4 Dark Room Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level 🌶️.5/5

I enjoyed this way more than Grimstone, but I think Grimstone is almost to thank for that because I already knew about the town, I knew about the Monarch and I knew the vibes - so I didn't need that foundation and could just enjoy the vibes... AND BOY DID THIS BRING VIBES...

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
Elena Zelenska is desperate to flee Ukraine, so when the opportunity arises for her to become a mail-order bride, she seizes it. At first, Lorne is everything she hopes and dreams of, a successful author and “devoted father” to his daughter. She expects the perfect American dream, but once she arrives and learns she’ll be staying at the Monarch while his house is being built, his actions and mannerisms start to change and become more sinister and manipulative. All her preconceived notions are questioned as Lorne’s lies start to unravel, shattering the picture he painted of their future life.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
I enjoyed Elena’s personality because of how much she grows, but it’s more about realising who she’s been all along as you spend more time in her mind. Initially, she comes off as simplistic, innocent, and naive, but that stems from living a cloistered and sheltered life, not from a lack of intelligence. She’s actually very clever; it just takes her a bit of time to arrive at the answer. I loved how curious and brave she was, standing up for little things with her small, rebellious FU actions towards Lorne were so feisty! She initially tries to be the perfect wife, but the more time she spends with Atlas Covett and the more freedom she gains to express herself, the more she opens up and comes into her own. That simplicity evaporates, revealing her complex character beneath.

Atlas is the classic surly, grumpy man in Grimstone, and in Monarch, he’s still surly and grumpy. But MY GOD, does he have a literal heart of gold. He’s so sweet, caring, and compassionate. While he doesn’t say much and keeps his grumpiness intact, he’s incredibly soft underneath. I initially expected him to be a bit darker because the overall vibes of the book are quite dark, but with Lorne being so awful, Atlas’s goodness balances it out. He’s the ultimate sweetheart and everything you could hope for in an MMC. LIKE A WALKING GREEN FLAG!

The writing is haunting and spooky as you try to piece together what’s happening. Although there’s dual POV, most of the story is from Elena’s perspective, and because she’s still figuring things out, you’re with her every step of the way, trying to discern what’s real and what’s not.

Sophie Lark has a compelling way of telling a story, and the more of her books I read, the more I appreciate how she puts together her narratives. She has a knack for getting into your head and messing with your mind. You don’t see the twists coming, and when they do, you’re left reeling, wondering how you missed them! Her writing draws you in, captivating your attention with spooky Halloween vibes.

There were a couple of aspects that kept this from being a full 5 stars for me...

1. I didn't necessarily understand Lorne's "villain narrative". It's never really explained why he is doing what he does and why he wants to torture and abuse Elena. His purpose is not explored as its glossed over and you just have to accept he is a "bad guy".
2. It's never explained why Mrs Cross (the nanny) is such a bitch and why she treats Ivy so badly. You can only guess she is jealous of Elena and Lorne's relationship or something but why she's basically The Trunchbull is never explained...
3. The ending WAS SO quick. I am a dark romance reader so I wanted to see a little bit more of the tension of the end and developments of her kidnapping being explored a bit more. It gets resolved very, very quickly, with an almost "Scooby Doo Villian Speech" and then it's wrapped up too neatly in a few pages.
4. It's also never really explained why Ivy doesn't speak. It's inferred it's due to some trauma relating to her mother's death and how she is coping with it, but it's not ever discussed. It's just something that you have to inherently guess based on part of the plot.
5. It's never explained why Lorne needed to marry her. Was he just looking for someone to murder or was there another reason?

Something that I do love in Sophie Lark's books is the embedded art in her chapters. It's always a special surprise when you turn the page and it's a picture of something that happened or something that is going to be happening. I love it and recommend opening the ebook on a colour Kindle App (on your phone, iPad or desktop) to see their magnificence in colour. It's not just like one or two character pictures but interwoven into the story. I wish more authors incorporated more art into their books.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Dual POV
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Strangers to Lovers
▶ Age Gap
▶ Virgin FMC
▶ Gothic Vibes
▶ Forbidden Romance
▶ Slow Burn
▶ Touch Her You Die

𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ He Brings Her Food
▷ Under Table Touching
▷ Cages Her With His Arms
▷ Suit Daddy
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Tending to Injuries

Overall, I had a really good time with Monarch. I love the vibes, I love the characters, and I love the story. If you're looking for a little bit of a lighter psychological romance, I would recommend picking this up.

Thank you to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and Sophie Lark for the gifted copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own