Relentless Queen by Genevieve Ami Moon Review

Library of Angels Rating: 4 stars

On Kindle Unlimited: Yes

Publication Date: May 11, 2024

HEA: Unknown (Book 1 of 2)

Version: E-Book

 ** Trigger warnings need to be taken seriously in this book as there is on page SA. **

This is one of the darkest books I have read so far and it is a heavy hitter. With that being said, it was one hell of a ride.

The story begins with Aluxis witnessing the brutal murder of her family, throwing her into the foster care system. There, she meets Jo, her one glimmer of hope in the darkness. Months before her 18th birthday, she's placed in a new foster home where she meets her foster brothers—Cade, Atticus, Harlan, Lucian, and Marzin. Some of these guys are the same ones who tormented her during her time at the group home, though their reasons remain a mystery—at least at first. It doesn’t take long for emotions to rise and true motives to come to light. Each of these boys harbors their own secrets, making everything more complicated.

“Be careful who you trust. Why do you think the alarm didn’t work?” -Unknown

Now, this book... wow. It had me in a chokehold from the very beginning. The mystery and suspense I crave in a dark romance were all there. You know Aluxis’s family was murdered for a reason, but as the plot thickens, it becomes clear that she must also pay for her parents’ sins. Her placement into her first foster home wasn’t by accident; she’s there to be broken, and broken she is.… well almost - until she gets a text from an unknown number.  

Let’s talk about the boys... We hate them at first, obviously. They’re cruel, rude, and downright deranged, but isn’t that why we end up loving them in the end? The catch—one of them may have had a hand in her family’s murder. I found myself wanting to root for them all, especially Harlan and Marzin (gotta love an unhinged duo), but it’s hard when the villain might be someone who’s caused Aluxis unimaginable pain.

One of the things I loved about this book was the mystery POVs: the “Villain,” “Hacker,” and “Wild Card.” Getting the villain's perspective made me despise them even more—no redemption arc here, in my opinion. Just ‘EF’ this person. Their identity remains hidden by the end of Book 1, which only adds to the suspense. The hacker’s identity is revealed, which is a much-needed breath of fresh air, or so we think while Wild Card remains a bit of a mystery, though I believe context clues give away their identity.

This book is packed with jaw-dropping twists and WTF moments that kept me glued to the pages—I read it all in one sitting. You feel every ounce of pain Aluxis endures, and just when you think she’s had enough, the universe knocks her down again. My heart absolutely broke for her, but she’s strong, and she fights to reclaim control of her life. And then... that ending. The most intense cliffhanger I’ve ever read. The final page left me completely shook!

Overall Rating: 4/5

I really enjoyed this book! The plot moved a little too quickly for my taste, and I would have loved more character development, but that’s only because I genuinely liked the characters and wanted to know more about them.

Spice Rating: 3/5

(I’m only rating the consensual parts, as I don’t rate non-consensual scenes.)

There were a few consensual spicy scenes—three, if I’m remembering correctly—and while they were well done, I wish there had been more. They felt a bit rushed. That said, these scenes were handled well and didn’t feel out of place, especially considering everything Aluxis has been through, which I appreciated.

From the shocking first chapter, I was completely hooked, needing to uncover what happened in the past and what the future holds for Aluxis. I’ve already pre-ordered Book 2, Tenacious Queen, and can’t wait to dive in!

Tropes: 

Non-Con 

Somnophila 

MM/MMMMMF/All the M's 

Forced Proximity 

Alpha Male 

Touch Her and Die

 Female Fighting Juvenile/Detention Center 

Foster Home Setting 

Trigger warnings: 

Child Abuse 

Home Invasion 

Underage On Page Rape 

Underage Sex 

Underage Drinking On Page 

Drugging

Non-Consensual Drug Use 

Murder of a Parent 

Stalking 

Graphic Violence 

Non-Con