Finding what lay beneath Ronan and Teal’s facades pleasantly surprised me. It horrified me, yet I couldn’t look away because I needed to know if the characters would be okay in the end. A revenge plot sat at the core of this story and watching it unravel felt a little like watching an accident waiting to happen. This book hooked me from start to finish. Helping each other was the therapy they both needed.So back to the rest of my review. These characters put me in mind of Chiron, the wounded healer. In the case of Vicious Prince, the author has presented us with two broken people who find comfort in each other’s arms. All good character-driven tales involve character growth, and this means starting with protagonists who have room for improvement. I would not call them survivors of abuse, not at the start of the story anyway. The point is that Ronan and Teal are young adults who are still working through their issues. I do not believe that Rina Kent has stereotyped these characters. Firstly, I want to point out that different people process trauma in different ways. I’ve read some of the scathing reviews and thought I’d defend my stance on this book. I’ve always been a sucker for the fun and flirty types and Ronan is no exception.Before I continue with my review, I’d like to detour down controversy lane. Just give me a moment to wipe away the drool.

OMG Ronan Astor! Swoon…What was I doing again? Oh right, it’s book review time. Reviewed in Australia on 15 September 2021

Vicious Prince by Rina Kent