I read the first four books in T.M. Frazier's King series in July and I was hooked. I'd been itching for something dark and gritty and Frazier certainly delivered that. These stories focus on men who choose to live life on their on terms, outside the law. They definitely fall into the realm of anti-heroes. These books are big on drama with plenty of action and intensity, but Frazier counters all of that with surprisingly emotional relationships and characters that forge strong connections, romantic and otherwise.
Frazier's style is graphic (both sex and violence) but it's also fiction, and at the end of the day I was entertained, which was what I was after.
Doe was a girl with no memories. King was fresh out of
prison. Their story was far from conventional but I ate it up. Doe was lost,
afraid, and her future seemed as empty as her past. Her first encounter with
King forged a connection between them and while their relationship got off to a
rocky start (he basically kept her because her friend stole from him) it was
soon obvious that these two people were like two halves of a whole. King lived
life on his own terms (on the wrong side of the law) and was completely unapologetic.
This wasn’t a man looking for redemption or to turn his life around. He was
badass to the core and lived on the edge. As Doe’s past and King’s endgame drew
to its conclusion, I was completely riveted. Frazier took the story darker and
grittier that I anticipated but it’s exactly what I was in the mood for. King’s
friend Preppy provided some unexpected lightness and humor and it was
impossible not to love him (in all his twisted glory). The cliffhanger ending
had me picking up the next book immediately. 4 STARS
King ended with one heck of a cliffhanger so when I
started Tyrant I was desperate for answers. Doe was back at home in a life she
didn’t recognize. Learning who she was held less appeal since she’d created a
new life with King. But there were complications that meant she couldn’t just
walk away from her old life and return to King. Her memories returning brought
fear instead of relief and she was desperate to find a way out of her current
situation. It said a lot that this girl was so willing to walk away (actually
run) from a comfortable, sheltered existence and get back to a life with an
outlaw who lived life on his own terms. Doe and King’s story played out in a dramatic
and violent fashion and I was so there for it. Admittedly, Frazier’s brand of
dark romance isn’t for everyone (graphic violence, drug use, taboo subject
matter), but if you’re in the mood for something gritty (of if dark and twisted
is just your jam), I definitely recommend Frazier’s King series. 4 STARS
Lawless was Bear’s story, a character that appeared in
both of the previous two books in the King series. Where King had always forged
his own path and been something of a loner outlaw, Bear was born into the MC.
It’s the life he’d always known but it had changed. When a girl he met years
ago came to him for help, he found someone he was willing to put above the
club. Bear went through hell in the previous book (Tyrant) and he wasn’t in a
good place when Thia found him. Her
circumstances at home meant she had to grow up fast and take on a lot of
responsibility but now she was in over her head and needed help. Bear was
intense but loyal to a fault and he committed to making things right for Thia –
even if it meant going against his own club, and his own family. I loved the
way Bear was willing to put it all on the line and the sacrifice he was willing to
make was staggering. Once again, Frazier ended right at a pivotal moment and I
would have been ready to pull my hair out if I didn’t already have the next
book ready to go. 4 STARS
Soulless was the conclusion to Bear and Thai’s story and
it didn’t disappoint. Bear now had a target on his back and the MC, his former
brothers, was gunning for him. A person from his past also complicated matters
and he was still making personal sacrifices to keep Thia safe. Bear knew that a
war was coming and he, along with King, was prepared for battle. The whole
series has been a little over the top but Soulless took that extra step and was
just shy of Crazy Town. There was kidnapping, violence, traitors, and shocking
twists. It was a wild story and I just hung on for the ride. As I’ve said
before, Frazier’s brand of dark and gritty story telling isn’t for everyone.
She pushes the boundaries and then decides to go even further. But I’ve grown
attached to these wrong-side-of-the-law characters and can’t wait to continue
the series. 4 STARS
HAVE YOU READ THIS SERIES?
DO YOU ENJOY DARKER THEMES?
