DNF Review: King's Ex by EJ Russell

King's Ex by E.J. Russell
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF at 57%

My issues:

• This book proceeds at a breakneck pace with no pauses until over halfway through, and it is honestly kind of exhausting to read. I need pauses more often than that, otherwise the urgency gets tiring.

• The number one present “emotion” still, at almost 60%, is horny. Just horny.

• The MCs don’t really know each other outside of said horny, and for some reason, once they’re forced into a room for 24 hours straight, they allegedly have conversations, but we skip right over those. Their connection is not believable. Instead, I have to read about their dithering and horniness again, rather than being shown any of these supposedly amazing conversations that would build a believable romance.

• Honestly, maybe this one gets fixed later, but damn, they have hella boring powers. The other royals have like x-men level powers, and this dude just…doesn’t sweat. Sure, I’d love to have that power, but it makes for hella boring reading.

• All of the issues that the MCs are dithering about nonstop can be solved by simple conversations.

• Does Bastien want a gold star for checks notes not sexually assaulting Nico because he’s a king? Because that’s the vibe I’m getting.

• The repetitive insecurities of Nico got old so fast. Isn’t he super competent in his wine life or whatever? Sure Bastien is a king, but he’s kind of a dumfuck king tbh. Made for boring reading when they kept harping on this.

• I adore fake relationship tropes, but this was a very weak showing.

Overall, this was just bland with no real connection or romance between the main characters.