Ruthless Reign by Aleatha Romig

Aleatha Romig returns with a brand new series focusing the secretive and dangerous lives of royalty in Ruthless Reign where the line between what is real and not real are blurred. The relationship between Lucille and Roman is both complicated and twisted. As the princess and crown prince of Molave, much was at stake but their marriage is not a happy one. Lucille is considered a prisoner in her own marriage as her vow and duty to the kingdom prevented her from saving herself. Despite their whirlwind romance, Roman has turned into a cruel and distant husband. Without any warning, he seemingly changes overnight and she finds herself full of hope again. But what lies beneath the surface may be what Lucille has always been hoping for—or, it was simply all an illusion.

"Maybe we were both insane. There was no other explanation for what she had done and what I was about to do."

Aleatha Romig has crafted a twisted tale that is intriguing, shocking, and full of grays because it deals with a form of cheating but not everything is what it seems. Oliver is an actor and the man tasked to play the role of Roman after the prince's disappearance. Following his character's death in a television show, he is asked to act as the crown prince of Molave and this is where the connection between he and Lucille is made. These two feel an immediate connection to each other and it is made all the more complicated by the fact that Lucille is married to Roman. Despite their best attempts at refraining from having feelings for each other, Lucille is forced to contend with her affections for Oliver and Roman. In this imposter's arms, she finally feels wanted, loved, and cherished after all this time.

"You have been my secret and sustenance. You filled a void that was consuming me… If you make me a promise and break it, then I will have nothing."

In the end, I was thoroughly surprised by this book and look forward to finding out what happens next in Resilient Reign after that shocking cliffhanger of an ending. Although it took me awhile to warm up to the story and its characters, it does eventually pick up and Aleatha Romig fantastically builds up the momentum to the final act of the book. Lucille is a woman trapped in a loveless marriage but finds hope and a second chance at love in a world of smoke and mirrors. I am rooting for her happy ending and I hope that the truth behind what happened to Roman will be revealed in the end. This was a unique take on royal romance and I highly recommend this book if you like the fake identity and forbidden romance tropes because it features a dedicated hero who sees his hopeful heroine and loves her for who she is instead of what others expect her to be.

*This ARC was generously provided by the author and publisher for an honest review*

Rating: ★★★★☆