Queens and Monsters Series
Here I am back at it again, and then work and life in general is stressful, I gotta admit reading just allows me to check out. It may or may not be worth nothing, but as someone who has read JT Geissinger in the past, and love her varied writing styles, I do have somewhat high expectations.
Here is my review of this series:
Book 1: Ruthless Creatures - this one follows Kage and Nat's love story. if you're not into mafia stories or instalust stories, it may be kinda difficult to read. I found myself liking the narrators, world building, and just JT in general, I was excited to explore this created universe. I was not really a fan of the instalust aspect, and I felt if we had more of Kage's pov, this book would have been better. I overall gave this one 4/5.
Book 2: Carnal Urges - this book follows Declan and Sloane's story. I loved the witty banter and Michelle Sparks brought a lot of life to Sloane. I also loved the continued world building and found myself flying through this book. I wish we would have maybe gotten someone other than Troy to narrate, sorry but why are we only using 1 male to read multiple male bodies and we couldn't get an Irish man to do Declan proud? I would overall rate this forced proximity romance a 4.5/5.
Book 3: Savage Hearts - this book follows Malek and Riley's love story. This also follows the formula of forced proximity, but I liked how it continued with the world building and Riley in particular felt very fleshed out. I wish we had more Malek centric chapters though and learned more about the Bravta (maybe another series....🤔). I overall felt this book was 4.25/5. I felt again, we needed a fresh male voice for Malek and more of his pov in general.
Book 4: Brutal Vows - this book follows Spider and Reyna. I can't lie....I got like 9 chapters in and just couldn't do it. He was a hurt and immature man who rewrote history to the point of it being hella annoying and made me roll my eyes. I felt Reyna needed an actual man. this book was DNF, not even reading the epilogue could make me interested.
#darkromancereads🖤🖤🖤 #queensandmonsters #jtgeissingerbooks #booktok #bookrecommendations
Having delved into the Queens and Monsters series myself, I completely resonate with the mixed feelings that arise while reading this unique collection of dark romance novels. J.T. Geissinger truly crafts an intense universe rich with mafia intrigue, compelling characters, and complex relationships, making it a captivating escape when life feels overwhelming. One of the highlights of the series is the intricate world-building that threads through each book, enhancing the overall narrative and giving depth to the criminal empires and supernatural elements introduced. Particularly, I appreciated how each story adds layers to previously built environments, immersing readers into the dark and brooding atmosphere unique to this series. The varied narrators and POVs provide fresh perspectives, although I agree that more balanced viewpoints—especially from male leads like Kage and Malek—would enrich the reader's understanding of their motivations and emotional arcs. For instance, the exploration of the Bravta—briefly touched upon in "Savage Hearts"—left me eager for a potential spin-off to expand this fascinating faction's lore. Narration choice does impact the listening experience too. Having the same male narrator voice multiple distinct characters can sometimes reduce the authenticity of the audiobook experience. For fans who value authentic cultural nuances, like an Irish accent for Declan in "Carnal Urges," this can be a missed opportunity. Regarding the fourth book, "Brutal Vows," your honesty about not finishing it reflects a common challenge with series that explore flawed and sometimes unlikable characters. While the hurt and immature traits can add realism, they also risk disengagement if not balanced well with character growth and emotional payoff. Overall, this series is well-suited for readers who enjoy dark mafia romances with complex, often flawed characters, witty dialogue, and immersive world-building. It serves as an intense literary getaway that compels you to keep turning pages despite some narrative discomforts or contentious romantic tropes. Sharing this review felt like a way to connect with fellow dark romance enthusiasts who appreciate nuanced storytelling that pushes the boundaries of traditional romance novels.