American King (American Queen Book 3)
When I went to war, I was taught to never leave a soldier behind. But he left me first.
Twice I have had the honor of running for the presidency of the United States of America. Once with my best friend and lover by my side. And the second time opposing him.
I have no one to blame but myself.
They say that every tragic hero has a fatal flaw, a secret sin--a tiny stitch sewn into their future since birth. And here I am. My sins are no longer secret. My flaws have never been more fatal. And I've never been closer to tragedy than I am now.
I am a man who loves, a man whose love demands much in return, burning through the ones I care for until they have nothing left. I am a king, a king who was foolish enough to build a kingdom on the bones of the past. Foolish enough to think that this time could be different. Love was always the end of our story--mine, and Embry's, and Greer's.
But it might be the end of us, too.
Long live the king.
American King is the third and final book in the New Camelot Trilogy.
Reviews (181)
Emotionally Destroyed
This book absolutely destroyed me. I'm done. I am so emotionally drained and wrung out, I feel like I'm in my own little bit of subspace. I'm usually fairly adept at discerning the way a story will conclude, based on years of obsessive book reading and subtle context clues. This one? This ending threw me up against the wall and left me shaking, rocking and crying in the corner. I can honestly tell you I haven't read something this amazing, and frustrating, and just absolutely perfect in a long time. I laughed, I cried, I full on ugly sobbed...and then I cried some more. The take on the arthurian legend was the best modern day spin we'll ever see. It was messy, and it was broken, and it was devastating, and it was perfect. Usually love triangles get tedious and I develop a certain amount of apathy for the characters or the story. Not the case here, my friend, let me tell you. All three books keep you invested, and curious, and all out craving. I am so relieved, so torn, and so wrecked with finishing this trilogy. I want more, I want to know more, and yet, the author has left us with a perfect ending. A neat little bow tying up all the angst, love, and passion of this 20 year journey. This book isn't for everyone, least of all the faint of heart. But if you have an open mind, maybe even a little bit of a sick mind like mine, or a healthy curiosity, you won't be sorry. Just be prepared for a daunting book hangover in the best way possible...and maybe even the need for some aftercare.
Disappointed in the Ending
FINAL DECISION: I love the characters in this book and the crazy stuff that gets worked out, but honestly, I felt the series went down since the first book in the series. The ending was too contrived and completely without any possibility of reality that I felt a letdown for the entire series. THE STORY: This book continues the story of Ash, Embry and Greer. As the book begins, Embry has broken from the trio as he has unwillingly impregnated Greer's evil cousin and has decided that Ash is not doing enough to protect Greer. Embry intends to run against Ash for president. This book, as might be expected, focuses on Ash's view of the events. OPINION: There was so much I loved about this book, but the ending was not among them. There is something really crazy and beautiful about this series just going for the most salacious romance -- the President, Vice-President and the First Lady. There are so many mixes and measures that I couldn't wait to see what incredible plot twist was next. The whole thing just felt so unreal and big. Using the mythology of King Arthur as the basis for the story allows this story to have its own mythic quality. Yes, the story is unreal on almost every page, but I loved that the spirit of the story embraced all the crazy plot twists that felt like a modern erotic soap opera. This book begins to unwind all the plots that were introduced in the first two books. Mostly, I enjoyed the possibilities. I also have always liked how this book uses love and passion and lust and jealousy and guilt in bigger than life ways. But the ending just disappointed me. Too small, too neat, too implausible. I expected everything to be blown wide open, but instead, the book ends in secrets and hiding. I just felt disappointed and once that happened, all the veneers of big drama just fell apart. Instead, I just kept asking questions about how things would actually work in reality and the entirety of the relationships just fell apart for me. Perhaps one day I will re-read this crazy adventure and see it differently, but I was sad that today I couldn't walk away excited about the entire journey. WORTH MENTIONING: I recommend this series because I think that people's reaction to the ending will be personal and doesn't diminish the wonderful crazy series. CONNECTED BOOKS: AMERICAN KING is the third and final book in the New Camelot Trilogy. These books are meant to be read together in order. STAR RATING I give this book 4 stars.
10 Beautifully-Sensical-Though-It-Shouldn’t-Be Stars!
Can I give this book, or rather this entire series, 10 stars? I would if I could. And it’s not about the kink for me. The story itself was so raw and beautiful that my heart felt like it grew while reading this. Embry’s ordeal and what he had to live through in this book really hurt. He changed a lot from who he once was, becoming a stronger, yet seemingly broken man. He was different than what we know of him in his youth. Greer took somewhat of a backseat in this book. We mostly see her through the eyes of Ash and Embry. However, her one chapter had me in tears and breaking out in watery smiles. It was so heartbreaking and so beautifully romantic. Ash was the dominating (pun intended) POV in this book … finally! I love how his life paralleled the legendary King Arthur in a modern twist. It stood out a lot more in this book than the previous ones because of certain notable scenes. He was a lot more complicated than seen in the previous two books. I loved being in his mind and seeing how he worked things out, how he figured himself out. I know about the King Arthur stories, but I don’t know how I know. Just one of those strange things. I have glimpses of scenes in my head, yet I don’t know if they are from my own imagination from reading about it long ago—and I’m talking before the age of ten—or if I saw a movie sometime (I’m currently looking for older movies that could portray what I see in my head). Regardless, this book brought forth all the information previously burrowed in the recesses of my mind and has once again piqued my interest in Arthurian tales. I can’t say enough about how much I absolutely adore this story. How Simone can beautifully and purely justify a triad. It never made sense to me how three people can have one relationship, but the way she created it … perfection. Absolute, heart-swelling, most romantic thing I have ever read perfection. And as soon as I finished the book, I wanted to start the story all over again immediately.
King of Pain ... and Love
This, dear readers, is a book you must savor. I know that you are anxious to get through it because you want to know what happens. Will Ash and Embry repair their fractured relationship? Will Greer bear a child? Will Embry marry Abilene? Will Embry and Morgan defeat Ash in a presidential election? And what of Lyr? Are the Carpathians the threat Embry believes them to be? You will get your answers. But you do not want to race through Sierra Simone's chapters in a rush. You want to take your time and immerse yourself in the story she tells. You need to sink into Simone's words and parse the importance of such lines as: "The most important part of wearing a crown and using a sword is knowing when to set them down" and "... I'd grown around this empty space, keeping something clear and untouched without even really knowing why I was holding a door open to a room I didn't know I had, keeping a hidden garden free of weeds, sheltering a hollow meant for someone or something I couldn't yet see" and "I don't have to worry about right and wrong, strong and weak, protective and reckless, because she will worry about it for me" and "No man can keep the whole world forever, after all. Which is why it's better to burn it down before it slips away." This is Ash's story to tell. He answers your questions, and you will love him more than you already do. He is a man who lives very much in his mind even as he fights wars and leads a country. He's a thinker and a feeler, intuitively knowing what the people he loves need. Greer is a golden orb of love, desiring only to give her love. And then there is Embry, the impulsive, knee-jerk respondent who often reacts before he thinks. When the three of them are together, they realize that each of them completes the others. As Ash shows us, though, while the head that wears the crown may be heavy, the head of the next in line can feel just as heavy, if not heavier. Ash must contend with his role in Embry's departure, just as Embry must accept his weaknesses. It's compelling to read. It's also occasionally heartbreaking. Be prepared to weep as Simone breaks you, but also trust that she will put you back together. Sierra Simone fans know to expect some scorching hot sexy times, and this book does not disappoint in the least. There is a LOT of sex, but not one moment feels gratuitous or prurient. These intimate scenes are transformative. They illuminate relationships and characters and themes. She uses sex as a means to bring you closer to her characters, just as they grow closer to each other. Arthurian legend fans will rejoice over the allusions, but Simone doesn't stop there. She has one particularly poignant reference to The Lady of Shallot, something that will resound with you. I continually found myself admiring how she incorporates literary allusions into her story. This book is a beautiful conclusion to the trilogy. Beautiful, romantic, tragic, anguishing, and resoundingly erotic. I loved every word.
I had to know Ash's part of the story and it is so so so so so so GOOD!
"I pulled a sword from a stone when I was twelve years old." Ash has been this strong, powerful, mysterious soul that had intrigued me so much I could not wait to get my grabby hands on this book! I had to know his part of the story. Ash's point of view is a roller coaster and seeing how his character evolved from being an abandoned young boy to becoming President is just phenomenal in itself. I know this story is fiction, but the New Camelot trilogy is so much more! "I want to know my live wasn't in vain." Throughout reading this series and especially during American King, I kept wanting to choose Greer & Ash, Ash & Embry, Embry & Greer BUT Sierra just makes you fall in love with this THREE that there is no jealousy no hard wishes on any of this tri - that you want their relationship to flourish and have that Happily Ever After. This series is so magical spinning from King Arthur's legend and being a HOT and STEAMY modern love story, there just is NOT anything else like it! I hope that you take the time with Ash in this book, don't rush it absorb the poetic words and stay with this book. My emotions are still all over the place form this book and I can't wait for the audiobook to experience it all over again! Sierra Simone is a FANTASTIC AMAZING writer! I can't get enough of her books and they are ALWAYS steamy, delicious, with the heaviest book hangover you can imagine! After reading American King I really should start reading my next book commitment, but it feels like cheating on Greer, Ash, & Embry that I don't want to leave this world right now. Long live the KING!
Great character development
4-4.5 stars I was all prepared to give this book 5 stars until the ending. I just don't think I like the ending. I sat on reviewing this for a few days to make sure I wasn't having a knee jerk reaction and I still feel the same. I can't talk about the ending because it would be hugely spoilerish, but it seemed rushed, improbable, and convenient to me....tie that in with the truth about Merlin and I was just like ugh, I don't like that direction, but that's just me! However, can I tell you how fantastic Sierra Simone is at character writing? These characters were written so well. The dialogue between them...I hung on every word practically. So much so that the sex started to bore me. I can't believe I'm saying that but I could have done with less and just more story and more interactions between them because it was so well done. 74% pretty much cracked my heart open in my chest, it was so well written. I'm at the point where I feel like I'll pretty much read anything this author writes. I just really enjoy her writing as a whole. So while the ending wasn't for me I still enjoyed the series. #EmbryIsStillMyFavorite
Best read of 2017
I don’t think there is a place to start, or finish, with the impact of this trilogy, and these books cannot be reviewed individually (IMO). It was, quite simply, sensational. It floods you with emotion – love, hate, shame, joy, devastation, elation – it’s all there. Greer, Embry and Ash are worlds away from and other characters I’ve encountered, their story is in a category all its own, although unnamed. It is dark. It is sexual. It is mystical. It is captivating in a way that very few romance reads (any read!) can achieve. My reaction to it was primal, raw and makes my heart race simply thinking back on it. Flashes of scenes still wash over me when I least expect them, and I never want that to end. I love all kinds of romance, all kinds of stories, but the New Camelot Trilogy is unique in its depth and groundbreaking in its reach. It’s a love story. It involves 3 people. It is not a love triangle. It is not for everyone, but it should be read by anyone serious about great story telling. Thank you Sierra Simone for making this happen.
Bring the tissues, for this fantastic finale!
First off, you most definitely need to read the previous two books in the series prior to reading this one. (American Queen and American Prince.) These three characters are EVERYTHING! While each book alternates in POVs, each one centers around one character: Queen= Greer; Prince= Embry and King= Ash. The first two books build up their story, their love and it all leads up to this explosive finale. This book will totally wreck you. Such an intense love these characters have for each other, even if it is in an unconventional way. The things they are willing to do for one another. It is M/M/F and has some very explicit and graphic sex scenes (certainly meant for mature readers.) Unlike many other erotic novels, the sex in this one isn't just about the act or pleasure itself. Each scene had a meaning (or purpose) to the characters. Those moments told a lot about their stories and the characters themselves. There is really so much greatest in this book (well, the entire series.) 5 stars does not do it justice. It's written beautifully. This book was a little longer than the others... close to 500 pages. It has a bit of fantasy tossed in (though you don't see it until near the later part of the book.) This book will break you. Consider yourself warned. ;)
Sierra Simone writes a completely beautiful tale that encompasses the legends of King Arthur along ...
American King by Sierra Simone concludes the New Camelot trilogy. If you haven’t read the previous books, American Queen and American Prince, PLEASE do that before reading this book as this book really does tie everything together. Sierra Simone writes a completely beautiful tale that encompasses the legends of King Arthur along with a searing modern day love story. It is NOT your mama’s Harlequin love story. Love comes in so many different shapes and sizes but all these different configurations of love have one thing in common-passion. The passion that Ash has for Greer and Embry is palpable. You can feel every single inch of it through Sierra’s words. The gift she has for truly pulling us into the story is absolutely amazing. It is poetry, it is rhythm, it is music, it is the sun and the moon. She has a gift for putting together words that will REALLY bring you to your knees. If these words don't just suck you in and make you feel the anguish, nothing will. "How do they not hear the trickle of my heart’s blood dripping out of my chest, how do they not see the scooped-out pain in my eyes, how can they not hear every desperate plea and every rasping sob I’ve let out in the last twenty-four hours?" Ash is the King! Those who have read AQ and AP know this. He is the man in control. He is the one with the charisma to have a whole world listen to what he says. But to Greer and Embry, he is just the man they love….the one they have no choice to submit to because that is what their hearts want. When a man like Ash loves, he loves with his mind, body, heart and soul. He loves beyond measure and you want to be the one wrapped up in his love. Is this conventional? Absolutely not, but it is real. What these three have gone through, and will go through in order to live their truths and their love is a story worth reading. The tears I cried were real, pouring down my face. The laughter that bubbled out of me was absolutely out loud and perhaps unwarranted ( you know those, I’m not sure what to do so I’ll laugh things). If I had the ability, I would absolutely want to read all the New Camelot trilogy from the beginning and I recommend it to all my friends because I want to relive the beauty of this story through their eyes and hearts. Sierra Simone is the queen and I bow to her (or is it curtsy) amazing beautiful words. This deserves 10 stars...it is just that good!!
One Heart. One Life.
I have been eagerly awaiting this book and after the ending of American Prince, I couldn't wait to see how it all would end. This book and series were better than I could have ever imagined. American King is book 3 in the New Camelot series and is not a standalone. It should only be read after enjoying the previous 2 books, American Queen and American Prince. Each book in this series has had my emotions all over the place. One minute I am smiling and filled with joy and the next, I am crying and clutching my chest so my heart doesn't fall out and shatter. There is love, jealousy, mystery, heartache, angst, tension, political drama, and don't even get me started on the heat. In true Sierra fashion, this book is nuclear hot and I am still shocked that my kindle didn't catch on fire. Whether it was Ash and Greer, Embry and Ash, Greer and Embry, or all three of them together, the result was always the same - sizzling, scalding, don't look directly at the sun HOT. I found this book to be the most introspective and intense of the trilogy. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what curve ball would be next, but at the same time I wanted to savor every moment. It tied together so many different memories and events throughout the series, binding them all so tightly and irrevocably that they all wove together seamlessly. There were times I would have to reread passages because there was so much depth and raw emotion spilling out on the page. The writing was stellar (as always) and every word had purpose. It was all so much and yet because I have grown to love these characters so profoundly, it was also not enough. I will always want more. More Ash. More Embry. More Greer. This series pushed me out of my normal comfort zone and challenged me to look at things with new eyes and I am forever grateful to Sierra Simone for that gift. Her twist on the classic story of King Arthur was brilliant and I definitely appreciated the Afterword which gave us insight into this stunning new fairy tale. This series is not to be missed!
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