I’ll never forget the summer my daughter painted the shed bright blue on a dare from her little brother. The garden was chaos for weeks: paint splatters on my shoes, our "guard" zucchini sporting streaks of cobalt, and my husband claiming it was “modern art.” That’s family—unexpected, messy, and somehow endearing. This week, I escaped the madness for an evening and dove into Fierce King—nothing like a dark, twisty romance to make backyard shenanigans seem tame by comparison. Sometimes, a good book is the only sanctuary when life feels a little too dramatic.
Plot Summary
Fierce King: An Enemies to Lovers Romance by Sadie Kincaid launches the L.A. Ruthless Series with a bang. The story follows Alana Carmichael, a fiercely loyal daughter forced into marriage with Alejandro Montoya—the ruthless kingpin of Los Angeles’s criminal underworld. Alana’s only motivation: saving her father, no matter the personal cost. Alejandro, powerful, deadly, and commanding, has his own demons and ambitions. As Alana and Alejandro clash in a high-stakes game of power and survival, their mutual distrust spirals into intense, undeniable chemistry. Set in the dark, glittering shadows of L.A., the novel balances sizzling attraction with mafia politics, betrayals, and secrets that threaten to destroy them both. Book one sets up a web of tension, danger, and forbidden romance—the Montoya crime family at its heart.
Why I Love This Book
I love how unapologetically intense Fierce King is from the very first page. Alana’s determination and wit grabbed me—she isn’t a damsel, but someone who stands her ground even when terrified. Alejandro is magnetic, equal parts menace and vulnerability. Every scene crackles with rivalry and longing, and I was hooked watching these two try (and fail) to fight their connection. The emotional stakes feel real: loyalty, family, self-worth—all tangled up with danger and desire. More than anything, I loved the way small, quiet moments gave space to breathe between the action and steam. It’s a dark ride, but the characters’ grit and growth made me root for them, flaws and all.
Who Will Like This Book
If you love dark romance with mafia intrigue, forced marriage twists, and enemies-to-lovers fireworks, this one’s made for you. Fierce King is for readers who crave high drama, complex relationships, and risk—plus a heroine who bites back and a hero who’s as dangerous as he is irresistible. The book pulls no punches, dancing in morally gray territory and delivering a hefty dose of explicit steam. Fans of authors like Cora Reilly, Sophie Lark, or the darker side of Tessa Bailey will find lots to enjoy here.
⚠️ Trigger warning: explicit sexual content, non-consensual situations, physical violence, abuse, grief, manipulation, threats, and morally gray actions.
Tagged As
dark romance, mafia romance, forced marriage, enemies to lovers, L.A. setting, crime family, morally gray hero, strong heroine, forbidden love, explicit, steamy, power struggle, contemporary romance, series starter, adult themes, indie romance, HEA potential
Steam Level
The steam in Fierce King is off the charts. Expect detailed, explicit scenes fueling both the tension and the characters’ emotional arcs. Nothing is fade-to-black—each encounter drives the story forward, making this a definite pick for readers who like their romances bold, boundary-pushing, and definitely not safe for work.
