KISS OF THE ROYAL
by Lindsey Duga
Entangled Teen Publishing
July 3rd, 2018
YA Fantasy
400 pages
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.
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.
MY TIDBITS
A kiss gains an entirely new meaning in this exciting, packed with magic and action, read for fantasy fans.
Princess Ivy is a full blooded royal and because of that, has the most powerful kiss. With this kiss, she gives her 'prince' a boost of magic with the intent to help him on the battlefield. Ivy's people have been fighting the evil forces for several hundred years and the kiss of royals is their greatest weapon. Due to the loss of her 5th (or 6th?) prince, Ivy is forced to take on a new prince. This one, however, is more than she bargained for. He believes in true love, something the Royals have denied for hundreds of years. Despite her hate for his beliefs, he's her and her people's only chance to survive the biggest threat the evil side has ever brought against them.
This is a very refreshing idea—kisses with the sheer purpose to defeat an enemy. Never in love because love doesn't exist. The author manages to build masterfully on this idea, creating a believable realm with a princess worthy of cheering for. Most of the details behind this theory are well laid out, and there are so many unexpected twists and turns to the entire thing as the story continues.
Ivy is an interesting character. On the one hand, she's a grand princess who is determined to fulfill her position and save her people no matter what it takes. She's head-strong and yet, has a more insecure side which molds with the strength nicely. Her ability to listen to reason makes her very likable. On the other side, her determination not to believe everything she hears and question the values she holds dear, also makes her a princess to adore. It's a lovely balance.
There is tons of action in this book as well as magic. Every step of the journey holds a new danger, and each of these is brought across with excitement and tension. But the main element is the developing romance between Ivy and Zach, her prince. It's not a love at first sight but a battle the entire way through. Both Ivy and Zach are intriguing to follow.
The ending wraps up all knots nicely and is satisfying, despite a maybe too easily won end battle with the evil queen. But then, the tale is fairly predictable in most respects (the reason for 4 stars instead of 5). Still, it's exactly this which makes the ending sweet and satisfying. In other words, it's the perfect read for those who want action, magic and a wonderful, tension filled romance.
Princess Ivy is a full blooded royal and because of that, has the most powerful kiss. With this kiss, she gives her 'prince' a boost of magic with the intent to help him on the battlefield. Ivy's people have been fighting the evil forces for several hundred years and the kiss of royals is their greatest weapon. Due to the loss of her 5th (or 6th?) prince, Ivy is forced to take on a new prince. This one, however, is more than she bargained for. He believes in true love, something the Royals have denied for hundreds of years. Despite her hate for his beliefs, he's her and her people's only chance to survive the biggest threat the evil side has ever brought against them.
This is a very refreshing idea—kisses with the sheer purpose to defeat an enemy. Never in love because love doesn't exist. The author manages to build masterfully on this idea, creating a believable realm with a princess worthy of cheering for. Most of the details behind this theory are well laid out, and there are so many unexpected twists and turns to the entire thing as the story continues.
Ivy is an interesting character. On the one hand, she's a grand princess who is determined to fulfill her position and save her people no matter what it takes. She's head-strong and yet, has a more insecure side which molds with the strength nicely. Her ability to listen to reason makes her very likable. On the other side, her determination not to believe everything she hears and question the values she holds dear, also makes her a princess to adore. It's a lovely balance.
There is tons of action in this book as well as magic. Every step of the journey holds a new danger, and each of these is brought across with excitement and tension. But the main element is the developing romance between Ivy and Zach, her prince. It's not a love at first sight but a battle the entire way through. Both Ivy and Zach are intriguing to follow.
The ending wraps up all knots nicely and is satisfying, despite a maybe too easily won end battle with the evil queen. But then, the tale is fairly predictable in most respects (the reason for 4 stars instead of 5). Still, it's exactly this which makes the ending sweet and satisfying. In other words, it's the perfect read for those who want action, magic and a wonderful, tension filled romance.
And here she is...
Lindsey Duga developed a deep love for courageous heroes,
dastardly villains, and enchanting worlds from the cartoon shows, books, and
graphic novels she read as a kid. Drawing inspiration from these fantastical
works of fiction, she wrote her first novel in college while she was getting
her bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University. By day,
Lindsey is an account manager at a digital marketing agency based in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana. By night, and the wee hours of the morning, she writes both
middle grade and young adult. She has a weakness for magic, anything classical,
all kinds of mythology, and falls in love with tragic heroes. Other than
writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up
on the latest superhero TV show, practicing yoga, and listening (and belting)
to her favorite music artists and show tunes. KISS OF THE ROYAL is her YA debut
novel.
You can find her...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lindsey-Duga/e/B07BJNMRHX/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1524077289&sr=1-1
GIVEAWAY!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment