King of Envy Book Review - No Spoilers
Last week I spent an afternoon editing a client's manuscript and discovered she'd written a scene where the hero dramatically declares his love in public, only to have the heroine walk away without a word. My first thought was, "This poor man is going to need therapy." But then I realized—that's what makes it interesting. Sometimes the most compelling love stories are the ones where people want what they can't have and torture themselves over it. That kind of yearning defines King of Envy, where Vuk has been silently obsessed with Ayana for years, watching her from afar while she's engaged to his best friend. It's the kind of painful longing that makes you want to shake sense into everyone involved.
Plot Summary
King of Envy by Ana Huang is the fifth book in the Kings of Sin series. Vuk Markovic is a reclusive billionaire with a scarred past and a dangerous obsession with supermodel Ayana Kidane. For years, he's watched her from the shadows, wanting her but knowing she's off-limits. Ayana appears to live a glamorous life, but her engagement to Jordan Ford, Vuk's best friend and a wealthy heir, is actually a strategic business arrangement to escape her exploitative modeling agency, Beaumont. As the wedding date approaches, Vuk is torn between loyalty to his friend and his consuming desire for Ayana. When Ayana discovers Vuk's feelings aren't one-sided and dangerous forces from Vuk's criminal past resurface, their lives become entangled in secrets, lies, and a dark underworld. This is a forbidden romance with mafia elements, where love, vengeance, betrayal, and survival collide in explosive ways.
Why I Love This Book
I love how King of Envy delivers on the yearning and pining that makes forbidden romance so addictive. Vuk is the ultimate tortured hero—scarred both physically and emotionally, morally grey, and completely pathetic (in the best way) about his obsession with Ayana. He's brooding, mysterious, protective, and the kind of possessive that romance readers dream about. The sexual tension between him and Ayana is electric, and when they finally give in, the payoff is absolutely worth the wait. I appreciate that Ana Huang doesn't shy away from the darkness in Vuk's character—he's done terrible things, and Ayana has to grapple with accepting that side of him. The mafia subplot adds real stakes and danger to the story. Ayana's journey from trapped supermodel to someone who takes control of her own life is empowering. The book balances steamy romance with action and suspense beautifully.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy billionaire romance, forbidden love, morally grey heroes, friends-to-lovers adjacent (engaged to his friend), mafia romance, or obsessive heroes, you'll love this book. It's perfect for readers who like their heroes dark, damaged, and devoted. The spice level is moderate to high with some truly memorable scenes (that elevator scene!). Fans of Ana Huang's writing will appreciate her signature style of intelligent prose, emotional depth, and fan-worthy steamy moments. The story works as a standalone but is enhanced if you've read the previous books in the Kings of Sin series. If you're looking for yearning, tension, and a hero who falls absolutely apart for the heroine, this delivers.
⚠️ Trigger warning: violence, murder, mafia activities, past trauma, scars, exploitation (modeling industry), graphic sexual content, kidnapping, shooting, death, morally grey characters making dark choices
Tagged As
contemporary romance, billionaire romance, forbidden love, mafia romance, morally grey hero, obsessed hero, supermodel heroine, engagement of convenience, best friend's fiancée, scarred hero, Kings of Sin series, book 5, yearning and pining, suspense, action, dark romance elements, standalone within series, HEA
Steam Level
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Explicit
The book features explicit, open-door intimate scenes that are intensely steamy. While there are fewer spicy scenes compared to earlier books in the series, each one is memorable and well-written with strong emotional connection. The elevator scene alone is worth the read. Ana Huang excels at writing heat that feels both sexy and emotionally charged.
