Review: The Kings of Kearny - Navessa Allen

Review: The Kings of Kearny - Navessa Allen - February 2026

Some books sit on the shelf for months, giving you the quiet side-eye every time you walk past. The Kings of Kearny was one of those for me. So when I found myself facing a long bus trip up to Auckland to see 5SOS, I decided it was the perfect moment to finally pick it up. A bus, a bag of snacks, a good book and a concert waiting at the end? Hard to beat, really.

I’ll be upfront: I went in with low expectations. I didn’t enjoy Lights Out, so I was a little wary of giving this author a second chance. But oh my goodness, I’m so glad I did, because this book was awesome. It also reignited my love of motorcycle club novels, which I hadn’t realised I’d been missing until I was knee-deep in leather jackets and clubhouse drama.

The story is set in a small Texas town run by a motorcycle club. Krista works at the local bar, where she sees plenty of locals come and go, but on the nights Jakob walks in, the whole place changes. Known as The Viking, he’s the club’s chief enforcer: dangerous, criminal and ridiculously easy on the eye. There’s an extra buzz in the air when he’s around, and he’s clearly on the hunt. Someone has broken one of the cardinal rules laid down by the leader of The Kings, selling drugs and using the local resthome, Magnolia Hill, as their hunting ground.

Before long, the pair are tangled up in trouble far bigger than the club itself, and just when Krista thinks she has it all worked out, Jakob reveals another surprise. I loved how the story kept me guessing right to the end. It had me turning pages well past the point where I should have put it down and looked out the bus window like a normal person.

What I especially enjoyed was the question at the heart of it all: how far would she go to protect the town she loves? There’s no easy path here and no tidy, peaceful ending waiting at the finish line. But maybe, just maybe, following him into the darkness could lead somewhere even better than a happily-ever-after. That idea had me hooked.

The other thing that won me over was that all the club members are ex-military, as is Krista. Many of them carry scars and injuries from the wars they fought in, which gave the book so much more heart. Krista’s struggle as she cares for her Gran, who has Alzheimer’s, added another tender layer.

As for Jakob? He is going to be the death of me. Truly. I’m still not over him, and I’m not sure I want to be.

If you enjoy slow-burn tension, a brooding hero and a small town full of secrets, pop this one on your reading list. It’s also perfect for fans of Sons of Anarchy, as it gave me strong SOA vibes. 

Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0hxmqeu7