Fire and Cinder (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #6) by Christina Bauer ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: Fire and Cinder 

Series: Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #6 

Author: Christina Bauer

Publisher: Monster House Books   

Publication date: February 23, 2021

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | Kobo | IndieBound

Synopsis

Meet the Magicorum: modern folks who are supernaturally locked into fairy tale life templates. For eighteen-year-old Elle, that role is Cinderella. Meanwhile, Agatha is her evil stepsister. Things go downhill from there…

Cinderella On The Run

Elle—never call her Cinderella—has found the love of her life in Alec Le Charme, the prince of a jewelry dynasty. But when Alec gets spirited away, Elle must ditch her Manhattan home for the perilous Faerie Lands. To save Alec, Elle must also swap her glass slippers for a flying carpet. But will switching templates from Cinderella to Aladdin snap Elle’s sanity?

Whatever. Bring on the straight jacket. Elle is one Cinderella who’s determined to save her prince, no matter what.

Evil Stepsister or Elf Queen?

Agatha always accepted her role as Elle’s evil stepsister. Then her life template changes from nasty sibling to evil elf queen. Agatha has one thought on that score. Thanks but no thanks. Agatha refuses the regal life, even though stepping away from her crown means ignoring her lifelong attraction to the elf prince, Jacoby.

Then everything changes. Agatha discovers that Elle’s life is at risk… and the only way to save her Cinderella is by teaming up with Jacoby. Trouble is, that’s a lot of togetherness. Working with Jacoby could easily end in disaster, not only for Agatha’s heart, but also for Elle and Alec’s lives.

Fairy Tales of the Magicorum

Modern fairy tales with sass, action, and romance

1. Wolves and Roses

2. Moonlight and Midtown

3. Shifters and Glyphs

4. Slippers and Thieves

5. Bandits and Ball Gowns

6. Fire and Cinder

7. Fairies and Frosting

8. Towers and Tithes

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars 

Fire and Cinder, the sixth entry in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series, took me on another roller coaster ride filled with new discoveries that advanced the plot. Every new piece of info that was revealed was exciting, and I couldn't wait to see what the characters would have to face next.    

Like the last book, Fire and Cinder is also told from four perspectives--those of Elle, Alec, Jacoby, and Agatha. Before I dove into this one, I reread the fifth book, Bandits and Ball Gowns, which took me no time at all. I fall into these books so easily, and I wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything that happened previously before I read this current installment.  

Everything I learned about Agatha was further expanded on in this book, and she was firmly rooted in the middle of the action along with Jacoby. One of my favorite parts was that the fairy tale templates these characters are kind of forced to live out can change, and I thought that was creative and well thought out. The new characters both from the last book and this one were welcome additions, and I even liked a couple of the characters on the "bad side."    

The only reason I've rated this four stars instead of five was again how easily the battle against the "big bad" was won. Also some of the chapters were very short. I don't mind short chapters, but some of these were only a page to a page-and-a-half.

Overall, I devour my way through this series, and I can't wait to read the next book!     

 

Check out my reviews of three earlier books in this series: 

click here for my thoughts on Wolves and Roses (#1)

click here to read about Slippers and Thieves (#4)

click here to read my review for Bandits and Ball Gowns (#5)  

Thanks for visiting 

Donnie Darko Girl! 

Bandits and Ball Gowns (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #5) by Christina Bauer ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: Bandits and Ball Gowns

Series: Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #5 

Author: Christina Bauer  

Publisher: Monster House Books  

Publication date: November 10, 2020

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | Kobo | IndieBound

Synopsis

One Prince Finds True Love ... And Risks It All

Elle Cynder has fallen hard for Alec, the 'prince' of Le Charme Jewelers. Time for some happily in their ever after, right?

Not so much.

While the new couple shares joyful moments--and sizzling kisses--serious trouble is brewing. Elle's evil stepmother, Marchesa, schemes with none other than Alec's twisted father, Legend. Their plan? Destroy Elle and Alec, along with everything the young lovers hold dear, including Bry, Knox, and Wilhelm.

Another Royal Freezes His Heart ... But For How Long?

As a prince of the dark fae, Jacoby focuses on one goal: avoid assassination. Marrying Elle would certainly aid in that cause, considering how she's both a Cinderella life template and a powerful fae warden. Even better, Jacoby doesn't truly love Elle. In court life, deep romantic attachments only mean certain death.

Then Jacoby notices Elle's youngest stepsister, Agatha.

For the first time in his life, Jacoby's cold heart warms with true affection. The elven prince struggles to ignore his feelings, but it might be a losing battle. And what would the prince's newfound emotions mean for Elle and Alec? Could Jacoby really stand by and watch another's true love be destroyed?

Buckle up for a wild ride as Cinderella's time-honored story gets some all-new twists.

Fairy Tales of the Magicorum Series

A series of modern fairy tales with sass, action and romance

1. Wolves and Roses

2. Moonlight and Midtown

3. Shifters and Glyphs

4. Slippers and Thieves

5. Bandits and Ball Gowns

6. Fire and Cinder

7. Fairies and Frosting

8. Towers and Tithes 

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars 

Bandits and Ball Gowns led me to realize I will read anything and everything by Christina Bauer. This series is so fun with the retelling of different fairy tales, and BaBG is no exception. 

Elle and Alec are back again, and this time the story expands to include the points-of-view of Elle's sister, Agatha, and Jacoby, the elf who kept popping up in Elle's life in the last book. I liked how they were added to the action. 

Up until this point, Agatha was mostly in the background, so it was good to see her character develop. She wasn't someone I thought would become more involved, so it was a good surprise. Jacoby sometimes annoyed me in the previous book, but he ended up growing on me. There's more to these two characters than you might think.

My favorite Agatha quote: 

"How empty you must feel...to need to fill yourself up on my pain."

My favorite Jacoby quote: 

"Mother always said that she'd rather drink poison than fall in love. Both cause your death, yet only poison allows you to set the time and place."

BaBG has added illustrations of some of the characters and settings, and I loved their addition except for Alec. I think I just pictured him differently, but the other characters, including a couple of new ones, were done beautifully. And the scenes! They were stunning.  

I did initially rate this book three out of five stars, but as I wrote this review, I realized how much I love this book and changed it to four stars. It isn't quite a five-star read for me because I think some parts were a little rushed, especially towards the end.  

I highly recommend reading book #4, Slippers and Thieves, before diving into BaBG. Books #4, #5, and #6 are kind of like their own trilogy and go together. This series makes me so happy, and I get into these books so quickly and deeply.    

While you're here, check out my reviews for two previous books in this series: click here for my thoughts on Wolves and Roses (#1) and click here to read about Slippers and Thieves (#4). 

Thanks for visiting 

Donnie Darko Girl! 

Stick around -- lots more 

book reviews 

are coming your way! 

The Bully by K.J. Kwon ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: The Bully--A Paranormal Thriller   

Author: K.J. Kwon  

Publisher: KJ Books   

Publication date: April 15, 2021

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon 

Synopsis

Since the day I declined my boss' sexual advance, all hell has broken loose.

She has abused me with impossible assignments during our work day and haunts me as a vicious spirit at night.

I am losing my mind. I am constantly seeing my boss transforming into a vicious spirit.

Desperate to set myself free, I pay her a visit with a final plan...but even my extreme measure doesn’t provide a way out..

Maybe there is a world of demons hidden just beneath the surface of everyday life.

My Rating: 3 / 5 stars 

The Bully immediately lured me in with its synopsis. My favorite kind of horror involves demons, so if a novel, movie, or TV show has them in it, I'm there in a flash. They are by far the scariest supernatural beings to me. 

This story takes us to South Korea where the main character has just found a new job in the city and thinks he's landed the job of his dreams. But his life quickly becomes a nightmare when his female boss begins making unwanted sexual advances toward him. 

After rejecting her, his boss sets out to destroy his life, and I wondered if there would be anything left of him to continue working. She's so successful in her quest to torture him, it leaves him wondering if she's literally from hell. I know I got whiplash from how she'd praise him one minute, then tear him down the next, psychologically tormenting him. 

The Bully has an intriguing idea at its core. I liked being unsure of what was real and what wasn't. The ability to write that way is something I've always envied because it takes skill to be subtle. This is a short read, and I recommend reading it in one sitting if you can because then you get the full effect of the situation escalating out-of-control and the desperation, panic, and terror of the main character. 

When I finished reading, I became torn on what to rate this. While the idea was a good one, I wanted more of the supernatural but not necessarily a longer book. I'm having a hard time articulating exactly what it was that led to my three-star rating. I'm trusting the gut feeling I have on this one. 

Thanks for visiting! 

Stick around -- lots more book reviews 

are coming your way! 

Blood & Ink by Stephen Davies ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: Blood & Ink 

Author: Stephen Davies

Publisher: Charlesbridge 

Publication date: September 19, 2017

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | IndieBound

Synopsis

Part thriller, part love story, this contemporary YA novel is based on true-to-life events in Mali in 2012 and centers around the power of individuals to take a stand against terrorism.

Kadi is the 15-year-old daughter of a librarian in modern-day Timbuktu. Ali is the son of shepherds and has been conscripted by the Defenders of Faith, an arm of Al Qaeda. When these two teens meet, it's hate at first sight.

Forced together by a series of tumultuous events, their feelings slowly but persistently turn into something more, causing Kadi to let her guard down and Ali to discover her family's secret hiding place for the manuscripts her family is tasked with safeguarding.  Kadi undertakes a dangerous operation to smuggle the manuscripts out of the city, while Ali and his military commander are soon in pursuit.  Ali's loyalties will never be more in question than when Kadi's life is in danger.

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars 

There isn't anything better than learning. When I find out something I didn't know before by reading a book, I start looking further into the subject. When that book has action and a plot with interesting characters, it's even better. Blood & Ink is that type of book, which is based on real-life events that transpired in Mali in 2012.

Immediately when the two main characters meet, there is mistrust and a strong disliking, but Kadi and Ali go back and forth between understanding each other and feeling betrayed by the other. 

The crux of the novel is that Ali has joined a movement in Islam called the Defenders of Faith, who are set on taking over Kadi's town and instituting strict laws because they view the people of the town as "godless." Differences between different sects of the Islamic faith are highlighted in this book, and I was left wanting to know more.  

I wasn't sure if I was going to like Blood & Ink, but it's motivated me to learn about what happened in Mali in 2012 as well as learn about the different sects in Islam and how they're similar and different to each other.  

*Thanks so much for visiting! I'm getting back into book review writing and posting, so keep coming back, I've got a lot of good stuff planned. :) * 

   

Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry ~ #NetGalley #bookreview

 

Title: Echoes Between Us  

Author: Katie McGarry 

Publisher: Tor Teen  

Publication date: January 14, 2020

Source: Publisher via NetGalley 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | BAM | IndieBound

Synopsis

Echoes Between Us is bestselling author Katie McGarry’s breakout teen contemporary novel about a girl with everything to lose and the boy who will do anything to save her.

Veronica sees ghosts—more specifically, her mother’s ghost, thanks to the blinding migraines that consume her whole life and keep Veronica on the fringes. But the haunting afterimages make her wonder if there is something more going on….

Golden boy Sawyer is handsome and popular, a state champion swimmer, but this All-American is hiding an adrenaline addiction that could kill him. Drawn to each other after a chance meeting, can they help each other battle the demons that haunt their every step or will they push their luck too far and risk losing it all...including their lives? 

My Rating: 5 / 5 stars 

First of all, look at that cover! Echoes Between Us has an absolutely gorgeous cover, which drew me in along with the title. The synopsis, mostly that Veronica can see her mother's ghost (among others), super intrigued me and ensured I'd want to read Veronica and Sawyer's story.  

Veronica has AWFUL migraines that can become debilitating without much warning. The good news is that her dad is amazing and warm and supportive. You don't get that too often in YA. Veronica also has close friends who seem like they'd be cool to know and were also supportive. I adored them.   

Sawyer is an adrenaline junkie and engages in dangerous behavior (the kind that could get him killed), which was an interesting mix with Veronica's severe issues with migraines and the belief she has nothing to live for. A dangerous combination in some ways.  

Veronica is a good person yet also flawed, and I absolutely loved her no matter what. Plus I know what it's like to feel that way. Each and every character was natural and real; McGarry has done a fantastic job of breathing life into them. 

I loved the paranormal elements. This story hit me like a punch to the gut--a story that resonated with me loudly and shattered my heart. I lost my mom to cancer when I was a teen, and I'd give anything to see her again. 

Echoes Between Us is a novel I will always remember and will definitely be reading more than once. Books like this don't come along everyday! There are scenes that I can picture clearly even months later. I'm stoked to read Only a Breath Apart because it has some of the same characters from this book. I hope you guys love it as much as I do. 

*Thanks so much for visiting! I'm getting back into book review writing and posting, so keep coming back, I've got a lot of good stuff planned. :) *  

Slippers and Thieves (Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #4) by Christina Bauer ~ Book Review

Title: Slippers and Thieves - New & Lengthened 2020 Edition

Series: Fairy Tales of the Magicorum #4

Author: Christina Bauer 

Publisher: Monster House Books 

Publication Date: November 26, 2019

Source: Copy provided by publisher via NetGalley for review

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Chapters

Synopsis

Years ago, Elle ― never call her Cinderella ― escaped her evil step family in order to build a new life for herself in Manhattan. Today, Elle’s awful past is a distant memory. In fact, Elle even attends West Lake Prep, an exclusive high school where regular humans mix with members of the Magicorum, such as fairies, shifters and witches. Although she still must live in hiding from her evil step family, Elle always has found ways to get whatever her heart desires.

That is, until Alec Le Charme. Sure, Alec is the heir to the Le Charme dynasty of high-end jewelers, but he's also kind, charismatic, and has a knee-melting smile.

Long story short, Elle has fallen for Alec, hard. Unfortunately, thanks to Elle’s evil step family, the Le Charme heir is absolutely off limits. In fact, if Elle and Alec so much as kiss, it could start a magical chain reaction that would end in powerful factions of witches and wizards going to war. As a result, Elle and Alec vow to stay friends, no matter what. Then West Lake Prep holds a masquerade ball. Identities get mixed up and forbidden kisses are finally shared.

Time for the Magicorum to go to war, and for Elle to confront her hidden past in ways she never thought possible.

2020 edition includes typo fixes and a new appendix of extras.

My Rating: 4 / 5 stars 

A retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale, Slippers and Thieves pulls you into a world with magic, romance and action with some secrets and betrayal added to the mix. The Queen of Hearts and Cheshire cat even make an appearance! 

The story alternates between Elle's and Alec's narration, which I liked because it gave me a glimpse into how both of them think and feel. Elle is running from a tragic and painful past while Alec is navigating a problematic relationship with his parents as the heir to their high-end jewelry empire. The two happen to meet one day and fall in love. The problem is their love could spark a war. 

I read half the book in one sitting the first time I picked it up! I loved the world Bauer has built with three races of magical beings--fairies, shifters, and witches/wizards--coexisting in a delicate balance. You get the feeling it wouldn't take much to upset that balance. 

I loved the world building and the different kinds of magic the characters possessed and how they could use it. It was difficult when I had to stop reading for the night. I just HAD to know what new problem Elle and Alec would be facing next. It was really interesting to see how tangled the web was woven between Elle's and Alec's families with the purpose of keeping the two apart, and just when I thought it couldn't get more complicated, it did in the best way possible. 

This is the second book I've read in this series. I read the first book, Wolves and Roses, which is a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. There's enough info that allow you to read these books in any order. I now want to go back and read books 2 and 3! I definitely recommend this book and this series. 

You can read my review of Wolves and Roses here. 

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan ~ #bookreview

June 28, 2019

Title: Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel
Author: Sara Farizan 
Publication date: October 7, 2014 
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers 
Genre: Young Adult, LGBTQ, Contemporary 
Source: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

My Rating: 

Synopsis 

High-school junior Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is something of a relief. Her Persian heritage already makes her different from her classmates; if word got out that she liked girls, life would be twice as hard. 

But when a sophisticated, beautiful new girl, Saskia, shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would, especially when it looks as if the attraction between them is mutual. Struggling to sort out her growing feelings and Saskia's confusing signals, Leila confides in her old friend, Lisa, and grows closer to her fellow drama tech-crew members, especially Tomas, whose comments about his own sexuality are frank, funny, wise, and sometimes painful.

Gradually, Leila begins to see that almost all her classmates are more complicated than they first appear to be, and many are keeping fascinating secrets of their own.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel, Sara Farzin's second novel, is a much different story than her first, If I Could Have You. While IICHY was well written, it was painful to read because I felt the situation was a hopeless one. On the other hand, TMAHACSF  was light and funny, and I couldn't stop reading it. I didn't want it to end even with the painful and awkward moments. I love this book so much!!  

Leila is a high school student with parents who are Persians and hold traditional values. Her parents are from Iran, and I really liked reading about the different expressions they have in conversation and their customs. Leila's older sister, Nahal, follows what their father wants for her, but Leila is torn between what she wants and what her father wants, worrying that if she doesn't do what he wants, she won't have his love. Her fear is compounded by the fact that her family comes from a country where homosexuality is illegal.  

I really liked how the characters in this book aren't what they appeared to be on the outside. What you see isn't what you get because they're much more complex than that. One of my favorite characters was Tomas. He's honest and realistic and someone I'd like to know in real life. Saskia was sending out confusing signals! I couldn't figure out if she liked Leila back or what until the end. 

TMAHACSF is a light, easy read with diverse characters, a compelling story, and heart. You'll learn about Persian culture, and this second offering from Farizan is vastly superior to her first.        

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage ~ #BookReview #NetGalley

July 17, 2018

Title: Baby Teeth

Author: Zoje Stage

Release Date: July 17, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin's Press  

Genre: Thriller  

Source: Copy for review via the publisher 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | IndieBound | Book Depository 

My Rating: 

Synopsis 

Sweetness can be deceptive. 

Meet Hanna.

She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of her. Ideally for good.

Meet Suzette.

She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette's husband remains blind to the failing family dynamics, Suzette starts to fear that there’s something seriously wrong, and that maybe home isn’t the best place for their baby girl after all.

At once horrifying and captivating, Baby Teeth was a story that will stay with me for a long time. It was so compelling, I couldn't look away. I hated having to put it down for reasons such as sleeping. Who needs sleep, right? 

This novel is told in third person alternating between Suzette's and Hanna's points of view and was a roller coaster ride between Suzette's anxiety, Hanna's disdain and hatred for her mother, and Alex's naivety. Their mother-daughter relationship is fraught with tension, exacerbated by Alex's unwillingness to believe their daughter is anything but an angel.   

Alex's character was frustrating. He wanted to stick his head in the sand and pretend everything was perfect rather than believe his daughter needed help. I wanted to yell at him! 

While Suzette isn't the best mother ever, I did feel bad for her. She was dealing with Hanna alone without the support of her husband, and that would drive anyone to the brink of a breakdown. 

Baby Teeth haunted me to my core, and I loved every minute of it. How can a seven-year-old child know how to be so manipulative at her age? I would have liked more mystery as to Hanna's thoughts and plans, but reading from her perspective was super creepy. I appreciate my family so much after reading this book! If you're an adrenaline junkie like me and love thrillers, Baby Teeth is the book for you.    

Thanks for visiting Donnie Darko Girl! 

Playing Her Secret Crush by Casey Griffin ~ #BookReview #NetGalley

July 7, 2018

Title: Playing Her Secret Crush

Author: Casey Griffin

Release Date: July 2, 2018 

Publisher: Entangled: Crush 

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance   

Source: Copy for review via NetGalley  

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Book Depository | Kobo | IndieBound 

My Rating: 

  

Synopsis

All her life, Katie has been chosen last for everything: the last picked on the playground, the last picked by her absent father, and definitely the last picked by boys—even her secret crush, Alex, friend-zoned her. This senior year, Katie is determined to come first.

But then Alex asks her to help him find a date?!

Alex has been living life in the fast lane, but he's ready to slow down—with a girlfriend. The last person on earth he’d consider? The girl his brother developed serious feelings for before he died: Katie. The only way Alex is going to get over Katie is by falling for someone new. And who better to help him find his new crush than the girl he can’t stop thinking about?

What can possibly go wrong?

Playing Her Secret Crush was a cute story with a synopsis I couldn't resist. The fact that Katie and Alex are gamers had a lot to do with my interest in reading this book, I must confess. Plus I just love a good friends-to-lovers story! 

Playing Her Secret Crush is told in third person alternating between both Katie and Alex. I've read some reviews of this book in which it's mentioned that knowing both characters' feelings made the ending of the book too predictable, and I'm afraid I have to agree. 

Katie feels like she comes in last for everything with family, friends and school. She knows her father didn't fight to share custody of her, and that's where much of her insecurity lies; however, not much else is done with this knowledge. I think it could have been explored further because it played a huge role in Katie's unhappiness and her desire to change herself.

Instead of taking time to grieve his brother, Alex is busy living the way he thinks his brother would want him to by taking risks and becoming a player. His risk taking is out of such desperation, however, that it soon begins to spiral out of control, and there were several times when it becomes clear that Alex wasn't truly living life to the fullest like he thought. I hoped for more exploration of his grief and how it affected his decision making.  

When Lexi was introduced, I was so surprised that she and Katie became good friends. It's so easy to write female characters who hate each other, and it was refreshing to see a real friendship between these two. There was a subplot here that I won't spoil but will say I wish it had been delved into. So, would it be too much to ask if Lexi can get her own book??

So as I mentioned earlier, it isn't a spoiler to say we know from the beginning how Alex and Katie feel about each other, but I would've preferred to be kept in some suspense. Nevertheless, Playing Her Secret Crush kept my interest, and I enjoyed the gaming aspect of the story. I believe the characters will stay with me even if the plot may not. 

Thank you for visiting Donnie Darko Girl! 

Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga ~ Blog Tour: #BookReview & #Giveaway

July 1, 2018

Welcome to my stop on the Kiss of the Royal Blog Tour organized by the Fantastic Flying Book Club Tours! I have a review of the book, and there's a giveaway as well.  

Title: Kiss of the Royal

Author: Lindsey Duga

Release Date: July 3, 2018
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
  
Source: Copy for review 

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Book Depository | Kobo | IndieBound

My Rating: 

Synopsis

In the war against the Forces of Darkness, the Royals are losing. Princess Ivy is determined to end this centuries-long conflict once and for all, so her new battle partner must succeed where the others failed. Prince Zach’s unparalleled skill with a sword, enhanced by Ivy’s magic Kiss, should make them an unstoppable pair—but try convincing Zach of that.

Prince Zach has spent his life preparing for battle, but he would rather be branded a heretic than use his lips as nothing more than a way to transfer magic. A kiss is a symbol of love, and love is the most powerful weapon they have—but try convincing Ivy of that.

With the fate of their world on the line, the battlefield has become a testing ground, and only one of them can be right. Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan—but try convincing their hearts of that.

 

Kiss of the Royal is a sweet and fun fairy tale-ish story with princesses and princes, dragons and danger, and love and loss. The plot was intriguing with the fresh idea of kisses being used to enhance magic and strength to overcome one's enemies. Kisses as weapons? I'm here for it! 

The beginning was slow, and while it's definitely important to be introduced to the background of the characters and the world building, I had difficulty jumping into it. Once the action began, however, I was hooked. 

I admired Princess Ivy's strength and her unwillingness to let the princes be the only ones to put their lives on the line for the kingdom's safety. At times she's stubborn and exasperatingly so, but that made it fun when her personality clashed with Prince Zach's.   

Once Prince Zach shows up, events take an interesting turn, and I couldn't read quickly enough. I also couldn't decide if I liked him or not at first, but he soon became my favorite. His behavior and reputation were full of contradictions - what you see wasn't what you would get, and I loved that about him. 

Zach lives by his convictions just as Ivy lives by hers. Though he's trained to be a soldier and a Royal, he still believes in love though he knows it's heresy to believe in anything other than logic. He refuses Ivy's kiss because he doesn't want to use a kiss as a weapon in battle. I loved the ways in which he challenged Ivy's belief that love doesn't exist. She's steadfast in believing that people mistake love for lust as she's been raised to think. 

You can see when events begin to slowly change Ivy's mind, and she starts to doubt what she's always been taught. Kiss of the Royal tackles the theme of love, asking the question, is living worth it in a world without romantic love? When Zach stumbles his way into her life, his presence changes everything for her, and it was enchanting to see if they'd end up loving each other.    

I'm taking off a star for the slow beginning, but otherwise I recommend this book if you're looking for a fresh, fun take on YA Fantasy with a solid overall theme and delightful characters. Frankly, I couldn't imagine Kiss of the Royal without Zach; he's lively and quirky and easily the most interesting character I've come across in a long time. He's the best part of this story and a character you aren't going to want to miss. 
        

About the Author

Lindsey Duga is a middle grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world. She wrote her first novel in college while she was getting her bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.

Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.

Connect with the Author

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

  

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