Reviews

The Reclaimed Kingdom by Dana Claire

atrailofpages's review against another edition

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2.0

The synopsis of this book sounded really good! It had potential. It made me think of Robin Hood/Snow White. However, it didn’t really live up to what I was expecting.

The synopsis makes it seem like we start out with Dru disguised as a boy joining the Band of Brothers stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Turns out, the book starts out with all that in the past, so they already know she’s a girl. So, that’s fine, but with the way that started, then the pacing for the story was really off for me. It felt very rushed, especially the relationships. It didn’t make sense to me that the prince would just drop everything and befriend the Band of Brothers without first understanding their goals, as well as for the Band of Brothers to just suddenly accept the Prince without understand what the Prince’s endgame is. They just suddenly became allies overnight, which I thought strange.

Then the romance just didn’t make sense to me. Love triangles are not my favorite, I will admit, but Dru I guess loved each boy equally, and the boys were fine with it....that just confused me, it wasn’t realistic for me.

There also seemed to be plot holes in the story, such as I had no idea what the parents were doing(aside from the evil queen), I don’t understand what the kings were doing, or what war was going on that took them away. I also couldn’t figure out whether the way they spoke was supposed to be medieval, or modern, it seemed to be a mix of the two.

I did like the magic system with Dru being a Syphon, drawing on people’s emotions to balance them out, or remove memories, and the evil queen being a leech who took and kept their emotions. I wish the world had been expounded on as well since I think there was potential there, along with the plot.

I really think this story had a good synopsis and could have been a really good book. This was really more of a 2.5 stars for me. This book was just not for me, however that doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy it

anotherstoryreader's review against another edition

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4.0

The Reclaimed Kingdom by Dana Claire

I found this book highly enjoyable! A young princess is living on the lamb, chased away from by the evil queen/stepmother who tortured her. She finds a band of brothers in arms who take her in, unknowing who she really is. She finds family and a cause with these outlaws who rob from the rich and give to the poor. Dru, our princess, and her brothers are all very likable and there is plenty of action to be had.

There were a few points I wanted to address. I did find the dialog a little clunky at times. It swung from very formal to English peasant and it was sometimes a little jarring. And also the pacing with some of the scenes was off for me.
While some things like the magical system were very well developed others were not. Like where was Dru’s father, the king through most of the book? Why did it seem that no one noticed or cared until the queen claimed he was murdered.
Also, do you know how sometimes something small in a book can start to bother you? You know it’s a ridiculous thing to obsess about but still… I found the kingdom's names very off-putting for some reason. D’land and D’wales.
Why do they both start with D’? And can you throw a D’ in front of any word and call it something new? D’river, D’kingdon, D’mountian. Like I said this could just be me but I cringed each time I saw the names.
I was also a tad frustrated with the love triangle. Although admittedly they aren’t my favorite thorpe. Dru kept publicly making out each of the guys and never seemed to have a thought about how it would hurt the other man to walk in and see. They were both are really great guys so even I couldn’t choose. Every time it seemed like she was going to make a choice, she would make out with the other guy. There was no conclusion to the triangle but I guess that’s what book two was for. I just wish she didn’t drag them both along.
If you're still reading I’m glad. These things did catch my notice but I don’t mean to say that I didn’t like this book. I certainly did and I would read the next in the series. I feel like this was a very fresh take on magic and I loved Dru finding family and acceptance with a chosen family.
I was given a free e-copy copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

brookee03's review against another edition

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3.0

I’ve been in a reading slump lately and I just couldn’t get into this story. Nothing against the writer or her writing.

literatureandleaves's review

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5.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book has officially taken the top spot as my favorite Dana Claire book!
I’m going to recommend this right off the bat.
A Robin Hood retelling where fantasy and bedtime fables come out to play. Twists and turns kept me guessing, while the sweet connections warmed my heart. The writing drew me in and I loved every minute.
Dru’s strength and resilience shine bright as she holds onto her determination to see her kingdom restored. She’s a fighter, and I love it.
My only question is-when is the next one coming out?!?!

beastreader's review against another edition

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4.0

Dru is a female but she has been living under the disguise of a boy for years with her band of brothers including Hawkin.

She, Hawkin, and the rest of the men are like Robin Hood and the merry men. During one of their raids; they come across Dodge. He is the prince. Dodge knows Dru's identity and threatens to reveal it if Dru does not help him to stop the evil Queen.

Instantly, I was drawn into this story. This is because I felt the emotional and character connection with Dru, Hawkin, Dodge and the rest of the characters. There is a bit of some romance happening but it is minor and not a major focal point of this story. Which I enjoyed as I did not really feel like the romance was required.

The last third of this story is where all of the action happens. It is where I the reader learns more about Dru and just who she really is. Fantasy readers like me will really enjoy this book. I look forward to continuing this journey with Dru, Hawkin, and Dodge.

inscribedinklings's review against another edition

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4.0

The Reclaimed Kingdom by Dana Claire

theoriginal_b00k_nerd's review against another edition

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4.0

The Reclaimed Kingdom Review

Couple: Dry with Hawkin and Dodge

Author: Dana Claire

Tropes: Robin Hood theme, morally grey, love triangle, fantasy romance, hidden royals

Review: A hidden queen with magical powers trying to save her people. A crown prince desperate to find her. A band of misfit rebels ready to burn the realm down for her. A sworn protector willing to follow her into battle.

The Reclaimed Kingdom is a YA fantasy novel that draws you in from page one. It begins in the past to set the stage for why Dru ran away and why she is hiding from her best friend Dodge, the crown prince. During her escape, Dre runs into a rebel band and pretty soon becomes the leader of this merry band.

This book has a lot of Robin Hood themes with Dru leading the cause. After a hit gone wrong, she finds herself face to face with Dodge again and is inexplicably drawn into his web. Upon reconnecting Dru is drawn into her powers again and finds herself facing the secret of her past with her new found family.

We soon learn that many secrets were hidden from Dru and when they come to light her future is irrevocably changed forever. Embarking on a quest to save her kingdom from the evil queen she must face her past and accept her place as rightful queen.

This book is a clean romance that has a love triangle between Hawkin, Dru and Dodge. Many secrets unfold and after they are revealed I became team Dodge all the way! Something about Hawkin rubs me wrong. Excited to see where the journey goes!

Rating: 4/5, great start to the series with a bug cliffhanger at the end!

hannahffion's review against another edition

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4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It follows Dru as she fights to save her Kingdom from their evil queen. Dru is discovering more about her Syphon powers while navigating a love triangle and fighting her Step-mother.

The book felt like a grown-up fairytale. It had hints of Robin Hood and Snow White, along with many other fairytales.

I thought that Dru’s powers were really unique and well explained and I liked the link that Dodge has with her because of these powers. This book was really well set-up for the another book and I’m looking forward to reading that too.

There were a few sections in this book that felt like they dragged a bit and a few sections that felt a bit rushed, but overall I really liked the pace of the book. The language was also confusing in parts because it was a mixture of Northern English slang and Scottish slang, but it is set in a fantasy world so I suppose it would make sense if it was a mix and match of slang from different countries.

Overall, I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to others!

stephrilla's review

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

calliepey's review

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5.0

This is an action packed Robin Hood (with a flare of Snow White to me) retelling. Dru manages to escape her Leech Step Mother who is terrorizing her kingdom, leaving behind her childhood sweetheart and the citizens she’s determined to protect. In the forest she meets the Band of Brothers becoming one of their best in the disguise of a boy. There is no shortage of action and battles in this storytelling.

The dynamic between Dodge, Dru and Hawkin is funny with heartwarming humor and complex as the two men strive to win her affections. For me, I’m hoping it’s setting up for a why choose, but might be a love triangle.

The worldbuilding is good. I enjoyed learning about syphons and their protectors as well as leeches. I am very intrigued to learn if these three can avoid the fate destined to them. Looking forward to book two!