Deviant King

I’ll admit, I went into *Deviant King* skeptical of yet another ‘brooding billionaire heir’ trope, but Rina Kent flips the script by making the power imbalance the *point*. This isn’t a hero who’s secretly a softie—it’s a hero who weaponizes charm, and Shane East’s narration sells every manipulative syllable. His performance is *chewing-scenery* good, especially in the scenes where the king’s politeness curdles into something darker. Keira Stevens, meanwhile, nails the push-pull of a heroine who’s equal parts terrified and intrigued, her voice trembling with the kind of raw vulnerability that makes you root for her even when she makes questionable choices. The story’s pacing is where things get interesting—and occasionally frustrating. The first half is a masterclass in tension, with Kent stretching out the ‘will they/won’t they’ until it snaps, but the middle sags slightly under repetitive power struggles. That said, the payoff is worth it: the final act delivers a twist that reframes the entire dynamic, and the narration *sings* in the more explosive scenes. My one critique? The sound mixing occasionally drowns Stevens’ softer lines under the score, which is a shame given how much emotion she packs into those moments. Still, if you love romances where the love interest is the villain (or at least *acts* like one), this audiobook is a deliciously twisted treat—just don’t listen while operating heavy machinery. You’ll be too busy holding your breath.