Reserved, controlled, and proper to a fault, Kai Young has neither the time nor inclination for chaos—and Isabella, with her purple hair and inappropriate jokes, is chaos personified.
With a crucial CEO vote looming and a media empire at stake, the billionaire heir can’t afford the distraction she brings.
Isabella is everything he shouldn’t want, but with every look and every touch, he’s tempted to break all his rules…and claim her as his own.
***
Bold, impulsive, and full of life, Isabella Valencia has never met a party she doesn’t like or a man she couldn’t charm...except for Kai Young.
It shouldn’t matter. He’s not her type—the man translates classics into Latin for fun, and his membership at the exclusive club where she bartends means he’s strictly off limits.
But she can’t deny that, beneath his cool exterior, is a man who could make her melt with just a touch.
No matter how hard they try, they can’t resist giving into their forbidden desires.
Even if it costs them everything.
Kings of Sin. Book 2
Well, I'd say it was tame. This is my main impression.
With the world of billionairs and so much wealth you'd think there will be something crazier, but there is actually nothing. So sometimes I wonder why take such settings.
And with how I read a lot of fast-paced online novels that have crazy twists at every turn now books like these feel tame.
Anyway, I'll be honest that I started this book a long time ago, maybe right after I finished the first one, but later I got swept into online novels again and finished it only these two days after I got the online novel fatigue / nothing to read (actually I do but that thing is massive now and terrifies me, it needs my full attention). But I had this gap not because the book itself is boring, it is decent, I just had the mistake of finding that the character I'm interested in (Sloane) is the FMC of the 4th book. I was thinking about her too much while trying to read (you know, something similar to "I have to finish this one and the 3rd before I start the 4th, becuase reading not in order is devastating to me").
And the book itself is kinda, well, it's okay I'd say. Nothing crazy.
On one side we have lively Isa, who is beaming with energy, but actually feels insecure because how unaccomplished she is compared to others. She jumps from job to job and can't find her aspiration.
On the other hand we have Kai, who is so polished and proper. The epitome of high education, proper etiquette and translating books into Latin as a hobby.
Isa considered him boring, he considered her a danger.
But then he heard how she plays piano and it all spiraled from there.
The main "conflict" between them is that "they're not fit for each other". But actually it's not that they don't fit, it's the timing's problem. And the timing of them coming together was right before Kai took part in elections for the future CEO for his family company. That's right, no nepotism and backdoors, he is too prideful to fall below and use any means that are below him.
And of course him dating a girl with purple hair and tattoos who worked as a bartender (even if the establishment was as prestigious as famous Valhalla club that served only to the elite group) became the means to attack him personally. And Isabella was attacked by tabloids as well.
But the thing is, where the pride part kicks in. Kai was too full of himself to asess the situation calmly and realistically, he was too sure of his position and prosects, but then nothing came what he planned. The big deal was postponed, his candid photos with Isabella made a splash and he had to do PR crisis. Only after finally coming back to earth and turning the IQ back online he realized where the problem is.
This situation also put pressure on their relationship. But mostly Isabella. As mentioned she is pretty insecure about how she is unaccomplished compared to her brothers. Her family is actually wealthy, but they're too low-key and they have a policy for their children - do whatever you want, but if you have a dream you have to make it a career, unlike Isa who jumped from job to job and never stuck to anything. her only goal was to write a book, but the most crutial moment of her finishing was when shit hit the fan. And later at the family gathering she did not bring the finished manuscript as she promised. Which was a critical hit. So seeing Kai again who was "revitalized" (he figured out the problem with elections by that point) and her being so... with nothing, she broke up. But of course they did not spend too mich time separated, they were too hurt and too in love to leave each other, so by the stroke of luck when they met they reconciled. And that was it.
Oh yeah and Isabella was published of course (who is surprised), but the sweet part is that Kai sent her manuscript before she finished, the book was her biggest shackle, but when she got the boost of support from the third party it accelerated her creativity. Sometimes you don't need a full book to strike the deal, but she was too timid to let anyone see it, only Kai (like many authors sign to write a trilogy, but the above-mentioned trilogy does not exist yet except the idea and framework).
So in general the story was okay.
My biggest criticism would be following two things:
- Just because of the word "pride" in the title there was no need for the such extensive use of the word in the book.
- It's another example of "tell, not show". In many pieces nowadays the things are told to the viewer/reader instead of being shown through some actions for example. For example MMCs often say a phrase like - She is the most *blank* woman I have ever known. But we don't see this recreated in actions.
RATE: 3,75/5.