Genre/Tags: Gay Alt-Historical Romance 

Author: Cooper Davis

Story Rating: 5 Stars

Narrator: John Hartley

Narrator Rating: 5 Stars

Length: 8 hours & 31 minutes

Audiobook Buy Links: Audible, Amazon

A tale of forbidden love between a king and his male concubine.

In a Victorian world where gentlemen openly court other noblemen, the threat of scandal still lurks behind every velvet drape.

Years ago, King Arend Tollemach broke off a youthful engagement to a neighboring prince – his first love – and married a woman. All in service of the crown. Now, after his queen’s untimely death, Arend undertakes a forbidden risk. He decides to claim a concubine, his first male lover, and bring him into his bed for one year. So, he turns to the one establishment renowned for the most sensual courtesans in the realm: the mysterious, discreet Temple Sapphor.

Arend’s only stipulation? There must be no emotion involved in the transaction; he won’t ever fall in love with another man, not after losing his prince years ago.

Julian never imagined he’d spend 10 years on his temple shelf, repeatedly passed over. But just when he fears never finding placement in a nobleman’s bed – never falling in love – King Arend Tollemach walks into the temple. The monarch is a tempestuous, sensual man, and Julian instantly realizes he might fall in love. But can Julian help the gorgeous monarch risk his long-shuttered heart? Especially when a dangerous threat arises, forcing Arend to choose between his own happiness – and his throne – yet again.

Review: 

A King Awakened follows directly on the heels of the prior book, A King Undone, after Julian and King Arend have finally been intimate. While Arend is incredibly happy about their connection, and how wonderful Jules is, things are more up in the air than ever. Arend doubts himself and whether he will be able to spend the rest of his life with Julian because of antics going on in the background. He’s in his own head but Jules understands his inability to be as lovingly communicative as he could be around his deepest feelings for him. 

“You’re quite beautiful, my king. Even when ardently denying what I mean to you.” Julian brushed featherlight kisses against his temple. “I understand you.”  

Lord Vincent Blaine has played all the men with gossip at the Duke of Mardford’s small soiree. Arend feels hopelessly on the ropes as does his foster brother, Alistair, who is Arend’s personal secretary. The looming Lord’s Council meeting is worrying. Trying to keep Julian’s importance to King Arend quiet is proving difficult. Julian and Finley have tried to distract by pretending they are a couple while Lord Blaine is about, but Blaine is like a dog with a bone with his innuendo, rude insinuations, assumptions, and his inability to let go of something he’s delusional about, the throne. *You’re not that important, arsehole.

So Blaine also unsettles Julian, who feels increasingly like he may be heading back to Temple Sapphor, and Arend feels like he just might be made to take another queen. It doesn’t help that Arend gets jealous because Blaine keeps making plays at Jules, causing Arend to impetuously declare ‘I’ll be wed to a woman by Summer’s end’. Blaine also causes a big trigger for Julian. I wanted to hug Jules. A lot of women know what it’s like to be in the presence of someone as vial and entitled as Blaine. When Samuel, The Duke of Mardford – Arend’s brother – has been rebuffed by his lover of several years, his usual witticisms, comebacks and devil may care attitude is lacking. I have to admit that listening to the book reminded me how sad I was that Samuel, Lucy, and Thomas didn’t ever get a book. It was such an opportunity missed.      

I loved it when Arend and Finley finally got their shit together and realised, hello! Arend is the goddamned King of the Western Provinces. He has allies within the Lord’s Council. That Arend’s son already knows about Julian, gossip in the court travels quickly, and approves of him making his father happy. Prince Darius is a very popular heir with his own sway. He also intends to have children with a princess consort when the time is right for him and his husband. This will make the Council calm their farms because he will carry on the Tollemach name.  

Dear, dear Julian. He remained sweet, lovable, patient, ever-hopeful, and deserving of good things. He could also hold his own when he felt it merited some mindful attitude. And good things often come to those who wait. I’m so happy for you, Jules. *Pinches his fictional cheek.

Arend murmured in his ear, “Tears of joy, darling mine. Tears of joy.” A quiet sob erupted from Arend’s chest. “I waited my whole life for you, too.”

Narration: John Hartley does a really good job of the characters voices. It clicked with me this time around that he’s American from his introduction and then wrap up of the book, yet he does a good British accent as well as…combined French/Italian/Spanish for Julian. I couldn’t quite pick. He even throws some Scottish in at one point. Not easy. Does it well. I like him as a narrator.   

All in all, the well named A King Awakened wrapped up nicely for Arend and Julian. I enjoyed – immensely – that I got to be with them for two books to see them have their much deserved HEA. I love this series. 5 Stars!