In the blink of an eye, Karina Ashworth lost everything.But in the pits of her despair, she finds a new purpose—a reason to keep living.Uilleam Runehart might have shown her how ruthless he could be, but she’s no longer the girl he once knew.No longer innocent and blind to the cruelties of the world, she’s now a woman fueled by vengeance and fury. And by the time she finishes with him, an empire … finishes with him, an empire will fall.
His actions have consequences, and she would be his reckoning.
From Romantic Suspense Author, London Miller, comes the third installment in the Kingmaker Saga following a woman with nothing to lose and the man who will never see her coming.
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Only this author can get me to 5 Star a book where the main characters are apart for the ENTIRE book. (lol) Black Swan picks up from the end of the previous book and covers around six years of this couple’s separation…I think. There were timeline issues with my ARC copy, that I assume will be cleared up in the final editing. But this book covered a lot of the DEN years.
Whereas I found the previous book to be a little slow and drawn out this book took off running from the start and didn’t stop. The quality of writing remained top notch. The plot was engaging and intricate. There was a lot going on in this book. Twists and turns. Manipulations. Secrets. Heartbreak. We see a bunch of characters from this author’s other books. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to go back and read ALL her books, so if anyone knows if Jackal has his own book…I’d love to know! Last, it all wraps up on a cliffhanger (there are still two more books in the saga).
So yea, I enjoyed this one a lot. I can’t wait to see how Miz Miller plans on bringing these two back together. At this point it seems like an impossible task, but if anyone can it is this author.
A page turner that will hold you prisoner!
The Black Swan continues the saga of Karina and Uilleam. It is fast-paced and I felt like I was on a whirlwind as I read each page. I devoured every word searching for a clue as to what was going to happen next. I love Uilleam, The Kingmaker and his Den of Mercenaries. As I turned the last few pages I felt like I was having a panic attack waiting for Uilleam to finally see Karina. Up to the last paragraph I was hanging on to every word. I did not see this ending coming. London Miller’s writing keeps me spellbound every time. Read this book today!
This book was a dream come true for me.Literary.I honestly enjoyed every page and every second of reading it.
First Uilleam and Karina…definitely two best antiheroes in the world.It’s really great to see the way these two changed after meeting each-other.
After what happened to her in the previous book,Karina is left to mourn the life she will never meet or hold in her hands.You can feel how much that changed her as a person,her pain is reflected in everything she does.And her feelings for Uilleam after she learn the truth…I was really sad.But,I honestly think that this Karina is by far the better match for Uilleam than Karina we saw previously.This one knows how to stand her ground with no fear and how to bring him to his knees.Because I really believe that this two will end up together I can’t wait for that to happen.In general,I loved how we got to see the change in her character from Karina to Belladona,now I want to see her with Uilleam again.
While I understand that Uilleam is who he is,and that he can’t help himself I still can’t forgive him for not listening to that phone call from the previous book,for just a few seconds longer.But like I said he is who he is.Arrogant,stubborn,impulsive,power-hungry,incredibly handsome and sometimes,when he really wants it,he can be sweet to.While I am angry at him I also can’t explain how much I love him.His mind is so much great place to be,the way he thinks and looks on things in life is just mind-blowing.Like there is nothing in this world that is above him and nothing that can stop him in his quest for power.Except Karina,she is his weak spot.He loves her and I’m so,so sorry that he did that to them.The pain he feels over her death was really hard to read,even after so many years he didn’t menage to forget her.
One of the reasons why this book was great for me is because it covers,I think first four book in Den of Mercenaries series(If you didn’t read that series by now,go do it immediately).That means more Kit and Luna.Dear god,I can’t explain just how much I love Kit and Luna.And while reading their duet I always wondered did Uilleam had any feelings while doing what he did,and author had delivered all the answers.
The other reason why I loved it is Jackal.I’m just going to sit and patiently wait for his book.
This is the only book where I would give it more than five stars if I could and completely ignore the fact that the main characters never even interacted.But I enjoyed it very much and I’m giving it five stars because that is all I can.But otherwise If I could I would give it ten.
This is the third book in the Kingmaker Saga. If you want a really good series to read , these books are amazing! Each book just gets better and better, talk about great cliffhangers……these are brilliant!!
I adore Karina, I’m slowly forgiving Uilleam (though he still has a long way to go yet) and I am desperate for this pair to find everlasting happiness.
I have to wonder way, way back in the past, when Ms Miller wrote Red, the first book in the Den of Mercenaries series, if she had this entire story arc in mind. The imagination, planning and the painstaking recording of details needed to make this series work, to have it blend so seamlessly with the Den series of books, leaves me in absolute awe. Her talent for story telling is second to none.
This book, THIS. BOOK. It held me spellbound. It broke my heart. It shredded my soul. It made me ache and despair for the two lost and wounded individuals within its pages. At times it had me on the very edge of my seat, the tension so very palpable that my heart was racing, my hands were clenched tight and I couldn’t read quickly enough. Other times I gazed on in wonder at the sheer audacity of the plans and schemes. Mesmerised with how the intrigue was like a tightly ravelled ball of string wound just perfectly, so that the slightest tug on a loose end saw it unravel before my very eyes.
The fact that I’ve already witnessed so much of this story through the eyes of other characters didn’t matter a jot. Every line brought something new. Each paragraph held meaning, gave context and revealed secrets that I hadn’t even known existed before that moment. I actually had to put this book aside a couple of times just to let my brain process everything I had read. I had to give myself time to recover from the depth of emotion this stirred within me. Allow myself space to soak in the sheer brilliance of the story. I also needed to try and eek the story out for as long as possible because I just knew I’d go into a massive book hangover upon completing this.
In the aforementioned DoM series, I really didn’t care for Karina. In the first two books of The Kingmaker Saga we see the woman she was before betrayal, pain and misery shaped her into Belladonna. That this agony befell her, ultimately, at the hands of the man whom she loved with all her heart provided me with a very different perspective of the character. Karina is a woman who only ever saw the good in others, a woman who cares too much and too deeply for her own good, especially when it comes to Uilleam Runeheart.
Whilst not an easy man to always like, mainly due to his arrogance and high handed manner, Uilleam did win me over both in the Den books as well as the first book of the Kingmaker saga. However much he loved Karina, despite how the situation broke his heart, there was never anyone more to blame for events than himself. Yet despite this, despite knowing he is selfish, despite knowing he is manipulative and despite knowing he doesn’t always care enough about the innocents caught up in his schemes, he is slowly worming his way back into my heart.
I simply can’t begin to guess how this story will proceed. I do know that it is a series that you will happily read again and again, each time noticing another little facet, hint or clue that you missed on previous reads. If you love romantic suspense, if you love a well written story, if you enjoy books that involve your mind, heart and soul then this is for you. It needs to be read after the first two books, White Rabbit: The Rise and White Rabbit: The Fall. You might possibly also want to read the Den of Mercenaries books, which this series overlaps with, it isn’t strictly necessary but they are also incredibly well written stories too.
Bravo London Miller!
Black Swan takes you to another breathtaking installment within The Kingmaker Saga. The pace was slower than the previous two books but my thoughts were constantly on alert. Through Uilleam and Karina’s PoVs, revelations on familiar situations shone a new light adding both depth and clarity to the overarching saga.
Warm moments of romance were a distant memory. Steeped deep in the meticulous, unknown wars waged between Uilleam and his enemies with Karina being a foe he still won’t acknowledge. Bear in mind I view life through rose-tinted glasses, but I couldn’t help but feel more hurt than hate running through Karina’s thoughts. Oh, she means business as in she intends to destroy the world Uilleam has created. I am still hopeful that when they both crawl out of the rubble, love will surface and touch their hearts once more. At this point I see London raising her Mountain Dew in my direction. Trouble is, she is either smirking at me or looking at me with pity. I have no idea how this battle of wills will end.
Again, I had a compelling need to research every Uilleam reference to grapple with the story that is unfolding. Then it dawned on me to look up the definition and meaning behind Black Swan. Unique, Victim/Victor, insight stared me in the face, giving me hope. As with the other characters written in this world, Karina has more than one name she uses. Her name means pure, which is an apt description of her before she met Uilleam. So between going from Karina to Belladonna, the gentle woman, we see how she has masqueraded the force of her wrath that has kept the Kingmaker busy.
The intricate storytelling and fascinating secondary characters kept me turning pages. While I would give anything for Karina to declare a truce, if I were in her shoes, I too would be unleashing my wrath with as much vigor as she has. Her revenge is certainly well planned and chilled to perfection. Heaven help anyone she considers her enemy.
With its major, jaw dropping, cliffhanger ending of book 2, I really had no idea which direction this book would begin. The smoke and mirrors, carefully orchestrated events that were set into motion and unfolded here set the stage for a deadly cat and mouse chess game showdown designed to teach some very painful lessons.
With its “checkmate” conclusion, this storyline evolved over several years and was surprisingly slow paced. In some ways, it felt like a time filler sequel introducing a larger cast of complex characters and bringing some former, unexpected players back into the fray. We’re able to kick back and see that time definitely does not heal all wounds, especially when it comes to Karina and Uileam, the main couple.
Karina has been hiding in the shadows feeling hollow and empty until she lets her rage and thirst for revenge burn brightly and fill the void of her damaged heart and soul. She’s morphed into an entirely different creature that won’t rest until retribution is dished out to those she feels has it coming. Let’s just say, you don’t want to be on her naughty list, folks. At the same time, she shows cunning, heartfelt compassion towards some tortured souls that clearly demonstrates she is not the evil villain here. One character by the name of Jackal especially proves this point. She’s now manifested all the makings of a female mafiosa type don, in my opinion.
Uileam starts off still not having a clue what his actions put into motion in the last book. He is about to experience heartbreak upon heartbreak. All he knows is he’s lost the most important thing to him. He may look whole on the outside, but inside he feels like the shell of the man he used to be. When a huge twist reveals his lost treasure still exists, we’ll have to wait and see how he’ll win it all back. My guess is there will be a huge gamble made with an “all or nothing” type wrap up in book 4. Here’s to hoping the next release will be sooner rather than later, my fellow romance book loving friends.
Book 1 – White Rabbit – The Rise
Book 2 – White Rabbit – The Fall
Book 3 – Black Swan
Title: Black Swan, Series: The Kingmaker Saga (Book 3), Author: London Miller, Pages: 417, not a stand-alone, must read books in order, some graphic mob like violence, determined heroine, doesn’t know what’s coming hero, both celibate during long separation, no cheating, author I really enjoy.
Rating 4 instead of 5 stars was due to slower pace than I expected.
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/PR firm.)
Thank so much to the author for the ARC
This third book is the continuation of Karina and Uilleam’s hate/love relationship. The author did an astonishing job of delving in the dilapidated mind of both characters (Belladonna and Kingmaker). Katrina reeling from her discoveries into who was behind her ordeal and Uilleam reeling from his loss frivolous and the betrayal of so many opponents. Uilleam (Kingmaker) myriad of enemies had grown and the attack on his life has escalated and become inexorable leaving Kit and Skorpion to take quick action. The questions are: Who side is Luna on? What’s Jackal story?
If you have read the Mercenaries series the author gives us more insight into the transpiring union of the group. The author has elegantly and successfully woven together the game of chess and pawns set in place throughout this tale of total destruction for the couple. This story takes you through a range of emotions, some moments will raise your heart rate but hold you captivate until the end. The ending leaves you on edge as to what’s next? Definitely A Must Read!
****I voluntarily received an Advance Review Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review****
BLACK SWAN (The Kingmaker Saga 3)
By London Miller
5
Holy $hit! This book was like seeing behind the scenes of all the Den books. Every calculated and strategic move by Karina and Uilleam was explained in so much detail.
Seeing how things played out through their eyes was so crazy. Everything fell into place and the battle between Belladonna and the Kingmaker had me on edge. It’s funny because you know the gist of what is going on or what is gonna come if you’ve read the Den of Mercenaries but seeing it play out through the perspective of Uilleam and Karina makes it so much more real. Like watching a movie in HD.
Just a couple more book until the Saga is complete and I am anticipating them both. London consumes me with her words and this Saga is not to me missed. A definite must read!!