So here's the thing everyone told me about American King: it's the emotional gut-punch finale of the New Camelot series, it'll wreck you, you'll ugly-cry, clear your schedule. And I went in braced for that. What I wasn't prepared for was spending 16 hours with a narrator who sounds like he's fighting off a head cold for the first three chapters.
Let me back up.
The Book That Hijacked My Sacred Car Time
I started this one during my 45-minute garage sits — you know, the ones where I pretend I'm "getting my bag" for an unreasonably long time — and within two sessions I realized this is NOT a multitasking book. This is the third book in Sierra Simone's New Camelot trilogy, where the President of the United States is basically King Arthur, and his wife and best friend are Guinevere and Lancelot, and yes, it's exactly as wild and steamy as that sounds. Sixteen hours. Sixteen. That's ambitious for a romance, and honestly there are stretches where you feel every minute of it.
But here's what kept me coming back: Simone writes yearning like it's a competitive sport. The love triangle — or love triad, really — between Ash, Greer, and Embry doesn't resolve the way you'd expect. There's a baby, there's political betrayal, there's an actual assassination attempt. And all of it wrapped in this Arthurian mythology that somehow works even though it should be ridiculous. The moment when Ash finally confronts the question of whether he can love two people without destroying all three of them? I had to sit in the school pickup line with my sunglasses on because my eyes were doing things. The Midnight Library was the last book that wrecked me this completely — also not recommended for public listening unless you enjoy explaining to strangers why you're sobbing in a parking lot.
Made me cry at school pickup. Worth it though.
Two Narrators, One Slightly Congested King
Okay, the dual narration. Stephanie Rose is genuinely excellent — her Greer is sharp and wounded and carries the emotional weight of her chapters beautifully. She shifts between vulnerability and steel in a way that made Greer feel like a real person, not just a plot device caught between two men.
Guy Locke, though — look, he has a great voice. Deep, authoritative, presidential. But there's this congested quality in the early chapters that kept pulling me out of the story. Like he recorded after a long flight or something. It settles down eventually, but those first couple hours were rough. And here's the bigger problem: he narrates both Ash AND Embry. Two different first-person male POVs. Same voice. I kept losing track of whose chapter I was in, especially when I'd come back after Sophie's nap ended early (which is always). I'd be like, "Wait, who's talking? Who's kissing whom? Is this the president or the other one?" Not ideal.
Also — and this is a small thing but it bugged me — Merlin. The character of Merlin gets narrated by both Rose and Locke at different points, and they give him noticeably different accents. It's jarring. Like they didn't coordinate on this one detail and just hoped nobody would notice. I noticed.
Survived 47 pauses and... honestly struggled to keep up sometimes.
Who This Is Really For (And Who Should Maybe Not)
If you've read the first two books and you're invested in Ash, Greer, and Embry, this is your payoff. The emotional climax near the end — I won't spoil it — earns every one of those 16 hours. The anticipation Simone builds is genuinely impressive.
But if you haven't read American Queen and American Prince? Do not start here. You will be completely lost. This is a series finale, not a standalone, and it assumes you know these characters intimately. Also — and I cannot stress this enough — the content warnings on this one are extensive. We're talking BDSM, M/M/F, assault, violence, incest references. This is not your cozy beach read. This is Sierra Simone going full dark Arthurian tragedy with the spice level turned to eleven.
If you're a mom who listens during nap time like me, be warned: there were multiple moments where I had to frantically hit pause because a child appeared. Some of those scenes are... not for small ears. Or any ears within a thirty-foot radius of your minivan.
The Credit or the Nap?
Here's my honest take: the story itself is a solid 4-star emotional ride that earns its ending. Satisfying ending — exactly what I needed (even though I was a mess). But the audio production holds it back. The narrator confusion between Ash and Embry is a real problem, not a nitpick, and 16 hours is a LOT when you're fighting that confusion. I'd almost say read this one on Kindle and save your credit. But Stephanie Rose's performance alone is worth hearing.
Not groundbreaking audio production, but sometimes you don't need groundbreaking — you need to find out what happens to your fictional president's love life. No judgment. My book club will love this (if I ever have time for book club again).
