Review: Cross by Shantel Tessier
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Content Warning
This book contains child abuse, parental abuse/toxic parent relationship, branding, religious trauma, violence and graphic scenes, murder death, psychological trauma and emotional abuse, and explicit sexual themes.
He was supposed to stay away… but the fire-obsessed King took one look at her and chose obsession instead. 🔥😈
My Review
👑 The King claims his Queen
And wow… this man came with fire, trauma, and a whole lot of secrets.
🔥 Meet Cross (Our Fire-Breathing King)
Cross is… not your average dark, broody King.
This man was forged in fire—literally and emotionally. His father? Pure evil. A man who hid behind religion while branding his own son to “repent” for sins that weren’t even his.
It’s no surprise Cross grew into someone a little unhinged, a little dangerous, and very much “I’ll burn it all down” energy. But underneath all that? There’s something softer… something loyal… something that caught me completely off guard.
They can have my kingdom, but they will never touch my Queen. I will set fire to the world and watch it all burn, me included, before I let her pay for my sins.
And honestly? I fell for him.
💋 Alexa – The Queen Who Doesn’t Fold
We met Alexa back in Grave’s story, and I already liked her—but getting more of her here? Loved.
She’s strong. Level-headed. Holds her own. Not the type to be easily intimidated by a King who walks around like he owns the world (even though… he kind of does).
“Depend on a man to feed you, and you give him the power to starve you.”
She’s exactly the kind of woman Cross needed.
🚫 Off-Limits Never Stopped Anyone
Cross sees Alexa at Titan’s wedding and immediately decides: yeah… I need her.
Small problem?
👉 She’s off-limits.
👉 Promises were made.
👉 Lines were drawn.
Do we think that stopped him?
Please. 😏
What starts as a one-night thing (we’ve heard that before) quickly spirals into something much more consuming. Because let’s be real—there was no world where Cross was walking away from her.
🔥 Chemistry, Chaos & “One More Night”
Their connection is instant, intense, and borderline addictive.
They balance each other in a way that just works. Cross brings the chaos, Alexa brings the calm—but she’s not afraid to step into the fire when needed.
And Cross?
He might act like hell…
But he protects what’s his.
And Alexa?
Yeah… she becomes his.
👑 The Dark Kings Universe (Still Obsessed)
Can we just take a moment for this world??
Every book pulls us deeper into the Kings’ lives—their bonds, their chaos, their loyalty. They’re not just business partners… they’re family. And watching each King find his Queen?
I eat it up every single time.
Also… I will never complain about getting more Grave & April (still my babies 💋), even if some moments hurt a little.
💭 Final Thoughts
This was short, addictive, twisty, and exactly what I wanted from Cross’s story.
It gave:
- 🔥 Obsession
- 👑 Power
- 💋 Chemistry
- 😈 Just enough chaos
Cross and Alexa made sense. They balanced each other. And watching their story unfold? Completely binge-worthy.
The Dark Kingdom series continues to pull me deeper in, and at this point I’m fully invested in every single King and Queen.
And now??
👉 I’m diving straight into Bones’ story because clearly I have no self-control.
Also… I have demands.
Bones. Jasmine. Nite. All of them. Immediately. 😏📚🔥
Tell me…..
Did Cross surprise you too, or did you see right through that fire? 💋
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 Stars from this “Good Girl”
