Scan barcode
A review by lanidacey
How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole
3.0
3.5 stars/7 out of 10!
Alyssa Cole is one of my favorite authors and her romances are all auto-buys for me. I love the universe she's created and all the characters in it. That said, it makes me sad to say this entry is one of the weakest in the series. *sad face*
I liked the characters and I really liked the set-up of a regular girl wanting to prove she's NOT a princess. But I didn't enjoy the pacing. Half this book is Bez trying to convince Makeda to come with her to Ibarania to find out if she's the country's long-lost heir. The second half is spent on a cargo ship going to Ibarania. Alyssa Cole's writing is fun as always, and she drops a lot of hints about bigger conspiracies and shenanigans going on in the country and in the World Federation of Monarchs. For example, Bez has trouble reaching the organization and confirming Makeda's spot during some fancy DNA testing ritual. Her boss hints at how terrible an American heir would be. And Bez's family is being swarmed by increasingly invasive media trying to dig up info about a long-lost queen. She keeps ignoring her intuition that hints something is wrong.
When they finally do show up in Ibarania, the entire princess mystery gets wrapped up in two chapters. I wanted more conflict. I wanted more fantasy politics. I wanted for Bez to have to be an actual bodyguard. If any of Cole's characters were made to be in an action movie, it'd be Bez.
I really enjoyed the rest of the novel. The cargo ship was a great setting, despite the uneven pacing. It's fun and I learned a bit about nautical safety. I liked what Cole did with Makeda and the concept of her "watering can" — giving too much of herself and leaving nothing for herself. I already love the hero of our next book; I'm really digging the adventure vibes he gives off.
A weak Alyssa Cole book is still a pretty damn good read. If you enjoyed the rest in the series and the spin-off, you'll def enjoy this one, too.
Alyssa Cole is one of my favorite authors and her romances are all auto-buys for me. I love the universe she's created and all the characters in it. That said, it makes me sad to say this entry is one of the weakest in the series. *sad face*
I liked the characters and I really liked the set-up of a regular girl wanting to prove she's NOT a princess. But I didn't enjoy the pacing. Half this book is Bez trying to convince Makeda to come with her to Ibarania to find out if she's the country's long-lost heir. The second half is spent on a cargo ship going to Ibarania. Alyssa Cole's writing is fun as always, and she drops a lot of hints about bigger conspiracies and shenanigans going on in the country and in the World Federation of Monarchs. For example, Bez has trouble reaching the organization and confirming Makeda's spot during some fancy DNA testing ritual. Her boss hints at how terrible an American heir would be. And Bez's family is being swarmed by increasingly invasive media trying to dig up info about a long-lost queen. She keeps ignoring her intuition that hints something is wrong.
When they finally do show up in Ibarania, the entire princess mystery gets wrapped up in two chapters.
Spoiler
We find out BEZ was the missing princess the whole time! Her grandmother had an affair with the long dead king and the queen ran off soon after, freed from her queenly duties after learning that an heir exists. This nearly 30-year-old conspiracy is wrapped in like 90 minutes!I really enjoyed the rest of the novel. The cargo ship was a great setting, despite the uneven pacing. It's fun and I learned a bit about nautical safety. I liked what Cole did with Makeda and the concept of her "watering can" — giving too much of herself and leaving nothing for herself. I already love the hero of our next book; I'm really digging the adventure vibes he gives off.
A weak Alyssa Cole book is still a pretty damn good read. If you enjoyed the rest in the series and the spin-off, you'll def enjoy this one, too.