The first thing I’m going to mention about Deviant King is that it’s a Dark Bully Romance. Not everyone enjoys reading bully romance, but this reader loves these types of books, especially when the FMC puts the bully in his place or ends up falling for the bully because, secretly, he’s been harboring feelings for the girl for so long. The second thing is this book is the first in a trilogy and it needs to be read in order. 

Just because I enjoy bully romances in fictional books doesn’t mean I condone bullies in real life. Bullies are a major red flag in real life, but in fictional books, they are acceptable. Rina Kent definitely knows how to write bullies and make me despise them, but the moment they show some good qualities, I fall head over heels for them, especially when I know they are harboring a secret or two. 

The FMC, Elsa, is someone I felt sympathy for immediately, not only because the MMC, Aiden, made her life miserable at school but also because she possibly has a traumatic past that is hidden from her. She lost her parents and is now living with her Aunt and Uncle, who are very protective of her, especially when she had heart surgery and is still dealing with a heart condition. She has nightmares about her past that give her glimpses into what perhaps happened, but not enough to go on. She just wants to finish school and go off to Cambridge afterward, but unfortunately, her nemesis, Aiden has other plans. I loved how she fought back against Aiden and wasn’t willing to give in to him. Eventually, though, she does give in and that’s due to him showing another side of himself. 

Aiden was a downright a-hole to Elsa, and he tended to grate on my nerves while reading Elsa’s POV on what he and his minions were doing to her. (FYI…This book is told solely in Elsa’s POV.) Some of the things were crossing the line a lot, but I had to remember it’s a Dark Romance, which means Aiden is going to push the boundaries. (Check your triggers before reading this book.) But I knew deep down Aiden had a soft side, or in his case, a very jealous and possessive side toward Elsa. 

He had kept guys away from her for two years, and whenever someone else approached her, he would take action against them, including his friends, such as Xander, who tried to rile up Aiden when it came to Elsa.  

Aiden and Elsa’s relationship is very complicated, especially when Elsa doesn’t trust Aiden and she is not willing to give in to his advances at first, and Aiden won’t accept no as an answer and pushes her constantly. But, when it does finally happen between the two, it’s intense, deviant (like the title suggests), and off-the-charts steamy.

I was definitely drawn to the mystery behind Elsa’s past, and I need to know what happened to her. It was only touched a bit in this book with her nightmares, so I’m hoping Rina touches more on it in the next book. Aiden is harboring something, and I need to find out more about what he is hiding about himself. I hope I also get his POV, eventually, in the trilogy. I would love to know his true feelings about Elsa, especially with how this book ended. Yes, there is a cliffhanger, and it left me with more questions than answers. I need to make time to read the next book, already and I will soon. 

This book is definitely for readers who love dark bully romances where the MMC is unhinged, obsessed with the FMC, and willing to do anything to have her as his. 

Trope(s)/Element(s):
⚽️Bully Romance
⚽️Enemies to Lovers
⚽️OTT Jealous/Possessive Hero
⚽️Scarred Hero
⚽️Virgin Heroine
⚽️Amnesia (Heroine) – Possible Traumatic Past