Cruel King is the first book in the rinaverse. I wanted to start the universe from the beginning but what I really am exited for is Bran and Niko's book from what I saw in booktok. I admit that I wasn't so sure of this one since it's a high school bully romance but Renee @ Addicted to Romance's review in Goodreads convinced me.

I will be first one to admit that Levi was pretty much an asshole, so if you're looking for sweet romance you won't find it with this book. Astrid and Levi hated each other even if they were drawn to each other. She hated him and everything he represented and he hated the idea of her getting her memories back of that night and how she made him feel.

Levi was used to feeling like girls only wanted him for his body and like he was a rock in his uncle's shoe. A failure and family's black sheep. But Astrid made him want to want her fire, fight and pretty much everything. Levi didn't like the idea of any guy being around her, let around her cheering someone else in his game. I loved how even though he was used to having girls attention, he'd much rather have her fire. Se had taken over his life: his thoughts, mind and even dreams.

I liked the side characters. I might've disliked how Dan kept leaving Astrid on parties to be with random girls but other than that he was friendship goals. He encouraged her, was protective her and just was always there for her. Really hope he gets a better storyline in later books, though. He deserved better than just be girl crazy and be the best friend. Dan is such a loyal friend and I just want a friendship like theirs. They're opposites but they'd go to hell and back for each other.

I did not like Astrid's whole family or Levi's uncle. But I somehow forgave Levi's uncle more than her father or stepsister. I feel like the uncle had better reasons and even though he was horrible to Levi, we also more heard than saw it like we did with Astrid's side of the family. Also the uncle might've acted like he hated his nephew but he never made Levi feel like he could be put aside any minute by someone who wasn't even related to them.

All in all this was out of my comfort zone. I usually avoid bully romance like a plague but even when the relationship with Astrid and Levi was toxic I was living for it, just ask Ruby. The writing was everything and I felt like even though there really wasn't groveling, it served. Levi was so possessive even when when he acted like he hated her and this just almost makes me want to read more bully romance. I honestly couldn't put it down and stayed up until like six am to finish it.