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Royal Bastards

(Royal Bastards #1)

by
3.73  ·  Rating details ·  4,212 ratings  ·  865 reviews
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 castl
...more
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published May 30th 2017 by Disney-Hyperion
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Popular Answered Questions
Andrew Shvarts Yes! It's part 1 of a trilogy. …moreYes! It's part 1 of a trilogy. (less)
Alice No and this book becomes more romance heavy and boring the farther you go into it. (there's a makeout scene that implies sex)…moreNo and this book becomes more romance heavy and boring the farther you go into it. (there's a makeout scene that implies sex)(less)
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Average rating 3.73  · 
Rating details
 ·  4,212 ratings  ·  865 reviews


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Chelsea Humphrey
Jan 02, 2017 rated it really liked it
This book was an adventure and I can't remember the last time I've had this much fun coming along for the ride. The style of writing was interesting; i started out wondering if this was actually a Middle Grade book, and as the story progressed pulled a huge "NOPE- definitely YA". The only comparison I can think of is how the Harry Potter books progressed; they start out very light and youthful in feel but gradually grow darker and heavier? That was totally this book. The author did an excellent ...more
emi
Jul 14, 2017 rated it did not like it
Update: It has come to my attention that I accidentally made the same joke as another user in this review. Especially when this user is one that I admire and who's reviews I look forward to. I know they probably don't trust me anymore, but please know that it was never my intent to copy them and it was purely coincidental. While I did like their review before hand that contained that joke, it was before they posted the entire thing and I didn't even see it until after I wrote my review. Nonethel ...more
the burning dreamer.
To whoever wrote this book's "synopsis":

syn·op·sis
/səˈnäpsəs/
noun
→ a brief summary or general survey of something.

Do take note.
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booksnpenguins (desktop's version)
Here’s the thing.
If I have to read another book with a stellar premise, that instead turns out to be your typical and average story, I’ll quit the reading scene faster than you can say “cliché”.

No, okay, that was a bit exaggerated, but I'm sure you see my point and I hope you’re ready for the umpteenth rant-view, because that's what you're getting for this hook.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
What makes Royal Bastards a 2-star book?
I guess it’s only fair of me to start by the obviously hated parts.
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Josh Hyung (조슈아)
My written interview with the author can be found here.
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amy ☂︎
Jul 09, 2017 rated it did not like it
Shelves: 2017, buddy-read
i have 84 regrets and this book is at least 23 of them

actual rating: 1.5 Stars (not quite level the love interest but it was dangerously close)

it's been two days since i finished this so i already suppressed most of the awfulness that was this book, but i'm gonna try and put my thoughts into coherent sentences for you and convey my :) feelings :) in a :) civilised :) way so i can move on and pretend me reading this book is something that only happened in an unpleasant feverish dream

• buddy read
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sunny
Honestly??? Believe them when they say this starts off really good but then is absolute shit. I mean it wasn't absolute shit (I may have exaggerated) but honestly the romance and insta love ruined it.

So like, this book was basically going to class to find a substitute teacher who gives you a pop quiz you didn't study for and you fuck up on it big time. Everything goes so so well until that one thing that ruins pretty much the entire everything. In this case, it’s the shitty romance or insta lov
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♛ may

This book promised me a lot of thing; treachery, betrayal, action, no-disappointment, and a hell of a squad. But guess what happened? :)

Honestly, description

So this train wreck started off alright. We got some siblingship going on. Nice. We got some average writing. Fine. We got some rebellion. Cool.

And then Zell appears and I’m like MY BABY.

So far so good,
Then
Reality
Rolls
Over
Me
With
A
Truck

Basically it just turned into a hell of a lot of. . .

- telling not showing
- the characters are as flat as my math scor
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destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]
"Yeah, well, you basically don't have emotions between 'gotta kill' and 'yay, I killed,' so that's not really a surprise."

ALL OF MY LOVE, YOU GUYS. I would give this book 10/5 stars if I could, I swear. I honestly went into the book without a clue of what I should expect, and while I was optimistic, my hopes weren't that high. This book literally shattered every single expectation I held. The writing style is easy and fun, without being childish. The characters share a witty banter that never g
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Beth
If you want a book with lies, deception, blood, gore... throw in plenty of humour this is the one for you!

Just going to throw this out there, this was my first ever audiobook, and the narrator was AMAZING!

Also thanks Fathima for telling me about it. :)

What an absolute rollercoaster of a ride this book was, I mean seriously. The story starts off really light and you see all of the characters in quite a light hearted situation at the "bastard table". From there the story continues and I won't divu
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Wren (fablesandwren)
I went into this book thinking that with all the hype, I was probably going to be let down. Not a lot of my book friends were reading it, but being attracted to the title/the idea of it, the narrator and the fact that I like the idea of all these bastards of lords and ladies making trouble, I decided to give it a try.

Maybe, just maybe, I would like it.



Maybe, just maybe, I absolutely loved it.



Let me introduce to you, the bastards:
Tilla: our main girl. Has a strong personality, knows what she wan
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Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell

Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Amazon || Pinterest


This is one of those gems that I found while browsing the Daily Deals on Kindle. At the time that I bought this, a lot of my friends gave this really low ratings, but I wanted to read it anyway because of the title and the premise. A bunch of illegitimate children find themselves at the center of a dark plot to overthrow the kingdom and end up going on an adventure to save the world-- and each other.



As others have said, it starts off sou
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Cindy ✩☽♔
Royal Bastards aka a royal waste of time...

For those looking to read a kick-ass fantasy, adventure book, I implore you to look elsewhere! Because this book was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it was an utter letdown.

Issues with this:
1. Rehash of typical YA fantasy elements with little to no added fun
2. Insta-love that the main character will not/does not acknowledge as instalove, but is most definitely on the instalove spectrum
3. Odd narration elements, like sometimes the na
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Dahlia
Good LORD did I love this. I'm totally a fan of Chosen Girl Fantasy and all, but this was a really nice break, more in the "friend group" vein of Finnikin, which I adore. The at-times anachronistic language totally worked to crack me up, and I really loved the gender balance of roles here - in the heroes, villains, and bastards. Adventure, romance, high stakes, a great premise, and a delightful and varied cast all combine to ensure this is gonna be one of my favorite Fantasy YAs of the year. ...more
Jiana
Jul 12, 2017 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
Huge buddy read with: Wife & Oragy & Marmesan & Half Amy & Person & Emma

Well... I'm the only one in this BR who didn't hate and roast the hell out of this book. Having said that, obviously, I don't think the book was bad. Yes, it wasn't great, but it was enjoyable to some extent! It feel like I was reading a whole bunch of different YA books merged into one, but I wasn't completely bothered by it.

The book started off great. A group of royal bastards on the run? Deception? Betrayal? Action? What'
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Alyssa
Jun 01, 2017 rated it liked it
Shelves: 2017-releases
Meh. I didn't hate it, didn't love. I had high expectations but I think, in the end, I just wasn't invested enough (once I started reading).

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
Book One of the Royal Bastards trilogy
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 30, 2017
Rating: 3 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Being a bastard blows. Tilla would know. Her father, Lord Kent of the Western Province, loved her as a child, but
...more
Caitlin
Oct 20, 2017 rated it really liked it
Shelves: 2017-read, 4-stars
If you’d like to know how much of a disgrace I am, I was meant to read this book 4-5 months ago as a buddy read and I just started and finished it now.

Well shit guys this book was great. I had very low expectations going into it and yet I was absolutely blown away by how much I enjoyed it. I feel like this was such a strong opening to what’s going to be a great trilogy. I am shook to the max

Suzzie
Oct 27, 2017 rated it really liked it
I was hesitant on this book because of some of the negative reviews but that does not usually stop me from reading a book and I am sure glad it doesn't because this book was actually really interesting! It had some very humorous parts and a good deal of adventure.

Overall, if you are hesitant on reading this because of some of the reviews, I recommend giving it a shot. I laughed a lot during this book and was found it very entertaining.
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Mogsy (MMOGC)
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/06/04/...

This book was a ridiculously entertaining read, putting me in mind of Marvel’s Runaways set in a fantasy world that is rife with Game of Thrones vibes. Characters tragic and comic, heroic and despicable all live within these pages, including beautiful princesses, warring kings, powerful mages, and of course, royal bastards.

As the daughter of Lord Kent of the Western Province and a Castle Waverly servant, sixteen-year-old T
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lucie
Jun 21, 2017 rated it really liked it
Shelves: 2017, in-english
I pretended to be your friend so I could betray you," he said. "And I didn't do it for my people or my family's honor. I did it because I wanted my father to be proud of me again. I did it for the man who threw an ax at my skull. So what does that make me?"
"A bastard," I said. "Same as me."

Titan's breath, that was good! Not the best but good.

My actual rating is between three and four stars, but I'll round it up because some dialogues made me laugh.

Thoughts:
- I had no idea what this
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Lauren Stoolfire
I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tilla is a bastard. Her father is Lord Kent of the Western Province and her mother a low born woman. As soon as Lord Kent had his own legitimate children he tossed Tilla aside to raise them into the nobility instead. She longs to be at her father's side as a legitimized heir, but at sixteen she spends most of her time with her half brother Jax (they share the same mother), a stablehand, exploring the old tunnel system under t
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Rebekah
Apr 16, 2017 rated it it was amazing
I am so glad I got the chance to read and review this book early! It has been an incredible adventure! I loved it! This is another great book with everything to offer anyone who enjoys a good book. Diverse characters, political intrigue, romance, blood, fights, kingdoms on the brink of war and 5 teens who have to set aside everything they know in order to come together to save their kingdoms as well as keep themselves alive.

This book mostly focuses on Tilla. Tilla is the oldest of a regional Lo
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ambsreads
BUDDY READING
with the usual;
my wife
broski (also he hasnt added this book to his TBR so this isn't his review)
the eBook king

This was the worst buddy read we've done yet, BUT WOW. I enjoyed this. This was what I needed to start my recovery of Lord of Shadows.

Full review to come!
...more
Scrill
Jul 07, 2017 marked it as dnf
I am 30% through a standalone book and I would have expected a lot more to actually happen. I am sure there's a bunch more people dying and all that, but I really don't care about our little group of bastards.

First of all, our MC, Tilla is a little brat. She preaches about how the princess is a sheltered girl, but really all she wants is to basically run around a palace in a pretty dress too. She's ridiculously shallow. Anytime a new person is introduced, her first comment is about their looks.
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Bree Barton
Oct 05, 2016 rated it it was amazing
Oh my good lord, this book is SO MUCH FUN. I can't remember the last time I've had so much fun reading a book! ROYAL BASTARDS reminded me of everything I loved about adventure stories growing up—the swashbuckling romance, the acts of daring, the bad guys closing in, and the bonds of friendship forged amidst acts of astounding magic and astonishing villainy.

I knew the moment I read the flap copy that I was going to love this book. I hadn't intended to read ROYAL BASTARDS in a day, but once the s
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Shannon (It Starts At Midnight)
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

4.5*

I absolutely devoured this book. The characters were incredible, and I liked that they had to make such hard choices between their families and what they felt was right. They were well fleshed out, and I loved the journey they went on- both mentally and physically. They had to figure out where their loyalties lay, and they had to avoid a lot of people who didn't want them to live to
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Dana

I really wanted to like this, the premise was intriguing, with a group of royal misfits on the run after witnessing a dark secret. It started off okay and I didn't mind the characters, but this felt more like a draft than a finished product.

More than half of the book is a journey, but you never really get any sense of it. The author tells you what happens but never shows you. It leaves you feeling very disconnected from the story, and then when that leads up to insta-love, it almost comes acros
...more
Taylor Knight
Jan 10, 2017 rated it really liked it
Shelves: arcs
Royal Bastards was one of my most anticipated books of 2017. I was super excited to start it but it took me forever and a half to finish it. This book is such a roller coaster. I liked it and then I didn't think I could finish it, it was such a back and forth battle. But even though I have my problems with this book, it got me emotionally invested in the plot and the characters.
My biggest problem with this book is the characters. Two of the main characters, Tilla and Miles, annoyed me so much.
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Marla (Not Maria)
Apr 19, 2017 rated it it was amazing
This is a great YA fantasy story. The characters of Tilla, Jax, Miles, Zell and Lyriana are well rounded and we learn their history without it dragging down the storyline. The author does a great job of weaving in their backstories. The story starts out nice and lighthearted and then it takes a dark turn. There is humor, friendship, fighting, romance and death. The story moves along nicely and I cared for the characters hoping they would all be safe and survive. I don't like to wait for the next ...more
prag ♻
Jul 12, 2017 marked it as dnf
me on july 12: REAL BUDDY READ WITH FAKE READERS: jia, may, amy, maram and em

me on september 23: oops i never started it time to mark it as DNF!!



when will i learn
...more
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Royal Bastards (3 books)
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“You must be easily impressed," Zell said.

Lyriana nodded thoughtfully, not offended at all. "I supposed that's true, certainly compared to someone so worldly. I can only imagine the life experiences you've had to leave you so jaded." Zell blinked, trying to figure out if he'd just been insulted or complimented.”
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“I pretended to be your friend so I could betray you," he said. "And I didn't do it for my people or my family's honor. I did it because I wanted my father to be proud of me again. I did it for the man who threw an ax at my skull. So what does that make me?"
"A bastard," I said. "Same as me.”
2 likes
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