The Royal Romance

Whatever It Takes #1

by Anna Svoboda

A princess's sacrifice. A conqueror's weakness. Love forged in the fires of war.
With her father dead and her kingdom facing annihilation, Princess Karina makes the ultimate sacrifice. To save her people from the invading army of the dreaded “Burning Fury”, she offers herself as a bride to King Hayden. But his reputation for cruelty proves all too real, and Karina finds herself pushed to her limits. Can she endure his dark desires and forge a fragile peace, or will her determination crumble in the face of his demands?
King Hayden, the feared conqueror known as the Burning Fury, thought he knew exactly how to crush the troublesome kingdom of Levanta. That is, until a stubborn princess arrives in his war camp, offering an unexpected solution. Intrigued by her bravery and infuriated by her defiance, Hayden finds himself torn between his thirst for vengeance and a growing fascination with Karina. But to lower his guard could mean risking everything he's fought to build.
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The Royal Romance is book 1 of Whatever It Takes series, a steamy fantasy romance set in a fictional medieval world. The series features realistic relationships, complex characters, and intriguing settings. Each book follows a different couple. No cliffhangers, HEA guaranteed.
Tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, power imbalance, innocent FMC
Trigger warning: This book contains adult content! Violence, torture, graphic sex including light BDSM. All sex scenes are M/F and consensual, though in the first one, the consent is somewhat dubious.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Romance, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Romantasy, Royalty, Forced Proximity

398 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

Anna Svoboda is a stay at home mom and a part-time programmer. When she isn’t writing, working, or taking care of her family, she usually hides from the outside world with a book in her hand.

Author of various romance novels, her stories center around strong female heroes and realistic relationships. She loves building her own complex worlds and listens to her characters’ opinions while writing. Then she puts them through unimaginable torment for messing up with her plot.

Reviews

[Sithean Lockwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the book, looking forward to the sequel.
I loved reading the book. Karina’s dad dies in battle, leaving the throne in her hands. She makes a marriage proposal to the Burning Fury to unite the kingdoms instead of being invaded. Her will and stubbornness impressed me. She refused to take no for an answer. It’s what hooked me.

What I love the most is Karina is not a weak female lead. She wanted to be part of it all, not sit back and be a princess The author does a great job at showcasing the character’s insecurities, instead of outright saying them.

Hayden is my favorite, he is rough but a good man. I like how he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. And Karina is good for him. Would recommend reading! Lots of laughs with fun twists and turns.

[Kristy Lavoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of insta-love and the first impression of the mmc is not what I was expecting, but he grew on me.

[Ana Carolina Crespo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
the first half was good...

[Sarah Ess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The way this story started had me thinking it was going to be one way - a way involving spanking, light punishment and such. But after that first scene the hero, Hayden, spends quite a bit of the story regretting his behaviour. And our heroine, Karina, will do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of her people (whatever it takes people!) she was certainly no helpless miss but a rather savvy ruler. Overall these two were quite a pair - a bit more rough around the edges in terms of their courtly manners but hey - in a time of war needs must!

I was excited to read an HR set in medieval times.. even fictional medieval lands! I'm a big fan and there's not enough of them, in my opinion. So I found it disconcerting that although it appears the author did some research to set the book in a fictional medieval world - that did not extend to the characters, who spoke in modern vernacular. It took me out of the story several times and it just disrupted the flow for me.

I appreciated the focus on consent in all of their encounters (after that first meeting) and that Hayden let Karina be the one to decide what would happen when and how far. The spice was steamy! I'm interested to see how the author develops this story in the second book in this series.

[DemetraP · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book. I liked the hero and the heroine.

But I thought the hero was very inconsistent in his actions. The book starts off with the heroine begging the hero not to invade her country (her father the King has been causing trade disputes and finally went to war and was killed by the hero during battle).

She says she'll do whatever it takes to avoid continuing the war.

The hero wants to embarrass her so he insists she get naked and fool around with him. She says she has to be a virgin when she marries as it's the law. He says he won't do anything if she says stop.

So he has her get naked, gets a belt, and whips her back and thighs until she screams in pain. She never tells him to stop. Her guards hear her screaming outside and try to help her but they are put in ropes and told to wait or die.

He decides she'll be a great wife because she's the first woman he's beaten who didn't tell him to stop. Then he performs oral sex on her to see if she can enjoy pleasure along with taking whatever pain he dishes out.

He gives her an engagement gift of his murdered mother's necklace.

SPOILER SPOILER PSOILER SPOILER SPOILER

After this rough start, the hero turns into a pining hero who is worried he was too rough and the heroine doesn't really like him. He wants her to want to marry him. They talk and cuddle and work on integrating their countries while planning a wedding.

He doesn't hit her again during sex until the end of the book. So after making a big deal about how he had these needs during sex, he's happy having sex without pain until the end of the book when she trust hims more. I was very confused by the hero's actions.

[Carla Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Royal Romance: Whatever It Takes started off strong, immediately pulling me into its world of royalty, romance, and drama. However, as the story progressed, I found myself struggling to stay engaged. The biggest issue for me was the pacing—after about 40% into the book, the plot began to drag, making it difficult to stay focused.

One major frustration was King Hayden’s character. His childlike tantrums and unpredictable behavior gave me whiplash, making it hard to root for him as a romantic lead. While I understand that the author may have been setting up his character arc for the second or even third book, it felt excessive in this installment. I enjoy an emotional rollercoaster in romance novels, but this book took it too far, making the drama feel repetitive rather than compelling.

Another downside for me was the cliffhanger ending. I generally prefer standalone books or series that shift perspectives between characters in each installment. While I have enjoyed exceptions like The Hunger Games or The Twilight Saga, this book didn’t quite hold my interest in the same way. The prolonged tension without enough payoff made it feel like the story was stretching itself too thin.

Overall, The Royal Romance: Whatever It Takes had an intriguing premise and a nice story, but the slow pacing and overly dramatic character arcs made it difficult for me to fully enjoy. I wouldn’t personally recommend it to fellow bookworms who prefer tighter storytelling, but those who love drawn-out royal romances might still find it worth a read.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

[Cristina Machado · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Royal Romance" is first in Whatever it takes trilogy, by new author Anna Svoboda. The series is an incursion into the world of low fantasy, that is, we do not have magical beings like elves and fae, nor fabulous and extra natural powers, but rather a kind of alternative history, set in a fictional world that is very reminiscent of our European Middle Ages. "The Royal Romance" tell us about the meeting between Karina and Hayden, a princessa and her enemy king, in a clash of wills that starts out as war but soon turns into a story of passion and trust. Karina is determined to do everything to save her country from the enemy, even if this means surrendering completely to the wishes of the victorious sovereign. And Hayden, of course, is more than ready to tease and accept the princess's complete submission. The romance is definitely hot, including certain games of dominance and submission. At the same time, the political intrigue and the development of worldbuilding, which the author manages well, keep the reader's attention captivated. In all, I will follow this series and recommend to all readers who like medieval romance, including those who don't read fantasy. And, of course, you can take the chance also if you are hooked to enemies to lovers plots.
I received an arc by the author for an honest review.

[Kimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's just get this 'uh what the?' out of the way first. This is NOT a medieval anything. I think the only things that may have readers thinking about this being based in the medieval era would be horses and the mention of Knights towards the very end of the book. However, we have horses in modern times still as well as Knights. (Not like the old-world knights of course) our characters are beyond modern in their conversations, word usage, and mannerisms. Now, that we have that out of the way lol. I want to say that this is honestly a freaking amazing read. I loved our main female character. She was this mouthy, crude-mouthed Princess, and still, we saw moments where she showed true fear. Next, we have our side characters. All great! I hope to read more about each one of our little group of misfits. I laughed and told my daughter that the dialog reminded me of DnD at our home. Sure we are role-playing fantasy old worlds, but our words are modern.

Lastly, unfortunately, I wanted to remove our King so badly. He read as a childish frat boy with mental issues. I mean he was hot so I looked past his anger issues.

All in all, I feel like the branding of this book should be switched a bit. Promote it more as a fantasy old-world adventure type, because calling it a medieval romance is pushing it. I truly enjoyed and loved the book otherwise.

[Tracy Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t your typical guy charms the girl scenario. Karina will do anything to protect her people, even if that involves offering herself in a bargain to the notorious ‘Burning Fury’ whom she spends a serious amount of time hating with a passion!

Hayden is known for many things, his volatile temperament and unusual sexual proclivities being among them. That by no means deters Karina from seeking the best possible peaceful resolution for her people.

We follow both Karina and Hayden as they navigate the many trials and tribulations that develop in uniting 2 countries who have long been at odds with the other. The plot is fast paced and oh so full of many twists and turns.

Karina is a feisty, potty mouthed, strong willed Princess, who I think King Hayden was completely unprepared for. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind, even to him which in turn he begins to find completely endearing and begins to show his other side to Karina which most don’t have the pleasure of seeing. I loved reading how their relationship evolved as the plot progressed. There were some SERIOUSLY spicy scenes within.

“I know I look like I’m very much in control, but unless you want this to turn into something else, please stop. I’m not a f****** saint.”

Highly recommend a read, I’m off to start the next one… love it when there’s a complete series!

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not anything that I thought it would be. The surprises start for the beginning. King Harold of Levanta has just been killed by the Burning Fury, King Hayden of Orellia after an ill-performed attack. Princess Karina goes to King Hayden to gain mercy for the people of Levanta. Knowing it will be an uphill battle, Karina is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her people safe from the Burning Fury.

King Hayden has been in search of the one. No one has made it more than a few minutes with his eclectic bedroom tastes and he knows Princess Karina will be no different. Karina surprises him by being everything he needs and more. She is not meek and well mannered. Though kept out of politics due to her being a female, she knows how to lead and knows that her father made the mistake that cost him his life.

This book is a journey of King Hayden and Princess Karina getting to know each other and themselves in the process. Hayden has a darkness that tends to lash out at the worse possible times. Karina is afraid that Hayden will continue to be hot and cold. What happens to her people if that hot leads to her death? Not only is the couple struggling to get to know each other, they have to contend with other countries not happy with their union. There is a lot going on in this book and I cannot wait to read the next installment of the wonderful series.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could have been good. It had a solid start, with a strong heroine willing to do what she has to to protect her people, even if it means submitting to the S&M tendencies of a rival king. Said king beats her with a belt to see how far she can be pushed (🙄), realizes she is equal to the task of standing up to him, and immediately becomes a puddle of regret. He also has little to no control over his temper, so he’s always flying off the handle (which has led to his stupid nickname). And she, despite her strong start, waffles between terror and love—even after she acknowledges she loves him. Like, if we’re looking at a story of a dom and a sub, there’s usually a deference or respect written into those stories. But she’s literally afraid of him. Although I liked the author’s writing style, it’s not enough for me to pick up the sequel to this book.

[Darlene Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

an awesome read! The plot is terrific, with characters that are believable and very easy to either love or hate. It's fast paced with some incredibly intense scenes. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and run the gamut of all the emotions in between. I love this book! However, in all good conscience, I do have to give the following warning - if you start reading this book, be prepared to stay with it and don't expect to accomplish anything until you're finished reading it. It's so good, you won't want to put it down! I highly recommend this book. Anna Svoboba has quickly become one of my all-time favorite authors!

[Cristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these book. Ms. Anna wrote with so much passion, and the way she describes every scene makes me feel that Ive travel through times and was with in the story. It is so captivating, there is no dull moments. I feel Karina's character as a very strong female lead emotionally and intellectually. What I like the most about this book is that though the settings is more on male dominated era, Ms Anna was able to make the female characters shine through and have a well balanced character build up on both gender. The plot is well thought off, and sequence of events is very organized. Kudos to the author, very excited for the 2nd and 3rd book of this trilogy.

[Bek*DevourerOfWords · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid effort.

This was a somewhat interesting read with an intriguing premise, but in no way a historical anything. The speech and language used clearly paint this as a comedy, with a light side dish attempt at BDSM elements. I would have disliked it intensely if it had tried to be a serious story with such elements, but there is simply too much joking, modern language, and tongue-in-cheek foolishness for it to be anything other than light comedy. Two and a half stars for the effort, rounded up to three for some fun laughs.

[Holly Odom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Karina is determined to do whatever it takes to save her people from certain annihilation at the hands of "The Burning Fury." In the wake of her father's death, Karina offers King Hayden a prize to tempting to turn down.
Is Karina brave enough to stand her ground with the volatile King Hayden, who is equal parts intrigued by her offer and incensed by her defiance?

Brilliantly flawed characters abound in this adventure set in a mythical medieval landscape.

[Sarah L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enough to keep reading

This felt inconsistent throughout. The MMC starts off by dealing out pain, then pleasure confidently but then for the rest of the book, is a whiny mess. The book is set in medieval times and whilst there are certain historical accuracies, everyone speaks with a modern vernacular.
Still, the book is pacy with enough of a plot line to keep reading.

[Zee Traveler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main female character, Karina, starts out so strong that I immediately gained respect for her. Choosing to do what’s best for her country no matter what happens to her is admirable. Reading what happens between that strong personality and Hayden from there is a thrill, a very fun and slightly wet thrill. ;)

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded to 4
This book was a wild ride. Did it have the best writing? No. Was it full of my favorite tropes? Yes! I devoured this book so fast. It was often cliche, sometimes cringy, but it had me hooked and I flew through it nonetheless. If you plan on reading this, just make sure to check the trigger warnings!

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ignoring the slavery, this was quite a good book. Both of them were fairly insecure, with nonstop misunderstandings, it started as endearing, but they were still kind of treading on eggshells with each other at the end, so that was annoying. Overall there was both great character development and relationship development.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute couple! I really loved the story and the way the plot unfolded—it kept me hooked the whole time. The romance was sweet and heartwarming, and the characters felt so easy to root for. I can’t wait to see what happens in book two, and I hope it’s just as good (or even better!) than this one.

[Jenny DaMota · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Hayden and Karina are sooo made for each other! This is a fantastic book that flows from one chapter to the next so seamlessly it's hard to put down!!! Absolutely loved it I recommend it!

[Tiffany Ewald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captivates you and keeps you very invested. Several times throughout I felt like I was actually there. She has a way of writing that draws you in and doesn't leave any room for dull moments! Really looking forward to more!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book more than I honestly expected to. Hayden and Karina were both great characters and I loved them both. It is first book of a trilogy, but it doesn't end with a cliffhanger. Not sure yet whether or not I'll continue.

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

worth your time

Great story, well written! Couldn’t put it down
It has good character development, a strong female lead. And definitely leaves you wanting more!
Will start the second book now!!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely 3.5! I’m confused because I liked the main characters .. but then thought they were a bit much (?) I will definitely look forward to the next one though!
Thank you to the author for gifting this ebook and all thoughts/opinions above and my own!

[Hodom23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Karina is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her people. Can she stand up to The Burning Fury? How will the ruthless King Hayden respond to Karina's determined defense of her people?

A fun medieval-type fantasy featuring a strong female lead.

[Emily P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the princess what's a badass who genuinely loves her people.
King is flawed and has a dangerous temper.
Story was driven by the romance but not overtaken by smut (maybe like 1 scene for every 150 pages?)

[Kara Laute · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this books. Karina is strong and independent and Hayden is a brute. But they fall in love and balance each other. I could hardly put the book down. It's a must read!

[V W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written and good story
Loved it , hard to put down.......worth a read

[Sara McGil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Loved the whole series. And also love all this authors books!