Book Review
Title: Allison and the Torrid Tea Party (Harem of Hearts Book 2) by C.M. Stunich
Genre: Dark, Romance
Rating: 4.5 Stars
The opening to Allison and the Torrid Tea Party was interesting as it picked up where the first book ended although now we know that Allison has feeling for Tee and Dee and is well on her way to catching feelings for North. They have been kidnapped by Raiden Walker, who isn’t like the other men we have been introduced to as he is originally from Allison’s world not Underland which could explain why he is a bit madder than the rest. As he is a mercenary he will do just about anything for the right price so when North offers to pay him a million coins, paid half by him and half by the King, Raiden changes his plan to bring them to the King of Clubs and takes them to the King of Hearts instead but he adds that he expects Allison’s hand in marriage too and she has no choice but to agree. During the journey to the palace we get the first sex scene between Allison and North which was delightful as all their playful banter, training and fear roll over into this.
By the time they reach the palace North warns Allison to be wary of the King because of his unpredictable behaviour. The King immediately tries to claim Allison as his but she resists him because she hates everything he stands for and this is only made worse when she realises that he is executing people who look like her men because they have disappointed him. Allison wants to put a stop to it and challenges the King but realises there are no rules in this world apart from the ones they make up so she loses to the King but she proves that she isn’t someone to be messed with. I loved the fact that when North and Allison arrive at the palace with Raiden, Tee, Dee and the other were all really worried about Allison because they care about her and this is something she is coming to realise. Later down the line this is going to cause problems since Allison is still set on returning home and not marrying the King of Hearts but the prophecy claims that she will have nine men and seven of those slots are now filled since Raiden bought himself one of them and the King believes he is getting another one which means there might be only one more handsome man to meet before Allison’s harem is complete but I can’t wait to see her interactions with them. As we’ve seen Tee, Dee and North and I am hoping for Rab or Lar next.
Allison has a few interactions with the King and none of them are good especially when he tries to execute someone who looks like her. She tries to defend the woman using magic making the King think he does have some use for her after all but her guilt is appeased when she learns everyone executed are criminals anyway as Underland isn’t a good place. We also learn the King’s name is Brennin Red and the verbal sparring between him and Allison makes for some entertaining reading. However, life at the palace isn’t off to a good start for Allison as the Mocking Turtle who seems to one of the most feared characters so far brings up Allison’s brother, Fred. This is a really bad move on his part because Allison has a lot of unresolved trauma and guilt surrounding her brother’s death. One thing I did like about this part of the novel was how Allison openly claimed Tee, Dee and North as her men and she is adamant she will never always Raiden or Brennin to be a part of that. We are also getting a lot of hints that the next person to be claimed with either be Rab or Lar and I have a feeling it will be Lar as Allison is going to be learning to dance from him so they will be spending a lot of time together.
As we approach the halfway mark in the novel, we don't get any new sex scenes with new partners but the foundations are being laid with Lar in particular. I did like the scene between Allison and Brennin and I have a feeling their relationship is definitely going to be a love hate relationship and it's going to be hot if that kiss is anything to go by. Allison had also decided to stay in Underland but she wants the right to travel between the two worlds like Rab does so she can keep in touch with her family and this is reasonable but she has to consider there is a war happening right now so the looking glass can't be compromised. While we haven't seen the other kings I have a feeling they are going to make Brennin look like he is all good when he's not and they can’t be allowed to have access to the looking glass for any reason even if it is to keep the Alice happy. The dancing scene with all of Allison's potential claims, remember three of these are set in stone, was divine and it might have some potential for some MM scenes later on or in the final book which I would be delighted to see as it is something often overlooked in reverse harems.
As the ball approaches Allison is worried by some characters but she has a particular dislike for the Knave of Hearts who is responsible for the curse on Tee and Dee which means we all hate her. However, she has been warned several times that assassination attempt are likely during the ball and her training is essential to her survival and the fate of Underland. Allison also has to remember her training isn't just to survive this but to defeat the Anti-Alice. The Anti-Alice is a girl who can absorb magic like Allison can but she can't use it like Allison and in order to fulfil the prophecy she has to stop the Anti-Alice and the way which isn't going to be easy. However, she is developing, as in her training with North and Chesh, she almost kills the loveably annoying cat because she didn't think she could hour him with the Vorpal Blade and had to ask for Raiden's help in healing him. This scene actually solidifies Chesh as a potential partner for Allison as this is very similar to the situation that solidified her relationship with North. We do get to see more of Allison and North as they prepare for the Torrid Tea Party which is an elaborate game of truth or dare and we also get to see some development on the relationship between Allison and Rab and I can’t wait to see who she ends up with next as we still have six more men to see Allison with before she has claimed all nine but it seems we have spent a lot of time of Tee, Dee and North so we might not get a lot of development with the other six.
As we approach the final section of the novel, the Torrid Tea Party has begun and I can’t wait to see what happens during the Party. The tea party itself was a riot as we see the entire cast drugged up on truth tea asking each other questions. We get some amazing development on the potential relationships between Allison, Brennin and Raiden which was amazing and some of the truths were hilarious. However, this party is interrupted by the Mocking Turtle which unnerves Allison and surprisingly it is Brennin who helps her get herself under control and stops her from drawing the Vorpal Blade which would summon the Anti-Alice to a defenceless palace since they are all high right now. Afterwards things seem to calm down again and Allison is becoming more comfortable with being with multiple men that is until the ball. All the training they have done for this event seems to be paying off but Allison’s nerves almost get the better of her again but she pulls herself together for the dance. Everything is going great until Allison starts to hear the Mocking Turtle’s voice in her head which means he is either in the palace or has an accomplice there and everyone suspects the Knave. After drawing the Vorpal Blade, Allison is dragged away by Brennin and they end up fucking against the wall which was one of the hottest scenes so far but they are interrupted by the Mocking Turtle and the Anti-Alice who has finally made her appearance and Allison has to defeat her for the sake of Underland and the men she is coming to love.
The final section of the novel was amazing as we see the showdown between Allison and the Anti-Alice kicks off but the castle is quickly overrun by Clubs soldiers and the priority of the men is protecting Allison. At the instruction of Brennin, they take Allison to the looking glass and push her through it even though she doesn’t want to leave right now because her men are in danger. Upon returning home, Allison is struck by how little everything around her has changed when she clearly has but she has bigger problems to deal with as Tee, Dee, Raiden and March quickly follow her through the mirror. As they clean themselves up and try to sit and explain to Allison’s father and sister where she has been for the past couple of weeks they are joined in the real world by the Anti-Alice who Allison know believes is her dead sister as well as the Walrus and the Carpenter which means the fight isn’t over yet. Allison realises the power of one of the twins as Raiden prepares for a battle but they are all aware that they might not be able to win this fight. As the battle begins the novel ends with Allison praying that help arrives soon in the forms of her other men because they are going to need it with everything that is happening right now. Overall, Torrid Tea Party was a wild ride with Allison sleeping with 4 of her 9 men and five left to go as everything hurdles towards its conclusion and I can’t wait to get into the finale as soon as I can.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
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