416 reviews for:

The Princess Trials

Cordelia Castel

3.52 AVERAGE

katiereadsalot7's review against another edition

3.0

---

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is like the Selection and the Red Queen soppily smushed into whatever this is.

I think the Selection did it better because we got to see that the prince spent time one-on-one with the participants, but in this book it was too imbalanced because Prince Kevon spent too many visits with Zea. 

Also… the names!!! It’s like the author typed Kevin and then had a typo and decided Kevon was a good name… Ryce is too manipulative and autocorrect keeps insisting I’m spelling his name wrong. Zea-Mays Calico. Corn Flint Corn from Sweet Corn—WHY 😭

I’m not really liking the I’m-not-like-other-girls theme happening in this book… 
<I><blockquote>”Sending a silent word of thanks to the Harvesters in Morus for husbanding the silkworms.”</blockquote></i>
Everyone keeps picking on Zea and there’s not enough… karma. Everyone’s exerting so much effort for just this one Harvester girl… 

I don’t think I’m supposed to like Queen Damascena and Lady Circi, but they do be badass. 

Eh. It was fine.

moll_e's review against another edition

2.0

challenging emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thebattiest's review against another edition

2.0

---

This book intrigued me as a Dystopian writer myself. I was interested in seeing how the author handled world building and complex characters within that world. However, I was heavily disappointed with the lack of concrete descriptions of the world, the confusing organization of the people (how are Amistraad and Phangloria so connected when they’re 4,000 miles apart??), and the purpose of the Red Runners rebel group. It seems as though the main character, Zea, is doing everything in the Princess Trials for Ryce, one of the leaders of the rebel group and a character whom the readers meet briefly who is obviously a liar and a cheat. How can she fail to see that? Why is she so dedicated to a cause that doesn’t seem to help her or believe in her in any way? Everyone involved seems to be oblivious and shallow, making this story incredibly unbelievable and hard to connect to on an emotional level. Furthermore, the plot points seem way to consequential and are not character driven whatsoever. Character decisions seem fabricated and situational. None have deep feelings or the capability to see past their own desires.

onchita99's review against another edition

2.0

adventurous slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

su1896's review against another edition

4.0

---

*deep breaths*
The selection with an actual plot, ha?
First of all, can I say that I hate Zea. Like really. Just another dumbass, I loved the plot so much, hated her.
And i gave my whole heart to Kavon.

daniellenoren's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

judithxx's review against another edition

2.0

fast-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

shortstack5's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

jengiraffe5's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

sarahf2026's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes