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bookishemma_'s review against another edition
3.0
E-arc received from Net galley for an honest review
The Cup and the Prince follows Zora as she takes the place of her cheating ex-boyfriend in a royal competition. Which is what first grabbed my attention, after all, who doesn't enjoy a petty revenge story? Zora is representing her home, Dark Valley. The magic system in this book is what made me decide to pick up this book. In Dark Valley everywhere there is a shadow a monster will spawn. In the competition Zora finds herself being in the middle of three princes and their plans. Zora was an interesting and great protagonist, but all the other characters felt a bit flat to me. The romance also felt a bit flat, I didn't truly root for two characters to be together romantically. However, the plot and the pacing of this book was enjoyable, the way things sped up at the end had me turning the pages quicker. This book did have funny banter that I thoroughly enjoyed. Overall this book was a fun read and I feel like it would be good for anyone to pick up that likes fun and quick adventure reads.
The Cup and the Prince follows Zora as she takes the place of her cheating ex-boyfriend in a royal competition. Which is what first grabbed my attention, after all, who doesn't enjoy a petty revenge story? Zora is representing her home, Dark Valley. The magic system in this book is what made me decide to pick up this book. In Dark Valley everywhere there is a shadow a monster will spawn. In the competition Zora finds herself being in the middle of three princes and their plans. Zora was an interesting and great protagonist, but all the other characters felt a bit flat to me. The romance also felt a bit flat, I didn't truly root for two characters to be together romantically. However, the plot and the pacing of this book was enjoyable, the way things sped up at the end had me turning the pages quicker. This book did have funny banter that I thoroughly enjoyed. Overall this book was a fun read and I feel like it would be good for anyone to pick up that likes fun and quick adventure reads.
the_bookish_raven's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Zora had been a pretty decent person her whole life. Until her (ex) boyfriend turned out to be a scumbag and thought she was incapable of a lot of things, all because she was a girl. What else could she do by taking her revenge, knocking him out of the competition, and taking his place in the Games for herself? Despising love and being looked down on, Zora decides she’s going to win the Games to save her people and prove that she can. With a prince trying to knock her out of the competition, another prince forcing her to play weird games, and someone trying hard to murder her, Zora has a lot to worry about whether she’s in the arena or not.
Zora is such an awesome main character! I loved how she didn’t let people walk all over her, even the royalty! Her desire for revenge (mostly to spite all the men looking down on her) was quite amusing and her sarcastic nature was so entertaining! I didn’t care for how she seemed to cry somewhat frequently for someone who claims to be strong, though. However, her clever tactics and determination to win were definitely brilliant!
The world-building, particularly the idea of the Dark Valley, was so fascinating! The idea of the Royal Games was cool as well, though there’s still a lot about it we don’t know. I have a lot of questions about it, but I guess more will be revealed in the next book! The political games that were being played were also interesting; there’s some plot twist stuff towards the end that made me rather curious! The romance fell a little flat for me, and I didn’t really care for most of the side characters, but it’s always possible things will change in the next book.
Ultimately, I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes to see a female fighter as a main character and who appreciates unique world-building, political games, and competitions!
Zora had been a pretty decent person her whole life. Until her (ex) boyfriend turned out to be a scumbag and thought she was incapable of a lot of things, all because she was a girl. What else could she do by taking her revenge, knocking him out of the competition, and taking his place in the Games for herself? Despising love and being looked down on, Zora decides she’s going to win the Games to save her people and prove that she can. With a prince trying to knock her out of the competition, another prince forcing her to play weird games, and someone trying hard to murder her, Zora has a lot to worry about whether she’s in the arena or not.
Zora is such an awesome main character! I loved how she didn’t let people walk all over her, even the royalty! Her desire for revenge (mostly to spite all the men looking down on her) was quite amusing and her sarcastic nature was so entertaining! I didn’t care for how she seemed to cry somewhat frequently for someone who claims to be strong, though. However, her clever tactics and determination to win were definitely brilliant!
The world-building, particularly the idea of the Dark Valley, was so fascinating! The idea of the Royal Games was cool as well, though there’s still a lot about it we don’t know. I have a lot of questions about it, but I guess more will be revealed in the next book! The political games that were being played were also interesting; there’s some plot twist stuff towards the end that made me rather curious! The romance fell a little flat for me, and I didn’t really care for most of the side characters, but it’s always possible things will change in the next book.
Ultimately, I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes to see a female fighter as a main character and who appreciates unique world-building, political games, and competitions!
andervic000's review against another edition
4.0
Competing out of vengeance and pettiness… what could be better? I really loved the idea behind this story and it was fun to see the different characters’ plots and motivations. It took me a bit to adjust to the writing style and there were some aspects that felt a little too obscured. Overall, a very fun read though
bookwyrm96's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the plot of this book! I got invested in the characters very quickly, It was easy to follow, but you were never really confident that you knew who the villain was, which was very interesting and intriguing.
The main thing that took me out of the story was the language, it went back and forth between more formal language to using pretty modern slang, and that confused me as to approximately what time period I was supposed to picture.
There were also some typos that I think could be taken care of with one more proof reading, besides that, really cool story, I look forward to the next one!
The main thing that took me out of the story was the language, it went back and forth between more formal language to using pretty modern slang, and that confused me as to approximately what time period I was supposed to picture.
There were also some typos that I think could be taken care of with one more proof reading, besides that, really cool story, I look forward to the next one!
the_b00kreader's review against another edition
4.0
**TW**
Death, violence, poisoning
In this book we follow Zora as she takes part in many trials to win a mysterious cup...a cup that may be able to help the valley she lives in.
Zora ends up running into some problems and as the reader, you are keen to know just how far it can all go.
Tense and exciting, The Cup and the Prince contains many turns that truly keep you on your toes.
Three brothers with different intentions...which one is the good one?
I found Zora to be a likeable character who appeared to get on with mostly everyone. Even those who lost against her still found a way to be kind and 'grudge-less'.
The three brothers, Larzen, Kiran and Griffin seem to each be using Zora as a pawn in one way or another. But, Zora is headstrong and ignores them. Her character has had quite some development. She's smart, creative and a quick-thinker. She knows her limits, and makes sure that everyone is clear of where her boundaries are.
Zora is a wonderful female lead that could certainly be an idol for some readers.
The plot itself is quite interesting and I did get invested in the story. I wanted to know more, I wanted to know how it all played out... the consequence of that was being left on a cliffhanger. (Oh, the pain!)
After those last few chapters, I know I'm going to read book 2. I simply have to know what comes next and what Griffin meant.
Full of little twists and turns, The Cup and the Prince is a great book to dive into if you're looking for a tense yet, at the same time, light read.
Death, violence, poisoning
In this book we follow Zora as she takes part in many trials to win a mysterious cup...a cup that may be able to help the valley she lives in.
Zora ends up running into some problems and as the reader, you are keen to know just how far it can all go.
Tense and exciting, The Cup and the Prince contains many turns that truly keep you on your toes.
Three brothers with different intentions...which one is the good one?
I found Zora to be a likeable character who appeared to get on with mostly everyone. Even those who lost against her still found a way to be kind and 'grudge-less'.
The three brothers, Larzen, Kiran and Griffin seem to each be using Zora as a pawn in one way or another. But, Zora is headstrong and ignores them. Her character has had quite some development. She's smart, creative and a quick-thinker. She knows her limits, and makes sure that everyone is clear of where her boundaries are.
Zora is a wonderful female lead that could certainly be an idol for some readers.
The plot itself is quite interesting and I did get invested in the story. I wanted to know more, I wanted to know how it all played out... the consequence of that was being left on a cliffhanger. (Oh, the pain!)
After those last few chapters, I know I'm going to read book 2. I simply have to know what comes next and what Griffin meant.
Full of little twists and turns, The Cup and the Prince is a great book to dive into if you're looking for a tense yet, at the same time, light read.
msbeckybean's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
After coming across a Kickstarter campaign for Kingdom of Curses and Shadows Collector Edition Omnibus I decided to check out the books in the series. I was pleased to find The Cup and the Prince available at my public library and quickly borrowed it.
This was a change of pace from what I have been reading lately. I found the plot line similar to other books where a female lead needs to get through multiple challenges, in this case the Royal Games. I remained engaged throughout. The dynamic between the characters was entertaining and intriguing. I definitely felt like the end of the book came too quickly, but was delighted to find a cliffhanger ending to be continued in the next book. I'm keen to learn more about these characters, especially the Griffin, Larzen and Kiran - royal brothers with a clearly dysfunctional relationship.
This was a change of pace from what I have been reading lately. I found the plot line similar to other books where a female lead needs to get through multiple challenges, in this case the Royal Games. I remained engaged throughout. The dynamic between the characters was entertaining and intriguing. I definitely felt like the end of the book came too quickly, but was delighted to find a cliffhanger ending to be continued in the next book. I'm keen to learn more about these characters, especially the Griffin, Larzen and Kiran - royal brothers with a clearly dysfunctional relationship.
mymultiverse's review against another edition
4.0
ARC provided in exchange of an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.
What an enjoyable read! I admit that it was both the title and cover that got my attention first but then I read the synopsis and I was sold with the Royal Games idea.
Zora was a great character to follow and I couldn't not cheer for her. She was relatable, yet very strong and passionate. She was determined in both her goals and values. On the other side, we had Griffin, which was interesting to read about, because you learn more about the inner workings of the games and how he really felt. However, I still preferred Zora's point of view, because it was fresher and filled with more action. Griffin's perspective was necessary but some passages felt a bit repetitive because of his storyline.
It is a pity that the book was so short because even though it was still entertaining, it could have had more in character development and the relationships built throughout the story. Some characters were a bit too much and a couple relationships suffered from the shortness of the book, but it's not something that took me out of the book or made me enjoy it any less. Some characters surprised me because I was not expecting to like them or did not imagine they would be in the book as much, but I was disappointed in others (again, probably due to the lenght of the book) and their actions. I am wondering if we will see any changes in the next books with those characters or get to understand them better.
The Royal Games were interesting and I was curious about the process and the actual games, which were easier than I would have expected, but it was Zora, her defiance and attitude that made me enjoy the book as much as I did. I cannot wait for The Curse and The Prince in a few days!
What an enjoyable read! I admit that it was both the title and cover that got my attention first but then I read the synopsis and I was sold with the Royal Games idea.
Zora was a great character to follow and I couldn't not cheer for her. She was relatable, yet very strong and passionate. She was determined in both her goals and values. On the other side, we had Griffin, which was interesting to read about, because you learn more about the inner workings of the games and how he really felt. However, I still preferred Zora's point of view, because it was fresher and filled with more action. Griffin's perspective was necessary but some passages felt a bit repetitive because of his storyline.
It is a pity that the book was so short because even though it was still entertaining, it could have had more in character development and the relationships built throughout the story. Some characters were a bit too much and a couple relationships suffered from the shortness of the book, but it's not something that took me out of the book or made me enjoy it any less. Some characters surprised me because I was not expecting to like them or did not imagine they would be in the book as much, but I was disappointed in others (again, probably due to the lenght of the book) and their actions. I am wondering if we will see any changes in the next books with those characters or get to understand them better.
The Royal Games were interesting and I was curious about the process and the actual games, which were easier than I would have expected, but it was Zora, her defiance and attitude that made me enjoy the book as much as I did. I cannot wait for The Curse and The Prince in a few days!
magicbetweenpages's review against another edition
3.0
In all honesty I was not a real big fan of this one. I understand that it was supposed to be a strong female lead, who does not let anyone or anything get in her way. And I'm all in for that. It was just the writing style that took it down a notch I'm me really enjoying this book.
books_over_everything's review against another edition
4.0
Initial Thoughts
My bestie, @lianne_the_bibliophile picked up a copy of this book a while ago and, of course, I followed suit and grabbed the Kindle Unlimited version. I didn’t get to it in 2020 but, I saw that Day Leitao was looking for ARC readers for her next book, so I jumped at the chance.
Some Things I Liked
Snarky main character. I live for characters with wit and sass. If you don’t have something clever to say, don’t talk. No, that’s mean. But, kind of true. I loved Zora. She was sassy and her story opens with a plot of revenge. She was awesome.
Competition setting. I also loved that most of the story revolved around a competition held by the King.
Enemies to lovers romances. I loved that Zora had a few love interests but it wasn’t quite a love triangle. It was just tension everywhere. It made the banter and the secrets that revealed themselves throughout the story that much more interesting.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Some of the scenes felt rushed. Like one page we were standing in Griffin’s office and the next the next part of the contest was over? I think my criticism here is that I wish there were better transitions between scenes.
Series Value
I would definitely keep reading this series. In fact, I already read the prequel novella The Shadows and the Children by Day Leitao. You can read it too if you subscribe to Day’s newsletter.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. I love supporting indie authors and I’m glad I bumped this book up on my TBR. I’m looking forward to the next book, coming out on January 14, 2021.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas – I know, I recommend this series a lot, but it’s so perfect. A snarky heroine who competes in a contest held by the king? If you haven’t read it by now, you definitely should.
The Fate of Crowns by Rebecca L. Garcia – if you liked the secrets and lies as well as the plot of meddling royals, try this new indie series.
The Curse and the Prince by Day Leitao – I’ll be reading this one really soon but if you want to read it before me, it hits shelves on January 14, 2021!
My bestie, @lianne_the_bibliophile picked up a copy of this book a while ago and, of course, I followed suit and grabbed the Kindle Unlimited version. I didn’t get to it in 2020 but, I saw that Day Leitao was looking for ARC readers for her next book, so I jumped at the chance.
Some Things I Liked
Snarky main character. I live for characters with wit and sass. If you don’t have something clever to say, don’t talk. No, that’s mean. But, kind of true. I loved Zora. She was sassy and her story opens with a plot of revenge. She was awesome.
Competition setting. I also loved that most of the story revolved around a competition held by the King.
Enemies to lovers romances. I loved that Zora had a few love interests but it wasn’t quite a love triangle. It was just tension everywhere. It made the banter and the secrets that revealed themselves throughout the story that much more interesting.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Some of the scenes felt rushed. Like one page we were standing in Griffin’s office and the next the next part of the contest was over? I think my criticism here is that I wish there were better transitions between scenes.
Series Value
I would definitely keep reading this series. In fact, I already read the prequel novella The Shadows and the Children by Day Leitao. You can read it too if you subscribe to Day’s newsletter.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. I love supporting indie authors and I’m glad I bumped this book up on my TBR. I’m looking forward to the next book, coming out on January 14, 2021.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas – I know, I recommend this series a lot, but it’s so perfect. A snarky heroine who competes in a contest held by the king? If you haven’t read it by now, you definitely should.
The Fate of Crowns by Rebecca L. Garcia – if you liked the secrets and lies as well as the plot of meddling royals, try this new indie series.
The Curse and the Prince by Day Leitao – I’ll be reading this one really soon but if you want to read it before me, it hits shelves on January 14, 2021!