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notsobinaryart's review
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.
This isn’t to say it’s a bad book, but I would say to know what to expect before reading this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment and Emotional abuse
humblej's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
3.5
I really loved Shanti in this book! She knows what she wants and is so driven. And wow, she has to put up with a LOT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Grief
annerollins's review
emotional
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Emotional abuse
mishi543's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Emotional abuse
toffishay's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, and Misogyny
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I hate it when fiction glorifies monarchies, especially in modern contexts, but this book, with its focus on decolonization and progress, really pulled it off.
This is a romance book, and the romance was fine. I wasn’t totally invested in their love or whatever, but I was VERY invested in their partnership and their growth, and I did like them together.
I found the rest of the plot more compelling than the romance, but luckily for me, there was a great mix of both. Shanti, with her laser-sharp focus on her goal of becoming a queen, and Sanyu, with his insecurities and anxieties about being king, were both interesting and compelling.
I thought the handling of abuse and power and patriarchy in this book was pretty good, though the nature of it being a romance means that things got resolved a little too neatly.
The Njazan politics were super interesting and maybe my favorite part of the book, though some of the religious stuff got wrapped up too quickly as well.
I would absolutely read another book set in Njaza. I’d love to see the traditional triad marriage play out in a polyamorous romance novel if the author ever decides to write something like that!
I probably should have started with the Reluctant Royals series since this book has a lot of references to those ones, but I’m planning to read the second Runaway Royals one next because that one is sapphic. Alyssa Cole has done a really impressive job of creating a whole network of fictional countries with fictional monarchies. I think it’s the most worldbuilding I’ve ever seen in a romance series, and I’m definitely here for it!
This is a romance book, and the romance was fine. I wasn’t totally invested in their love or whatever, but I was VERY invested in their partnership and their growth, and I did like them together.
I found the rest of the plot more compelling than the romance, but luckily for me, there was a great mix of both. Shanti, with her laser-sharp focus on her goal of becoming a queen, and Sanyu, with his insecurities and anxieties about being king, were both interesting and compelling.
I thought the handling of abuse and power and patriarchy in this book was pretty good, though the nature of it being a romance means that things got resolved a little too neatly.
The Njazan politics were super interesting and maybe my favorite part of the book, though some of the religious stuff got wrapped up too quickly as well.
I would absolutely read another book set in Njaza. I’d love to see the traditional triad marriage play out in a polyamorous romance novel if the author ever decides to write something like that!
I probably should have started with the Reluctant Royals series since this book has a lot of references to those ones, but I’m planning to read the second Runaway Royals one next because that one is sapphic. Alyssa Cole has done a really impressive job of creating a whole network of fictional countries with fictional monarchies. I think it’s the most worldbuilding I’ve ever seen in a romance series, and I’m definitely here for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Misogyny
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Colonisation
honeybeatslibrary's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I was super late to this book but I'm so glad I read it. I loved the concept of a young lady deciding she was going to be a literal queen and making it happen, and while there were cheesy predictable moments in the story it was really a story that outlined how family pressure, grief and trauma not only impacts an individual but an entire nation. I'm a royal watcher outside of books and I can't help but notice the ties to how a monarch's personal trauma informs the way he governs his people (*stares in Prince Charles and William gotta deal with a whole lotta personal trauma before they have any opportunity to be any kind of decent monarchs and also must address the harm colonization has on countries especially countries that have large POC populations...but I digress). this was a really fun read and I can't wait for the next one :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
paolina's review against another edition
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
4.0
I didn't enjoy this book as much as Alyssa Cole's other books, but still a solid novel. If you like your romances with a hearty dose of social critique, her books are for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Grief
marillenbaum's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another fun romp in Alyssa Cole's Royals series. My tolerance for monarchy isn't high, but the characters here are interesting and enjoyable, and the central conflict makes sense. I think the pacing was a little wonky, and the central runaway royal angle showed up too late in the book and required remarkably little to solve the problem, but Cole's books are basically always fun to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse