Ok business out of the way first: read the trigger warnings.

I know I'm biased (Brutal Prince jumpstarted my dark romance journey) but if you're a fan of Sophie Lark at ALL read this book immediately. For me this is her best piece of work. Within 20 pages she had me fantasizing about how the villain might cease breathing. By 50 Atlas had my cheeks red and my toes wiggling. In the end it was the cozy HEA I needed. Also apparently I really like slow burns? Who knew!

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC

I had a great time with Monarch. Atlas is the perfect big protective teddy bear that I love to read about. I think this was a huge improvement from book one, and I loved revisiting the characters we met in Grimstone. The spooky setting is fun to read about and it's perfect for the Halloween season. I would gladly read another book in this series.

I really-really like Sophie Lark books!
This however did'nt live up to the hype ;) Dark romance indeed, and perfect for spooky season!
The spice is spicy - and it was easy to read.

And oh how I love the pictures in her books <3

Elena Zelenska moves to the United States somewhat as a mail-order-bride from Ukraine. She is engaged to Lorne, a famous author who swept her off her feet during a chance encounter in a coffee shop. Lorne is building Elena the house of her dreams and while doing so, she, along with Lorne and his daughter, reside in the Monarch hotel. Atlas Covett is the massive and stern owner of the hotel. He begins to grow feelings for Elena and recognizes that something is off with Benjamin. He definitely has his secrets. However, Elena, despite having similar feelings, is steadfast in her decision to marry Ben due to an incident that happened before her move that Lorne somehow knows about.
This story is the second book in the Grimstone series. It was one of mystery, darkness, and forbidden love. I really enjoyed Atlas’ character, and I liked that he was the one seeking Elena’s love. Elena comes to the States as a naive character looking to start a new life to get away from her past and she evolves into a strong woman who knows what and who she wants. The chemistry between Elena and Atlas is one of perfection. Even though he is not the warmest person, Atlas has a heart of gold and is a teddy bear for Elena. I love the protectiveness that he has for her, even when he knows he can’t have her.
I really enjoyed this book, and the ending happened really fast, but I enjoyed the twist. I was hoping to see more come out about Lorne’s daughter, but I enjoyed how her story ended in the epilogue. I enjoyed the dark gothic setting of this book as it was perfect for an October read. Sophie’s writing keeps the reader entertained which makes it difficult to put the book down. Thank you NetGalley, Sophie Lark, and SOURCEBOOK Bloom Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy and allowing me to provide my honest feedback.

The premise of Monarch had the potential to deliver a gripping, dark fairytale full of twists and tension. A naïve bookstore nerd turned mail-order bride, a mysterious castle, and a dangerously charming fiancé? It should have been an atmospheric, nail-biting read. Unfortunately, it fell short.

From the start, the plot felt all too predictable. The twists were telegraphed from miles away, making it hard to feel any real suspense. The moment the “perfect” fiancé, entered the scene, it was clear what direction his character would take. The supposed surprise of his darker side felt more like checking off a box in the predictable “groom turns villain” trope rather than a shocking revelation.

Elena’s bond with Atlas Covett also followed a familiar trajectory, offering no real depth or complexity to their connection. The development of their relationship felt rushed, making it hard to fully invest in their dynamic.

The atmosphere of the story, while initially promising, never quite captured the creeping dread it aimed for. As a result, the stakes felt low, and Elena’s struggle to escape Lorne’s control didn’t evoke the urgency the plot demanded.

The book had an interesting setup, however, the execution was far too predictable which made it ldifficult to stay invested in the story or the characters. For those who enjoy dark romances or thrillers, there are better options out there.

A creepy fiance, a secret past, and a broody MMC combine for the perfect romantic thriller!

Elena is essentially a mail-order bride, and the longer she stays in Grimstone the more she realizes that things are not what they seem. While their new mansion is being built, Elena and Lorne stay at the Monarch. The owner of the Monarch, Atlas Covett, takes a special interest in Elena and the two become unlikely allies as strange things occur at the hotel.

Sophie Lark has a way of creating characters that the reader wants to root for despite their darker tendencies. The suspense in this novel kept me intrigued as I felt I was on Elena's journey with her, hoping for a happily ever after.

Thank you Bloom Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy for review consideration.

I enjoyed this one even more than Grimstone. I really loved Elena as our FMC. The haunting setting made it the perfect spooky season book. This book was suspenseful and kept me locked in. It was a quick read! I would definitely classify this as a dark romance. Elena is coming to America to marry a man she’s met once or twice. They stay in a hotel while his house undergoes renovations and things go downhill from there. We have a very protective mmc in here and you will be ready for the 2 to have their happy ending!

Big thanks to Netgalley and Sophie Lark for the eARC in exchange for a review.

This went in a different direction than I was expecting! Def has DV and trafficking vibes so trigger warnings needed.

It was a little spooky, prefect timing since Halloween is coming up. The little town they are in seems to REALLY like Halloween.

There were almost two story lines, and I wish we got to see more into what life was like for Elena before she came to America. Her 'before' story wrapped up a little to quickly after her bombshell announcement.

4 stars

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2 🌶️🌶️

💓ELENA + ATLAS 💓

Monarch follows Elena, our FMC, who is desperate to escape her life in Ukraine; so when she meets the ever charming, Lorne, she is swept off her feet and all too eager to come to Grimstone and marry him. Lorne has enchanted Elena and even builds her a house... with it's own secrets. While the house is being built they stay at the 🦋 Monarch Hotel 🦋 which happens to be run by our big, broody mountain man Atlas. As things with Lorne start becoming more sinister, Elena starts to see Lorne for who he really is but she is torn by marrying him or returning to her past. And Atlas is not one to just simply stand by.

~~🦋🦋🦋~~

First of all, despite me owning SO MANY Sophie Lark books and having even met her [beautiful soul], this was only my second time reading something by her-- first having been Grimstone. I had fun with this one! I actually enjoyed this one more than Grimstone. It gives off such good spooky vibes for SPOOKTOBER.

This is definitely a slow burn between Atlas and Elena but the story moves pretty fast paced so it isn't too torturous. There are twists and turns throughout the story and while some things were predictable, it didn't really take away from the story. I loved the vibe that the book gave off as a whole. It definitely gives off The Shining vibes to an extent. I think I would have to find out more as to WHY all of this was happening and maybe even a longer or more drawn out "hiding" scene but nontheless I did enjoy the story and the characters (aside from Lorne, obvi).

~~🦋🦋🦋~~

T R O P E S :
> virgin heroine
>> mail order bride
>>> slow burnnnn
>> touch her and ☠️
> romantic suspense

Q U O T E S :
> "Don't you dare wear that dress for anyone but me" [ this one did thannnngs to me 🥵 ]
>> "I try to ignore her beauty, but I might as well try ignoring an oasis in the middle of the desert. She draws my eyes, my thoughts, and every ounce of my longing" [ UGH, SWOOOOOON ]

TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️
> violence/murder
>> noncon drug use/kidnapping
>>> attempted sexual assault
>> child neglect
> cheating [ but not against our MC ]

*Monarch* is a gothic thriller romance set in the eerie town of Grimstone, where Elena arrives to marry a man she barely knows. What seems like a dream quickly turns complicated as her fiancé, Lorne, hides secrets, and the magnetic hotel owner, Atlas, pulls her in.

While I enjoyed *Grimstone* more, *Monarch* still captures that spooky vibe I love. Sophie Lark’s writing keeps you entertained, even if some twists are predictable and character connections feel a bit lacking.

Elena's struggle to make her relationship work amidst Lorne's instability creates tension. As he becomes more erratic, her attraction to Atlas intensifies, making for an engaging read.

Though Lorne's motivations could be clearer, the slow burn works for the setup. Overall, if you’re looking for a lightly spooky gothic romance with mystery, this book is worth a read!

➰𝕸𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖗𝖈𝖍 - 𝔊𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔫𝔢 𝔅𝔬𝔬𝔨 2 - ℜ𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔢𝔴➰

Author: Sophie Lark

Couple: Elena Zelenska & Atlas Covett

Tropes: Spooky gothic romance, Halloween vibes, enemies to lovers, Dark romance, Age gap, A plot twist you’ll never see coming, Small town, arranged marriage

Review: Monarch!! Sophie Lark obliterated spooky and taboo in this book and from the first word Elena’s story enthralled me to keep reading! The way she was catfished and came over to Grimstone so oblivious to her fate hooked me in from the initial build up between her and Atlas. Sophie Lark took the taboo trope of “mail order bride” and made it deliciously mysterious as Atlas and Elena grow more ensnared with one another as they divulge secrets, betrayals and face the consequences of their actions in town!

Atlas Covett was the other half of the Covett duo and his story was so full of secrets that I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. The way this man fell for his bride was whimsical, dark and full of the intrigue and Sophie was amazing at creating his character as Elena dug her way into his heart. That being said, this man was NOT soft and I found his sharp edges and darker tendencies were the meat of his POV and I absolutely devoured his insanity and depravity.

Elena was oh so innocent and her story was full of a dark Cinderella retelling except she never gets the “white knight”. The mystery she gets ensnared in after arriving at Grimstone provided so much angst and tension to the plot since her immediate reaction was that Atlas was not who she wanted. The slow build and fall she goes through for her unlikely match was shocking but also done in the most Sophie Lark way that I found myself cackling at her realization when she realizes how far she had fallen for Atlas.

Monarch once again dives into Grimstone and the gothic vibes in this book are next level. Atlas and Elena have a romance brimming with tension yet also one that shows Atlas’ softer side…but only with her! From the banter, the wit and the unending obsession from both sides (but mainly Atlas), Monarch was a knockout and just sucked me in deeper to the gritty and mysterious small town of Grimstone!

Rating: 5/5; Atlas Covett was sin wrapped in mystery and his romance left me salivating for more!


Thank you to Sophie & Netgalley for giving me this eARC!

Personally, I liked this one better than the first book in the series! Maybe it's because I loved our MMC, Atlas, who was the perfect mix of sweet and "touch her and die" energy. He totally won me over! And while this was the slowest burn I’ve ever seen from Sophie, it somehow still felt insta-lovey at times. So weird, right?

The book was also great for the season, though I wish it had cranked up the creepiness a bit more. The "plot twist"? I saw it coming a mile away, so no real surprises there.

But overall, it was a quick and fun read! Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for something light yet seasonally on point.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for letting me enjoy this eARC!

I used to love dark romances but as I started reading this one I realized maybe right now I don’t. Nothing against the author or book. Appreciate the arc but passing for now.

Monarch by Sophie Lark
Review by: Sarah C Bartolo

Wow! Firstly wanted to say thank you to Bloom Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Monarch by Sophie Lark.

To say I enjoyed this book is an understatement, I absolutely devoured this book!!! The twists and unexpected turns in this book are classic of Sophie Lark writing.

I was look my toes for the entirety of this book, I will definitely be reading this again and recommending to anyone I can!

This book has EVERYTHING!
✅Spooky Vibes
✅Mail-order-bride
✅ spice
✅ virgin FMC
✅ MMC absolutely obsessed with the FMC
✅twists & turns.

While in Grimstone I was more wary of the MMC, in Monarch I was surprised as to how immediately I adored Atlas. I was very swiftly creeped out by Elena's fiance. The dude gave off all kinds of red flags. I adore Elena's relationship and connection with his daughter though! I would have loved to learn more about all of their backgrounds: Elena and what her life was like before coming to the states, her fiance, his daughter and the nanny/housekeeper! I feel like having this additional information about the characters would have created an even bigger impact in the overall story.

I really liked the way the relationship between Elena and Atlas progressed and how protective Atlas became of her. Their connection was palpable and I loved how he was hard and brash with everyone but soft and tender with Elena.

This series is perfect for those looking for some good spooky season reads!

Thank you to Source books/Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley. Bloombooks, and the author for this eARC.

This book was such a wild ride. I was holding my breath at the end! I liked this one more than the first, I think. Even though the slow burn was killing me 😫

Also, love that the author always includes soundtracks to her books! It’s so much fun.

I don't know what I was expecting but this was not it. This was not for me and I found it to be highly unjoyable.

I’m sorry, this title was just not for me. I didn’t like it at all. I think there should have been more development….everywhere. I know there’s an audience out there for this but it wasn’t me.

I wish there was a ranking for the books that leave you jaw-dropped and stick in your mind. One of those books that you can't get out of your head.
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I used to read a lot of thrillers and suspense and none of them stayed in my head like this series. Sophie Lark adds just the right amount of romance and steamy scenes that I needed.
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I know it is a dark gothic romance but that feeling of not knowing what is happening behind it, who is the culprit, who may represent a danger and even doubting the characters who tell you the story. It's all there and it's perfect crafted.
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Elena Zelenska is the one who begins to tell the story, coming from Ukraine to marry a man she only met twice in person. In search of a better life and leaving a past that frightens her behind.
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But upon arriving at Grimstone she realizes that it’s not the poster for the American dream she has in mind. This small, dark town, with strange characters, ruined castles and a black sand beach with a sea as unpredictable as its inhabitants. and the mysterious owner of the Monarch hotel.
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Atlas Covet is used to receiving guests of all kinds and it is easy for him to notice when something is not right. Especially the relationship between his new guest and the author who has been staying for months while waiting for his house to be finished, on the outskirts of town.
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From the moment Elena set foot in his hotel something changed and he needs to discover what's behind it. But everyone has something to hide and Grimstone is the perfect place for that.
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Once you read the trigger warning you might think twice before opening the book, I've been there, but I never regretted it and I kept reading until the end, because Sophie Lark has a unique way of creating her Moral Gray and Dark characters that makes them hard not to empathize with them, and they become my favorites. I am very happy to have discovered this writer and to have the opportunity to read an advance copy
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Thanks to Sophie Lark , her team and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

i will LEARN one day! not to be a negative nelly whatsoever but i simply think sophie lark books are not for me after giving two of her series- as well as this book- a fair shot. she is extremely popular for a reason but i cannot get into her books, so i would definitely take my word with a grain of salt!