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pastelsux's review against another edition
5.0
This series seriously just keeps getting better and better as the books go on. The characters I find the most compelling only get *more* compelling with time, and the ones I originally didn’t enjoy as much (not that I didn’t like their characters/stories, I just preferred others to theirs) got more engaging. I’m so glad I found an easier way to check these books out from the library (and I can definitely see why they were so popular that they had tens-of-weeks-long waiting lists), and I’m so excited to read the next one.
jlynch89's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.25
worldsunlikeourown's review against another edition
4.0
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Beatrice has now fully stepped into her role as queen, but her next challenge is already around the corner. The League of Kings, a conference in which royalty from around the world participate, is approaching, and Beatrice is to host this time. Sam, as the ‘spare’, is now her sister’s heir, is struggling with her new situation even as her relationship with Marshall grows more serious. Once rivals in pursuit of Prince Jefferson, things take a surprising turn when Nina and Daphne find themselves on the same side as a greater threat appears in the form of Lady Gabriella Madison, and they must find a way to work together to take her down.
What I liked best about this book was the more in depth look we got at the larger world these characters live in, from what the situation is like for the nobility in America through Sam and Marshall’s storyline, to the royals from other countries and the politics of the whole situation. Between the League of Kings conference, which seemed to mostly be a bunch of parties with some debates and politics thrown in, Sam finishing up a royal tour, and Nina and Jeff in college, this book felt more light hearted at times than the first two, and the change in setting from the palace was certainly welcome. The plot was engaging though I found the pacing in the first half or so of the book a little slow. Rivals is an interesting choice of title for this book. I initially assumed it referred to Nina and Daphne – which it does, but it also applies to Beatrice and Sam in different ways for the situations they are going through and learning to handle too.
Rivals continues to follow the same 4 POVs of Beatrice, Nina, Sam and Daphne. I was hoping for Jeff’s POV in this book to be honest, as I continued to find him a singularly annoying character – though there is a little more insight into his situation and some character development too. With regards to Samantha’s arc, I kind of saw it coming, because the decision she finally arrives at with regards to her complicated relationship with Marshall seemed a bit obvious to me right from the beginning – it was a very Sam like thing to do after all. As a character though, she didn’t stand out to me as much in this book as she did in the previous instalments. The focus this time was very clearly around Beatrice, Nina and Daphne. I enjoyed following Beatrice as she fully steps onto the world stage of royal politics, and alone at that, meeting others of her own age who seem glamorous and fun, but also struggling to determine if she can really trust them. Nina and Daphne’s unexpected alliance in the face of a greater threat was surprising, though it provided some very interesting insight into Daphne as a character.
While I do greatly enjoy Katharine McGee’s brand of drama, I felt that this went somewhat overboard. The addition of Gabriella Madison as a new antagonist to push Nina and Daphne into a sort of friendship, only for everything to be turned on its head again (thanks to – no shocker, Jeff) was unnecessary at this late stage in the story. Seeing a more human side to Daphne was intriguing, but it felt rather jarring to me, because we all know exactly what she has done so far to achieve her goal and it makes her hard to sympathize with in my opinion. Gabriella was really not needed – between Beatrice’s ruling woes, Sam and Marshall’s uncertain relationship and Nina, Jeff and Daphne’s problems, there’s more than enough going on for an entertaining read.
Nonetheless, Rivals ended on an interesting note and I’m definitely looking forward to book 4, though I do hope the series wraps up with it. I would continue to recommend this series as it remains a fascinating take on a what-if at a crucial point in history!
Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Beatrice has now fully stepped into her role as queen, but her next challenge is already around the corner. The League of Kings, a conference in which royalty from around the world participate, is approaching, and Beatrice is to host this time. Sam, as the ‘spare’, is now her sister’s heir, is struggling with her new situation even as her relationship with Marshall grows more serious. Once rivals in pursuit of Prince Jefferson, things take a surprising turn when Nina and Daphne find themselves on the same side as a greater threat appears in the form of Lady Gabriella Madison, and they must find a way to work together to take her down.
What I liked best about this book was the more in depth look we got at the larger world these characters live in, from what the situation is like for the nobility in America through Sam and Marshall’s storyline, to the royals from other countries and the politics of the whole situation. Between the League of Kings conference, which seemed to mostly be a bunch of parties with some debates and politics thrown in, Sam finishing up a royal tour, and Nina and Jeff in college, this book felt more light hearted at times than the first two, and the change in setting from the palace was certainly welcome. The plot was engaging though I found the pacing in the first half or so of the book a little slow. Rivals is an interesting choice of title for this book. I initially assumed it referred to Nina and Daphne – which it does, but it also applies to Beatrice and Sam in different ways for the situations they are going through and learning to handle too.
Rivals continues to follow the same 4 POVs of Beatrice, Nina, Sam and Daphne. I was hoping for Jeff’s POV in this book to be honest, as I continued to find him a singularly annoying character – though there is a little more insight into his situation and some character development too. With regards to Samantha’s arc, I kind of saw it coming, because the decision she finally arrives at with regards to her complicated relationship with Marshall seemed a bit obvious to me right from the beginning – it was a very Sam like thing to do after all. As a character though, she didn’t stand out to me as much in this book as she did in the previous instalments. The focus this time was very clearly around Beatrice, Nina and Daphne. I enjoyed following Beatrice as she fully steps onto the world stage of royal politics, and alone at that, meeting others of her own age who seem glamorous and fun, but also struggling to determine if she can really trust them. Nina and Daphne’s unexpected alliance in the face of a greater threat was surprising, though it provided some very interesting insight into Daphne as a character.
While I do greatly enjoy Katharine McGee’s brand of drama, I felt that this went somewhat overboard. The addition of Gabriella Madison as a new antagonist to push Nina and Daphne into a sort of friendship, only for everything to be turned on its head again (thanks to – no shocker, Jeff) was unnecessary at this late stage in the story. Seeing a more human side to Daphne was intriguing, but it felt rather jarring to me, because we all know exactly what she has done so far to achieve her goal and it makes her hard to sympathize with in my opinion. Gabriella was really not needed – between Beatrice’s ruling woes, Sam and Marshall’s uncertain relationship and Nina, Jeff and Daphne’s problems, there’s more than enough going on for an entertaining read.
Nonetheless, Rivals ended on an interesting note and I’m definitely looking forward to book 4, though I do hope the series wraps up with it. I would continue to recommend this series as it remains a fascinating take on a what-if at a crucial point in history!
hwindustries's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
annapernille's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
diannaherondale's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
CADA VEZ que acabo uno de estos pienso, ya nonlos aguanto, este será el último que lea, pero cada vez, termina con un dragón que me jala a leer el siguiente. Bien jugado Katherine. Parece que siempre si voy a terminar la saga.
hotforbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Alright I’m back in this. Justice for Samantha getting dealt every bad hand ever. Also Jefferson is dumb as rocks and so one-dimensional that he deserves Daphne at this point. Even though I personally think Daphne is cool, but that’s my problem. More Louise, less Beatrice. Actually, a spin-off of Louise and Samantha raising hell in Europe a la Khloé and Kourtney take Miami. And if any renouncing is going on it should be Nina’s weird friendship with the crown.
heavensbee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
annacate11's review against another edition
4.0
I do have to admit that reading these novels is my equivalent of binge-watching reality television. I'm not proud of my emotional attachment to them at the ripe age of nineteen. The first book captivated me two years ago, and from that point forward, I've been snatching these from my local Books a Million any time I get the chance.
I enjoyed this infinitely more than the second one. The new characters were incredibly fascinating--Louise in particular was a brilliant standout. I do wish we had gotten to see more of the other members of her little friend group, and I hope they return in future entries. I will admit that I found myself the most invested in Daphne and Nina's storyline, even if just because it reminds me of my favorite teen film of all time (Do Revenge, for those of you searching for a recommendation), and the way it ended absolutely disappointed me. I hope there's a future for their friendship, because if there's one thing I don't think this series does well, it's maintaining good female friendships--and though they may not have been the healthiest in the world, they were the closest thing we had to a well-written friendship between two women.
I also would've liked to have seen Teddy more. He was the only character I didn't want to absolutely box in the last book, and he was slightly butchered in this one. I miss him.
And I disliked the ending. Putting Beatrice in a coma feels like a complicated thing to tie up in one book, and we're going to see Jefferson take the throne entirely through someone else's eyes, since he's not a POV character. We'll never get to know what he thinks about it, and that breaks my heart. I do hope he gets his chance to shine in the next one, because he feels the least fleshed-out of all the major characters, and I'd like to see him take the spotlight.
All in all, however, I had such a blast reading this book, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.
I enjoyed this infinitely more than the second one. The new characters were incredibly fascinating--Louise in particular was a brilliant standout. I do wish we had gotten to see more of the other members of her little friend group, and I hope they return in future entries. I will admit that I found myself the most invested in Daphne and Nina's storyline, even if just because it reminds me of my favorite teen film of all time (Do Revenge, for those of you searching for a recommendation), and the way it ended absolutely disappointed me. I hope there's a future for their friendship, because if there's one thing I don't think this series does well, it's maintaining good female friendships--and though they may not have been the healthiest in the world, they were the closest thing we had to a well-written friendship between two women.
I also would've liked to have seen Teddy more. He was the only character I didn't want to absolutely box in the last book, and he was slightly butchered in this one. I miss him.
And I disliked the ending. Putting Beatrice in a coma feels like a complicated thing to tie up in one book, and we're going to see Jefferson take the throne entirely through someone else's eyes, since he's not a POV character. We'll never get to know what he thinks about it, and that breaks my heart. I do hope he gets his chance to shine in the next one, because he feels the least fleshed-out of all the major characters, and I'd like to see him take the spotlight.
All in all, however, I had such a blast reading this book, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.