June 25, 2026
"Brutal Heir" by Eden O'Neill
BLURB
Never trust a campus god.
Knight Reed is a devil heir with a chip on his shoulder. The arrogant a-hole I love to hate.
His name may be Knight, but that armor is black as coal. He’s a beautiful god with a wicked heart. I know because my mom used to work for his family. An act of brutal violence in the woods and he gets my mom fired, ultimately leaving us homeless. That was the last time I saw him face-to-face.
At least, until recently.
He’s frat boy royalty at my new university, a campus god amongst the rich and elite. There’s little interest in a freshman like me.
But then I cross him, putting an end to me being invisible here in his world.
At a party, I see something I shouldn’t have seen. Now, suddenly, the campus god has me tackled on a bed with his hand around my throat. He tells me to forget what I witnessed. Do that or the end result will be bad for me. He’s hellbent on crushing my little dove wings and all I see is that cruel boy from the woods that day.
When it comes to Knight, I can’t seem to stay out of his way or keep my trap shut around him, no matter how hard I try. He tells me my little mouth will get me in trouble, but I think he’s wrong.
I’m not afraid what will happen if I spill his secrets. What terrifies me is how badly I want to see what might be beyond all that coal-black armor...
It’s possible that, to some small measure, I’m tempted to give in to the only devil I’ve ever known.
The dark knight himself.
MY OPINION
Eden O’Neill pulled me into her books with the “Court High” series. After finishing December and Royal’s story, I immediately downloaded “Brutal Heir” to my Kindle.
This book is about Knight and Greer.
“Brutal Heir” is a bully romance — exactly as described in the Goodreads blurb. So if you’re not a fan of this trope, stay away from this story. Why? Because Eden O’Neill wrote a very cruel book, and Knight is a full-on bully.
But I liked it.
You can call me sick, but honestly — Knight is a really compelling character. He has everything, thanks to his grandfather and his last name. Like a rich prince… and at the same time, a complete bastard. He is an asshole to Greer, but many of his actions are shaped by his grandfather’s influence.
Also, the main secret in this book is a bit crazy, but I can totally understand why Knight reacted the way he did to what Greer told him.
Greer is a very smart girl who truly cares about the people she loves. Unfortunately, that care doesn’t always have a positive outcome. Most of the time, she is strong when facing Knight, who constantly tries to break her. But when he finally succeeds, she becomes completely lost — like a child in the mist.
The plot of this story is really good. I loved the chemistry and tension between the characters. We also get to see December and Royal again, along with the rest of the group — which is a great touch, because at the end of the day, they’re still friends. We can’t forget where it all started.
I like seeing how other characters are doing, even when I’m reading about someone else.
It feels like a longer epilogue, right?
“Brutal Heir” definitely gives off “Deviant King” by Rina Kent vibes. There is so much hatred between Greer and Knight, but deep down, they both know they would do anything for each other. They are in love — even if they refuse to admit it.
So, like I said at the beginning: if you enjoy bully romance, “Brutal Heir” is a good book for you.
Otherwise… stay away.
For the sake of your peace of mind.