What is Lies of My Monster by Rina Kent about?
Lies of My Monster is a dark mafia romance and the second book in Rina Kent's Monster Trilogy. The story follows Sasha, who disguises herself as a male soldier to infiltrate the Russian Bratva and uncover the truth about her family's massacre four years ago. Her mission becomes complicated when she falls for Kirill, a ruthless Bratva leader whose father may be responsible for destroying her family. The novel explores themes of revenge, forbidden love, deception, and the impossibility of trust in a brutal underworld where lies become reality.
Who should read Lies of My Monster?
Lies of My Monster is ideal for readers who enjoy dark mafia romance with morally grey anti-heroes and high-stakes plots. This book appeals to fans of Rina Kent's signature style featuring unapologetic villains, intense relationships, and emotionally complex characters you shouldn't fall for but inevitably do. It's perfect for those who appreciate enemies-to-lovers dynamics, revenge storylines, and romances laced with darkness, angst, and unhealthy intensity. However, readers should note this is the second book in a trilogy and cannot be read as a standalone.
Is Lies of My Monster worth reading?
Lies of My Monster is worth reading for fans of dark romance who crave emotionally intense storytelling and unexpected plot twists. Rina Kent, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, delivers her signature blend of morally complex characters and high-stakes drama. The book features a shocking cliffhanger ending involving secret marriages, betrayals, and explosive revelations that leave readers emotionally devastated. While it requires reading the first book in the Monster Trilogy, the payoff comes through Kent's masterful handling of forbidden romance and intricate mafia politics.
Who is Rina Kent and what is her writing style?
Rina Kent is a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 bestselling author specializing in dark romance with unapologetic anti-heroes and villains. She's known for creating the expansive "Rinaverse" and weaving tales of morally grey characters readers shouldn't fall for but inevitably do. Kent's writing style features darkness, angst, and unhealthy intensity, with stories that explore the fierce women brave enough to love monsters. Originally from an academic medical research background, she now lives in London and is a highly disciplined method writer who becomes completely consumed by each project.
Can Lies of My Monster be read as a standalone?
Lies of My Monster cannot be read as a standalone and must be read as part of the Monster Trilogy. This is the second book in the series, and the complex plot involving Sasha's disguised identity, her family's massacre, and her relationship with Kirill builds directly on events from the first book. The story ends on a major cliffhanger with revelations about secret marriages, betrayals, and explosions that require resolution in the third book. Readers should start with book one to fully understand the characters' backgrounds, motivations, and the intricate web of lies surrounding the Bratva world.
What is the relationship between Kirill and Sasha in Lies of My Monster?
Kirill and Sasha share an intense, forbidden romance complicated by deception and conflicting loyalties in Lies of My Monster. Sasha works as Kirill's bodyguard while disguised as a male soldier named Aleksander, hiding her true identity and mission to avenge her family. Despite their growing distrust after events in Russia, they find it impossible to stay away from each other. Their relationship culminates in a secret marriage where Kirill shows unprecedented emotion, planning for Sasha to hide for six months before they can be together openly. However, the relationship faces devastating challenges when shocking betrayals are revealed.
What are the main themes in Lies of My Monster by Rina Kent?
Lies of My Monster explores the destructive nature of deception, where lies overflow until they become reality in the brutal Bratva world. Major themes include the impossibility of trust in relationships built on secrets, the consuming nature of revenge, and the moral ambiguity of loving someone who may have destroyed your family. The novel examines forbidden love that's "mad, chaotic, and wrong," questioning whether such relationships can survive when blood payment is required. Additional themes include identity concealment, loyalty versus personal vendetta, and the psychological toll of living multiple lives while seeking justice.
Does Lies of My Monster have a cliffhanger ending?
Lies of My Monster ends with a devastating cliffhanger that leaves readers emotionally shattered. After Kirill and Sasha secretly marry and he sends her to a safe cabin, her quiet guard Yuri reveals himself as Anton—her long-lost brother. He shows Sasha photos of Kirill marrying Kristina at a famous Bratva church and claims their marriage was fake, that Kirill discovered her true identity and plans to kill her because he was involved in her family's massacre. The book concludes with an explosion at the church, leaving readers uncertain about what's real and desperate for the trilogy's final installment.
What is Sasha's secret identity in Lies of My Monster?
Sasha has been living as a male soldier named Aleksander for four years following the massacre of her extended family. She disguised herself as a man to join the military and eventually infiltrate the Russian Bratva in the United States as one of Kirill's bodyguards. Only her grandmother, uncle Albert, and cousin Mike knew her true identity initially, while her brother Anton was believed dead. Her disguise allows her to investigate who ordered her family's slaughter, with suspicions pointing to Kirill's father. Viktor, Kirill's loyal guard, only discovers Sasha is a woman when he witnesses their secret wedding.
How dark is Lies of My Monster by Rina Kent?
Lies of My Monster is extremely dark, featuring Rina Kent's signature "unapologetic" approach to anti-heroes and morally grey characters. The novel contains mature themes including violence, family massacres, psychological manipulation, forced confinement (Kirill traps Sasha in a basement safe room), and complex power dynamics in an organized crime setting. True to Kent's style, the romance is intense and unhealthy, with characters who act as "monsters" readers shouldn't love but do. The story includes graphic content, betrayal, and brutal Bratva politics where blood payment is expected. Readers should approach expecting disturbing content typical of dark mafia romance.
What is the Monster Trilogy reading order by Rina Kent?
The Monster Trilogy by Rina Kent must be read in order: book one (title not specified in search results), Lies of My Monster as book two, and the concluding third book. This series cannot be read out of sequence because Lies of My Monster builds directly on the first book's events and ends on a major cliffhanger requiring resolution. The trilogy follows Sasha and Kirill's dark romance within the Russian Bratva world, with each installment revealing new layers of deception about her family's massacre and their complicated relationship. Reading order is essential to understand character development, hidden identities, and the intricate plot involving revenge and forbidden love.
What happens during the secret marriage in Lies of My Monster?
Kirill orchestrates a secret marriage with Sasha after she admits wishing she could be his wife publicly. He arrives at the basement safe room where he's been keeping her confined, bringing a wedding dress, lingerie, makeup, and two custom rings engraved with "Kirill's" and "Sasha's". Viktor serves as their witness, discovering for the first time that Sasha is a woman. During his perspective, Kirill experiences unprecedented joy, even suggesting taking selfies to capture the moment—behavior completely out of character for this ruthless Bratva leader. He plans for Sasha to hide at his cabin for six months before returning as Aleksander's "twin sister."