The Dark King, Gina Maxwell’s urban fantasy romance, invokes the rockstar Meatloaf‘s immortal words: “Two out of three ain’t bad.”

The novel has a delicious love story, satisfying plot, and skimpy world-building. Given that this is fantasy – in this imaginary world, the Dark Fae rule Las Vegas – a fictional world with a gossamer thin context is a botheration. That said, if you’re looking for a fervently libidinous love story with very seductive fairies, you’ll enjoy The Dark King.

Bryn Meara is thrilled to be in Las Vegas. Who wouldn’t love a free trip complete with luxury accommodations at the city’s hottest hotel, Nightfall? I mean, she’s just lost her job to organizational changes. The hotel is freaking amazing – she got upgraded to a VIP suite after first being told she didn’t actually have a reservation – and she just knows tonight is going to be the best of her life. Once on the casino floor, her conviction proves to be right: Caiden Verran, the owner of the hotel, starts chatting her up at the roulette table. Caiden, along with his two hot as hell brothers, is known as one of the Verran Kings of Vegas, and is the most beautiful person – man or woman – Bryn’s ever seen in her life.

One thing leads to another and before you can say predictable but fun romance trope, after a night of martinis and inexplicable connection, Bryn and Caiden wake up married. Even worse, from Caiden’s perspective, they wake up as true mates, an indelible bond that can only occur between pairs with Dark Fae blood. This is VERY BAD because Caiden and all in his line suffer under a curse. If the King of the Night Court, which Caiden is, takes a true queen of fae blood, they will start to weaken and eventually die if their mate is ever “more than a stone’s throw” away from them. For the Dark Fae, this has meant they don’t marry or bond – they simply take consorts whom they don’t love and thus who aren’t a dire threat to the King’s very existence.

It’s a real pickle and one that infuriates them both. Caiden is sure Bryn has somehow scammed him. How else could he end up mated to a human after a night he can barely remember? Clearly she’s used some sort of dark magic and cannot be trusted. Bryn thinks Caiden is an utter dick. He won’t let her leave the hotel and is RUDE. Things go from bad to worse when he tells her that’s because he’s the King of the Dark Fae – whatever the f*ck that is. Worst of all, he won’t have sex with her again and the sex was really really good.

Whatever will they do?

Look, you know, more or less, what happens next. They fight, both each other and their all-consuming attraction. They have sex and Bryn learns she likes nipple clamps and butt plugs. (Ms. Maxwell writes sex well and their love scenes have a humor and lightness I enjoyed.) Caiden’s brothers tease him endlessly about his obsession with his wife while Bryn makes pals with the fae staff who think she’s THE BEST. Their relationship unfurls amidst court intrigue and fae warfare and it is all a very very good time.

It is a bummer the world building feels so gauzy. The Fae realm feels slap dashed together as if the author hadn’t given it a whole lot of thought. This lack of clear context diminishes the threats Caiden faces from his Fae enemies – it will shock no one to discover that Bryn didn’t end up in Vegas randomly – and makes the book good rather than great. But we don’t always have to read great books and this one is a steamy, sweet romp. It gets a B from me.