The Umbra King

Vincula Realm, Book 1

By: Jamie Applegate Hunter

Narrated by: Nikki Grey, Gideon Frost

The morally grey don’t want redemption. They want retribution.

After the brutal murder of her twin sister, Aurora 'Rory' Raven spends years forging herself into a ruthless vigilante killer.

She never gave up her search for the man who killed her sister, but when she is convicted of thirteen murders and sentenced to five-hundred years in Vincula, the prison realm, she knows her sister’s death will never be avenged.

After arriving in Vincula, Aurora discovers her opportunity for retribution is closer than she thought.

Caius is the notorious Umbra King, ruler of Vincula, King of the Monsters, and the thing nightmares are made of. After being locked in his own realm for a crime he didn’t commit, his only focus has been revenge.

When Aurora drops into his throne room, representing everything he despises, they begin a game of cat and mouse, and before long, their hatred turns into something else.

Circumstances draw them together, but revenge might tear them apart.

The Umbra King is book one in the Vincula Realm Duology, which is set in the Realms of the Aether multiverse. It ends on a cliffhanger.

Contains mature content.

©2022 Jamie Applegate Hunter (P)2023 Podium Audio

juvenile vocab

has good potential but is written at a 6th grade reading level but with spicey scenes.

What great story!

I really don't read a lot of fantasy books and never smut but decided to jump into this one on a whim. I am so glad I did! The world building is fantastic and you really do connect with the characters, not just the main. I can't wait to listen to book two!

This author needs more recognition!

I really love this book and immediately started the 2nd one. I NEED more books from this author!

still good.

I read these books a long time ago. and after training myself to do audio books which I really couldn't at first but forced myself to because I hate putting a book down to do stuff. I now do both read and listen. I decided to revisit this story in audio. No regrets. Only way it could have been better would be to make it a duet and not a duel. I actually couldn't believe I forgot stuff. funny because I have these books pictures stuck in my head file labeled great books. that says a lot because I read roughly 300 books a year. now add in listening 🎧 my brain folder does not really have that many I extremely enjoyed. This was a good revisit. I really don't do rereads. I may have done it 4 times tops. this being the 4th. I have been reading for 35+ years. This audio was a great way to enjoy the books again. I enjoy this author very much.

Top fave

Easy listen with great characters and plots. Narrators are great. The “touch her and die” romance is 5 star. And I loved that the world building was there, but not so detailed like some of these books lately that you have to re read every word and do a google to follow everything.

So different from other fantasies!

She’s a serial killer that has a gray soul. He’s the ruler of a massive fae prison. Her world is colorless until she meets him. So good!

INCREDIBLE!!!

I dont even have words!!!! Absolutely SHOOK!!! The spice! The characters!! The world building!!! ALL OF IT!!!!
I was supposed to sleep after finishing this but now I HAVE to start the next one!!!!
What a cliffhanger!!!

It was okay.

Definitely took a long time to really get started. The romance part was anticlimactic and felt rushed

Some of the best narration I’ve heard yet

Narration is on point, storyline is unique and well done, and that cliffhanger has my anxiety level spiking in the best way 🥵🔥 You won’t regret this one!

Surprisingly enjoyed it

So when I read the reviews, I was a little hesitant to give this a try. I’m glad I did. Is the writing a little juvenile like other reviews said? A little bit. But it wasn’t horrible. Is there believable romance? Yes. Is there a fairly good plot? Yes. Are there likable secondary characters? Yes. Several. Is the story overall good? Absolutely.

The plot is sort of predictable and some surprises too. But was it enjoyable? Definitely.

Performance wise, terrific. Though the female narrator made me chuckle a little at her version of the MMC. But they both did a terrific job.