Book Review: King of Gluttony by Ana Huang

I had been waiting for King of Gluttony by Ana Huang to release for the last six months or so, and when I finally read it, I was a little disappointed. I really loved King of Wrath, and even the second, third, fourth, and fifth books in the series worked well for me, but this one just didn’t hit the same.

For me, this was a solid 3 out of 5, whereas the rest of the series has always been a 4 or even a 5. It just didn’t feel as emotionally satisfying. The chemistry between Sebastian and Maya is definitely there, and I genuinely like both characters. But somehow, instead of really diving into their relationship, the book focuses a lot more on their individual lives, their professions, and everything they’re dealing with separately.

Maya’s character is honestly one of the highlights. She’s strong, hardworking, and trying to prove herself in her family business, which I really admired. And her banter with Sebastian? So good (like, those moments definitely kept me going). She’s the kind of character you root for.

Sebastian, on the other hand, brings in that emotional depth with his past. The way he’s loved Maya all along is actually very touching. And that letter we discover towards the end, the one he wrote 14 years ago, was such a beautiful moment. It added the kind of emotional weight I wish we had seen more of throughout the book.

I just feel like we were told about their love more than we actually felt it. There were so many opportunities to build their connection, to show us more of their relationship, their vulnerability, their “us” moments, but instead, a lot of space was given to their work lives and external conflicts.

Don’t get me wrong, King of Gluttony is not a bad read at all. It’s still engaging, still has those classic Ana Huang elements, and if you’re following the series, you’ll probably want to read it anyway. But compared to the rest, it just felt a little less intense, a little less emotional, and a little less memorable.

And maybe my expectations were just too high after waiting for so long… which honestly happens to the best of us!

Get your copy of this book from here.

With love and lots of stories,
The Reading Lane

Liked this post? Come say hi on Instagram and Goodreads and YouTube— I share recs, rambles, and way too many romance reads.