel) they were all unique and interesting in their owns rights. Friends, parents, etc. were all well developed and in some cases, impressively complex, which you also don't see much of in this genre.

I would definitely recommed the first three books of this series (I'm about to start book four, Xander and Kim's story, despite finding Kim kind of limited and one-dimensional thus far). I read the prequel to the series (Levi and Astrid's story) before starting the series, and that one I could take or leave. The best parts of that book were the glimpses you got of Aiden and Elsa =) You don't really need to read it before starting this series, but it's an OK read and has some good, initial character development for Aiden.

📚 Book #1 of 2024 📕 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Deviant King by Rina Kent is a mesmerizing journey into the depths of darkness and desire. From the very first page, I was completely engrossed in the storyline, captivated by the intricate plot, and enthralled by the compelling characters. This dark high school bully romance is not for the faint of heart, but for those who dare to explore the forbidden and embrace the unconventional, it is an absolute must-read.

The story revolves around Elsa Steel, a strong-willed and determined young woman with a simple plan: to finish Royal Elite School and secure her place in her dream university. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she catches the attention of the school's king, Aiden King. With one glance, Aiden shatters her dreams and thrusts her into a world of chaos and danger. Their connection is intense, their chemistry undeniable, and their journey together is filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

What truly sets Deviant King apart is its exceptional character development. Aiden King is a complex and enigmatic anti-hero who exudes a dark and magnetic aura. His black mind, heart, and soul make him an intriguing and unpredictable character, and I found myself both hating and loving him in equal measure. Elsa Steel, on the other hand, is a fierce and resilient protagonist who refuses to be broken by Aiden's cruelty. Their dynamic is electric, and their interactions are filled with tension, passion, and undeniable chemistry.

While Aiden and Elsa steal the spotlight, the secondary cast of characters is equally compelling. Each character brings their own unique flavor to the story, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. I found myself equally invested in their journeys and eagerly anticipating their roles in the unfolding drama.

The ending of Deviant King left me reeling, with a twist that hit me like a blow to the face. It left me craving more, desperate to dive into the next installment of the Royal Elite Series, Steel Princess. The author's ability to keep readers hooked and emotionally invested is truly commendable.

In conclusion, Deviant King is a dark and addictive tale that pushes boundaries and challenges conventions. Rina Kent's masterful storytelling, combined with a captivating plot and well-developed characters, makes this book an absolute gem. If you're a fan of dark romance, mature new adult, and enjoy exploring the depths of human desire and emotion, then this book is a must-read. Just be prepared to be consumed by the spice and love that emanates from the pages.

This one was a full on rollercoaster.

Elsa is strong minded, strong willed, but she will bend for Aiden in the most cruel way.

Aidan is my way or my way not even the highway. He will get what he wants one way or another one, and while at it will remove any obstacle that touches what’s his, Elsa.

What do we know, what does Elsa memories are hiding, what was so horrifying that she shut herself down. I have some theories.

Deviant King By Rina Kent ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 🌶🌶🌶🌶 4

Deviant King is book 1 in the Royal Elite series, it is not necessary but you may read Cruel King to get background information on some of the characters.

I inhaled this book. I am a sucker for a bully romance where the villain is the love interest. The fact that it is also a rich/prep school? TAKE ALL MY MONEY NOW.

Elsa Steele. Ellia, Frozen, Ice Queen, Elsie, Elsa… whatever you want to call her girl is a bad chick. She may have fears but she is so strong willed and refuses to let her facade crack. I would not have lasted as long as she did with Aiden King. I am so obsessed with everything about her, I think I really relate to her desire to do everything for her aunt and uncle. I love getting to hear her inner thoughts and listen to the internal battle over Aiden and her feelings.

“I’m burning and Aiden is my hell.”

Aiden King. This is one mean and angry man. BUT THAT IS WHAT I AM HERE FOR. Seriously, this man is brutal, possessive, forceful, angry, and hot as h-e-l-l. I love that he pulls out Elsa’s darkest desires and tries to make her understand that they are ok, and that she is allowed to like the things she likes. I love Aiden and I love that even though he “hates” her the protectiveness is still there. He only gets points bumped off for his interactions with Silver and the other obvious reason (plot twist amiright?)

“I see the devil in his eyes, and the first thought is… I want that devil.”

Smut? YES PLEASE. Honestly, this book's smut is pretty high up there. “Hate/Anger” sex always makes for good sex scenes and this book had plenty of them. I was here for all the aggressive and rough moments. Rina writes her smut very well. But also, the smut didn’t take over but rather supplemented the plot and story that was brewing.

Honestly, my only complaint is that this book is only in Elsa’s perspective. BUT the next book is double POV so I am super excited.

I loved this book and it had me reading until 3am when I really should be sleeping. It left me on the perfect note to want to read the next books starting NOW. I cannot believe I put this book off for so frickin long, I am now wishing I would have started it MUCH sooner. I 100% recommend this book to those who love bully romances, villians, aggression, and dark romance!

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AS ALWAYS CHECK TW BEFORE READING THIS IS MATURE CONTENT!

This is definitely a dark bully romance, packed with all the angsty, twisted romance you'd want. Aiden is a monster that was created not born and Elsa is the focus of all his tortured wrath. He's obsessive (probably toxic) and he quickly works his way under her skin. I felt everything she felt and it was so deep. I'm loving the world building and the plot.

Check the TW and there's lots of spice. 18+ and I'll definitely be continuing the series.

I don’t usually like high-school romance but I have to say that I do like this one. The way it was written was great and I was worried that the dark concepts won’t mix well with the high school set up but it blended seamlessly with the story.

I also like the sense mystery in this book cause it kept me invested and had me making theories left and right. At first, there were things that just didn’t make sense like their first meeting and Aiden’s volatile reaction to her but the more I read, the more some of it (not all) makes sense cause you can really feel the puzzle pieces slowly clicking into place despite a lot of it still missing.

Aiden and Elsa’s chemistry is a little confusing for me. It’s certainly there and it’s so thick you can almost feel it taking over the entire room, but without all the answers, I can’t help but feel that the infatuation and obsession with Elsa couldn’t have begun just like that, cause it just doesn’t make sense! I mean, it’s not clicking for me at least (I know I’m slow, no need to come for my stupid ass 😆). Did his obsession grow from his resentment? Did they know each other back in the past? Was it obsession at first sight? I have so many questions and hopefully, the next book resolve it for me cause I won’t be able to move on from this book if I can’t make sense of this one 😩😆