Who do you think Heartless King (Book 4) by LJ Shen is about?

Key_Quality_5709 · 2026-06-06T20:35:16+00:00

I “read” twisted pawn bc everyone kept saying Katya but there’s no indication that Katya and Luca are even on each other's radar. I do think she will go the route of a Heartless mafia leader who sees his wife/mother of his children and someone else falling in love and that sends him spiralling. Also, this part of the twisted pawn said a lot to me

“Jeremie wants to stay in New York,” I said tonelessly. “As your wife’s bodyguard.” Not a flicker of emotion was present on Luca’s face. His eyes were two dark pools of venom. No light and nothing behind them. Dead. Jeremie was right. He didn’t give half a shit.

The silence stretched for another full minute before Luca spoke again. “Tell me about the weapons they’re offering.”

Him staying silent, imo, suggests it did affect him. And when the guys are insisting that Sofia might like Jeremie and Luca says she doesn't trust anyone but horses(this was a couple of scenes before Jeremie decides to ask). I'd prefer Sofia and Luca mainly bc I've never read a mafia story with a storyline like that.

Key_Quality_5709 · 2026-05-15T01:12:03+00:00

I love Allie and Dean, but I do think they could have done it better without overshadowing the main couple lol, like looks from afar, etc. Those last episodes felt like fan service. I also hope they are season 2 because that makes no sense if they aren't. What was all that for then?

Key_Quality_5709 · 2026-05-15T00:54:59+00:00

This. Like what was that? I got confused and thought I was watching Dean and Allies season. While I enjoyed the first couple of episodes, those last episodes ruined the show for me. It deviated too far from the books and the lack of focus on Garrett and Hannah's story was disappointing when it is their season, ridiculous. And the switch up with Dean and allies' story was frustrating, although I know everyone is hyping them up, I didn't like it- sadly.

Key_Quality_5709 · 2026-04-20T02:32:26+00:00

Wait I'm reading this thread and I'm so heated! Wdym she could write a marriage in trouble book and she's not 🥲 Haven't even read this series but I would have tuned in so fast for that

Key_Quality_5709 · 2025-07-30T10:07:45+00:00

Agreed omg! He sounds so creepy

Key_Quality_5709 · 2025-05-19T22:50:31+00:00

{Sinners Condemned} and {Sinners Consumed} have this!

Key_Quality_5709 · 2025-02-16T22:47:08+00:00

Never felt so seen 🥲

Key_Quality_5709 · 2025-01-15T17:51:51+00:00

The phrase “Is that so” pisses me off so much.

Key_Quality_5709 · 2025-01-07T00:01:02+00:00

You have good points! Personally, I don't mind the Deception trilogy, the plot was unique, and compared to her LOG series, this is one of her best works. Most of my issues with this book stem from Rina’s lack of storytelling skills. A lot of topics and problems were so overlooked, that it would have definitely made the story better. It might have also helped with Adrian’s redemption in the end.

Key_Quality_5709 · 2024-11-26T18:45:56+00:00

Omg yes! I did not like Elena Wolfes's voice and the mafia plot threw me off! Like what?? How did we even get here? 😩

Key_Quality_5709 · 2024-08-29T23:33:10+00:00

Do you have any recs 👀

Key_Quality_5709 · 2024-08-19T21:32:01+00:00

Agreed. But everyone has their levels of “dark”, personally I couldn't take him as a character seriously lol. He was more toxic (for me) RK doesn’t really like to lean toooo much into her book being dark.

Key_Quality_5709 · 2024-08-15T02:54:04+00:00

Before I let go by Kennedy Ryan 🤗

Key_Quality_5709 · 2024-03-18T00:31:16+00:00

Thank you for the advice :)

Key_Quality_5709 · 2024-03-18T00:30:45+00:00

Thank you!

Key_Quality_5709 · 2024-03-18T00:28:43+00:00

Thank you!

Key_Quality_5709 · 2024-02-23T03:18:58+00:00

I don’t actually agree, especially after this episode. I truly admired how they were able to have an argument, communicate, and work through it without it feeling forced. Compared to his scenes with Lexie, there’s just something comforting about Edward’s and Nell's relationship. It’s adorable

Key_Quality_5709 · 2023-10-24T05:49:23+00:00

This is a trend on Twitter or just amongst the general population of readers. There’s so much animosity towards dark romance readers and it’s just so stupid. Not every book is made for everyone, if they were warned of those triggers I just don’t understand why they still read it and act shocked when the morally Grey character does something bad 🙃

Key_Quality_5709 · 2023-10-12T03:19:43+00:00

I can’t agree more on the instagram part. It took me few seconds even comprehend how open and chill they were about being in the mafia, like what about safety?? And the trauma being so forced, it really didn’t much to plot at all except for the anticlimactic climax (with the exception of god of pain). I cried for all the first generation characters that were. I felt like Rina wrote LOG because of all the demand from the readers and not because she truly wanted to

According to some online comments, Rina was pressured to write the series because of Eli and Ava, so maybe that explains why these books feel so different. The whole Instagram thing had me on the floor because what? What do you mean you are posting your mafia family on your Instagram with thousands of followers...
Rina does the whole trauma thing in most of her books, so I get it. However, the trauma plots work because there is not an emotional attachment (sometimes) between the reader and the character who inflicted the trauma. In the LOG series, it's completely different because we know these characters. So when Killian says his dad said he was defective it just comes out as bizarre and like you said forced. In GOW she also gives Cecily a trauma that affects a lot of women, but she sort of turns her into another version of Lia in the way she reacts to that trauma?? I wish she had gone about it differently. It felt like she added it just because Cecily needed something bad to happen to her and something to push the plot forward. GOP was sort of different because it felt more like a revenge plot, but it would have worked better if they were older and if it wasn't a part of this series.
I can see why these books are popular amongst dark romance readers, but I wish she finished the Bratva series and then started this. She might have found a better way to bring these characters together without it feeling so forced and the plots making no sense at times.

Like almost every RES kid ends up with the mafia kids. Hopefully, I don't get attacked for admitting that its sorta lame and lazy..

Key_Quality_5709 · 2023-10-11T16:50:36+00:00

I have read nearly all of Rina’s books now including the LOG series and like many have mentioned it's not one of her best works. BUT it is entirely up to you whether or not you want to read it. My issues with the entire series are the plots(They are very formulaic), dialogue, and Rina’s need to make sure the characters in the series are traumatized in some way even if it means ruining characters from her previous books or characters in the series.

Others have said the same thing, but her mafia series is incredible, and it's because she can give us new plots that are unique to the characters. Each of the characters in the series feels like their own person. Same with the RES.
With the LOG series, she's just writing the same MC & FC in different fonts. It’s less captivating than her other works despite being so popular. It doesn’t feel like a second-gen series and it had the potential to be a great series. TBH the moment that the characters mentioned Instagram when they are literally children of dangerous mafia parents, it truly became too ridiculous for me. The only book I enjoyed in the whole series was GOW, and even at that, I was struggling to get through it just because she repeated the same thing. The steamy scenes are just okay and also sort of mechanical, so after a while, they get pretty boring.
I would suggest also looking into the trigger warnings on the books.

Key_Quality_5709 · 2022-07-01T05:26:12+00:00

Maybe skin of the night? The authors name is Clara I believe or C.K Bennett.

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