Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts

Title: Royal Bastards

Release Date: May 30, 2017

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Pages: 352

Received: Publisher

Star Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Being a bastard blows. Tilla would know. Her father, Lord Kent of the Western Province, loved her as a child, but cast her aside as soon as he had trueborn children.

At sixteen, Tilla spends her days exploring long-forgotten tunnels beneath the castle with her stablehand half brother, Jax, and her nights drinking with the servants, passing out on Jax’s floor while her castle bedroom collects dust. Tilla secretly longs to sit by her father’s side, resplendent in a sparkling gown, enjoying feasts with the rest of the family. Instead, she sits with the other bastards, like Miles of House Hampstedt, an awkward scholar who’s been in love with Tilla since they were children.

Then, at a feast honoring the visiting princess Lyriana, the royal shocks everyone by choosing to sit at the Bastards’ Table. Before she knows it, Tilla is leading the sheltered princess on a late-night escapade. Along with Jax, Miles, and fellow bastard Zell, a Zitochi warrior from the north, they stumble upon a crime they were never meant to witness.

Rebellion is brewing in the west, and a brutal coup leaves Lyriana’s uncle, the Royal Archmagus, dead—with Lyriana next on the list. The group flees for their lives, relentlessly pursued by murderous mercenaries; their own parents have put a price on their heads to prevent the king and his powerful Royal Mages from discovering their treachery.

The bastards band together, realizing they alone have the power to prevent a civil war that will tear their kingdom apart—if they can warn the king in time. And if they can survive the journey . .  [goodreads]



My Thoughts


*No spoilers!

Everything in this book was what I needed to fulfill my fantasy craze. My eyes were peeled towards the enchanting world building: the magic and the ever growing kingdom. After each page, the plot thickened to be more compelling and mesmerizing as the last. There is plenty of action to keep anyone focused and entertained.

Royal Bastards, was a solid read and I recommend anyone who is in the mood for some YA fantasy, to pick this one up. There was always someone new to meet in the plot and I grew to become very interested in them. One issue I had was the very simplistic writing in a very historic and fantasy background, which didn't pull me in all the way.

I usually try not to pick a fight with the main character, but Tilla was not my favorite. But I enjoyed how the author tied the ends on the character and story arcs. There were more lessons learned in the end by the main characters, but it pulled the novel more together.

I hope there will be more after this because I'd like to see where the author takes these complex characters in his world. It was strong in female bonds and power, which I can never get enough of. This was full of humor and intrigue, so don't miss out!

*received in exchange for an honest review (Thank You!)


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