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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
the_vegan_bookworm's review
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The book was cute, but I didn't love that so much of the plot was revealed in the synopsis. The last quarter of the book was very confusing and didn't outline Njaza's history clearly for me. In fact, the persistent mystery of what happened to the queens felt very low stakes and not engaging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Cursing
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Colonisation
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
caseythereader's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
3.5
- Cole is the queen (ha) of meaty romance novels. Political jockeying! International relations! Unpacking toxic masculinity! Library archive maintenance! It's all here in HOW TO CATCH A QUEEN.
- I was so pleasantly surprised at how big a role characters from the Reluctant Royals series played in this book! So nice to see them all on the page again.
- I feel like it took a little too long for Sanyu to catch on to what Shanti was asking for, but at the same time I was happy to watch him unlearn so much.
- I was so pleasantly surprised at how big a role characters from the Reluctant Royals series played in this book! So nice to see them all on the page again.
- I feel like it took a little too long for Sanyu to catch on to what Shanti was asking for, but at the same time I was happy to watch him unlearn so much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexism
allisonwonderlandreads's review
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
3.0
I continue to be convinced that Alyssa Cole can do no wrong. This feisty start to the spin-off series Runaway Royals adds to the map, network of characters, and histories in the world Cole has envisioned. Our romance follows a king and queen in an arranged marriage. Shanti has been preparing herself to be a queen since childhood, described as "just a bit scary" by her own teachers and tutors as she single-mindedly chased her goals. Now her lifelong aspiration has finally been achieved in a sense, but her new nation hems her in with its traditions at every turn. Not least of which is the fact that her position is in a trial period to be renewed in 4 months, something that didn't happen once in the previous king's life as he cycled through brides with general indifference. Her husband, King Sanyu, is grieving his father, struggling with feelings that he will never live up to his role, and dealing with a sometimes debilitating "not-fear" that sounds suspiciously like anxiety attacks. Meanwhile, their small nation is on the brink of revolt while caught in the iron fist of economic hardship.
As usual, Cole tackles the emotional hangups of each character and the challenges of the relationship with finesse. There is emphasis on communication, respect, and spicy hot passion. This book dives more deeply into politics than her other Royal novels. The role of government and its duty to its people, the right to protest and demand fair treatment, and lack of women in decision-making positions are all addressed throughout.
I have to be honest that my favorite part was a pair of scenes starring one of the romantic leads of the forthcoming sequel. I will read anything involving Beznaria Chetchevaliere in future. All I want is to read an entire book where she talks about how everything is a social construct and then watch her run off for unsanctioned missions to rescue damsels in distress. That is all. Aka you can catch me reading the next book asap.
Content Warnings
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Grief
keatynbergsten's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this well enough but didn't love it the way I expected to based on the recommendations I had gotten. Overall a fun read but I just couldn't get super invested in the love story and felt like it was lacking something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
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
ehmannky's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I thought it would be hard to beat my love of the Reluctant Royals series, but, wow, Cole does not disappoint in the expansion to that universe. Following up with Shanti and Sanyu was lovely, because Cole left such a tantalizing hint at their dynamic in A Prince On Paper. And we got to have all the cameos from the previous series (Also, Netflix or someone. Please adapt the expanded Royals Universe). And the whole theme of being traumatized and hurt in the past and being shaped by that trauma does not excuse shit behavior. Wonderfully handled.
There's nothing I didn't like about it. I love the trope of falling in love with the person you're married to and the dialogue that Cole uses for these characters was so good! Like, "Come sit on your throne, Wife." Excuse me, but this was one of the many lines that were it not in the middle of a 12/10 sex scene I would have had to put the book down to fully digest the power of it. This also felt like an example of a third-act breakup done extremely well, as the tensions that led to the fight between Shanti and Sanyu are clearly laid out and it didn't feel like a fight done so that the characters could come back together later.
There's nothing I didn't like about it. I love the trope of falling in love with the person you're married to and the dialogue that Cole uses for these characters was so good! Like, "Come sit on your throne, Wife." Excuse me, but this was one of the many lines that were it not in the middle of a 12/10 sex scene I would have had to put the book down to fully digest the power of it. This also felt like an example of a third-act breakup done extremely well, as the tensions that led to the fight between Shanti and Sanyu are clearly laid out and it didn't feel like a fight done so that the characters could come back together later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Grief, and Death
Minor: Vomit
zombiezami's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved Shanti as a character. She seemed very cold when she made her debut in A Princess in Theory and when she showed up again in A Prince on Paper. I'm glad that she got so much more fleshed out here. She's a badass! I was also really endeared to Sanyu. He reminded me of Chidi on The Good Place: he has so much undiagnosed anxiety, but I'm glad that he gets therapy in the end. So many characters in romance novels very seriously need therapy, not just romantic love, and I'm glad Alyssa Cole understands that!
As in previous books taking place in this world, the fictional African nations have same gender loving characters and it is a complete non-issue, and even celebrated. I loved the idea of triad marriages in this book. It is so healing to read these stories in which homophobia functionally doesn't exist in Africa (at least in the two countries we've visited through these series).
I don't really understand why this is being considered a separate series than the Reluctant Royals series, since so many of the characters in that series show up here. But I'm glad we readers get to spend more time in this world!
As in previous books taking place in this world, the fictional African nations have same gender loving characters and it is a complete non-issue, and even celebrated. I loved the idea of triad marriages in this book. It is so healing to read these stories in which homophobia functionally doesn't exist in Africa (at least in the two countries we've visited through these series).
I don't really understand why this is being considered a separate series than the Reluctant Royals series, since so many of the characters in that series show up here. But I'm glad we readers get to spend more time in this world!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Terminal illness
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, and Vomit
nitya's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Note: I didn't get an ARC, my pre-order arrived very early!
So this was my first time ever reading anything by Alyssa Cole, and for the most part I enjoyed it! The worldbuilding is wonderful, Shanti and Sanyu are freaking adorable, and there's really well done anxiety rep, exploration of imperialism on "third world" nations, and criticism of patriarchy/toxic masculinity. And the Reluctant Royals character cameos makes me more hyped to read the series!
My biggest issue is thatthe main antagonist, who is super abusive and toxic to Shanti and Sanyu (and anyone who tries to call him out on his BS honestly), was redeemed at the end and never apologized for his actions, especially to Shanti. I didn't read the epilogue which apparently goes on to paint him as a kind grandfather figure. Yeaaaah no thanks. I was hoping he would drop dead but I guess I will leave that as a personal headcanon.
On a positive note, I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series (and the character intro is delightful)!!
So this was my first time ever reading anything by Alyssa Cole, and for the most part I enjoyed it! The worldbuilding is wonderful, Shanti and Sanyu are freaking adorable, and there's really well done anxiety rep, exploration of imperialism on "third world" nations, and criticism of patriarchy/toxic masculinity. And the Reluctant Royals character cameos makes me more hyped to read the series!
My biggest issue is that
On a positive note, I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series (and the character intro is delightful)!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Grief
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