The Lost Kings (The Royals of Rake Forge Book 1)
By Ashley Munoz
From the creator of the bestselling Stone Riders series comes an all-new romantic suspense described as "John Wick meets The Summer I turned Pretty," with an angsty love triangle between twin brothers.
I was always told people grew roots where they were planted.
But mine developed between the hearts of two brothers.
For as long as I could remember, they were my protectors, living on the opposite end of the manor.
It was when I turned eight that I realized the truth. The twins were never supposed to protect me. It was the other way around and I would grow up to be the one that kept our family safe.
As time went on, they were forced to watch while I was broken and reshaped into the weapon needed to break us free from the cage our family had been forced into.
I always assumed the twins understood.
But when I became old enough to accept my fate, they slapped it away and tried to show me a different choice.
Even with my heart in their hands, I tried to make them see that there was no other path for me to walk.
They left, abandoning the family and destroying those roots that had kept us together.
Without them, we were forced to align with a powerful enemy.
But the twins returned when it was discovered how close I became with our rival.
I assumed it was to reclaim my heart, but it was to declare war.
We stood on opposite sides, but somewhere in the middle was my broken heart, still held between two lost kings.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In The Lost Kings, Ashley Muñoz returns to her Rake Forge universe with a gripping, emotionally charged trilogy opener. The story centers on Presley, who was raised with twin brothers — Gio and Kingston — by a family full of secrets, power, and danger.
Presley’s childhood was defined by protection and sacrifice; she was molded into a weapon, not a victim, and her bond with the twins is deep, complicated, and rooted in years of shared history.
The novel weaves between past and present timelines and uses multiple POVs (Presley, Gio, Kingston), giving readers a rich, layered understanding of how their childhood shaped who they are now — and how their secrets threaten to tear them apart.
The romance is intense and forbidden: Presley, the twins, and the love triangle between them create constant tension, made even more dangerous by their mafia-family background.
One of the strongest elements is the found-family feel, paired with real stakes. Presley isn’t just caught in a love triangle — she’s fighting for her identity, her legacy, and her freedom. Meanwhile, Gio and Kingston are fiercely protective, and their loyalty (and rivalry) toward each other and Presley adds emotional weight and complexity.
The writing balances gritty danger with tender, heartfelt moments, making the world feel real and the characters’ pain and passion deeply felt.
The Lost Kings is a stellar start to Muñoz’s Royals of Rake Forge series. If you love dark, high-stakes romance — especially with mafia dynamics, twin brothers, and a heroine who’s more than she appears — this book will pull you in and hold you tight.
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