Romance Readers Retreat: Review: The King (Masterpiece Duet #1) By Skye Warren

*****5 STARS*****

Skye Warren is back to breaking our hearts in the most dark and delicious way with The King, the first in a new spinoff duology. These two books are about Damon and Penny who we met in her Endgame series. Having been intrigued by both characters and having adored that series, I was extremely happy to have heard about this new duet and The King did not disappoint.

Penny's father gambles away everything material worth anything and then uses his daughter as his last gambling chip. Penny is young, but extremely strong. She is well aware of the types of men that frequent the places her father gambles. When she finds herself the newest pawn in his addiction, she sees Damon staring at her across the table. Damon has already broken her heart and she knows if he wins her pain will only multiply.

Damon is a good man who has to do bad things because of the hand life has dealt him. His father is an absolute monster and how anyone can retain their humanity being exposed to that man on a daily basis speaks to his strength and force of will. He loves Penny, but is torn because of his father and the world he lives in. What his father does to Penny in an effort to trap his son is absolutely sickening and gut wrenching.

The King is dark and emotional. At various points Warren will tear your heart out and stomp on it. I was so invested in Damon and Penny's story I found it hard to breath while reading at times it gets that intense. We already know what happens to Jonathan, but seeing everything set up from the perspective of Damon and Penny gives this story a new and gripping layer. I am anxious for The Queen so we can see what becomes of Damon and Penny.

Reviewed by Rosemary Feil

The highest stakes...

My father gambles every night, falling deeper and deeper into debt. When he hits the bottom, he places a new bet: his daughter. I'm his entry bet to the biggest underground poker game.

Every kind of danger circles the velvet-covered table, but only one man makes me tremble.

A trailer park princess.

The son of a criminal king.

We don't belong together, but I'm caught in a twisted game.

His eyes meet mine with dark promise. And when he puts down his cards, I know I'm going to lose more than my body. I'm going to lose everything.