Taken by the Horde King by Zoey Draven

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To save Dakkar, she must lure him to his deadly prison. Instead, she finds herself wearing his chains…

As a fatal curse continues to spread over the planet of Dakkar, I make a deal with an alien witch who claims she can stop it.

Her price?

The heart of a horde king.

Only the horde king in question is the fiercest male I’ve ever seen, with glowing demon eyes, a god-like body crafted in battle, and a cold, cruel grin that promises destruction.

Yet when I offer myself to him, all under the premise of luring him back to the witch, his touch sets my blood on fire. His dizzying kiss makes the world spin. Instead of fear, I feel hot and unwanted desire, awakening instincts that tell me I’m his.

When he discovers my ultimate betrayal, the enraged horde king vows he will take me as his prize, that I will wear his chains, and that I will serve him in whatever way he wishes.

And as the dangers on Dakkar loom, I find myself craving my wicked, wicked ruin…all at the hands of a horde king I should’ve never crossed.

Taken by the Horde King

A Captivating Enemies-to-Lovers Adventure

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💚💛
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😉😎😛😟
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration

Character Backgrounds and Plot Summary

Taken by the Horde King centers on Mina and Rowin, two characters caught in the middle of the growing crisis threatening Dakkar. Mina is a human woman willing to make impossible choices for the greater good. Desperate to stop a deadly curse spreading across the planet, she strikes a bargain with a mysterious witch who promises a solution. The cost is the heart of a Horde King. Mina’s mission requires her to deceive Rowin, a feared and powerful Horde King known for his intimidating presence, glowing eyes, and ruthless reputation.

Rowin initially appears cold, dangerous, and nearly impossible to trust. However, beneath his brutal exterior is a leader carrying immense responsibility and personal burdens. Mina’s attraction to him develops long before she intends it to, making her betrayal increasingly difficult. When Rowin discovers she has manipulated him, the fallout is explosive. Their relationship becomes a tense battle of anger, desire, guilt, and reluctant trust.

What makes this story stand out is how the romance develops during captivity and betrayal. Mina knows she has wronged Rowin, yet Rowin’s response is fueled as much by hurt as by rage. Their journey unfolds against a backdrop of political unrest, ancient magic, and the looming threat to the future of Dakkar.

Highlights and Limitations

One of the novels greatest strengths is the enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Mina’s deception creates genuine consequences rather than a simple misunderstanding. Rowin’s anger feels earned, and the emotional tension between them remains strong throughout much of the story. Several scenes succeed because neither character is willing to surrender emotionally, even when their physical attraction becomes impossible to ignore.

Rowin is particularly memorable among the Horde Kings because he leans into the darker, more morally gray aspects of the series. His possessiveness and cruelty after discovering Mina’s betrayal could easily have become one-dimensional, but Draven balances those traits with moments that reveal his vulnerability and sense of duty.

The ongoing curse storyline also adds weight to the romance. Unlike some installments where the external conflict fades into the background, the fate of Dakkar remains important and helps drive the plot forward.

The biggest limitation is pacing. The middle portion occasionally feels repetitive as Mina and Rowin cycle through similar emotional conflicts. Some readers may also find Mina’s attraction to Rowin develops a bit too quickly considering the danger he represents. While their chemistry is undeniable, there are moments when emotional progression takes a back seat to physical tension.

Narration

Lia Langola and Aaron Shedlock continue to be an excellent pairing for the Horde Kings series. Langola captures Mina’s determination, guilt, and growing emotional turmoil effectively. She gives Mina enough strength that the character never feels passive, even when trapped in difficult circumstances.

Aaron Shedlock is especially impressive as Rowin. His deep, commanding delivery reinforces Rowin’s intimidating presence while still allowing softer emotions to emerge during key scenes. He excels during the confrontational exchanges, where anger, frustration, and desire often collide in the same conversation.

Together, the narrators elevate the emotional intensity of the story. Their performances help sell both the romance and the larger stakes surrounding the curse threatening Dakkar.

Final Opinion

Taken by the Horde King is one of the darker and more emotionally charged entries in the Horde Kings of Dakkar series. The combination of betrayal, captivity, political intrigue, and intense attraction creates a compelling romance that rarely lacks tension. Mina and Rowin are flawed characters who hurt each other in meaningful ways, which makes their eventual connection feel earned rather than inevitable.

While the middle section occasionally drags and some emotional beats repeat themselves, the strong character work, high stakes, and excellent narration make this audiobook highly enjoyable. Fans of possessive alien heroes, enemies-to-lovers romance, and emotionally messy relationships will likely find Mina and Rowin’s story one of the most memorable in the series.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|BookBub



View all my reviews