This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨.75


First Impressions
The Rebel King is the second book in the "Deviant Kings" series which I am assuming is going to be a trilogy. I was really intrigued with this one especially with the ending in the "Dark King" that we received. I have found that this author's writing is very interesting. Its not really my favorite when reading a PNR fantasy as some of the world building aspects she writes, but it has some great plot dynamics and her relationships tend to be wildly entertaining.

First Line
Power is as ruinous as it is advantageous

Summary
Tiernan is the playboy of the brothers and the least likely to take on the role of king. He was never trained for years like his brothers were and was considered the brother that handled things differently. His only current passion has really been chess and women. He never became invested in courtly politics of the fae realms but when his brother abdicates he is forced to change his perceptions. While he is in a relationship with Fiona, he knows that they can never truly be together in the long term aspect. But when he realizes he most likely will have to give her up completely while also trying to solve a murder mystery with her, tensions will rise both in the relationship and within the fae court. Can Tiernan find a way to embrace his destiny while also keeping the woman he loves at his side?

What I Loved
I found "The Rebel King" to be quite a interesting take. I also love to see the unconventional character take on a leadership role. And we do see some many aspects to a court politic element that was intriguing. So I do think fans of fantasy romance or historical romance, will find themselves intrigued by this element. I also can't get enough of the "Forbidden" elements that rise within this one here. I had a fun time seeing how our characters work with each other here. We do have a fun murder mystery that contains some undercover spy work that really pulled me in. We also have some BDSM elements that I had fun with. I didn't expect BDSM in this one, but I really enjoyed what we received in this one, especially the focus of the safety portions of the lifestyle. The forbidden romance was quite interesting. I also love it when a couple finds their way over restrictions on them being together. And how it happens I adored. It happens in a way you don't expect but loved the intellectual enlightening that is implemented to showcase the path forward for our couple. I found these characters to be very likeable and wanted to see them through to their HEA and after that ending I am curious to see what the author has planned for "Vicious King" which releases this summer.

What I Struggled With
So there was a couple of things I struggled with. I wasn't a fan in how the hero pushes the heroine away without telling her what was happening and getting her input on it. It effects her too so it wasn't really explained why he was so secretive on it. Another aspect was the different ways the authors put in some political stuff here. There was some references to the pandemic (I am NOT a fan of COVID references in books) I know some readers don't mind it, but I am not a fan of it but also the whole making so much about the court being all about racism and sexism. I want to see issues like this addressed, it was just done in a way that felt preachy in the writing style and turned me off a bit. Despite this, I still do want to read more from this author, because I didn't see it in the first book and curious about her backlisted books.

Narration
SUPERB in every way. I couldn't put this audio book because of how much I enjoyed the style of narrating that these narrators used. They really brought the emotional aspects behind the intentions of the characters to life. I quickly became invested in their story and I do think some of it is due to the narration being so well messaged.

Overall View
The Rebel King is a story that will take you into a world of fantastical imagination and sensuality. Its one that will take you on some adventures, a mystery to be solved and solid teamwork with our couple to reaching their HEA! A SATISFYING GEM!

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Fantasy Paranormal Romance
Character Types: Royalty, Fae
Themes: Hot Smexy Times, BDSM, Court Politics, Danger/Suspense
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Friends to Lovers, Fling

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes you want to read this series in order if possible

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

Narrators:
J.F. Harding, Kelsey Navarro