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A review by readivine
Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
5.0
I JUST WANNA PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THAT THIS BOOK IS NOW OFFICIALLY EMBEDDED IN THE PART OF MY HEART WHERE ALL THE OTHER BOOKS I LOVE STAYS UNTIL MY UTTER DEATH.(I'd love to stay immortal tho and succesfully fnish my overwhelming tbr! XD)
The Runaways meets Akatsuki No Yona
Yup. If you have no idea what I'm talking about here, then just do yourself the favor of READING THIS RYT NOW. I can't still get over all the feels *sobs*
The thing is,[b:Royal Bastards|25752041|Royal Bastards (Royal Bastards, #1)|Andrew Shvarts|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498056564s/25752041.jpg|45594605] had a very interesting premise, and probably the only reason why I'm intrigued to read this is if the author can pull off such a stunt. And ohohoho dear, am I wrong to have any initial doubts. This book started off smoothly and had effectively established the political system effectively that it's simple to digest even just in a span of 3 chapters more or less. I really love that "royal bastards" were finally given the spotlight in YA Literature because let's face it, mostly they're just painted as murderous and cunning individuals. Or better yet, they just fade into the background, an echo of their existence doesn't even reverberate anywhere until THIS.
Tilla, a royal bastard of the House of Kent had long wanted to feel her father's love and validation again. And well, her life mainly evolves w/ that ideal, not until the Lightspire Princess Lyriana, heir to the throne (yes, such a beautiful name) decided to sit with the Bastard's Table and shake Tilla in her reverie.
Everything was bearable to Tilla until she and her unlikely group had seen the murder of the princess' uncle, the Archmagus, and witnessed another beginning of a Second Great War. Naturally, they have to flee for their lives.
Initially, I thought I have to deal w/ flat characters but the little ragtag team that was unintentionally founded here had unexpectedly evolved in their own blooms. Their experiences in their travel had really glued them together and had led them to discover parts of themselves they would have never thought to be within them.
I really loved the descriptive and gory detail of the action scenes and the deaths. I seldom read books w/ such detail for these things, the violent parts weren't overboard but were properly executed. Though I would love to have more twisty plots in the action scenes because apparently, some of the parts are tied neatly.
I can't deny that I LOOOOVE the romantic subplots. And I loved it more because it didn't get in the way w/ the pacing most of the time. The friendship of this unlikely team was what I had loved the most here. How they're driven w/ their survival instinct and their loyalty to each other. I felt it more when they just exchange jokes and the part were they just celebrate that they're alive and well, together. *sobs*
Overall, this is an unexpected favorite and I recommend it to everyone who loves: misfits fleeing death, unlikely friendships, political shtstorms, and daddy issues HAHAHAHA BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF DADDY ISSUES HERE MIND YOU. Worthy of a 5-star rating!
The Runaways meets Akatsuki No Yona
Yup. If you have no idea what I'm talking about here, then just do yourself the favor of READING THIS RYT NOW. I can't still get over all the feels *sobs*
The thing is,[b:Royal Bastards|25752041|Royal Bastards (Royal Bastards, #1)|Andrew Shvarts|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498056564s/25752041.jpg|45594605] had a very interesting premise, and probably the only reason why I'm intrigued to read this is if the author can pull off such a stunt. And ohohoho dear, am I wrong to have any initial doubts. This book started off smoothly and had effectively established the political system effectively that it's simple to digest even just in a span of 3 chapters more or less. I really love that "royal bastards" were finally given the spotlight in YA Literature because let's face it, mostly they're just painted as murderous and cunning individuals. Or better yet, they just fade into the background, an echo of their existence doesn't even reverberate anywhere until THIS.
Tilla, a royal bastard of the House of Kent had long wanted to feel her father's love and validation again. And well, her life mainly evolves w/ that ideal, not until the Lightspire Princess Lyriana, heir to the throne (yes, such a beautiful name) decided to sit with the Bastard's Table and shake Tilla in her reverie.
“The truth is, I still can’t believe I’m really doing this. I’m sitting at an actual Bastards’ Table! With actual bastards!”
“Yeah…that you are.” I forced a smile. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve sworn she was making fun of us, but she seemed so utterly sincere that she had to mean it. Lyriana Volaris, Princess of Noveris, was genuinely excited to sit with a bunch of bastards."
Everything was bearable to Tilla until she and her unlikely group had seen the murder of the princess' uncle, the Archmagus, and witnessed another beginning of a Second Great War. Naturally, they have to flee for their lives.
Initially, I thought I have to deal w/ flat characters but the little ragtag team that was unintentionally founded here had unexpectedly evolved in their own blooms. Their experiences in their travel had really glued them together and had led them to discover parts of themselves they would have never thought to be within them.
I really loved the descriptive and gory detail of the action scenes and the deaths. I seldom read books w/ such detail for these things, the violent parts weren't overboard but were properly executed. Though I would love to have more twisty plots in the action scenes because apparently, some of the parts are tied neatly.
I can't deny that I LOOOOVE the romantic subplots.
Spoiler
Especially of the subtle thing going on w/ Jax and Lyriana! I mean, huhuhuhu I need more fluff w/ them, I don't give much of my sht w/ Tilla's love life. I NEED MORE JAX IN MY LIFE, and well ofc he just has to die in the end ryt? MY FAVORITE CHARACTER OFC JUST HAVE TO DIE. YES, I CRIED. HUHUHUHSpoiler
except, of course, Miles just have to turn them in by the end ryt?RYYTT?? The betrayal wasn't really a surprise but I STILL FREAKING HATE MILE'S IMMATURITY.Overall, this is an unexpected favorite and I recommend it to everyone who loves: misfits fleeing death, unlikely friendships, political shtstorms, and daddy issues HAHAHAHA BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF DADDY ISSUES HERE MIND YOU. Worthy of a 5-star rating!