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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am happy to give my honest review.
I'm an Alyssa Cole fan. I find her work intelligent and fun escapism. I especially love her royals series and a was excited to see more from Bez. Overall, this book was entertaining but I felt the pace was off a bit and the ending was rushed.
Makeda has had a rough year. She feels useful when she's helping people and that's led her girlfriend to leave her and to default on a small business loan. She moves in with her grandmother to try to start piecing her life back together. She's adamant about ignoring her supposed royal heritage because it's ruined her relationship with her mom. Until Bez shows up and she can't ignore it anymore.
Bez is an investigator for the royals. She's tasked with finding the rightful heir of Ibarania and tracks Makeda down. She's a little over the top with her scheming and personality. I'm wondering if Cole meant for this character to be neurodiverse. Either way, she gets her way and gets Makeda on a ship to Ibarania to claim her heritage and clear Bez's family's name.
Honestly, the whole container ship plot was really interesting. It's nothing I've read before and the cast of characters made it really fun. It took up like 70% of the book so when they did finally get to Ibarania the whole ending was completely rushed. I'm guessing we'll hear more about this county in future books but it felt a little flat in this book.
I'm an Alyssa Cole fan. I find her work intelligent and fun escapism. I especially love her royals series and a was excited to see more from Bez. Overall, this book was entertaining but I felt the pace was off a bit and the ending was rushed.
Makeda has had a rough year. She feels useful when she's helping people and that's led her girlfriend to leave her and to default on a small business loan. She moves in with her grandmother to try to start piecing her life back together. She's adamant about ignoring her supposed royal heritage because it's ruined her relationship with her mom. Until Bez shows up and she can't ignore it anymore.
Bez is an investigator for the royals. She's tasked with finding the rightful heir of Ibarania and tracks Makeda down. She's a little over the top with her scheming and personality. I'm wondering if Cole meant for this character to be neurodiverse. Either way, she gets her way and gets Makeda on a ship to Ibarania to claim her heritage and clear Bez's family's name.
Honestly, the whole container ship plot was really interesting. It's nothing I've read before and the cast of characters made it really fun. It took up like 70% of the book so when they did finally get to Ibarania the whole ending was completely rushed. I'm guessing we'll hear more about this county in future books but it felt a little flat in this book.
A- / 4.5 stars. Fluffy, feel-good ff re-imagining of Anastasia. It's very tropey and over the top, and it also gleefully explodes and subverts genre tropes.
I wouldn't recommend this for readers looking for realism but if you like ridiculous romances involving royalty from tiny fictional countries and especially if you'd like this sort of romance better if they were less straight / white / imperialistic, then this is the story for you.
I wouldn't recommend this for readers looking for realism but if you like ridiculous romances involving royalty from tiny fictional countries and especially if you'd like this sort of romance better if they were less straight / white / imperialistic, then this is the story for you.
Gay Anastasia vibes. Loved the premise but was a little disappointed with the wrap up.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Got 142 pages and dnf'd not because it was bad. It was a very cute escapist romance. It just couldn't hold my attention any longer. This isn't particularly my genre. Sike I actually finished it
Edit: Ms. Alyssa I am soooooooo sorry queen I was a hater and now I'm a believer I'm glad I finished this corny ass book happy pride ily!!!!!
Edit: Ms. Alyssa I am soooooooo sorry queen I was a hater and now I'm a believer I'm glad I finished this corny ass book happy pride ily!!!!!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars for How to Find a Princess. We loved the premise for this one - a queer Anastasia retelling? Who would be a princess for a Mediterranean island nation whose monarchy is the result of a slave uprising? Yes, please! This book focuses on Beznaria Chetchevaliere who we met in [b:How to Catch a Queen|52696457|How to Catch a Queen (Runaway Royals, #1)|Alyssa Cole|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574329774l/52696457._SY75_.jpg|73107751]. She's been sent on what is intended to be a fruitless mission to find the heir to Ibarania, and she thinks she's found the princess in Makeda Hicks of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
So far, so good! What was harder for us was relating to either of the main characters. Makeda is a "giver," and she spends most of her time helping others - whether they want her help or not. After losing her job, her apartment, and her girlfriend, Makeda has moved back in with her grandmother and is working on enforcing her own personal boundaries. Unfortunately Bez seems to be an expert in breaking through other people's boundaries. She refuses to take no for an answer, whether that be from Makeda to her grandmother to her employer.
We enjoyed the book, but have preferred the other entries in Cole's royal romances.
8-Word Summaries:
Laine: Maybe-princess and bodyguard kissing on a ship.
Meg: Sexy transatlantic boat trip with a fake relationship.
This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy of the novel.
So far, so good! What was harder for us was relating to either of the main characters. Makeda is a "giver," and she spends most of her time helping others - whether they want her help or not. After losing her job, her apartment, and her girlfriend, Makeda has moved back in with her grandmother and is working on enforcing her own personal boundaries. Unfortunately Bez seems to be an expert in breaking through other people's boundaries. She refuses to take no for an answer, whether that be from Makeda to her grandmother to her employer.
We enjoyed the book, but have preferred the other entries in Cole's royal romances.
8-Word Summaries:
Laine: Maybe-princess and bodyguard kissing on a ship.
Meg: Sexy transatlantic boat trip with a fake relationship.
This objective review is based on a complimentary advanced reader copy of the novel.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes