Lords of Wrath (Dark College Bully Romance) : Royals of Forsyth University

You built the wheel, boys. I just gave it a nice little spin

You know you read a good book when your eyes are burning the next morning from staying up till late and there's 0 regrets. That's me right now writing this review.

THIS IS NOT SPOILER FREE

All we have seen so far is a couple of 1 on 1 scenes, a few threesome scenes with one of the trio watching while another has sex/sexual interactions with Story and a trio revenge scene against Story but there was no scene with the four of them together in the same room. It should be in the last book, right? There's no way the authors didn't think about putting them together, the one bed trope needs to come in right about now.

I also refuse to believe that is Rath in the cover, that's not my Rath.

⚠️TW: graphic abuse, dub/non-con, intense bullying, humiliation, mutilation, suicidal ideation, blood and knife play, murder, sex trafficking

This book picks right up from where Story vows her revenge against the three boys and that was the main plotline of this book, for at least half of the book. Sweet, sweet revenge.

Story was sexy af here. She low key gave me Lana vibes just because of how determined they both are. Story's fire in this book was just so beautiful to see, her character development was the best in this book. I was clapping my hands like a seal every time she moved her pawns accordingly and laid all the puzzle pieces around just for it to come and choke the trio in the back. I loved every bit of her revenge, it's the way she meticulously planned the methods of revenge against each one of them using another's bully method. They got what they were looking for - their ugly reflections when they looked in the mirror since the trio refused to acknowledge it. Especially the one with Rathbone because.. it's always the quietest that is the most screwed up and that's him in the three of them:

I wonder if it feels like it felt for me, that night down in the basement. Is he trying to ignore us? Is he on the verge of crying? Does he imagine he’s somewhere else—somewhere softer and kinder? Does he want to fucking die?

I loved seeing them panic and stressed over who's screwing them over and I would have been much happier if they didn't know for a longer time because I felt like the realisation came too quick. Just look at the psycho accepting that he has found a match for him:

In another universe, I might have found it in me to feel proud. She fucked Rath over so good. Got into Tristian’s head so deeply. Brought me to my knees so efficiently

I'd say this book is on the 25-30% scale of darkness. It did get a little dark after Story was exposed to be the mastermind behind the trio's anxiety which made them harm her with certain methods to the extent of her almost killing herself. It was definitely darker than the first one. The book was marketed to be a work of nightmares but I slept rather well. It could be one for readers who don't often read about blood/knife play.

The trio obviously got a glow down in this book because they were being played well. I loved seeing Killian distressed about his lame pregame superstitions being destroyed:

"They took my shit,” he’s barking, face all hard and red. “My socks. My baseball card. The guitar string, the gum, the—” he pauses, jaw going tight

I hope Rath needs therapy before he can even read a piano sheet and that Tristian favourite car goes up in flames. It was a little dramatic that the boys thought checking Story's vagina and ass was the first important thing after finding Killian drugged and tied up in his bedroom. But what can I expect from a book like this?

I have to say their come back against Story was probably the highlight of the book because their quarter-dark sides came out. And the relationship development that came after that was redeeming to read. The boys becoming soft, I admit, was cute. Killian, the guy who cried over his belongings missing, is the same guy who felt a poem for Story:

She lifts her head, and our faces are so close, her breath fanning over me, that I can see every speck of color in her eyes. Brushing a piece of wet hair off her cheek, I find that I don’t even need to try. The words come unbidden, without effort or thought. “God, you’re so fucking beautiful."

Tristian got Story a brand new car just because he thinks she regards him as something more than an ATM machine:

She loves her new car, but she’s not here for my money. She isn’t swayed by pretty men or yachts or flowers. Story is my Lady, bound to me in a net of circumstance

Rath using her to blow himself off the night before just so he could cuddle her after:

But there were some things that were real. I never used those mornings we were together

They were growing into their own skin especially towards the end and I liked that there was some maturity about owning their shit, this three boys finally learnt how to apologise in their own ways!

The only reason why this was not a five star is because the climax of this book felt like it was too short. It was packed into the last 25% of the book which is usually the part where readers will read faster than reciting the multiplication table because of the excitement of nearing the end. The revelations and the character development in the boys were featured in this last portion of the book as well and it would have been nice to read more of it, more exciting drama if it had started before.

I still don't care about the frat thing in the U so I'm not going to talk one word about it. I'll start caring when I have to such as after Story and her boys' conclusion.

Also one question, where did their guy-who-saves-their-ass-from-prison go? He didn't appear in the book entirely.

The Royals of Forsyth University Series ratings
Lords of Pain