King of Envy – A novel by Ana Huang

Description

Here’s the scoop on King of Envy by Ana Huang—a sizzling slow-burn romance with mafia intrigue and emotional depth:

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📖 Overview & Plot

• Position in series: Book #5 in the Kings of Sin series, released April 29, 2025 (anahuang.com).
• Main characters:
  • Vuk Markovic: A scarred, reclusive billionaire who quietly harbors deep feelings for Ayana.
  • Ayana Kidane: Ethiopian-descent supermodel engaged in a convenience marriage to Jordan, Vuk’s best friend—intended to escape her controlling agency (barnesandnoble.com, supersummary.com).
• Core conflict: As Ayana and Jordan prepare to wed for ulterior motives, Vuk—torn between loyalty and obsession—grows closer to Ayana. The plot thickens with threats from an abusive agency and mafia elements .

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❤️ Highlights & Reader Reactions

• Tropes in play: enemies-to-lovers, arranged/“business” marriage, forced proximity, mafia/family conflict (twistedseries.fandom.com).
• Praise for:
  • Emotional slow burn with angst, longing, and forbidden tension (harlequinjunkie.com).
  • Complex hero + strong heroine dynamic—Vuk’s vulnerability, Ayana’s resilience (harlequinjunkie.com).
  • Depth and symbolism in darker themes meeting romance, with a satisfying resolution centered on choice, trust, and shared trauma (sobrief.com).
• Constructive critiques:
  • Some readers note its ~530-page length as overly long; they found mafia subplots occasionally drag (pastmidnights.com).
  • Mixed opinions on pacing—yearning payoff is powerful, but some early sections feel slow (amazon.com).

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🗣️ What Fans Say

From Goodreads/Amazon reviews:

“…one of my top reads of the year…Vuk Markovic … best man at his friend’s wedding…obsessed with the bride…slow start…got caught in its clutches” (sobrief.com, amazon.com)

“…slow burn? more like slow sizzle—but once it heats up, ohhh we’re cooking.” (amazon.com)

Reddit (r/RomanceBooks):

“King of Envy has two major plots…romance…and mafia. The first half…made me grin and giddy.” (reddit.com)

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⚖️ Should You Read It?

Great pick if you enjoy:

• Alpha male + morally gray romance
• Slow-burning tension between best friend and bride
• Emotional healing woven into a dark, dangerous world

Heads‑up:

• At ~530 pages, its length may test patience—especially if mafia intrigue isn’t your thing.
• Pacing is lighter early on; payoff is heavy later.

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🔚 Summary

“King of Envy” stands out as one of Ana Huang’s strongest entries in the Kings of Sin saga—highlighted by its brooding, emotionally layered hero and balanced heroine, intertwined with high-stakes drama. If you love steaming, angst-filled slow burns that lead to redemption, it’s a must-read.

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Let me know if you’d like:

• A deeper dive into specific relationships or scenes
• Suggestions for your next read in the series
• Info on audiobook versions and narrators 😉

Enjoy the read!