Royally Entangled

Her Royal Harem #1

by Catherine Banks

Ending a war makes her a savior to some…but a target to others.

Video-gamer Jolie Bernardo hadn’t planned on ending a war when she moved to Jinla, but, fate stepped in and thrust her into the path of four sexy princes.

Now her dream to make a name for herself in the video game community is threatened, as Others are out for her blood.

When the four princes of Jinla inadvertently forge a bond with her, it draws and binds them to one another. Unfortunately for them, it now means abandoning their chances of pursuing females to focus on keeping her alive. But with a new battle on the horizon, Jolie will have to choose between her heart…and her life.

ROYALLY ENTANGLED is a full-length reverse harem fantasy novel, the first in the HER ROYAL HAREM series.

Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Audiobook, Dragons, Shapeshifters

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 18, 2018

About the author

Catherine Banks is an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling fantasy author who writes in several romance subgenres under multiple pseudonyms. She began writing fiction at only four years old and finished her first full-length novel at the age of fifteen. She is married to her soulmate and best friend, Avery, who she has two amazing children with. After her full time job, she reads books, plays video games, and watches anime shows and movies with her family to relax. Although she has lived in Northern California her entire life, she dreams of traveling around the world. Catherine is also C.E.O. of Turbo Kitten Industries™, a company with many hats including being a book publisher and store full of nerdy fun.

Reviews

[Sláinte Wanderlust · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a load of nonsense, no building to the story or relationships at all.

[Georgie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There isn’t much I can say positively for this book. Within a few chapter all of the ‘princes’ in the EXCLUSIVE appartement that somehow no one else (including reporters) had managed to live in are in love with Jolie! And Jolie (the supposed gamer) somehow BONDS with them all magically.

On top of the terrible clichéd plot, the author managed to exclude all signs of character development, which made the simplistic language even harder to struggle through!

Suffice to say, I put myself out of my misery and refused to finish the book - instead hoping to save potential readers from the waste of time and money that is Royally Entangled!

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't bad and it's not my favorite series but I guess I'm just a little intrigued to see how this all going to pan out.

Royally Entangled is kind of like every other reverse harem book out there. It has a girl who is constantly in dangers way but ends up getting guys to fall in love with her no matter what. Enter Jolie, she loves video games - like loves them. Creates them and plays them all day long basically. So after getting to know this about her I was a bit intrigued. Yeah, I played some video games while growing up but haven't really spent time on them sense (more of a book person I guess now). Along the way, she starts meeting some handsome ass guys. Each one wants to take her on a date.. which ugh, this poor girl. No idea how she's coping.

The guys were okay and I don't really want to dive into them because then this review would never end. The romance was okay but kind of bland to a point. Plus it just kind of felt like things were just falling into her lap at one point. She magically had some artifact that a war was started over (which definitely seems ridiculous to me). Then her dad is some evil human turned vampire and has crazy eyes. The guys get instantly overprotective over her and it doesn't seem to matter that she's human and they are all shifters.

Yeah, yeah - I feel like I've read this before but without the magical artifact in play. Besides all of that, it just kind of seemed like fluff to me. The ending was a terrible cliffhanger.. so I of course had to dive into the next one just to see what was going to happen. I will admit, it was a bit better than the first one but I also saw some problems with it.

Overall, it was interesting and a sort of easy read. Kind of wish things happened a bit differently but will accept what I got.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jolie moves to a new city to hide from someone. She bumps into four different gorgeous guys within her first week and decides to date them all. They end up being the four princes of the supernatural community, and best friends, and live in her building. Yay! Jolie ends up stopping a war, but there are some that want to kill her for it. Her new harem tries to keep her safe while getting to know her better.

I don't know what to say. Did I read a different book than everyone else? The characters were underdeveloped. The plot was all over the place. I felt like the author was throwing stuff at us like throwing spaghetti at a wall to test if it is done. I could overlook the meeting four different princes who happen to be best friends and live in her apartment, and I was even still in the story when she magically had the necklace that everyone was looking for, but I thought her gaining their powers was poorly done, the whole thing with her dad being the villain trying to kill her was ridiculous, and don't even get me started on her becoming a "princess". Oh! and why was I under the impression that their gaming habits were going to be important to the story somehow? That plot thread fizzled and died. I am not impressed.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

So a girl moves to a new town because of some kind of trouble that she's running from. She immediately meets four super hot guys who are best friends. This was basically all the information I got before I quit. The scene that did it for me was when our heroine (can't remember her name) gets wasted because she stops talking to the guys and then gets all blubbery and says she doesn't want the world to end because then she wouldn't be able to spend any more time with the guys and she just likes them soooo much. Riiiiigggghhhhtt. First of all have a little self respect and second...just no. Aside from that there was a little too much gamer talk and just not enough story to get me to keep reading.

[Rhema P __(：з」∠)__ · Rating 1 out of 5]

You know, Reverse Harem is a guilty read so not matter how bad or porny; I can get behind it. But this? Nope. I was annoyed and bored and I’m heavily regretting the money I paid.

Where do I start?

On the first page, say line 1 to 5-ish. All the very very “important” information about you know; ‘the urban fantasy world we’re reading’ gets unceremoniously squeezed dumped into it. No fanfare, No build up, No interesting back drop or extra details. None.
Just:
‘Dear readers, did you know there are Supe clans?’
No, we didn’t
‘We have “ze Vampires”, “Werewolves”, “Elves” and of course ✨✨Dragons✨✨’,
‘Amazing right’????
No (¬_¬)

I was underwhelmed. And let’s not forget they’re apparently ‘at war’. Of course.

From then on our Heroine (in the next bloody page) proceeds to meet 3 men; all randomly (and in heavily cliche situations), have cringy/random wall sex with one (in an alley after, dunno 5mins); go on dates with all 3 and yes, tongue all 3 and still manage to text her girlfriend that she’s sooo soooo not a slut. (¬‿¬)

And yes, these random men are her Supes. Although I didn’t read up to how she’ll strategically meet or fall on the last one.

I did not read the blurb when buying this. I blame the buybait title, and the fact that I just semi stupidly added it into my amazon cart.

My Inner Monologue
(A) Predictions before I finally read the damn blurb —- (B) How flipping almost right i was, after reading the blurb
I predict these random men are the Kings of Supes — I was almost right, they are the all important Princes! Princes!
I predict the heroine is the golden goose — from the blurb I just read, She is; she’ll save them all apparently 🙄.
She’s got got a heart of gold too — Course she does, she’s probably emotional weak too.

I’m done.

I’m slightly emotional and ranting

I can already see where this is heading. And I didn’t even get passed the 4th page.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting supernatural story

I really liked all the different supernatural creatures, that was my favorite part of the story. The different powers and qualities they posses was fun to see. Overall I liked all the main characters, although a couple of times I felt like Jolie was overly dramatic and too self sacrificing. But the guys are fun and the shopping scene made me chuckle. I want more of Nico, I feel like he was neglected. Hopefully more in book 2!

[Dr. Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jolie is a video game nerd and designer. She recently just moved to the new town of Jinla and is excited to see what will come of it. When she meets four super hot guys in the first week of moving to town, she's excited but unsure what to make of it. Then she finds out the guys all know each other and all five of them live in the same apartment building, plus they're all supernatural princes.

In a weird twist of fate Jolie ends up bonded to all five of them as part of their warrior bond. Can Jolie become their queen? Can she figure out how to navigate life among supernatural royalty?

Once this book started, I felt like the plot never stopped. There's so much that happens out of nowhere, several big things happen in this book and it's just wild? Like after Jolie has met all these guys, she suddenly ends a war between supernatural factions simply by possessing the missing amulet. Like that's it, war over.

There was also a bunch of stuff that happened to Jolie before the book starts, but it's never mentioned until someone from her past needs to be explained. Like before Jolie has this great job and lives in a super fancy/expensive/exclusive apartment building, she was a prisoner of a vampire?? Like what!?

Parts of the plot just didn't make any sense. It was so weird. But I did like Jolie most of the time. And I enjoyed her bond with the guys. There was a sexual scene where I felt like consent wasn't well established that bugged me, but other than that the relationships felt well developed. Or at least were starting to be. I was mostly in this for the supernatural element--I want to see more of the elves, mages, dragon shifters and wolf shifters!

[Tiera McMillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly fast paced start to the series. Available via KU. I thought it was an interesting premise to start. Have you ever read a book where it felt like one of the characters were trying a little "too" hard to be awesome? I kind of feel this way about this FMC. I'm not sure what it is about her but I keep getting this vibe. Little comments that she thinks to herself just kind of rubs me a little wrong. Also, thought the story doesn't start out seeming to drop the reader in the middle of a story, by the end of the book I had a little whiplash. This has to be a spin off or something because thee is all kinds of story that happens before this.. Haven't done the research yet but there is definitely something going on..

FMC, Jolie, just completes her new move to Jinla a town where supernaturals and humans coexist. A war has been happening between the different species of supernaturals and Jolie finds herself smack dab in the middle of it.. dating all 4 of the supernatural races princes.. and holding the artifact that can end the war.. How did we wind up here you ask.. yea me too. And it doesn't seem like those answers are forethcoming.. in this book at least. While ending the war Jolie ends up bonding to the 4 princes whom she was also dating.. Jolie's past is on its way to catch up to her it seems.. and boy does she ever have a past.. it looks like Jolie has ended one war only to start another and shes the #1 target. Its up to Jolie's new man candy to help protect her as well as Jolie herself as she battles some old demons from her past...

Its like evereything starts off just like a normal story and its just coasting along and everything is fine and enjoyable and then bam.. all this stuff is happening and it came out of freaking no where.. and its just explained away all conveniently like.. I want to find out what is going on but at the same time I feel like I need to start at a beginning.. where the heck does this start at?

[Runningrabbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

KU

This is a good story that would have benefited with a bit more care in the execution. Some of the novel seemed rushed and some of the sentences too basic and staccato. Nevertheless, I‘m looking forward to book 2.

[Arianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/3/2021)! 🎁

[S D W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

The book was okay. I could not connect with the characters. I didn’t feel personality from them - I felt as if I was reading about their emotions. I didn’t really like the MFC and the guys felt like props for the story. Everyone was suppose to be older, NA age, but it had a young HS vibe. Also, I felt as if part of the story was missing. The writing was okay. The plot interesting. This book was just not for me.

[Samm Woodcock · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would’ve been interesting if it wasn’t for the Pick Me main character. Could not STAND her and her “why can’t girls just be chill and game???” Ugh.

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a mess for me. So many things were jumbled, rushed, overdone and drawn out. The romance happens at warp speed with her declaring she can’t choose just one, within days of having met them. She’s special, but only human, her father is the vampire king who abused her as a child, and she had a evil vampire also hunting her. Jolie is whiny, weepy and confusing. So much happens in this book and it seems pointless, the storyline is out of whack and there are so many irrelevant parts that the flow of the story was a struggle to get through. There were/are so many parts of this story that are fascinating and interesting but the execution was rather amateur and a bit disappointing. I loved the idea of so many supernatural beings and them living amongst everyday people. But then things like Jolie conveniently having a talisman that will end the war would happen and it became really hard to keep focus. Jolie I found to be an annoying weak character and honestly she wasn’t very likable. I liked all her guys but even they were cheesy at times. I don’t know how I feel about this one, I really wanted to like it but again it was a mess. I’ll prolly continue onto book 2, but so much is rushed and taking place in this book I can’t imagine what could be left and how outlandish and unbelievable it will be. This was certainly not my favorite RH novel and while the first maybe 10% was really great and interesting, it went down hill pretty fast for me and finishing this was a task.

[Tiffiny · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 20%. Why 20%, you ask? Because an entire books worth of events occurred by 20%. If this author had bothered to actually build the world and characters, along with actual relationship progression, paired with the events of the first 20%....well we'd have a nice book on our hands! However, there was no background information on any of the events that happened up until that point. Apparently there was a war between factions....no idea how it started or that it was a big thing. Apparently There's a missing artifact....no idea about. Apparently something bad happened to our MC....no idea what or why or where or how. There's a bad guy after our MC that is literally killed by 20%. That's your conclusion right there! Why oh why did the author not build on what they had??

A book needs a plot, a well planned plot, it needs the mundane to connect us to this new world! The author skipped over the MCs first day at her job...but ya know, later on there's a sudden BFF....why wasn't that mentioned before it was convenient?

No, seriously, this was all around a bad book and I really can't understand why anyone would give it 5 stars. I even put the book down for a few days and tried again! I only got a few more pages before I realized that it was wash-rinse-repeat.....a new villian....no plot...not character/world/relationship building.

[Victoria Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a middle of the road book. It started out okay. The main character got harder to like as the story progressed. As far as the guys go you could get rid of two of them and you wouldn't even know they were gone. They are fairly generic. The author seems to struggle with writing emotion and action her books. Both are a struggle to read. The writing gets choppier when either are involved heavily. The story itself is very bland. I was excited for the first bit because it seemed like it had the potential to be different and unique. Instead, it veered off that course and comes across as a mash up of a couple different RH books. Just take bits from this one and bits from that one and mesh it together. The end result is a book that barely can distinguish itself from the rest of the pack. If there is a second book, I probably won't read it.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books where you can actually see this plot line the author has created and think “this is going to be great” but.... then the characters become wishy washy and a bit on the crazy (and not in a good way) side, the sexy scenes are extremely awkward (at best), and there are so many inconsistencies you begin to forget who is who or what is what.
As much as I wanted to like this book, I just couldn’t.

[Diana Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just wasn't for me. It assumed that the reader (me), knew anything about the game(s) the heroine is playing. I didn't feel any good connection with the cast of characters because I think it was rushed and slapped in.

[Beatrice · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's so hard to feel connected with the characters, and all is just happening so fast!

[Daisy Delfin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried this audiobook, but thinking back, I had to go back in some chapters to get what was happening, because this audiobook didn't keep my attention. I zoned out more than once. I liked that the FMC was pretty confident at the beginning and did look for a one night stand without shame. The all the accidental meetings of the guys and it was so clear that a few chapters later it will turn out that they know each other. The romance didn't have a good build up. Because okay I don't mind if characters go backwards in their relationship building, but here there was none. I also never felt that they get to know each other better.

The plot was a mess. And somehow Jolie always ended up to be a special snowflake. But she was also pretty selfish and would mainly think of herself first. There was no real world building. And portals were not explained (like where can us use it, where can you go, will you stay in the same world or are you leaving it). They just were. Also the reception of the supernatural by humans was never explained. What is their standing? Are they domination the human population?

I really thought about weather to go on and read the second book or not. But then I read some reviews of the book, which kind of shared my opinion. I went to book 2 and looked of the reviews of this people and some didn't read the next book and others did give it a try but thought it's the same mess than the first one. So I decided not to try.

The one good thing was that because the bad guy died at the end, there was no cliff hanger. And I don't have the feeling I have to go on. I'm not finishing this series. Sadly the whole series was included in my audiobook subscription (thank you for that). And I'm returning all four audiobooks today without listening to three of them. But reading time is precious, and there are so many books out there to explore.

[cobalt]

I really really tried to find something to like about this. But the FMC doesn't even have a personality and she doesn't really do anything for her to be lovable because there has to be something, right? For her to have these four guys just head over heels for her? But no, there's literally nothing. And her backstory tries so hard to be angsty. There is also no buildup to the relationship. I don't mind Insta love as long as it's done right but this just wasn't it. I think what hurt me the most was that the MC just isn't anybody outside of the four guys. And the stolen artifact scene with the elders or something was so corny.

I wish the FMC was a little more dynamic and had more of a personality outside of being a video game creator and the girlfriend of four guys. And that part where they use her as a bait? And then she was stolen away? What did they think was gonna happen? I don't know anymore

Then there was that scene with the male childhood friend that I really think was only put their to try and create the jealousy trope in the story. And like of course, the big bad enemy is her father because who else could it be 😭 she has to have some steaks in this whole thing I guess. What a crazy ride.

[Sairaika · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entangled read!

Ending a war makes her a savior to some…
But a target to others...

It was an enjoyable but average read. At moments, it was funny and alright. Though the heroine - honestly, I don't like her and I don't feel a connection to her at all.

I don't feel for this book at all. I'm not going gaga or crazy for it at all which is disappointing. I'm just glad I was able to finish it but I'm not picking up the rest of the books anytime soon. I will sometime in the future since I purchased the box set because it was going on sale.

Full of curses, princes, vampires, dragons, mages, magic, action and love.

Perfect for readers of paranormal romances.

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saintness

I was really impressed with the characters. Joliet was an amazing character however at times I was so over her indecisiveness. She keeps answering the same questions over and over again. The guys have patience of a saint.

[Valerie Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok. Main female was not a strong willed woman. Seemed whiney, wishy-washy. Quite a few of bits of the story were just cheesy. I won’t continue the series.

[Diamond LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would not be finished by my book reading friend that I go to school with but for me it was the perfect easy to read through book that I have been needing. Some of the books I have read lately have made me lose my interest so it tock me a little while to get through them but this one I was able read in a short period of time without jumping between a whole lot of books. I do feel like I have read a lot of these books on wattpad so I am used to these types of books. All in all though this did give me the refresher I needed to get me to get back to my reading. I wish there were more complications in the relationships to give it more of a realistic view that others can relate to.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read

A must read for all lovers of reverse harem books. Jolie and her four princes never have a dull moment and by the end of the book I was so emotionally invested with these characters I can’t wait to read the next book I’m sure it’s going to be a great series of books.

[beth m · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m trying to be nice but this was garbage

This book is way too rushed with so many attempts at a plot line it was confusing, it’s literally all over the place . The writing style is more tell instead of show. I feel like I don’t know the characters, and there are so many things that don’t make sense. Her dad being a supernatural, how that came about. Any part of her past life including her childhood, any description of her mom, why she was abused and neglected as a child, how and why she was captured and who this demarcus is/was and why they had her, the whole necklace thing that she had and then saved the world with within the first 4 chapters, her relationship with that wolf shifter and how she was all super cool with his mate and their kids..... how about this curse?????? You know, the one she was hexed with??? Kinda seemed like a big deal... guess what, never gone back over. There are so many questions not answered and ideas that it seemed like the author was lazy and didn’t feel like fleshing out.

Furthermore, I really feel like I didn’t know any of the characters. The guys, all I remember is what their power/what kind of supernatural they were. Nothing else. They just didn’t stick out. And then the female lead. She was so infantile. Back and forth wishy -washy can’t make up her freaking mind. I thought it was cool that she was a gamer and worked as a game writer then that dead ended. I spent the ENTIRE book waiting for her to make up her freaking mind on defining the relationship. Apparently all her I love yous and can’t live without yous mean nothing bc she’s dragging her butt on the mating component. Let’s also talk about how she makes them jealous flirting with her old flame. I mean come the heck on, get over yourself.

Then wrap up this garbage by not even having a proper ending???? This book was just a hot mess in need of some proper editing. The author needs a true friend to read her books prior to the release and being told the honest truth: that this book needs to be rewritten

[Michelle Fritz PA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Harem! With a curse, guards and a dangerous past that follows Jolie, this was one non-stop action packed book. Each of the four guys are dreamy and insanely protective of Jolie. You'll love the scenes where they become jealous of Jolie's interactions with other men. This has humor, heart and lots of heat. I loved this from the first page to the last ♡ It's centered around Jolie being a gamer, but you do not need to be one yourself in order to thoroughly enjoy this! Reading the scenes where the guys had to work out issues that arose often led to snort inducing laughter. Jolie has a tendency to drink which places her in some very serious situations! The differences between supe and human immune systems was quite comical to experience towards the end of this book! I've never laughed so hard at a character being sick before. Ms. Banks has brought new ideas and humor to the RH world ♡ Cannot wait for the next book ♡♡♡♡

[Ana karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF