Description

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In this gripping follow-up to The Reluctant King, the "Monarchy" of New York City's Five Points is in total disarray, giving way to a bloody battle for the crown

AFTER THE ARREST OF CHANCELLOR KING and the murder of his eldest son and heir, Ghost, the King family and the streets of New York City are thrown into chaos. The throne of Five Points is without a sitting king for the first time since its inception. The vacancy doesn't last long, however, as Chancellor's older brother, Chapman, takes the opportunity to usurp the crown, breaking the line of succession and stepping over his nephew Shadow. Chapman's first act as the new king is to banish what remains of his broken family, branding them enemies of the crown.

The coronation of a new king promises to bring back balance to the Monarchy, but there are some who question Chapman's claim to the throne and refuse to kneel to before a "false king." What follows is a war between different factions of the Monarchy, each with its own agenda, and the crown of Five Points as the prize.

Stripped of all wealth and power, Maureen King and her son Shadow are forced to vacate their family estate and end up back where it all began for them: the slums of Brooklyn. Maureen refuses to sit idle while her brother-in-law reaps the spoils of what she and her husband built. In the raging conflict that ensues, Maureen places a seemingly impossible task on the shoulders of Shadow—to reclaim what was stolen from their family and take back the crown.

About the Author

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K'WAN has become one of the most beloved, iconic Black writers of the last two decades with his artful, suspenseful storytelling and over a million books in print. He has penned more than two dozen best-selling novels, including the widely popular Animal series, as well as The Reluctant King and Black Lotus. K'wan's writing has been featured in Vibe, Pages, King, Library Journal, Entertainment Weekly, and Time, to name a few. He was the recipient of the Street Lit Book Award Medal in adult fiction in 2012 and 2013 for Eviction Notice and Animal, and has been a recurring guest on TV One's Celebrity Crime Files.

Praise For…

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In the sequel to The Reluctant King, Maureen, former matriarch of Manhattan’s King crime family, hatches a plan to claw her way back to power after being banished to Brooklyn with her son.

— Publishers Weekly

K'wan is exceptionally gifted at ratcheting up suspense . . . There's no denying the writer's talent for dark, gritty fiction. It's a page-turner.
— Kirkus Reviews, on The Reluctant King

New York city council member Chancellor King and his socialite wife are regarded as modern-day royalty, but King's ambition to rise in the political world is threatened by an unambitious son and some dark family secrets.
— Publishers Weekly, on The Reluctant King

Just when you think you know how this story is going to end, K'wan hits you with one of his infamous curveballs that will stop you in your tracks. The Reluctant King by K'wan is an enjoyable start to this new series and will make you anticipate the second installment.
— Urban Reviews, on The Reluctant King