Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
Deception Duet is a spin-off of the Cinderella Trilogy
Series: Deception Duet | A Midnight Dynasty Series
This is a spinoff of the Cinderella Series.
Author: K Webster
# of Books: 2 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Dark, Romance, Erotica, Reverse Harem
Heat Rating: Smokin’ (Kink: Major)
Point of View: First Person, Multiple
Publication Date: January 2022 – March 2022
Source & Format: KoboPlus—eBook
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
The first book in this series, Triple Threat, is actually the entire reason I found out about the Midnight Dynasty Universe. The cover caught my eye when I was browsing Kobo Plus titles and I thought the premise was super unique. I was about 7% into the book when I realized it was linked to another series (Cinderella Trilogy) and that’s when I learned about the Midnight Dynasty Universe. In order to get a better appreciation, I back tracked and read a few of the other series in the universe before I came back to this duet.
The Terror Triplets don’t get a name like that by being warm and fuzzy all the time. They were absolutely brutal to Ash in the Cinderella Trilogy–almost to the point that their scenes made me uncomfortable. But, I’m always up for a redemption story so I was curious to see where this would go.
The Concept – Midnight Dynasty:
The Midnight Dynasty Universe is a collection of books (series and standalones) by different authors but feature the characters from a collective world. They’re intended to be read in any order because each series focuses on two characters at a time, but there are some shared chronological events and character interactions throughout the universe that overlap in the different series.
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–More Romantic Suspense–
This duet reads more as a suspense novel since the boys are playing Landry at the request of their uncle. She doesn’t know that there are three of them so it’s an interesting dynamic to watch unfold.
–Reverse Harem–
I’ve only read a few reverse harem novels over the years. Any harem novel truthfully isn’t a trope I am a fan off. However, the fact that these 3 are triplets makes for an interesting dynamic when feelings start to evolve.
–A Deeper Side to the Terror Triplets–
Due to the shorter page count and the fact that we are getting POVs for 4 different characters, I think the boys could have had some more character development. But I felt like I understood them a little more by the end of this series. So they did get redeemed in my eyes–something I thought I would never say.
You definitely don’t have to read the Cinderella Trilogy to understand what is happening but I think having that experience with these 3 helps enrich your reading experience here.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Borders on Taboo–
Maybe this is a spoiler, but I think it’s important for the reader to know that there are group sex scenes between Landry and the boys. Now the boys don’t partake in any incest but there is something incredibly odd about brothers being in the same room as each other while having sex. I enjoy dark romances but there are certain lines I don’t like to cross. If they were 3 friends or stepbrothers (not blood related) instead, I’d probably feel differently about it but the fact is, they aren’t. So it borders on icky sometimes.
Midnight Dynasty’s Reading Order:
I had found a suggested reading order on Redit but have made some recommendations based on my own readings. Here is the suggested order based on that post and my own readings:
- Cinderella Trilogy (K Webster)
- Starcrossed Lovers (Jade West)
- Beast of Bishop’s Landing (Amelia Wilde)
- Hearts Trilogy (M O’Keefe)
- Wicked Idol (Becker Gray)
- Lessons in Sin (Pam Goodwin)
- Darkest Temptation (Giana Darling)
- Deception Duet (K Webster)
- Reluctant Bride (Monica Murphy)
Series Rating: 4/5
Triple Threat 4/5 | Death Wish 4/5
You need to know what you are going into with this duet. If you enjoy the idea of triplet brother’s claiming one woman as theirs, then this is for you! I think fans of the Midnight Dynasty Universe will love the continued heat and suspense they have come to know from this world of books.
Read if You Like: dark romances
Avoid if You: dislike taboo
- A Hurt so Sweet by Bettie Rosewood (Elite of Eden Falls Prep Series #1)
- Savage Royals by Callie Rose (Boys of Oak Park Prep Series #1)
Synopsis for Triple Threat (from Goodreads):
I’m a prisoner in a prestigious world.
A perfect princess locked in a tower.
My father will never let me go.
Not that I could leave. I would never abandon my little sister. Hope comes in the form of a devilishly handsome man with dark eyes and darker secrets.
With each encounter, I’m lured deeper into the labyrinth. The danger lurking beneath his surface calls to me, even as it warns me away.
Except there’s a new side of him every time we meet. A different danger each time we touch. It’s as if three different men want to devour me.
He’s not just one villain. He’s three.
