King of Wrath: The book that got me into contemporary romance novels

I have never been a fan of romance novels and their unrealistic happily-ever-afters. Even as a child, I never really favoured romance stories, except when it came to animes. However, the King of Wrath by Ana Huang was a revelation for me. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I am often intimidated by big books, and since English isn't my first language, it can be challenging for me to read them.

Ana Huang's writing was easy to understand, which helped me finish the book in just two days. Hence started my obsession with morally ambiguous men and broody green flags. I blame Bookstagram for this. I also started reading romance purely for escapism.

TROPES

Billionaire CEO X Jewellery Heiress

Grumpy Hero

Arranged Marriage

Dislike to Love

Forced Proximity

Interracial

High Society

This book was a delightful surprise! Ana does a fantastic job building up the emotional intensity and tantalising tension. It wasn't as smutty as I first thought it might be, but there are plenty of passionate scenes for those who enjoy that.

While this book doesn't offer a new spin on the marriage of convenience trope, if you're a fan of this theme, you'll likely have a ball with this book. The characters, Vivian Lau and Dante Russo, start as somewhat frosty acquaintances, but they strike up a truce to make their time together more bearable. As they come to understand each other, they realise their first impressions were off the mark. The progression of their relationship is a fun journey, even with its little bumps along the way. I do wish Ana had lingered a little longer on their relationship development instead of breezing through time. Their chemistry is palpable, especially in the more private moments. If you like men who are a bit provocative, Dante will be right up your alley!

Our heroine, Vivian, is so easy to connect with. Her internal tug-of-war between being the "perfect Asian daughter" and pursuing her own desires is all too real. Her struggle to juggle family expectations and personal wants will probably strike a chord with many readers, especially those from similar cultural backgrounds. It's a little exasperating watching her parents overstep, but she really shines when she stands up to Dante. Dante recognises her strength and, despite himself, starts to admire and even like her. Dante is a well-rounded character with a pretty standard backstory for this genre. He's the stereotypical rich, mafia-esque Italian, but I would've loved to see more of his relationships, especially with his brother. Dante's methods for conflict resolution leave a bit to be desired, but his attempts to make things right are admirable.

A part of me would find my way to her. She was my North star, the brightest jewel in my sky.

Wrapping up, this romance delivers on its promise, so I immediately went to Waterstones and picked up the rest of Ana's books.

⭐️ 4/5

🌶️ 4/5