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I struggled a bit with this one. I really liked the fact that the main character had a hidden illness (Lupus) and there was discussion about the impact it had on the choices she made. The hero was nice, listened when she talked, and tried to be a good guy.
The world building, however, didn’t feel like it was as well thought out as it could have been and the plot could be confusing at times. It is difficult to create a fantasy world and the author should have spent a bit more time with it.
The world building, however, didn’t feel like it was as well thought out as it could have been and the plot could be confusing at times. It is difficult to create a fantasy world and the author should have spent a bit more time with it.
I picked this up after it was named a best romance of 2019 by Publishers Weekly, and was expecting a light contemporary romance, given its photo-realistic cover. Weirdly, it proved to be a fantasy novel, although a fantasy set in a very strange world. Or, actually, NOT strange; it actually sounds a lot like our current world, technologically: cell phones, the Internet, computer games, NSAIDs and other current medicines, etc. But airships instead of airplanes? And countries on the same continent that have wildly different attitudes towards gender? And skin color that varies widely from country to country? And a "Veil" under which some of the countries live, for no reason really explained? And romance novels?? This entire world left me scratching my head.
And the romance did not compensate for the lack of thoughtful world-building, alas. Our couple are two royals: Abelia Olivia Jayne Venenza Ribaldi Porchenzii, princess of Brevspor, who has abdicated her title and run away to Gardenia; and Edward Kenneth Francis Benson Broward, Prince of Orangiers, who is currently engaged in a war with his older brother, who tried to stab their father and take over the throne before his allotted time. The two were friends as children, and were betrothed to each other when they were twelve, before Abbie's older sisters died, leaving her as Brevspor heir. But Abbie has a chronic health condition that she believes makes her unfit for the role, hence her abdication and running away. But for some reason I never really understood (will it make his own heirdom more secure?), he needs Abbie to return and live up to their marriage contract. So he sends two trusted agents to retrieve her from her self-imposed exile, while he pursues his errant brother.
But others are on the hunt for Abbie, too, and the story turns into a road trip adventure. Weirdly, mid-story, Edward suddenly decides to join Abbie on her flight back home to see her dying father (if he could reach them with such ease, why couldn't they reach him??). And the two rekindle their romantic feelings (although not in an overtly sexual way, although there's lots of innuendo; apparently this is a "clean" fantasy, "sweet with a little heat").
It was interesting to think about a story featuring a princess with a disability. But this read more like a middle grade adventure novel than a romance for adults. Don't think I'll be picking up the sequel...
And the romance did not compensate for the lack of thoughtful world-building, alas. Our couple are two royals: Abelia Olivia Jayne Venenza Ribaldi Porchenzii, princess of Brevspor, who has abdicated her title and run away to Gardenia; and Edward Kenneth Francis Benson Broward, Prince of Orangiers, who is currently engaged in a war with his older brother, who tried to stab their father and take over the throne before his allotted time. The two were friends as children, and were betrothed to each other when they were twelve, before Abbie's older sisters died, leaving her as Brevspor heir. But Abbie has a chronic health condition that she believes makes her unfit for the role, hence her abdication and running away. But for some reason I never really understood (will it make his own heirdom more secure?), he needs Abbie to return and live up to their marriage contract. So he sends two trusted agents to retrieve her from her self-imposed exile, while he pursues his errant brother.
But others are on the hunt for Abbie, too, and the story turns into a road trip adventure. Weirdly, mid-story, Edward suddenly decides to join Abbie on her flight back home to see her dying father (if he could reach them with such ease, why couldn't they reach him??). And the two rekindle their romantic feelings (although not in an overtly sexual way, although there's lots of innuendo; apparently this is a "clean" fantasy, "sweet with a little heat").
It was interesting to think about a story featuring a princess with a disability. But this read more like a middle grade adventure novel than a romance for adults. Don't think I'll be picking up the sequel...
"Chasing Down Her Highness" by Fiona West was a fun, refreshingly creative blend of adventure, fantasy, and romance that featured lovably quirky characters and a fast-paced, engaging plot. For good reason, female lead character Abelia (aka Abbie), the erstwhile princess of Brevspor, gave up her claim to the throne and left to build a life of her own. Her betrothal contract to childhood friend and fellow royal Prince Edward of Orangiers remained in effect, however, so when Edward's brother attempted to murder their father and set off a potential civil war, he decided to track down his wayward fiancee. Edward hoped that marrying Abbie and solidifying their countries' alliance might be enough to prevent the coming battle. Unfortunately, he didn't plan on Abbie's refusal to honor their contract, mercenaries intent on kidnapping her to prevent the marriage, or any number of other threats along the way. They were forced to undertake a lengthy, arduous journey in disguise on horseback through unknown (and often unfriendly) territory to get back home.
I loved the way Abbie and Edward's romance slowly grew over the course of the story as they got to know each other again as adults. Even though the book ended in a HFN (Abbie and Edward's story continues into book two with their wedding), their story felt complete, and I wasn't disappointed at all with where they ended up. I also loved how much growth was evident in each of their character arcs.
The book's secondary characters were a tremendous amount of fun and added a lot of depth and humor to the story. My favorite was Stargazer the talking horse because he was so amusing; his lines were some of the best in the book. I also liked Abbie's traveling companions, Rubald and Rutha. Rubald was sometimes a bit gruff, but his wife Rutha was so kind and loving, and they each took good care of Abbie in their own way.
Overall, I really enjoyed "Chasing Down Her Highness" and recommend it for fans of YA and/or adult fantasy romance. I plan to continue with the series.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
I loved the way Abbie and Edward's romance slowly grew over the course of the story as they got to know each other again as adults. Even though the book ended in a HFN (Abbie and Edward's story continues into book two with their wedding), their story felt complete, and I wasn't disappointed at all with where they ended up. I also loved how much growth was evident in each of their character arcs.
The book's secondary characters were a tremendous amount of fun and added a lot of depth and humor to the story. My favorite was Stargazer the talking horse because he was so amusing; his lines were some of the best in the book. I also liked Abbie's traveling companions, Rubald and Rutha. Rubald was sometimes a bit gruff, but his wife Rutha was so kind and loving, and they each took good care of Abbie in their own way.
Overall, I really enjoyed "Chasing Down Her Highness" and recommend it for fans of YA and/or adult fantasy romance. I plan to continue with the series.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Loved the unique twist on this fantasy world where the Veiled countries are modern tech and the Unveiled countries are full of magic and low-tech. Modern tech fantasy with cellphones is something you rarely see. The romance was a bit overplayed in my opinion, but I liked the way the author handled the main character's illness.
Delightfully minimalist world-building of this alternate-world fantasy romance made this a fun read.
Abelia was the crown princess of her country before she fled to make an independent life for herself in a different country. She has very good reasons for doing so, but that doesn't stop the prince of yet another country trying to track her down five years later to enforce a marriage contract. It's half politics, as a marriage between the two may head off a war, and half fulfillment of a romance that the two of them began as kids. Unfortunately Edward's need for Hannah to be his wife doesn't fix the reasons she left in the first place.
It's an alternate Earth (with dirigibles of course!) where all sorts of high tech coexists with magic and some countries live with more or less magic based on what side of a magical Veil they're on. Phones, internet, talking horses and floating ships are mixed together completely matter-of-factly. The reason Abelia left is deftly handled and is respectful of people with the same "hidden" medical issues while showing how those issues need to be managed to live a relatively normal life.
Abelia was the crown princess of her country before she fled to make an independent life for herself in a different country. She has very good reasons for doing so, but that doesn't stop the prince of yet another country trying to track her down five years later to enforce a marriage contract. It's half politics, as a marriage between the two may head off a war, and half fulfillment of a romance that the two of them began as kids. Unfortunately Edward's need for Hannah to be his wife doesn't fix the reasons she left in the first place.
It's an alternate Earth (with dirigibles of course!) where all sorts of high tech coexists with magic and some countries live with more or less magic based on what side of a magical Veil they're on. Phones, internet, talking horses and floating ships are mixed together completely matter-of-factly. The reason Abelia left is deftly handled and is respectful of people with the same "hidden" medical issues while showing how those issues need to be managed to live a relatively normal life.
A princess fantasy with a modern twist, this book kept me on the edge of my seat! There was action, mystery, adventure and romance - everything you could want in a fairy tale for adults. Besides the two main characters, there were many other secondary characters that grabbed my attention as well, including a talking horse who brought humor into a few very serious situations. This book had a great balance of many themes, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
Abelia Porchenzii used to be a princess. She is not anymore - got it? She is just a plant worker now, making her own money and trying to steer clear of any mention of her royal family. She has a harder time doing so, though, when messengers find her to let her know that her father is dying...and that her betrothed, a prince, insists that she honor their marriage contract. Growing up with the prince, she knows loving him would not be a problem, but there is a secret she is keeping from him. One which caused her to run away in the first place and which could threaten the fabric of her world should she become a Queen.
Abelia was a difficult character for me to settle an opinion on. I loved her independence and her stubborn nature - I could relate to that. However, not really giving the reader a backstory made it difficult for me to understand where her refusal to rule was coming from. Since it was a secret from everyone else, it was kept secret from the reader as well. So Abelia sometimes came across as a bit immature and unreasonable. Of course, later on, it all made sense, but still, an explanation in a prologue or maybe a flashback would have been useful. Her counterpart, Edward Broward, had loved Abelia for years, and his last wish was to force her to do something. But he needed someone by his side, and she was the only person he wanted to hold that position. I enjoyed his character a lot more, simply because he was so understanding of Abelia and cared for her. His approach with her took into account their past and her anxieties, and he was easy to fall in love with. The politics of the world were a bit vague at times, but I found it interesting how Edward and Abelia fit into it all. Particularly the fact that they were a interracial couple, and it wasn't dwelled upon all that much. Instead, it was often brought up how their skin would react when blushing or being sunburned. But otherwise, they were just two people in love. I liked that.
Fiona West is an author to watch, for sure! I am intrigued to see what she writes next. It's sure to be a fun romp of a read!
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
Abelia Porchenzii used to be a princess. She is not anymore - got it? She is just a plant worker now, making her own money and trying to steer clear of any mention of her royal family. She has a harder time doing so, though, when messengers find her to let her know that her father is dying...and that her betrothed, a prince, insists that she honor their marriage contract. Growing up with the prince, she knows loving him would not be a problem, but there is a secret she is keeping from him. One which caused her to run away in the first place and which could threaten the fabric of her world should she become a Queen.
Abelia was a difficult character for me to settle an opinion on. I loved her independence and her stubborn nature - I could relate to that. However, not really giving the reader a backstory made it difficult for me to understand where her refusal to rule was coming from. Since it was a secret from everyone else, it was kept secret from the reader as well. So Abelia sometimes came across as a bit immature and unreasonable. Of course, later on, it all made sense, but still, an explanation in a prologue or maybe a flashback would have been useful. Her counterpart, Edward Broward, had loved Abelia for years, and his last wish was to force her to do something. But he needed someone by his side, and she was the only person he wanted to hold that position. I enjoyed his character a lot more, simply because he was so understanding of Abelia and cared for her. His approach with her took into account their past and her anxieties, and he was easy to fall in love with. The politics of the world were a bit vague at times, but I found it interesting how Edward and Abelia fit into it all. Particularly the fact that they were a interracial couple, and it wasn't dwelled upon all that much. Instead, it was often brought up how their skin would react when blushing or being sunburned. But otherwise, they were just two people in love. I liked that.
Fiona West is an author to watch, for sure! I am intrigued to see what she writes next. It's sure to be a fun romp of a read!
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
Set in a unique fantasy land with strict boundaries containing magic and tech, this book chronicles both the ex-princess' journey back home and her journey to accepting who she is. It truly does a beautiful job dealing with invisible disabilities and the complications they spawn.
Full of adventure and friendships, the large cast of characters was amazingly dynamic. The love story was funny and sweet, a slow burn that was relationship based. Definitely a world I want to spend more time in.
Full of adventure and friendships, the large cast of characters was amazingly dynamic. The love story was funny and sweet, a slow burn that was relationship based. Definitely a world I want to spend more time in.
This was a world and cast of characters I just fell in love with. Funny, witty, sweet, sarcastic, caring, tender, and incredibly stubborn and mule headed. Abbie is an amazing character dealing with an autoimmune condition that is dealt with in an honest, real and raw way that is rarely seen. The enemies to lovers romance is so well done - oh Edward - my heart! Clean, slow burn, relationship based- the kind of deep love that isn't afraid to laugh at the awkward moments and battle though the conflicts. All wrapped up in a fantastic adventure you won't want to put down.
The world is unique as well, with strict boundaries containing magic and tech. The magic seems almost sentient at times - and playful and capricious. This book chronicles both the ex-princess' journey back home and her journey to accepting who she is. Along the way she encounters a large cast of dynamic characters, many of whom you will be loath to leave behind. Definitely a world I want to spend more time in.
This is the first book in the Rocky Royal Romance series and can be read as a standalone - no clffhanger ending. The world and characters are so richly drawn you'll want to dive right back in though. There is a bit of set up for the next book in the series and promises of more danger, swoon-worthy kisses and laugh out loud hilarity.
The world is unique as well, with strict boundaries containing magic and tech. The magic seems almost sentient at times - and playful and capricious. This book chronicles both the ex-princess' journey back home and her journey to accepting who she is. Along the way she encounters a large cast of dynamic characters, many of whom you will be loath to leave behind. Definitely a world I want to spend more time in.
This is the first book in the Rocky Royal Romance series and can be read as a standalone - no clffhanger ending. The world and characters are so richly drawn you'll want to dive right back in though. There is a bit of set up for the next book in the series and promises of more danger, swoon-worthy kisses and laugh out loud hilarity.
This book was so good!
I loved it. There are no other words for it. It had an immersible world and characters that were flawed and lovable and relatable and I can’t wait for the next one.
The world was impressive. The mixture of modern technology with old timey prejudices and practices were so clever, I didn’t even notice it until after I had finished reading. The Veil was such an interesting part of the book that it became it’s own character for me. I wanted to know more about where it had come from, or had it always been there, and whether or not it did have a negative effect on the peoples’ brain. It was the largest and the most invisible character in the book.
The character growth was done so well and so seamlessly. I was awed. Abbie, the main character, starts out so sweet and innocent and still a badass and then turns into just a really epic badass. I mean, she even takes on a guy everybody is afraid of. To be honest, I kinda got Aelin (from the Throne of Glass series) vibes from her but that is definitely not a bad thing. She is just so..yeah. And she learns too. It’s not a conscious thought like: “Oh, I’m in a new part of the world things are different here.” No, it’s completely organic and beautiful. See, she’s in charge of an entire country. A matriarchal country. Which means that women are held up higher than men. She accepts it and doesn’t think anything of it until one point, she reunites with her brother and he isn’t announced into the room. Whereas she can’t go anywhere without being announced. And her thoughts are so perfect. “No one announced him; it shouldn’t have surprised her as men were never announced in Brevspor, but it somehow now felt wrong.” I mean! If that’s not growth, I don’t know what is.
And the relationships between her and her father, her and Parker, and her and Rubald and Rutha were so sweet and added an element of tenderness to an otherwise arranged marriage AU story.
That’s not to say I don’t like arranged marriage AU. I do. A little too much. Probably why this book tugged and plucked every single one of my heartstrings.
I was hoping for a bit more of an explanation or maybe flashbacks to her relationship with her mother and the effect it had on her. We were able to catch glimpses, little words and volleys thrown back and forth between Abbie and her mother’s memory in her head but I would have liked more.
All in all, I am counting down the days for Un-Queen which doesn’t come out until June. UGH!
I loved it. There are no other words for it. It had an immersible world and characters that were flawed and lovable and relatable and I can’t wait for the next one.
The world was impressive. The mixture of modern technology with old timey prejudices and practices were so clever, I didn’t even notice it until after I had finished reading. The Veil was such an interesting part of the book that it became it’s own character for me. I wanted to know more about where it had come from, or had it always been there, and whether or not it did have a negative effect on the peoples’ brain. It was the largest and the most invisible character in the book.
The character growth was done so well and so seamlessly. I was awed. Abbie, the main character, starts out so sweet and innocent and still a badass and then turns into just a really epic badass. I mean, she even takes on a guy everybody is afraid of. To be honest, I kinda got Aelin (from the Throne of Glass series) vibes from her but that is definitely not a bad thing. She is just so..yeah. And she learns too. It’s not a conscious thought like: “Oh, I’m in a new part of the world things are different here.” No, it’s completely organic and beautiful. See, she’s in charge of an entire country. A matriarchal country. Which means that women are held up higher than men. She accepts it and doesn’t think anything of it until one point, she reunites with her brother and he isn’t announced into the room. Whereas she can’t go anywhere without being announced. And her thoughts are so perfect. “No one announced him; it shouldn’t have surprised her as men were never announced in Brevspor, but it somehow now felt wrong.” I mean! If that’s not growth, I don’t know what is.
And the relationships between her and her father, her and Parker, and her and Rubald and Rutha were so sweet and added an element of tenderness to an otherwise arranged marriage AU story.
That’s not to say I don’t like arranged marriage AU. I do. A little too much. Probably why this book tugged and plucked every single one of my heartstrings.
I was hoping for a bit more of an explanation or maybe flashbacks to her relationship with her mother and the effect it had on her. We were able to catch glimpses, little words and volleys thrown back and forth between Abbie and her mother’s memory in her head but I would have liked more.
All in all, I am counting down the days for Un-Queen which doesn’t come out until June. UGH!
General Info
A runaway princess is forced to return home to say goodbye to her dying father and to try and get out of her marriage contract. There's also an award for her capture so she has to stay hidden while traveling. Her fiancé joins her at her journey and together they travel and get to know each other again.
Things I liked
I think I like everything in this book. The story is an amazing page-turner and there's not one moment that the book gets boring. The adventure they are on has twists and turns and it never gets too easy. It also keeps you on your toes at all times and I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next.
The characters are complex, interesting and realistic. The princess is not perfect and they don't fall in love at first sight. The characters are also funny and there were times where I was laughing out loud.
All in all, I loved this book! I love that there is a happy ending and that it was not easy for them to reach it. It is a beautiful and interesting adventure with a hint of romance in the mix.
* Free copy of this book received from Book Sirens for an honest review
A runaway princess is forced to return home to say goodbye to her dying father and to try and get out of her marriage contract. There's also an award for her capture so she has to stay hidden while traveling. Her fiancé joins her at her journey and together they travel and get to know each other again.
Things I liked
I think I like everything in this book. The story is an amazing page-turner and there's not one moment that the book gets boring. The adventure they are on has twists and turns and it never gets too easy. It also keeps you on your toes at all times and I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next.
The characters are complex, interesting and realistic. The princess is not perfect and they don't fall in love at first sight. The characters are also funny and there were times where I was laughing out loud.
All in all, I loved this book! I love that there is a happy ending and that it was not easy for them to reach it. It is a beautiful and interesting adventure with a hint of romance in the mix.
* Free copy of this book received from Book Sirens for an honest review