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Masterpiece Duet #2
The Queen
I have one chance at a new life. A college education. A future outside of Tanglewood's dark walls. For a breathless moment it seems like I might actually escape.
Then I get a phone call from home.
Damon Scott is my own personal dragon, the fight I've always lost, the secret hope of my heart. And he needs my help right now. Only my mind can solve the puzzle. Only my presence can keep him sane as the city fights against him.
Only my heart can unlock a man with such a tragic past.
This is my final gamble, with everything at stake. One last game to win a future for both of us.
And a love strong enough to break the city apart.
THE QUEEN is the final novel in the bestselling Masterpiece duet, about a game of lies and loyalty, of betrayal and power, and ascension to the city's throne.
Then I get a phone call from home.
Damon Scott is my own personal dragon, the fight I've always lost, the secret hope of my heart. And he needs my help right now. Only my mind can solve the puzzle. Only my presence can keep him sane as the city fights against him.
Only my heart can unlock a man with such a tragic past.
This is my final gamble, with everything at stake. One last game to win a future for both of us.
And a love strong enough to break the city apart.
THE QUEEN is the final novel in the bestselling Masterpiece duet, about a game of lies and loyalty, of betrayal and power, and ascension to the city's throne.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
September 25, 2017
Well, that sure is one way to tie two equally amazing series together! The Endgame Series was great on its own but paired with The Masterpiece Duet it was beyond phenomenal. I was definitely impressed with how Skye Warren was able to bring these characters together.
What I loved most about The Queen was the angst. Although Penny and Damon shared a tainted history they couldn’t have been any more different as adults. I appreciated how the author convinced us that despite how their lives contrasted that they were in fact fated to be together.
Damon, he was a powerhouse on his own but being in the midst of Penny she became the one with all the power which was so unexpected considering her quiet demeanor. It was beautiful witnessing him yearn for her and eventually protecting and worshipped her. The amount of dedication he had for her was unreal.
The remarkable romance wasn’t the only element that held my interest – it was the suspense and thrill, and even more so, observing how the intricate relationships between Avery/ Gabriel and Penny/ Damon deteriorate and then eventually progress.
Skye Warren created such an impressive world for these characters and it feels bittersweet to see it end. Overall, I thought both series were highly addictive. If romantic suspense between fated lovers is your thing, don’t hesitate to read both of these series!
What I loved most about The Queen was the angst. Although Penny and Damon shared a tainted history they couldn’t have been any more different as adults. I appreciated how the author convinced us that despite how their lives contrasted that they were in fact fated to be together.
Damon, he was a powerhouse on his own but being in the midst of Penny she became the one with all the power which was so unexpected considering her quiet demeanor. It was beautiful witnessing him yearn for her and eventually protecting and worshipped her. The amount of dedication he had for her was unreal.
The remarkable romance wasn’t the only element that held my interest – it was the suspense and thrill, and even more so, observing how the intricate relationships between Avery/ Gabriel and Penny/ Damon deteriorate and then eventually progress.
Skye Warren created such an impressive world for these characters and it feels bittersweet to see it end. Overall, I thought both series were highly addictive. If romantic suspense between fated lovers is your thing, don’t hesitate to read both of these series!
September 25, 2017
After reading The King, I was on pins and needles waiting for The Queen to see how Damon and Penny's story would end. Reading this had me so stressed out! I knew Warren would ultimately give us a fulfilling ending, but getting there seemed impossible at times. Damon and Penny go through so much and at times my heart just completely shattered for them. I have such a huge soft spot for Damon. He truly felt he was not worthy of love, but Penny showed him otherwise. Every way they turned someone was trying to destroy them and pull them apart. They had so much growth and showed so much strength in this story.
The Masterpiece duet was a perfect ending to an amazing series, a series I'm very sad to see end. Skye Warren gave us characters and storylines that will stick with me. This is most definitely a series I can see myself rereading time and again.
The Masterpiece duet was a perfect ending to an amazing series, a series I'm very sad to see end. Skye Warren gave us characters and storylines that will stick with me. This is most definitely a series I can see myself rereading time and again.
September 24, 2017
WOW,just...WOW! This really is the perfect end to Skye’s Masterpiece! Just when you think you know what to expect...she blows your mind! Penny has a chance at building a future away from Tanglewood,going to college,getting a degree....until her father disappears and things quickly get out of control after....I’m not going to tell you what happens,i don’t want to give away any spoilers...but i do need to say this: i loved it,i couldn’t stop reading until i knew the end,i am still thinking about every little detail and Penny and Damon have a place in my heart.....
September 21, 2017
Completely Freaking Amazing
I am a huge fan of both this author and the End Game series. This book is by far the best. I want to be in their gritty world
I am a huge fan of both this author and the End Game series. This book is by far the best. I want to be in their gritty world
September 21, 2017
I absolutely loved reading Damon and Penny's story! These two just made me fall in love with them!
Both of them had heartbreaking childhoods, and you just felt so bad for them. Penny turned into an amazing, strong woman though, and was determined to prove her strength to Damon. And Damon..oh Damon! Swoon!! How can you not love him?? All he's done since meeting Penny, even as a child, is to try and protect her and keep her safe. This is truly a beautiful love story! Its dark and painful and tragic...but it also has hope and friendship and love! It was an incredible story!
Both of them had heartbreaking childhoods, and you just felt so bad for them. Penny turned into an amazing, strong woman though, and was determined to prove her strength to Damon. And Damon..oh Damon! Swoon!! How can you not love him?? All he's done since meeting Penny, even as a child, is to try and protect her and keep her safe. This is truly a beautiful love story! Its dark and painful and tragic...but it also has hope and friendship and love! It was an incredible story!
September 21, 2017
My anxiety was through the roof almost the entire book! This story was so intense and it will be a very long time if ever that I will ever forget it. Wow, what an amazing crazy story. Well done. Well done.
September 18, 2017
Skye Warren writes with a dark edginess that is seductive and captivating. The Queen was a thrilling and sexy conclusion to the Masterpiece Duet, a story that was well-written, suspenseful, and emotionally compelling.
"I'm drawn to him; I'm repelled by him. It's far too complex a relationship, an equation I've never been able to write."
This author always creates the most richly layered characters, and Damon and Penny are no exception. These are two individuals who have had so much hurt and turmoil in their lives, and it affected them in vastly different ways. Penny wanted so badly to make a better life for herself, but the pull she felt towards Damon was too strong to ignore. She had such amazing strength and loyalty, and those traits drove her actions in this story. She saw through Damon's sardonic humor and cavalier attitude, knowing that they were shields and coping mechanisms. Damon was such a complex man, and I was so glad that we were able to learn more about him in this book. The way he cared for Penny, the way he protected and revered her, was the best part of the story for me. He did things in his own unconventional way, but he was unwaveringly loyal and devoted to her, and I absolutely loved that.
"'That's right,' he murmurs. 'So beautiful like that. So beautiful, and you're mine.'"
The tension that existed between Damon and Penny was so spectacular. The connection they shared, both sexual and intellectual, was brilliantly done. They were made for each other in every way, and I wanted so bad for them to just come together and find their happiness. Warren laid out the story so well, ensuring that the reader would be pulled into the emotion and angst that the characters were experiencing. The Masterpiece series, along with the Endgame series, is one of the best I've ever read. I loved this story's Epilogue because we were able to see the happy endings for two of my all time favorite couples. Bravo to Skye Warren for this incredible series, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for her readers in the future.
"I'm drawn to him; I'm repelled by him. It's far too complex a relationship, an equation I've never been able to write."
This author always creates the most richly layered characters, and Damon and Penny are no exception. These are two individuals who have had so much hurt and turmoil in their lives, and it affected them in vastly different ways. Penny wanted so badly to make a better life for herself, but the pull she felt towards Damon was too strong to ignore. She had such amazing strength and loyalty, and those traits drove her actions in this story. She saw through Damon's sardonic humor and cavalier attitude, knowing that they were shields and coping mechanisms. Damon was such a complex man, and I was so glad that we were able to learn more about him in this book. The way he cared for Penny, the way he protected and revered her, was the best part of the story for me. He did things in his own unconventional way, but he was unwaveringly loyal and devoted to her, and I absolutely loved that.
"'That's right,' he murmurs. 'So beautiful like that. So beautiful, and you're mine.'"
The tension that existed between Damon and Penny was so spectacular. The connection they shared, both sexual and intellectual, was brilliantly done. They were made for each other in every way, and I wanted so bad for them to just come together and find their happiness. Warren laid out the story so well, ensuring that the reader would be pulled into the emotion and angst that the characters were experiencing. The Masterpiece series, along with the Endgame series, is one of the best I've ever read. I loved this story's Epilogue because we were able to see the happy endings for two of my all time favorite couples. Bravo to Skye Warren for this incredible series, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for her readers in the future.
September 17, 2017
There are some stories that stay with you well after you finished reading them and every story that I have read written by Skye Warren is one of them. The Queen continues on from the King and answers many questions that were raised within the first book within the series. This series is one of my all time favourites that really delve into the dark romance genre perfectly. Skye Warren writes in a way that capitates my attention and I cant stop reading her stories until the very end. The whole series completely flows onto one another and shows a completely different side to the characters. In the first part of the series I loved Avery and Gabriel so much that they were one of my favourite couples in a book series, However, Penny and Damon has replaced them as my favourite couple because their stories spans over years and really tells the story of two people whose lives are completely entwined with each other.
Penny is a strong heroine that doesn’t know the strength that she has, she sees herself as a weak person that is insanely good at mathematics. However she is so much more then that, she is a sweet and caring character that sees the good in people. I really enjoy reading about Penny she is such an interesting character.
Damon Scott comes across as a dangerous criminal but throughout the series it is obvious he is so much more then that. He has been hurt so much by the hands of his father and this has caused him to be the person he is today. But the soft spot he has for Penny and the way he truly cares about her is obvious from the first time he meets her. I absolutely adore Damon since the first book in the series and I loved being able to find out more about him.
The Queen is a continuation of the King and is the conclusion to the masterpiece duet.
This series is not one to miss and is one of my all time favourite book series to read. Skye Warren has an amazing writing style that really captures your attention and dives straight into the lives of the characters. The ways that her writing flow really tells the story and makes it possible to feel the emotions that are happening in the story. This is a series that I definitely recommend for everyone that enjoys dark romance to read. I cant wait to read what Skye Warren will bring out next.
Penny is a strong heroine that doesn’t know the strength that she has, she sees herself as a weak person that is insanely good at mathematics. However she is so much more then that, she is a sweet and caring character that sees the good in people. I really enjoy reading about Penny she is such an interesting character.
Damon Scott comes across as a dangerous criminal but throughout the series it is obvious he is so much more then that. He has been hurt so much by the hands of his father and this has caused him to be the person he is today. But the soft spot he has for Penny and the way he truly cares about her is obvious from the first time he meets her. I absolutely adore Damon since the first book in the series and I loved being able to find out more about him.
The Queen is a continuation of the King and is the conclusion to the masterpiece duet.
This series is not one to miss and is one of my all time favourite book series to read. Skye Warren has an amazing writing style that really captures your attention and dives straight into the lives of the characters. The ways that her writing flow really tells the story and makes it possible to feel the emotions that are happening in the story. This is a series that I definitely recommend for everyone that enjoys dark romance to read. I cant wait to read what Skye Warren will bring out next.
September 17, 2017
4.5 STARS
I can walk away from Damon Scott because he wants me to, but I can’t stop loving him. It’s part of who I am, the logic as simple and undeniably sad as that.
I stand by my opinion that there's nothing more addictive in romance than a reluctant hero, a brooding alpha male who is cruel and detached, unreachable to the woman he secretly longs for because his brokenness allows him to believe he's not worthy. Damon Scott is the epitome of broken. Ruined. Hardened. The push and pull, the ruthless games he plays with Penny, are deliciously heartbreaking and as much as it hurts, it's like crack for a reader like me. I live for the heart tugs, the aches in my stomach whenever he deliberately cuts her with his words. It only makes me ravenous for what's to come, for the moment he folds and succumbs to everything he tries to deny.
The Queen is a book I've been dying for since The King first sent her away. Truthfully, my need for this story began even earlier than that, back when Penny was brought home broken and alone, ruined at the hands of the monster who set this entire dynamic in motion. One could argue that no one deserves a happy ending more than Damon and Penny. One could also argue that a happy ending has never felt more impossible. This course of events has been horrific, tragic, gut wrenching. The pain these characters have endured throughout this duet is on another level and I needed to see how this would play out for them, if they'd ever find their way beyond where they've been.
Does anyone write pleasure pain better than Skye Warren? Absolutely not. This author guts her readers with how masterfully she crafts attraction laced in cruelty, sensuality edged in pain, and she does it again and again but it's always new and fresh and unpredictable. Warren does that here with The Queen and I devoured it hungrily. I couldn't get enough of the lush romance layered exquisitely with Damon's mocking, his toying, his reluctance. The Queen is this chaotic marriage between soul-searing need and soul-crushing despair, the perfect sequel to this addictive duet. I reread entire passages twice because I couldn't get over how much it hurt, how good it felt. This story is brutally beautiful, blissfully romantic, sweet and sexy and disturbingly painful all at once. It's all the things I needed for these characters, all the things I needed to feel before it was over. I savored every word of every page and my only regret is that it's over.
I can walk away from Damon Scott because he wants me to, but I can’t stop loving him. It’s part of who I am, the logic as simple and undeniably sad as that.
I stand by my opinion that there's nothing more addictive in romance than a reluctant hero, a brooding alpha male who is cruel and detached, unreachable to the woman he secretly longs for because his brokenness allows him to believe he's not worthy. Damon Scott is the epitome of broken. Ruined. Hardened. The push and pull, the ruthless games he plays with Penny, are deliciously heartbreaking and as much as it hurts, it's like crack for a reader like me. I live for the heart tugs, the aches in my stomach whenever he deliberately cuts her with his words. It only makes me ravenous for what's to come, for the moment he folds and succumbs to everything he tries to deny.
The Queen is a book I've been dying for since The King first sent her away. Truthfully, my need for this story began even earlier than that, back when Penny was brought home broken and alone, ruined at the hands of the monster who set this entire dynamic in motion. One could argue that no one deserves a happy ending more than Damon and Penny. One could also argue that a happy ending has never felt more impossible. This course of events has been horrific, tragic, gut wrenching. The pain these characters have endured throughout this duet is on another level and I needed to see how this would play out for them, if they'd ever find their way beyond where they've been.
Does anyone write pleasure pain better than Skye Warren? Absolutely not. This author guts her readers with how masterfully she crafts attraction laced in cruelty, sensuality edged in pain, and she does it again and again but it's always new and fresh and unpredictable. Warren does that here with The Queen and I devoured it hungrily. I couldn't get enough of the lush romance layered exquisitely with Damon's mocking, his toying, his reluctance. The Queen is this chaotic marriage between soul-searing need and soul-crushing despair, the perfect sequel to this addictive duet. I reread entire passages twice because I couldn't get over how much it hurt, how good it felt. This story is brutally beautiful, blissfully romantic, sweet and sexy and disturbingly painful all at once. It's all the things I needed for these characters, all the things I needed to feel before it was over. I savored every word of every page and my only regret is that it's over.
September 28, 2017
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
The highly much anticipated conclusion to the Masterpiece Duet was worth the wait. The Queen by Skye Warren was a decadent, sinful, intoxicating and suspenseful read that kept me riveted and entertained.
The push and pull between Damien and Penny is still an ongoing factor throughout the book. The question of who will make the first move will be answered? While we are so entranced with what will happen to Damien and Penny, readers are taken in for a surprise when an unexpected turns of events take place forcing Damien to be extra cautious and protective of Penny.
Penny wants Damien. Damien wants her. They both are consumed with each other and yet play a dangerous game of who is in control. Will Penny be able to get Damien to submit to his desires and claim her? To make her not just his possession but a part of his heart?
The Queen was a fast paced read that took on more of a suspenseful tone. I loved that Skye Warren gave her readers more to the story of Damien and Penny. I know readers may have wanted more romance but I felt with what was going between them and their history to Tanglewood that it was not needed. The connection that made Damien and Penny special and worthwhile was the cat and mouse game they played. It was about control, submission, and healing. All in all, another great conclusion and I look forward to reading to my next Skye Warren book.
Skye Warren
The highly much anticipated conclusion to the Masterpiece Duet was worth the wait. The Queen by Skye Warren was a decadent, sinful, intoxicating and suspenseful read that kept me riveted and entertained.
The push and pull between Damien and Penny is still an ongoing factor throughout the book. The question of who will make the first move will be answered? While we are so entranced with what will happen to Damien and Penny, readers are taken in for a surprise when an unexpected turns of events take place forcing Damien to be extra cautious and protective of Penny.
Penny wants Damien. Damien wants her. They both are consumed with each other and yet play a dangerous game of who is in control. Will Penny be able to get Damien to submit to his desires and claim her? To make her not just his possession but a part of his heart?
The Queen was a fast paced read that took on more of a suspenseful tone. I loved that Skye Warren gave her readers more to the story of Damien and Penny. I know readers may have wanted more romance but I felt with what was going between them and their history to Tanglewood that it was not needed. The connection that made Damien and Penny special and worthwhile was the cat and mouse game they played. It was about control, submission, and healing. All in all, another great conclusion and I look forward to reading to my next Skye Warren book.
Skye Warren
September 19, 2017
4.5 stars!!
OH GOD DAMON!!!!!
Penny finally has a chance at a normal education, a normal life. She ran away from Tanglewood with no intentions of going back. Then one call from home changes her life.
The farther she tries to go from Damon the closer fate brings them. In this push and pull raw emotions and unfulfilled desires, is surely going to leave Penny with a broken heart. But she is ready to take a chance because Damon Scott is worth it all.
I am blown away right now. THIS SERIES IS UNREAL and my heart is still jackhammering from all the angst. I am just in awe of this entire series and how brilliant it turned out to be. Also, I absolutely bawled when Damon and Penny got their happy ending. If any two people deserved it, it was them. LOVE LOVE this story!!
OH GOD DAMON!!!!!
Penny finally has a chance at a normal education, a normal life. She ran away from Tanglewood with no intentions of going back. Then one call from home changes her life.
The farther she tries to go from Damon the closer fate brings them. In this push and pull raw emotions and unfulfilled desires, is surely going to leave Penny with a broken heart. But she is ready to take a chance because Damon Scott is worth it all.
I am blown away right now. THIS SERIES IS UNREAL and my heart is still jackhammering from all the angst. I am just in awe of this entire series and how brilliant it turned out to be. Also, I absolutely bawled when Damon and Penny got their happy ending. If any two people deserved it, it was them. LOVE LOVE this story!!
September 16, 2017
What do you say about one of the best series you've ever read that hasn't already been said? Skye Warren is the legit boss of the Dark Romance game. It is her realm as she has proven herself over and over to be the Queen. I have loved this series from the very beginning with The Pawn and have pretty much held on during this exhilarating ride all the way through The Queen. This novel was sexy, heart-pounding, suspenseful and nothing short of phenomenal. It is quite honestly one of the best books I have ever read.
If you have followed this series from the beginning, you are quite aware of the fact that Penny and Damon have had an emotional and twisted history together for over thirteen years. It is filled with despair, pain and loss but also filled to the brim with unrelenting sacrifice, love and devotion. The Queen brings us the conclusion to the Masterpiece Duet and is the final chess piece in the Endgame series. It has been three long years since Damon's final move to keep Penny safe at the end of The King and she is now at Smith College. But what happens when sinister forces are once again at play in Tanglewood and a common enemy is making the final moves on the board to draw out the King and his Queen?
I have loved Penny and Damon's story from the beginning because you could honestly feel their visceral connection towards each other. You knew that at whatever age Penny was, six, sixteen or even nineteen years old, she had a bond with Damon that could not be denied. She was equally drawn and repelled by him and despite the fact that their relationship was so push and pull over the years, he was inherently a part of her as her worst and best memories were centered around him.
Furthermore, I loved that over the years despite what happened to both of them, they were stronger people as a result. Likewise, it was quite evident throughout this whole series that Penny was the exception to every rule that Damon made. She was his greatest weakness, his joy and ultimately his reason for existence. She gave him life when he no longer cared to live in the one he was suffering in. All in all this was a fantastic series and I look forward to more from this author in the future! I wish I could give it five million stars it was that fantastic! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
If you have followed this series from the beginning, you are quite aware of the fact that Penny and Damon have had an emotional and twisted history together for over thirteen years. It is filled with despair, pain and loss but also filled to the brim with unrelenting sacrifice, love and devotion. The Queen brings us the conclusion to the Masterpiece Duet and is the final chess piece in the Endgame series. It has been three long years since Damon's final move to keep Penny safe at the end of The King and she is now at Smith College. But what happens when sinister forces are once again at play in Tanglewood and a common enemy is making the final moves on the board to draw out the King and his Queen?
I have loved Penny and Damon's story from the beginning because you could honestly feel their visceral connection towards each other. You knew that at whatever age Penny was, six, sixteen or even nineteen years old, she had a bond with Damon that could not be denied. She was equally drawn and repelled by him and despite the fact that their relationship was so push and pull over the years, he was inherently a part of her as her worst and best memories were centered around him.
Furthermore, I loved that over the years despite what happened to both of them, they were stronger people as a result. Likewise, it was quite evident throughout this whole series that Penny was the exception to every rule that Damon made. She was his greatest weakness, his joy and ultimately his reason for existence. She gave him life when he no longer cared to live in the one he was suffering in. All in all this was a fantastic series and I look forward to more from this author in the future! I wish I could give it five million stars it was that fantastic! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
September 19, 2017
It's over but I don't want to let go of Damien and Penny this has been a fantastic series.
Damien is the king of Tanglewood the master of all he surveys all except Penny that is. She doesn't know it but the reader quickly realises the hold and power that Penny has over him, we see Damien in a new light the more the story progresses.
I don't think I've ever wanted a book couple to have sex as much as I wanted these two to get it on. However this one has a different feel to it so the lack of sex fits perfectly. The characters are playing a big game of cat and mouse not just Damien and Penny but also with Johnathan. All the gang are back but whether they can work together is open for debate.
I'm sorry that this series is over but I can't wait to see what the author thinks up next.
reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood
Damien is the king of Tanglewood the master of all he surveys all except Penny that is. She doesn't know it but the reader quickly realises the hold and power that Penny has over him, we see Damien in a new light the more the story progresses.
I don't think I've ever wanted a book couple to have sex as much as I wanted these two to get it on. However this one has a different feel to it so the lack of sex fits perfectly. The characters are playing a big game of cat and mouse not just Damien and Penny but also with Johnathan. All the gang are back but whether they can work together is open for debate.
I'm sorry that this series is over but I can't wait to see what the author thinks up next.
reviewed by Sweet Spot Sisterhood
September 20, 2017
4.5 stars
I am not ready to leave Tanglewood or its cast of sinners and saints. Skye Warren paints a picture of a town so steeped in corruption and power, of inhabitants living by their own set of unwritten laws, that it is hard for me to believe it exists only in my kindle. Finishing The Queen, I felt as if I left a world where I was a voyeur, and I wasn’t ready to abandon my watch.
I loved Penny and Damon. I loved the differences between them and the way it made them the perfect foils for one another, and I especially enjoyed the way that The Queen made those differences even more apparent. Damon and Penny were the dark and the light. The fragile child with the spine of steel and the protector who felt he wasn’t worthy of love. The woman who thrived on intellect and the man who gloried in power. They were the balance each other needed, and I adored seeing Penny grow up and Damon’s love for her never changing. This story was sad and lovely and this series, complete with Gabriel and Avery’s story, ranks as one of my most favorite.
The only issues I had with The Queen which kept me from giving it 5-stars is the length and the amount of sex. While I adored the story, I felt as if this last installment could have just been the last portion of The King. It was a continuation of Penny growing up into the woman she was destined to become, both for herself and for Damon. And while it was immensely enjoyable, I’m not sure that it needed to be a book of its own.
And as for the sex, I wanted more! I waited a long time for Penny to grow up and be old enough for Damon. I wanted to see more between these two! The intimacy was there in their actions and in their deeds. The voyeur in me just wanted to read about it as well.
The entire Endgame/ Masterpiece Duet series is one that is not to be missed. The Queen was a fantastic finale and only serves to make me realize how much I’m going to miss all of these people.
September 17, 2017
I am so sad to see this series come to an end. Damien and Penny's story..... Omg! what a great read. I opened this book and could not set it down. Skye has a way of telling a story that literally keeps you glued to the pages. The twist in this book was so unexpected. I was on the edge of my seat. It had the perfect amount of chemistry between them to keep it hot and steamy.
I was lucky enough to get to read this as an ARC and am leaving my honest review voluntarily. THIS IS A MUST HAVE.
I was lucky enough to get to read this as an ARC and am leaving my honest review voluntarily. THIS IS A MUST HAVE.
September 16, 2017
Damon Scott has met his match in the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Penny. His Queen, only after the death of his father Jonathan Scott does Damon realize how much the newly appointed King needs this mathematical genius. A girl once broken by the fallen King, who tricked him ever so slightly when she realized just how bad he was, saved by the Prince while they were young. "I'm just a girl from the slums of Tanglewood, the broke down Cinderella who never got her Prince." Penny, girl you have that Prince wrapped around your finger more than you realize. He would move mountains for you.
Between the Masterpiece trilogy and the Masterpiece duet, this concluding story keeps you on your feet with each page. I could not put it down, just like it's predecessors. Skye Warren wraps you in her characters and has you cheering each time evil fails. The darkness of the stories, emits just the right amount of light to understand where and why the love happens between the rich and powerful, and the slums of Tanglewood. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading both the trilogy and the duet, as well as the novella The Prince. Skye Warren will suck you in with each book and you won't want to put them down.
Penny shows you what she is made of, street smarts and a mathematical brain that puts most to shame. Penny proves that girls can go the extra mile to solve the hardest of equations when faced with protecting their love and devotion.
Damon, like Gabriel to Avery, all the chess pieces fall into their respective places to protect the Queen. My second favorite quote from the book, "Your journey is your own." This line blows me away because it seals all the books together. Each of the characters found their own journey and made it their own, by being broken and made whole again in time. If you read anything this year, this is it!
Thank you Skye Warren for another great read! I hope we can see a Rook and Bishop story soon :D
Between the Masterpiece trilogy and the Masterpiece duet, this concluding story keeps you on your feet with each page. I could not put it down, just like it's predecessors. Skye Warren wraps you in her characters and has you cheering each time evil fails. The darkness of the stories, emits just the right amount of light to understand where and why the love happens between the rich and powerful, and the slums of Tanglewood. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading both the trilogy and the duet, as well as the novella The Prince. Skye Warren will suck you in with each book and you won't want to put them down.
Penny shows you what she is made of, street smarts and a mathematical brain that puts most to shame. Penny proves that girls can go the extra mile to solve the hardest of equations when faced with protecting their love and devotion.
Damon, like Gabriel to Avery, all the chess pieces fall into their respective places to protect the Queen. My second favorite quote from the book, "Your journey is your own." This line blows me away because it seals all the books together. Each of the characters found their own journey and made it their own, by being broken and made whole again in time. If you read anything this year, this is it!
Thank you Skye Warren for another great read! I hope we can see a Rook and Bishop story soon :D
September 22, 2017
Goosebumps! What an epic second book to this duet!
So… that’s it? The final novel in the powerful, dangerous and manipulative world of Damon Scott and Damon Scott? I’m not ready to let go – not yet. Damon Scott, god – that man. He fascinates me, he captivates me – reminding me why I love dark, dangerous, broody and somewhat broken heroes so, so much. He is one of those heroes that stay in my thoughts long after there are no more words left in the book. I never, ever would have thought that when he first appeared in the Endgame series – honestly, I didn’t care for him all that much until the last chapters of the third book. That’s when it all changed – and he got me, hook, line and sinker.
Three more years have passed since the ending of The King. Damon is the dark king of Tanglewood, while Penny is finally free of it all, living her life, studying, far away from all the evil – and from Damon. But her past and the shadows of the evil that is master-manipulator Jonathan Scott still haunt her, luring her back into its tangled web, back to Tanglewood, back to Damon, who does all in his might to warn her away. Only Penny is a far cry from the lost little girl, the broken teenager she was before. Our baby genius, as Damon likes to call her, is so much stronger now – even if it takes her a while to realize that herself – that there’s more to her than an insanely talented mathematician. And despite all that she has been through, she is smart and determined, sweet and caring, still believing and seeing the good in people.
And Damon? We should see him as the dangerous criminal that he is, but underneath, he is so, so much more than that. Broken and complex – we finally get to know why he believes he does not deserve a thing – least of all sweet and innocent Penny. He truly cares for Penny – that is blatantly obvious, although his – often cruel – ways of actually showing that are questionable. But, hell, this character – this deeply broken man. There were moments throughout the story where his actions, his confessions caused me goosebumps. He is by far my favorite book boyfriend by Skye Warren.
Penny and Damon – I don’t think there have been many romance couples that I wanted to finally get down and dirty together as much as I wanted it for both of them! The constant push and pull, the omnipresent chemistry might have fit the story perfectly, but, oh my, I was waiting on pins and needles for it to finally happen!
The epic conclusion to a beautiful but haunting tale that spans over a decade – full of tension, mystery, emotions and sizzling passion – that will leave you breathless and hoping for more. No, I’m absolutely not ready to let them go just yet…
GO, grab this duet!!
So… that’s it? The final novel in the powerful, dangerous and manipulative world of Damon Scott and Damon Scott? I’m not ready to let go – not yet. Damon Scott, god – that man. He fascinates me, he captivates me – reminding me why I love dark, dangerous, broody and somewhat broken heroes so, so much. He is one of those heroes that stay in my thoughts long after there are no more words left in the book. I never, ever would have thought that when he first appeared in the Endgame series – honestly, I didn’t care for him all that much until the last chapters of the third book. That’s when it all changed – and he got me, hook, line and sinker.
Three more years have passed since the ending of The King. Damon is the dark king of Tanglewood, while Penny is finally free of it all, living her life, studying, far away from all the evil – and from Damon. But her past and the shadows of the evil that is master-manipulator Jonathan Scott still haunt her, luring her back into its tangled web, back to Tanglewood, back to Damon, who does all in his might to warn her away. Only Penny is a far cry from the lost little girl, the broken teenager she was before. Our baby genius, as Damon likes to call her, is so much stronger now – even if it takes her a while to realize that herself – that there’s more to her than an insanely talented mathematician. And despite all that she has been through, she is smart and determined, sweet and caring, still believing and seeing the good in people.
And Damon? We should see him as the dangerous criminal that he is, but underneath, he is so, so much more than that. Broken and complex – we finally get to know why he believes he does not deserve a thing – least of all sweet and innocent Penny. He truly cares for Penny – that is blatantly obvious, although his – often cruel – ways of actually showing that are questionable. But, hell, this character – this deeply broken man. There were moments throughout the story where his actions, his confessions caused me goosebumps. He is by far my favorite book boyfriend by Skye Warren.
Penny and Damon – I don’t think there have been many romance couples that I wanted to finally get down and dirty together as much as I wanted it for both of them! The constant push and pull, the omnipresent chemistry might have fit the story perfectly, but, oh my, I was waiting on pins and needles for it to finally happen!
The epic conclusion to a beautiful but haunting tale that spans over a decade – full of tension, mystery, emotions and sizzling passion – that will leave you breathless and hoping for more. No, I’m absolutely not ready to let them go just yet…
GO, grab this duet!!
November 20, 2017
THE Queen by Skye Warren
And so with a final bow this duet ends in a glorious blaze and among the ashes and rumble of hardships and consequences The Queen climbs it's way up to stand above it all.
From the first moment I read the prologue The Prince I was invested into this story. When The King came I was too far in to ever want to leave. Now here I am with The Queen walking away with gratification and beyond what I expected.
Our two main characters Penny and Damon have grown a lot since the beginning. In some ways positive in other ways negative. Each step forward or back was done with sacrifices and not easy decisions. Skye demonstrates perfectly that the easy road can be littered with obstacles to keep one from success and happiness. Damon for Penny willingly takes the difficult road. Penny is put on the easy road with Damon there to block any obstacle that comes her way. Division is what makes an empire fall though. As they figure out how to protect and help each other without condemning one another may prove difficult but both are willing to throw themselves into battle.
This story checked marked off a lot of boxes for me. It has passion, awesome side characters from previous books, great story flow, and well written characters. The Queen has a plot that instantly sparks reaching a blazing climax into war and simmers down to bright embers that glow with hope and love.
The main characters growth through their rise and fall showed monumental tenacity, preserverance, and heart. Even if it was jumping into the flames these characters took risks. Damon sacrifices himself a lot for Penny thinking she deserves better. Willing to push her aside with harsh words and indifference. I admired Penny for not taking it to push through these walls. Just as she is brilliant with numbers she is brilliant at calculating where she wants to be regardless the cost.
Penny and Damon love is evolutionary it may start with very little but together and individually they adapt, they grow, they become stronger and wiser, and they sacrifice and survive for each other moving behind and forward together.
- Received an ARC for an honest review
~ Two Darlin Dolls and a Book Review
And so with a final bow this duet ends in a glorious blaze and among the ashes and rumble of hardships and consequences The Queen climbs it's way up to stand above it all.
From the first moment I read the prologue The Prince I was invested into this story. When The King came I was too far in to ever want to leave. Now here I am with The Queen walking away with gratification and beyond what I expected.
Our two main characters Penny and Damon have grown a lot since the beginning. In some ways positive in other ways negative. Each step forward or back was done with sacrifices and not easy decisions. Skye demonstrates perfectly that the easy road can be littered with obstacles to keep one from success and happiness. Damon for Penny willingly takes the difficult road. Penny is put on the easy road with Damon there to block any obstacle that comes her way. Division is what makes an empire fall though. As they figure out how to protect and help each other without condemning one another may prove difficult but both are willing to throw themselves into battle.
This story checked marked off a lot of boxes for me. It has passion, awesome side characters from previous books, great story flow, and well written characters. The Queen has a plot that instantly sparks reaching a blazing climax into war and simmers down to bright embers that glow with hope and love.
The main characters growth through their rise and fall showed monumental tenacity, preserverance, and heart. Even if it was jumping into the flames these characters took risks. Damon sacrifices himself a lot for Penny thinking she deserves better. Willing to push her aside with harsh words and indifference. I admired Penny for not taking it to push through these walls. Just as she is brilliant with numbers she is brilliant at calculating where she wants to be regardless the cost.
Penny and Damon love is evolutionary it may start with very little but together and individually they adapt, they grow, they become stronger and wiser, and they sacrifice and survive for each other moving behind and forward together.
- Received an ARC for an honest review
~ Two Darlin Dolls and a Book Review
September 20, 2017
5 Crumbling Castles Stars!!!
Penny. …the limp in my step. The ache in my hands. The weakness in my body. She is the only one who can take it. Damon is Penny’s hell on earth. He tortures her to no end. It’s more than just a push and pull. Damon unleashes the worst of the worst on Penny, to the point that no one would blame Penny for walking away forever. He lashes her with his words, hurting her over and over again. Why does she stay? It’s more than love. She doesn’t just love him. This story has an EPIC feel. These two are meant to be together. One of my favorite couples.
Damon. Lost. Not sane. He has gone through one of the worst childhoods in the history of ever, being abused physically and mentally in every way. I love that we learn all about Damon in this book. Why he is the way he is. He owns the city, and yet he owns nothing. He uses Penny with no remorse. Of all the men in the world, he really isn’t worthy of her, and that’s not an exaggeration.
The GROVEL!! Oh, the grovel. I didn’t understand why Skye named this book The Queen until the end of this book, and now I get it. That’s all I can say without spoiling. Zipping my lips.
Skye should win an award for her writing of the asshole. Not many authors can pull off a perfect asshole, and she does it flawlessly. Of course, once an asshole, always an asshole, and Skye stays true to that statement. Gabriel or Damon. Damon or Gabriel. I can’t choose!!! They are equally assholely, but the reasons for their actions are soooo different that it’s so hard to compare them. I can’t love one more or less than the other, so I will place them on the same level on my ultimate book boyfriend list.
Assholes aside (*giggles because I’m so mature), Skye is one of my favorite writers ever. I think I say this in every single one of my reviews, but I love her words. Her words evoke more than just feels. They evoke FEELS. Her words make me breathe and stop breathing at the same time.
I love this book so much that I would give my left tit (because that’s the one I don’t like) for an extended epilogue of Damon and Penny. Maybe 5 years later??? Pretty, please, Skye….with a Damon on top?
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on
Penny. …the limp in my step. The ache in my hands. The weakness in my body. She is the only one who can take it. Damon is Penny’s hell on earth. He tortures her to no end. It’s more than just a push and pull. Damon unleashes the worst of the worst on Penny, to the point that no one would blame Penny for walking away forever. He lashes her with his words, hurting her over and over again. Why does she stay? It’s more than love. She doesn’t just love him. This story has an EPIC feel. These two are meant to be together. One of my favorite couples.
Damon. Lost. Not sane. He has gone through one of the worst childhoods in the history of ever, being abused physically and mentally in every way. I love that we learn all about Damon in this book. Why he is the way he is. He owns the city, and yet he owns nothing. He uses Penny with no remorse. Of all the men in the world, he really isn’t worthy of her, and that’s not an exaggeration.
The GROVEL!! Oh, the grovel. I didn’t understand why Skye named this book The Queen until the end of this book, and now I get it. That’s all I can say without spoiling. Zipping my lips.
Skye should win an award for her writing of the asshole. Not many authors can pull off a perfect asshole, and she does it flawlessly. Of course, once an asshole, always an asshole, and Skye stays true to that statement. Gabriel or Damon. Damon or Gabriel. I can’t choose!!! They are equally assholely, but the reasons for their actions are soooo different that it’s so hard to compare them. I can’t love one more or less than the other, so I will place them on the same level on my ultimate book boyfriend list.
Assholes aside (*giggles because I’m so mature), Skye is one of my favorite writers ever. I think I say this in every single one of my reviews, but I love her words. Her words evoke more than just feels. They evoke FEELS. Her words make me breathe and stop breathing at the same time.
I love this book so much that I would give my left tit (because that’s the one I don’t like) for an extended epilogue of Damon and Penny. Maybe 5 years later??? Pretty, please, Skye….with a Damon on top?
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on
September 17, 2017
Title: The Queen
Author: Skye Warren
Category: Dark Romance
Series or Standalone: Part of a duet, Book #2
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Scorching Level: 5+++
HEA: Not telling
My favorite Skye Warren book ever!!!
If I loved the King, I fell in love with the Queen.
Penny has got to be one of my favorite heroine's ever! Damon is simply mouthwatering and their story has to be one of my favorite romances ever.
Our Penny. The baby genius as he likes to call her, really shines in this final installment.
Loved her journey, loved how Damon was with her, I loved everything about this book!
Skye Warren writes captivating heroes; I even love her villains.
Excellent writing, superb execution and sizzling passion that will leave you breathless.
Do not miss this!
September 18, 2017
The Queen and The Masterpiece Duet have quickly skyrocketed up to the top of my favorites list of books for 2017. I knew that I wanted more of Damon Scott. I just didn't know he was going to completely steal my heart away from Gabriel Miller.
As with The King, I must keep this review pretty vague because I don't want to give anything away. I will tell you that there are more twists and Damon and Penny are continued to be challenged. You'll go through a whirlwind of emotions, that's for sure.
In my review for The King, I mentioned how much I really enjoyed Penny and how strong I thought she really was. Well, she completely blew me away in The Queen. She is absolutely fierce and quite possibly one the strongest women I've read in a while. She is absolutely perfect for Damon and it is clear that she is the only one who can handle him. She somehow knows what he needs before he even knows it. She has really grown into a very strong and capable woman who can and will handle anything that anyone could throw at her.
Now back to the one who completely stole my heart. There's a quote from the book that I want to share but while I don't think it is really a spoiler, I just think it might take away from you experiencing it on your own. So I will say this. From the beginning, we knew how calculating Damon is. Both in his businesses and with his own life. But I had no idea the depths of his heart and what he will do the protect those that he loves. Every single new thing we discover about him breaks my heart and heals it at the same time.
The Queen is exactly what I needed to complete Damon and Penny's story. Yet again, Warren delivers us an emotionally raw and gritty story that will capture your heart and soul. It won't be pretty but it will be perfectly beautiful in a way only Damon and Penny could deliver.
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*
As with The King, I must keep this review pretty vague because I don't want to give anything away. I will tell you that there are more twists and Damon and Penny are continued to be challenged. You'll go through a whirlwind of emotions, that's for sure.
In my review for The King, I mentioned how much I really enjoyed Penny and how strong I thought she really was. Well, she completely blew me away in The Queen. She is absolutely fierce and quite possibly one the strongest women I've read in a while. She is absolutely perfect for Damon and it is clear that she is the only one who can handle him. She somehow knows what he needs before he even knows it. She has really grown into a very strong and capable woman who can and will handle anything that anyone could throw at her.
Now back to the one who completely stole my heart. There's a quote from the book that I want to share but while I don't think it is really a spoiler, I just think it might take away from you experiencing it on your own. So I will say this. From the beginning, we knew how calculating Damon is. Both in his businesses and with his own life. But I had no idea the depths of his heart and what he will do the protect those that he loves. Every single new thing we discover about him breaks my heart and heals it at the same time.
The Queen is exactly what I needed to complete Damon and Penny's story. Yet again, Warren delivers us an emotionally raw and gritty story that will capture your heart and soul. It won't be pretty but it will be perfectly beautiful in a way only Damon and Penny could deliver.
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*
September 20, 2017
OH SKYE WARREN ... my obsession with this series has me searching for words to do it justice. I love the Masterpiece Duet as well as its three predecessors The Pawn, The Knight, The Castle. This is my only review for this series as I read the other 5 books before I joined Goodreads. So, I'm going to use this moment to lament on how much I love the series and how sad I am to see it end. Skye Warren, you are a beautiful story teller. When I started this series I was taken right away by the world that you created. Was it reality? Descriptive piece of fiction? A fairy tale? Parts of the story were designed around a world we are so familiar with, excessive opulence and wealth, as well as poverty and the destructive nature of addiction. However, the way this series was written, the setting of Tanglewood gave it such an otherworldly feel. Like American Gothic, Flowers in the Attic, and other such stories where some of these characters are larger than life, ie Jonathan Scott. I was left wondering is he a man or some mythic entity? How could one individual have so much power over others? The mood is dark and sinister.
"That's not real...This isn't the Dark Ages."
(Oh but it sure feels like it!)
So when it comes to the suspense and anticipation of what's to come next, these books had me hooked!
DONE WITH LAMENT
Now, moving on to The Queen.
The book is from Penny's perspective, although the prologue starts with Damon (*sigh) - I was hoping it would be a duel perspective.
Penny is now enrolled in Smith University. She is miles (and states) away from the seedy city of Tanglewood and she is free from the life of torment she left behind. She's brilliant and thriving in her new environment, her Prof. is even in awe of her (with hints of him wanting more out of their Prof/Student relationship) but... and here is the BUT after 3 years in university and her future uncertain as she is preparing for her completion she's still being pulled/ drawn back to Tanglewood. (And to be clear here, it is inevitable, despite Penny's musings of being with someone else or never going back to the city she was born In.) Her less than perfect father, who has habitually called her every Wednesday evening for the past 3 years, does not call. Something is wrong and Penny needs to get in touch with her father to know that he is alright. Penny's missing father and then the disappearance of Avery has Penny back in Tanglewood and at the door of Damon Scott's sordid Den. In true Skye Warren fashion the tale is now about putting the pieces of Avery and Penny's father's disappearance together. Clues are given that only hold meaning to Penny and indirectly to Damon. It forces Penny and Damon to open the festering wounds of their intertwined pasts. And finally, explore the nature of their relationship that has been tied to the sinister Jonathan Scott.
Penny needs Damon's help but he is reluctant to give it.
And so... my feelings about this beautiful mess of a story.
Oh I loved Penny and Damon's concluding story! This was IT for more. Everything that didn't get explored in The King (for obvious reasons - she's jailbait although as a side rant, I think Damon's own morals and respect for Penny stopped him from ever going there.) does so in The Queen.
Penny and Damon are broken. And what I found the most suspenseful in Ms Warren's tale was if Damon and Penny could actually be together. (I contemplated flipping to the end of the novel. I am notorious for reading the end first! - But I didn't. I knew a huge part of experiencing this book was to experience Penny and Damon's harrowing journey, even though I was fearful of where they would end up.) Was the abuse and torture delivered by the hands of Jonathan Scott so destructive that it destroyed any ability for Damon and Penny to love and love one another? I think Ms. Warren does an excellent job of exploring this theme of abuse and exploitation of power. Damon is born within a system of this exploitation and sees himself damaged and irreparable. Damon behaves the way he does because he knows he can't be fixed. But that motivates him to save Penny. To protect her from Tanglewood, from seedy characters like Jonathan Scott and most especially from Damon himself.
“Ah, Penny,” he says, sounding infinitely weary. “I hate you too.”
Damon feels he isn't worthy of Penny's love and tries to protect her from himself. He wants to push her away but keep her at arms length needing to be near her. He wants her to be under his wing, his protection while denying what he feels for her and denying Penny's feelings for him. Clearly he is struggling with his inner demons, those that tell him he is too damaged, too evil, and too broken to truly deserve Penny.
"There won’t be any emotion between us. No relationship. There’s only this, mocking me in public, saving me in private, the hero who won’t let himself be happy."
And here is where I think Warren's writing explores this beautifully. The struggle, denial and hope for love is so exquisitely explored that I ate up every word, rereading and highlighting many of these parts in the book.
I could go on but I think I've conveyed the gist of it.
If you are a fan of dark romance and suspense, this is a book for you. Start with The Pawn. It doesn't need to be read first but it establishes the seedy city of Tanglewood. If not, read The Prince first. I'm certain you will enjoy it if you are a fan of this genre.
And just because I guess I'm still not finished this review - most likely because I'm still reeling from the Triple "D" Effect or DDDEffect - that's right Damon's Den Debauchery. I LOVED every scene in the Den! Skye Warren, the Den is your playground! I would love to see another volume just on the sordid gatherings in Damon's Lair!
"That's not real...This isn't the Dark Ages."
(Oh but it sure feels like it!)
So when it comes to the suspense and anticipation of what's to come next, these books had me hooked!
DONE WITH LAMENT
Now, moving on to The Queen.
The book is from Penny's perspective, although the prologue starts with Damon (*sigh) - I was hoping it would be a duel perspective.
Penny is now enrolled in Smith University. She is miles (and states) away from the seedy city of Tanglewood and she is free from the life of torment she left behind. She's brilliant and thriving in her new environment, her Prof. is even in awe of her (with hints of him wanting more out of their Prof/Student relationship) but... and here is the BUT after 3 years in university and her future uncertain as she is preparing for her completion she's still being pulled/ drawn back to Tanglewood. (And to be clear here, it is inevitable, despite Penny's musings of being with someone else or never going back to the city she was born In.) Her less than perfect father, who has habitually called her every Wednesday evening for the past 3 years, does not call. Something is wrong and Penny needs to get in touch with her father to know that he is alright. Penny's missing father and then the disappearance of Avery has Penny back in Tanglewood and at the door of Damon Scott's sordid Den. In true Skye Warren fashion the tale is now about putting the pieces of Avery and Penny's father's disappearance together. Clues are given that only hold meaning to Penny and indirectly to Damon. It forces Penny and Damon to open the festering wounds of their intertwined pasts. And finally, explore the nature of their relationship that has been tied to the sinister Jonathan Scott.
Penny needs Damon's help but he is reluctant to give it.
And so... my feelings about this beautiful mess of a story.
Oh I loved Penny and Damon's concluding story! This was IT for more. Everything that didn't get explored in The King (for obvious reasons - she's jailbait although as a side rant, I think Damon's own morals and respect for Penny stopped him from ever going there.) does so in The Queen.
Penny and Damon are broken. And what I found the most suspenseful in Ms Warren's tale was if Damon and Penny could actually be together. (I contemplated flipping to the end of the novel. I am notorious for reading the end first! - But I didn't. I knew a huge part of experiencing this book was to experience Penny and Damon's harrowing journey, even though I was fearful of where they would end up.) Was the abuse and torture delivered by the hands of Jonathan Scott so destructive that it destroyed any ability for Damon and Penny to love and love one another? I think Ms. Warren does an excellent job of exploring this theme of abuse and exploitation of power. Damon is born within a system of this exploitation and sees himself damaged and irreparable. Damon behaves the way he does because he knows he can't be fixed. But that motivates him to save Penny. To protect her from Tanglewood, from seedy characters like Jonathan Scott and most especially from Damon himself.
“Ah, Penny,” he says, sounding infinitely weary. “I hate you too.”
Damon feels he isn't worthy of Penny's love and tries to protect her from himself. He wants to push her away but keep her at arms length needing to be near her. He wants her to be under his wing, his protection while denying what he feels for her and denying Penny's feelings for him. Clearly he is struggling with his inner demons, those that tell him he is too damaged, too evil, and too broken to truly deserve Penny.
"There won’t be any emotion between us. No relationship. There’s only this, mocking me in public, saving me in private, the hero who won’t let himself be happy."
And here is where I think Warren's writing explores this beautifully. The struggle, denial and hope for love is so exquisitely explored that I ate up every word, rereading and highlighting many of these parts in the book.
I could go on but I think I've conveyed the gist of it.
If you are a fan of dark romance and suspense, this is a book for you. Start with The Pawn. It doesn't need to be read first but it establishes the seedy city of Tanglewood. If not, read The Prince first. I'm certain you will enjoy it if you are a fan of this genre.
And just because I guess I'm still not finished this review - most likely because I'm still reeling from the Triple "D" Effect or DDDEffect - that's right Damon's Den Debauchery. I LOVED every scene in the Den! Skye Warren, the Den is your playground! I would love to see another volume just on the sordid gatherings in Damon's Lair!
September 20, 2017
**ARC provided the author in exchange for an honest review**
Going into this book, The Queen by Skye Warren, I was aware that it was the final novel in her
Masterpiece Duet. I have followed the journey of Penny and Damon for quite some time and was
immersed in their lives enough to have developed a desperate need to know how their story would
end. Even after reading the blurb, I still believed there was hope for our tortured souls and that light
would finally break through their darkness.
Although Penny and Damon’s story spans over some thirteen years, the history created between
Skye’s lead characters has seen them riding an extreme emotional rollercoaster. It’s hasn’t always
been a thrilling ride, particularly with the way it’s intricately pushed and pulled them in so many
directions. Yet in saying that, regardless of the hurt or obstacles placed in their way, there is a
connection between this pair that is undeniable, a bond so powerful its unbinding. After reading
their tales, you become aware that feelings shouldn’t factor into their relationship because no
matter what happens their souls are entwined, always drawing them back together.
After escaping three years prior, and making a fresh start at college Penny is drawn back into a world she would prefer to be long forgotten by a man who has a tight grip on her heart. His need surpasses her own and she jumps back into the fire to strategically help Damon battle a common enemy who encumbers them both in a game of cat and mouse. Every step they take is a gamble, every moment calculated, but their story is more than the horrific train wreck it appears. Through all the hurt, the betrayal and the ruin, shines through an unbelievable tale of survival and love that is beautifully told in Skye’s disturbingly dark romantic tale.
This final instalment brought to the table just as much suspense with its twists and turns as the
previous ones, and it’s what makes The Queen such an addictive story. Every word written, strings
together sentences that will keep the reader immersed in the unmerciful games played out within
the plot and the skillful way they are described by the author.
Going into this book, The Queen by Skye Warren, I was aware that it was the final novel in her
Masterpiece Duet. I have followed the journey of Penny and Damon for quite some time and was
immersed in their lives enough to have developed a desperate need to know how their story would
end. Even after reading the blurb, I still believed there was hope for our tortured souls and that light
would finally break through their darkness.
Although Penny and Damon’s story spans over some thirteen years, the history created between
Skye’s lead characters has seen them riding an extreme emotional rollercoaster. It’s hasn’t always
been a thrilling ride, particularly with the way it’s intricately pushed and pulled them in so many
directions. Yet in saying that, regardless of the hurt or obstacles placed in their way, there is a
connection between this pair that is undeniable, a bond so powerful its unbinding. After reading
their tales, you become aware that feelings shouldn’t factor into their relationship because no
matter what happens their souls are entwined, always drawing them back together.
After escaping three years prior, and making a fresh start at college Penny is drawn back into a world she would prefer to be long forgotten by a man who has a tight grip on her heart. His need surpasses her own and she jumps back into the fire to strategically help Damon battle a common enemy who encumbers them both in a game of cat and mouse. Every step they take is a gamble, every moment calculated, but their story is more than the horrific train wreck it appears. Through all the hurt, the betrayal and the ruin, shines through an unbelievable tale of survival and love that is beautifully told in Skye’s disturbingly dark romantic tale.
This final instalment brought to the table just as much suspense with its twists and turns as the
previous ones, and it’s what makes The Queen such an addictive story. Every word written, strings
together sentences that will keep the reader immersed in the unmerciful games played out within
the plot and the skillful way they are described by the author.
September 24, 2017
5 STARS
I have read both these books in this duet. I loved the first one but this second one is off the charts!!
This book is Penny and Damon's story, I loved both these characters flaws and all. This story is a tale of suspense, crime, kidnapping and so much more, hence making this a dark romance.
Damon Scott criminal bad past and even worst future, he is the son of Jonathn Scott who is certifiably nuts. Penny is the light amongst all the darkness. She too has had her fair share of despair but one thing that comforts her is Damon Scott.
Can they be together, are they willing to give up everything for love? You will have to read it to find out. I recommend this to dark, suspenseful readers and I also suggest you read the first book The King because it is fabulous and some of the characters from the first make appearances in the second one, This was a great book to finish of this Best Selling Masterpiece Duet !!
I volunteered to review an Advance Reader Copy of this book for Rockstar Book Muse
I have read both these books in this duet. I loved the first one but this second one is off the charts!!
This book is Penny and Damon's story, I loved both these characters flaws and all. This story is a tale of suspense, crime, kidnapping and so much more, hence making this a dark romance.
Damon Scott criminal bad past and even worst future, he is the son of Jonathn Scott who is certifiably nuts. Penny is the light amongst all the darkness. She too has had her fair share of despair but one thing that comforts her is Damon Scott.
Can they be together, are they willing to give up everything for love? You will have to read it to find out. I recommend this to dark, suspenseful readers and I also suggest you read the first book The King because it is fabulous and some of the characters from the first make appearances in the second one, This was a great book to finish of this Best Selling Masterpiece Duet !!
I volunteered to review an Advance Reader Copy of this book for Rockstar Book Muse
September 19, 2017
3.5 STARS
I'm obsessed with Skye Warren and her books. OBSESSED. She's been on my auto-buy list since the very first book I read of hers years ago. Her Endgame series is a top favorite of mine. Ever since we met Damon in that series, I've been downright salivating for his story. And while you certainly don't have to read that trilogy to enjoy this duet, I'd still highly recommend it. It's set in the same world and you get even more of Avery and Gabriel here, so you'll definitely appreciate it.
After The King, I was desperate for more Damon and Penny. I was desperate for more. I think perhaps that was what ultimately what's to blame for my lower rating. In my wait, my expectations got the best of me. And while I still absolutely enjoyed The Queen, it didn't quite live up to what I hoped it would be.
The King, for me, felt like a prequel of sorts. You don't get much romance in that book but it does a phenomenal job in setting the scene and building the foundation that is Damon and Penny. The Queen is where I was hoping for the epic romance to happen. Now don't get me wrong, it was a one sitting sort of read for me. I enjoyed it. It was intense, magnetic and dark. It was everything I've come to love about Skye's writing. But I also couldn't help but want more. I wanted more development, more story, more romance, for pieces of the story to be more fleshed out. I couldn't help but feel that it was a bit rushed and too short to be entirely satisfying.
Perhaps my expectations got the best of me with this one, but it certainly didn't stop me from enjoying the book. After all, I did read it in one sitting.
If you loved The Endgame trilogy, you're definitely not going to want to miss Penny and Damon's epic story.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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Presidents run for office. Dictators steal it. Kings are born, and that’s why it’s the perfect way to describe Damon Scott. He commands any room he enters. He owns the very ground he walks on. And he wears that invisible crown with both pride and resignation, because it’s a bittersweet birthright.
I'm obsessed with Skye Warren and her books. OBSESSED. She's been on my auto-buy list since the very first book I read of hers years ago. Her Endgame series is a top favorite of mine. Ever since we met Damon in that series, I've been downright salivating for his story. And while you certainly don't have to read that trilogy to enjoy this duet, I'd still highly recommend it. It's set in the same world and you get even more of Avery and Gabriel here, so you'll definitely appreciate it.
After The King, I was desperate for more Damon and Penny. I was desperate for more. I think perhaps that was what ultimately what's to blame for my lower rating. In my wait, my expectations got the best of me. And while I still absolutely enjoyed The Queen, it didn't quite live up to what I hoped it would be.
The King, for me, felt like a prequel of sorts. You don't get much romance in that book but it does a phenomenal job in setting the scene and building the foundation that is Damon and Penny. The Queen is where I was hoping for the epic romance to happen. Now don't get me wrong, it was a one sitting sort of read for me. I enjoyed it. It was intense, magnetic and dark. It was everything I've come to love about Skye's writing. But I also couldn't help but want more. I wanted more development, more story, more romance, for pieces of the story to be more fleshed out. I couldn't help but feel that it was a bit rushed and too short to be entirely satisfying.
Perhaps my expectations got the best of me with this one, but it certainly didn't stop me from enjoying the book. After all, I did read it in one sitting.
If you loved The Endgame trilogy, you're definitely not going to want to miss Penny and Damon's epic story.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
September 19, 2017
All the books in this series are similar so basically the same comments apply. They are always a fantastic representation of the story found within. The author has a theme that continues through both series. So that creates a nice unity. The typography is eye-catching and interesting. That said it loses a star for the author's name being larger than the title.
I have a feeling I am going to be in the minority with this one. I liked it, but I didn't love it. In fact, it was probably my least favorite of the entire series. It felt rushed and a little all over the place. And I never really connected with Damon and Penny as a couple. Damon had SO much potential to be a smokin' hot and dirty anti-hero, and there wasn't even a spark. Quite the opposite, in fact, I thought his character came across a bit weak. I wanted more passion and heat between him and Penny.
On the positive side, it did keep me entertained and turning the pages. And even though this particular installment wasn't a complete hit with me I still think this series overall is one not to be missed. So like I said I most likely will be in the minority with my feelings so don't let me review stop you from giving it a go.
September 23, 2017
Normalcy is overrated, anyway.
THREE YEARS AGO, during her final gambling game, little naïve Penny gambled it all and in the end she lost her father.
SINCE THEN, Penny left Tanglewood , Damon Scottand and her heart behind and she has started studying Mathematics (in its purest form) at Smith University; while she enjoys the affection of the persistent and hopeful Dr. Stanhope.
It won’t take long and the past will come knocking on her door. Her father is in trouble, her best friend in trouble and Damon has his own demons to battle in order to admit his feelings.
“And now here you are with your Bambi eyes, acting like you didn’t just walk into the dark fucking forest. What am I supposed to do with you?”
Penny knows how to solve puzzles and there are three puzzles that need to be answered:
1. A mathematical puzzle with instructions.
2. What is the matter with Damon?
3. Who is the enemy now?
Penny will become Queen before the book finishes.
Obviously, this is not an ordinary book. It is intense, with raw feelings, but also with abstract and strict mathematical logic.
It definitely deserves 5 stars, but there are some points in the story that really run forward too fast. There is a parallel story about Gabriel and Avery that maybe needs to be told in full detail.
September 26, 2017
It's LIVE & on Blog Tour ➜ http://bit.ly/2xukTfx
Review of The Prince: http://bit.ly/2xpnDbw
Review of The King: http://bit.ly/2ho3YF4
A few years have passed for the residents of Tanglewood. Penny’s away at a prestigious school, getting that college education she always dreamed of. She’s joined by Avery, who lives in a hotel that Gabriel bought for her. When offered a suite of her own in the hotel, Penny declines and takes a job in the kitchen to pay for her room in the servants’ quarters.
Maybe I’m being a tad dramatic, but if you read my review of The King, you’d get it. So while Penny’s slaving away at her job and juggling school and working hand-in-hand with her professor, while crushing on him hard, her life is being supported by the money her father makes being muscle for Damon. Oh yes, Damon’s still hard at work being the Kingpin of Tanglewood and he looks damn good doing it. And then one day Avery disappears. No note, no trace. Gabriel’s desperate to find her and Penny isn’t far behind him. Then Penny’s father has disappeared too. Guess it’s time to head to Tanglewood to get some help and to find some answers.
Again, I found this to be an entertaining read and I was entirely engrossed in it from start to finish. However, I had a few issues and it would be remiss of me not to share them. Actually, I just want to vent, so here goes:
♛I feel like The King was the prelude to this intense and drama-filled installment. While the romance was pretty much non-existent in the first book, I expected and was hoping it would take centerstage here. But it didn’t. While there was obviously some tension and chemistry floating around, Penny was more caught up in her own mind and in what everyone else was doing rather than being available to whatever could develop between her and Damon. It was obvious that he cared for her… deeply… but her care for him was what I felt was in question. Imagine that, considering she was the narrator of this story. I felt that her feelings should have been more clear but from one chapter to the next they couldn’t appear more convoluted. Where the heck was the romance? Tanglewood was appropriately named because Penny was just a hot mess of confusion.
♛I still didn’t like Penny. Really couldn’t stand her. It’s like the years didn’t do anything to help her with an attitude adjustment. And the freaking games she played were killing me. Why don’t people just say what they mean? She was still immature, still ungrateful, and still undeserving of the sacrifices that were made for her. When the heck was she going to sacrifice something??? I respected her intellect but she just wasn’t smart. C’mon!!
♛Damon was once again EVERYTHING!! I loved this man so effing much. Still cold, brooding, and unpredictable, this book showed so many facets of this man. I saw his heart so clearly this time and it only made me love him more. He was kind, considerate, and at times so vulnerable that my heart felt like it was bleeding right along with him.
♛I felt like too much time was spent on Penny’s inner musings instead of the reality of the outside world. Her perspective was limiting and didn’t encompass all that there was to tell of this story. Details were missing and the links I was supposed to draw to things weren’t there. For example: something about Avery’s father was revealed and I had to double check that I wasn’t missing a boatload of pages because it was stated as fact, like I was supposed to know this truth when there was NEVER any mention of it before. Also, I’m not sure whether to put this down to immaturity again, but the intimacy that Damon shared with Penny wasn’t illustrated clearly and I had to draw my own inferences because it would just make sense. But because Penny was as unapproachable and untouchable as a robot, I couldn’t fully get behind it because the scenes lacked the passion necessary to wow me with their connection. I wasn’t sold.
♛I wanted more passion between Damon and Penny. I wanted to see some sort of romance, even if it wasn’t in the traditional sense. I also wanted to see more compassion and understanding from Penny. Damon gave up his life for her. He was tortured for her. Everything he went through was for her and she continued to treat him as a monster. As a fiend. As inferior to her. I couldn’t stand it!
Don’t be distracted by my rant. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I loved this duet on a whole. These were the first books I’ve ever read from this author and I’m definitely going to be reading more from her in the future. I actually did admire and appreciate her writing. She has a way of circling and drawing attention to the most seemingly minor detail and it becomes the crux of the plot. I really liked the intensity and suspense of the plot and how the characters were manipulated to play out a pseudo-tragedy. So I’ll recommend this duet to anyone looking for a read that explores the darker side of love and the twisted ties that bind our souls to the ones we’re destined for.
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Genre: Dark Romance
POV: Heroine - 1st person
Heat: 3.5 out of 5
Type: Book 2 of the Masterpiece Duet
Review of The Prince: http://bit.ly/2xpnDbw
Review of The King: http://bit.ly/2ho3YF4
A few years have passed for the residents of Tanglewood. Penny’s away at a prestigious school, getting that college education she always dreamed of. She’s joined by Avery, who lives in a hotel that Gabriel bought for her. When offered a suite of her own in the hotel, Penny declines and takes a job in the kitchen to pay for her room in the servants’ quarters.
Maybe I’m being a tad dramatic, but if you read my review of The King, you’d get it. So while Penny’s slaving away at her job and juggling school and working hand-in-hand with her professor, while crushing on him hard, her life is being supported by the money her father makes being muscle for Damon. Oh yes, Damon’s still hard at work being the Kingpin of Tanglewood and he looks damn good doing it. And then one day Avery disappears. No note, no trace. Gabriel’s desperate to find her and Penny isn’t far behind him. Then Penny’s father has disappeared too. Guess it’s time to head to Tanglewood to get some help and to find some answers.
Again, I found this to be an entertaining read and I was entirely engrossed in it from start to finish. However, I had a few issues and it would be remiss of me not to share them. Actually, I just want to vent, so here goes:
♛I feel like The King was the prelude to this intense and drama-filled installment. While the romance was pretty much non-existent in the first book, I expected and was hoping it would take centerstage here. But it didn’t. While there was obviously some tension and chemistry floating around, Penny was more caught up in her own mind and in what everyone else was doing rather than being available to whatever could develop between her and Damon. It was obvious that he cared for her… deeply… but her care for him was what I felt was in question. Imagine that, considering she was the narrator of this story. I felt that her feelings should have been more clear but from one chapter to the next they couldn’t appear more convoluted. Where the heck was the romance? Tanglewood was appropriately named because Penny was just a hot mess of confusion.
♛I still didn’t like Penny. Really couldn’t stand her. It’s like the years didn’t do anything to help her with an attitude adjustment. And the freaking games she played were killing me. Why don’t people just say what they mean? She was still immature, still ungrateful, and still undeserving of the sacrifices that were made for her. When the heck was she going to sacrifice something??? I respected her intellect but she just wasn’t smart. C’mon!!
♛Damon was once again EVERYTHING!! I loved this man so effing much. Still cold, brooding, and unpredictable, this book showed so many facets of this man. I saw his heart so clearly this time and it only made me love him more. He was kind, considerate, and at times so vulnerable that my heart felt like it was bleeding right along with him.
♛I felt like too much time was spent on Penny’s inner musings instead of the reality of the outside world. Her perspective was limiting and didn’t encompass all that there was to tell of this story. Details were missing and the links I was supposed to draw to things weren’t there. For example: something about Avery’s father was revealed and I had to double check that I wasn’t missing a boatload of pages because it was stated as fact, like I was supposed to know this truth when there was NEVER any mention of it before. Also, I’m not sure whether to put this down to immaturity again, but the intimacy that Damon shared with Penny wasn’t illustrated clearly and I had to draw my own inferences because it would just make sense. But because Penny was as unapproachable and untouchable as a robot, I couldn’t fully get behind it because the scenes lacked the passion necessary to wow me with their connection. I wasn’t sold.
♛I wanted more passion between Damon and Penny. I wanted to see some sort of romance, even if it wasn’t in the traditional sense. I also wanted to see more compassion and understanding from Penny. Damon gave up his life for her. He was tortured for her. Everything he went through was for her and she continued to treat him as a monster. As a fiend. As inferior to her. I couldn’t stand it!
Don’t be distracted by my rant. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I loved this duet on a whole. These were the first books I’ve ever read from this author and I’m definitely going to be reading more from her in the future. I actually did admire and appreciate her writing. She has a way of circling and drawing attention to the most seemingly minor detail and it becomes the crux of the plot. I really liked the intensity and suspense of the plot and how the characters were manipulated to play out a pseudo-tragedy. So I’ll recommend this duet to anyone looking for a read that explores the darker side of love and the twisted ties that bind our souls to the ones we’re destined for.
Release Date: September 19, 2017
Genre: Dark Romance
POV: Heroine - 1st person
Heat: 3.5 out of 5
Type: Book 2 of the Masterpiece Duet
December 7, 2017
3.5 Stars
This story happens three years after the first book ended. Penny is now nineteen. She is in college and does what she loved her whole life, studying numbers. She works in a diner and she lives with Gabriel and Avery and in exchange for money, she works in their kitchen too. her father works with Damon but she doesn’t know what Damon make him to do. Her father phones her every week but one week went and he didn’t call and then Avery went missing! Yeah, her nightmare...
To be honest, I liked Gabriel & Avery’s story in the "Endgame" series way better than this one! Actually I liked Damon much better in that series. In this one I couldn’t connect with both MCs. The story was so rush, I mean everything in this story was so rush! At some point I was confused! I couldn’t feel their love or fear! And I really wanted to read Damon’s POV so so much! I wanted to know what’s in his mind (maybe that was why I couldn’t connect to him or feel his feelings)!
Told in Penny’s POV (except for the prologue), 1st person. It’s the second installment in the "Masterpiece Duet" and it should be read in order. It’s fast-paced. It was good but not perfect for me! Hope you enjoy it more than me!
This story happens three years after the first book ended. Penny is now nineteen. She is in college and does what she loved her whole life, studying numbers. She works in a diner and she lives with Gabriel and Avery and in exchange for money, she works in their kitchen too. her father works with Damon but she doesn’t know what Damon make him to do. Her father phones her every week but one week went and he didn’t call and then Avery went missing! Yeah, her nightmare...
To be honest, I liked Gabriel & Avery’s story in the "Endgame" series way better than this one! Actually I liked Damon much better in that series. In this one I couldn’t connect with both MCs. The story was so rush, I mean everything in this story was so rush! At some point I was confused! I couldn’t feel their love or fear! And I really wanted to read Damon’s POV so so much! I wanted to know what’s in his mind (maybe that was why I couldn’t connect to him or feel his feelings)!
Told in Penny’s POV (except for the prologue), 1st person. It’s the second installment in the "Masterpiece Duet" and it should be read in order. It’s fast-paced. It was good but not perfect for me! Hope you enjoy it more than me!
May 1, 2018
The events in The Queen is exactly what I've wanted to happen in The King. It takes place three years later as Penny left Tanglewood to live a normal life, away from her father's gambling addiction and pursuing her dreams. Now in college, her mind still lingers on Damon. She wonders how he's doing and it's been a while since they last saw each other.
Just when she thought everything was fine when Avery and her father went missing. She and Damon must work together and decipher clues to find them. Their lives are once again at stake as Jonathan Scott unleashes his cruelty. Both must face him to end it once and for all. This conclusion was slightly better but there character growth was minimal. Damon Scott annoyed me for being stubborn and on the romance department, their relationship was platonic. Honestly, as psycho as Jonathan Scott was, he made this duet bearable and entertaining. What a lunatic. 😂 I'm glad Avery, Gabriel, Penny and Damon found peace. To wrap up this spin-off duet, I have to say Endgame trilogy was better.
Just when she thought everything was fine when Avery and her father went missing. She and Damon must work together and decipher clues to find them. Their lives are once again at stake as Jonathan Scott unleashes his cruelty. Both must face him to end it once and for all. This conclusion was slightly better but there character growth was minimal. Damon Scott annoyed me for being stubborn and on the romance department, their relationship was platonic. Honestly, as psycho as Jonathan Scott was, he made this duet bearable and entertaining. What a lunatic. 😂 I'm glad Avery, Gabriel, Penny and Damon found peace. To wrap up this spin-off duet, I have to say Endgame trilogy was better.
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