Book: Scorched Kingdom by C.J. Primer
Reviewed by Booksbystarlightandshadows
Rating: 3/5
The tension when Ava was in the Dollhouse had my completely on edge, especially when it became clear Gideon had covered his tracks. My heart was slowly sinking for that section of the book. Once we were back on campus little had changed for Ava, and the Kings go back to being their usual possessive selves. Ava decides she won't be a passenger in her life anymore though which I loved but I'd have liked to have seen more of her plan to make the Kings unravel as so far the Kings have had zero consequences or regrets about how they treated her. There is also zero grovelling (Wes does apologise for the hallway but that's about it) and Ava 100% deserves some for being dropped in a game she knew nothing about.
I know the MMCs are villains but I am struggling a little with them; they still treat Ava awfully and if there is only one book to go, and judging by the POVs we see even after the Dollhouse threat, none of them seem to really like her beyond that initial possessiveness. Wes is probably the closest but Raf is still name calling and lashing out about Daphne (he lost all the points from the French Toast breakfast) and although he does have some decent one liners, Ford's party execution was just gross and it just feels like there is no thought for Ava the person at all in this relationship. I'm rooting for Bailey to steal her away at this point! There were a few moments where I felt like I had a missed something too or would have loved an on page conversation on (like Ford, Wes and Raf after the fight, or Ava bringing up her collateral) which I was looking for to even out some of the faster paced chapters.
Honestly, I wouldn't be mad if there was a fourth book as the Secret Society element hasn't really started and I was invested in the Invictus plotline from the get go. I am looking forward to the trials and am trusting the process that it will all come together, and somehow the Kings are going to realise they are currently not worthy of Ava and need to start treating her as more than a Doll.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read