Reviews

How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole

lauraellis's review against another edition

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Got distracted and want to start over

theseventhl's review against another edition

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5.0

It's stunning, beautiful, sexy, progressive, hilarious, and everything else that makes an Alyssa Cole novel an instant must read. Go read the previous series if you haven't, then sprint right on back and start reading the RUNAWAY ROYALS series. You will not regret it.

Pre-release review: I know this doesn't come out until next spring but 'RELUCTANT ROYALS' SPIN-OFF, FUCK YES, I AM SO AMPED, GONNA PRE-ORDER IT RIGHT NOW IDGAF HOW LONG I MUST WAIT

ashaelise's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing 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? No

3.75

leyashekanena's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

transportedlfl's review against another edition

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inspiring reflective 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

4.0

ericawrites's review against another edition

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3.0

Alyssa Cole has been one of my favorite romance authors, but unfortunately, How to Catch a Queen may be the weakest of the ones I've read. One of the major issues is that it's almost 100 pages before Sanyu and Shanti are on-page together with frequency. It puts an obstacle in their romance that doesn't feel entirely overcome by the book's HEA.

How to Catch a Queen is slow, with many political machinations and world-building. We learn all about these collations amongst African nations and countries ruled by monarchies. This is a continuation of Cole's Reluctant Royals universe, even if labeled as a new series.

Sanyu and Shanti have an arranged marriage through RoyalMatch.com, which Shanti uses as her entire life's goal has been to become a queen. There are also many tedious meetings of Njaza's advisor council where Sanyu (who is king after his father recently died) is overrun by his father figure advisor, and it's hammered into us the misogyny and conservative (small "c" conservative to keep the status quo) nature of the council. I am a politics nerd; some of this was dry as a bone.

The mystery of the 3rd Njaza's god and the missing queens (Sanyu's father had 30+ queens on 4-month trials each to find a "true queen") was far more interesting than all of that. That thread mostly happened in the last 80 pages of the book, where it picked up and felt like the book it should've been all along. There were good mental health rep with Sanyu's anxiety, and I adored his advisor/best friend Lumu and his relationship advice based on his polymarriage.

Sanyu and Shanti seem like a good match, but I wasn't feeling the romance or physical attraction.

gemtheginger's review against another edition

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I just spent the whole time wanting to be done with it so I could move on to a different book. I don’t think it was bad, just not my vibe.

uneek1908's review against another edition

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inspiring 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

4.75

notmillie's review against another edition

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funny hopeful medium-paced

4.5

notsobinaryart's review against another edition

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Compared to Alyssa Cole’s other books in the series, this one seems much less cheery and hopeful. The constant manipulation and gaslighting from one of the significant side characters made the read not entertaining for me. The blatant misogyny also was something I didn’t expect to bother me as much as it did, but it was so severe in this country’s culture (or at least in their politics) that I couldn’t personally find enjoyment. 

This isn’t to say it’s a bad book, but I would say to know what to expect before reading this book.

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