Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an ok start to a series. This was an interesting book.

4 stars — because apparently I love morally questionable teens, secret societies, and romantic chaos.

‘Kingmakers: Year One’ is like someone threw Hogwarts, the mafia, and a spicy enemies-to-lovers trope into a blender and hit ‘maximum drama.’ The story follows Anastasia Gallo, daughter of a mafia boss, who gets shipped off to Kingmakers Academy—a secret elite school that trains heirs of criminal empires in the fine art of becoming terrifying. Knife skills, manipulation, combat, seduction… you know, standard curriculum.

Of course, she immediately clashes with Leo, her rival from a rival crime family, because nothing says character development like violent flirting and intense eye contact. The tension is delicious, the stakes are high, and the school itself is somehow both terrifying and fascinating. There’s plenty of mystery, bloodshed, betrayal, and just enough romance to keep me side-eyeing my Kindle like ‘ma’am, is this healthy?’ (It’s not. But it’s entertaining.)

The pacing was addictive, the drama was unhinged (in the best way), and the vibes were chef’s kiss. I docked a star only because some parts felt a little over-the-top or underdeveloped—but honestly, I came for the chaos and stayed for the ✨unhinged mafia academia aesthetic✨.

Would I survive a day at Kingmakers? Absolutely not. But I’m already reaching for Year Two.

Gathered in one place at the Kingmakers Academy the future heirs, accountants, spies and enforcers from different mafia families are forced to deal with each other for 3 years with the understanding that they don't kill, maim or fight each other on kingmakers territory. And nothing will go unpunished a kill for a kill is what they say.

I was about 24% into this book when the recent news of Sophie Lark choosing to make some choices surrounding racist and Pro-Elon musk statements in one of her more recent books coming soon. For this reason I do not feel comfortable continuing my read of this book. I liked what I had read so far but cannot market this book on my socials. I will not be reviewing the book on goodreads or amazon since I did not finish reading it.

I enjoyed Brutal Prince and was looking forward to reading this but after seeing recent remarks in her works I cannot support the casual racism and therefore will not be reading any more of her works.

I’ve heard great things about this series and had been looking forward to starting it. Unfortunately I will not be reading any more of Sophie Larks books due to the racist statements and praising of real life nazi Elon Musk in her upcoming book Sparrow and Vine.

I stand against all forms of racism and I cannot in good conscience provide a positive rating for a book by an author that included casual racism into a recent work (Sparrow and Vine). I was encouraged by friends to read books by this author, thus my reason for requesting this book, however, I cannot support any author who harms marginalized communities.

As a Latina, I cannot support an author that would make casually racist remarks in their work, as seen in her newest book, Sparrow and Vine.

This book was pushed to the backlist in the past few months and I will not review it now.

Please consider rectifying the situation as I’m sure there are thousands of readers who feel the same.

To say I love Sophie Lark’s books is an understatement. The world she has created with Chicago’s underground is so much fun. I loved the Brutal Birthright series so finding out this series is the next generation had me screaming.

Anna and Leo are the definition of friends to lovers - they have the classic “I don’t want to tell them because I don’t want to ruin our friendship” thing going and it creates a very angsty situation. I love how Dean played a role in them getting together by making Leo jealous. Since I’ve read the rest of the series, I know Dean’s redemption arc is coming and I loved going back and seeing him come into himself this first year.

Did I love this more than Brutal Prince? Not really. But I could be with these characters for 10 generations and not be sick of them. Sophie does such a good job with tension and angst, but then put them on a remote island stuck together for an entire year of school? Recipe for the perfect friends to lovers.

I will always recommend this series to others and the mafia aspects of this one are much more understated. Loved being back with the Gallos and the amount of character development to come is amazing!

I loved this! The way it mixed Hogwarts with mafia vibes?? I’m obsessed. And the characters were so likable, especially Leo and Anna. They’re too cute. Definitely following this series!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Kingmakers: Year One by Sophie Lark!

I loved the books when they were out individually but seeing everyone together instead of separate is so much better. Hating Dean seems like the obvious end result but seeing as I read The Bully and it was my favorite book... unfortunately I ride for Dean for life 😔 how embarrassing for me. I love Sophie's writing style and making a second gen series is always a good idea in my opinion, seeing how the characters have a little bit of their parents in them is like revisiting your favorite book again but seeing what happened after the epilouge.

Firstly you do not need to read Brutal Birthright to enjoy this, but it will give you more backstory and information.

This is like Mafia meets Harry potter but they are in college, they however act childish a lot of the times in their decisions which is odd to me from being from mafia/gang families where serious situation, environments call for intelligence. The characters irked me here and there and because of that I docked a point, and I could be not the right age for this series and that is okay.

This was good, I didn't love it but I enjoyed it. I like when a romance has both POVs so I appreciated that but I don't really understand why there was some random third POV thrown in too? But I did like that it was friends to lovers and the challenges were fun. Someone called it Mafia Hogwarts and I think that's pretty accurate

It’s not you, it’s me. I had to PUSH myself to finish this and I only did it because I love this author. I might come back and try this another time but right now? Me no likey.

⭐️

This author makes me very happy! I love the overall atmosphere of the story. I absolutely adore this series and will forever recommend!!!!

I devoured this book! It is a lot of typical tropes, but merged together into something rather new. Mafia...but make all the kids go to school together, sort of like Hogwarts/Fourth Wing inspired, but without the magic. I enjoyed the dual POVs - there is a love triangle between Anna and two boys - Leo who she grew up with, and Dean who hates Leo and has a sort-of tragic story of his own. The biggest thing that would have made this book unstoppable is perhaps a reverse harem situation. There are parts that gave me the *ick* factor, thus my one star deduction. Still, I enjoyed it. :)

I love everything Sophie does!!! I plan to read every book of hers this year. Do yourself a favor and read Kingmakers ASAP!!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Sophie has been on my radar for a minute. I know you aren't supposed to judge a book but it's cover BUT I have had my eye on this series and the Brutal Birthright because of them! I am going to give this one a solid 3.5. I liked the intro to the world and though I didn't feel lost necessarily because I hadn't read the Birthright series, I feel that I would have gotten more context if I had. That being said this was a little more college/new adult angsty than I anticipated. Everything plot wise seemed to move fast but also slow at the same time- like stuff happened but there was also a lot of filler. I felt like I had a harder time connecting to the characters. We have these two best friends (Leo & Anna) who have grown up together and are called cousins who suddenly have feelings for each other and then a miscommunication of sorts occurs, and I didn't love the way Anna responded. I mean yes I get that her feelings were hurt but if he was MY best friend, I would have given him a little of the benefit of the doubt. I also haven't ever been in love with my best friend turned lover so who knows. Anna was a little whiny in my opinion. Leo (poor Leo) could not for the life of him say the right thing to clear the air. I am REALLY on the fence about Dean. It seemed like there was potential there but nothing panned out. I am hoping we get more from him in this book (*fingers crossed).

Anna has made the decision to go to Kingmakers, the school for the mafia kids. She wants to learn more about this world that she will someday inherit from her father. She is excited to learn that her best friend Leo will be joining her. She has known him her whole life. She has done life with him. In fact people confuse them as cousins. But she has started to feel differently about him recently. She puts on a front that all is well but then they go to school together and things shift. She feels it between the two of them. She swears he was about to kiss her on the way to this party. But then she finds him in a precarious position and she is heartbroken! How could she have read all of this so wrong? Well she is fine and will move in and be with whoever she wants if that's how he wants to play. Enter Dean Yenin- Leo's actual cousin and mortal enemy. Anna has had a few classes with him and gets the glimpses of who he could be. She is intrigued enough to take him up when he asks her on a date. She enjoys herself but recognizes that he isn't Leo. And seeing Leo- none of this feels right. When things start to rekindle between her and Leo and then their true feelings are revealed all is well again. But Anna AND Leo both underestimated the hatred and need for revenge Dean has. Especially now. Will they be able to evade his tactics or will they get caught in the crosshairs?

Leo has it all. He is the extrovert of this group. He is comfortable in any situation. He is a protector. So when his best friend Anna decides to go to Kingmakers, he does too. And now that they are there it feels like things are different between them. He knows Anna is beautiful, she always has been but now he is really starting to SEE it. He tries to fight it but then he sees that she feels it too. He wants to confront it but then something out of his control happens and all of this slips away just like that. Now Anna won't even look at him let alone talk to him. And she seems to be dating Dean, his mortal enemy/true cousin. He can't help but hope she is happy and alright. He doesn't know how to fix this thing between them. But he knows when he is given the chance he will do whatever it takes. Which is what happens and then they realize they have both liked each other from afar for a while. Now they are together. Things are right with the world again. But neither him nor Anna realized the lengths that Dean would go to to stop Leo. And all he has been focused on is the last challenge at the school before year end. So when Dean takes his shot- he isn't ready and all he can do is hope someone else is.

All in all, this was an intro to a new world that left me intrigued enough to read on and see what all unravels before graduation! I have read such good things about this series and hope they translate that way for me as well :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!