Ana Huang’s writing often makes her fans greedy for more. With King of Greed, the third book in Huang’s steamy and romantic “Kings of Sin” series, Huang shows that her writing isn’t just the subject of greed, but can render greed and its consequences exceptionally well.
Each installment of the “Kings of Sin” series employs one of the seven deadly sins in every billionaire love interest. King of Greed follows a couple who readers will be familiar with from King of Wrath and King of Pride: Alessandra Davenport, the neglected wife, and Dominic Davenport, the ambitious Wall Street leader whose skewed priorities surrounding work-life balance have pushed his wife away.
King of Greed takes place when, unbeknownst to Dominic, the marriage between Alessandra and Dominic has already deteriorated, and Alessandra is seriously considering calling it quits. Dominic, an underdog who clawed his way to becoming the “King of Wall Street,” is obsessed with his work to a point where he’s sacrificed spending actual time with his wife. Huang includes Jennifer Lopez’s 2001 song “Love Don’t Cost a Thing” — about craving emotional affection more than material wealth — on her “King of Greed” playlist, and it aptly describes the situation Alessandra finds herself in.
After Dominic misses the DC trip Alessandra planned for their 10th wedding anniversary because of his career, Alessandra decides she’s had enough and requests a divorce. The divorce papers shock Dominic out of his work-induced stupor, and he realizes just how much his wife means to him. At one point, Dominic’s numerous attempts to win Alessandra back include even a voyage to Brazil. He also encounters the return of his foster brother, Roman, who resents Dominic for his success and seems to have something up his sleeve.
It’s not easy to convey a full sense of a couple’s past relationship when the story starts after it’s already in shambles. To her credit, Huang includes plenty of flashbacks from Alessandra and Dominic’s past, including their first meeting and the intimate relationship they had with one another. These well-incorporated snippets heighten the stakes, since they show exactly just what Alessandra has lost since Dominic’s rise to the top.
King of Greed channels the angst from the get-go with Alessandra’s brokenness at her husband’s constant absence and dismissiveness. That entry point into their relationship is the most emotionally afflicting, but it does feel like it tapers off rather abruptly once Dominic decides to win his wife back. The transition is sudden; where Huang could benefit from showing more angst, she relies on Dominic narrating his internal thoughts about wanting to show up more for his wife. If readers had gotten a more visceral sense of how Dominic had failed to show up for his wife on more than one occasion, then the writing would have felt more impactful rather than explanatory.
That aside, Huang promised groveling, and the groveling is immensely satisfying given all that Huang has already set up with the marriage. Dominic only recognizes how important Alessandra is to him after he’s faced with the threat of her leaving. His attempts to bring in past aspects of their relationship to make up for it form the brunt of the novel, and Huang puts a lot of thought into each action.
King of Greed is a book that reads so well it’s hard to put down. There’s a natural progression of the romantic storyline that is the central focus, but Dominic’s past with his foster brother also provides commentary on the wealth gap and the insecurities that result from class differences. Dominic suffers from a deep-rooted inferiority complex that he tries to “cure” by earning money, but it makes him lose sight of who he needs. The struggle might feel relatable for some, and makes Dominic an empathetic character and more than just a wealthy and handsome love interest.
Due to the electrifying romantic passion and the fast-paced flow throughout King of Greed, readers will likely devour this book gluttonously. Huang’s style of writing is addictive, and it won’t be any surprise if readers “lust” after her next book with the intensity of a possessive billionaire.
