ARC Review of 'TO DEAL WITH KINGS' by M. K. Lobb

To Deal With Kings by M.K. Lobb closes out the duology with a dark, high-stakes game of control, where every character is one wrong move away from losing everything.

Set in a fractured, magical London, the story picks up right after the chaos of the first book and doesn’t waste time settling in. Zaria is caught in a dangerous web tied to her past, Kane is holding onto power in Devil’s Acre, and Fletcher and Jules are trying to keep themselves and each other intact as things spiral. The introduction of the Curator adds a strong sense of pressure, pushing the group into uneasy alliances and forcing trust where it doesn’t come naturally.

Where the book really stands out is in its characters. Everyone feels a little more worn down, a little more aware of their limits. Kane, in particular, is interesting to watch as he slowly realizes control isn’t something he can always maintain. Zaria’s arc also lands well, especially in how she begins to let go of carrying everything on her own. And while the romance may not fully hit all the time, the friendships especially between Jules, Zaria, Fletcher, and Kane carry a lot of emotional weight and feel far more grounded.

The pacing is quick and keeps you engaged, especially with the constant back-and-forth between schemes, betrayals, and shifting loyalties. Even when certain twists feel a bit predictable or the final stretch doesn’t hit as hard as it could have, the overall journey is still compelling enough to keep you invested the entire way through.

In the end, this is a duology that thrives on its atmosphere, its messy characters, and its morally grey choices. It may not reach every bit of its potential, but it’s still an entertaining and satisfying ride that’s hard to put down and even harder to fully let go of once it’s over.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-ARC!

ISBN: 9780316575515

Pub Date: March 24, 2026