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A review by leilin
Royally Endowed by Emma Chase
3.0
I liked that one better than the first in the series. It's the third book by this author that I have read so far and I keep coming back to her work because I like her writing, her characters and the pacing of her stories. I think, overall, she does a fine job at writing romance, and maybe she's even getting better at it with time, actually (I liked way more some of her more recent works).
Some of the shortcomings of the first one are not as present here: the trashiness was toned down (thank god!) and the setting was better handled. Politics and royalty-focused background was not more detailed, but this time that's kinda ok since the prince is no longer the main character. The relationships with the supporting cast is also better (which, I mean, the fact it exist at all already makes it better than in the last book!). A few well constructed interactions and couple nice snippets of dialogues were all it took to make those bonds meaningful. It brings depth to both the story and the main characters and make us care more for this fictional world.
There was less of that annoying macho confusion between power and threats in that book, too. But, and it's in the same vein, the book still suffered for somewhat clumsy attempts at badassery and other showiness. Those are always tricky: the line between a goose-bumps inducing moment and an eye-rolling, cringe-worthy disaster is always pretty thin. It depends on context, build-up and execution. In this book, it is not abysmal... buuuut, it stills read as maybe inexperienced. Some dialogues or exchanges come off as forced, out of place or too long/explanatory to feel realistic. Some scenes do feel "ad-hoc" and seeing their purpose that clearly does break a bit the immersion.
That being said, it is decent, the characters are more likable than in the first book - and I mean all of them: I liked Nicholas tons more in that book than in his own story! - and the portraying of supporting cast and supporting relationships was done well enough that there was a strong feeling of belonging and community around the main couple, which was heart warming.
Side note: I never heard "da" used for dad when I lived in Scotland. Granted it was years ago, but I wonder. I read somewhere it could be an Irish thing? Dunno, was just surprised by this, if someone ever read this review and knows about it, please tell me \o/
Favorite quotes:
"Love isn't a cure; it doesn't magically solve every problem. But it makes solving those problems worth it."
Some of the shortcomings of the first one are not as present here: the trashiness was toned down (thank god!) and the setting was better handled. Politics and royalty-focused background was not more detailed, but this time that's kinda ok since the prince is no longer the main character. The relationships with the supporting cast is also better (which, I mean, the fact it exist at all already makes it better than in the last book!). A few well constructed interactions and couple nice snippets of dialogues were all it took to make those bonds meaningful. It brings depth to both the story and the main characters and make us care more for this fictional world.
There was less of that annoying macho confusion between power and threats in that book, too.
Spoiler
Wasn't a fan of Logan and Tommy going to beat to a pulp the asshole who back-slapped Ellie, for example, but it kinda made sense with who those characters are and were they come from... though I suspect I was supposed to find this kinda hot or something, maybe. Well, I didn't but heh. On the other hand, this scene with Ellie asking for an apology at gunpoint was so utterly ridiculous, I almost laughed out loud.That being said, it is decent, the characters are more likable than in the first book - and I mean all of them: I liked Nicholas tons more in that book than in his own story! - and the portraying of supporting cast and supporting relationships was done well enough that there was a strong feeling of belonging and community around the main couple, which was heart warming.
Side note: I never heard "da" used for dad when I lived in Scotland. Granted it was years ago, but I wonder. I read somewhere it could be an Irish thing? Dunno, was just surprised by this, if someone ever read this review and knows about it, please tell me \o/
Favorite quotes:
"Love isn't a cure; it doesn't magically solve every problem. But it makes solving those problems worth it."