Sound of Madness: An Enemies To Lovers Royal Romance (Broken Crown Book 2)
My complete and utter devastation.
Loyalty or death.
I make my choice in a palace of flames, and wake to total darkness . . .
And at his mercy.
Calloused hands bring hell to my door and his velvet voice spews only poison.
“A traitor to the queen,” he calls me, and though I don’t know his name, it’s clear that he’s no Prince Charming.
Monster.
Villain.
A man who demands that I take it all—and submit.
But no one will ever mistake me for a damsel in distress.
He wants me on my knees, but it won’t be me who breaks.
Only, falling for the most hated man in England was not the plan.
If war is hell, then love is carnage, and the blood that’s spilled belongs to us both.
Sound of Madness is the second book in the Broken Crown series, and cannot be read before Road To Fire. Intrigue. Grit. Soul-wrenching love. This is not your average royal romance. Enter if you dare.
Reviews (129)
Broken, kindred souls
Fans of Maria Luis have eagerly awaited this book since Road To Fire hit our e-readers. That wait has not been in vain. No, Luis has crafted the second book in the Broken Crown Trilogy with the finesse of an orchestral conductor directing an intricate piece by Mozart. This isn't any book, it's filled with secrets, lies and betrayal, and it's waiting for you, to consume you, heart and soul. This is Sound Of Madness. The Mad Priest, Damien Godwin, is the youngest of the infamous Priest brothers, chained and collared by the bounty on his head, and now banished to Holyrood. The truth of his life has been shaped by a cruel hand. Protect the Crown, to be a weapon, to expect no mercy. All of this has brought him to the brink of madness. Damien is no hero. He has blood on his hands, soiled in service to the Crown. And yet his soul screams in silence for another way, another life. He wants. He desires. He craves. A strong woman, not one to be cowed by any man, least of all Damien, is Rowena. This is a woman who has survived by her keen intelligence, honed by betrayal and deceit. But the betrayal and abuse of her youth has taught her how to navigate in a world where the language of secrets is currency. In this, she is fluent. Rowena is no simpering damsel in distress, she's not waiting for anyone to save her, least of all Damien. Beautifully flawed characters, damaged but not broken by the circumstances of their birth, at the hands of others, and by choice. By choice, these two choose to come together. And when Damien and Rowena come together, it's not the glib, sweet love of fairytales. No, they collide like two celestial bodies meeting in the vacuum of space. Their love is ferocious in its need. Their dialogue is like swordplay in its thrust and parry. The power play of desire between them is frankly seductive. They fill the void of darkness in each other. And when a world stood between them, they each lived their vow to one another; I will always come for you. I don't like to use the word epic, I find that it's used too often in daily conversation when other words would serve just as well. That said, this book is just that, epic. Epic for its scope, it's infinitesimal focus of setting and of a plot that spans centuries, of its design, description and wordsmith. It is a masterpiece of work. Sound Of Madness ends as it begins, in a London in chaos, with Damien and Rowena at its center. All the pieces of Maria Luis's chess board are now in play. The next move is in the hands of a mastermind, and we can only imagine and wait.
“Love is carnage. Love is ruin. And I’m yours through the wreckage.”
To understand how I feel about this amazing body of work, I need to share something. This is an aųthor I’ve been with since her first book, and we're now at number fifteen. Luıs is great at the snarky, hilarious, smexy romcom, and her dabble to the dark side is decądent and oh so delicious. But the more I get to know her work, the more of an enigma she becomes. This lady has some serious hidden depths, y'all, and she has now set the bar impossibly high with this book. I’m still in shock, just having finished reading, and I don’t even know how to classify it. First of all, its phenomenal, and unlike anything you’ve ever read. Romance, yes, but with a historical backdrop, because, let’s face it. You really can’t have a book set in London about loyalists to the monarchy without the influence of the history and the amazing, centuries-old architecture. But then it’s also equal parts angsty drama, nail-biting suspense, and mind-bending psychological thriller. Full of twısts, turns and shocking surprises, just when you think you know what's happening, along comes another zinger to mess with your mind in the most insidious, maddening, and wıckedly delightful way. Then there is the physicality of London with its famous landmarks. I’ll just say that merry ole England will never be the same once Ms. Luıs is finished with it. Let the devąstation and carnąge commence! Of course we have to talk about Damien and Rowena. Oh my heart! I can't even with these two! The things Luıs puts them through on their tortųrous journey to forever! Secrets, lies, deceit and trust are at the heart of it all, but bąttered, tòrn and bròken, they somehow survive it all, and you can’t help but cheer them along every step of the way. Their souls could be as evıl and black as that of the Devil himself, and they would still have you eating out of their hands. If you love a good enemies to lovers, this book is the pinnacle of that trope. Never were any two enemies ever as enemied as Damien Priest and Rowena Carrigan. This is the second book in the Broken Crown trilogy, and you should probably read the first book, Road to Fire, before starting this one. While Luıs does an excellent job of filling in the blanks so you’re not lost coming in at this point, the beginning of this book is an epic spoiler for the end of the previous book, so fair warning. If you’re ready for something different, and I mean something like you’ve never seen before, run to the 1-Click now. It's an epic romance between two immensely improbable but perfectly suited souls who are beąten and brokęn countless times and survive insurmountable odds to find their forever love. It’s an emotional roller coaster ride that whıps and drops and loops, leaving you gasping for breath. And it's a masterful thriller that seduces your psyche only to taunt and twıst and manipulate it, leaving you questioning reality altogether. It is magnificent, extraordinary and unsurpassed, and definitely this author's most accomplished work to date. If you miss this book, you will have missed your best read of the year, because this one is truly in a league of its own.
PHENOMENAL! MAGNIFICENT! PERFECTION!
WHAT. THE. HECK!!!!!! I just finished an incredible story that has left my mind spinning, twisting and contemplating!! Sound of Madness has been on my list of my most anticipated book this year, ever since the mind blowing cliffhanger at the end of Road to Fire. I have just finished reading and I’M NOT OKAY! Maria Luis has definitely come out to play with book 2 in the Broken Crown Trilogy. I'm trying to unscramble my brain to formulate a coherent review. So excuse the ramblings below... My mind is completely blown away by what I’ve just finished reading. It messed with my heart and my head! It was absolutely magnificent. Filled to the brim with political intrigue and a riveting storyline, I was glued to my seat the entire time! The secrets, lies and the intrigue were mind boggling. Damien and Rowena’s story gutted me, it rocked me to my very core, and it tortured me. I must be a glutton for punishment because I loved Every. Single. Word. They are both so freaking compelling and memorable I couldn’t help but love them. And together, they’re electric. Explosive. Incendiary. They were pure perfection! From the beginning until the end, this story had me on the edge of my seat with feelings of nervousness and unease with not knowing what was going to happen next, yet I absolutely loved single every minute. Sound of Madness is phenomenal. It’s thrilling. It’s insanely sexy and suspenseful. A complete package. I was enamoured with these amazing and layered characters and blown away with the premise of the story. Maria has left me guessing and questioning while I fall deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole. It’s twisted and so damn addictive. She’s laid the perfect foundation for the final part of this trilogy and I seriously can’t wait to see what she has in store. I had such a hard time putting this one down and I’m dying to pick up the third and final book after being smacked in the face with the craziest of cliffhanger endings!! And I’m obsessed with this evil genius, wicked, brilliant mind of hers. I bow down to this gifted author!
Damien and Rowena OWN MY HEART!! 😍Must read🖤🖤
I am so NOT okay. SOM has caused some major tear shedding for me. Damien and Rowana are most definitely my favorite characters so far, and that says a lot because I didn’t think anyone could steal my heart from Saxon and Isla. These two characters have touched me in a way that I won’t soon forget. As a matter of fact I know I will be thinking of them in the days and weeks to come. Their story was raw and visceral at its core. The characters flawed, complex and that just made it gut-wrenching and my Damien and Rowan imperfectly perfect in my eyes. I wanted nothing more than to be transported into this amazing fictional world Maria Luis created and see how I fared when I joined the alliance I most certainly would have aligned with, because I love them so! Damien and Rowena are absolutely hands down my favorite characters in this series. Both of these beautiful characters were no strangers to tragedy, the world around intent on breaking them but they remained the picture, the embodiment of perseverance. I’m not going to give away any specifics because #SpoilersSuck, but their journey has touched me in ways that I will never be the same. “Broken, but never defeated,” They have clawed, chewed, scratched and fought for their version of redemption. Redemption and strength beyond comprehension when you look at all they have endured, found because they found each other. Both flawed and scarred by their past found acceptance and love on one another. They found strength to go on when they wanted to lay down and give in. The kind of strength that comes from finding the other half of your soul. That person willing to breach the gates of hell and duke it out with the devil himself, with no regard for their own self, just to rescue the other from a fate such a death. GAH!! The tears and the begging I did for these two. My heart splintered over and over again, because the odds were continuously stacked against them. “I wanted to live”...“but never could I have predicted you.”...“I wanted happiness and you drove away the darkness.” Will Damien and Rowena be able to overcome all the obstacles they have in their way to have a chance at being together and finding freedom from the shackles that have bound them to the darkness once and for all? Well… you will have to read to find out. So grab some wine, tissues, chocolate and a blanket and settle in for this unforgettable, unputdownable second book on the Broken Crown Trilogy. I’m already super anticipating book three. Cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up for this book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐⭐️- MY HEART!! This book O-M-G.. Action, secrets , suspense, angst, hot sexy times, so much heart, banter, blood and sweat, tears, fight scenes, forgiveness, revenge, and frustration, lies on top of lies! These characters have my heart. FOREVER. Their growth together and separate was phenomenal. These characters are LIFE!💀💀! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥-Holy Hades Y’all!! Damien and Rowena were hurt and healing perfection! Damien was alpha AF and Rowena took everything he had to give and gave back when he needed it. This was sexy, dirty, raw, and rough love makin’. There are melted hearts, panties and kindles all across the world because of this book. (Maria’s not even sorry either y’all) 🌪Cliffhanger Warning-🌪🌪There is a storyline cliffy, but our beautiful couple get an ending I was happy with! 😍 🔫 Trigger Warning-This book is a Dark romance feel and does have violent scenes that could be considered triggers for some. If you have concerns you can PM for more information.
Gripping, Addictive, A Modern Day Classic
Speechless!!!! This book is like reading a “classic “. The story, descriptions, and details are so vivid, I truly felt like I was there with them. Damien and Rowena are each perfectly flawed and perfect for one another. Each one totally devoted to their “duty”. I highlighted so many quotes in this book, more than any other I’ve ever read. It looks like a textbook and I’m cramming for a final exam. The storyline is gripping, the characters are addicting and I have the biggest book hangover ever. I cannot wait until book 3 of this trilogy gets here. Prepare yourself, this book is simply a masterpiece. It contains suspense, intrigue and smoking hot romance. Bravo Maria Luis, I kneel at your feet!
Damien & Rowena!! A million stars!!
Sound of Madness has been my most anticipated book ever since I finished Road to Fire earlier this year. I just finished SOM and I'm trying to get my brain to quit scrambling long enough to form a cohesive review. I will start this off by saying IT'S EVERYTHING WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AND MORE! I want to leave a review without any spoilers and this feels an almost impossible task but I will try! We pick up immediately where we left off in RTF. We are introduced to our heroine, Rowena and what a BAD ASS! Her and Damien are fire from their very first meeting and their intensity and passion bleed through the pages. We are given some answers and left with so many more! The political games that are played are as much a character as the rest. Loyalties are constantly questioned and tested and it's proved over and over what you will do to save someone you love. While reading RTF I felt like my heart was in my throat the whole time, while reading SOM, the angsty knots in my stomach NEVER let up! Maria kept us in the same world with totally different tones and feelings between brothers. I'm seriously amazed at what her brain has come up with and how she has done it! The Broken Crown world is now forever one of my favorites and I need Guy's book NOW! "Long live the Queen"
Worth every heart stopping, heart breaking moment
Sound of Madness by is one major rollercoaster of a ride, and my mind is blown. "I would rather die trying to live than die knowing that I never tried at all." Damien and Rowena are two completely broken and damaged characters who've somehow managed to find one another in the midst of a war. These two broke my heart into a million jagged pieces, and it HURT. So much. Having lived a life as a pawn, Rowena has spent the past decade living life on her own terms. Damien believes himself to be nothing more than a villain and a monster, the Mad Priest; the one who lost his soul a long time ago. But for her? For her, he will break and be every bit the hero - one who would chase her to the ends of the earth, be her shield, and cut down anyone who dares hurt her. "I'll walk through darkness with you and I'll dance in the pits of hell at your side..." SoM is one bombshell after another. And though it is a long one, it is filled with so much action and intrigue, I barely noticed. A crown. Political warfare. Lies and treachery abound until it is no longer clear which side is on the right. So much deceit and death. It is amazing how one decision can create a chain of reactions resulting in irreparable damage and absolute chaos. Friends, after Road to Fire, we thought we knew. But we didn't. We weren't even close to knowing or even remotely prepared for the absolute carnage that is Sound of Madness. And while many secrets are revealed, they only manage to create more layers of uncertainty. I'm eagerly awaiting A New King, because Guy? Man. Both he and Mags have a heck of a lot of redeeming to do, and I'm excited to see how this plays out.
Better than the first - a seemingly impossible feat!!!!
Let’s face the facts… many trilogies have a middle book slump. The book is needed to move the story forward, but they tend to miss the excitement of the first or epicness of the final books. Kudos to Luis because she managed not only to beat this trend but also smashed it and sent the crumbs flying. I was a conspiracy theorist and wanted Damien with Margaret. Now I know how silly I really am. I’m fully team Rowien (what I’m calling them - unless I have I missed the naming?) This book is FIERCE. And yes, the capitals are needed. I’m going against my norm with Maria Luis’ books and won’t wax poetic for days. Wait, I will, just not in this particular review. All that needs to be said is you need this book in your life. Without this perfectly written masterpiece of dynamic, mind-blowing, and steamy ball of all the yeses in your life, you are not whole. Dramatic - yes. But true - heck, yes!!!! Do yourself a favor: click the button, settle in, and read. Just be prepared — you absolutely will have a book hangover in a significant way.
Excellent addition to the Broken Crown series
Sound of Madness was an excellent addition to the Broken Crown world that Maria created in Road to Fire. She is an excellent wordsmith; painting vivid imagery and characters with her words! It felt like I was watching a movie play out while reading this series! This is Damien's story, the Mad Priest, and it picks up right after the events of Road to Fire and doesn't let up. My heart broke for Damien multiple times in this book. This poor man just cannot catch a break and has succumbed to the fate that he has been dealt with. (I don't normally cry when reading books but there's a scene towards the end of the book where I choked up because it was so heartbreaking.) Damien definitely surpassed Saxon as my favorite Broken Crown hero! I loved how beautiful, fierce and strong Rowena is. I loved how, even from the beginning when they were on opposite sides of the table, it was like their souls recognized their other half. I loved how Rowena showed Damien that there was something to fight for and I loved that they not only fought alongside each other but for each other. This is a beautiful story tied up in the intrigue and suspense of a London thrown into chaos. The story does end on a cliffhanger but don't let that stop you from reading this excellent book/series! Anxiously counting down the days, months to Guy's story!
Earth shattering journey
This was a journey that had more twists and turns than you could imagine. Just when you think that you knew where the story was going there goes the next curve ball. I laughed, cried, really ugly cried wanted to throw the iPad across the room... all the emotions but it was worth it. To finally get to see Damien the Mad Priest fall in love was amazing. Rowena gives as good as she gets, is a true warrior goes toe to toe with him and never gives up. They both have such damaging childhoods it is good to see them both heal as the book progresses. We finally get to see glimpses of the “Boy genius with the heart of Gold” that Saxon always used to talk about. They both make each other better people when they are together. I can not recommend this book enough. Maria you have done it again! I can not wait for Guy and Mags book!! 😉
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