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Review

Kingsley Edge. What else is there to say?

5 “brilliant, beautiful and utterly debauched” stars

Featuring my favourite of the Original Sinners, this book takes us back 20 years to show us the evolution of Kingsley from a self-destructive man whore with no direction, to the King of kink that we all know and love.

“A king must have a kingdom after all.”

The book begins in the present day, with Kingsley making a surprising house call, where he proceeds to open up about his past. Taking us back to a 28 year old Kingsley who has recently left the French Foreign Legion after almost being killed, and is spending his time doing little more than sleeping with whoever he wants, however he wants it (and with great frequency), and collecting secrets. Life for him takes an unexpected and very welcome turn when he is reunited with the love of his life, and the man he can never forget – Søren.

While this is most definitely Kingsley’s book, there is a very strong focus on the relationship between him and Søren, and every moment of their time together was absolute perfection!

“You’re friends with a priest?”
“Trust me, no one is more shocked by that than I am.”

They haven’t seen or spoken to each other in 11 years, but from the moment they see each other again, they slip straight into an easy, familiar rhythm, and it is the reading equivalent of crack. I could NOT get enough! It is clear that there is still a strong emotion between them, and they have nothing but the utmost respect and care for each other. They have a lot to work through that is unresolved from their past, and they are brutally open and honest with each other. Seeing them both reminisce over their past relationship, I loved the way that they both look back on it as something of importance. It meant so much and changed them both forever, and they both acknowledge that. And I love how the bond between them is still so incredibly strong. It is both beautiful and heartbreaking to read.

“Sex isn’t priceless.”
“It was with you.”

Søren took a long deep breath. Meanwhile Kingsley considered falling asleep. Falling asleep and never waking up. The dead don’t dream.
“Can I touch you?” Søren finally asked.
“Tonjours,” Kingsley said… Always.

It took me a while to warm to Søren in the original, or Red, quartet, but in the White quartet, I love that we are really seeing the importance of him in the development of the characters. In this case, he is the catalyst for Kingsley to get wake up, start living his life, and find and follow his passion.

“I did my part by coming back to you,” he said. “God did his part to keep you alive long enough for me to get here. Now you do your part and make yourself worthy of the second chance you’ve been given.”

And I loved that, through Kingsley, we get to see the lighter side of Søren. Their banter is absolute GOLD!

“I’m going to build the biggest, most exclusive, most impressive S and M club in the world … And you’re going to help me, because it’s your fault I’m doing this.”
“My fault?” Søren repeated, pointing at himself. “What leaps in logic did you take to lay this at my doorstep?”
“You turned me kinky,” Kingsley said.
Søren paused.
“I want to argue with that assertion,” Søren said.
“Oui?”
“I said I wanted to argue with, not that I could.”

Seeing Kingsley at rock bottom is devastating. I felt his pain, and the moment where it all turned around is something very special. And once he finds his stride, it’s all on. Kingsley is so fabulous, there aren’t even words! His dry, intelligent wit had me laughing so many times, and his conniving and totally wicked behaviour is only enhanced by the fact that he accepts himself completely and is totally unapologetic about absolutely everything. He is one of the most entertaining book characters ever, and I love him unreservedly!

In trying to build his dream, he is out recruiting fellow kinksters to work alongside him, and he also comes up against fanatical fundamentalists who oppose his very way of life. Kingsley is at his absolute best when he is playing off others, and the dynamics in this book are freaking fantastic! Playful, threatening, bantering or seducing, it’s all sensational. I particularly loved the introduction of Sam into the story. She’s such a fantastic character, and her and Kingsley’s relationship was amazing, the way they constantly played off each other was so much fun!

“You like trouble?”
“I love trouble.”
“Then let me make you an offer.”
“What’s the offer?” Sam asked.
“Come get in trouble with me.”

“You brood.”
“Brooding is my version of aftergrlow.”
“Call the priest. You’re in a better mood when he’s around. He doesn’t brood like you do.”
“He invented brooding. He holds the patent on brooding. He gets royalties whenever anyone broods. You just haven’t seen him do it yet.”

And of course, there’s sex. Lots and lots of sex – both m/f and m/m, with kink and BDSM in all of its variances. It’s wild, dirty, and really freaking hot, and it’s such an important part of Kingsley’s world so it ties into the story nicely.

Time-wise, this book begins after The Saint, with the flashback portion of the story taking place around the same time as The Saint‘s flashbacks, but it finishes before Nora/Eleanor really enters the story. But even though she isn’t really in the book, her presence is felt in conversations between Kingsley and Søren…

“Go fuck a fifteen-year old.”
“Her birthday was in March. She’s sixteen now.”
“I’m hanging up on you.”

… and I loved seeing both of their early thoughts on the third member of their ‘unholy trinity’.

“I foresee a miracle occurring in the future.”
“Which is?”
“You,” Kingsley said as the team gathered on the sideline. “Being humbled.”
“And what makes you say that?” Søren asked, sounding both imperious and sceptical.
Kingsley only smiled on and said three words.
“I met Eleanor.”

Honestly, I loved every single moment of this book. Tiffany Reisz’ writing is incredible, I must have highlighted half of my kindle, and it took me twice as long to read this book as it usually would because I reread scenes over and over just to soak up the awesome. I love these characters, I love this world, and I am looking forward to more of whatever Reisz wants to throw our way.

5 massive stars.

The Original Sinners series

For more information, see our Original Sinners Series Info page