The Prince of Power. New Adult Dark Romance. Slow burn. He falls first. Secret Society. Morally Grey Book Boyfriend. This story had more plot than spice, which I really enjoyed.

We follow Damian Cross who is trying to move up the ranks in an elite secret society and in order to do so he has to perform a ritual to "sacrifice a virgin". He has his sights set on one specific girl, Ava, and will do anything to have her be his selection. Problem... she strongly dislikes him and tries to avoid his advances at every turn.

The secret society plot line was very intricate. It left me wanting to learn more which is great because there will be more books in the series. Had I not been able to correctly guess the ending, this would have been a 4 star read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Skyler Mason, and Victory Editing for allowing me the opportunity to read The Prince of Power.
Review will be posted to my TikTok page on July 5th. As well as Fable and Goodreads.

Ok, honestly, I think this is one of my favourite books so far this year! I can’t wait to read the 2nd epilogue and (in time) the rest of the series!
As a Pastor’s daughter, Ava’s life is not as simple as she once thought, or could ever imagine. After heading off to college with her best friends, Rhett and Sienna, she becomes suspicious that the nepo-kid fraternity may actually be some kind of cult. In her pursuit for answers, she meets fraternity leader and charming bad-boy Damian. And everything starts to unravel…

I loved the storyline. A bit bizarre, a bit dark, a bit spicy and, of course, we LOVE a book that comes with content warnings.
I’ve already recommended this book to friends! I don’t think this book left my hand from the moment I started reading, until the moment I finished.
Overall, I’d say it’s on the tamer side of the Dark Romance category, but it was refreshing to read a story where the Main Female Character isn’t some stick-thin Barbie lookalike. And it has plenty of twists to keep you on your toes!

Thank you to NetGalley/Victory Editing for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book so much, I completed it in two reading sessions. I did not want to put it down, only doing so to eat and sleep. It quickly became one of my favorite dark romances. If you’re into dark romances and unhinged MMCs, this is the book for you. I love the gradual shift in Damian where he goes from thinking he only wants to use Ava to him wanting to do everything in his power to protect her. The secret society aspect of the book was done brilliantly, though I do wish the author explored it a little more.

This was my first book by this author and definitely not my last! I was hooked from the start and ended up reading into the early hours because I just had to know what would happen next. Damian is possessive, controlling, and completely unhinged and I loved every second of watching him fall hard for Ava. He goes soft for her in the most delicious way.

Ava might seem sweet and innocent, but she’s no pushover. She holds her ground and doesn’t let Damian walk all over her, which made their dynamic all the more compelling. The tension and banter between them was everything. Their chemistry was off the charts from the moment they met.

Corvin King and Rachel Leblang absolutely nailed the duet narration. They brought Damian and Ava to life in a way that made the story even more immersive. Highly recommend the audiobook!

Talk about he falls first. This story follows Ava and Damien who appear to be from two different worlds but not so sure that’s really true at the end. I won’t spoil the fun but Ava is mainly portrayed as a naive church girl just trying to do her studies. Damien is brought up on the more the darker side because of the family history on the secret society. We do have a happily ever after with some contingencies.


I would recommend this book to any dark romance reader.
The faint childhood memory, I Loved! I thought it was funny how both a kids asked about the other and were told it was just a memory and the other didn’t exist. There is also Ava’s father also as the head of the church, I’m watching you.

Curious to know if there will be a pregnancy is in the next book. Excited to follow Lucy and Hunters story next.

🔪ARC review🔪

The Prince of power by @authorskymason
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I am hooked ! I read this all in one day because I just couldn’t put it down. The TENSION ! A man obsessed will do anything for his woman and Damian will burn the world down for her. Even if it means taking himself down too. To love a monster who is only gentle with you, is another kind of love. Cannot wait to see what happens next in this series 💥

Digital ARC was provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

Okay, so after seeing it all over Reels and then finding it on NetGalley? Of course I had to request it.
The verdict? It was okay. The tension goes up, then dips, then up again—like a seesaw that never quite finds its rhythm. And I feel like the climax came way too close to the end.

I actually really enjoyed Damian and Ava’s interactions. There’s chemistry there for sure, but something kept holding it back—and I can’t quite figure out what. Maybe they both gave the cult more weight than it deserved. Or maybe the book just needed a few more chapters to let it all breathe.

You know what I’m patiently waiting for now though? Lucy and Hunter. 👀

I rounded down from a 3.5. This book has/had lots of potential. It’s a dark secret society at college, similar to The Ritual by Shantel Tessier but minus the 🌶️ kink scenes. But I feel like the book tried too hard to fit that similar vibe. The writing itself seemed a big underdeveloped and lacking in quality. . There were gaps in description and character development that left me scratching my head. I didn’t feel the connection to the characters.

It’s a touch her and die, he falls first type of “romance” but I didn’t feel the pull. I wasn’t drawn into wanting them to be together…I wasn’t rooting for them. I found myself not interested in their “relationship”development one bit. And the plot twist wasn’t a twist for me. The author has a good start but definitely needs some fine tuning and more growth as a writer. I don’t think I’d recommend this to friends.

SPOILERS



What rounded it down for me was towards the end of the book and the pregnancy trope. First, ya’ll are crazy young and barely know each other to “want to put a baby inside her” also it was super cringy in the mirror scene when he says to her::

“You’re not getting out of this, I’m impregnating you tonight.” As he unbuckled his pants. Yeah, no thanks, that’s a major mood killer right there.

Sits her in front of the mirror. “Look, watch me put a baby inside you. That’s it, take all my cum.” Gross, she’s a virgin for most of the book too and that’s not what I’d want to hear from the first dude that dicks me as a smart virgin college student from a guy that’s supposed to be “using” me to gain rank in his secret society.

I also didn’t feel a connection to the narrators. Corvin King is alright in this book, he’s great in other books, but he felt way old for the character but a lot of the cringe is because of the book itself which the narrators can’t control. However, the female narrator was annoying in the tone of voice she used the entire book. She’s supposed to be intelligent but she sounds like a ditz the whole time.

🌶️ 🌶️


Thank you to NetGalley and Victory editing for the eARC and eALC of the book.

The Prince of Power by Skyler Mason is a dark, steamy new adult romance that delivers on the tropes fans of the genre crave: a brooding, dangerous hero, Damian Cross, a sheltered heroine, Ava, and the high-stakes world of an elite secret society. The premise is enticing—Damian Cross, the “prince” of Ashford University and heir to a powerful legacy, claims the innocent pastor’s daughter, Ava, as his own, setting up a battle of wills and hearts.

Mason’s writing is fast-paced and atmospheric, with plenty of tension and chemistry between the leads. The dynamic between Damian and Ava, and their push-pull relationship keeps the pages turning. The secret society setting adds intrigue and drama, and the emotional stakes are high.

However, the book leans heavily on familiar tropes without bringing much new to the table. Damian’s possessiveness sometimes crosses into uncomfortable territory, and Ava’s transformation from rule-follower to power-player feels a bit rushed. Some secondary characters and plotlines could have been developed further to add depth.

Overall, *The Prince of Power* is an entertaining read for fans of dark academia romance and possessive antiheroes. While it doesn’t break much new ground, it delivers a satisfying, angsty escape—just don’t expect too much nuance or originality.

If you’re unhinged and you know it clap your hands… Somewhere Damian Cross is clapping his hands. If you are looking for a dark romance where the MMC is severally unhinged look no further because The Prince of Power delivers that!

There is a secret society, disguised as a fraternity, surrounded by mystery and Ava finds herself in Damian’s cross hairs. Give credit where credit is do because Ava is no damsel in destress and she was not an easy target. She was feisty every step of the way and I loved that! Also shout out to the author because Ava is described as chubby with not perky breasts, and I am here for that!

And Damian, oh Damian. If you like your MMC to be possessive, obsessive with a “touch her and die” wait, forget that look at her and die attitude then this man is for you.

I found The Prince of Power to be very fast paced, spicy, and a fun mysterious ride. I did guess something early on, but that’s okay it didn’t take away my feelings towards the book in the slightest.

*Thank you Skyler Mason and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book devoured me. Damian Cross is the ultimate dark, possessive anti-hero—and watching him unravel for the “good girl” was deliciously addictive. The tension? Unmatched. The power plays? Chef’s kiss. 😈✨

If you’re into secret societies, brutal games, and dark romance with obsessive vibes and enemies-to-lovers intensity, The Prince of Power will absolutely wreck you in the best way. I’m already counting down the days for book 2. 👀💋

Fans of dark, kinda twisted, academy romance will devour this one. Secret society, grey morals, entitlement, and secrets at every turn. Some surprises along the way, and a HFN, and more to come ...

This book is really perfect if you're looking to dip your toe into dark romances with the secret society trope.

I really liked the 2 characters and their dynamic. Ava is Catholic and a pastor's daughter. She's naive and sweet without being a doormat. She's really different from the sunshine and sweet FMC of the usual dark romances. She assumes her positions through her arguments and her vision of the world. She's smart and sharp, gentle but determined, naive but not stupid. She's a peaceful badass, and I liked her a lot.
The MMC is part of a secret society, and like any man with too much power, he's an asshole. But boy, will he fall hard. By the end, he was so pathetic for her, I couldn't stop laughing.

This book was a pleasant surprise. There was plot, twists and turns and I really want to learn more about the universe. I'm also particularly looking forward to reading the story between Hunter and Lucy!
As a darker romance reader myself, the fact that this book isn't pitch black didn't stop me from having a great time. If I had to make a comparison, I'd say it's a tamer version of The Ritual by Shantel Tessier.

Another book hooking me in under 24 hours? ✅

Really liked the dynamic between the two main characters and despite the unconventional circumstances of how they meet and their differing personalities, I did feel like they matched really well and I found myself really liking Ava! (I think because of her ability to stick up for herself in situations and for others and not just be another timid fmc!! - so this was very refreshing)

I also really liked that this was a somewhat slow burn and it didn’t jump into the romance so quick into the book. Like make it make sense you know? And Skyler did that!

Now, I love the whole secret society trope and I did love the plot twist (although I called it 😉) but I do wish there was a lot more in terms of the history of the society to give it a little bit more context. However that being said, I know there will be another book and the story won’t be over on this front, so I look forward to finding out more as the series develops.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and will look forward to reading the next instalment and continuing the series because HOT DAYUM I know Hunter and Lucy’s book is going to be electric.

This book is a dark romance/dark college romance so of course check your triggers as this won’t be for everyone. However, in my opinion it’s not too dark (if you’re an avid dark romance reader like me I’m sure you’ve read heavier books) but it’s a nice entry level with a nice level of spice (no weird scenes don’t worry!)

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc, with dual POV. This book absolutely had me hook from the start I simply could not put it down. Would recommend to people who are fans of Rina Kent, and love romances were the bad boy gets the girls, with touch her 💀 vibes, he falls first and secret society.

ARC Review

-Dual POV
-Secret Society
-Good Girl x Bad Boy
-Touch Her and 💀
-He Falls First

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️

This book was chef’s kiss👌🏻!! Once I started it I just couldn’t stop!
Totally recommend!!

I can’t wait for the next book to come out!!

4.5 🌟
Spice: open door
Format: ALC

This would be a great book for someone looking to dip a toe into dark romance. Our MMC is definitely morally gray, but his ability to be soft for Ava left me in a puddle. I loved the whole secret society thing, it was super intriguing. The audio is fantastic freaking tastic. Duet narration, dual pov, round of applause for the narrators because wow. I devoured it in one sitting and am already so excited for the next one!
While it may not be overly dark, still check triggers! I absolutely loved Damian, but he is not a golden retriever hero, he is morally gray so not everyone will love him.

The Pince of Power was a good secret elite society standalone romance story. From the moment Damian laid eyes on Ava he knew there was something special about her, he just didn't know how special she would become to him. Damian is the new head Prior, and he needs a virgin sacrifice now that Ben is out of the way. Ava wants to uncover the secret behind Thorncroft and her desire to help her friend Rhett puts her in the lion's den. Damian will stop at nothing to make Ava his and as much as she fights it, she can't deny her attraction to him. Their story is one that has secrets, threats, deaths, betrayal, jealousy, possessiveness, consorts, romance, love, steamy scenes and ends with a HEA. The next book gives us Hunter and Lucy's story which I look forward to reading.

Thank you Netgalley, Skyler Mason, and Victoria Editing for ALC/ARC!

I devoured this, I love a good secret society dark romance! Especially one where he falls first. This has everything I was craving; touch her and 💀, obsessive MMC, banter, betrayal, amazing smut.
Not only was the story great, the narrators did a phenomenal job! I loved listening to them both, they brought this story to life. The duet style worked so well.
The author did a great job presenting the new couple for the next stand alone as well. I can't wait to continue this series!

I picked this book up at 8 p.m. last night and I. Did. Not. Stop. I was lucky enough to receive both the ARC of the book and the audiobook, and let me tell you, being immersed in a story like this is an experience you do not want to miss.
If you're into dark romance, this book was made for you. There's a whole menu of trigger warnings, yes, I read them like appetizers before the main course, and they only added to the delicious sense of danger. There’s something thrilling about opening a book and knowing it's going to leave you gasping. Skylar Mason’s writing is razor-sharp, her plotting absolutely top-tier. I love when a book lets me think I’ve got it all figured out, only to twist the knife in a way I never saw coming.
The story centers on a secret society where the entry price is… a virgin sacrifice. Of course, it’s men pulling the strings, and of course, our FMC, Ava, is caught in the middle. Ava is a smart, book-loving student who’s too clever for her own good. She has morals, boundaries, and a will of steel, until she meets Damian. He challenges everything she thought she knew about herself. Is she really as pure as he hopes? Or as she thinks?
Damian is controlling, cold, and calculating, but how could he not be? His life has been scripted by his powerful family and the twisted organization he's destined to lead. He’s determined to hold all the power in the world. Then Ava stumbles into his orbit, and he decides to pull her under. She doesn’t know his world, but he’s going to drag her into it, inch by inch, heartbeat by heartbeat.
And the audiobook? Phenomenal. I’ve liked a lot of voice actors, but Corvin King? I fell hard. His voice could make me love words I normally hate. Seriously, I would listen to him read a grocery list and swoon. The entire narration cast brought this story to life in a way that made it even more unforgettable.
Also, shoutout to the author for not making Ava some clueless damsel. She’s sharp. She knows something’s wrong. And she still walks into the fire.
So if you're craving danger, spice, forbidden love, and a dark secret society, grab this book immediately. It drops on July 5th and the best part? The audiobook releases the same day. Do yourself a favor: get both. You’ll thank me later.