Order of Royals

Blue Swan #2

by Jude Deveraux

“Jude Deveraux’s writing is enchanting and exquisite.” —BookPage

The second book in Jude Deveraux’s spellbinding and unforgettable Blue Swan series weaves an intricate tapestry of fantasy and intrigue on the enigmatic planet of Bellis.

Princess Aradella is trapped in the iron grip of her evil and powerful aunt, Queen Olina. Navigating the treacherous waters of political machinations and familial duties, Aradella discovers allies in unexpected places, including Tanek, a swansman with his own mysterious connections. Set in a world where royalty, magic, and mythical beings coexist, Aradella’s path is intertwined with that of Kaley Arens, an Earthling who becomes deeply entangled in the planet’s intricate social hierarchy, as she is faced with a choice between her homeland and newfound love. As Aradella and her companions uncover dark secrets and hidden agendas, they embark on an adventure filled with loyalty, romance, and courage, where the lines between magic and reality blur, but where love has the power to transform destinies.

Aradella’s heart finds a beacon in Mekos, the son of Tanek, whose distinct heritage and protective nature captivate her. As their bond deepens amidst political intricacies, their love story unfolds through secret plans and whispered promises. But in this world, nothing is as it seems and destiny can’t be denied…

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Audiobook, Fantasy Romance, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published January 6, 2026

About the author

Jude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.

She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.

Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.

Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.

Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.

Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.

Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #2 in the Blue Swan Series!
Released TODAY, 1/6/26!!

Kaley and Tanek are back, but with a whole new crew of characters…

This time, Princess Aradella is a key figure… and is due to marry a Prince… but, she really doesn’t want to. He’s is NOT NICE… and, she feels that her heart belongs to someone else… and, he’s mean!

And so, plans are devised to try and get around this… But…is it even possible??

And, Aradella’s aunt, the queen, has plans of her own… And, she has lots of power to get what she wants…

This is sweet, and kind, and soft and fuzzy in one moment, and then…
Nasty, problematic, strict, rigid, and outright scared to death…. In the next moment! 😮

It is magical realism mixed with fantasy, and horror, and romance… if you can even imagine that!!

Oh, and the cover… now that I’m looking at it, just perfect for this one!! 😮😉😊

#OrderOfRoyals by @JudeDeveraux and narrated beautifully by @AlexandraHunter.

4 Brave, Sweet, Loving, Scary, Frightful, Royal Stars for me!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one was RELEASED TODAY, so please keep your eyes 👀 open for it !!!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarlequinAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

[Miranda Hicks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, truly I did. I tried so, so hard to get into the flow of Deveraux's writing, but I just wasn't in the right headspace for it I think. I find her overuse of exclamation points exhausting and her overabundance of characters confusing. Fifty pages were used to describe two female character's dislike for each other, and three pages were spent on the finale where two allegedly big, bad characters were killed. I really did like the first book in this series, but this one just wasn't it for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me access to the Advanced Reader Copy

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time fan of Jude Deveraux I was a little nervous to see her branch out into romantasy but I must say, I loved this duology so much!! All the twists on classic fairy tales were so much fun, the romance was sweeping and epic in scale, there was a large cast of characters but I felt each one got enough focus and it didn't detract from the overall story. It was also great on audio and the final ending was satisfying (assuming this is the end?). I can be hard to please when it comes to this genre but Deveraux delivered! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided an ALC and ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the Blue Swan series, I do no recommend reading this as a standalone. You really do need to read Order of Swans: A Novel first to understand what is going on and who all of the characters are.

The series is set on another planet, where fairy tales are real and certain people have the power to alter them. In this installment we mainly follow Princess Aradella as she hides in plain sight under her evil aunt's rule as queen. Queen Olina is the quintessential evil queen from every fairy tale, she wants to be the most powerful, the smartest, the most beautiful, etc. so of course she makes up crazy proclamations to ensure that Aradella never takes the throne as the true heir. Aradella teams up with Kaley, Tanek, and Mekos, who we met in the first book to escape an arranged marriage to a horrible prince and take back her kingdom. She has been pretending to be plain and meek to escape the notice of her aunt, but there are many changes she would like to make once she takes the throne. With the help of her new friends and her new found confidence she just may be able to take back what is rightfully hers.

While this follows Aradella and Mekos' journey and love story, we also can't forget about Kaley and her ability to connect with fairy tales. As she was studying fairy tales back on Earth her knowledge of the tales gives her the ability to understand and influence situations when a tale is taking over. Her relationship with Tanek and the other people she has met along her journey continues to develop as she learns more about her background and the planet of Bellis.

I enjoyed this series as a whole and this book wraps things up nicely.

The audiobook was very well narrated. The narrator does a great job distinguishing between the many characters and conveying emotion throughout the book.

[Branita J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a Jude Deveraux fan for a long time. She is one of my favorite authors. This is the second book in a fantasy series. It centers around fairytales. It takes place on another planet. I enjoyed the second book better than the first. It is best to read them in order, though. The first book gives so much important back story. Alexandra Hunter is a fantastic narrator. She voices both make and female characters wonderfully. In fact, I think listening to the book made it more interesting.


Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and Jude Deveraux for the opportunity to listen to this book.

[Holly Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the first book, and this one is ok, but imo it kinda feels like it’s going off in left field. I went in expecting more Kaylie adventure and got mikos Arabella and bree. The first half of the book Arabella is a completely different character as to how she is portrayed in the second half with bree. It just feels inconsistent. I still gave 4 stars cuz I’m hoping it somehow all comes back together in The end.

[Paulette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found Order of Royals frustrating. I kept thinking that if you throw enough spaghetti at the wall, some of it will stick. For me, the book was chaotic and character development was minimal. I'm sure that having chapters written by different characters was supposed to suggest alternative viewpoints but I don't think they were very well integrated. This is another book that felt like it was written from notecards. I wish I liked it more but the whole thing didn't fit together all that well.

[Megan (ReadingRover) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly it took real determination to get through this book. The first one was much better. This one felt confused and disjointed. There were small parts I enjoys here and there but as a whole the book was a flop for me. It felt like it was all over the place. Very disappointing.
2 stars.

[Lori]

I could not finish this book. I read and liked the first book. I love fairy tale based stories and science fiction mash up. Jude Deveraux was once among my favorite authors. This book was just not good. I really did not like the main character and maybe if she had not taken up so much of the beginning I might have liked it better. I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

[Cara Conway · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow this book was just so bad.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Order of Royals
The Blue Swan Duology #2
Jude Deveraux
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Princess Aradella is trapped in the horrible grip of her evil and powerful aunt, Queen Olina. This Queen is such a disgusting person with not a care about others and how they may feel. Aradella is navigating the treacherous waters of familial duties while trying to stay alive. Then Aradella discovers allies she never knew she had in unexpected places, including Tanek, a swansman with his own mysterious ways whom we met in the first book.

Set in a world where royalty, magic, mythical beings, and mayhem all co-exist, Aradella's path is intertwined with Kaley Arens, an Earthling who we met in the previous book. Kaley and Aradella are deeply entangled in the planet's intricate social hierarchy, and Aradella will have to make a tough choice between her homeland and newfound love.
As Aradella and her beloved companions uncover dark secrets and hidden agendas, they will embark on an adventure filled with loyalty, romance, and courage, where the lines between magic and reality are blurred, but where love has the power to transform destinies.

Aradella's heart finds something beyond special in Mekos, the son of Tanek, whose heritage and protective nature captivates her. As their bond deepens, a love story will unfold through secret plans and whispered promises. But on this strange planet nothing is as it seems and destiny can't be denied.

I'm almost speechless. Jude Deveraux is one of two authors who made me fall in love with reading. Ms. Deveraux was the author who fueled my love of time travel and historical romance. This book is absolutely phenomenal, whimsical, and so good. I couldn't stop reading. Books don't get better than this. Once again one of my favorite things is feeling like I belong to the families in the books because the same people in the first book are in the second, but there are more new people added. Aradella and Mekeos were perfect for each other. They balanced each other out in the most flattering ways. I usually am not a fan of books on other worlds, but once again Ms. Deveraux has shown me the error of my ways because this book was to die for. I never knew what was going to come on the next page. It kept me guessing from the get go. All in all this is definitely a book I would recommend to readers everywhere.

[Ashley - The Tattered Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧📖𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌📖🎧

𝒪𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝑅𝑜𝓎𝒶𝓁𝓈 ʙʏ ᴊᴜᴅᴇ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʀᴀᴜ

𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs

✨ 𝐻𝑜𝑜𝓀✨

ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛ ᴏғ ʙᴇʟʟɪs, ᴀ ᴄᴀᴘᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜ-ʙᴏʀɴ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ɴᴀᴠɪɢᴀᴛᴇ ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ, ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛs—ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ, ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ, ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏʏᴀʟᴛʏ ᴄᴏʟʟɪᴅᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀғᴜʟ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴀʟʟ.

𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:

ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴍɪʀᴀ, ʜᴀʀʟᴇǫᴜɪɴ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ, & ʜᴛᴘ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ ғᴏʀ ɢɪғᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟᴄ!

𝒪𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝑅𝑜𝓎𝒶𝓁𝓈, ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ɪɴsᴛᴀʟʟᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴜᴇ sᴡᴀɴ sᴇʀɪᴇs, ᴇxᴘᴀɴᴅs ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴏғ ʙᴇʟʟɪs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴇᴇᴘᴇʀ ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ, ʜᴇɪɢ��ᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ sᴛᴀᴋᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴀʏᴇʀᴇᴅ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ. ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss ᴀʀᴀᴅᴇʟʟᴀ’s sᴛᴏʀʏʟɪɴᴇ ɪs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴀɴᴄʜᴏʀ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ—ʜᴇʀ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴀᴜɴᴛ’s ᴛʏʀᴀɴɴɪᴄᴀʟ ʀᴜʟᴇ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴄᴏʀᴇs ᴛʜᴇᴍᴇs ᴏғ ᴀᴜᴛᴏɴᴏᴍʏ, ᴄᴏᴜʀᴀɢᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴʜᴇʀɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴀʀᴀᴅᴇʟʟᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴇᴋᴏs ᴜɴғᴏʟᴅs ǫᴜɪᴇᴛʟʏ ʙᴜᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢғᴜʟʟʏ, sʜᴀᴘᴇᴅ ʙʏ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴄʏ, ᴅᴜᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴏғ ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀʏ.

ᴍᴇᴀɴᴡʜɪʟᴇ, ᴋᴀʟᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇɴs’ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀs ᴀɴ ᴇᴀʀᴛʜʟɪɴɢ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅs ᴀᴅᴅs ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴀsᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀᴇᴀᴅᴛʜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ, ʀᴇɪɴғᴏʀᴄɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇʀɪᴇs’ ᴄᴇɴᴛʀᴀʟ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴄɪɴɢ ɪs ᴍᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇᴅ, ᴘʀɪᴏʀɪᴛɪᴢɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴍᴀɴᴇᴜᴠᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ɴᴏɴsᴛᴏᴘ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ʙᴇᴀᴛs ʟᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ sᴛʀᴏɴɢʟʏ—ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ғᴏʀ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇʀs ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʟᴏɴɢ-ғᴏʀᴍ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ.

🎙️𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃:
ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪs ᴘᴏʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴍᴍᴇʀsɪᴠᴇ, ʜᴀɴᴅʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴜʟᴛɪᴘʟᴇ ᴘᴏᴠs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄʟᴀʀɪᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴsɪsᴛᴇɴᴄʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴇғғᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇʟʏ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛɪᴀᴛᴇs ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ sᴜʙᴛʟᴇ ᴛᴏɴᴀʟ sʜɪғᴛs, ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄᴜʟᴀʀʟʏ ᴇxᴄᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʏɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴀᴅᴇʟʟᴀ’s ᴠᴜʟɴᴇʀᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇsᴏʟᴠᴇ. ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ sᴄᴇɴᴇs—ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴏғ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ ᴅᴇғɪᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ—ᴀʀᴇ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀᴇsᴛʀᴀɪɴᴛ, ᴀʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ’s ɪɴᴛɪᴍᴀᴄʏ ᴛᴏ sʜɪɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴇɴʜᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇɢᴀʟ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀᴇ ᴏғ ʙᴇʟʟɪs ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴋᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ sᴍᴏᴏᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴɢᴀɢɪɴɢ.

𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈:
✨ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇ & ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ sᴄʜᴇᴍɪɴɢ
✨ᴇᴠɪʟ ʀᴜʟᴇʀ + ᴛʏʀᴀɴɴɪᴄᴀʟ ǫᴜᴇᴇɴ
✨ғᴏʀʙɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ᴠs. ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ
✨ᴄʀᴏss-ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ
✨ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀʟʟɪᴇs ɪɴ ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇs
✨ᴍʏᴛʜɪᴄᴀʟ ʙᴇɪɴɢs & ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ

𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉: 𝒪𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝑅𝑜𝓎𝒶𝓁𝓈 ɪs ᴀ ʀɪᴄʜʟʏ ʟᴀʏᴇʀᴇᴅ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀɴs ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴇᴘᴛʜ, ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ. ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴛʀᴏɴɢ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇxᴘᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ, ɪᴛ’s ᴀ ʀᴇᴡᴀʀᴅɪɴɢ ʟɪsᴛᴇɴ ғᴏʀ ғᴀɴs ᴏғ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ, ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ-ʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ sᴛᴏʀʏᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ—ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴜᴇ sᴡᴀɴ sᴇʀɪᴇs.

ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ

[celestialpixels_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

👑 Royal duty meets cosmic destiny and somewhere in between, love finds its orbit 🪐

Jude Deveraux’s "Order of Royals" surprised me with how seamlessly it blends courtly intrigue and sci-fi wonder. It’s the kind of story that feels both opulent and intimate: full of whispered conspiracies, quiet courage, and the kind of romance that glows softly against the backdrop of the stars.

Princess Aradella’s journey pulled me in right away. Trapped in a life defined by power and manipulation, she’s a heroine caught between expectation and awakening. What I loved most was how her strength doesn’t come from rebellion alone, but from compassion and the bravery to see beyond duty, to choose connection over control.

Tanek, her enigmatic ally, adds a fascinating balance: secretive yet steady, he becomes both mirror and anchor to Aradella’s turmoil. Their relationship unfolds with patience and tension, like two orbits finally aligning.

Deveraux writes with the confidence of someone who knows how to make a world feel lived in. The political layers never drown out the emotional beats, and the result is something rare; a story about legacy and love that feels both otherworldly and human all at once.

✨ "Order of Royals" is perfect for readers who crave the elegance of classic fantasy but want it filtered through a celestial lens - think "A Thousand Heartbeats" by Kiera Cass or "Defy the Night" by Brigid Kemmerer. It’s richly imagined, romantic, and quietly powerful and a reminder that even in the vastness of space, the heart remains the truest compass.

🙏 Huge thanks to Jude Deveraux, Harlequin Trade Publishing / MIRA, and NetGalley for the ARC. This book shimmers with hope, rebellion, and starlight.

[Sonya · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I didn’t love the first book in this series, I did really enjoy the first half of it, so I decided to try the second book.

I did like Aradella and Mekos as characters a lot better than Kaley and Tanek in the first book, but it didn’t make sense to me that the story was almost exclusively told from their POVs in the second book. It almost felt like we deserted the storyline from book one. I have read several books that do this in the past (The Lunar Chronicles being an excellent example), but in this case it wasn’t done well.

The conflict that is set up for Kaley at the end of book one is completely resolved super simply and very early on in this one. It was very unsatisfying.

Also, all the danger and conflict throughout is built up to be this huge thing, but then is defeated in the most simple ways. It’s so anticlimactic and leaves you wondering “what was even the point of that?”

There were also a lot of continuity errors throughout based on the rules the author set up in book one and throughout book two, which was very annoying.

Most of the characters felt like caricatures and are kind of annoying. They also all make so many forced jokes and sexual innuendo. It’s gratuitous and doesn’t feel natural in the least bit.

My biggest question that wasn’t answered in the first book didn’t get answered in this one either: How does earth know about these fairytales if they are happening in the present on this other planet? It would make sense to me if coming to this planet made you go back in time or if all the fairytales had happened in the past on this planet and the people had brought the stories to earth back then, but that isn’t the case…

What’s so annoying though, is that the twist and new discoveries at the end make me want to read the next book when it comes out to find out what happens… even though I didn’t enjoy the majority of this one.

I received a a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.

[CiCi | bookameme · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a clean Romantasy that didn’t seem like it wanted to be clean. It felt like the author wrote a smutty Romantasy with a cute plot and then the publisher went through and ripped out all the spicy scenes. It’s strange because it feels like each scene leads up to some climactic spicy scene and then it just skips it, and it’s abrupt unlike most fade to black scenes are.
With that said, the book is a campy romcom rife with fantasy. The plot reminds me of an anime because there are so many different slapstick plot twists but the plot doesn’t feel complicated. There isn’t much nuance to it but it is a fun story.

🎙️: Single narrator but multiple POV. She does her job well though so there isn’t any confusion about who’s POV your in. However, there are some places where there are long lists of things that are hard to remember. It’s not the narrators fault but it would be significantly easier to follow along if it was written somewhere for reference, which is why I recommend tandem reading if you’re listening to it.

Romantasy with RomCom vibes
• Multi POVs and storylines
• Secrete Identity
• Campy Saga (like a series of serial novellas)
• Fairytale Retelling
• Evil Queen
• Complicated Family Secrets

❌🌶️: There aren’t any spicy scenes but the story revolves around them, almost like an erotic novel had all the spicy scenes ripped out of it.

⚠️: Cheating subplot with two side characters on a pregnant woman that’s never named of introduced. The whole thing was bizarre and disturbing, I have no idea why the author thought it was a good idea.

[M. K. French · Rating 3 out of 5]

Princess Aradella is controlled by her evil aunt, Queen Olina. Aradella has unexpected allies: Tanek, a swansman with mysterious connections, and Earthling Kaley Arens, who gets caught in the planet’s intricate social hierarchy. Aradella and her companions uncover secrets and hidden agendas at court, and the lines between magic and reality blur. Aradella falls for Tanek's son Mekos, and their bond can lead to magic of its own.

Order of Royals is the second book in the Blue Swans series. Because it's a planet where fairy tales are true, the characters are somewhat more one-dimensional. That made it difficult for me to get into the story and enjoy the book.

Olina is evil and selfish, with every evil stepmother trope at play, and Aradella's cousins are comically stupid. Kaley and Tanek are a couple, and are brought into Olina's machinations to have Aradella killed so she can remain queen. When this plan is foiled, Olina has others in play to embarrass and ultimately force Aradella into marriage with an awful man. It's one disaster after another, some mimicking fairy tales. Olina ultimately wants to remain queen and wants to keep the men and women separated forever.

We have different POV chapters in the second half of the book, which offer different perspectives and information about what's happening on the planet and the plans in motion. The ending includes a lot of info dumping regarding plans and the history behind the planets, and the involvement with Earth. The finale plays out, and it felt pretty anticlimactic overall.

[Arthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jude Deveraux's Blue Swan series is a genuine mash up between Alice in Wonderland and Grimm's Fairy tales, a worthy follow-up for fans of Once Upon a broken heart! This mesmerizing tale continues the story from Order of Swans, and moves to Tanek's son Mekos and Princess Aradella, the one who was to marry the odious Prince Nessa.. with reunions galore and more of the political puzzle that the Empyreans present, to solve, this tale moves fast and furious, blazing a trail of convoluted fairy tropes, misunderstandings and reversing plot lines at will!
The ending reveal was simply masterful and gave the tale a true Matrix like gravitas! I cannot wait for the next book!!!
The characters are genuine and try to do what's best but end up bungling long drawn out plans.. with themes from snow white, rose red, Robin hood, never [tinkerbell] and complicated family lines [ seriously, it is the most twisted family tree, by far], this book is a salve for lengthy tomes. With its breakneck pace, clueless characters, and mystifying worlds, it is a sanctum for falling back in love with fairy tales!!!
Sprinkle some stardust on yourself and settle down for a soar! My sincere thank yous to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for furnishing the arc!! I devoured it in a day!!! I had to re read Order of Swans again just because!! Do not miss this hitchhikers guide to fairy tales series!!!

[Scarlett Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars but I will put 4 on here since you cannot do half stars).

Thank you to Jude Deveraux and her team for the gifted e-book via NetGalley. This is the sequel in the Blue Swan duology, and it delivers a richly descriptive sci-fi/fantasy mashup with intricate world-building and bold creativity. Jude Deveraux’s imagination really shines here. The setting is unique, detailed, and clearly crafted with care.

The character dynamics were engaging, and I did feel connected to each of the main characters, which kept me grounded even when the story became dense. That said, I personally struggled with the pacing. At times the plot felt repetitive, and I found it difficult to get through certain sections.

This is definitely not an “easy read.” It requires full immersion, and I couldn’t really pick it up for short reading bursts the way I can with many of my other books. That’s not necessarily a flaw, especially for a complex sci-fi/fantasy, but it did impact my overall enjoyment. I didn’t feel especially excited to pick it up each time, though by the end I was glad I had finished it, if that makes sense.

Jude Deveraux’s writing style is incredibly distinctive, and I think that if the story had focused on a different concept, it may have resonated with me more. Overall, this was a thoughtful and ambitious read, but one that didn’t fully click for me.

[Corrine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I think this is what happens when someone watches Once Upon a Time and thinks, “I could do that.” Then proceeds to just throw everything at a wall to see what sticks. The result, for me, was: not much.

The FMC from the first book continues her time on the far distant planet with her new love, but MANY more characters are introduced at a rapid clip with no continuity on POV. We learn about three princesses, one of whom is neglected and abused (but maybe not) and the other two who are adored and revered (but maybe not). Potential romances are introduced and half-heartedly developed, with conflicts rising and resolving in the time it takes to snap your fingers. The first novel had a continuous story line working toward some sort of resolution/cliff hanger, but this book just floundered from the start. It is unclear who the antagonist is, what the overall goal of the story is, and the characters get lost in the chaos.

I honestly struggled with being invested in any of the characters or the story at all, which is a shame because I think the nugget of the idea behind this story is quite good. I’m a longtime fan of Jude Deveraux, particularly her historical romance novels. I was excited to see what she did with fantasy, but the execution was a miss for me.

[Aura C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable continuation of the story. I loved returning to this world where royalty, magic, and layered family dynamics all collide. The political tension and shifting alliances kept me engaged, and I really appreciated how much of the story focused on loyalty, choice, and doing what’s right even when every option costs something.

The romance was a highlight for me. It’s not rushed or flashy, but quietly built through shared danger, whispered plans, and trust earned over time. I liked how the emotional connection felt grounded in protection and partnership rather than instant passion. It gave the love story more weight and made the stakes feel personal.

I also enjoyed the fairytale-inspired elements and the sense that nothing is ever quite what it seems. Secrets unfold slowly, motivations stay murky, and the world continues to expand in interesting ways. While a few moments felt slightly crowded with moving pieces, the story overall flowed well and kept me invested all the way through.

A solid, satisfying read that blends romance, magic, and intrigue beautifully. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.

[Jaylee Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Returning to the world of the Blue Swan duology feels like stepping back into a lush, high-stakes tapestry of duty and desire that expands beautifully on its predecessor.

Order of Royals picks up the threads of the previous installment, centering on Princess Aradella and Mekos as they attempt to balance their personal connection with the heavy burden of a royal betrothal. While they navigate the expectations of their titles, Kaley faces her own dilemma, forced to choose between the love she found (main story in book 1) and returning to Earth.

I enjoyed reading Aradella l& Mekos's story and how their love developed. While the middle section of the story spends a significant amount of time on world-building and courtly protocol, it serves to heighten the tension before the final act.

Audio was great and kept me going, the narrator managed a large cast of characters with impressive distinctness. Their expressive delivery captured the shifting moods of the story, from the tension of the throne room to the more poignant, quiet moments between lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing this ALC. Release date 1/6/26

[Gwendalyn Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Order of Royals
by Jude Deveraux
Pub Date: Jan 06 2026

Princess Aradella is trapped in the iron grip of her evil and powerful aunt, Queen Olina. Navigating the treacherous waters of political machinations and familial duties, Aradella discovers allies in unexpected places, including Tanek, a swansman with his own mysterious connections. Set in a world where royalty, magic, and mythical beings coexist, Aradella’s path is intertwined with that of Kaley Arens, an Earthling who becomes deeply entangled in the planet’s intricate social hierarchy, as she is faced with a choice between her homeland and newfound love. As Aradella and her companions uncover dark secrets and hidden agendas, they embark on an adventure filled with loyalty, romance, and courage, where the lines between magic and reality blur, but where love has the power to transform destinies.

Aradella’s heart finds a beacon in Mekos, the son of Tanek, whose distinct heritage and protective nature captivate her. As their bond deepens amidst political intricacies, their love story unfolds through secret plans and whispered promises. But in this world, nothing is as it seems and destiny can’t be denied

[Audie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, nostalgic read for lovers of fairytales and sci-fi!
Book two in the Blue Swan series picked up right where we left Kaley, Tanek, Sojee, and Mekos, and the action did not stop! This book is not for the faint of heart (I mean this as a compliment)! Due to its writing style, the reader must be ready to engage with the plot that has a ton of characters and multiple plot lines woven in and out of multiple POVs. It is refreshingly written in a style very similar to that of classic fairy tales, with dashes of modern wit and pop-culture references. I didn't refresh my memory by rereading book one, Order of Swans, before diving into Order of Royals, and I am glad that I didn't! There is a shift in the main characters to include Princesses Aradella and Bree, as well as Tanek's son.
Again, I don't think this one is for everybody, BUT I loved it, and I think that people who adore nods to fairytales but in a unique setting will like Order of Royals!

Thank you, NetGalley and MIRA, for an ARC of Order of Royals by Jude Devereaux! Pub Date: January 6, 2026.

[Ali Alley EscapeThroughABook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute. It did stay on the same line with the retelling of fairytales like book 1, but it also was different. It focused more on Meko (Tanek’s son), and Princess Aradella. We do see Tanek and Kaley, they just aren’t the main focus like I expected them to be. I was kind of disappointed at first because I really wanted more of their love story, but as we get to know Aradella/Meko more and were given just enough to satisfy us with Kaley/Tanek I was okay. The book definitely gets kind of off the wall weird at some points, which isn’t surprising because book 1 was that too. It isn’t a bad thing, just a “well that’s different” kind of thing. It honestly makes the story fun. I did enjoy it, and I have to say listening to the audiobook made getting into the book easy. The narrator did well (Alexandra Hunter Narrated). The book is an adult romantasy but is a clean romantasy IMO. I still think the series is very original and interesting. I still have never read anything set exactly like this, and thats so cool.

This sci-fi fantasy romance is book 2 in the Blue Swan series. The romance in this book is friends to lovers. The book does have adult themes, and tension but remains clean overall. Tanek is promised to Princess Aradella. Kaley loves Tanek and can’t let him go. Princess Aradella’s aunt is evil and has always punished her for not falling into her expectations. This time she isn’t alone and has Mako, Tanek, and Kaley with her, and her aunt’s plans may not go as planned.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
🎧Audiobook
✨Thank You to Harlequin Audio for the ALC✨

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Order of Royals by Jude Deveraux is a mix of royal drama, fairy-tale vibes, and a little sci-fi thrown in, and somehow it all works. The world she builds is very detailed but it never feels overwhelming—you get enough of the politics, the family drama, and the magical bits to stay hooked.

Princess Aradella is such a great FMC. She’s smart and brave - her strength comes from how she cares about people and makes tough choices. And her romance with Mekos? I loved how real it felt.

The story is fun, too. There’s humor that helps make the story feel light at times, even with all the political scheming.

Overall, if you like fairy-tale-inspired stories with magic, romance, and a ton of intrigue, you’d probably really enjoy this one. It’s immersive and fun. I can’t wait to see what happens next in this world!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jude Deveraux and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Corina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was a magical fantasy with a science fiction approach and touched on romantasy. It is second book in the series and part of a duology Multiple POVs were created to help the story unfold for the reader.
Princess Ardella/FMC- was young, brave and wanted what was best for her kingdom
Mekos/MMC- was part fox, so he had pointy ears like a fae and was the son of the man of the princess's betrothal
I did not care for the other world setting, while the travel to Earth was three years. I had a hard time with the phrase 'earthlings' as I read. The romance had no spicy interactions that took place. Yet the author did attempt to stoke the slow burning moments between Princess Ardella and Mekos, that the romance was closed door and left to imagination of the reader.
Unfortunately, this story did not tie up loose ends, and there needs to be a third in the book series for the plot to come together to all make sense.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not read the first book in this series. This wasn't really an issue for most of the book, but the second half brings in a lot of characters that seem to have been a big part of #1, and that got a bit confusing.

Because the narration was told in 3rd person, I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I was just along for the ride; I couldn't have a favorite character because there wasn't a whole lot of substance to them. Maybe I missed that part of the story development in the first book?

Overall, this was a fun jaunt through various fairy tales.
The twist at the end was unexpected. It also was a good thought exercise on different structures of society, god-complexes, and the importance of feeling "offended" (or not offended).

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Traci Hoffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating romantasy series continues in the Order of Royals! Thanks to Jude Devereaux for continuing to write captivating novels throughout my adult life! Order of Royals continues the story that began in Order of Swans. Princess Aradella remains under the control of her evil and powerful aunt, Queen Olina. In this story, we get to see Aradella embark on an adventure to new lands and people. That, combined with elements of fairy tales, romance, and politics makes this a fascinating story! It’s also fun to revisit the main characters from the first book- especially Kaley and Tanek and to see how their love and story evolves. I also loved Aradella’s romance with Tanek’s son, Mekos and to see how she and her cousin Bree continue to find out the truth about one another. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy!

[Ashlyn Tickle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a unique duology and I really enjoyed the premise but I continued to lose interest during book 1. I stuck it out to give book 2 a try, and I enjoyed this one better. Once Tanek and Kaley were established, I felt the book picked up and we started to follow Tanek’s son, Mekos, and Aradella. Their story felt more like a Cinderella story though we already visited that fairytale in book one.

Mekos and Aradella had room to grow since they’re much younger than Kaley and Tanek. This made for a better character arc and a pleasant ending as we follow the story of young love. I enjoyed watching Aradella fight back for herself and what she’d deserved and also find family in people who’d been there all along. The multiple POVs set up for a very full and objective story.

I think this duology is worth a try for anyone, even if it wasn’t entirely for me!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the first book, Order of Swans, and was really looking forward to this one. It was just ok for me,
The first book had fairy tales come to life and the main character’s wonder at seeing stories she had read all her life be real. There was even romance with a swan man.
This book reprised those characters, but the focus was on two others, the swan-man’s son, Mekos, and the Princess Aradella. I found it hard to keep everybody straight. (I even found an error where a character was referred to by another character’s name.)
A big question from the first book was what happened to Kaley’s mother. We find out here with no drama, no build-up, just a paragraph explaining what happened in the midst of another story. Then the rest of her family shows up. Huh?
I liked it enough that I would read a third one if it is written. But this one could have been so much more.