What Is The Historical Context Of 'The Splendid And The Vile'?

I thought I would be beaten and broken forever. It was the curse of not shifting. Without a wolf, I was no better than a human to my pack, an omega. I was there to serve and clean up after them. The only light in my life was my boyfriend, Jake. At least, he was until he decided to sleep with and mark my sister. When all hope was lost, and I was ready to make my escape, my life was turned upside down. The Lycan King was known to be cruel and heartless. He had slain thousands, ruled with an iron fist, and was now searching for his mate. Turns out, being a human was the least of my worries….

To the world, she is Vivienne Blackwood—heiress to a billion-dollar empire and the crown jewel of her father’s corporate dynasty. To him, she is simply Vi, the only light in a city made of shadows. ​Vivienne is a woman trapped in a gilded cage. To escape the suffocating expectations of her father, Arthur Blackwood, she creates a secret identity, seeking refuge in the gritty corners of the city her father is trying to bulldoze. It’s there she meets Roman Volkov, a man whose touch is fire and whose past is a mystery. ​Roman is "The Ghost," a lethal mafia boss locked in a bloody war with the billionaire trying to dismantle his territory. He doesn’t do love, and he certainly doesn't do secrets. But in "Vi," he finds a woman who doesn't see the monster—until the truth becomes a weapon neither of them can outrun. ​As their secret romance intensifies, the war between Roman and Arthur reaches a fever pitch. Unaware that they are targeting the same man, Vivienne and Roman are caught in a lethal crossfire of lies and loyalty. When Arthur attempts to whisk Vivienne away to a life she never wanted, she makes a desperate choice to return to the man she loves—only to find herself at the center of a deadly standoff where the fathers and the lovers finally face off. ​In a world where blood is the only currency and loyalty is a death sentence, can love survive when the truth finally comes out? Or will they both be destroyed by the collision of their two worlds? ​Where loyalty bleeds into love, only the strongest survive.

Lady Nicole Bradshaw was born to one of the wealthiest families in England and had an arranged marriage since before she was born. She had never laid eyes on Lord Francis Ravenport but she was assured he was a handsome fellow. He had recently moved his company to the West Indies and she wouldn't see him until the wedding. When she gets to travel to London with family friends, she knows she will never lay eyes on the Marquess as her husband. Austin Duncan was not a special man. He was the third son to an Earl and gave everything up to be in His Majesty's Army. He never dreamed of marriage or finding a young lady due to him being a soldier. In 1789, it was a questionable time and he could never marry to just leave a woman widowed. While in London on assignment, he knows he will throw everything out the window. One glance at Lady Nicole and Austin knows he will never be the same. Nicole sees him and thinks for sure being an only child is surely unfair and she would risk her reputation for a few moments alone with him. Could a Scandalous Love bring them closer together or tear them worlds apart?

Two Princes, one school. A forbidden connection that threatens world power. Rowan Ashbourne, the indifferent second son of the Ashbourne royal family, arrives at Hillsborough Boarding School expecting nothing but quiet. Instead, he meets Theo Bellamère, the adored French prince and senior prefect, whose charm hides his competitive nature. What begins as rivalry quickly turns into a forbidden attraction, one that must remain secret amidst family expectations, school politics, and the shadowy schemes of the Valecourt Dominion. As scandal, betrayal, and danger close in, Rowan and Theo must choose between their duties to the crown and their desires against the crown.

Alexander Volkov is known as the most dangerous man in the world. Cold, ruthless, and wealthy beyond measure, he rules the underworld with an iron fist. To everyone else, he is the Devil himself—heartless, cruel, and unstoppable. But behind his mask of darkness lies a man broken by a tragic past, who witnessed his family’s murder and swore revenge on those who betrayed him. His life of violence and solitude changes completely when he meets Isabella Grace, a simple and innocent doctor. Unlike everyone else who trembles in his presence, she looks at him without fear. She sees the man behind the monster, and she becomes the only light in his dark world. Alexander claims her as his own, bringing her into his luxurious but dangerous life, determined to protect her at all costs. However, their love is tested when old enemies resurface, and the worst betrayal comes from the people he trusted most—his own blood. Alexander discovers that the war he is fighting is not just for power, but for survival. He must face his treacherous uncle and his own biological father, who used him as a pawn in their deadly game. As war erupts and bullets fly, Alexander will stop at nothing to defend his Queen and his future. He will burn down the world to keep her safe, proving one thing: He is the Devil to everyone else, but he is only hers.

The world deemed Akira a waste, not by default, but due to his own actions or lack of. He lacked the enthusiasm and desire to be anything. His family were all geniuses in their respective fields, but he spent the entire eighteen years of his life eating, drinking, and having fun. Despite all these, he loved his family and therefore it was an instinctive reaction to save his father from what could have been a fatal collision. He was supposed to be dead, but… Out of nowhere, a system appeared and thus began his journey of world-hopping to save the cannon fodder villains. In every story, there were always a few individuals whose purpose was to act as stepping stones for the love of the protagonists. Their suffering is there to act as the foil for their happiness. As a result, Akira must remove their protagonist's halo and teach these protagonist scums to value the life of others.