The saga of the Royals of Forsyth University continues with the eleventh book in the series, Barons of Sorrow. This series is a dark why choose romance set among the twisted fraternities of Forsyth University.
*this review contains spoilers for all previous books in the series, especially Barons of Decay*
The Barons are the ferrymen who deal with Forsyth’s dead, and their job is harder than ever with someone on the loose on campus, kidnapping and killing women with connections to the royals.
After Arianette’s betrayal, the Baron King and his Barons are determined to make her pay. If their punishment unlocks the secrets hidden in her head, all the better.
With the women of Forsyth in more danger every day, time is running out for the Barons to recover Arianette’s memories and stop whoever is terrorizing the Royals.
So, these people are utterly insane. All of them. But even with the deranged nature of the characters, they still come off as lackluster. Arianette feels completely flat, and all of the men seem like caricatures.
Something about the Barons section of the Forsyth series hits wrong. It feels like the author made Arianette a Black woman for the hell of it. Her Blackness is not discussed or honored, and it isn’t part of the story at all.
I suspect Angel Lawson made her main character Black for the sake of diversity, but writes her like she would any of her white characters, but somehow even more lifeless. It’s an ill-considered choice.
If you’re going to write outside your lived experience, do it with more care. It’s important to note that I’m a white woman, so if Black women in the romance space have anything to say about this, listen to them, not me.
In 2025, Angel Lawson and her writing partner, Samantha Rue, split up. Rue is no longer involved with the series, and it just hasn’t been the same since. When nine books were written together, and the next two written by Lawson alone are markedly different in tone and quality, it’s hard not to think those two things are connected.
As the series has progressed, the stories have gotten significantly darker, with a seedier tone. Barons of Sorrow is certainly dramatic, with serious traumas mixed with taboo spice.
There is a raw sexuality between these characters, but the chemistry outside of that isn’t present. It seems to decline with every new group of main characters, and the dynamic makes less sense.
This series has jumped the shark with aplomb. I truly don’t know why I’m still reviewing these books. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll keep reading them because at this point I’m invested, but I don’t think there’s much else new to say.
If you, like me, are still with the Royals of Forsyth eleven books in, satan save us all.
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