Tag: royalty

REVIEW: Battle of the Bodkins by Lincoln Peirce

REVIEW: Battle of the Bodkins by Lincoln Peirce

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Long ago, in the land of Byjovia, a selfish prince was ready to become king. His fairy “dogmother” siphoned off his more problematic personality traits and put them in a jar. But when the jar broke, an evil copy of the prince emerged – a “bodkin.”

While that bodkin was exiled, Max and her friends have discovered a bodkin in present day Byjovia. It seems as though there are even more bodkins now, and they are preparing for an invasion. It will be Max’s job – along with the Midknights – to invade the bodkins’ home and stop them.

Review

I got such a huge kick out of Max’s first adventure, I knew I had to read book two. This is fun and suspenseful. The Midknights really have their hands full with the evil bodkins.

As with the first book, the pacing of the story is great – peril on top of peril, but nothing so far fetched that it pulls you out of the story. There’s a larger cast here – the Midknights plus the key adults in the kingdom as well as a few new friends. I call this a graphic novel, but it really is more of a highly illustrated story – prose along side line drawings. It’s a terrific format for the story.

I think kids will love Max’s new adventure. There are some nice tidbits in the book about Max’s origins – and an interesting twist to launch the kids into their next adventure. Fans should not miss this one. I am looking forward to reading book 3.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce

REVIEW: Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

While Uncle Budrick enjoys being a traveling troubadour, Max would rather be a knight. When Max and Budrick visit Byjovia – Uncle Budrick’s home – they discover that the kind king is presumed dead and his evil brother has taken over. But thanks to some new friends, Max – and the Midknights – might be able to save the day.

Review

This was PURE FUN! I loved the whole story. The characters are delightful. The humor is pitch perfect – funny without beating you over the head with gags. The pacing of the story was excellent – every so often there was a new challenge and a new opportunity or friend.

If there’s a “message” to the story it’s that gender or family history shouldn’t force you into any role. Even though Max is a girl, she should get to train as a knight if that’s what she wants. And if her friend wants to be a writer instead of working with horses like his dad, so be it. But really, the message is secondary to the fun story full of magic and creatures and challenges and chances to be heroic.

I can’t say enough about how much I loved this book. Book 2, Battle of the Bodkins, is out now. Why not pick up both and check them out?!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥=Outstanding! Amazing! Special!

REVIEW: The Princess Knight by G. A. Aiken

REVIEW: The Princess Knight by G. A. Aiken

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Keeley has taken up the title of The Blacksmith Queen out of obligation. Her soulless younger sister, Beatrix, has married the Old King’s merciless son, Marius. She helps him in his quest to kill his brothers and have the throne to himself. Although her true aims have nothing to do with her husband. He is a means to an end. Keeley can’t have the murderous couple in charge. So while she’d rather return to her forge and her comparatively quiet life, she leads and she fights.

Keeley’s sister, Gemma, fights at her side. The two also fight with each other every chance they get. But when push comes to shove, they always have each other’s backs.

When someone starts wiping out the various religious orders in the land, including Gemma’s War Monks, she returns to her old order, hoping to convince them to take Keeley’s offer of sanctuary. But Gemma’s order has changed a lot in the two years since she left.

While Gemma deals with the War Monks, Keeley is still trying to figure out what Beatrix is up to and how to stop her. It may seem like all of their worries when this began two years ago were unfounded. But anyone who knew Beatrix would know she’ll stop at nothing but full control and domination. They may not yet see or know what she is plotting, but there is no doubt she is up to no good.

Review

I cannot get enough of this series! I reread book 1, The Blacksmith Queen (♥♥♥♥♥) to prepare for this, and then read this cover to cover. In fact, I’m ready to read this again, and I just finished. This is far more gory and violent than I usually like or read, but the story and the characters are outstanding enough that I push past the yuck to stick with the awesome rest.

You will likely find this in the romance section of the bookstore, but for me this is a fantasy series first and foremost. Yes, there’s a romance in each book. But the real focus here is on the world, the political and religious action, and on this particular family.

I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy the shift from Keeley as the focus in book 1 to Gemma as the focus here. But it was perfect! We get a tremendous amount of information and understanding for Gemma here, and I loved it. This made me like her more than I did in book 1. I have my fingers crossed that Ainsley is the focus of book 3 because she was probably my favorite character in this book full of awesome characters.

I keep coming back to this series for the excellent world-building, the humor and sass in the writing, and the fantastic characters. There are tons of fantasy elements here – magic, sword fights, allies and enemies – with some romance thrown in. For me, this is the perfect blend of genres! (Language, sex, violence/gore, LGBTQ+, TW: Sexual assault)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book will release on October 13, 2020.]

Summary

Leo Ricci drives a New York City cab and also is the super of the building where he lives. He’s raising his eleven-year-old sister, Gabby. His neighbor and cousin-in-law, Dani, is a huge help as he feels out of his league almost all of the time.

Her Royal Highness Marie Joséphine Annagret Elana, Princess of Eldovia, is in New York to speak at the United Nations about the refugee crisis and then to handle some negotiations with American businesses, one in particular. Failing to fix the relationship between Eldovia and the businessman will be devastating to her country. And she’s not sure how much more of her father’s disapproval she can take.

Leo and Maria meet when she gets in his cab. His sister is gaga over meeting a real life princess. And Leo’s always had a thing for rescuing damsels in distress. He agrees to help Maria out by serving as her driver while she is in the city. In return, she invites Leo and Gabby to Eldovia for Christmas, like they are in some sort of Hallmark Christmas movie. But Leo and Maria come from two vastly different worlds. He’s barely making ends meet, and she’s a princess with an obligation to marry “strategically.” What business do they have spending Christmas together?

Review

This was delightful! It definitely has a Hallmark Christmas Movie feel to it (though far steamier than Hallmark Channel would ever allow), which is exactly what the author was going for. In fact, according to the acknowledgements, there are going to be two more books in the series. And if I am reading the signs right in the epilogue about where the sequel is headed, I am absolutely here for book 2!

I adored Leo and Marie. They really “get” each other. And they have great chemistry complete with excellent banter. They connect over their lost family members, care well for Gabby, and Leo helps Marie find her way through several conflicts. He sees her as a person, not just as a princess.

The story here is great. I loved that the conflicts are around the differences in their status and in the expectations of Marie in her role. There’s no secret identity or lying involved which is a nice change of pace.

This is another winner for Christmas 2020. Don’t miss this sexy holiday romance! (Language, sex, CW: grief/loss)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = Loved it! Would read again!

REVIEW: Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer

REVIEW: Crownchasers by Rebecca Coffindaffer

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and HarperTeen in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

After the Twenty-Five Year War, Emperor Atar Faroshi unified the quadrant. All of the prime families came together in peace. While the Emperor has never had children, he has also never named a successor. And now he is dying.

Captain Alyssa Farshot of the Vagabond Quest is an explorer. In fact, she just received accolades from the Explorer’s Society. Hungover from the celebration, she wakes to a communication from her Uncle Charlie, the envoy to the Emperor, also known as “Uncle Atar” to Alyssa.

Atar cannot name Alyssa Empress – even if she wanted the job, which she absolutely does NOT. Instead he names her crownchaser for the Faroshi family.

There hasn’t been a crownchase in hundreds of years. When there is one, a royal seal is hidden somewhere in the empire. Each of the prime families chooses a crownchaser to hunt it down. Whoever finds the seal and returns with it will be crowned.

While a religious zealot Alyssa trusts about as far as she can throw him holds the throne, six crownchasers, childhood friends and rivals, begin their quest to explore a 1,000-planet area, solve puzzles, meet challenges, and find the seal in order to become the new leader of the quadrant.

Review

Outstanding. Stunning. Perfect. Magical.

This could well be my top book of 2020. I loved every moment with this book. I would start reading it again right now if I didn’t have 70 ARCs waiting for my attention.

This is a science fiction story, which is the first mark in its favor. I love sci-fi. There are interesting planets, space battles, aliens, and futuristic technology. It was awesome!

The characters are another mark in the book’s favor.  I loved Alyssa. The early chapters of this have a Polaris Rising feel to them. (Another mark in the book’s favor.) The biggest difference is that while Ada (Polaris Rising) is all about masking her emotions and controlling her responses, Alyssa is more what-you-see-is-what-you-get. She’s just as smart and strong and skilled. But she’s more irreverent and impulsive than Ada. I love both characters.

Then there’s the stellar (pardon the pun) plot. It felt familiar, but I never could place what this reminds me of. There’s a reluctant royals piece – something I love and read often. Then there’s a competition. It’s not meant to be a last-one-standing deal like The Hunger Games, but the stakes are high. There’s also the fact that Alyssa doesn’t want to win. She competes out of obligation. She’s more focused on the process than the end goal. She wants a good outcome for the future of the quadrant. She cares about how people are doing and about fixing the problems she can. But she isn’t a win-at-all-costs sort of person. She mostly just wants to get back to her life.

The ending is excellent! I wanted book 2 in my hands immediately, but since the book just released two days ago, that is not going to happen for awhile. I had to settle for having my own print copy, which I ordered immediately after finishing this.

Science fiction fans, YA fans, reluctant royal fans, and competition story fans should snatch up a copy and clear their schedules for a few days (or a few hours) to dive into this one. I could go on and on about how much I adored this book! (Language, LGBTQ+, science fiction violence – blasters, space battles, etc.)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++*

*♥♥♥♥♥+++ = Best of the best

REVIEW: Rival Magic by Deva Fagan

REVIEW: Rival Magic by Deva Fagan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Antonia Durant wants nothing more than to be a wizard. She’s been apprenticed to Master Betrys for almost 6 months. She’s learning so much all the time. But her magic isn’t getting any better. She can’t even make a turnip dance.

Moppe Cler works in the kitchen at Master Betrys’ home. She has enough magic to make a whole kitchen full of turnips dance! But she’ll likely never have Antonia’s magical knowledge.

Antonia’s afraid her mother will make her leave Master Betrys if her magic doesn’t improve. But then she finds out her mother only let her go in the first place because she wanted Antonia to spy on Master Betrys. Betrys knows something about the lost crown of Medasia. Rival factions want the crown for their own purposes. And Master Betrys and the girls are caught in the middle.

After a disastrous magical display at a gala, Master Betrys is ready to expel both of her apprentices. But when she is later falsely accused of treason, Antonia and Moppe are her only hope for freedom.

Review

This was fantastic! It’s well-written middle grade fantasy with magic and mermaids, sea serpents and secrets. The world-building and the pacing was great.  I especially enjoyed how the author chose to deal with magic words/spells. Brilliant. And if you get a close look at the cover, you will see all sorts of great references from the book.

At its core, this is a friendship story. Antonia and Moppe see a lot to envy in one another. They are antagonistic to each other out of jealousy and competition. The envy/jealousy was realistic without being too angsty or overplayed. But in time they start to see they are better together. There’s great foreshadowing of the conflict that will arise. And all of it plays out so well!

I would absolutely read more books from this world if this becomes a series. Hand this to fans of the Twinchantment books or the Fairytale Reform School series or the Camelot Code series – or really any middle grade fantasy.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

REVIEW: The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Feiwel & Friends in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Lady Alessandra Stathos is not a young woman to be trifled with. She knows her own mind and her plans for her future. Nothing will get in her way.

The one young man who broke her heart was killed by her own hand.
Her various lovers all have secrets they wish to keep so they keep their liaisons secret as well.
And now that her older sister is betrothed, Alessandra is finally permitted to join society. And she has her eye on the biggest prize of all – the Shadow King.

She will make him fall in love with her and then marry her. And once she’s queen, she’ll kill him and take over the vast kingdom. But the first step is to get him to notice her out of a slew of young beauties vying for his attention. And the second is to keep an assassin from killing him before she can do it herself.

Review

This was fantastic and different. I loved it! It’s a classic fantasy tale of lords and ladies and royal marriage. But the protagonist – the “hero” – is a murderess. She tells you in the first sentence of the book. She’s wicked smart, calculating, and ruthless. She will do anything to get what she wants.

The king has a ruthless streak of his own. It’s not as well explored because Alessandra tells the story, but there are some stellar moments in this where you really see that part of him. He’s a conqueror, and he will kill anyone who crosses him or fails him. These are the stars of the story! These are the potential love interests. And it’s crazy because Alessandra is so likable. The writing of these characters is brilliant to pull that off. I’ve read standard protagonists who were morally good who I didn’t like as much as I liked Alessandra.  Her relationships with her new friends at court and her no-nonsense conversations with the king were actually endearing. I loved her sass, her fashion sense, and her confidence.

There’s a touch of magic in this – enough to add an interesting layer to the king and to the story, but something simple enough not to require tons of world building. The details could be doled out over time to keep the intrigue while never mucking up the storytelling. But the magic is essential to the plot. The whole setup was brilliant.

The ending was terrific. I loved how all the pieces fit together. I would absolutely read this again! This is a stand alone story, something which can be hard to find in YA fantasy. The dedication describes this as a “Slytherin romance,” and that is the most perfect description of this I can think of. Now I need to track down the author’s other books because this was so great! (Some language, sexual references)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BONUS REVIEW: Nameless Queen by Rebecca McLaughlin

BONUS REVIEW: Nameless Queen by Rebecca McLaughlin

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Coin is one of the Nameless of Seriden. She has no “voice,” no power in her world. She is a thief and a con, trying to avoid the authorities who could execute her on the spot. When she was younger, like her friend Hat, she was part of Marcher’s crew. But she’s independent now. Marcher doesn’t like it and tries to cause her trouble whenever he can.

And Coin does NOT need any more trouble. She already has Hat fallowing after her like a puppy when it’s hard enough just looking out for herself. Then there are the rumors of Nameless who have disappeared without a trace. Not arrested, just vanished. And if that wasn’t enough she has a blasted burning crown tattoo around her arm. It appeared out of nowhere and can’t mean anything good.

King Fallow of Seriden has died. And instead of naming his daughter as the new ruler, he whispered some other name. And now Coin has the tattoo – and the magic – that marks her as the new queen. How could the king have “named” a Nameless in the first place? How would he have even known her to name her? And how many people are going to try to kill her so she can never officially become the Nameless Queen?

Review

This is part of a long line of displaced royalty/hidden royalty/forgotten royalty/fake royalty sorts of stories, and I am here for every last one of them! Ash Princess, Kill the Queen, The False Price, The False Princess, Ruined, and so many more. I love them all. And now Nameless Queen joins the list.

I loved this. Coin was what drew me in. She’s smart and sassy, scared yet brave. She doesn’t put up with anyone’s garbage. She can play the role and be what people expect of a Nameless, the whole time marking the exits, lifting the trinkets, and reading the room. When she is brought to the palace and is faced with those who see her as a dangerous inconvenience, I felt like she really got to shine. There are other terrific characters – a little band that Coin develops around her unintentionally – that I also adored. The characters made this book for me.

But the plot drew me in, too. There’s some great world-building with the magic the king or queen gets in Seriden. I enjoyed reading how Coin developed that magic using the instincts she had developed in her years on the streets. I read several other reviews that called the character a “Mary Sue” (someone too perfect, too good to be true), and I suppose I get where they are coming from, but I never felt that way about Coin or about how she worked her way through the trials she faced.

There are some terrific twists in this! I can see where the author could build a sequel out of some of the open pieces at the end, but for the most part this wraps up the story well. If there is ever a sequel, you can sign me up for it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Realm of Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis

REVIEW: Realm of Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Reid Ellington is the youngest of the five daughters of Duke Ellington. And in the kingdom of Marsden, five daughters is a problem. Inheritance law dictates that property and rights move from father to son. So Reid is raised as a boy, and everyone is told that “he” is the heir to the estate. Only the family knows the truth.

When the king of Marsden dies, his oldest son, Eldon, takes the throne. And all of the dukes, including Reid’s father, are told to provide soldiers to protect Marsden. Eldon’s uncle, who rules the county of Axian, is preparing an invasion.

Eldon’s younger brothers, Prince Gordon and Prince Ackley, come to Ellington and discover Reid’s secret. Her father could be charged with treason for his lies. But if Reid agrees to help the princes with a secret mission, she can secure a pardon for her father.

So Reid agrees to spy for the kingdom of Marsden and joins the Knights of the Realm. Her future is so uncertain, it seems like a safe choice. But Reid’s work for the crown leads her to question everything she thought she knew about her home.

Review

This was great! Reid is a terrific character. Being raised as a man in a patriarchal society, but knowing she is a woman puts her in a unique head space. She loves the freedoms her unusual upbringing has given her, but she also knows those freedoms are largely illusion. She can’t live as a man forever. But she also can’t walk back the authority she’s enjoyed. She can’t accept an arranged marriage and a life as a powerless, voiceless woman in her society after 18 years of freedom.

There are hints of a romance which felt like the weakest parts of the story to me. One of the princes is blatantly flirty. The other is brooding. Reid has a visceral reaction to one, and apparently he is interested in her, too, but I didn’t find this played out very well. There’s supposed to be angsty-ness over his engagement to someone else, but the groundwork didn’t feel strong enough to me for that to really play out well.

The twistiness of the political/royal story was delightful! I had so many questions along the way – what would Reid be asked to do? Who can she trust? What lies have been passed off as truth, and to whom? I can’t wait to dig into the rest of the series. Book 2, Shadow Knights, released earlier this month. Book 3, Hidden Knights, will be out in the spring. I have to know what happens next!

If you enjoy political or royal intrigue, spies, and strong female protagonists, don’t miss this one! It reminds me of books like Ash Princess or Kill the Queen or Ruined. I LOVE books like this, and I am here for this whole series!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Princess Plan by Julia London

REVIEW: The Princess Plan by Julia London

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and HQN in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The Crown Prince of Alucia has come to England for two reasons – to forge a trade agreement and to find a wife. And at the masquerade ball, he also finds a few… distractions. A redhead who distracts him for a few hours and another woman who flirts with him in a secret passageway.

Eliza is in the passageway to hide from the matron who wanted to fill up her dance card with what would probably be horrible dance partners. Spinsters like her were hardly the top prospects at these events. Eliza is happy to enjoy the rum punch  in peace while she tries to meet the Crown Prince.

While Sebastian and Eliza meet at the ball, they are thrown together more forcefully when Sebastian’s friend and personal secretary is murdered. Eliza was paying attention to the man at the ball because he’d been kind to her. Prince Sebastian is determined to have all the details she can provide. But Eliza isn’t like the simpering, acquiescing women he’s used to meeting. She won’t be cowed by his title or his attitude. And Sebastian finds he likes that about her.

Review

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a mystery. While there is a murder, and Sebastian and Eliza go looking for clues to the killer, that is secondary to the romance plot. I would have liked this to be both, frankly. It would have been great to see Eliza and Sebastian take down the killer together AND sort out their romantic woes. But while the killer is unmasked, it is revealed in a detached, distanced way, and the reader is clued in later on the details.

Romance fans who are less attached to the mystery likely will not care. Sebastian and Eliza have great friction early on. He’s arrogant and entitled, and she’s old enough and experienced enough not to kowtow to him. I loved how direct and sassy she was with him. The relationship is pretty typical for a romance between royalty and a commoner. Once they connect, how will they go on because of his obligations and her lack of status? The finagling of those issues made for a decent and happily ever after ending. (Sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥