I was feared.Respected.Worshiped.But all of that changed when the impossible happened—I fell in love. Only those feelings weren’t reciprocated, because who could love a monster like me?My empire crumbled. People died. I went from being a victorious leader to lurking in the shadows, planning revenge on my half-brother who now reigns in my place.An orphanage is where I find sanctuary, but when she … where I find sanctuary, but when she walks into my world and evokes a yearning I thought long dead, my demons are awakened and want what they can’t have—her. Sooner or later, I knew I’d need to feed the darkness inside me.
Mayhem, power, and control course through my veins. I will use them to regain my crown, my throne, and then claim her, despite what solemn vows she might’ve made.
I will break them…and her.
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Aleksei was that one guy from Monica’s All The Pretty Things Trilogy. He was the bad guy but the one you knew was misunderstood. I just wanted to get inside his head, and I’m so glad she is giving this to us.
Ella and Aleksei are fire together. They have this intense connection we see from he’s POV. The romance between them is off the charts.
This story is so much more than you think you are getting. It’s suspenseful and dark, but so addicting. It’s one intense ride from beginning to end. I’m dying for part 2!
Don’t miss this book if you read ATPR trilogy!! If you haven’t read that then go do that and come back for this one!!
If you LOVED ‘All The Pretty Little Things’ trilogy then buckle up, sit tight and get ready for Alek to rock your world in this spin-off duet!
Please note, you don’t need to have read the ATPLT trilogy to read this, but I would for the background into Alek and because also it’s amazing!
Alek was the anti-hero you couldn’t help but love. He was cruel, powerful and fell in love with someone who couldn’t love him back but he would never stop loving her. The Alek we know from ATPLT is not the same Alek now. He doesn’t have his riches, men to do his bidding or the luxuries he previously had. He’s starting at the bottom and is wanting the respect back he once had. And to get there he has to make a deal with someone he doesn’t want to, but will ultimately help him in his revenge to his brother and mother.
I loved this Alek. He was back to basics, taking nothing for granted, trying to be a better person to right his wrongs and swooped in and stole my heart with his love and compassion for others around him and maybe that dirty mouth of his .
He still has his ties to the orphanage and would do anything for them and keep them safe and his bond with Mother superior always warmed my heart. But when trouble comes looking for him, he needs to leave to keep them safe.
The story has many twists and turns and the dark and calculated Alek we once knew is still there, plotting his revenge but his morals are compromised when in order to get his revenge he would need to sacrifice someone he loves and ultimately has to decide over his heart or his kingdom before facing his biggest battle yet!
Monica takes us right back into this world flawlessly with a few characters popping up from ATPLT, but mainly our favourite Saint and Willow who I would never tire of reading about.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and those last few chapters I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation with what was to come and damn, I loved being back with dark and evil Alek and I’m now dying for the conclusion.
ARC received for an honest review.
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Overall Ratings;u2063
First Sex Scene – 45%
POV – First, Hero
Hero –
Heroine –
Story –
Steam –
Chemistry –
I have had a serious baptism of fire with this author. I ended up binging the All the Pretty Things Series before I started this beauty and even though this is part of a new spin off I will recommend you do read that series first so you can truly appreciate your love/hate for Alek!
OMG Alek is the man you shouldn’t love or want but oh you can’t help but be drawn to his darkness. He’s unapologetic, dark, scary motherf*#cker. He has fallen from grace as the King of the Russian Mafia and we now get to watch his journey back to the top. I liked watching some light bleed into his darkness.
Our heroine, oh I loved her. Shes someone you cheer for, you feel everything along with her.
Once you start this one you wont be able to put it down so lock yourself away and have that bottle of alcohol ready for if/when you need it!
Monica is the Queen with this one. The plot is brilliant, with the perfect pace. She brought us everything that I love, angst, drama, darkness and so much steam!!
As this is book 1 you know it will end up on a cliffhanger that will leave you raging shouting NNOOOO but at least the wait isn’t too long as book2 is out in September.
This book will send you spiraling out of control as the destruction, deceit and love hit you at warp speed. You need to read this book for the sports field, the barn, the greenhouse and Irina alone. I wanted to hate Alek so much, but I can’t. I may have even fallen harder as the story continued. And Ella – Wow! Can we just talk about Saint for a minute – holy sh—
The Devil’s Crown will leave you with your mind blown and your heart beating right out of your chest! You won’t believe what you just read and I don’t think I will forget this story for years to come!!!
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends
This book left me shook…Monica James is an evil genius!
If you like dark, then this book is going to make you ridiculously happy because it pulls the reader in a darkness that is all kinds of messed up…breath stealing, steamy and heart stopping. Alek is deliciously sexy, wicked and evil, but with a hint of goodness that makes him redeemable.
What a tangled and twisted tale Monica has woven…all the secrets and lies made sure we never knew what to trust or who to trust. Dark and dirty, stirred up with some violence and suspense and sprinkled with just enough sweet to make it exactly the way I prefer my romance books. Trust me, Part 1 is going to leave you panting for more!
Unfortunately I had not read All The Pretty Things trilogy, but was able to enjoy this spin-off book immensely. It definitely would’ve been helpful to have more of the backstory, but I understood enough through Monica’s writing to not be completely lost. So, for anyone contemplating whether they should read this because they haven’t read the trilogy, she did a fantastic job of giving enough details that even if I was a bit confused, it got cleared up, so I say…DO IT!
This book keeps you on your toes!!
You just never know who to trust!! This book is Dark, dangerous and thrilling, with romance, secrets, action and emotion all rolled into one amazing book!
This book is deep and intense, full of heat, ruthlessness and revenge and oh my word is it one that you don’t see coming!!
Looking forward to the next part as I need to know what comes next!!!
I am a huge fan of dark romance and Monica James proves over and over again that she is the queen of darkness and The Devil’s Crown is her crowning achievement. I have been patiently (ok, impatiently) awaiting Aleks story and I was not disappointed. In fact I was completely BLOWN AWAY, this story was so much more than I ever expected, Ms James has truly outdone herself.
“I hate to disappoint you, but if you’re looking for a story with a hero, then you best turn back now. This is the point of no return.”
This book took me on intensely, heart-pounding ride that was sinfully delicious, forbidden, and a bloody mess. Aleksei Poppov is BACK for his Kingdom and he won’t stop until he is sitting on his throne with his queen beside him, crooked crown and all.
Author Monica James has given us a pure, raw, sexy as hell sinful story that I will never forget.
We asked and begged for more of Alek, well she delivered him to us suited up in all his evil glory and having us bow & kneel down to his commands!I lost count on how many times I gasped, felt the tingly emotions towards Alek and his mission to get his revenge. Soo many dark & twisted events happen I got whiplash!
These women in his life, they are fierce and his match! I will not spoil anything but I will say you will be surprised of not knowing who Alek should or will end up with. The fun part about it all is that you get to see the true evil of Alek and how sinful, sexy as sin his presence commands everyone he comes in contact with, including YOU the reader!
So many emotions will flood your mind when reading.
The intensity of this story had hooked me & I did not want it to end.
The sex in this book is off the charts hot! So sinful I was saying “Oh God” as many times as the women in this book.
Alek being the GOD!After reading this book, I need to go to confession and confess all my impure thoughts and feelings I have for Alek.
Damn Alek knows how to…well just read the book & find out!
And that ending, I need Book2 like NOW! 5 popped!
Rating: 5+ stars
OMG!!!! I know that something is wrong with my brain now….I love Alek!!
I laughed when I saw Monica James’ warning in the beginning and told myself, ‘yeah whatever, I love your work anyway!’ However, I am now sure that reading The Devil’s Crown has caused more screws in my brain to loosen..lol! Where do I begin…
Alek lost everything in All the Saints…power, woman and money. He is also hiding since his half-brother wants his life which also means he wants him dead, Alek is always on the move. He has no army of me for protection, it is just him and his every active mind.
In his previous life, everyone submitted to him. The woman he was in love with caused him to see life differently. Now Alek cares!! He has a few to protect!!
This story is intense and nerve-racking. The character development is soooo good!! The characters and the plot are mesmerizing and so very powerful! The sex scenes are off the charts as only Monica can do!
Be ready!!
I can’t wait for book 2!
5+ “краса́вица” Stars
WOW! I’m without words right now! Seriously, The Devil’s Crown Part 1 is so twisted, sizzling hot and yes… romantic! This story truly combines all the elements I live for in romance books. Monica James did such a tremendous job to give Alek the story he deserved. This anti-hero is just PERFECTION on all levels. His darkness mixed with his new conscience battling together make him so complex, but also so much more appealing. And did I say that the novel is written completely in Alek’s POV! Oh. Hell. Yeah.
Even if it’s not required, I would recommend reading the All the Pretty Things Trilogy before this book to better understand Alek and his background. That man was considered the villain in that trilogy, but there’s still something so compelling about him and the magnetism he exudes. He’s imperious and sinister! Needless to say I was ecstatic to finally get his own story. The Devil’s Crown Part 1 starts his quest to return to the top of the Russian underworld after his fall from grace. He’s seeking revenge on his half-brother that helped to destroy is empire. As much as this ruthless and dangerous man does despicable things, he also does so many great and good things. I love that he’s not all black and navigate between right and wrong. The complexity of him is what makes me admire him even more as a hero.
His relationship with little Irina was absolutely breathtaking and so cute. That little girl only trusts this big bad man and to see him so attached to her…*swoon*. What can I say about his new love interest? Ella isn’t the heroine you would expect at first view, but OMG! The fire she got and all the defiance she shows toward Alek is powerful and electric! Together they share some explosive and carnal moments that burned up my kindle. All the dirty talking and filthiness of those encounters were addictive. This couple is so well matched and I’m obsessed with them. They are LIFE!
The intrigue had me so invested with the unexpected twists and turns providing sometimes viciously disturbing scenes. The Devil’s Crown Part 1 is without a doubt my favorite read this year for the rush of adrenaline I got and the intricacy of the characters. What’s next for the sequel has me dying to get my hands on that story right now, but at least the wait won’t be too long with part 2 releasing in September.
** ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review**
The Devils Crown is part one and spin off from Monica’s All The Pretty Things trilogy.
Although you could read this book without having read that original trilogy, I would personally recommend that you do as Aleksei Popov is an important character; I mean he is the reason why Saint and Willow meet in the first place. You also learn more about his background and why he is the most feared man in Russia. He is a fascinating character to meet I can assure you.
So back to The Devils Crown, this story is just jammed pack with action and intrigue right from the start. It was so good being inside Aleksei mind throughout this book. Monica doesn’t pull any punches, which I absolutely love, plus she really likes to throw a massive curve ball in her stories. There was me thinking the story was going to go one way, but ooooh no I was so totally wrong Prepare for some shocks! That’s what I love about her dark reads; when you have only 10% left to read, you start to get really nervous and start to sweat as nothing is what it seems and you just have a feeling deep inside something bad is gonna happen. I was really on tender hooks finishing this book and boy what an end! There are some real ouch moments, so again be prepared, plus it was so nice seeing some old friends too.
Amazing, thrill of a ride book. You really need a stiff drink or probably one of Aleksei’s cigars when you’ve finished lol
Bravo Monica! Roll on book two please, the King needs his Queen!!
5 Darkly Devilish Sexy Stars!!
This is the book my little dark heart has been waiting for!! I’ve been in love with Alek since All The Pretty Things Trilogy!
His story is what fans will want to read! It’s delicious, suspenseful, and oh so naughty! NEED BOOK 2 NOW
Before I go into this review, I will say that in order to fully enjoy this novel I would recommend you read Monica’s All The Pretty Things Trilogy first. Aleksei Popov the hero here features heavily in that series, you will have a better understanding of his character and references made to characters that feature in this story if you do.
Monica James has found her lane when it comes to dark romance. I have been craving Alek’s story since reading Bad Saint and he did not disappoint! He is every bit the anti hero I fell in love with, but now he lets himself feel when it comes to the right woman. Aleksei’s goal is revenge, seeking vengeance on his Mother and Step-Brother for all they have done and to do so he needs to be back on top, the King of his Kingdom once again.
The story line keeps the momentum of the book moving forward and drives the pacing. Monica’s writing was dynamic and I loved having the book in it’s entirety from Alexsei’s POV. When it comes to the women in his life, Alek can’t seem to forget about Willow; but his broken heart starts to mend when he meets Ella. What starts as a somewhat forbidden relationship, all is not as it seems. Man oh man the heat between these two WOW! So much chemistry, the sex scenes were fire and I loved every second of those sinful moments.
The Devils Crown was speckled with twists and turns throughout and kept me on my toes as to how things were going to play out. Violence and depravity are a given, this is dark romance after all and this is Aleksei’s world, it’s where he thrives. The build up to the cliffhanger ending was a roller coaster of emotions in many ways. I love how invested Monica’s writing makes you become in each of her characters. I thoroughly enjoyed Part one, looking forward to all the things that Part 2 is going to bring my way.
A dark masterpiece that will drag you through the darkest corners of Hell on earth and still make you beg for more!
‘The Devil’s Crown’ by Monica James is part one of a duet that is also a spin-off of the ‘All The Pretty Things’ trilogy.
With books from this author, I always wonder how she’s gonna up her game for her next book because honestly, every book she has written was a masterpiece. Yet, I am here to tell you once again, Monica has done it, delivering a crazy, dark, and enticing novel that will consume your life and soul.
If you have been following me for a while now, you probably know that I have loved Aleksei since the beginning of times – since the first time we met him during ‘Bad Saint’.
And this book has only solidified my love for this incredible villain and his lover.
Aleksei has been the villain for as long as I can remember, he is cold, calculating, stoic, mean and sometimes cruel, but he is also a caring human who is trying to come to peace with his newfound humanity and is trying his best to right his wrongs.
He is a fighter, a resilient man who has hurt many people but who also deserves all the love this world can give him because underneath it all, he is a good man with a wicked soul.
He is still trying to figure out how to actually work with his feelings and he would go to the extreme in order to protect those he cares about.
Alek is not your usual knight in shining armor, he is the villain that captures you but you can’t help but fall for him. He will steal your soul and fill you up with his essence, invading your mind and body to the point of no return.
Ella is a spitfire of a woman, she is braver than most men you’ll ever encounter, she is beautiful and could bring the whole world to their knees with one simple smile.
Her situation is not the best, which then forces her to seek refuge any way she can.
She is stunning, caring, attentive and overall precious, a woman that doesn’t break for anyone but instead fights back twice as hard.
Ella is insecure and doesn’t realize the pull she has with people, she is an incredible human being who will make you fall harder than ever before.
Their relationship is rocky but steamy from the start, their chemistry is off the charts and their connection is stronger than stone, but that doesn’t mean that their path was clear of hurdles.
Au contraire, their story is action-packed, emotional, intriguing, fascinating and most of all, mysterious.
They will have to go through so much together. Their faith in each other will be questioned time and time again, they will need to learn how to trust each other and how to accept the vulnerability that comes with having feelings for each other.
This dark masterpiece will bring you joy but also pain, it will build and build in tension until the end and you will be left begging for more.
Not only will you fall for these amazing characters, but you will also come across some of our most beloved characters from the trilogy, and you will see them solve their problems in order to save many lives and protect the innocent people around them.
Only disclaimer I have to give you is, if you are faint-hearted, if you don’t like violence, pain and the gray area that exists between good and utterly evil, if you are very religious, then maybe this book is not for you.
If you are looking for a book that will suck you in from the beginning, make you enamored by the cruelest of villains and his wicked queen, make you feel for these characters and fight alongside them, make you love them unconditionally and also fill you with rage, then look no further, this is the book for you!
If you are willing to lose your soul to the devil, to lose yourself into the darkness and give in to some of your worst fears, then welcome to hell.
THE DEVIL’S CROWN by Monica James. This starts the story of Aleksei Popov and his fight to get back all that he has lost. Aleksei was once the most feared man as the King of the Russian Mafia. But his half brother Serg and his mother Zoya took that all away. Now he lurks in the darkness plotting his way back. Aleksei has found that the orphanage is his place to hide and to rebuild. But something else unexpected happens with Sister Arabella ‘Ella’ comes from America to help with taking care of the children. Aleksei who thought his soft feelings towards another women was nothing but stone now has started to crack with Arabella’s sun light. This book does end with a cliffhanger setting us up for the next installment of their story.
I can’t help myself, I always fall for the damaged, anti hero and Aleksei is another on my list to love!
We are first introduced to Aleksei in the All The Pretty Things trilogy and I highly recommend that you start there. Trust me, you will love them!
Aleksei was untouchable respected and feared. He ruled the dark side of Russia and took whatever he wanted no matter the cost. His demise came when he started to fall for his captive. His enemies saw him as soft and they jumped at the opportunity to take him down. The saying “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” applies here. Aleksei was left with nothing but rubble and this is where we left off.
In The Devil’s Crown we get to see him try to take back the empire. His step brother will pay for crossing him and he will do whatever it takes to get back what was once his.
He may not have the backing he once had but he still has a few people he can count on and that is all he needs.
“I much prefer to be the villain. They have all the fun”
I found myself completely drawn to the last portion of this book – it was dark, messy and bloody and I couldn’t stop reading!!
If you love dark reads, the. This is a book for you.
It does touch on sensitive subject so just be warned.
This is a definite must read!!
4.5 stars for me!
I can’t wait for book two to release in September!
Received an ARC for an honest review.
A fallen king is still a king. I said what I said. And Alek is most definitely still a king, even while he’s on his mission to restore his crown.
This book was sinfully good, deliciously dark, and utterly captivating.
I’m not even mad about the cliffhanger, even though I normally hate them, I still knew it was coming, and so I was ready. Well kind of. Because you can’t really be ready.
From beginning to end, the twists and turns had me on pins and needles. Deceit ran rampant in these pages, and the motto should definitely be ‘trust no one’.
I’m ready for book 2.
Monica James has blown me away with Aleksei’s first book. I bow down to you! Alek’s story was more than I could have asked for. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into as I signed up blind and I am shook. You have taken this anti-hero and made me fall so hard for him. At the end of Saint and Willow’s trilogy I knew I wanted Alek to find his HEA. He’s got a long way to go to get his happiness. It is just the beginning of his journey but I am anticipating the upcoming books because i know it’s gonna be one crazy ride but oh so worth it. The author has slayed me and the next book in Alek’s series cannot come soon enough! This is an epic, edge of your seat, unputdownable read!!
“My intentions were good, but who am I kidding? I will always be a sinner.”
Depraved. Intense. Dangerous.
Monica always bring the heat with her stories. There is danger, lust, angst.
I have been dying for Alek’s story since book two of the All the Pretty Things series. I was Team Alek all the way. It’s his dark and depraved aura that calls to me. I love the dangerous ones. The more brutal they are, the more I love them.. and Alek is a very, dangerous man.
Although I love Alek, this one started out a little slow for me and was a tad difficult getting through the first parts of it.
But Monica always slays me, so I’ll definitely be waiting on book two of this duet!!
“I much prefer to be the villain. They have all the fun.”
A first volume that allows us to find an emblematic character from the All pretty things saga. Alek is charismatic but his world has collapsed and the reconstruction is not easy especially as he does not want to find his faults and his bad habits … Two women enter his life and will upset his convictions and her future … Once again Monica James manages to captivate me with this addictive and amazing dark romance.