Story Summary
God of Malice is the first book in Rina Kent's Legacy of Gods series — a dark, twisted college romance full of obsession, trauma, and love that shouldn't make sense but does.
The story follows Astrid Clifford, a quiet, anxious girl who's just transferred to the prestigious Royal Elite University, hoping to escape her painful past. Instead, she crosses paths with Killian Carson, a ruthless, manipulative man who wears his cruelty like armor.
Killian is known as the "God of Malice" — charming in public, merciless in private. When Astrid's life collides with his, he sees in her both a mystery and a weakness to exploit. But as he digs deeper into her secrets, his obsession shifts into something real — dangerous, consuming, and impossible to control.
It's a story about the thin line between love and destruction, told with Kent's signature blend of dark tension, emotional vulnerability, and brutal honesty.
Main Characters
Astrid Clifford
- Age: 20
- Ethnicity: British
- Hair Color: Blonde
- Eye Color: Green
- Identity: Art student / trauma survivor
Shy, empathetic, and stronger than she looks — Astrid hides deep scars from a violent past that slowly come to light.
Killian Carson
- Age: 22
- Ethnicity: British
- Hair Color: Black
- Eye Color: Blue-gray
- Identity: Business student / heir / manipulator
Arrogant, brilliant, and morally gray — the infamous "God of Malice" who uses control as both a weapon and a shield.
Devlin Clifford
- Age: 24
- Ethnicity: British
- Hair Color: Brown
- Eye Color: Blue
- Identity: Astrid's older brother
Protective and loyal, but haunted by guilt and secrets that end up costing him his life.
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Every Spicy Chapter – Breakdown & Highlights
Rina Kent doesn't shy away from darkness — and in God of Malice, every intimate moment carries emotional weight, power shifts, and complicated trust. The spice here isn't about fantasy fluff; it's about psychology, dominance, and connection forged through chaos.
Here's what really happens — keeping it loyal to the book and focused on story progression.
Chapter 12 – The First Encounter
Killian's interest in Astrid begins as pure cruelty. He corners her during a confrontation gone wrong, testing how far he can push her without breaking her.
The scene is charged — not explicit yet, but the tension is heavy. He invades her space, whispers in her ear, and tells her he likes seeing her flinch. For Astrid, it's confusing: part fear, part fascination.
It's the first moment where their twisted dynamic starts forming — predator and prey, but with something deeper flickering underneath.
"He smiled like he already knew what breaking me would sound like."
Chapter 19 – The Party Scene
At a high-profile campus party, Astrid tries to stay invisible. Killian, however, doesn't let her.
He finds her outside on the balcony and pushes her boundaries again — gently but deliberately. He taunts her, making her admit she's curious about him despite knowing she shouldn't be. When he brushes his fingers along her jaw, she doesn't pull away.
It's the moment where fear turns into awareness. The scene ends before anything explicit happens, but the attraction between them becomes undeniable.
"He didn't touch me, but every breath he took felt like a promise."
Chapter 25 – The Library Scene
This is their first real intimate encounter.
Astrid tries to confront Killian about his manipulation — the rumors, the stalking, the mind games. But instead of denying it, he tells her he's obsessed with her honesty. What starts as an argument turns into a charged moment in the library stacks, where he pins her between shelves and kisses her until she forgets what she came to say.
It's rough, emotional, and blurred between anger and desire — a signature Rina Kent move. Astrid doesn't fight it; she meets his intensity head-on, finally taking some control.
"It wasn't gentle. It wasn't kind. It was the truth neither of us could hide from."
Chapter 33 – The First Night
After weeks of denial, Astrid and Killian give in completely.
He brings her to his penthouse after a night of chaos — the kind of scene that only works because of the emotional groundwork Kent has laid. Killian is still dominant and demanding, but there's tenderness underneath. He's careful with her, constantly checking her comfort even as the scene gets intense.
It's their first full love scene, and it changes everything. For the first time, Killian lets himself be vulnerable. For Astrid, it's the first time she feels safe enough to want something for herself.
"He touched me like he hated himself for wanting to."
Chapter 39 – The White Mask Scene
The white mask becomes one of the book's most iconic symbols — representing both fear and control.
In this scene, Astrid is attacked and drugged, only to wake up with someone wearing a white mask hovering over her. She assumes it's Killian — the only man twisted enough to scare her like that. But later, she learns the truth: it wasn't him.
The masked figure is part of a larger conspiracy tied to her brother Devlin's murder. This revelation turns the plot from dark romance into full-blown psychological thriller.
"The white mask smiled like death itself had come to play."
Chapter 42 – The Confession
Killian finally tells Astrid the truth — that he's been protecting her, not hunting her. His cruelty was a smokescreen to keep her safe from the people who killed Devlin.
They spend the night together again, but this time it's softer — an apology and a promise wrapped in one. The love scene is detailed but emotional; for the first time, Astrid lets herself trust him completely.
"He kissed me like he was sorry for every bruise life had ever given me."
Chapter 47 – The Final Scene
The ending flips everything.
Killian kills the man responsible for Devlin's death — confirming his role as both savior and monster. Astrid watches him do it, and instead of running, she stays.
The final scene between them is raw and symbolic: they're both covered in blood, shaking, but clinging to each other like it's the only truth left. Their intimacy here isn't romantic — it's survival.
"Love doesn't heal monsters. It teaches them to stop pretending they're human."
Goodreads Reader Reactions
God of Malice sparked massive discussion on Goodreads — easily one of Rina Kent's most polarizing yet praised books. Readers called it "unhinged, emotional, and completely addictive," with some hailing it as her best work and others warning that it's her darkest.
Positive Reactions:
Fans couldn't get enough of Killian and Astrid's dynamic. Many praised Kent for walking the fine line between psychological tension and emotional vulnerability. Readers said the relationship felt both terrifying and real — showing how trauma and obsession can twist into something complicated but deeply human.
"It's not pretty, it's not healthy — but it's honest. That's why it works."
"Killian is chaos personified, but somehow you end up rooting for him. That's Rina's magic."
"Astrid isn't just a victim; she fights back, and that makes this story powerful."
Readers especially loved how Kent weaved mystery and suspense into the romance. The murder subplot, the white mask reveal, and Killian's slow unraveling kept them hooked through every twist.
"I couldn't put it down — I needed to know who wore that mask and why."
"Every chapter felt like a trapdoor opening under my feet."
The spice also drew strong praise — not for the scenes alone, but for how they developed character rather than existing as filler. Fans appreciated that every intimate moment pushed Astrid and Killian's emotional boundaries further.
"The spice hits hard, but it's the aftermath — the guilt, the softness — that destroys you."
"Kent doesn't romanticize abuse; she exposes it. That's what makes her writing stand out."
Critical Reactions:
Not everyone could stomach the darkness. Some readers found the manipulation too extreme or the power imbalance uncomfortable. A few said the story's moral ambiguity made it hard to fully root for the characters.
"This is not a love story for everyone. It's cruel, twisted, and psychologically brutal."
"There were moments where I hated Killian — and that's probably the point."
Others noted the pacing can feel uneven — long stretches of psychological buildup followed by explosive confrontations. But even critical readers admitted that the emotional impact and tension were unforgettable.
"I felt disgusted, intrigued, and heartbroken all at once — that's Rina Kent's signature."
Overall Sentiment:
With an average rating hovering around 4.2 stars on Goodreads, God of Malice is widely regarded as one of Rina Kent's most memorable and complex works. Readers describe it as "toxic but poetic," "brutal but beautiful," and "a masterclass in dark romance psychology."
Even those who struggled with the darkness agreed on one thing: it makes you feel something — whether it's horror, empathy, or fascination.
"This book doesn't ask you to like its characters. It dares you to understand them."
"It's not love in the traditional sense — it's survival disguised as devotion."
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Where to Buy or Read God of Malice
- Amazon: Paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited
- Barnes & Noble: Paperback edition
- Apple Books & Kobo: Digital versions
- Libraries: Available via Libby and Hoopla
Related Books – The Legacy of Gods Series Order
Rina Kent's Legacy of Gods series expands the Royal Elite world into a darker, more mature saga about the next generation — kids who grew up in privilege and pain, all carrying emotional scars from the past. Each book explores how trauma, obsession, and love collide in very different ways.
Here's how they connect to God of Malice:
1️⃣ God of Malice (Killian & Astrid)
The book that starts it all — a dark, psychological college romance between Killian Carson, the manipulative "God of Malice," and Astrid Clifford, a quiet art student hiding a tragic secret.
What begins as cruelty and mind games turns into an obsessive, all-consuming bond between two broken people. When Astrid's brother Devlin is murdered, Killian becomes her unlikely protector — and her undoing. Their story is about control, guilt, and the dangerous comfort of being seen by someone who shouldn't understand you.
Tone: Dark, violent, obsessive, and deeply emotional.
2️⃣ God of Pain (Eli & Mia)
Eli Carson — Killian's cousin and the so-called "God of Pain" — is known for his cold detachment and need for control. But when he's paired with Mia Vincent, a fiercely independent girl tied to a rival family, everything spirals.
Mia is the only one who challenges him — matching his arrogance with defiance. Their relationship starts as pure conflict: blackmail, jealousy, manipulation. But underneath the venom, there's vulnerability. Eli's pain runs deep, and Mia forces him to confront it.
Tone: Emotional warfare, power play, and reluctant love wrapped in trauma.
3️⃣ God of Wrath (Jeremy & Cecily)
God of Wrath pushes the series into psychological thriller territory.
Jeremy Volkov, the son of Adrian and Lia from Royal Elite, is the most unhinged "God" yet — brilliant, unpredictable, and completely untethered. When he fixates on Cecily Knight, his childhood friend and moral opposite, it turns into a dangerous obsession.
Jeremy isn't just cruel — he's strategic, breaking Cecily down to understand what makes her stay. But Cecily's arc is just as intense; she's not weak, she's addicted to the chaos. Together, they blur the line between love and madness.
Tone: Manipulation, desire, and emotional addiction — a love story for those who crave the dark.
4️⃣ God of Ruin (Reina & Asher)
In God of Ruin, Rina Kent shifts the focus to Reina Ellis, a perfectionist haunted by her family's corruption, and Asher Carson, Killian's brother, whose smile hides cruelty and chaos.
Their relationship is explosive from the start — two control freaks colliding. Reina tries to outmaneuver him; Asher makes it his mission to dismantle her composure. It's a battle of wills that turns into something darker and strangely tender.
Tone: Enemies-to-lovers with a razor edge — power, ambition, and lust entangled.
5️⃣ God of Fury (Upcoming)
The fifth installment, God of Fury, is one of the most anticipated dark romances in the genre. Rina Kent has hinted that it will connect every thread from the series — closing old wounds and opening new ones.
While details are under wraps, fans speculate it may feature a crossover couple tied to both the Carson and Volkov families, exploring the cost of generational trauma and vengeance.
Tone (Expected): Explosive, tragic, and redemptive — the storm before the calm.
Series Themes & Connection
Across all books, Rina Kent explores how darkness isn't something to escape — it's something her characters learn to live with.
Power, manipulation, trauma, and forgiveness repeat like refrains, but every story brings a slightly different version of what it means to love someone who could destroy you.
If God of Malice is about survival, God of Pain is about control, God of Wrath is about addiction, and God of Ruin is about defiance — then God of Fury promises to be about reckoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is God of Malice about?
It's about Astrid, a young woman haunted by her brother's death, and Killian, the manipulative man who becomes both her tormentor and protector. It's a dark college romance about obsession, power, and redemption.
Q: What happened to Devlin in God of Malice?
Devlin, Astrid's brother, is murdered early in the story. His death drives the entire plot — uncovering who killed him becomes the thread that binds Astrid and Killian together.
Q: Who is Astrid in God of Malice?
Astrid Clifford is the heroine — a shy, artistic student running from her past and drawn into Killian's dangerous world.
Q: Who is Devlin in God of Malice?
Devlin Clifford is Astrid's older brother, whose death and hidden secrets shape the entire narrative.
Q: How many chapters are in God of Malice?
There are 48 chapters, plus an epilogue.
Q: Who killed Devlin in God of Malice?
It's revealed that a rival tied to the underground ring was behind his death — a man Killian ultimately kills in revenge.
Q: Who wears the white mask in God of Malice?
The white mask is worn by one of Devlin's killers, used to terrorize Astrid and confuse her about who she can trust.
Q: How old is Killian in God of Malice?
Killian is 22 years old — older than Astrid, already fully entrenched in the dark legacy of the Carson family.
Q: How does God of Malice end?
It ends with Astrid choosing Killian despite knowing what he's done. He kills the man who murdered Devlin, and Astrid accepts that their love is built from both pain and truth — setting up the series' continuation.
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