The Rain King: A Murder of Crows, Book 1

WOW. I don’t even know what to say. I loved the gritty, destructive, toxic and passionate nature of this story. It won’t be for every reader, but if you’re along for the ride, buckle up and get ready for some sweet pain and toxicity in the form of a fascinating 90s gangster romance tale 🖤 I loved the nostalgia in this story, it really brought me back to a time before social media and cell phones. I felt like this could be an awesome 90s film, lying somewhere between Fear and Romeo and Juliet. It’s nothing like either of those films but I can imagine going to the video store and watching this story onscreen play out quite easily in my mind!This book really had its claws in me from the beginning. The h, Rae is new to the neighborhood, she’s a lonely, somewhat broken and vulnerable female lead, but she has inner strength as well. I really sympathized with her experiences and how she felt. She also happens to live next to two twin brothers, Maddox and Lennox. Both of them become a big part of her high school experience in a very short time. In both good and bad ways. This is also part coming of age as well. It has a lot of those first experiences sprinkled throughout the plot, new school, new friends, peer pressure, bullying, angst, rejection, drugs, parties, temptation, and body/sexual awareness & discovery. The author did a great job of writing those experiences into the story as they felt very real and organic.These twin brothers are involved in a gang, although there’s not much clashing from warring gangs or violence in a typical way, however the lifestyle still affects Rae and the brothers. The way of living does change the twins, and those around them, and you get the sense of that without it being too dark and gangster, hopefully that makes sense. But make no mistake, this story still has triggering content and some dark themes that tie into the plot. I think for those wanting a really strong gangster theme, there may not be much of that in the way where there’s lots of war and bloodshed, because the story focus is more on the two twin brothers and the heroine Rae. I can’t wait to see where the author takes this story in book 2! 🤩 💥 By the end of this book, one of the male leads is left very bitter and angry over certain things so that’s going to be a huge opener for the way the next book begins! I could stay in this world with these characters for awhile longer just because they felt very real and the story captivated me so much that I didn’t want to stop reading! I haven’t read a book this diverting in a long time. This is a love triangle but it does end with one Hero.The only thing I wished I could’ve seen was the contract signing scene between the twin brothers. That was a scene I was so looking forward to seeing and it wasn’t shown. It was spoken of more in passing as a past recurrence, and I would’ve liked to see the conversation and scenes between them when it happened in real time. But I’m not going to knock a star off for that because despite it not being shown, I still absolutely loved how the story came together and am very excited for book 2! This was my first time reading this author and I’ll definitely be reading more of her in the future. 🥂Breakdown:Dual POV/Heroes and heroine90s theme/nostalgia (Payphones, blockbuster, 90s songs themed to each chapter for timeframe, guys with chained wallets, no social media, no cells)Gang romanceOpposites/enemies to lovers/friends to lovers (you really experience the varying tropes all in one with this story)Virgin heroineColumbian Twins/HExperienced manho H’sLennox (twin) wears glasses, smart, into art/painting, wants to help the community, manipulative, possessive, dark kinks, big manho (he initiates the girls into the gang by sleeping with all of them) lean built HMaddox (twin) is on the football team, more popular twin, into bands, music, took his brothers first crush, manipulative, possessive, tattooed, big manho, bigger built HBoth twins are similar in many ways but also very differentLots of conflict/physical fights between twins over hAction, romance, suspense, coming of ageTwin brothers love the same girlTwin sandwich 🥪 🫠💥⚰️Well written steamy scenesToxic, jealous, possessive malesOral knockout scene 🥊 😳🧨🫠Bloody virginity tattoo/matching tattoos as mark of ownership ⚰️Triggers (broken home, abusive stepdad, animal triggers (a pet bird is hurt in a sad way) violence, noncon, gang way of life, guns, bullying, mean girls, twins are with other women, drugs, etc)This does have a HEA, one Hero gets her in the endBloody weddingThere will be a book 2 for the other twin who gets paired with another h, but you could probably stop here if you wanted to. However, I’m not sure how much other plot will overlay into book 2 with details from this book.Twins exchange their women*There is a time jump in the end by 1 year only, so it kinda fast forwards a bit, I think probably one of the reasons why not showing this whole year or extra details is because the h ends up with a certain twin brother and showing her with the other one that wasn’t meant for her in that timeframe would not have made sense, but I def would’ve read a few extra chapters between her and the other twin to make that transition a bit more smoother, it did feel like a bit of a sudden disconnect and jump, so that part was a tiny bit jarring.

Two brothers and one girl whose interest is part love, part obsession, part a prize to win. I may say this every time I write a Selena review. She is NOT an author for everyone because she pushes things way, way far so far in fact you wonder how you can enjoy it. I keep offering 5 stars because she never fails to make me feel a reaction whether it's uncomfortable or not. Plus she has a writing style that wraps you up regardless of how dark things get. And make no mistake they get dark, twisted, disturbed, and F-ed up.I keep reading her though despite it all. Not sure if it's curiosity as she's darker than most and I always wonder where she'll go with the stories and the characters that aren't wholly good or wholly bad. With actions that aren't always bad, but usually end up despicable too. It's confusing how you can root for characters such as these.I mean part of me wanted Rae to do the right thing and walk away from Lennox and Maddox because it isn't worth destroying their twin/family bond. Partly I was Team Maddox though I wanted Lennox to have his own version of happy.So yeah, take that how you like. I plan to read the next book because I want to know.

I'm not sure what to make of this. On one hand it was hot, intense, addicting to read, on the other I was seriously annoyed with everyone in this book, especially Rae. And for it to end the way it did I'm left on edge because I gotta read how this is going to go down between Lennox and Scarlett

Boy oh boy. The rain king had me sitting on the edge of my seat threw this whole book. I couldn’t put it down. If you like your books dark and spicy this is one you definitely have to read.

Well written but WTF. Sibling rivalry on steroids and one of the most effed up relationships ever between all parties. Can't wait for the next one!

I waited a whole month and watched sooo many teasers on TikTok and to say this book was everything and more!!! I loved it all besides the one scene ( I haven't read too much of the darker stuff) but I kinda figured it would end up something like that. Amazingly written, great plot and spice *chef's kiss*.

This book!!!! Holy crap!!! This is my first book by this author and my only regret was not ever reading any of her books. This story I went in blind and I was not disappointed at all. But the ending I need next book asap.. this is a must read..

This book is hands down Selenas masterpiece! It has all the things twin brothers, the 90s, loads of angst, & a teenage girl just trying to figure everything out! Mind blown once again by Selena!

Okay so stayed up all night to read this in one sitting and it was so easy to read, I just ate it up because it was so interesting. If I could give 4.3 I would but I can’t. I was well on my way to giving 5 but…. For me the ending (1 year on) was just ridiculous. It felt like a different book for me. The fact they went a whole year later like that was plausible (I won’t say in what way) and then all the actions that follow including one which made me completely dislike one of the characters I’d spent the whole book rooting for. So many things happen that it felt like they were happening for shock value more than anything. Just wish that final section had been written in the same vain as the rest as I would have been one of my favourite books ever if so! Having said that, I still thoroughly loved it and know many will likely love the whole thing.

And we are back in Faulkner! This time we have gone back in time and it is the 90's. I loved the songs under each chapter heading, that brought back memories!Rae moves to a new house with her mum and step dad who is a cop. Their house is the only one in the street that has a pool. Cue the North brothers who live next door to come and help clean it so they can use it. This all sounds very light and not dark at all doesn't it. Well this is just the beginning and it gets dark. The North twins are in a gang and Rae's step dad may be a cop but he's not a very good one. He's also not a very good person towards Rae and her mum and there is a lot of abuse. This is definitely one of Selena's darkest books so please, if you have any triggers, check the warnings.Lennox and Maddox are the North twins and they end up in a love triangle with Rae. Honestly, all the way through I would think that I had sussed out who she was going to be with and then I was wrong. This book literally kept me guessing until the very end. She does end up with a brother and the one she doesn't choose has their own book next. Oh Selena that epilogue!!!!! Eeeekkkkk 🙌🏻. I can't wait for the next book!

Loved the story, characters and twists I didn't see coming. I enjoy a dark romance. I have a soft spot for a bully/villain story. This ticks all the boxes.#inkdrinker8962

What did I just read ? Don’t recommend it. I’ve read other books about gangsters and even motorcycle clubs that were better than this one. Was expecting more/better

I really wanted to like this book but at 50% I just couldn’t read any more. Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me.