Kiss of the Royal

by Lindsey Duga

Princess Ivy has one goal—end the war against the Forces of Darkness.

Ivy’s magic is more powerful than any other Royal’s, but she needs a battle partner who can help her harness it. Prince Zach’s unparalleled skill with a sword should make them an unstoppable pair—if only they could agree on...well, just about anything.

But Ivy’s magic can only fully unlock with Zach’s help, and he’s not exactly cooperating.

Zach believes Ivy’s magic is dangerous. Ivy believes they’ll never win the war without it. Two warriors, one goal, and the fate of their world on the line. But the more they argue, the more they fall for each other. And only one of them can be right…

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy, High Fantasy, Fantasy Romance

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 3, 2018

About the author

Lindsey Duga is a middle grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world. She wrote her first novel in college while she was getting her bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.

Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woohoo! Chalk up another of my cover obsession books panning out and actually being a creative and fun fantasy tale. I fell in love with the cover of Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga a few months back while participating for the cover reveal for this book and just knew I was going to have to get my hands on a copy and read it. Going into this one I really had no idea what to expect but maybe that was a good thing because what I found I don’t think I could have imagined.

Princess Ivy is our heroine in Kiss of the Royal, she’s a feisty and fierce Royal who has been battling the forces of darkness all of her life. The Royals believe that emotion needs to be left behind to fight the centuries long curse and Ivy has been raised with these beliefs. In order to fight in battle each Royal is paired with a partner in which they can share a kiss to ignite their magic while in battle. (Hey don’t laugh, Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters tattoo themselves so why not a kiss?)

Unfortunately for Ivy she has just lost her fifth battle partner and with the forces of darkness only multiplying daily there’s not really another match to equal the power of Ivy’s magic in her kingdom. But just as Ivy is looking for a new partner help comes in from a neighboring kingdom that includes Prince Zach. Now Zach was raised by his non-Royal mother and new to the Royal forces but he’s just as fierce as Ivy in battle so the two pair up. The only problem for Ivy, Zach does not believe in Royal magic and refuses to kiss Ivy, you see Zach is a Romantica and believes kisses should mean so much more.

I will be the first to admit the whole idea behind this story really may sound rather cheesy but so did those glittery vampires and look how popular they became. Lindsey Duga did an amazing job with the world and character building within the story so that I was sucked right in and really began to see the curses unfolding and the monsters the characters were battling. You could also feel the relationship grow between Ivy and Zach with each turn of the page. The only thing really keeping me from rating a full five stars is that it did have a bit of a slow burn to it and I’m a rather impatient person but in the end I’d give this one 4.5 stars. But by all means don’t take my word on this one and pick up a copy and try this wonderful young adult fantasy for yourself.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[KIᗩᖇᗩ ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Eso es lo que hace el amor, ¿verdad? Te hace sentir dolor, pero también te da coraje”

(3,75/5☆)

El libro trata de la princesa Ivy, ella es una descendiente directa de la reina Myriana, por lo tanto, es una Real pura (los Reales son los que tienen magia) y su beso es muy poderoso y letal para combatir a las fuerzas de la oscuridad. Ella es parte de la Legión, este es como un ejercito el cual se enfrenta a los malos para proteger sus reinos y a las personas que habitan ahí. Lo que a los Reales los hace poderosos es compartir un beso, esto les produce magia y les da como más fuerza, además de que funciona para curar maldiciones. Pero como la magia proviene de un beso siempre se necesita tener un compañero, la princesa Ivy a perdido a su quinto compañero en batalla, y como las Fuerzas de la Oscuridad están destruyendo cada vez más sus reinos, ella necesita enlazarse urgente con un nuevo compañero para aprovechar su magia poderosa.
Hay un Real que tiene una destreza bastante buena con su espada, el príncipe Zach, y si se junta con la princesa Ivy esto los hará un equipo imparable para enfrentarse a la batalla. Aunque hay un problema, el príncipe Zach no comparte las mismas opiniones que ella y esto dificulta su cooperación para utilizar la magia, él dice que es muy peligrosa y ella piensa que jamás ganarían sin ella. Entonces deberán dejar a un lado todas esas diferencias para poder salvar el reino, y entre más discuten más se enamoran.

Esta historia la he disfrutado bastante, desde que leí la sinopsis me pareció una idea original, o sea los besos producen magia, esto me instó a leerlo y me gustó mucho.

Ivy, la protagonista, tiene 17 años, es la princesa heredera del reino, ella es la que tiene la magia más poderosa. Ella me gustó y su evolución fue fascinante. Siempre ha creído en la magia, porque desde que nació eso es lo que le han inculcado, pero cuanto más la utiliza más va conociendo de todo lo que se esconde tras de ella. Me pareció bastante fuerte, una guerrera completamente que sabía de su potencial. Zach, el protagonista, es mitad Real mitad Romántico. Él me ha encantado completamente, tenía claras sus convicciones, era divertido, algunas veces tímido. Ay, es que he disfrutado a más no poder con él, tan encantador.

En cuanto al romance entre Ivy y Zach me gustó, estuvo bastante bien, la cosa entre ellos era como una especie de enemies to lovers, aunque con menos odio, solo que ellos tenían opiniones distintas y chocaban bastante con eso. Las cosas entre ellos iban fluyendo de a poco y eso es algo que yo disfruto, como los sentimientos iban creciendo a medida que pasaban más tiempo juntos.

En general me pareció original bastante la idea de la trama, lo de los besos y como había distintos grupos de personas, o sea, estaban organizados por los Reales, que ellos eran los que tenían magia, y los Románticos, que eran el grupo que creía en el amor. La disfruté, aunque con el final me esperaba mucho más, pero se mi gustó.

“Mentí cuando dije que intentaría dejar de quererte. No lo intenté ni por un segundo. Y dudo que alguna vez pare de hacerlo”

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh look, another book I read during summer but never reviewed.



3.5 stars

[Wendy Higgins]

Soooooo good. And no, I don't know the author, so don't think I'm just trying to get reads for a friend. It's seriously, a ridiculously good debut. I LOVED the twists.
If you like fantasy and romance, add this one!

[Bibiana In Bookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25-4,5 ⭐️
No me esperaba para nada con lo que me he encontrado en este libro. Me ha sorprendido mucho! Para empezar los personajes, maravillosos, y después... tiene cada escena, cada diálogo, que me ha generado vuelcos en el corazón. También hay giros y no para de suceder cosas, por lo que es una trama muy activa y parece que hayas pasado mucho tiempo con los personajes, así que, sí, los echo de menos.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks again to Entangled Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I really liked the premise of “Kiss of the Royal” and was intrigued by the idea of a world where kisses were used as some form of magic to protect or heal other people, lift curses and much more. And overall, I have to say this book definitely turned out to be a very quick and enjoyable read but it also had its flaws.

Some of the things I liked about this book were for instance the characters. They were well developed, and I really began caring for them after some time. I also liked the world building in this book and all in all, the plot was pretty interesting. But you were also able to tell that this was the author’s debut novel and I think there still is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to her writing style. But I’m sure she’ll continue improving with every book she publishes in the future and I most probably won’t have this problem anymore when reading her third or fourth book.

Another thing that bothered me was that, while the plot was interesting, it could’ve been even more interesting if some parts of the story had been a little more complex. Especially the “big battle” at the end was over way too fast which bugged me a little even though it was probably better for my heart. Furthermore, I also think the romance was incredibly predictable. From the start you know who’s going to end up with each other and how their love story would play out. Like I said, I really liked the characters, so I’d really hoped the few romantic scenes in this book would make me swoon which they just didn’t.

Ultimately, I decided to give this book three out of five stars because despite everything that bothered me, I still enjoyed reading “Kiss of the Royal” and will definitely keep an eye out for future books by this author.

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[Patry Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

En realida 4,5*

De verdad que necesitaba un libro así... que me mantenga completamente enganchada a la historia. Ivy y Zach me enamoraron por completo.

Aventuras, magia, tensión y ese romance "enemies to lovers" que tanto adoro. Todo en un mundo donde los besos tienen un gran poder.

[Sandra Lawerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5

En la guerra contra las Fuerzas de la Oscuridad, los Reales están perdiendo. La princesa Ivy está decidida a poner fin a este conflicto de siglos de una vez por todas, pero la magia oscura de sus enemigos parece haberse vuelto más fuerte y perspicaz, y el fracaso que ha ido arrastrando hasta ahora ha provocado que sus anteriores compañeros hayan caído en profundas maldiciones de las que nunca se recuperarán. Es por eso que su nuevo compañero de batalla debe tener éxito donde los demás fallaron. El príncipe Zach no es un príncipe cualquiera. Los comentarios imposibles que arrastra sobre haberse enfrentado a grandes criaturas de la oscuridad y salir con vida sin apenas un rasguño, lo confieren como un espadachín habilidoso al que nadie puede vencer. La habilidad incomparable del príncipe Zach con una espada, mejorada por el beso mágico de Ivy, debería convertirlos en una pareja imparable, pero Zach no está tan dispuesto a probar eso como Ivy piensa. El príncipe ha pasado toda su vida demostrando que merece ser el que ostenta el trono de su reino a pesar de su humilde procedencia y preparándose para la batalla, pero preferiría ser tildado de hereje antes que usar sus labios como nada más que una forma de transferir magia. Para él, un beso es un símbolo de amor, y el amor es el arma más poderosa que tienen, pero la princesa Ivy no está dispuesta a renunciar a sus creencias para pensar en el amor, y en los besos, de esa forma. Con el destino de su mundo en juego, el campo de batalla se ha convertido en un campo de pruebas y solo uno de ellos puede tener razón. Enamorarse el uno del otro no era parte del plan, pero trata de convencer a sus corazones de eso.

Mirad, yo cuando intento hacer la reseña de un libro que me ha gustado mucho mucho me encuentro en una tesitura de la que no sé ni cómo salir. Sé que lo he dicho muchas veces, y también lo he estado demostrando en reseñas anteriores, pero es que es verdad. No sé qué me pasa con este tipo de lecturas que me son muy difíciles de tratar. Exponer todos los sentimientos y emociones por las que me ha hecho pasar un libro siempre me ha costado, así que me encuentro, una vez más, intentado escribir una opinión decente para uno de los libros que más he disfrutado y más me han sorprendido en los últimos meses. Si hacéis un recorrido a través de todas las reseñas que he subido hasta ahora, podréis observar sin ningún tipo de problema que el romance no es mi género predilecto. Prefiero leer y reseñar otro tipo de historias, que tiren más hacia la fantasía, donde haya acción y muchas aventuras. Cuando me encuentro con un libro de romance puro me suelo aburrir. Lo sé, lo siento, pero no lo puedo evitar. Sin embargo, hay veces que la magia funciona y me topo con un libro de romance que, además, viene acompañado de la mano de otro género. El beso de la realeza es ese libro que, a pesar de que el romance es su gran pilar fundamental, tiene por detrás un desarrollo de un mundo completamente diferente e inventado que tenía que probar. Lo que no sabía era que El beso de la realeza iba a convertirse en una obsesión tan grande que aún estoy sufriendo por dentro al saber que es una historia autoconclusiva y que no habrá más, ni de este mundo ni de sus personajes, en un futuro.

Usando una narración en primera persona a través de nuestra protagonista, Ivy, El beso de la realeza ha sido una lectura que, desde la primera página, me ha tenido completamente enganchada, asombrada y muy ilusionada. Estando dividido en partes claramente diferenciadas, el libro, además, comienza con unos momentos bastantes buenos que te presentan, de la manera más directa y dinámica posible, el reino en el que nos vamos a sumergir. Desde el inicio se nos cuenta que estamos en un reino que está en guerra desde hace años y años con unas fuerzas oscuras que llegan de lugares inesperados. Trolls, brujas, goblins y más criaturas fantásticas, todos ellos son los guerreros de una enemiga difícil de vencer y que no para de causar estragos a lo largo de todo el territorio que Ivy, como princesa y descendiente directa de la primera reina conocida, debe proteger. ¿Sus armas? Los besos. Sí, sí, como leéis, en este libro tenemos una magia de lo más peculiar y original que funciona a través de besos. Besos para curar, para romper maldiciones, para dar fuerza, para dar felicidad... Aquellos y aquellas que tengan ese poder se unen a otros como pareja de guerra para así infundirles, con esos diferentes besos, lo que necesitan en cualquier momento para salir victoriosos. Con todos estos ingredientes, es normal que El beso de la realeza sea de esas lecturas que nos dan rápidamente escenas plagadas de buenas dosis de acción, batallas y mucha información sobre la ambientación, la sociedad en la que estamos, creando unas primeras páginas adictivas y que te absorben completamente y sin dificultades dentro de una trama que, pronto también, empezará a tener movimientos de un lado para otro para ir dejando los primeros problemas, las primeras estrategias y los primeros contactos de unos personajes que, más adelante, te tendrán totalmente enamorada, Para mí, El beso de la realeza es un libro que tiene un argumento muy bien pensado, dosificado e hilado, haciendo de esta primera parte una bastante completa. Es normal que en estas primeras páginas se nos venga un montón de descripciones y leyendas pasadas del propio reino que nos hacen conocer mejor desde qué situación partimos, cómo es el sistema por el que se mueven, quién manda realmente en el reino y cuál es la jerarquía política que se obedece. No obstante, y aunque haya bastante información por todos lados con la que conoceremos mejor el espacio que tenemos delante, en ningún momento la autora abusa de grandes descripciones o de pausas densas, sino que hace que todo fluya de una manera muy cómoda y buena mientras va mezclando diferentes momentos que tendrán, como protagonista, otras cosas muy diferentes. Además, hay buenos giros inesperados en ciertos puntos de la trama, haciendo que la lectura cambie completamente de sensaciones y de registro para ponerse más seria y más urgente, una manera de preparar, a través de nuevas escenas peliagudas donde la lucha será primordial para la supervivencia, la gran misión que tendremos que cumplir para poder liberar, de una vez por todas, al reino de esa oscuridad que parece no hacer más que ganar terreno a cada día que pasa.

A partir de aquí, y teniendo ya una base sólida que se ha ido creando en esa primera parte del libro a través de los detalles y la información que la autora nos ha dado, ella misma nos guía ahora hacia un camino, y una segunda parte, que, quizás, traiga una línea argumental algo más pausada, lenta e incluso monótona pero que, aún así, la he sentido igual de emocionante. O incluso más. Y es que, a pesar de que tienen momentos de la lectura que se asemejan bastante entre ellos, ya que se repiten algunas acciones o escenas, Lindsey Duga se encarga de ir dejando cosas que no sabes por qué están sucediendo ni de dónde salen, haciendo que la lectura adquiera también un tono misterioso que te seguirá atrapando a medida que el universo que ha creado se empieza a abrir y a expandir, mostrándote cosas nuevas sobre diferentes culturas, modos de vida o pensamientos, que son los que incidirán en el desarrollo de los protagonistas y, especialmente, en las relaciones que se irán creando entre ellos. Y, madre mía, no sabéis lo que he disfrutado yo de todo eso. Os pongo en situación.

Como ya he dicho, nuestra protagonista principal es Ivy. Como protagonista, me ha gustado bastante porque es una chica luchadora y muy fuerte que sabe qué tiene que hacer en todo momento, con unas ideas bastante claras y que se lanza, sin dudarlo, al combate con tal de proteger y salvar a sus seres queridos. Pero también es una chica llena de dudas, miedos e inseguridades que intenta ser un orgullo para una madre que nunca la ha tratado demasiado bien. Además, carga con una culpabilidad enorme al ver como las fuerzas oscuras no hace más que separarla de aquellos que se han unido a ella, mediante un ritual, para ser su compañera de lucha, dejándola sola y desesperada. Por otro lado tenemos a Zach, un príncipe lejano que llega al reino de Ivy para intentar ser la salvación que todo el mundo necesita. Pero Zach es completamente diferente a Ivy. Es cabezota, tiene otros principios y no parece que esté muy dispuesto a ser su compañero para derrotar a su gran enemiga. Sin embargo, estas diferencias no han hecho que, en cuanto ambos chocan, se produzcan unos tira y afloja que me han tenido suspirando y deseando más de ambos en todo momento. De verdad, vaya dos, lo que me han hecho sufrir y, a su vez, lo que me han enamorado. Sus interacciones, sus pullas, sus bromas internas. La manera en la que se respetan y se cuidan de manera inconsciente y los detalles que van soltando. SOBRE TODO LOS DETALLES. Esas sonrisas cómplices, picaronas; esas miradas apremiantes y de deseo; y el handtouching. Por favor, ¿podemos poner el handtouching como algo FUNDAMENTAL para todos los libros que desarrollan un romance? Además de que Zach es un personaje que se convierte en crush directo y me he pegado todo el rato suplicado para que den el paso definitivo y se muestren los sentimientos de ambos como debe ser. Así que ahí andaba yo, a medias entre una trama que seguía avanzando en la misión principal a la vez que, por otro camino, estos dos no hacían más que evitar lo inevitable durante demasiado tiempo, un romance delicioso y bonito que se ha tomado las cosas a su debido tiempo para cocer, a fuego lento, ese afecto que irá creciendo en cada uno de ellos a medida que se avanza en el libro.

Así que, al llegar a la última parte de El beso de la realeza, yo estaba muy contenta. Contenta porque, al fin, todo lo que se ha ido viendo hasta ahora se completaba y se unía de cara a un enfrentamiento final que desvelaba todas las incógnitas que aún quedaban y que, sin dudarlo, ha seguido con la estela de una emoción que no ha terminado hasta el punto y final. Quizás han sido unas escenas que se han producido con demasiada rapidez, hasta he sentido que la estocada definitiva se ha dado con mucha facilidad, como que el enemigo no ha puesto las cosas realmente difíciles e incluso se ha hecho algo predecible desde capítulos anteriores, pero ha sido un final que me ha dado lo que estaba esperando con muchas ganas y me quedo con la sensación de haber estado ante una lectura que me ha conquistado completamente.

Como veis, El beso de la realeza es un libro que lo tiene todo pero, si tuviera que seguir destacando parte de su esencia, diría que la ambientación ha jugando un papel fundamental. Ya os he hablado algo de ella y ya habéis leído que me ha encantado, pero quiero profundizar mejor. Por un lado, el tema de la magia a través de los besos me ha parecido un soplo de aire fresco y algo que jamás había visto o algo en lo que jamás hubiera pensado. Nunca se me hubiera ocurrido utilizar los besos como algo más que no sea el tener un tinte romántico. A lo largo del libro se van descubriendo elementos de este ritual que me han gustado bastante, la importancia de las creencias y del pasado del reino en las vidas de los personajes, lo que realmente significa tener ese poder y cómo usarlo, viendo incluso cómo educan a las futuras princesas y a los futuros príncipes para entrar, algún día, a formar parte de esos guerreros que siguen defendiendo las ciudades y las aldeas. Por otro lado, me ha encantado también tener una visión completamente diferente a los pensamientos de este reino, dándole al libro una riqueza cultural que ha hecho que todo se sienta mucho más y cobre vida. Para que lo tengáis claro, existen dos corrientes de pensamientos; una que dice que el amor y el romance es el verdadero poder, y otro que rechaza completamente esta idea y la tacha de herejía. A pesar de que está trillado el tema de "el amor es lo único que puede ganar cualquier batalla, el amor lo vence todo", la forma en la que la autora ha tratado este tema no ha sido como siempre, y es algo que he apreciado y agradecido aunque no esté de acuerdo con ese pensamiento.

Así que, y en conclusión, El beso de la realeza ha sido ese libro que no sabía que necesitaba y que ha supuesto una auténtica sorpresa. Con una ambientación original, fresca y muy interesante con toques de cuento de hadas, y con unos personajes muy bien formados, complejos y capaces de enamorarte, Lindsey Duga ha creado una lectura adictiva, encantadora y apasionante plagada de acción, una aventura inolvidable que gustará tanto a amantes de la fantasía como del romance.

[Fiebre Lectora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si bien pueda parecer que la trama no tiene mucho de especial, porque ya estamos más que acostumbrados a la batalla malos contra buenos desde siempre, hay que decir que cuenta con una magia de lo más original, mucha acción, y unos giros la mar de sorprendentes, además de que todo el tema de la negación de que el Amor exista se me ha hecho la mar de interesante. Pero no os voy a mentir, lo que más me ha emocionado y hecho gritar a lo largo de la novela ha sido la evolución de la relación entre Ivy y Zach, por lo adorable que es él, y cómo Ivy va abriendo su mente a medida que la historia avanza: cada escena en la que ambos interactuaban me dejaba el corazón calentito de lo bonito que era todo, (slow burn, gracias!).
Reseña completa: http://fiebrelectora.blogspot.com/202...

[Lucía Cafeína · Rating 5 out of 5]

"¿Alguna vez te han dado un beso de verdad, princesa?"

POR FAVOR, LO QUE ME PUEDE HABER ENCANTADO ESTE LIBRO, ES QUE LO HE LEÍDO CON UN HYPE Y UNA ANSIA TREMENDA. No entiendo por qué no está teniendo todo el éxito que se merece, pero desde luego que pienso dar el tostón con él: los personajes, tan geniales, la trama, que puede sonar extraña por el tema de los "besos mágicos para luchar???", y que tan llena de acción y sorpresas y magia está, pero lo mejor ha sido el romance, que se va forjando tan lentamente y wow.
Brutal y precioso.

[A Book Shrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Was. SHOCKINGLY. GOOD.

Full review at A Book Shrew

A short story, if you will. Once upon a time, I grabbed Kiss of the Royal from NetGalley because the description sounded interesting. Then I started reading and I laughed and scoffed. People making out on battlefields in order to be powerful? What dafuq? Confusion settled in for a moment as well. How can there be this many goddamn princes and princess? Then, between 2% and 25% I hummed and hawed over whether I liked it or not. In the end, magic happened and I got sucked in and I finished over half of it in one day. The End.

For real though, this was a fantastic fantasy standalone with a surprisingly deeper meaning to it. While the beginning felt like it was being a bit satirical with soldiers using a kiss as the unlocking of magic with such seriousness and the heretics of the world being those who believe in the power of true love's kiss, it evolved into something far more serious and heartfelt. The theme of love and magic is very prevalent, and I think it was handled marvellously. No cheese factor at all, which I found to be impressive. The story itself is the perfect pace and surprisingly twisted. And well plotted. There were little details mentioned in passing in the beginning that became important later on.

The world building really was quite spectacular. From where I sit, the magic system is really quite air-tight. There are legends and myth that feed into the history of the world and drive characters forward. The magical creatures, while a bit cliche, were well-done. As I mentioned above, there was a bit of confusion with the titles of prince and princess, and I think that could have been handled a bit better. To help you out, dear reader, to be a prince or princess doesn't mean you're actually royal. Rather it's a rank in the military. To be king or queen means you've been moved to the council.

I adore the characters in this novel, in particular Zach. He's such a lovely handsome goof. Ivy, on the other hand, took some work to like. Really, it wasn't until Zach came in and their dynamic was put on display that I liked Ivy. She was rather ... annoying and full of herself in the beginning. There's a scene where she interrupts a group of soldiers training, and the way she went about it had me going, "Oh, you're one of THOSE people!" But the chemistry between her and Zach let Ivy stand on her own and shine. A lot of the plot revolves around her wanting to kiss Zach so they can be all powerful together, and him refusing. And let me tell you, with the inevitable romance that develops, I was practically yelling at my Kindle, "NOW KISS!" Fair warning ahead, it's a slow-slow burn that gave me so many feels.

My only complaint, because few books are really ever 100% perfect, is the lack of diversity. Unless I blinked and missed a key description, it was a whole bunch of white people across four separate kingdoms. Fantasy is trying, but it looks like we're still taking baby steps. That, and I wanted a little bit more from the ending.

5/5

[Danielle's · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are going on a dragon hunt, I wonder if we will catch one!

Evil cures, witches and a beautiful princess. Zach is a prince of myth. He is said to have outstanding swordsman skills, and an undesirable legacy, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Princess Ivy is a purebred royal. She is powerful and magically blessed. Unfortunately, she has struggled to hold onto a prince. Princes are made for kissing but Ivy doesn't believe in love. Kisses are made for battle magic. Having a strong partner is essential but in a war against the evil queen, curses are rife. Prince Zach is her only hope if they are going to find the dragon egg but he's her equal. He's strong-willed and doesn't see the world as Ivy does.

All is fair in love and war. Love and hate can be closer than you think. The idea of this book is very creative. Magical kisses that aid battles. A fairytale which is more than expected.

This book isn't cheesy which is great. It does mention the word Kiss more than any book I've ever read. This is something different. I enjoyed this book. It's about friendship and love. Forget what you know and believe in your heart. 4 stars out of 5.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour Date: 4th July

[Nana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me gusto, fue una fantasía autoconclusiva muy entretenida.

La verdad es que lo que mas me agrado fue la idea de la historia, sobre que los besos tiene poder y pueden llegar a dar fuerza a el que recibe el beso, jaja sip suena muy loco pero a la vez fue muy interesante de leer.
Sobre los personajes secundarios, pues muy desapercibidos y clichés, y en cuanto al romance lo sentí muy rápido, al final fue lindo aunque nada sorprendente.

Tres estrellas porque mas allá de la ambientación que fue lo mejor, no creo que en un tiempo valla recordar mucho de esto.

[Ojolisto Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

No sabía qué esperar de este libro y ha sido una muy grata sorpresa.

Historia sencilla, de las de antes, pero con un muy buen ritmo. Un misterio que te mantiene dentro de la novela. Personajes achuchables con una evolución de principio a fin muy importante.

¡De ese tipo de historias que merecen la pena!

[Anny · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆ (4’25/5)

Me he llevado una muy grata sorpresa con esta historia. Ha sido increíble el libro. No había oído hablar de él hasta que se publicó en España pero me llamaba muchísimo la atención por la sinopsis, por ser de fantasía y además, ser libro autoconlusivo, cosa que me parece maravillosa sinceramente porque a veces termino un poco harta de tantas trilogías empezadas.

Me ha gustado principalmente por sus personajes y por la historia tan original que planea y es que en este reino, La Legión, la que lucha contra la fuerza del Mal no cree en las emociones ni en los sentimientos, entre ellos el amor por lo que nuestra protagonista siempre ha vivido sin mostrar sus emociones hacia los demás, hasta que tiene que hacer lo posible por poner fin a la guerra contra la Reina Malvada. En este punto Ivy conocerá a Zach, un espadachín muy hábil que tendrá que ayudarla y juntos cooperando podrán luchar hasta vencer el mal.

Por otro lado, en este libro nos encontramos a los Reales, personas con magia en su sangre que mediante Besos pueden hacer hechizos y los Románticos, personas que sí que creen en el amor, entre otras. Gracias a esos Besos, las princesas pueden luchar contra el mal junto a sus compañeros, los príncipes. Pero creo que es mejor no revelar mucho más de la trama porque lo mejor es descubrirlo por uno mismo.

Los personajes fueron geniales, sobretodo Zach, que fue mi favorito del libro junto a Ivy. La autora los ha caracterizado muy bien, y sobretodo se ve una evolución en ellos a través de la historia. Y además... es que los shippeaba muchísimo porque adoro los personajes sarcásticos, con humor, es que me alegran la vida. Aunque me haya alegrado que sea un libro único la verdad es que no me importaría más de este mundo.

[Amy Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cover is awesome! The story reads like a fairy tale and if you go into it thinking of it that way you won't be disappointed bc it's cute. The beginning was slow but once that was over I loved the story because there is an evil queen, a princess, magical properties with any kiss and the knight in shining armor to save the damsel in distress. I loved this story and it's a great summer read. I would recommend for fairytale lovers.

Princess Ivy has to choose a partner, one she will kiss before battle to gain literal strength on the battle field. The problem is she can't choose a partner for love like everyone else, she has to use strategy and the guy she chooses has to be strong so they can defend her kingdom. What happens if they accidentally do fall in love?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc for a fair and honest review.

[Patri.Bucher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patri: 3.75/5🌟
La verdad que no esperaba para nada una trama así. Pero lo que me he encontrado, me ha convencido y encantado! Ha sido una lectura original y fresca, sencilla pero bien elaborada e hilada. La trama, un mundo maldecido por una fuerza oscura, el poder de un beso, leyendas sobre las reinas santas, duendes y grifos, sin duda ha estado repleta de aventuras y magia, con unos personajes de lo más cabezones, pero de lo más sinceros también. Un romance bien dosificado y acompañado.
Una lectura que recomiendo!

[Sara Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable, super sweet traditional fantasy book - swords, dragons, princes, oh my!

[Helena _Triz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5

Qué libro tan maravilloso! Qué bonito, qué adictivo, ¡qué de todo! Pronto reseña, pero os diré desde ya que tenéis que leerlo. *-*

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you remember fairy tales of old ? Where good faces evil and triumphs ? How about those old Disney films with the Prince saving the princess ? I know that nowadays the heroines manage to save themselves and yes sometimes even the Prince ! Yet one thing holds
true and that's the power of love and true loves kiss .
So imagine a society battling evil creatures and embracing lust but believing that to accept the idea of love is blasphemy. This is Ivys world, a life of duty and magic but it's cold and lonely until she's partnered with Prince Zach and his completely different opinions. Ivy believes in sharing magic by means of a magical "Kiss" but Zach refuses that idea and as Ivy learns Zach is one very determined young man !
If honest I wasn't wowed by the beginning and wondered if I'd missed something but the plot soon started to hot up and pull me in . There's all the usual suspects in a traditional fairy tale with evil queens, mages, dwarves and even dragons but of course it's the hero who perhaps saves the Princess or does he ? I particularly liked that we were taken on this journey of self discovery with Ivy and her trials enable her to empower herself. There are other characters who feature but alas they are not as vivid as I like but nevertheless I did enjoy this story.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[The Nerd Daily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Tasya

In the kingdom of Myria, a kiss is not just a kiss. A Kiss is a magical weapon bestowed by princesses to the princes to provide enhancement and protection against the dark forces invading the kingdom. It enhances your speed, protects you from dark curses, heals you, and yes, it breaks curses. The strongest Kiss is owned by Ivy, who is a direct descendant from Queen Myriana, the founder of the Royal Legions. However, she just lost her fifth prince partner and as for her sixth… well. Not only is Zach eccentric, he also does not want to be kissed by Ivy, even when the rest of the kingdom rest on that one Kiss. As the dark forces grow and the time is ticking, Ivy must convince Zach that the power of her kiss, along with his unbeatable swordsmanship, must be joined in order to defeat the dark forces.

This book was a pleasant surprise! I’ve been suffering from fantasy burn out lately as they are all starting to feel the same and the plot becomes predictable. However, Kiss of the Royal felt like a breath of fresh air with its unique premise and twists along the way.

I find the concept of the Kiss interesting with how it gives magical power and can only bestowed by the princesses. Of course, it’s going to be hard to differentiate a simple kiss and The Kiss, therefore in kingdom of Myria, there is no such thing as love, only lust. This makes an intriguing dynamic, especially if the Legion and our main characters are teenagers.

The worldbuilding is really satisfying. Everything is described in a concise way without being overbearing, but still enough that we can have a vivid picture of the world. The author also manages to build a solid piece of history, myth, and religion surrounding the Kiss and the Evil Queen. They are revealed as a story in pieces, so there is no info dumping throughout the story. For the most part of this book, we spend the time travelling through the kingdom on a quest. However, there are never any dull moments as there are always creatures to slay and curses to break, powers to think about and their consequences. All these elements help to make the story move forward and the pacing never lags behind.

The story is told from Princess Ivy’s point of view, and she’s the direct descendant from Queen Myriana whose Kiss first gave power to defeat evil. The “Pure Royal” own the strongest Kiss, and she has been brought up in the Legion’s values and believe in them. She has dedicated her whole life to fighting to defeat the dark forces and Evil Queen. This all changes when she meets Prince Zach, a legendary swordsman prince from the South, who is not your average soldier. He’s half royal and his mother is from Romantica, a heretic group who believes in Love. He doesn’t seem to take anything seriously, but what’s worse, he doesn’t want to be Kissed by Ivy, even if it means saving a lot of people. There is also Bromley, Ivy’s page who is considered as brother by Ivy. And of course, there is the Evil Queen.

The characters are very well-rounded! They are all fleshed out really well and it’s easy for us to sympathise, understand their reasons, and the things they did. Both Ivy and Zach came from opposite groups within the kingdoms, it’s interesting to see how their ideologies clashed, how they both learn to trust each other and accept the truth, and how they react to it. In the end, their characters have tremendous growth and their journey is always interesting to watch.

This book is not without its flaws though. The main villain, despite feeling human with fleshed out motives, felt caricature-ish. Also, the showering and sparks of gold is really cliché, so while the characters are awed, we felt nothing.

As a debut, Kiss of the Royal reads like a solid book. It has interesting plot, well-rounded characters, and an action-packed plot. It’s something I’ve been looking for, and I’m looking forward for the author’s future releases!

[Scrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received from Netgalley for a fair review.

The Forces of Darkness seem to continue to grow stronger, no matter how many battles the royal army wins. They have fought the war for 500 years, and every princess has the power to Kiss their prince to enhance their abilities, and Princess Ivy is the direct descendant to the original queen and therefore has the most powerful kiss. Because of this she must have the most powerful swordsman, Prince Zach at her side. Together their combined magic would be able to finally put an end to the war. The only problem is Zach wont Kiss Princess Ivy.

The Story-
I loved the underlying concept in this book, but unfortunately the delivery just wasn't all there for me. As the story progressed there was a lot of repetitiveness as Princess Ivy told the reader how powerful she was rather than showing. She also spent a great deal reiterating why things were, usually one chapter after a massive info dump. I felt this stunted the pacing of the book, and ultimately made it a lot longer than it needed to be.

However, the story itself was fun and I loved how much of a slow love story it was, at least on Princess Ivy's side. There was a lot of action sequences that helped break the story up as Ivy & Zach encountered more and more dark forces.

The World Building-
I had a hard time really getting into the world that this story was set in. First of all the princes and princesses were descendants of one queen and king. They are ultimately bred to have as much of the original bloodline. I'm not sure if the writer thought about this, but sounds like a LOT of incest to me, and it just made me rather uncomfortable, sure, 500 years later there's quite a few generational lines they can choose from, but I mean, the second generation? In order for it to be a pure blood they would have had to have children with their siblings, or eww, their parent. I am probably thinking too hard on it, but it really just made me egghhh. Anyway, the entire time, Ivy kept saying that she was a Princess that was a direct descendent of Myrna, the original queen....but all of the royalty should have been a direct descendant if they held that power.

The other thing I had issues with was that the war was all encompassing around the Evil Queen's ambitions and all the creatures she was making, which was great and all, but sometimes during the action scenes little factoids would be introduced in the moment that created conflict with the characters. To me it made for some poor writing as the information wasn't built up ahead of time that could have been used, the information was given at the moment for convenience sake. It's not exactly bad, but in a world where there are so many books that are set up so well, it definitely doesn't make it stand out as far as world building goes.

On a positive note, I loved how the world had construed the belief system on love and how it tied in with familial bonds and lust. I think it helped support the use of Kisses as a fighting tool rather than a romantic gesture.

The Characters-
I actually really liked Ivy and Zach. I loved how they were both very headstrong in what they believed and were willing to put their lives at risk for the safety of others. At times I did find Zach to be a little full of himself and honestly, quite a tease. But that really helped the dynamic between him and Ivy really falling for each other (if you can't predict that yourself then I am sorry for spoiling that for you, because obviously that would happen).

The Soundtrack-
The Neighborhood - Stuck With Me

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Ivy is the purest of Royal blood and the magic in her kisses is very strong. Still, she has now lost her fifth partner due to the Forces of Darkness. Losing a partner is hard enough as it is, but to know that her magic did not work was too much to handle. Ivy did not want to be cast aside and moved to the countryside to produce heirs if a new partner could not be found. She wants to help her people and beat the Forces of Darkness so her people and all of the other kingdoms could finally find peace. Unfortunately for Ivy, there was really no one left in her kingdom that could match her level of magic.

With the Forces of Darkness growing closer and a threat to her people looming in the background, Saevall’s Kingdom steps in to help. There is a new prince nicknamed The Swordsman’s Prince that is said to be able to defeat hordes of trolls and monsters all on his own without the kiss of a princess. When Ivy first meets Zachariah, The Swordsman’s Prince, she can’t believe for one moment that he is the answer they have been in search of. Zach is like no other prince she knows. He tells jokes, looks like a commoner, is clumsy, doesn’t believe in partnerships, and worst of all *gasp* He is half Romantica.

Ivy is a Royal by blood. She leads by logic and reason, much unlike the heretic Romantica who lead by love and emotion. Ivy can not even grasp the concept of love and does not believe in it. She thinks most people confuse lust for love and she is having none of that nonsense, but yet as much as she tries to deny it, she can’t help but to feel attracted to Zach in a way that scares her. They have a chemistry together that she never had with any of her other partners and it brings out a side to her no one has ever seen before. He tests everything Ivy has grown up believing in.

Zach does not believe in kissing for magic. He can fight monsters and trolls quite well on his own, thank you. He believes kissing is between people who love each other. He does not believe that kisses should be used as weapons. His refusal to kiss Ivy is a shock to the kingdom, but yet his fighting skills are epic and rumors swirl about in the kingdoms of his latest victories. Zach, like Ivy, feels the same connection, but he sets out to show Ivy that there is another world out there that is not just based on logic and reasoning, that magical kisses could do more harm than good and that love is the strongest weapon of all.

OMG! I freakin LOVE this story. Ivy and Zach compliment each other in so many ways and yet, it takes them a while to figure out what truly matters in a world filled with dark forces threatening them at every turn. When they are sent on a mission for the kingdoms, they finally get to know one another. There is a lot of push and pull mostly on Ivy’s part as she grew up believing one thing and Zach slowly chips away at her defenses and beliefs. I sooooo love Zach! He is definitely a force to be reckoned with, strong in his own rights, passionate about his beliefs, and truly wants Ivy to see the other side. I was really, really looking forward to their first kiss, flipping through the pages like “Where is it, oh come on stop teasing me already!” I don’t think I ever screamed at a book like I did this one. Lindsey Duga really knows how to draw you right in and keep you hooked and desperate for that very first kiss.

The world-building in Kiss of the Royal is simply amazing. A world filled with goblins, monsters, and Griffins that all come to life and make you feel as if you can actually see them and feel them. You can see yourself in the forest taking everything in. Kiss of the Royal really brings to life the mythology, lure and magic of the kingdoms in such a way that you actually wish you were apart of it. Duga has a way with words that just draws you right into the scene and it is both magical and fascinating all at the same time. The fighting scenes were absolutely phenomenal and I could feel my heart racing as Ivy and Zach faced danger after danger. I found myself rooting for them over and over again. Ivy and Zach are by far my favorite book couple of the year.

Kiss of the Royal blends magic and mythology with a sprinkle of romanticism and turns it into a fantasy filled with characters you will fall in love with, a story you can’t help getting immersed into, and a blossoming romance you will be rooting for up until the very end. Duga has created a world I wish to live in. I am truly heartbroken that this is a standalone story as I would have loved to see and read more. Lindsey Duga, thank you for being an amazing writer. You have won me over and have taken me into a glorious ride into your fantasy world. I can not recommend this book enough and five stars is definitely NOT enough to express how much I loved this book. A definite add on to my keeper shelf. If Fantasy is your jam, you NEED to be adding Kiss of the Royal to your reading list.

[Cindy ✩☽♔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiss of the Royal had a promising enough premise, but overall the execution was only average.

The setting and world were interesting but overall underdeveloped. As were the most of the characters aside from Ivy and Zach, but even their development could have been improved. And while it technically was not insta-love, we later learn that Zach did, in fact, fall for Ivy very early on in the story.

Writing-wise, it was, again, average and much of the plot was rather predictable. Don't get me wrong it wasn't a bad read. But in a saturated YA-fantasy market, it doesn't really do anything to set itself apart.

I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So happy I randomly picked this up one day.

Kiss of the Royal was pretty cute. Not going to lie, it does start off rather slowly (at least for me) but luckily things pick up rather quickly. In it, you will meet Princess Ivy. She has a pretty tough decision - who to kiss. It's kind of like the bachelorette but ya know.. for battle mode. She's not looking for love, nope - she's trying to be strategic about the entire thing.

So.. maybe not like the bachelorette?

Either way, it was a lot of fun to read. I enjoyed falling in love with all of the characters - even the evil queen was a favorite. Plus any "couple" that thinks they wont actually fall for one another at any point in their "relationship" is hilarious. Definitely enjoyed it from start to finish.

[Danni's Badass Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ 5 Stars ⭐

I heard a lot of good things about this (mostly booktok XD) and I can actually say I liked loved this book!

Although I wasn't sure about it at first I ended up enjoying it, and it wasn't as generic as I first thought so that's a plus. The author's writing is great! It's super descriptive and immerses you into the world she creates.

At first I wasn't keen on the characters but I warmed up to them and by the end loved them. I did kinda jokingly guess one of the twists but it still shocked me so it's all gooood.

Omg can we talk about that epilogue though! It honestly boosted my rating ½ a star XD Added very nice closure and was super cute!

All in all this was a great read and I recommend to anyone that loves fantasy and romance.

[Beta Julieta · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Una pasada! Me ha gustado muchísimo este libro, que haya tratado un tema tan conocido (y a la vez que pasa tan desapercibido) como es el Beso de amor verdadero me ha gustado mucho. La historia se centra en Ivy, una princesa de sangre pura capaz de otorgar poder a cualquiera con solo un beso; y Zach el mejor espadachín del reino que no cree en el poder del Beso. Juntos tendrán que enfrentarse a la mayor amenazada de todas, y tendrán que unir fuerzas a pesar de sus convicciones tan contradictorias. Los personajes están bien marcados y estructurados, la trama es una maravilla, no hay nada puesto al azar y todo lo que ocurre pasa por algo. La química que hay entre Zack e Ivy te hace suspirar en más de una ocasión y no he podido dejar de leer hasta terminar el libro. ¡Grandioso!

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Kiss of the Royal
Series: Standalone
Author: Lindsey Duga
Release date: July 3, 2018
Cliffhanger: No

Princess Ivy has pure, undiluted royal bloodlines which makes her the most powerful female in the Legion's war against the Forces of Darkness. With her partners, she's taken down many dangerous goblins, trolls, wraiths, witches, and griffins. All with the unmatched strength of her Kiss and a protection spell before battle. You heard me right. In this fantasy societal construct, belief in love is outlawed, and kisses are used as weapons on the battlefield. I must admit, in the beginning of the book, I wan't entirely sold on the concept.

Imagining people in the army running around bestowing something as intimate as a kiss while gearing up to evil creatures...it's bizarre. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to immerse myself in this strange world. I'm glad I stuck with it though, because the poignant theme underneath all of it sold me in the end. This story is about the incredible power of love. Yes, it can destroy someone down to their core, but its restorative power is enough to heal kingdoms if you only have faith. The people of Myria have chosen to believe that familial and romantic love are silly fairy tales, the stuff of Romantica legend. Those who believe in such archaic nonsense are looked at as outcasts, and often arrested or punished for their weak emotions and actions.

Their heart was in the right place, or should I say their heads? They don't allow their hearts to rule them. Their goal was to bring down the Evil Queen, and the monsters that she conjured. People were suffering and dying, so they were doing what they felt would save the population in the fastest way possible. But the idea that Love didn't even exist? This was one thing that I found difficult to understand. Ivy's mother, Queen Dahlia had no time for her most days. When she did acknowledge her, it was only to show disappointment and disgust. So it's not hard to see how she could dismiss the concept so easily, and shy away from wanting to feel things. But what of everyone else who is taught to not believe? Surely their feelings of tenderness and affection can't be dismissed as simply a family "bond."

After Ivy loses yet another fighting partner, she's assigned to Prince Zach in the hopes that his unparalleled sword skills will make them an unbeatable pair. Now, more than ever, the Legion needs a way to defeat the enemy. Curses were multiplying, and there were signs that the Queen has created a Sable Dragon, and if hatched, there wasn't much hope of survival. On a desperate journey together to find the egg, it becomes more than just a dangerous mission to save their people. Along the way, their beliefs clash, and their patience snaps with each other. But we slowly see Ivy's eyes open to more than what the Legion has fed to her all of her life. She sees things that contradict her entire belief system. And she begins to reevaluate what she was fighting for, and how she was going to do it.

Zach was a wonderful prince. He was strong, devoted, valiant, and everything you would want in a sweeping fairy tale fantasy like this one. As the true romantic in the story, he was very passionate about the existence and meaning of true love. I enjoyed that HE was the romantic as opposed to the heroine. He really had his work cut out for him. Not only did he have to convince her of his love for her, but in the truth of love, of its entire existence. There was a lot of tension between these two as she fought the new emotions swirling through her. The repressed jealousy and attraction was really palpable and enjoyable. The ending really amped up the action and suspense, and I was actually surprised at how thrilling it was. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

The plot was certainly unique, and the romance was nicely delivered in the end. I didn't think that it was completely believable that the Legion would believe her stories of what she discovered after she came home. It would seem more likely that she would be immediately sent away or punished for even attempting to try to tell them the truth. Though overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the Kiss of the Royal, and would definitely read more by this author in the future.

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[Érika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Qué buena sorpresa! Me gustó mucho, tiene buenos personajes, una historia algo extraña por el cuento de los besos, pero con una explicación fantástica que es coherente a su mundo. El romance es creíble.

[mith · Rating 4 out of 5]

this review + others can be found over on my blog!
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Well, colour me surprised, I didn't expect to enjoy this so much! I found the idea of Kiss very interesting, if a bit odd—the whole Royals having powers because of a kiss is very unique to me. In hindsight, it seems very unfortunate because royals can't technically make an army, not in numbers like commoners, at least.

Still! I liked the writing and I liked Ivy! She was a very dedicated character, hella intent on ending this war, even after pairing with someone who didn't believe in her ideologies.

That was part of why I liked this book so much! I'm a sucker for books where the main couple-to-be start off on opposite ends and don't see eye to eye at first. Gradually reading about them understanding the other's point of view is my favourite part.

I'll admit, it was a bit slow in the opening chapters, but after Zach was introduced, the plot really picked up. The more I read, the more I was intrigued by the whole concept of Love in this book. Ivy doesn't believe in it! Normally this kind of thing would annoy me—I hate exploring so much into love, but this wasn't about feelings... more like the whole concept of it. It's why it reminded me so much of the show Once Upon A Time.

In the end, I was sold on this book. Ivy had a great voice, and the plot was—well, not wholly unique, but fun nonetheless. The romance was great, and the whole Royal Kiss thing was intriguing. So, easy 4 stars from me and I'd recommend it!