When Rivals Play · 2018
The Peer and the PuppetSpice level, tropes & is it dark romance?
by B. B. Reid
Spice 3/5 (Hot) · Darkness 4/5 (Pitch) · No trigger warnings flagged
The Peer and the Puppet is book 1 of When Rivals Play by B. B. Reid, first out in 2018. It sits in the enemies to lovers corner of the shelf. Spice is open door (3 of 5) and the darkness is pitch dark (4 of 5). We could not find the author's own warning list yet, so check it before you start. This note is ours. It is not a publisher blurb.
First published: 22 July 2018 (first publication, per Goodreads). Book 1 of When Rivals Play.
The Peer and the Puppet tropes
On this shelf, The Peer and the Puppet is filed under Enemies to lovers. Each tag opens more books with that trope.
The Peer and the Puppet spice level
Is The Peer and the Puppet dark romance?
Yes, firmly. The Peer and the Puppet scores 4 of 5 on our darkness scale (Pitch).
Spice and darkness are separate scores. More pitch books. How we rate.
The Peer and the Puppet trigger warnings
Warnings not yet verified. We could not find the author's own content warning list for this book, so the flags here are only what the publisher's description makes clear. Check the author's note before you start.
Graphic (0) — open before you read
Open this before you read. These are the flags most likely to be a hard stop.
None flagged in this band.
Moderate (0)
Harm, control, or obsession that is common in this lane.
None flagged in this band.
Minor (0)
Present, and usually not the reason someone puts the book down.
None flagged in this band.
Full The Peer and the Puppet trigger warnings
When Rivals Play reading order
The Peer and the Puppet is book 1 of 4 in B. B. Reid's When Rivals Play series. Start here.
- Book 1 The Peer and the Puppet (this book) · 2018
- Book 2 The Moth and the Flame · 2019 not on our shelf yet
- Book 2.5 · novella Evermore · 2019 not on our shelf yet
- Book 3 The Punk and the Plaything · 2019 not on our shelf yet
- Book 4 The Prince and the Pawn · 2020
Order checked against the Goodreads When Rivals Play series page on 9 October 2026. The When Rivals Play series in order.
Who it's for
Shelf note written for this site. We do not copy reviews or publisher blurbs. Outbound links are search pages, not quoted ratings. Kindle Unlimited and endings are only flagged when we were willing to mark them. How we rate.
Missing a book? Suggest it.
Books like The Peer and the Puppet
Matched on shared tropes, then the closest spice and darkness scores. Other books in the same series are listed above, not here.
- All the Little Lies
All the Little Lies
S.J. Sylvis
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Enemies to lovers
- Bad Boy Blues
Bad Boy Blues
Saffron A. Kent
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Enemies to lovers
- Bad Habit
Bad Habit
Charleigh Rose
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Enemies to lovers
- Ruthless Knight
Ruthless Knight
Ashley Jade
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Enemies to lovers
- The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Amelia Wilde
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Enemies to lovers
- The Touch of a Villain
The Touch of a Villain
Holly Renee
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Enemies to lovers
- Truly
Truly
Carmel Rhodes
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Enemies to lovers
- Until You
Until You
Penelope Douglas
Spice ●●●○○Dark ●●●●○
Shared: Enemies to lovers
Books like The Peer and the Puppet, with a reason for each
Questions readers actually ask
What is the spice level of The Peer and the Puppet?
The Peer and the Puppet spice level is 3 of 5 (Hot). Open door. The scene stays. Darkness is a separate score: 4 of 5 (Pitch).
What are the The Peer and the Puppet trigger warnings?
Graphic: none flagged. Moderate: none flagged. Minor: none flagged. Warnings not yet verified against the author's own list. Check it before you start.
Is The Peer and the Puppet dark romance?
Yes, firmly. The Peer and the Puppet scores 4 of 5 on our darkness scale (Pitch). Bleak on purpose. Comfort is not the job.
What tropes are in The Peer and the Puppet?
On this shelf The Peer and the Puppet is filed under Enemies to lovers.
Who is The Peer and the Puppet for?
For a reader who wants hate that tips over into wanting. Spice is hot. Darkness is pitch. Warnings are not yet verified, so check the author's note first.
What are some books like The Peer and the Puppet?
Matched on shared tropes and similar spice and darkness: All the Little Lies by S.J. Sylvis; Bad Boy Blues by Saffron A. Kent; Bad Habit by Charleigh Rose; Ruthless Knight by Ashley Jade; The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Amelia Wilde; The Touch of a Villain by Holly Renee. More read-alikes, each with a reason, are on zademasked.com/like/the-peer-and-the-puppet.
Is The Peer and the Puppet a standalone?
No. The Peer and the Puppet is book 1 of 4 in the When Rivals Play series by B. B. Reid.
What order should I read the When Rivals Play series in?
1. The Peer and the Puppet; 2. The Moth and the Flame; 2.5. Evermore (novella); 3. The Punk and the Plaything; 4. The Prince and the Pawn.
How many books are in the When Rivals Play series?
The When Rivals Play series by B. B. Reid has 4 main books, plus 1 novella or bonus story.
What is the The Peer and the Puppet age rating?
We'd say 18+. Spice sits at 3/5 (hot) and darkness at 4/5 (pitch). That's our recommendation, not an official rating, so read the trigger warnings as well.
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