An impressive debut, equal parts commercial appeal and literary prowess.
Princess Aurelia is next in line to rule the kingdom of Tyralt, but sh... read full description
reviews
Dec 13, 2008
Jennifer Marie
rated it: 
It was a quick and easy read, but not a lot of "meat" to the story, more one of those books you pick up and just read for fun and don't expect too much from.
It's got an interesting ending--with a main character that acts how you expect her to act--in that she actually follows through with her actions, despite it not necessarily being the ending you expected.
The one thing that drove me nuts was the setting or I should say the confusion of the setting. There was More...
It's got an interesting ending--with a main character that acts how you expect her to act--in that she actually follows through with her actions, despite it not necessarily being the ending you expected.
The one thing that drove me nuts was the setting or I should say the confusion of the setting. There was More...
0 comments
like
(6 people liked it)
Jul 17, 2009
Diana
rated it: 
I love princess-as-hero stories. It's the right blend of power, femininity, and responsibility. Aurelia's quintessentially all of these characteristics, along with a dash of insecurity that is oh-so-familiar to all of us who haven't blacked out our entire adolescence from memory. I also liked the love interest/hero, especially because he treats Aurelia as an equal. So often in princess stories, you get the guy treating the girl like a frail damsel in distress. Yuck.
The only thin More...
The only thin More...
3 comments
like
(7 people liked it)
Jun 24, 2008
Emy
rated it:
just awesome... that's all there is to it! for once the princess saves herself, not some stupid guy doing the deed
0 comments
like
(8 people liked it)
Jan 14, 2012
Amelia, the pragmatic idealist
rated it:
My full review can be found HERE: http://leaveyoureyesbehind.blogspot.com/...
I'm going to start this book review off with a confession: I am a very, very hard person to keep entertained/engaged. Kindergarteners can focus better than me - well okay, some can...
Usually it takes me a few days at least to get through a 200+ page book, either because I stumble over some pacing potholes or because I just flat can't concentrate...
- THIS BOOK is...NOT one of those books! It only More...
I'm going to start this book review off with a confession: I am a very, very hard person to keep entertained/engaged. Kindergarteners can focus better than me - well okay, some can...
Usually it takes me a few days at least to get through a 200+ page book, either because I stumble over some pacing potholes or because I just flat can't concentrate...
- THIS BOOK is...NOT one of those books! It only More...
3 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 15, 2008
Miss Clark
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
3 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 02, 2011
What a fantastic book! I can't believe I waited so long to read this one! I had such a great time reading it and I absolutely adored the character Aurelia! She's the type of girl I always imagined a Princess would be. Not as stuck up snob, but someone that actually cares about the people around her.
The mystery in this novel was enthralling! I had multiple guesses as to who the killer may be and in the end I was terribly wrong! If you enjoy reading a good mystery, I definitely sugges More...
The mystery in this novel was enthralling! I had multiple guesses as to who the killer may be and in the end I was terribly wrong! If you enjoy reading a good mystery, I definitely sugges More...
Sep 28, 2011
Nisha
rated it: 
This is not nearly as compelling as I expected. Again, I am fooled by the cover, which is gorgeous.
The writing is subpar - ok, its passable, but for middle schoolers. The story is historical fantasy, in a YA theme, but I feel like it fails to hit the mark. There's too many random time periods stuck together.
But the biggest problem was the heroine. Aurelia, isn't that likeable (to me, at least), since she comes off as spoiled and immature (I don't know how she develops, More...
The writing is subpar - ok, its passable, but for middle schoolers. The story is historical fantasy, in a YA theme, but I feel like it fails to hit the mark. There's too many random time periods stuck together.
But the biggest problem was the heroine. Aurelia, isn't that likeable (to me, at least), since she comes off as spoiled and immature (I don't know how she develops, More...
4 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 06, 2010
Allison
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Dec 20, 2008
Rachel
rated it: 
The back of this book says "Mystery. Romance. Danger." Well, the mystery is easily figured out within the first ten pages, the romance is hardly developed and certainly not something a reader can get invested in without a great effort of will, and danger never quite feels real. The book as a whole was so incredibly bland (a heroine who gives us no reason to be attached to her, a romantic lead who has few personality traits aside from loving the heroine, and all taking place in an incre
More...
2 comments
like
(6 people liked it)
Jul 28, 2011
Grace
rated it:
This book was filled to the brim with mystery. I found myself eagerly racing to finish because I desperately needed to know who her assassin was. I needed to know, because once my curiousity is piqued, I read an entire book in one sitting. That’s what happened with Aurelia.
While the book promises romance, I was slightly disappointed. Robert and Aurelia – lifetime friends – sounded just like that, friends. At least the book promised danger, and we got it.
The cover is very indi More...
While the book promises romance, I was slightly disappointed. Robert and Aurelia – lifetime friends – sounded just like that, friends. At least the book promised danger, and we got it.
The cover is very indi More...
Jul 28, 2011
Grace
rated it:
This book was filled to the brim with mystery. I found myself eagerly racing to finish because I desperately needed to know who her assassin was. I needed to know, because once my curiousity is piqued, I read an entire book in one sitting. That’s what happened with Aurelia.
While the book promises romance, I was slightly disappointed. Robert and Aurelia – lifetime friends – sounded just like that, friends. At least the book promised danger, and we got it.
The cover is very indi More...
While the book promises romance, I was slightly disappointed. Robert and Aurelia – lifetime friends – sounded just like that, friends. At least the book promised danger, and we got it.
The cover is very indi More...
Jan 26, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 04, 2011
Jan
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 23, 2010
Maura
rated it:
It was good, but just that... good. I was seriously disappointed in the lack of elaborate explanation, and when she did explain something, it was way to much and had me skipping over the description of useless things. Bottom line, I wish she would have gone into more detail about the important things like the characters features and such. Another thing was... where was the final kiss? The one that's so romantic and keeps the reader satisfied at the end. It was cute that she went off on an explor
More...
Jul 10, 2010
Dwayne
rated it:
Reviewed @ Girls Without a Bookshelf.
Aurelia focuses on the mystery of the identity of the person behind the assassination attempts of Princess Aurelia of Tyralt. It is the search for this assassin that dictates the whole plot, one I found to unravel very unexpectedly. Personally however, it was not as satisfying as I thought.
Aurelia is a good book if you want extensive guess works on who might be the suspect within a few choice characters. Let me say that I person More...
Aurelia focuses on the mystery of the identity of the person behind the assassination attempts of Princess Aurelia of Tyralt. It is the search for this assassin that dictates the whole plot, one I found to unravel very unexpectedly. Personally however, it was not as satisfying as I thought.
Aurelia is a good book if you want extensive guess works on who might be the suspect within a few choice characters. Let me say that I person More...
May 25, 2009
Ruth
rated it:
Aurelia, the independent and strong-willed crown princess of Tyralt, has always had trouble meeting the expectations placed on her because of her exalted station. She longs to know the common people of her country and to determine her own destiny – particularly resisting every attempt of her father to arrange a politically advantageous marriage. When her old classmate Robert, who happens to be the son of the king’s former spy, returns from frontier life, she has no idea that he’s come to investi
More...
Jan 03, 2010
Alana
rated it:
Aurelia, the crown princess of Tyralt, has been the unwitting target of several assassination attempts. To keep her safe and unconcerned, her father tries to keep her in the dark as to the danger to her life - and calls her childhood classmate Robert back from his family's self-imposed exile to watch over her. While Robert and Aurelia begin to explore their deepening relationship, they must also act quickly to untangle the web of intrigue and discover who is out to kill Aurelia.
There More...
There More...
Jan 08, 2011
Beth
rated it:
This was one of those books that I choose because it has a gorgeous cover. I was in the bookstore (only had a few moments before I had to be at work, the bookstore is on the way, I felt compelled to stop) and when I saw this cover I grabbed it and that was that. Sometimes this method of choosing a book yields bad results but with this book that wasn't the case.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a quick read but I didn't feel like the story was rushed in any way. I love histor More...
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a quick read but I didn't feel like the story was rushed in any way. I love histor More...
Feb 18, 2010
Syd
rated it:
I find Aurelia a very strong independent character. She may be rash and rebellious but she's starting to mature so what do you really expect on most moody teenagers?
I like how Robert was protective of Aurelia even though she refused his help. But he makes a good leading male of a heroine story.
The mystery of it impressed me. When I see a murder story I always do the gathering of the suspects and figuring out a reason why they want to do that and not be surprised at the en More...
I like how Robert was protective of Aurelia even though she refused his help. But he makes a good leading male of a heroine story.
The mystery of it impressed me. When I see a murder story I always do the gathering of the suspects and figuring out a reason why they want to do that and not be surprised at the en More...
Jan 21, 2010
Maura
rated it:
Aurelia Lauzon certainly gives a new term to "Princess" with her strong, stubborn and opinionated ways. She will have readers cheering for her as she is a strong, independent female heroine. She's definitely a good role model for young female women of today. Her story takes us through her life as she is desperate to be Queen to help her people, but still at the same time doesn't want to be married off to someone she doesn't love. Underneath all this, someone is trying to assassinate Pr
More...
Apr 18, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
Very addicting book. I had been wanting to read it for a while, but I couldn't get a copy at the library. Finally got to buy it at the fabulos Books-a-Million (aka, Heaven on Earth). Anyways, I read this book in one sitting. Main characters were different then most. Like, in this situation, you might expect a damsel in distress heroine, yet Aurelia wasn't like that. I especially liked the part were she stracthed her leg during her step-sister's ball. Not very driven in courtly behavior.
More...
Jul 01, 2011
Angie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jul 23, 2009
Deanna
rated it:
Aurelia's story was captivating. I throughly enjoyed the flow of the story, of the tale. I could not put the book down.
Aurelia is strong-willed and compassionate. She was immediately liked by me. With that said, my favorite character was Robert. He is character of strength, courage and honesty. He is someone whom you can trust and want on your side. He is not easily swayed by those in power. I really liked Robert.
The storyline was fun to read as I like "time-per More...
Aurelia is strong-willed and compassionate. She was immediately liked by me. With that said, my favorite character was Robert. He is character of strength, courage and honesty. He is someone whom you can trust and want on your side. He is not easily swayed by those in power. I really liked Robert.
The storyline was fun to read as I like "time-per More...
Apr 14, 2010
Book Angel Emma
rated it:
taken from my blog asamum.blogspot.com
Beautifully descriptive writing throughout the book, really brought the images to vivid detail within my imagination. I actually felt hungry with the sensory description of the marketplace.
The tension and suspense starts from the first page of the prologue. A lot of information can be discerned from the narrative within a short space of time really bringing all the characters to life. The change of tone within the 1st chapter was amusing. More...
Beautifully descriptive writing throughout the book, really brought the images to vivid detail within my imagination. I actually felt hungry with the sensory description of the marketplace.
The tension and suspense starts from the first page of the prologue. A lot of information can be discerned from the narrative within a short space of time really bringing all the characters to life. The change of tone within the 1st chapter was amusing. More...
May 28, 2010
Becca
rated it:
This book was pretty slow in the very beginning. I was technically beginning to think about abandoning it. But then that mystery shoved it's way in and I had to finish it that very night. My favorite character had to be Robert. He was confident and brave. He was also kind and generous. He's a great role model to be. But anyways, this was a great book! I reccomend it to EVERYONE!
Aug 23, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Feb 04, 2011
Michelle
rated it:
The first in a new series about a spunky princess from the make-believe kingdom of Tyralt,
the story opens with a ball, a coming-out party for her younger (beautifully perfect) sister.
Aurelia's life is threatened without her knowing it- her food taster has died...
An old school friend, Robert becomes involved as a secret bodyguard but guarding the princess proves to be no easy matter. Tyralt's beloved princess won't stay put long and is always sneaking out of the castle in disgui More...
the story opens with a ball, a coming-out party for her younger (beautifully perfect) sister.
Aurelia's life is threatened without her knowing it- her food taster has died...
An old school friend, Robert becomes involved as a secret bodyguard but guarding the princess proves to be no easy matter. Tyralt's beloved princess won't stay put long and is always sneaking out of the castle in disgui More...
Feb 10, 2009
Skedatt
rated it:
For a first book, it was pretty good as a fluffy kind of read. It had your usual "plucky" heroine who is amazingly forward thinking in her backward nation...considering that she is the crown princess. (Perhaps I have had too many history classes.)
It is almost historical fiction, in a locale similar to a French/Venetian Cavalier period (think Three Musketeers) but she tries to bring in too many political issues without the background behind them to make them seem plausib More...
It is almost historical fiction, in a locale similar to a French/Venetian Cavalier period (think Three Musketeers) but she tries to bring in too many political issues without the background behind them to make them seem plausib More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 10, 2011
May
rated it:
I do love a rebellious princess, and this seemed to fit the bill perfectly, but it just... fell flat.
The writing is very purple-prose-y. People, things, surroundings, happenings, they are rarely described simply and sparsely, almost everything is over-described. Now, I like good description, but I also like having some things left to my imagination.
The characters sort of bothered me. They seemed one-dimensional, even Aurelia. And secondary characters? Forget it, they never More...
The writing is very purple-prose-y. People, things, surroundings, happenings, they are rarely described simply and sparsely, almost everything is over-described. Now, I like good description, but I also like having some things left to my imagination.
The characters sort of bothered me. They seemed one-dimensional, even Aurelia. And secondary characters? Forget it, they never More...
Dec 25, 2011
ﻉммel☼ chocolate you are so nummy^^~
rated it:
I actually started this book a few days ago, I finished reading the prologue but it didn't make sense. So, to start reading this book you need to be in a reading mode, nothing to distract you.
I found the writer's voice quite different to others, you'll notice it at the very start. The way she worded sentences was...different. Maybe there are a lot of books out there written like this, if so, this was the first.
In the begining I found it hard to adapt to this voice, I found it More...
I found the writer's voice quite different to others, you'll notice it at the very start. The way she worded sentences was...different. Maybe there are a lot of books out there written like this, if so, this was the first.
In the begining I found it hard to adapt to this voice, I found it More...
