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Princess Vigilante #1
The City of Veils
For the past three years, Brynna has been patrolling the streets of Forcadel as a masked vigilante, protecting the innocent and beating up bad guys. Her current target is Lord Beswick, a slumlord businessman who keeps the townsfolk in a vicious poverty cycle. But one fateful evening, she's captured by Felix, the captain of the king's guard, and told a shocking truth: her father and brother are dead, and she needs to hang up her mask and become queen.
Before long, she negotiates a deal with Felix: attend to her royal duties during the day and continue her vigilante mission to take out Lord Beswick at night - at least until her coronation. But the politics of Forcadel are as volatile as the streets, and Brynna isn't sure whom she can trust in the castle. With two royals dead in less than a month, she must use all her wits to make sure she isn't the third.
Before long, she negotiates a deal with Felix: attend to her royal duties during the day and continue her vigilante mission to take out Lord Beswick at night - at least until her coronation. But the politics of Forcadel are as volatile as the streets, and Brynna isn't sure whom she can trust in the castle. With two royals dead in less than a month, she must use all her wits to make sure she isn't the third.
376 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2019
About the author
S. Usher Evans
44 books380 followersS. Usher Evans is an author, blogger, and witty banter aficionado. Born in Pensacola, Florida, she left the sleepy town behind for the fast-paced world of Washington, D.C.. There, she somehow landed jobs with BBC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic Television before finally settling into a "real job" as an IT consultant. After a quarter life crisis at age 27, she decided consulting was for the birds and rekindled a childhood passion for writing novels. She sold everything she owned and moved back to Pensacola, where she currently resides with her two dogs, Zoe and Mr. Biscuit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
January 19, 2019
So unique and full of plot twists and world building! I read this book in 2 days while on my honeymoon!
April 25, 2019
"If I had to pick a queen, I'd like someone who's been sacrificing herself for her people. Even if it has been as a masked vigilante."
This was a ride for sure, and I enjoyed it a lot.
I felt there were times where it was slow, but because I’m such a lover of character driven stories, I didn’t mind it being on the slower side. Also, I really loved the friendships and the loyalties in this book. The mystery of it all also kept me engaged the whole time. And boy, did the ending deliver. I’m really glad I’m not the type of reader to pick apart stories and try to figure out mysteries, because it just makes me that much more shocked when they’re revealed. I also loved the writing style, it flowed easily and kept me wanting to read more and more. Also, the banter between Felix and Brynna was perfection, they had me laughing out loud several times but also had my heart clenching with sadness for them. They’re precious and I want to protect both of them. I loved their friendship and I felt they balanced out each other well. Brynna was reckless but Felix was always there for her and wanted to protect her at all costs. He always called her out on her bullshit and made her see what she’s really like at times, which I appreciated.
Oh, and the LGTBTQA+ representation!!! We stan.
Overall, this was a great start to a trilogy. This first book sets up for a lot of action and intense drama that I feel is for sure to come with the sequel, so bring it on!
This was a ride for sure, and I enjoyed it a lot.
I felt there were times where it was slow, but because I’m such a lover of character driven stories, I didn’t mind it being on the slower side. Also, I really loved the friendships and the loyalties in this book. The mystery of it all also kept me engaged the whole time. And boy, did the ending deliver. I’m really glad I’m not the type of reader to pick apart stories and try to figure out mysteries, because it just makes me that much more shocked when they’re revealed. I also loved the writing style, it flowed easily and kept me wanting to read more and more. Also, the banter between Felix and Brynna was perfection, they had me laughing out loud several times but also had my heart clenching with sadness for them. They’re precious and I want to protect both of them. I loved their friendship and I felt they balanced out each other well. Brynna was reckless but Felix was always there for her and wanted to protect her at all costs. He always called her out on her bullshit and made her see what she’s really like at times, which I appreciated.
Oh, and the LGTBTQA+ representation!!! We stan.
Overall, this was a great start to a trilogy. This first book sets up for a lot of action and intense drama that I feel is for sure to come with the sequel, so bring it on!
April 17, 2019
*4.5*
I’m such trash for a good, old-fashioned murder mystery. Throw in a strong female lead like Brynna and I’m good to go.
But fantasy? Evans sure had me sold on this one.
The multiple genres packed into one made this all the more enjoyable, along with powerful character dynamics and a masked vigilante I wouldn’t want to meet up in an alley with any day.
The slow-burn mystery had just enough red herrings to throw the reader off track and prevent the end from becoming predictable. I personally called the perpetrator early on, but many will be shocked by the smashing ending Evans delivers.
Brynna is such a positive influence and heroine (even if she doesn’t exactly make the best decisions) for today’s world. She is among the very small list of characters that I will be remembering for a while.
I’m very curious about where the author will take this series. That cliffhanger was 🔥.
My only critique is that the pacing could be a bit faster in places, with exception to the climax.
Overall, an exceptional opening to a promising series! Can’t wait for book 2!
I’m such trash for a good, old-fashioned murder mystery. Throw in a strong female lead like Brynna and I’m good to go.
But fantasy? Evans sure had me sold on this one.
The multiple genres packed into one made this all the more enjoyable, along with powerful character dynamics and a masked vigilante I wouldn’t want to meet up in an alley with any day.
The slow-burn mystery had just enough red herrings to throw the reader off track and prevent the end from becoming predictable. I personally called the perpetrator early on, but many will be shocked by the smashing ending Evans delivers.
Brynna is such a positive influence and heroine (even if she doesn’t exactly make the best decisions) for today’s world. She is among the very small list of characters that I will be remembering for a while.
I’m very curious about where the author will take this series. That cliffhanger was 🔥.
My only critique is that the pacing could be a bit faster in places, with exception to the climax.
Overall, an exceptional opening to a promising series! Can’t wait for book 2!
July 20, 2019
Here are some of my thoughts:
• I like the idea of Brynna being a vigilante but also a princess. Starting out the story, it was difficult for me to have an emotional connection to her or any o the other characters. I wanted to feel more depth. However, hearing about how and why she became vigilante made me sympathize with her. She was very hot-blooded and nonsensical at times. I would think for a “harden vigilante who has supposedly done hardcore shit” throughout the past few years, she would be more wary and logical. She would jump to conclusions, be insensitive, and overall not think too much about her position as princess. I mean I get it, she doesn’t want the role, blah, blah, blah, but I wanted her to be more strategic. I suppose one thing that does make sense is being idealistic b/c she sees the horror of what common people have to go through, so she doesn’t understand why can’t everything be fixed, and bad criminals should die. On the other hand, I still expected her to have a bit more street smarts and cautious, sharp mind. It’s not hard to believe that she’d be a “bad princess/politician” with her being gone for so many years, but she certainly could’ve done better. I guess the good thing about this is that because this is the 1st book, there should most likely be more character developments in the future books. Thus, I can’t judge her too harshly for being so naïve and rash in this book. I don’t expect her to be invincible, but I did expect her a book with a vigilante protagonist to be a bit smarter after all the “cold, hard years” of survival she went through. It made the book less enjoyable b/c of that.
• I do, however, appreciate that she is assertive and has a “can-do” behavior. I respect that. She can be rash, but she really is about taking actions. I also like that she admits her faults at one point when Felix told her she’s being selfish in her pursuit of one villain.
• Felix – I like him. I like the bantering b/w him and Brynna. I like the opposites attract theme here.
• Kat is funny and smart – She is a great, supportive character for Brynna. I also adore Beata. It’s nice to see the friendships in this book.
Overall, I’m giving this 2/2.5 stars, mainly due to ambivalence. I didn’t like the protagonist as much as I ‘d like even though I respected certain strong aspects about her. I do enjoy the friendships aspect of this book, but overall, I wanted a bigger emotional connection to all the characters and plot. For a vigilante type of book, I wanted to feel a “If you cry, I’ll cry” kind of thing. I want to seriously feel for these characters and the characters who are mistreated that the vigilante is trying to save. However, here, I feel lukewarm. I wanted more developments in these area, so I can grow to love and truly feel for certain characters. Maybe that’d grow as the series progress.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
• I like the idea of Brynna being a vigilante but also a princess. Starting out the story, it was difficult for me to have an emotional connection to her or any o the other characters. I wanted to feel more depth. However, hearing about how and why she became vigilante made me sympathize with her. She was very hot-blooded and nonsensical at times. I would think for a “harden vigilante who has supposedly done hardcore shit” throughout the past few years, she would be more wary and logical. She would jump to conclusions, be insensitive, and overall not think too much about her position as princess. I mean I get it, she doesn’t want the role, blah, blah, blah, but I wanted her to be more strategic. I suppose one thing that does make sense is being idealistic b/c she sees the horror of what common people have to go through, so she doesn’t understand why can’t everything be fixed, and bad criminals should die. On the other hand, I still expected her to have a bit more street smarts and cautious, sharp mind. It’s not hard to believe that she’d be a “bad princess/politician” with her being gone for so many years, but she certainly could’ve done better. I guess the good thing about this is that because this is the 1st book, there should most likely be more character developments in the future books. Thus, I can’t judge her too harshly for being so naïve and rash in this book. I don’t expect her to be invincible, but I did expect her a book with a vigilante protagonist to be a bit smarter after all the “cold, hard years” of survival she went through. It made the book less enjoyable b/c of that.
• I do, however, appreciate that she is assertive and has a “can-do” behavior. I respect that. She can be rash, but she really is about taking actions. I also like that she admits her faults at one point when Felix told her she’s being selfish in her pursuit of one villain.
• Felix – I like him. I like the bantering b/w him and Brynna. I like the opposites attract theme here.
• Kat is funny and smart – She is a great, supportive character for Brynna. I also adore Beata. It’s nice to see the friendships in this book.
Overall, I’m giving this 2/2.5 stars, mainly due to ambivalence. I didn’t like the protagonist as much as I ‘d like even though I respected certain strong aspects about her. I do enjoy the friendships aspect of this book, but overall, I wanted a bigger emotional connection to all the characters and plot. For a vigilante type of book, I wanted to feel a “If you cry, I’ll cry” kind of thing. I want to seriously feel for these characters and the characters who are mistreated that the vigilante is trying to save. However, here, I feel lukewarm. I wanted more developments in these area, so I can grow to love and truly feel for certain characters. Maybe that’d grow as the series progress.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
February 13, 2019
[I bought this book on recommendation of one of my best friends, who is on the author’s street team & informed me of the author’s limited presale on this book before its official release]
I just finished the book, because once I finally got a chance to read it without being interrupted, I couldn’t put it down.
I have been left completely speechless. My brain is processing all of what I just read & having a meltdown because I need to know what happens next!
I legitimately cannot recommend this book enough. The best way I can describe this is a much better Throne of Glass meets Robin Hood, or for the gamers like myself, Assassin’s Creed 2 meets Fire Emblem: Fates. It’s got intrigue, a fun cast, lots of twists, & an infuriating cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more.
Do yourself a favor: read this book. You will not be disappointed.
I just finished the book, because once I finally got a chance to read it without being interrupted, I couldn’t put it down.
I have been left completely speechless. My brain is processing all of what I just read & having a meltdown because I need to know what happens next!
I legitimately cannot recommend this book enough. The best way I can describe this is a much better Throne of Glass meets Robin Hood, or for the gamers like myself, Assassin’s Creed 2 meets Fire Emblem: Fates. It’s got intrigue, a fun cast, lots of twists, & an infuriating cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more.
Do yourself a favor: read this book. You will not be disappointed.
March 23, 2019
The story that develops through The City of Veils is fun and intriguing. We follow our main character Brynna as she must leave behind the vigilante life she’s been used to for so long now and go back to the royal business she left behind the day she ran away. One of the things that made me fall in love with this story was how we’re able to see how the character’s grow not only in the story but also on you. Maybe at the beginning of the book you meet a character that you don’t know what to expect from and don’t necessarily like them, but as Brynna’s life as a princess and a vigilante keep moving, you may end up realizing that maybe they’re not that bad after all and all they needed to prove so were a couple of extra pages. Another thing I really enjoyed was how Brynna is trying to fight a gang lord from both sides: the inside and the outside, making the story quite interesting with all of her stealthy approaches to Beswick on her own and through some of her contacts. Another thing I liked was the murder investigation regarding her father and brother, something that made the story feel intense as Brynna is basically fighting against time before she’s next in line of the deceased royals.
As usual, Evans does a great job with the writing, making Brynna’s story captivating and intriguing from the very beginning. This one was just as easy to follow as any of her other books. She manages to grab your interest not only with Brynna’s struggle of accepting her rightful place and how there’s no more running away from it, but also with the world she exists in and the kingdom she lives in and must rule from now on. This world is big, interesting and just as exciting as any other. The main thing I loved about it was how we’re able to enjoy a lot from it since we get to explore it with none other than The Veil herself. As Brynna spent the last few years running around Forcadel saving the night as the Veil, we’re able to see the not so fancy side of the kingdom, which made me fall in love with it as we see how things work outside of the castle and makes us wonder who really is in charge at the end of the day. Also, as Brynna gets to re-learn everything about not only her own kingdom but also that of her neighbors, I found it very interesting how we get to learn about their rulers, what they do, and their political relationships with each other. I also loved how we’re able to see through Brynna’s council the ugly side of things and how their decisions affect the people of Forcadel.
Like I already mentioned, we get to meet plenty of characters on this fantastical world Evans created and, like it or not, they get to grow on you. Besides getting to know our main girl Brynna and following her struggles and adventures, we also get to meet other very interesting characters that go from the captain of the Queen’s Guard Felix Llobrega to her ex-sister in law Katarine and others like Beswick, Beata, Joella, Ilara, Celia and many more! I really enjoyed getting to know about these characters and am even hoping to know more about them since they all had (and I’m sure they still have some) interesting secrets to uncover. Now, did I end up having a favorite character? You bet I did, but it ended up being more than just one.
➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶
BRYNNA
Even though I didn’t get to feel like I loved my girl Brynna during the first few chapters of her story, by the end of the book I did. I loved seeing her grow and come to terms with herself and with the fact that she can’t act like she used to. I also loved how once she’d made up her mind about something no one could stop her, not even her captain. And last but not least, I just loved how she was always ready to take on everyone with her big mouth, it didn’t matter if they were nobles or not, they all got a piece of her mind.
FELIX
The main reason why I loved Captain Llobrega so much was because no matter what Brynna said or how she treated him, he was always there proving to be as loyal and caring as ever. And another one was because of the way he reacted to anything that involved Brynna not only as a member of the royal family but also as a woman? It was just too funny and unexpected, okay?
CELIA
If there’s s character that scared but left me wanting to know more about them it was Celia. She’s an interesting and mysterious character and I’d love to know more about her and the way she operates around Forcadel with her people on book 2!
➴➵➶➴➵��➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶
In the end, The City of Veils ended up being better than expected. Even if I struggled a little with Brynna at the beginning, I did end up loving and enjoying her journey—especially that twisty and unexpected ending! I really can’t wait for this book to be out in the wild because I hope it ends up becoming one of those quick-reads that you get to fall in love with. The only thing I’m going to complain about is that I hate waiting not only for book one to be out but also book two! I don’t know if that makes sense but if you read arcs, you’ll understand. But worry not, I’m sure that as soon as I get my beautiful copy in my hands next month everything will be fine and I’ll forget about my complaints as I will probably be busy re-reading this beauty like one or two times like I did with Demon Spring.
As usual, Evans does a great job with the writing, making Brynna’s story captivating and intriguing from the very beginning. This one was just as easy to follow as any of her other books. She manages to grab your interest not only with Brynna’s struggle of accepting her rightful place and how there’s no more running away from it, but also with the world she exists in and the kingdom she lives in and must rule from now on. This world is big, interesting and just as exciting as any other. The main thing I loved about it was how we’re able to enjoy a lot from it since we get to explore it with none other than The Veil herself. As Brynna spent the last few years running around Forcadel saving the night as the Veil, we’re able to see the not so fancy side of the kingdom, which made me fall in love with it as we see how things work outside of the castle and makes us wonder who really is in charge at the end of the day. Also, as Brynna gets to re-learn everything about not only her own kingdom but also that of her neighbors, I found it very interesting how we get to learn about their rulers, what they do, and their political relationships with each other. I also loved how we’re able to see through Brynna’s council the ugly side of things and how their decisions affect the people of Forcadel.
Like I already mentioned, we get to meet plenty of characters on this fantastical world Evans created and, like it or not, they get to grow on you. Besides getting to know our main girl Brynna and following her struggles and adventures, we also get to meet other very interesting characters that go from the captain of the Queen’s Guard Felix Llobrega to her ex-sister in law Katarine and others like Beswick, Beata, Joella, Ilara, Celia and many more! I really enjoyed getting to know about these characters and am even hoping to know more about them since they all had (and I’m sure they still have some) interesting secrets to uncover. Now, did I end up having a favorite character? You bet I did, but it ended up being more than just one.
➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶
BRYNNA
Even though I didn’t get to feel like I loved my girl Brynna during the first few chapters of her story, by the end of the book I did. I loved seeing her grow and come to terms with herself and with the fact that she can’t act like she used to. I also loved how once she’d made up her mind about something no one could stop her, not even her captain. And last but not least, I just loved how she was always ready to take on everyone with her big mouth, it didn’t matter if they were nobles or not, they all got a piece of her mind.
FELIX
The main reason why I loved Captain Llobrega so much was because no matter what Brynna said or how she treated him, he was always there proving to be as loyal and caring as ever. And another one was because of the way he reacted to anything that involved Brynna not only as a member of the royal family but also as a woman? It was just too funny and unexpected, okay?
CELIA
If there’s s character that scared but left me wanting to know more about them it was Celia. She’s an interesting and mysterious character and I’d love to know more about her and the way she operates around Forcadel with her people on book 2!
➴➵➶➴➵��➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶
In the end, The City of Veils ended up being better than expected. Even if I struggled a little with Brynna at the beginning, I did end up loving and enjoying her journey—especially that twisty and unexpected ending! I really can’t wait for this book to be out in the wild because I hope it ends up becoming one of those quick-reads that you get to fall in love with. The only thing I’m going to complain about is that I hate waiting not only for book one to be out but also book two! I don’t know if that makes sense but if you read arcs, you’ll understand. But worry not, I’m sure that as soon as I get my beautiful copy in my hands next month everything will be fine and I’ll forget about my complaints as I will probably be busy re-reading this beauty like one or two times like I did with Demon Spring.
March 24, 2019
Brynna has fled her home to escape an unwanted marriage at a young age. Wanting what's best for her city, she trains and becomes the Veil, protecting the people of the city from corruption and more. While people don't know the woman behind the mask, they know of her good works, and they appreciate her helping out the city. But with the death of her father and then brother, Brynna needs to step up to become the queen the city needs, and it's not a role she really wants.
We have some excellent characters, some we don't entirely trust and some we want to see more of.
As Brynna's character evolved, I grew to really like her. She's strong, assertive, and funny and makes for a perfect leading lady. As far as her head guard Felix, I have mixed emotions about it. I think because he tends to leave out some truths from Brynna, I don't entirely trust him even though it seems he honestly does care for her and wants to protect her. Sometimes he's too overbearing and Brynna handles that well, especially after years of having her freedom.
Her desire to protect the city is commendable, and it speaks of her strength. That's another reason I think Felix is too much sometimes because she's proven that she can handle herself time and again, though it doesn't always hurt to have backup.
Kat makes for a good character too, and besides a few secrets that she wasn't ready to share, I think she's going to be great for Brynna in the long haul. She knows what she's talking about and makes for a great advisor.
While sometimes Brynna heeds the advice of Felix and Kat, she tends to be singularly focused, intent on taking down Beswick, the man who has everyone in the city in his pockets. People are afraid of him, they are living in poverty because of him, and the council members make deals with him to keep the city running. Brynna's focus to take him down might just get in the way of her other responsibilities.
Evans is a fantastic writer, and she's created a superb storyline in The City of Veils. Forcadel and the surrounding areas are creatively imagined, even down to the layout and shops, you get a vivid picture of the world that Brynna lives in. Her attitude shines through in her dealings, and I think it will help her in the long run. I cannot wait to get my hands on more of the Princess Vigilante series, very well done.
We have some excellent characters, some we don't entirely trust and some we want to see more of.
As Brynna's character evolved, I grew to really like her. She's strong, assertive, and funny and makes for a perfect leading lady. As far as her head guard Felix, I have mixed emotions about it. I think because he tends to leave out some truths from Brynna, I don't entirely trust him even though it seems he honestly does care for her and wants to protect her. Sometimes he's too overbearing and Brynna handles that well, especially after years of having her freedom.
Her desire to protect the city is commendable, and it speaks of her strength. That's another reason I think Felix is too much sometimes because she's proven that she can handle herself time and again, though it doesn't always hurt to have backup.
Kat makes for a good character too, and besides a few secrets that she wasn't ready to share, I think she's going to be great for Brynna in the long haul. She knows what she's talking about and makes for a great advisor.
While sometimes Brynna heeds the advice of Felix and Kat, she tends to be singularly focused, intent on taking down Beswick, the man who has everyone in the city in his pockets. People are afraid of him, they are living in poverty because of him, and the council members make deals with him to keep the city running. Brynna's focus to take him down might just get in the way of her other responsibilities.
Evans is a fantastic writer, and she's created a superb storyline in The City of Veils. Forcadel and the surrounding areas are creatively imagined, even down to the layout and shops, you get a vivid picture of the world that Brynna lives in. Her attitude shines through in her dealings, and I think it will help her in the long run. I cannot wait to get my hands on more of the Princess Vigilante series, very well done.
July 5, 2018
At first, Brynna really annoyed me. I normally love Evan's characters and so I had to think about this. It was her refusal to take responsibility. I have always been the sort of person who has stepped up to responsibility/leadership. Brynna running away from her role and refusal to take it up again upon learning of her brother's death, causes a lot of conflict in the story.
I really liked her growth throughout the book and thought that the balance of her guard, Felix, being overprotective of her and her own independent spirit played off each other well.
Katherine, Brynna's sister-in-law, is a great character and tries so hard to help, especially with the details of politics important to the ruling of country and balancing of various needs. Brynna is understandably very narrow minded in her understanding of the world and politics, having been living on the streets and ruling her own little life.
I cannot wait for the next book, as Brynna has completely new challenges in front of her and hopefully now has some of the understanding to tackle them.
I really liked her growth throughout the book and thought that the balance of her guard, Felix, being overprotective of her and her own independent spirit played off each other well.
Katherine, Brynna's sister-in-law, is a great character and tries so hard to help, especially with the details of politics important to the ruling of country and balancing of various needs. Brynna is understandably very narrow minded in her understanding of the world and politics, having been living on the streets and ruling her own little life.
I cannot wait for the next book, as Brynna has completely new challenges in front of her and hopefully now has some of the understanding to tackle them.
November 25, 2018
I absolutely LOVE this book! Brynna is quite relatable and is definitely something when it comes to mischief. I am in absolute love with her personality. She knows her place and doesn't let people push her around. It is something I admire in her. She is also very witty and I couldn't get enough. Once I started, I didn't want to stop and I did cry a few times (just a few tear drops here and there).
The plot was well developed, in my opinion, and Evans really knows how to keep things interesting. This is the first book by Evans I have read, and I definitely will be reading more of her books from now on. I wish I had the next book and I cannot wait for it to be released! I highly recommend this read and I hope it gets the hype it deserves.
The plot was well developed, in my opinion, and Evans really knows how to keep things interesting. This is the first book by Evans I have read, and I definitely will be reading more of her books from now on. I wish I had the next book and I cannot wait for it to be released! I highly recommend this read and I hope it gets the hype it deserves.
July 7, 2019
I can't wait for you all to read this book!
I've always loved books with snarky female leads who can kick some ass. I never get tired of them. It just makes books that much more enjoyable. Brynna was a lot of fun in this book. She had A LOT going and OH MAN is she gonna have it rough in the next books but I can't wait to see how she pulls out. I feel a little bad for her because she was trying SO HARD to do the right thing but without this drama we wouldn't have a very good book now would we.
I've always loved books with snarky female leads who can kick some ass. I never get tired of them. It just makes books that much more enjoyable. Brynna was a lot of fun in this book. She had A LOT going and OH MAN is she gonna have it rough in the next books but I can't wait to see how she pulls out. I feel a little bad for her because she was trying SO HARD to do the right thing but without this drama we wouldn't have a very good book now would we.
April 16, 2019
I really enjoyed the humor of this story and also, please, like I wasn’t going to read a book about a Princess Vigilante kicking ass and taking names and throwing the court into shock. Pfffft. This had my name all over it.
But honestly, I loved Brynna just being, well, Brynna. She’s rough around the edges and always wanting to push for action, she makes mistakes and keeps trying so, and so stubborn. So. Stubborn. Almost feel bad for Felix for having to watch over her, almost. It’s his own fault he’s stuck with her. 😉
I don’ want to give too much away but the reason Brynna doesn’t act as much like a Princess (and I mean attitude and manners, not Batman-ing it at night) is that her past led her down a different path.
Brynna comes to this line in the sand and though she doesn’t feel she gets a choice on whether to cross the line or not, she always makes a choice she thinks is right -for better or worse and damn the consequences!-.
Thrust into the role of to-be Queen, Brynna agonizes over the thought of no longer masquerading at night as the defender of her city, but she has those in her corner to help her along the way.
So what does a soon to be Queen really want? To take down the biggest organized crime leader in the city. No biggie.
Brynna is also juggling learning how to deal with the council, not pushing allies away, and oh yea, possibly being poisoned by maybe an ally or someone in close contact in the castle. No biggie.
The ending had me like: Ooooooooooh snaaaaaaap
But honestly, I loved Brynna just being, well, Brynna. She’s rough around the edges and always wanting to push for action, she makes mistakes and keeps trying so, and so stubborn. So. Stubborn. Almost feel bad for Felix for having to watch over her, almost. It’s his own fault he’s stuck with her. 😉
I don’ want to give too much away but the reason Brynna doesn’t act as much like a Princess (and I mean attitude and manners, not Batman-ing it at night) is that her past led her down a different path.
Brynna comes to this line in the sand and though she doesn’t feel she gets a choice on whether to cross the line or not, she always makes a choice she thinks is right -for better or worse and damn the consequences!-.
Thrust into the role of to-be Queen, Brynna agonizes over the thought of no longer masquerading at night as the defender of her city, but she has those in her corner to help her along the way.
So what does a soon to be Queen really want? To take down the biggest organized crime leader in the city. No biggie.
Brynna is also juggling learning how to deal with the council, not pushing allies away, and oh yea, possibly being poisoned by maybe an ally or someone in close contact in the castle. No biggie.
The ending had me like: Ooooooooooh snaaaaaaap
May 12, 2019
I am complete trash for novels involving princesses that hide under the guise of anonymity so they can protect their kingdom (bonus points for not wanting to rule), and The City of Veils by S. Usher Evans is no exception to this. While Brynna is working on bringing down a prominent businessman known for scamming civilians, she is taken in by the captain of the king’s guard and finds out both her father and brother have been murdered in less than a month. The murders leave behind a mystery and also force her to step in as the rightful queen of Forcadel. However, staying away from the castle for years to escape an arranged marriage comes with a cost: not only is she not aware of the court politics that have been happening in the castle, but she’s not sure who she could trust. Despite having no particular desire to rule, she definitely doesn’t want to be the next dead royal.
Despite being advised against it, Brynna finds herself negotiating with Felix, the captain of the king’s guard, to continue working as a vigilante at night while working on her royal duties during the day. This begins an amusing back and forth between the two throughout the novel as they butt heads constantly and try to negotiate with each other. I loved seeing their relationship develop, along with Brynna’s relationship with the other characters, including Katarine, the other guards, and others who will likely be playing a major role in later books.
The first novel in Evans’ newest series, Princess Vigilante, was a fun ride from beginning to end. The overall pacing of the story was perfect, although there are parts I felt were slow or a little rushed. The story was engaging and entertaining, and I was constantly kept on my toes as Brynna tries to navigate her life as a masked vigilante and a queen while trying to stay wary of potential dangers.
This review is originally posted on The Arts STL
Despite being advised against it, Brynna finds herself negotiating with Felix, the captain of the king’s guard, to continue working as a vigilante at night while working on her royal duties during the day. This begins an amusing back and forth between the two throughout the novel as they butt heads constantly and try to negotiate with each other. I loved seeing their relationship develop, along with Brynna’s relationship with the other characters, including Katarine, the other guards, and others who will likely be playing a major role in later books.
The first novel in Evans’ newest series, Princess Vigilante, was a fun ride from beginning to end. The overall pacing of the story was perfect, although there are parts I felt were slow or a little rushed. The story was engaging and entertaining, and I was constantly kept on my toes as Brynna tries to navigate her life as a masked vigilante and a queen while trying to stay wary of potential dangers.
This review is originally posted on The Arts STL
January 16, 2019
This book was such a wild ride. I love books that surprise me, and this one was no different. Brynna was such a single minded character. She was absolutely blinded by her resolve for justice. She couldn't see anything else in her path. Felix was perfect in every way and I just want to squish his poor, put upon cheeks. He really does his best and it was fun to watch the two of them clash at every turn.
I love Sush's heroine's because sometimes they are like watching a train wreck. I can see them running headlong into disaster and I'm helpless to stop them. Much like my own life :D It's so realistic to see them as both the heroine of the story and the architect of their own downfall.
In the same thread, I love her heroes because they are level headed and rational but still completely unable to sway the heroine from her chosen path, no matter how catastrophic. Again, this is something that I see in my own life so it really resonates with me.
Sush's writing is just getting better and better. I loved her earlier books but this is by far my favorite of all the books I've read by her. It's going to be so hard to wait to find out what happens next!
This review was originally posted on Emily Reads Everything
December 24, 2018
Throne of Glass, BUT GOOD. I loved this book! It got me so worked up and emotional at so many different points. I related a lot to Brynna. We are both so stubborn and bullheaded, unwilling to admit fault, it made reading her story feel like I was reading about a piece of myself. I’m GUTTED about where she ends up and where certain others are away from her. Pretty sure I would die for Felix and Kat, but I LOVE that Brynba is gonna throw down with.... and ally with.... ah too many spoilers. Bring on Book 2!!
June 21, 2019
Note: I am rounding up my review to 3.5 stars.
Imagine if Robin Hood had been “kidnapped” and forced to become the King. Now, imagine if the Sheriff of Nottingham had been his ally slash enemy.
The City of Veils is a story of a princess who lives her life as a vigilante to help her people. Unfortunately, her nights of crimefighting is cut short when she is forced to take the throne. Now, Brynna is left with the choice of choosing to help her people from a position of political power or to fight criminals with violence from the shadows. While Brynna would prefer the latter, she cannot deny that as a royal her word alone could make changes for her people’s well-being. So, Brynna does decide to play along.
But in a kingdom where corruption runs amock like rats, Brynna finds that her bloodline alone is not enough to make her country a better place.
The City of Veils is what I would call a slow-burn mystery. Although a fantasy book, this book does not endow our heroine with magic, but she does come with a handful of tricks that made this story a fun read.
Brynna, the main character, has lived her teenage years on the streets and under a mask trying to help the poorer community of her father’s kingdom. While her impulsiveness and aggressive nature might work well in the streets, when it came to politics Brynna was a flailing duck. Many of her decisions derailed the bigger plans; living her life fighting one crime after another had Brynna’s instincts be set on the present situation. She was not one for foresight, unfortunately. Yet her sense of justice stuck me to the pages of this book.
Felix, who is Brynna’s personal guard and old friend, can get a bit over-bearing at times. However, the banter between Felix and Brynna made me laugh out loud so many times. I love how they were in a situation where they were constantly butting heads between what would serve the kingdom best. Felix and Kat, who is Brynna's sister-in-law, acted as Brynna’s mentor to the kingdom’s inner workings, however, it did annoy me when Brynna would refuse to listen or think on their suggestions. Yet as the book progresses, Brynna develops slowly and comes to understand how her brash actions endangered the kingdom more than it saved it.
I found all the characters to be very well written. Every person held a secret; and like Brynna we had to figure out what their motives were, and whether they were indeed as they appeared to be. This puzzlement lent itself to the murder mystery at the heart of the story.
Felix felt more like an older brother to Brynna and I would rather have them remain friends. That draws me to them more as I find that they do balance each other out, and yet have a lot to learn from the other.
Another flaw in the book is Beswick’s character. He was neither a believable nor a smart antagonist. He was portrayed as a greedy and power-hungry man but his dialogue and mannerisms made him seem quite juvenile. However, the plot twist at the end certainly made up for this particular flaw. I did not see it coming at all! It wasn’t until I thought back that I realized the many red herrings, and foreshadowing the author planted throughout the novel.
This character-driven book is certainly worth the read! I would recommend it for those who enjoy a bit of a mystery. A fantasy book with a lack of magic is a rare one in our book community, so stumbling across one with a high stake premise was a wonderful chance!
I'd like to thank the author, S. Usher Evans, for providing me with an e-copy of this read, however, this does not in any way influence my review.
Imagine if Robin Hood had been “kidnapped” and forced to become the King. Now, imagine if the Sheriff of Nottingham had been his ally slash enemy.
The City of Veils is a story of a princess who lives her life as a vigilante to help her people. Unfortunately, her nights of crimefighting is cut short when she is forced to take the throne. Now, Brynna is left with the choice of choosing to help her people from a position of political power or to fight criminals with violence from the shadows. While Brynna would prefer the latter, she cannot deny that as a royal her word alone could make changes for her people’s well-being. So, Brynna does decide to play along.
But in a kingdom where corruption runs amock like rats, Brynna finds that her bloodline alone is not enough to make her country a better place.
The City of Veils is what I would call a slow-burn mystery. Although a fantasy book, this book does not endow our heroine with magic, but she does come with a handful of tricks that made this story a fun read.
Brynna, the main character, has lived her teenage years on the streets and under a mask trying to help the poorer community of her father’s kingdom. While her impulsiveness and aggressive nature might work well in the streets, when it came to politics Brynna was a flailing duck. Many of her decisions derailed the bigger plans; living her life fighting one crime after another had Brynna’s instincts be set on the present situation. She was not one for foresight, unfortunately. Yet her sense of justice stuck me to the pages of this book.
Felix, who is Brynna’s personal guard and old friend, can get a bit over-bearing at times. However, the banter between Felix and Brynna made me laugh out loud so many times. I love how they were in a situation where they were constantly butting heads between what would serve the kingdom best. Felix and Kat, who is Brynna's sister-in-law, acted as Brynna’s mentor to the kingdom’s inner workings, however, it did annoy me when Brynna would refuse to listen or think on their suggestions. Yet as the book progresses, Brynna develops slowly and comes to understand how her brash actions endangered the kingdom more than it saved it.
I found all the characters to be very well written. Every person held a secret; and like Brynna we had to figure out what their motives were, and whether they were indeed as they appeared to be. This puzzlement lent itself to the murder mystery at the heart of the story.
Felix felt more like an older brother to Brynna and I would rather have them remain friends. That draws me to them more as I find that they do balance each other out, and yet have a lot to learn from the other.
Another flaw in the book is Beswick’s character. He was neither a believable nor a smart antagonist. He was portrayed as a greedy and power-hungry man but his dialogue and mannerisms made him seem quite juvenile. However, the plot twist at the end certainly made up for this particular flaw. I did not see it coming at all! It wasn’t until I thought back that I realized the many red herrings, and foreshadowing the author planted throughout the novel.
This character-driven book is certainly worth the read! I would recommend it for those who enjoy a bit of a mystery. A fantasy book with a lack of magic is a rare one in our book community, so stumbling across one with a high stake premise was a wonderful chance!
I'd like to thank the author, S. Usher Evans, for providing me with an e-copy of this read, however, this does not in any way influence my review.
April 3, 2019
With her face hidden behind a hood/veil, Brynna protects the city of Forcadel. She works hard to bring down the slumlords who are taking advantage of the townspeople. But when Brynna’s father and brother die suddenly and unexpectedly, she becomes next in line for the throne. With her brother’s friend, Felix, insistence, she finds herself back at the castle.
Brynna has trouble with the council and adapting to her role as queen. She had more success on the streets. She makes a bargain with Felix to resume her activities at night as long as she tries harder to be a good queen. She becomes a vigilante by night and a queen-in-training by day. Luckily, her sister-in-law Katarine is there to help with the politics side of things. Brynna is treading a dangerous path, but she isn’t one to give up.
THE CITY OF VEILS gives me a Batman/Robin Hood feel. I adored Felix and Katharine’s characters. I also liked how strong and stubborn Brynna is. I devoured this story and am eager for the next one.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of royalty, Batman, politics, Robin Hood, and fantasy.
Brynna has trouble with the council and adapting to her role as queen. She had more success on the streets. She makes a bargain with Felix to resume her activities at night as long as she tries harder to be a good queen. She becomes a vigilante by night and a queen-in-training by day. Luckily, her sister-in-law Katarine is there to help with the politics side of things. Brynna is treading a dangerous path, but she isn’t one to give up.
THE CITY OF VEILS gives me a Batman/Robin Hood feel. I adored Felix and Katharine’s characters. I also liked how strong and stubborn Brynna is. I devoured this story and am eager for the next one.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of royalty, Batman, politics, Robin Hood, and fantasy.
September 17, 2019
*Lobs kindle across the room* I need the rest of the series! Stat!
The City of Veils is the story of a princess who feel so trapped in her royal life she runs away to become a masked vigilante in the capitol city of Forcadel. That is until the rest of the royal family dies under mysterious circumstances and the princess is hauled back to the castle to resume her royal life.
It's entertaining to watch the princess, Brynna, chafe under the restraint of her royal title. She spends the first half of the book fighting with the Captain of the Guard, Felix, over how trapped she feels and how much she would rather toss aside her royal title and continue her life as a vigilante. But, slowly over time, Brynna begins to grow into her role. Subtly enough she herself doesn't seem to realize how important being the future queen has become to her until... well, you'll just have to read the book. Won't you?
The description recommends this book for fans of Throne of Glass and so do I. Just like Celaena, Brynna is talented, brave, loud, and powerful. She's not a carbon copy, she's definitely her own person, but the similarities are there.
The City of Veils is the story of a princess who feel so trapped in her royal life she runs away to become a masked vigilante in the capitol city of Forcadel. That is until the rest of the royal family dies under mysterious circumstances and the princess is hauled back to the castle to resume her royal life.
It's entertaining to watch the princess, Brynna, chafe under the restraint of her royal title. She spends the first half of the book fighting with the Captain of the Guard, Felix, over how trapped she feels and how much she would rather toss aside her royal title and continue her life as a vigilante. But, slowly over time, Brynna begins to grow into her role. Subtly enough she herself doesn't seem to realize how important being the future queen has become to her until... well, you'll just have to read the book. Won't you?
The description recommends this book for fans of Throne of Glass and so do I. Just like Celaena, Brynna is talented, brave, loud, and powerful. She's not a carbon copy, she's definitely her own person, but the similarities are there.
May 19, 2019
*Thank you to the author for providing an ARC/review copy of this book*
🌟🌟🌟🌟 ~ couldn't-put-it-down great
This is the first book in the Princess Vigilante series, and it's a great start to the series!
The main character, Brynna, reminds me a lot Celaena from Throne of Glass, minus the killing, appreciation of exquisite dresses and proud flaunting of her body. In fact, she acknowledges the nuisance of breasts with one of my favourite lines ever - 'It's not all that easy to swordfight when your tits are hitting you in the face' 😂
This story is full of action, betrayal, politics, secrets, romance, and heartbreak that kept me turning the pages long after I should have been in bed sleeping!
Overall, this was an exciting read and I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment in the series to discover what Brynna does next after that shocking betrayal at the end!
🌟🌟🌟🌟 ~ couldn't-put-it-down great
This is the first book in the Princess Vigilante series, and it's a great start to the series!
The main character, Brynna, reminds me a lot Celaena from Throne of Glass, minus the killing, appreciation of exquisite dresses and proud flaunting of her body. In fact, she acknowledges the nuisance of breasts with one of my favourite lines ever - 'It's not all that easy to swordfight when your tits are hitting you in the face' 😂
This story is full of action, betrayal, politics, secrets, romance, and heartbreak that kept me turning the pages long after I should have been in bed sleeping!
Overall, this was an exciting read and I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment in the series to discover what Brynna does next after that shocking betrayal at the end!
December 22, 2018
SO MUCH FUN.
This is such a fantastic story in the tradition of Robin Hood and Green Arrow, except that I love Brynna's character SO much better than either of those. She's impulsive and passionate without ever being flaky. The world of the city and the palace is alive and intriguing, and the court espionage storyline is very exciting. There are also some wonderful moments in the relationships between Brynna and everyone around her, including the staff, other royals, and people of the city. A very well-crafted adventure story on every level.
This is such a fantastic story in the tradition of Robin Hood and Green Arrow, except that I love Brynna's character SO much better than either of those. She's impulsive and passionate without ever being flaky. The world of the city and the palace is alive and intriguing, and the court espionage storyline is very exciting. There are also some wonderful moments in the relationships between Brynna and everyone around her, including the staff, other royals, and people of the city. A very well-crafted adventure story on every level.
January 16, 2019
City.....of......Veils...... O.....M.......G.
I loved this book!!!!! It was full of great characters(Felix is my fav), an awesome plot, and one great ending! I highly suggest this book to anyone who read the Throne of Glass series. There are some similarities to the way the two women are in hiding and are thrust back into their royal titles.
This book is full of great fight scenes, emotional blows, and great moments of laughter. I highly suggest you all get a copy NOW!!!!!
I loved this book!!!!! It was full of great characters(Felix is my fav), an awesome plot, and one great ending! I highly suggest this book to anyone who read the Throne of Glass series. There are some similarities to the way the two women are in hiding and are thrust back into their royal titles.
This book is full of great fight scenes, emotional blows, and great moments of laughter. I highly suggest you all get a copy NOW!!!!!
August 25, 2019
I absolutely loved this book.
Brynna has been protecting the city from thieves and has built a reputation as a vigilante. She prides herself on her work. But one night, she’s caught by the royal guard and everything she has built as a vigilante is put on the line.
The book is all about political intrigue. On one hand, the king and prince were murdered by poison and Brynna is determined to find the culprit. On the other, forgein diplomats come to visit the kingdom and Brynna is convinced a merchant is committing treason by working with them.
Using the skills and reputation Brynna gained as a vigilante, she schemes and plots her way through to the truth by the end of the book and seriously left me craving more. I immediately bought the second book!
Brynna has been protecting the city from thieves and has built a reputation as a vigilante. She prides herself on her work. But one night, she’s caught by the royal guard and everything she has built as a vigilante is put on the line.
The book is all about political intrigue. On one hand, the king and prince were murdered by poison and Brynna is determined to find the culprit. On the other, forgein diplomats come to visit the kingdom and Brynna is convinced a merchant is committing treason by working with them.
Using the skills and reputation Brynna gained as a vigilante, she schemes and plots her way through to the truth by the end of the book and seriously left me craving more. I immediately bought the second book!
April 3, 2019
This was a really interesting and fast paced book. The story flows beautiful and the main character is very intriguing. I received a free copy of the book from the author and this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 21, 2019
OMG I just love Brynna! A strong kick ass vigilante turned queen, she is a fantastic female lead character! Well written this fast paced story is addictive and the world the author has built is creative and well thought out and you can picture it all vividly! Great storyline, great characters, i can’t wait to read the next book!
December 16, 2018
I really liked it..an original "flip the script" fantasy tale, involving vigilantes,politics,action and romance of all things..and it all works! great plot line and characters,also.For added pleasure read the prequel,THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS,that's what got me started in the first place..The ending of "VEILS" was a shocker..can't wait to get to next book,good stuff!
December 20, 2018
( I received a digital copy of the book. Thanks to S. Usher Evans !!!! )
This book was fabulous. The climax was the real deal sealer. I'm still reeling in from the aftereffects cause I got really caught up in the story and hadn't seen it coming at least not entirely. So it was really surprising.
Brynna reminded me a bit of Jaron from the False Prince. She the same spirit and attitude. But Jaron always had a plan and she never really did. Also she was a little too reckless unlike Jaron. But I think she learned her lesson and would do well to remember it.
Surely she isn't giving up anytime soon and given how much fun I had reading this book, the next one could be a blast. So I'm definitely reading it.
This book was fabulous. The climax was the real deal sealer. I'm still reeling in from the aftereffects cause I got really caught up in the story and hadn't seen it coming at least not entirely. So it was really surprising.
Brynna reminded me a bit of Jaron from the False Prince. She the same spirit and attitude. But Jaron always had a plan and she never really did. Also she was a little too reckless unlike Jaron. But I think she learned her lesson and would do well to remember it.
Surely she isn't giving up anytime soon and given how much fun I had reading this book, the next one could be a blast. So I'm definitely reading it.
April 18, 2019
Murder, mystery, AND fantasy, AND the main character is a badass lady? Yes please! I’ve never read anything by S. Usher Evans before but I definitely enjoyed this read. It’s fun following Brynna, a Princess Vigilante on her journey. She has a lot going on right now having to go back home to become the Queen her city needs her to be. I am not done reading the story yet but I’ve heard the ending is twisty and I’m so excited about it!
*I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy
*I will update my review once I finish the book
*I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy
*I will update my review once I finish the book
June 5, 2019
3.5 The ending was very, very good, but I had....issues.
January 1, 2019
Starting with the characters, Brynn is a different product of the author. Been read Evan’s books and being a fan of her writing, I always noticed that the main characters of her books always are very responsible ones. Here, our princess is the opposite of that. I loved the character Brynna. Her character is quite relatable. Strong, ambitious and patriotic. I really loved the way she was yearning for freedom. Her will power is another aspect that impressed me throughout the story. She was dedicated and obliged to protect her kingdom and the people. Though she wasn’t willing to take responsibility at the beginning, her character growth was exemplary.
Felix, the Captain of the King’s Guard. Felix being over protective and loving was a beautiful thing. For me, Felix being around Brynna was a bit annoying at the beginning but when they started realizing their thoughts towards each other the story became more interesting. I was pretty upset when Felix decided to leave her. The character Felix added more beauty to the story as it entwined.
Bossy Katherine, Brynna’s Sister in law was such a strong character. I loved the woman for being strong and tolerant. Who can be in such a good mental condition when she’s lost her husband/best friend and being accused as a murderer? I felt as if she and Brynna together portray two facades of a woman. When Brynn plays the role of a mischievous, freedom loving woman, Katherine takes her responsibilities pretty seriously.
Out of all the minor characters from the story, I loved the character of Celia. Though she’s been introduced as a woman who engages in crime, I really loved this woman for playing her game fair and wise. I really do expect Celia to play an important role in the upcoming installments.
The first installment of the Princess Vigilante series is extraordinary! I really loved the read! I think it was the best way to finish the year 2018 since it was my last read of 2018. Evans really knows to keep things interesting. I’ve always loved her writing and this is an original fantasy with a touch of Robin Hood. Politics, Romance, sisterhood and Friendship were mainly discussed themes throughout the story.
The city of Forcadel, the setting was absolutely beautiful. I loved the way Evans had described the city.
The end!!! Holy Guacamole! I never expected this to happen! It was a great shock to me! It wasn’t even predictable. The element of surprise had been used really well. My eyes popped out my head I’d say!
The book was so good, I can’t wait to read the next installment. The more I talk about it I’m tempted to tell you what happens there but NO! Read it for yourself! It’s real Fun!! An epic fantasy it is!
Felix, the Captain of the King’s Guard. Felix being over protective and loving was a beautiful thing. For me, Felix being around Brynna was a bit annoying at the beginning but when they started realizing their thoughts towards each other the story became more interesting. I was pretty upset when Felix decided to leave her. The character Felix added more beauty to the story as it entwined.
Bossy Katherine, Brynna’s Sister in law was such a strong character. I loved the woman for being strong and tolerant. Who can be in such a good mental condition when she’s lost her husband/best friend and being accused as a murderer? I felt as if she and Brynna together portray two facades of a woman. When Brynn plays the role of a mischievous, freedom loving woman, Katherine takes her responsibilities pretty seriously.
Out of all the minor characters from the story, I loved the character of Celia. Though she’s been introduced as a woman who engages in crime, I really loved this woman for playing her game fair and wise. I really do expect Celia to play an important role in the upcoming installments.
The first installment of the Princess Vigilante series is extraordinary! I really loved the read! I think it was the best way to finish the year 2018 since it was my last read of 2018. Evans really knows to keep things interesting. I’ve always loved her writing and this is an original fantasy with a touch of Robin Hood. Politics, Romance, sisterhood and Friendship were mainly discussed themes throughout the story.
The city of Forcadel, the setting was absolutely beautiful. I loved the way Evans had described the city.
The end!!! Holy Guacamole! I never expected this to happen! It was a great shock to me! It wasn’t even predictable. The element of surprise had been used really well. My eyes popped out my head I’d say!
The book was so good, I can’t wait to read the next installment. The more I talk about it I’m tempted to tell you what happens there but NO! Read it for yourself! It’s real Fun!! An epic fantasy it is!
February 6, 2019
3.5/5 stars
“You don’t get power merely because you have a crown on your head.”
I received an ARC of this book to read and review. After reading the synopsis I was immediately interested, this book sounded very promising and I couldn’t wait to dive in. This review contains no spoilers.
Let’s start with the characters; our main character is Brynna, she is a runaway princess of Forcadel and a vigilante at night. When both her father and brother die of poisoning, she is dragged to the castle to become the queen, as she is the only living member of the royal family fit for the throne. The first half of the story I really disliked Brynna, she was very stubborn, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind headstrong characters, but Brynna was very irresponsible and the way she acted was almost childish. That made her unrelatable and dislikeable, to me at least. However, that completely changed about halfway through; Brynna ceased to run and accepted her fate, and tried to become a good queen for her beloved city. I can say that I truly cared for her toward the ending. That is what I call great character development!
Felix is a really interesting character, everything he did made sense and it is clear he never had any bad intentions. It was great to see how he handled Brynna’s irresponsible behaviour, and although he had to be rude sometimes, his actions were always understandable. Also, I adored the somewhat minor characters, Katarine and Beata were my favourites. They are such lovely distractions from everything going on between the two main characters.
As for the world in which this story takes place; it is very well-developed. It is clear the author put much thought into this world and its countries and politics. I was amazed by the beauty of Forcadel and I could easily imagine myself living there.
Furthermore, this book caught be by surprise on a few occasions, which is a very good thing! The story got particularly interesting about halfway through, the first half was a bit slow for my liking. Also, I loved the ending! It was surprising and it really made me want to dive right into the next book.
Altogether, this is a great story and a fantastic first instalment of this series. I definitely want to read the next book already, I can’t wait to find out how this story continues and where it takes Brynna. I hope this review was helpful!
“You don’t get power merely because you have a crown on your head.”
I received an ARC of this book to read and review. After reading the synopsis I was immediately interested, this book sounded very promising and I couldn’t wait to dive in. This review contains no spoilers.
Let’s start with the characters; our main character is Brynna, she is a runaway princess of Forcadel and a vigilante at night. When both her father and brother die of poisoning, she is dragged to the castle to become the queen, as she is the only living member of the royal family fit for the throne. The first half of the story I really disliked Brynna, she was very stubborn, don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind headstrong characters, but Brynna was very irresponsible and the way she acted was almost childish. That made her unrelatable and dislikeable, to me at least. However, that completely changed about halfway through; Brynna ceased to run and accepted her fate, and tried to become a good queen for her beloved city. I can say that I truly cared for her toward the ending. That is what I call great character development!
Felix is a really interesting character, everything he did made sense and it is clear he never had any bad intentions. It was great to see how he handled Brynna’s irresponsible behaviour, and although he had to be rude sometimes, his actions were always understandable. Also, I adored the somewhat minor characters, Katarine and Beata were my favourites. They are such lovely distractions from everything going on between the two main characters.
As for the world in which this story takes place; it is very well-developed. It is clear the author put much thought into this world and its countries and politics. I was amazed by the beauty of Forcadel and I could easily imagine myself living there.
Furthermore, this book caught be by surprise on a few occasions, which is a very good thing! The story got particularly interesting about halfway through, the first half was a bit slow for my liking. Also, I loved the ending! It was surprising and it really made me want to dive right into the next book.
Altogether, this is a great story and a fantastic first instalment of this series. I definitely want to read the next book already, I can’t wait to find out how this story continues and where it takes Brynna. I hope this review was helpful!
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