Review: King of Envy (Kings of Sin #5) by Ana Huang

Plot Summary

He had everything he could’ve wanted…except her.

Dangerous. Powerful. Reclusive.

Vuk Markovic is notorious for shunning human interactions. The scarred billionaire rarely talks, and he has no interest in relationships outside his small but trusted circle.

His only exception? Her . The beauty to his beast, the object of his obsession.

He saw her first. He wanted her first. But now, she’s engaged to his oldest friend—and the closer the wedding looms, the more he’s torn between loyalty and desire.

She should be his…and he might just risk it all to have her.

***

Beautiful. Successful. Glamorous.

To the world, supermodel Ayana Kidane leads the perfect life. Her career has skyrocketed, and she’s engaged to one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.

What people don't know is that the engagement is only a business arrangement. He gets his inheritance when they marry; she gets the money she needs to leave her abusive agency.

Pretending to be in love should be easy—until she finds herself increasingly drawn to her fiancé’s enigmatic best man.

Vuk thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. She knows she should stay away, but when her wedding is thrown into chaos, he’s the only person she finds comfort in…

Until his past catches up with them and threatens everything they love.

My Review

Rating: ★★★☆ ☆(3/5)

Ana Huang’s King of Envy, the fifth installment in the Kings of Sin series, is a sensual, emotionally charged story of forbidden longing and unspoken connection. Set in a world of power, image, and quiet vulnerability, it weaves a slow-burning romance that simmers with tension and heart.

The novel follows Vuk Markovic, a reclusive billionaire known for his intimidating presence, emotional distance, and the scars—both physical and emotional—that have shaped his life. He’s built his world around control and isolation, avoiding attachments at all costs. The only exception? Ayana Kidane—a strikingly beautiful and successful supermodel who seems to have it all.

To the public eye, Ayana is living the dream: engaged to a wealthy heir, her career soaring, her life seemingly flawless. But behind the glamorous façade lies a strategic arrangement—her engagement is a business deal, a means to secure the freedom she desperately needs from a manipulative modeling agency. Love was never meant to be part of the equation. And certainly not with her fiancé’s best man.

From their very first encounter, Vuk and Ayana share an unspoken bond—a tension that neither can ignore. Their romance unfolds quietly and gradually, marked by lingering stares, hushed conversations, and an emotional pull that neither of them expected. Ana Huang excels in capturing the kind of love that brews beneath the surface—one built on empathy, unspoken understanding, and the slow unraveling of two guarded souls.

Vuk, who has spent most of his life pushing people away, finds himself drawn to Ayana’s strength, her resilience, and the softness she hides behind her public image. In turn, Ayana is disarmed by Vuk’s quiet protectiveness and the deep sense of safety she feels in his presence. Their chemistry is undeniable, but it’s the emotional connection—the trust, the healing, the shared vulnerability—that truly anchors their relationship.

In the end, King of Envy is not just a story about forbidden love—it’s about two people learning to let their walls down and choose something real in a world built on appearances. With its slow-burn romance and moments of unexpected tenderness, this is a compelling addition to the series for readers who crave intensity wrapped in quiet emotion.