I really enjoyed this one.

Going in, I was expecting something much darker based on Rina Kent’s reputation, but Cruel King actually felt surprisingly cosy in its own way. Yes, the characters are damaged, messy, and carrying plenty of baggage, but underneath all the tension there was a softness to the story that I wasn’t expecting.

Levi and Astrid kept me invested from start to finish, and I loved watching their relationship develop. It still had the angst, the banter, and the emotional moments I was hoping for, even if it wasn’t as dark as I’d built it up to be in my head.

I’m definitely glad I made the decision to head back and start from the beginning. It’s made me even more excited to keep making my way through the Rinaverse and see how all the characters lives intertwine.