{"id":8839,"date":"2020-01-27T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-27T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/?p=8839"},"modified":"2020-01-28T09:32:25","modified_gmt":"2020-01-28T17:32:25","slug":"book-review-twisted-kingdom-by-rina-kent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2020\/01\/27\/book-review-twisted-kingdom-by-rina-kent\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Twisted Kingdom by Rina Kent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Twisted
click to purchase<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Title: Twisted Kingdom<\/a> (Royal Elite School #3<\/a>)
Author: Rina Kent<\/a>
Genre: High School Bully Romance (New Adult)
My rating:<\/strong> 4 of 5 stars<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last books in trilogies are always tricky for me; it’s like I’m watching my children leave the nest. The story is all grown up, and now I feel so fulfilled and still somewhat empty at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate ending of Aiden and Elsa’s story ticked off all of my boxes, except for some backstory questions with which I’ve been struggling. How did Ethan know to show up at the Meet-Up at that moment? What is the actual heart condition Elsa suffers? I know how it started, but what is it she is at risk for developing–because at first, I thought it was some genetic thing, and then we find out ‘oh-no worse.’ But I don’t understand resulting complications–then again I believe that is by far the last thing I should be cross-examining. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But HOW DID ETHAN KNOW TO GO TO THE MEET-UP THAT DAY?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So right, that is where Steel Princess left off, and Rina doesn’t disappoint with the story continuation. I am attributing my Team Aiden campaign to the POV alternating in SP. But I’m not talking about which Horsemen team, but instead Team Aiden vs. Team Elsa. Twisted Kingdom opened up Aiden King’s black heart, and I felt he had a wealth of character depth–but it served to prove to me that Elsa is a fickle and fairweather girlfriend who I couldn’t support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The majority of highlighting I’ve used for this reading was things Elsa did that pissed me off, and by the time she got on board, it was too late for me. Deviant King, I was itchy on things like her willful ignorance of other people despite this rally point of strategy, chess, and Sun Tzu. Elsa is supposedly this master of the playfield — she was shit at it then. She is shit at it now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So by the time I came to the end of Twisted Kingdom, I had hoped that her growth would increase exponentially. Elsa isn’t someone I like as a character, and as Kim, Silver, and Teal begin to form, she is even less impressive entirely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a treasure trove of reveals in this last book. It delivers on a lot of promises made in the previous books. And some surprising POVs pop up in this that deepen the plot further. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I enjoyed the last part of this trilogy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do have one criticism, and that is that Rina Kent does some heavy-handed hinting that I don’t feel it was necessary to plant to readers. It’s unnecessary to tell your reader that there is more to a character than they know. If you write a compelling character, you don’t need to justify that character for sympathy. She does this a few times with Silver, who she has received a great deal of grief over on her reader groups. I feel like it cheapened Silver’s character to have Elsa tell us that we shouldn’t judge her and that we should give her the benefit of curiosity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, also, meh on Knox. He feels like Ronan-lite. I don’t need a diet-Ronan. I have one entirely sinful and enjoyable Ronan. Knox is fluff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advance copy of this book<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\"Twisted
steal and share this<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

About Rina Kent:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rina Kent in an English author who’s constantly parading between France and North Africa due to her studies and her husband’s demanding job.
When she’s not packing suitcases or hopping from one plane to the other, she’s busy whipping her characters to shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since a young age, Rina has been obsessed with storytelling and flawed, edgy characters. Her heroes are often killers and anti-heroes and her books are always sprinkled with darkness, angst, violence, and lots of heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with Rina Kent: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Website<\/a> | Instagram<\/a> | Facebook<\/a> | Twitter<\/a> | BookBub<\/a> | Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Title: Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite School #3)Author: Rina KentGenre: High School Bully Romance (New Adult)My rating: 4 of 5 stars The last books in trilogies are always tricky for me; it’s like I’m watching my children leave the nest. The story is all grown up, and now I feel so fulfilled and still somewhat empty […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8845,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[2,3,2424],"tags":[2375,2376,2494,2496,2635],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BR-TK-Banner.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7355,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2019\/10\/03\/cover-reveal-deviant-king-by-rina-kent\/","url_meta":{"origin":8839,"position":0},"title":"Cover Reveal: Deviant King by Rina Kent","date":"2019-10-03","format":false,"excerpt":"Click to pre-order Title: Deviant King (Royal Elite School Series #1)Author: Rina KentGenre: Dark High School Bully RomanceRelease Date: October 24, 2019 Synopsis: The villain isn\u2019t supposed to be the king. I have a simple plan.Finish Royal Elite School and get into my dream university.One glance from the school\u2019s king\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book It"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Deviant-King-Banner.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8446,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2019\/12\/02\/interviews-would-you-rather-with-royal-elite-school\/","url_meta":{"origin":8839,"position":1},"title":"Interviews: Would You Rather? with Royal Elite School","date":"2019-12-02","format":false,"excerpt":"Deviant King by Rina Kent Ali: Would you rather be invisible or be fast?Elsa & Cole: Invisible.Ronan, Xander, Kim: Fast.Aiden: I still didn\u2019t give you permission to talk to me. Ali: Would you rather eat everything you see or lick everything you see?Ronan: Lick.Kim, Elsa, Xander, Levi and Astrid: Eat.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book It"","img":{"alt_text":"Deviant King by Rina Kent","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/RES-WYR-Banner.jpg?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8451,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2019\/12\/10\/interviews-royal-elite-school-plays-tell-me-a-secret-tell-me-a-lie\/","url_meta":{"origin":8839,"position":2},"title":"Interviews: Royal Elite School Plays Tell Me a Secret, Tell Me a Lie","date":"2019-12-10","format":false,"excerpt":"steal and share this Ali: Tell me a secret about the last person you had sex with or, Tell me a lie you've told your best friend.Elsa: I told my best friend that I\u2019m fine.Cole: I told my best friend that it doesn\u2019t matter. Ali: Tell me a secret you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book It"","img":{"alt_text":"Steel Princess by Rina Kent","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/RES-SL-Banner.jpg?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8373,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/26\/teaser-reveal-steel-princess-by-rina-kent\/","url_meta":{"origin":8839,"position":3},"title":"Teaser Reveal: Steel Princess by Rina Kent","date":"2019-11-26","format":false,"excerpt":"click to purchase Title: Steel Princess (Royal Elites School #2)Author: Rina KentGenre: Dark High School RomanceRelease Date: December 12, 2019 \ud83d\udc51\ud83d\udda4\u2102\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd5e\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd58 \ud835\udd4a\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd5f\ud83d\udda4\ud83d\udc51 The highly anticipated second installment of Royal Elite Series, Steel Princess, is coming on December 12th!\u00a0 What to expect from Steel Princess: \u2714 Dark\u2714 Twisted\u2714 Enemies to Lovers\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book It"","img":{"alt_text":"Steel Princess by Rina Kent","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/SP-FB-Banner.png?fit=1200%2C444&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8430,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/28\/interviews-a-short-chat-with-rina-and-the-res-characters\/","url_meta":{"origin":8839,"position":4},"title":"Interviews: A Short Chat with Rina and the RES Characters","date":"2019-11-28","format":false,"excerpt":"steal and share this Ali: Cruel King and Deviant King reviewers have gone bonkers for Levi and the Horseman; what do you five think about becoming book boyfriendsRonan: Boyfriend? Me? Any time, ch\u00e9ri *winks*Xander: Any time, love *dimpled smile*Levi: I\u2019m only Astrid\u2019s boyfriend.Aiden: Who gave you permission to talk to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book It"","img":{"alt_text":"Deviant King by Rina Kent","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/RES-QA-Banner.jpg?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8462,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2019\/12\/07\/interviews-rina-kent-author-of-royal-elite-series\/","url_meta":{"origin":8839,"position":5},"title":"Interviews: Rina Kent Author of Royal Elite Series","date":"2019-12-07","format":false,"excerpt":"steal and share this Ali: Rina, I'm so excited that you were agreeable to a short interview. I know you have a lot going on with pre-release.\u00a0Rina: My pleasure! Happy to be here. Ali: This is the second novel in the Royal Elite School series; how happy are you with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book It"","img":{"alt_text":"Steel Princess by Rina Kent","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Rina-Kent-Int-Banner-2.jpg?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8839"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8839"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8855,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8839\/revisions\/8855"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}