The Sugared Game

The Will Darling Adventures, Book 2

By: KJ Charles

Narrated by: Cornell Collins

Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

It's been two months since Will Darling saw Kim Secretan, and he doesn't expect to see him again. What do a rough and ready soldier-turned-bookseller and a disgraced, shady aristocrat have to do with each other anyway?

But when Will encounters a face from the past in a disreputable nightclub, Kim turns up, as shifty, unreliable, and irresistible as ever. And before Will knows it, he's been dragged back into Kim's shadowy world of secrets, criminal conspiracies, and underhand dealings.

This time, though, things are underhanded even by Kim standards. This time, the danger is too close to home. And if Will and Kim can't find common ground against unseen enemies, they risk losing everything.

Contains mature themes.

©2020 KJ Charles (P)2020 Tantor

This book made this series my favorite KJC series

Book 1 left me with such a mix of feelings that I wasn't sure what to think. I knew the story intrigued me and the writing engrossed me. I knew I cared about Will Darling. But I didn't want to feel sick with secondhand shame and worry again. I didn't want to feel disgusted and hurt by Kim again. But I love KJ Charles, so I eventually jumped in. I'm so glad I did. Book 2 turned the Will Darling series into my favorite KJ Charles series, and that's saying something considering I worship her books. If unsure of book 1 and checking these reviews for clues it'll be worth it, I promise you the pain and frustration endured in book 1 is 100% completely worth it. This book makes the first book a thousand times better. (It was already great, but I mean it makes the pain a thousand times more tolerable.)

The Sugared Game takes us deeper into the world, revealing a lot of the big players orchestrating a lot of the crime and mayhem. We learn a great deal more about Will and Kim as they get closer and join forces. There is still some frustrating manipulation and dishonesty from Kim, but they actually address it by TALKING about it like adults. Practically unheard of! There's no forced miscommunication or dodging the one conversation that would fix everything. These guys hash things out multiple times and eventually work together. Will sticks up for himself full-stop, no wavering for his pretty boyfriend. In fact, Will is a bit too eager to jump into situations and seems a bit pigheaded (in a charming brutish sort of way) at times.

By the end, I ended up so deeply invested in Will and Kim's hopes for each other that I think I'll be more heartbroken if something came between them than they would be. The book ends with huge changes to the status quo, opening the entire world of possibilities. It's like a gaping wound of possibilities, actually. A bit frightening and unclear. I have no idea what to expect for book 3 at all, and I can't wait!

just as good as bk 1!

Flappers, secret societies, a dashing spy and a bookseller! All of this combine into a swoony fun adventure novel with steamy scenes and witty repartee. Great narration. Looking forward to bk 3!

This book makes the previous book better for me

I really like this book, enough that it vastly improves the series, so far, as a whole.

Unlike in Slippery Creatures, our heroes are working together rather than working ‘independently in roughly the same direction’. The secondary & tertiary characters have more to do & do it with flair.

I don’t know how to rate it as a standalone because I read it after SC, and when I reread it, I read both. Recommended.

Great spy book

The mystery was great. It continues with the Zodiac storyline from the first book, and I was shocked to discover Capricorn's identity. I like a mystery that isn't super predictable.

I also loved that we finally acknowledged that Kim and Will are a damn mess! The ending of the book was my favorite bit. The mystery is solved and Kim and Will finally acknowledge that they have feelings! Imagine that. But they also face the reality that their feelings are messy and they are not that great at the parts of their relationship that exist outside the bedroom. But, this doesn't tear them apart and they don't agree to live forever in toxic matrimony. They actually agree to work on it! If I don't get another book with more mystery and these two actually being happy and sorted out, I will be quite upset.

Better than the first

Unlike most sequels, this feels like a seemless continuation. Whereas book one started out slow and depressing, this story was fun and lively from the beginning. I enjoyed it thoroughly and am excited for book 3!

Another classic

Enjoy the flawless balance of cleaver dialogue, humor, intrigue, and narration, the perfect “opposites attract” love story. Great work.

All-time favorite

I’ve listened to this trilogy five times in the past year, and notice new things about the writing each time. It’s absolutely brilliant. One of my favorite books of all time.

One of the best books ever

One of Charles’s very best with characters that you fall in love with and some all time great writing. Depth, feeling, and hilarity combine to make a fantastic plot come to life. Audio that brings the whole thing to life. Don’t miss it - a towering accomplishment.

What a delight

I adored this cozy queer mystery! It’s full of a winning mix of loveable characters, flapper fashion, intrigue, and steam. Cornell Collins brings the story to life so wonderfully. A real delight.

Awesome

I love comedy spy thrillers but I never asked myself “but let’s make it gay”! Lol I love this author and they did an amazing job on this series!

Lady Chatterley v Cinderella + large knife

Complicated espionage antics. The MCs joust literally and metaphorically with flesh and metal. On this occasion, the fine narrator detracted from the events, where a more strident style for "heroic" Will could've made the action more of a battle than foreplay with weapons. Neither MC is likeable in any way, which made my continued interest difficult to maintain. It's taken 5 days to finish an almost 8hr book I could've done in a day were I hooked.

A colourful period of history is portrayed like a black and white movie where the acting is wooden and the movements disjointed, which leaves a bland taste from an author who can do so much better.

Would I listen to this book again? NO, I'm sorry to say.

Marvelous sequel, enrapturing ending

Firstly, if you haven't read Slippery Creature, go! Go now! It's wonderfully written, and should definitely be read before this. It needs to be really, for story and context.

The narration is spot-on, you often forget its not actually a group of people having a conversation.

Story wise, it is a brilliant depiction of Kim & Darling, staying very much in character with their values and choices. I don't want to give much away of the story, just know this was the audio equivalent of 'not being able to put it down until I get to the end'

Brilliant

I love this series of book, these characters and this narrator. I didn't want it to end. Glad I've got one more to go to next.

Nice

I liked the characters and the plot but would have liked more about the relationship.
The recording, as in the other books, often had a low rumble in the background.

Ripping and gripping

I loved this. First, Cornell Collins (aka Matthew Lloyd Davis) could read the telephone directory and I would listen. He is marvellous. Second, both Will and Kim are sympathetic characters and one longs for things to turn out alright for them, personally and professionally. Will is stubborn yet kind, clever and funny, thoroughly decent and loyal. Kim is damaged, guilt-ridden, wronged by his family and with an undeserved reputation for cowardice, but also loveable, clever, charming and annoying in equal measure. KJ Charles is a great storyteller. I am racing through her novels - read by MLD - and will be bereft when I have finished them all. I hope she writes more in a similar vein. I loved her Regency series too. All brilliant.