Honestly, if you’ve spent more than five minutes on BookTok lately, you’ve probably seen those sleek, minimalist covers featuring elegant illustrations of things like umbrellas, butterflies, or necklaces. That’s the Kings of Sin series by Ana Huang. It’s everywhere. And I mean everywhere. But why? Is it just the hype? Or is there something about these billionaire romances that actually sticks?
Huang isn't a newcomer to the scene. She already broke the internet with her Twisted series—you know, the ones with the "morally gray" heroes who would literally burn the world down for their girl? Well, she took that energy and turned it up a notch for the Kings of Sin. These books aren't just about rich guys. They’re about the seven deadly sins. It's a clever hook.
Each book follows a different billionaire based on a specific sin: Pride, Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Lust, and Sloth. It’s a formula that works because it gives each male lead a distinct "flavor" of billionaire-brand trauma and obsession. You aren't just getting another CEO; you’re getting a man whose entire personality is warped by a specific vice until he meets the woman who ruins his carefully curated life.
The King of Pride: Where it all started for the Kings of Sin series
The series kicked off with King of Pride, though technically King of Wrath was the debut (don't get me started on the chronological vs. publication order debates). Dante Russo and Vivian Lau. That’s the couple people still can’t stop talking about. It’s an arranged marriage trope, which is basically bread and butter for romance readers, but Huang adds a layer of high-stakes business blackmail that makes the "I hate you but I have to marry you" tension feel a bit more grounded.
Dante is the "Wrath" representative. He’s cold. He’s calculated. He’s also deeply protective of his family’s legacy. When he’s forced to marry the daughter of his enemy, he thinks he can just ignore her. Wrong. Vivian is a jewelry designer with a backbone of steel. The dynamic isn’t just about them falling in love; it’s about two people navigating the suffocating expectations of the upper crust in New York and London.
What's interesting here is how Huang handles the "billionaire" aspect. Most books just make them rich and leave it at that. Here, the wealth feels like a cage. Dante is constantly under pressure to maintain an image, and Vivian is the pawn in her father's social climbing game. It’s less about the private jets and more about the isolation that comes with that level of status.
Beyond the tropes: Why these characters actually feel real
Usually, in "spicy" romance, the plot is just a thin veil for the... well, you know. But with the Kings of Sin series, the character arcs are surprisingly beefy. Take Kai Young from King of Pride. He’s the "Pride" sin, and honestly, he might be one of the most relatable billionaires ever written—if that’s even a thing. He’s a polyglot, a genius, and a bit of a nerd who also happens to be a fitness freak. He falls for Isabella Valencia, a bartender and aspiring writer.
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It’s a classic "opposites attract" scenario. But it’s the way they challenge each other that makes it work. Kai has spent his whole life being the "perfect" heir, and Isabella is the first person to tell him he’s actually kind of boring. That hurts. But it also changes him.
The prose is fast. It’s punchy.
Huang knows when to slow down for the emotional beats and when to speed up the dialogue. It doesn’t feel like an AI wrote it because there’s a specific kind of wit—a very human snarkiness—that runs through the conversations. You’ve probably noticed that many modern romance novels feel like they were written by someone checking boxes on a "tropes list." Huang definitely uses the tropes, but she dresses them up in a way that feels intentional rather than lazy.
Breaking down the Sins: A look at the lineup
The structure of the series is its greatest strength. By tying each book to a sin, Huang creates a collectible feel for the series. Readers want to see how she’s going to interpret "Sloth" or "Envy" in a corporate setting.
- King of Wrath (Dante & Vivian): The forced proximity and blackmail starter pack.
- King of Pride (Kai & Isabella): The "good girl/bad boy" flip where the guy is the disciplined one.
- King of Greed (Dominic & Alessandra): This one hit hard for a lot of people because it’s a marriage-in-crisis story. It’s not about the chase; it’s about the fallout. Dominic becomes so obsessed with his wealth (Greed) that he forgets his wife, leading to a gut-wrenching "you don't know what you've lost until it's gone" arc.
- King of Sloth (Sloane & Xavier): This is the one for people who love the "golden retriever" hero who is secretly a genius but too lazy to care.
There’s a common misconception that these books are just "smut." While they are definitely high-heat, the emotional core of something like King of Greed is actually quite heavy. It explores how ambition can act as a slow-acting poison on a relationship. Dominic Davenport isn’t a villain in the traditional sense; he’s just a man who prioritized the wrong things until he woke up in an empty mansion. That resonates with people. It’s not just a fantasy; it’s a cautionary tale with a happy ending.
The Ana Huang effect and the "Billionaire" obsession
Why are we still reading about billionaires in 2026? It seems counter-intuitive when the real-world economy is, well, what it is. But the Kings of Sin series isn't about the 1%. It’s about the idealized version of that world where men use their infinite resources to solve the problems of the women they love.
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Need a library? They’ll build it.
Someone bullied you at work? They’ll buy the company and fire the bully.
It’s wish fulfillment. Plain and simple. But Huang writes it with a wink. She knows it’s over-the-top. The characters often acknowledge their own ridiculousness, which makes the reader feel like they're in on the joke. It’s a "guilty pleasure" that doesn't actually make you feel guilty.
What most people get wrong about the series
One major critique I see popping up is that the books are repetitive. People say, "Once you’ve read one billionaire romance, you’ve read them all."
I disagree.
The nuance in the Kings of Sin series lies in the internal conflicts. Each "sin" represents a different psychological hurdle. In King of Envy, the conflict isn't just about wanting what someone else has; it's about the insecurity of feeling like you'll never be enough. That's a universal human feeling, whether you have five dollars or five billion.
Also, can we talk about the cross-over cameos? If you’ve read the Twisted series, seeing Alex Volkov or Rhys Larsen show up in the background of a Kings of Sin book is like an Avengers-level event for romance fans. It builds a "Huang-verse" that keeps readers loyal. You aren't just buying a book; you’re buying a ticket to a specific social circle.
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How to read the series for the best experience
If you’re new to this, don't just grab a random one. While they can be read as standalones, you’ll miss the subplots and the "found family" vibes among the men.
Start with King of Wrath.
It sets the tone. It introduces the core group of friends. You see the brotherhood between these guys, which is actually one of the highlights. They rag on each other. They have a group chat. They give each other terrible advice. It adds a layer of realism to these untouchable titans of industry.
Then move to King of Pride. The shift from Dante's intensity to Kai's more intellectual, "slow-burn" arrogance is a great palate cleanser. By the time you get to King of Greed, you’re fully invested in the world, which makes the heartbreak of the marriage-in-crisis plot hit much harder.
Actionable insights for your next read
If you're looking to dive into the Kings of Sin series, here's how to actually get the most out of it without falling into the "binge-read burnout" trap:
- Check the tropes first. Ana Huang is great about listing content warnings and tropes. If you hate "forced proximity" but love "enemies to lovers," pick your book based on the vibe, not just the order.
- Pay attention to the side characters. Many of the leads for future books are introduced chapters in advance. Watching the "Sloth" hero, Xavier, be a chaotic mess in the background of the first three books makes his own book so much more satisfying.
- Join the community. Part of the fun of this series is the discourse. TikTok and Instagram are full of "casting" videos and theory threads about which sin belongs to which upcoming character.
- Don't rush King of Greed. It's the most emotional of the bunch. Read it when you're in the mood for a bit of a cry and a lot of groveling. The "grovel" in this book is legendary for a reason.
The Kings of Sin series works because it balances the high-gloss world of the ultra-wealthy with very messy, very human emotions. It’s about the parts of ourselves we try to hide—our pride, our greed, our wrath—and finding someone who loves us not in spite of those things, but because they see the whole picture. It’s a wild ride through the world of the elite, and honestly, it’s a lot of fun.
Next Steps for Readers:
Check your local library or Kindle Unlimited for King of Wrath to see if the series' tone matches your style. If you're a physical book collector, look for the special edition hardcovers—the "under the dust jacket" art for this series is notoriously beautiful and often contains easter eggs about the specific "sin" featured in the story. Avoid spoilers for King of Envy if you haven't reached it yet, as the plot twist regarding the central rivalry is best experienced without prior knowledge.