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Royal States #2
Null and Void
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here and here.
In the Royal States of America, magic rules all, but life—and love—always finds a way.
Born without magic, Mackenzie Little has few prospects. In a futile attempt to break her out of the null caste, her mother ropes her into participating in a charity auction, where anything can be bought with enough money.
She never expected her ex-boss, Dylan Mason, an elite with a love of driving her crazy, would buy her company. For a day, she’s happy to live a fairy tale.
Nine months later, despite all their precautions, Mackenzie’s little miracle is born.
Armed only with Texas pride and New York viciousness, Mackenzie fights through hell or high water to protect her tiny family of two from a society obsessed with magic.
The last thing she needs is to land in the middle of a mess doomed to make her, a null, the grand prize of a battle between royals.
In the Royal States of America, magic rules all, but life—and love—always finds a way.
Born without magic, Mackenzie Little has few prospects. In a futile attempt to break her out of the null caste, her mother ropes her into participating in a charity auction, where anything can be bought with enough money.
She never expected her ex-boss, Dylan Mason, an elite with a love of driving her crazy, would buy her company. For a day, she’s happy to live a fairy tale.
Nine months later, despite all their precautions, Mackenzie’s little miracle is born.
Armed only with Texas pride and New York viciousness, Mackenzie fights through hell or high water to protect her tiny family of two from a society obsessed with magic.
The last thing she needs is to land in the middle of a mess doomed to make her, a null, the grand prize of a battle between royals.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2017
148 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Susan Copperfield
14 books236 followersSusan Copperfield is the royal romance, urban fantasy loving alter ego of award-winning & USA Today bestselling novelist R.J. Blain.
Under the super not-so-secret identity of Susan, the Royal States of America is explored, where the work of sixteen founding royal families preserved the United States from destruction and civil war when magic swept over the world.
In the Royal States, life, love, and magic always finds a way.
Under the super not-so-secret identity of Susan, the Royal States of America is explored, where the work of sixteen founding royal families preserved the United States from destruction and civil war when magic swept over the world.
In the Royal States, life, love, and magic always finds a way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
December 7, 2017
First, don't let the cover or else misguide you. This is samewhat plain romance, there's really not much UF or paranormal. Yes, in theory you are in a world where magic rules, but it doesn't really impact the story. It's just a backdrop.
This is a story that had much potential both as a PNR and in plot. But unfortunately it's totally wasted, and by 40% of the book you realize it. Sadly.
In theory it touches racism, poverty, class society. In reality? Not so much.
This is fantasy and not as in genre. This is a teenager's dream: cinderella falls in love with a prince and then after some troubles marries him. It's a real pity because it promised so much more. The wasted potential is really staggering. At the beginning it seems like the heroine is shunned because of her race and class, but rather than becoming such a story what we are offered are lies.
We are told regular humans (nulls) are second class citizen with much fewer rights. We are told she struggles financially and legally for this. We are told she's hated and vilified fot it. We are shown: not a single instance.
What we have is a book chocked full of MarySue and GaryStu. Not a single character is far for perfection, from the perfect, hyper active and IQ+++ ten year old daughter to every single member of parliament, to royals, guards. You name it. There isn't a prejudiced bone around. She never really suffers
We are told mother and daughter struggle financially. Again, you don't see a single scene. Maybe half a paragraph in a café. Otherwise she lives more than confortably, she has no problem feeding her child nor clothing her. She sends the perfect specimen to a hugely expensive school. Either she's spending money as there's no tomorrow or she's been gifted things. But really all those problems aren't there.
We are told she's fighting to avoid losing her child to monsters o to the system. Again there's no trace of it in the book. There are only words. Her father could take her away, but conveniently he's left no name. No one really give them any problem at all. Pettyness isn't bullyism neither are prejudice or legal problems there. We are told of her epic fights, not one is shown. None.
At 60% boringness is a real problem. Nothing happens. The real thin plot becomes trasparent in this long, long book.
Romancewise I can't say there's any romance, at least to my eyes. When the book starts, she's been working for him for 3 years. But as it's in the past, it has no influence on what you perceive. But, later, you have to believe that she fell in love in those 3 years. (Again you don't see it once).
What you see is a one night stand, after which for a pretty absurd reason (3 birth control devices failing. 3 because Big Pharma puts out placebo. Yep. You heard that.) there's a surprise baby.
The rest of the book is about how wonderful she is, how much she loves her wonder child, what we are told those wonder duo does. Hundreds of pages of this. You see him (rarely) in her dreams. Yep. By the way she doesn't remember his face. Doesn't recognize his voice. Because reason. Unreasonable reasons made up by the author.
For 10 years she pines for a guy with whom she had a one night stand. And doens't really remember. This isn't romance and isn't healthy. Worse, he knows everything and lets her fight alone. Raise a child alone. Without support. His reason? Otherwise she wouldn't have fought for her rights. I'm sorry, if you love someone you support them. This means help in any way. Above all help decide what I want. You don't decide for me.
He manouvres her life from above, to the point of deciding for her, keeping her in ignorance and revealing himself to her daughter (but not her), keeping his relationship with the child a secret.
The more I think about the message and the story the angrier I get. But honestly while reading it you don't notice it, it simply start getting boring after a long while of nothing. When you keep looking at %, wondering where's the story, it's not a good sign. Even if you are enjoying yourself :D
The only saving grace is its fun voice. Otherwise it would be more of a one star. Pity, because as I said it started strong and had a lot of potential.
What this book isn't, contrary to what an other reviewer said, for fans of Ilona Andrews. It really had nothing in common with theirs. Ms and Mr Ilona Andrews build full fantasy words in their books. Their plots are convoluted and incredibile. Sorry, this is a fun read at moments, but really nothing else :D
This is a story that had much potential both as a PNR and in plot. But unfortunately it's totally wasted, and by 40% of the book you realize it. Sadly.
In theory it touches racism, poverty, class society. In reality? Not so much.
This is fantasy and not as in genre. This is a teenager's dream: cinderella falls in love with a prince and then after some troubles marries him. It's a real pity because it promised so much more. The wasted potential is really staggering. At the beginning it seems like the heroine is shunned because of her race and class, but rather than becoming such a story what we are offered are lies.
We are told regular humans (nulls) are second class citizen with much fewer rights. We are told she struggles financially and legally for this. We are told she's hated and vilified fot it. We are shown: not a single instance.
What we have is a book chocked full of MarySue and GaryStu. Not a single character is far for perfection, from the perfect, hyper active and IQ+++ ten year old daughter to every single member of parliament, to royals, guards. You name it. There isn't a prejudiced bone around. She never really suffers
We are told mother and daughter struggle financially. Again, you don't see a single scene. Maybe half a paragraph in a café. Otherwise she lives more than confortably, she has no problem feeding her child nor clothing her. She sends the perfect specimen to a hugely expensive school. Either she's spending money as there's no tomorrow or she's been gifted things. But really all those problems aren't there.
We are told she's fighting to avoid losing her child to monsters o to the system. Again there's no trace of it in the book. There are only words. Her father could take her away, but conveniently he's left no name. No one really give them any problem at all. Pettyness isn't bullyism neither are prejudice or legal problems there. We are told of her epic fights, not one is shown. None.
At 60% boringness is a real problem. Nothing happens. The real thin plot becomes trasparent in this long, long book.
Romancewise I can't say there's any romance, at least to my eyes. When the book starts, she's been working for him for 3 years. But as it's in the past, it has no influence on what you perceive. But, later, you have to believe that she fell in love in those 3 years. (Again you don't see it once).
What you see is a one night stand, after which for a pretty absurd reason (3 birth control devices failing. 3 because Big Pharma puts out placebo. Yep. You heard that.) there's a surprise baby.
The rest of the book is about how wonderful she is, how much she loves her wonder child, what we are told those wonder duo does. Hundreds of pages of this. You see him (rarely) in her dreams. Yep. By the way she doesn't remember his face. Doesn't recognize his voice. Because reason. Unreasonable reasons made up by the author.
For 10 years she pines for a guy with whom she had a one night stand. And doens't really remember. This isn't romance and isn't healthy. Worse, he knows everything and lets her fight alone. Raise a child alone. Without support. His reason? Otherwise she wouldn't have fought for her rights. I'm sorry, if you love someone you support them. This means help in any way. Above all help decide what I want. You don't decide for me.
He manouvres her life from above, to the point of deciding for her, keeping her in ignorance and revealing himself to her daughter (but not her), keeping his relationship with the child a secret.
The more I think about the message and the story the angrier I get. But honestly while reading it you don't notice it, it simply start getting boring after a long while of nothing. When you keep looking at %, wondering where's the story, it's not a good sign. Even if you are enjoying yourself :D
The only saving grace is its fun voice. Otherwise it would be more of a one star. Pity, because as I said it started strong and had a lot of potential.
What this book isn't, contrary to what an other reviewer said, for fans of Ilona Andrews. It really had nothing in common with theirs. Ms and Mr Ilona Andrews build full fantasy words in their books. Their plots are convoluted and incredibile. Sorry, this is a fun read at moments, but really nothing else :D
July 18, 2020
This has a really problematic series sequence. This book was written and released first by a couple of years. But it features characters from Storm Called which is not only internal-chronology first, but listed first in the series. Unfortunately, the cover copy for Storm Called says "Storm Called features characters first introduced in Null & Void, the first of the Royal States novels." So that makes me think you should read this one first. Which I did. And now regret because I know all about the culmination and resolution of the relationship in Storm Called.
While this has some problematic elements, I enjoyed it a lot anyway. Most of that is Mackenzie and her willingness to fight injustice and her relationship with her daughter, Mireya. I just found that entirely engaging and that overcame all the little niggles otherwise standing in my way. And, being the friendly, helpful guy I am, I'll even enumerate some of them for you. Future me thanks me, I know.
Okay, first off, what works. Copperfield is really good with dialogue and the snappy banter is outstanding. This is nowhere more evident than the snarky-with-love exchanges with Mireya (who she calls "Spawnling"). Seriously, someone might have used my family as an immersion study in this kind of banter, I found it so familiar. But the banter with other characters was fun too. It doesn't hurt that Mackenzie has carved out a position of respect, trust, and comfort with some of the power players in her milieu so we see her make progress on her goals as she goes.
And now for all the rest. The biggest issue is that if you squint a bit, Mackenzie is also something of a Mary Sue. You wouldn't think so at first glance because we see some of her political "honorable opposition" and that they brangle and argue and even fight and call names. But it becomes clear over the course of the story that they, too, like and respect and, most importantly, care about her underneath the surface of their interactions. So really, everybody likes her with the single exception of the bad guy.
Speaking of the bad guy, Princess Ambrose is an unmitigated disaster in terms of character. She's as devious as a yardstick and as deep as pudding on a plate. There were two scenes where I was so frustrated that nobody saw through her "plotting" in advance and I'm all "aren't these people supposedly super-efficient law-enforcement types? Shouldn't they be smarter than this?" Seriously, as far as plot friction goes, this was pretty weak tea.
And I think the story starts way too soon. Starting ten years in the past with Mackenzie a somewhat directionless "null" (meaning having no magic, unlike most people) gave us a whole lot of droning bitterness that, frankly, did the story no favors. I very nearly dnf'd she was so one-note and complainy about it. Plus, I worried that the author would be stuck on that one note by making everything as one-dimensional as her viewpoint claimed it was. Fortunately, that didn't happen as that section ends with Dylan showing her that there's a better way and that there are those in power who would love to see things change and who are her natural allies. All of this could easily have been taken as background without us having to go through that relentless bit of bitterness, I think.
Also, the genre-subgenre becomes tricky if you think this through at all. I mean, it's an alt-history United States with magic so you might think Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance. But the plot-structure and character arc are far more straight-up fantasy in nature with how little the story is interested in exploring the details of the magic or technology or society in general. I mean, it's mostly a quest fantasy with landmarked travel if you shift "travel" to equate to Mackenzie's career progression and journey of discovery.
So yeah. I was charmed by the banter and wit and I'll probably pick up at least one more of the rest of the series. I'm calling this four stars, but any objective analysis would rate it lower, so take my rating with a grain of salt. It wouldn't have taken much to break me out of my enjoyment (and I'm really glad nothing came along to do so).
A note about Chaste: There is sex in this story, but Copperfield draws the curtain without giving readers any details. We do get some aftereffects and some sexy banter talk, but none of it explicit. So I'm marking this chaste, but as with the rest of this review, that is a personal interpretation that may not match up with the expectation of others.
While this has some problematic elements, I enjoyed it a lot anyway. Most of that is Mackenzie and her willingness to fight injustice and her relationship with her daughter, Mireya. I just found that entirely engaging and that overcame all the little niggles otherwise standing in my way. And, being the friendly, helpful guy I am, I'll even enumerate some of them for you. Future me thanks me, I know.
Okay, first off, what works. Copperfield is really good with dialogue and the snappy banter is outstanding. This is nowhere more evident than the snarky-with-love exchanges with Mireya (who she calls "Spawnling"). Seriously, someone might have used my family as an immersion study in this kind of banter, I found it so familiar. But the banter with other characters was fun too. It doesn't hurt that Mackenzie has carved out a position of respect, trust, and comfort with some of the power players in her milieu so we see her make progress on her goals as she goes.
And now for all the rest. The biggest issue is that if you squint a bit, Mackenzie is also something of a Mary Sue. You wouldn't think so at first glance because we see some of her political "honorable opposition" and that they brangle and argue and even fight and call names. But it becomes clear over the course of the story that they, too, like and respect and, most importantly, care about her underneath the surface of their interactions. So really, everybody likes her with the single exception of the bad guy.
Speaking of the bad guy, Princess Ambrose is an unmitigated disaster in terms of character. She's as devious as a yardstick and as deep as pudding on a plate. There were two scenes where I was so frustrated that nobody saw through her "plotting" in advance and I'm all "aren't these people supposedly super-efficient law-enforcement types? Shouldn't they be smarter than this?" Seriously, as far as plot friction goes, this was pretty weak tea.
And I think the story starts way too soon. Starting ten years in the past with Mackenzie a somewhat directionless "null" (meaning having no magic, unlike most people) gave us a whole lot of droning bitterness that, frankly, did the story no favors. I very nearly dnf'd she was so one-note and complainy about it. Plus, I worried that the author would be stuck on that one note by making everything as one-dimensional as her viewpoint claimed it was. Fortunately, that didn't happen as that section ends with Dylan showing her that there's a better way and that there are those in power who would love to see things change and who are her natural allies. All of this could easily have been taken as background without us having to go through that relentless bit of bitterness, I think.
Also, the genre-subgenre becomes tricky if you think this through at all. I mean, it's an alt-history United States with magic so you might think Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance. But the plot-structure and character arc are far more straight-up fantasy in nature with how little the story is interested in exploring the details of the magic or technology or society in general. I mean, it's mostly a quest fantasy with landmarked travel if you shift "travel" to equate to Mackenzie's career progression and journey of discovery.
So yeah. I was charmed by the banter and wit and I'll probably pick up at least one more of the rest of the series. I'm calling this four stars, but any objective analysis would rate it lower, so take my rating with a grain of salt. It wouldn't have taken much to break me out of my enjoyment (and I'm really glad nothing came along to do so).
A note about Chaste: There is sex in this story, but Copperfield draws the curtain without giving readers any details. We do get some aftereffects and some sexy banter talk, but none of it explicit. So I'm marking this chaste, but as with the rest of this review, that is a personal interpretation that may not match up with the expectation of others.
July 28, 2019
2 Dejected Stars
The book started well and indicated a plot filled with magic and romance where issues of power, prejudice and class discrimination would be weaved through the story – all of which had me interested, but as the book progressed one phrase kept going through my mind oh poop. There is way too much telling in this book, we rarely see things occur, there were some instance where we see the horrible way in which Nulls (like the heroine) are viewed, the prejudice they face, but not potently enough.
The romance in this was an ultra-thin strand, barely there, I seriously felt no romantic connection between Dylan and Mackenzie. Even thought the word ‘love’ was bandied about more than once.
Mireya, Mackenzie’s highly intelligent 10-year-old daughter didn’t always come across as a kid – I know she is meant to be very smart but still there was something off about her depiction. That being said there were some moments where she made me smile a little. Also, McKenzie spends A LOT OF TIME thinking about the awesomeness of her daughter, it was just too much and led to me skim reading such scenes.
The cover and blurb of this book were so deceptive.
The book started well and indicated a plot filled with magic and romance where issues of power, prejudice and class discrimination would be weaved through the story – all of which had me interested, but as the book progressed one phrase kept going through my mind oh poop. There is way too much telling in this book, we rarely see things occur, there were some instance where we see the horrible way in which Nulls (like the heroine) are viewed, the prejudice they face, but not potently enough.
The romance in this was an ultra-thin strand, barely there, I seriously felt no romantic connection between Dylan and Mackenzie. Even thought the word ‘love’ was bandied about more than once.
Mireya, Mackenzie’s highly intelligent 10-year-old daughter didn’t always come across as a kid – I know she is meant to be very smart but still there was something off about her depiction. That being said there were some moments where she made me smile a little. Also, McKenzie spends A LOT OF TIME thinking about the awesomeness of her daughter, it was just too much and led to me skim reading such scenes.
The cover and blurb of this book were so deceptive.
December 17, 2020
I am so annoyed with the book, that I am thinking of buying a physical copy just so that I have the satisfaction of grinding it itsy bitsy pieces!
*Contains spoilers*
There is a long list of inconsistencies, sub-par plot devices and annoyingly stupid actions by the characters:
(You know how writers capitalize some sentences to highlight the most absurd points? Consider the entire review highlighted.)
1. This romance has no romance. The actual time the characters spend together is less than about 10% of the book. The female lead is in love with her baby daddy for ten years, when she doesn't even remember his face or voice.
2. This brings me to my second point. How can she not remember the face or voice of a person that she has worked for 3 years and dreamed about for next 10?
3. The entire book is supposedly an urban fantasy. There are major plot points based on society having magic. And yet, there is barely any mention of this. More than that, the author uses this only as a convenient plot device when she requires it. The female lead manages to physically assault a royal princess with major magic, because.... what? The princess forgot to use it?
4. The entire book is about how she has no magic, and how there is a divide because of it in society. And then, hey presto! she develops magic.
5. She signs off her daughter to be married at 15!!!!!!!!
6. The elites are all supposed to be condescending to nulls and make their life difficult. But the congressional committee made of these elites is perfectly friendly with her and wants her married to a king.
7. She is poor. And she yet, she conveniently has rich friends, scholarships and just enough to never actually feel any discomfort due to poverty.
8. I have no words for the male lead. He stayed away from the love of his life and daughter so that she can fight for nulls???? That doesn't even make sense. As a queen, she would be in a better position to fight for nulls.
9. Also, the very definition of a dead beat father is that he is never around and does not pay child support. The fact is especially galling because he paid millions to spend time with the female lead.
10. 3 birth control failed???
11. The male lead had a secret relationship with his daughter. When? Why? How? What??? There are just so many things wrong with this, it needs no justification.
12. Wasn't the male lead supposed to be an empath and bond irrevocably with one person, that leads to fainting when away from that person?
13. The female lead doesn't know who her daughter is staying with for a week.
There are many other points that I am forgetting.
Other than that, the characters are superficial and one dimensional and there is no grammar, plot, romance, action.... or magic.
In conclusion, it was a complete waste of time. And I didn't even finish it.
*Contains spoilers*
There is a long list of inconsistencies, sub-par plot devices and annoyingly stupid actions by the characters:
(You know how writers capitalize some sentences to highlight the most absurd points? Consider the entire review highlighted.)
1. This romance has no romance. The actual time the characters spend together is less than about 10% of the book. The female lead is in love with her baby daddy for ten years, when she doesn't even remember his face or voice.
2. This brings me to my second point. How can she not remember the face or voice of a person that she has worked for 3 years and dreamed about for next 10?
3. The entire book is supposedly an urban fantasy. There are major plot points based on society having magic. And yet, there is barely any mention of this. More than that, the author uses this only as a convenient plot device when she requires it. The female lead manages to physically assault a royal princess with major magic, because.... what? The princess forgot to use it?
4. The entire book is about how she has no magic, and how there is a divide because of it in society. And then, hey presto! she develops magic.
5. She signs off her daughter to be married at 15!!!!!!!!
6. The elites are all supposed to be condescending to nulls and make their life difficult. But the congressional committee made of these elites is perfectly friendly with her and wants her married to a king.
7. She is poor. And she yet, she conveniently has rich friends, scholarships and just enough to never actually feel any discomfort due to poverty.
8. I have no words for the male lead. He stayed away from the love of his life and daughter so that she can fight for nulls???? That doesn't even make sense. As a queen, she would be in a better position to fight for nulls.
9. Also, the very definition of a dead beat father is that he is never around and does not pay child support. The fact is especially galling because he paid millions to spend time with the female lead.
10. 3 birth control failed???
11. The male lead had a secret relationship with his daughter. When? Why? How? What??? There are just so many things wrong with this, it needs no justification.
12. Wasn't the male lead supposed to be an empath and bond irrevocably with one person, that leads to fainting when away from that person?
13. The female lead doesn't know who her daughter is staying with for a week.
There are many other points that I am forgetting.
Other than that, the characters are superficial and one dimensional and there is no grammar, plot, romance, action.... or magic.
In conclusion, it was a complete waste of time. And I didn't even finish it.
March 1, 2018
3.5
I have FEELINGS ok.
So, overall, I really enjoyed this book. I never thought I'd say this about a book that I enjoyed but I really wish that it was shorter. Like, 100 pages shorter. Maybe it's because I'm not a horse person. Maybe it's because i give zero farts about horses. Maybe it's because I wish the author had spent more time actually explaining how the Royal States of America functioned rather than talking about Pat's obsession with horses. (HOW DOES THE ROYAL FAMILY PAY FOR EVERYTHING. HOW DOES THE KING OF MONTANA HAVE THIS UNENDING SOURCE OF INCOME. IF THE ROYAL STATES ARE ONLY TWENTY YEARS OLD, WHERE DID ALL OF THIS WEALTH COME FROM??? IT CAN'T ALL COME FROM HORSES, OK)
It was interesting reading a dystopian novel that didn't sell itself as a Dystopia. In fact, I wouldn't have known the author was making social commentary if it weren't for the Author's Note at the end of the book. Her note redeemed this book for me,at least partially. So much of my problem with this book was women's rights and how control was portrayed.
Start rant:
Favorite things about this book:
- Jessica holding up fingers for how many horses she's going to buy Mackenzie
- Adam being a little shit
- Geoff in general
Least favorite things:
- all the horses all the time
- Mackenzie willingly giving up control over her life
- lack of explanation into basically everything about this world
- creepy obsessions with children, from everyone
- Mackenzie's lack of knowledge about the world she lives in
- how the second half drags on forever
- I was really looking forward to seeing the auction that Mackenzie spent so much time on, but assume it'll be portrayed in book 2???
I have FEELINGS ok.
So, overall, I really enjoyed this book. I never thought I'd say this about a book that I enjoyed but I really wish that it was shorter. Like, 100 pages shorter. Maybe it's because I'm not a horse person. Maybe it's because i give zero farts about horses. Maybe it's because I wish the author had spent more time actually explaining how the Royal States of America functioned rather than talking about Pat's obsession with horses. (HOW DOES THE ROYAL FAMILY PAY FOR EVERYTHING. HOW DOES THE KING OF MONTANA HAVE THIS UNENDING SOURCE OF INCOME. IF THE ROYAL STATES ARE ONLY TWENTY YEARS OLD, WHERE DID ALL OF THIS WEALTH COME FROM??? IT CAN'T ALL COME FROM HORSES, OK)
It was interesting reading a dystopian novel that didn't sell itself as a Dystopia. In fact, I wouldn't have known the author was making social commentary if it weren't for the Author's Note at the end of the book. Her note redeemed this book for me,at least partially. So much of my problem with this book was women's rights and how control was portrayed.
Start rant:
Favorite things about this book:
- Jessica holding up fingers for how many horses she's going to buy Mackenzie
- Adam being a little shit
- Geoff in general
Least favorite things:
- all the horses all the time
- Mackenzie willingly giving up control over her life
- lack of explanation into basically everything about this world
- creepy obsessions with children, from everyone
- Mackenzie's lack of knowledge about the world she lives in
- how the second half drags on forever
- I was really looking forward to seeing the auction that Mackenzie spent so much time on, but assume it'll be portrayed in book 2???
April 12, 2018
Ok folks. I feel horribly misled here.
This cover promises me AT THE LEAST urban fantasy fun, but the book does it level best to keep all of that out of here.
The description promises me a MC who has it rough and has to navigate a society where she's barely worth knowing, but the book only shows that in how much she complains about being a Null.
The romance that could have been is both underwhelming and far too present as the "hero" seems to be such a BIG DEAL in the MC's thoughts, but not such a big deal in real life?
I will say this is the book to read if you want to justify paranoia about getting pregnant despite taking every precaution outside of celibacy.
I was so let down guys. If Mackenzie Lee wasn't whining about being a Null, she was moodily reflecting on her ex-boss/one night stand from a decade ago Dylan or how special her daughter was or how hard she had it.
Call me oversensitive, but it all seemed superficial? Like she didn't seem to face anything more than your average lower middle class no college degree and few marketable skills 20something faces. Even as a single mom she's got a nice e ough life to hardly dent her daughter anything reasonable.
And she was SO ANNOYING with "if I could light a spark...". She restates how no one wants to be a pyro because it's a practically useless magical gift but she'd find a way to use it to make her life better. Many times.
Definitely not reading the rest of this series.
This cover promises me AT THE LEAST urban fantasy fun, but the book does it level best to keep all of that out of here.
The description promises me a MC who has it rough and has to navigate a society where she's barely worth knowing, but the book only shows that in how much she complains about being a Null.
The romance that could have been is both underwhelming and far too present as the "hero" seems to be such a BIG DEAL in the MC's thoughts, but not such a big deal in real life?
I will say this is the book to read if you want to justify paranoia about getting pregnant despite taking every precaution outside of celibacy.
I was so let down guys. If Mackenzie Lee wasn't whining about being a Null, she was moodily reflecting on her ex-boss/one night stand from a decade ago Dylan or how special her daughter was or how hard she had it.
Call me oversensitive, but it all seemed superficial? Like she didn't seem to face anything more than your average lower middle class no college degree and few marketable skills 20something faces. Even as a single mom she's got a nice e ough life to hardly dent her daughter anything reasonable.
And she was SO ANNOYING with "if I could light a spark...". She restates how no one wants to be a pyro because it's a practically useless magical gift but she'd find a way to use it to make her life better. Many times.
Definitely not reading the rest of this series.
September 1, 2020
2.5 stars
April 12, 2020
Set years after the first one so plenty of kids running around. Nice to see Pat again, still with the yams and chicken. I liked the story, especially the dream stuff, bit obvious but fun, if not terrifying. That is one scary mature child. Poor Geoff.
September 22, 2018
2.75 stars - Bought this book on a whim and because the summary sounded interesting. It's very rare for me to read straight up m/f anyway, but I thought, what the heck? So I gave it a shot.
Note: this story (is supposed to be) set in a post-apocolyptic world where magic upset the old balance and helped to create a new world ruled by 12 royal families and people capable of wielding magic.
This book is supposedly a PNR, but since we never get much of a demonstration of magic until the very end of the story, it's an iffy description at best. The one night stand who won his bid on her time at a charity auction* [fake prostitut(ion)] (who's face Mackenzie can't see - who wears a mask in public [disfigured protagonist/secret identity]) visits Mackenzie in her dreams, but since she doesn't take their discussions as anything else as longing for a boyfriend, Mackenzie just thinks she's having remarkably vivid dreams ...
Mackenzie's supposedly a "null", someone who never developed a magical ability, much to her frustration. This status makes her a second class citizen, easily pushed aside by the "elites" and kept to the lower echelon of society. When she's given the opportunity to fight for null rights in the Texas Congress, she jumps at the chance, in part to give her unexpected daughter (from the one night stand [secret baby]) a better life (nothing wrong with that).
Hits almost all the tropes too. Is there a checklist? A bingo card? hmmm.
By golly there is!
The free space can stand for either "default hetero" or "all is Caucasian" - because despite being mostly set in Texas, we never encounter a character who is overtly Hispanic, of Central/South American descent, or is of any other ethnic origin, nor do we encounter anyone who might be gay/Lesbian/asexual/etc. because? Who knows ...
While I did enjoy most of the humor in this book, it's just really a standard romance about an ordinary woman who finds herself at the center of politics, royal schemes, goes from [rags to riches] with a marriage to her high IQ ten year old daughter's father who just happens to be a king ...
What peril there is, from a thwarted rival of a decade past is poorly developed, as is the supposed danger of Mackenzie's parents trying to take her daughter away from her for being an unwed, and therefore, unqualified mother. We also get an arranged marriage between the heir of the Texas throne and the daughter because it turns out young Adam (15) is an "empathic leech" (could you use an even more negative term? Maybe, I don't know - psychic vampire?) who has fixated on a ten year old (shudders). (The author makes a note of child marriage her author's comment at the end of the book - an issue of which she wants to make people aware. Which, isn't a bad thing, just kind of an odd note to make for a book set in a fantasy world.)
_=_=_=_=_
*Perpetrated by another romantic trope: the interfering parent - in this case Mackenzie's mother who bought the ticket to the auction for Mackenzie then guilts her into going.
Note: this story (is supposed to be) set in a post-apocolyptic world where magic upset the old balance and helped to create a new world ruled by 12 royal families and people capable of wielding magic.
This book is supposedly a PNR, but since we never get much of a demonstration of magic until the very end of the story, it's an iffy description at best. The one night stand who won his bid on her time at a charity auction* [fake prostitut(ion)] (who's face Mackenzie can't see - who wears a mask in public [disfigured protagonist/secret identity]) visits Mackenzie in her dreams, but since she doesn't take their discussions as anything else as longing for a boyfriend, Mackenzie just thinks she's having remarkably vivid dreams ...
Mackenzie's supposedly a "null", someone who never developed a magical ability, much to her frustration. This status makes her a second class citizen, easily pushed aside by the "elites" and kept to the lower echelon of society. When she's given the opportunity to fight for null rights in the Texas Congress, she jumps at the chance, in part to give her unexpected daughter (from the one night stand [secret baby]) a better life (nothing wrong with that).
Hits almost all the tropes too. Is there a checklist? A bingo card? hmmm.
By golly there is!
The free space can stand for either "default hetero" or "all is Caucasian" - because despite being mostly set in Texas, we never encounter a character who is overtly Hispanic, of Central/South American descent, or is of any other ethnic origin, nor do we encounter anyone who might be gay/Lesbian/asexual/etc. because? Who knows ...
While I did enjoy most of the humor in this book, it's just really a standard romance about an ordinary woman who finds herself at the center of politics, royal schemes, goes from [rags to riches] with a marriage to her high IQ ten year old daughter's father who just happens to be a king ...
What peril there is, from a thwarted rival of a decade past is poorly developed, as is the supposed danger of Mackenzie's parents trying to take her daughter away from her for being an unwed, and therefore, unqualified mother. We also get an arranged marriage between the heir of the Texas throne and the daughter because it turns out young Adam (15) is an "empathic leech" (could you use an even more negative term? Maybe, I don't know - psychic vampire?) who has fixated on a ten year old (shudders). (The author makes a note of child marriage her author's comment at the end of the book - an issue of which she wants to make people aware. Which, isn't a bad thing, just kind of an odd note to make for a book set in a fantasy world.)
_=_=_=_=_
*Perpetrated by another romantic trope: the interfering parent - in this case Mackenzie's mother who bought the ticket to the auction for Mackenzie then guilts her into going.
January 12, 2025
This was so good I had to read it again as soon as I finished reading it the first time.
Please be aware that the h is definitely OTT but generally smart & feisty. She does have medical probs & gets a little whiny but its pretty funny overall. Had a smile for most of the book after the Auction.
Please be aware that the h is definitely OTT but generally smart & feisty. She does have medical probs & gets a little whiny but its pretty funny overall. Had a smile for most of the book after the Auction.
December 14, 2021
I’m at the 66% mark and I would say this is about 2.5 stars so far. This book puzzles me. Slight spoilers possible below… but, since I haven’t finished the book at this point, I don’t think I want to put the spoiler mark here. I’ll continue the list after I finish reading it… though I have a feeling I’m going to skip a bit to get some of my answers.
Below is what I like, what I don’t like, and what puzzles me.
1. Love the banter and interaction between the mom and daughter. LOVE that she calls her daughter “spawnling”. It reminds me of a friend who calls her daughter “creature”.
2. It weirds me out that a 10-year old and a 14-year old are entered into a betrothal. I know that may have been a thing in the middle ages and long ago but, even in an alternate reality, this is so weird. The idea that a 14-year old is emotionally attached to the 10-year old troubles me. But it’s treated so casually.
3. It’s not a “sweet” (also called clean or chaste) romance or a “dirty” romance. It’s confusing. There is casual sex and casual mentions of sex, but absolutely no real sexual tension. Even in a lot of clean romances, there’s often some sexual tension. I don’t feel it here. I felt so awkward with the one-night stand thing. It was so confusing and off-putting. Why is this “fade to black” when it’s supposedly so “dirty”?
4. What’s up with an auction where someone can buy someone else’s sexual favors? The first auction was so problematic as the heroine is coerced into going. It’s just “lucky” that she ends up being bought by someone she likes. Though how she talks about him made me think she didn’t like him… but then we hear that she is in love with him? I wasn’t sold.
5. Everything is so easy for this woman. We hear that “this is so expensive. I can’t afford it” while she’s paying $50k for her daughter’s school and willing to spend whatever to make her daughter happy.
6. She has a flight response during her pregnancy where she just would run from folks when startled. I think there is a mention of a 5-hour run!? So confusing. What!?
7. She’s scared that her parents will take her child. Has she not communicated with them at all in 10 years? Weird? We get a few interactions with her parents in the beginning and then, they’re just gone from the story. It’s weird.
8. The guy offers her a job during their one-night stand which she refuses. And then he is gone later. He had given her a false name and she (and the auction organizers) can’t find him to let him know he has a daughter.
9. She dreams of the guy and is “in love with him” for over 10 years! This isn’t a spoiler (cause I haven’t read far enough to know if I’m right) but I’m pretty sure they are really talking in her dreams. If so, what an asshole! She tells him she wants him around and wishes he would know their daughter and he says “nah… you and our daughter don’t need me. You good”. What!? Even when she’s freaking out about how to pay for things, he’s like “you good… just use your savings”. If he is real, and I’m pretty sure he is, what a callous, uncaring response.
10. Her daughter goes to a boarding school within a day of being accepted. That seems fast.
11. She doesn’t remember the face or voice of someone she knew for 3 years so as to not recognize the man she loves’ voice when she hears it again. What? Once again, not a spoiler… I’m not sure that it’s the guy, but I’m pretty sure. I’m not great with faces or voices either… OF STRANGERS! But, it’s not like she has face blindness. She remembers folks all the time. Just not the guy that she supposedly loves.
12. Why doesn’t she just get the genetic testing and find this guy!? Also, why would he stay away until (I’m assuming here cause I haven’t gotten to this part yet) she’s entered into another auction!?
Below is what I like, what I don’t like, and what puzzles me.
1. Love the banter and interaction between the mom and daughter. LOVE that she calls her daughter “spawnling”. It reminds me of a friend who calls her daughter “creature”.
2. It weirds me out that a 10-year old and a 14-year old are entered into a betrothal. I know that may have been a thing in the middle ages and long ago but, even in an alternate reality, this is so weird. The idea that a 14-year old is emotionally attached to the 10-year old troubles me. But it’s treated so casually.
3. It’s not a “sweet” (also called clean or chaste) romance or a “dirty” romance. It’s confusing. There is casual sex and casual mentions of sex, but absolutely no real sexual tension. Even in a lot of clean romances, there’s often some sexual tension. I don’t feel it here. I felt so awkward with the one-night stand thing. It was so confusing and off-putting. Why is this “fade to black” when it’s supposedly so “dirty”?
4. What’s up with an auction where someone can buy someone else’s sexual favors? The first auction was so problematic as the heroine is coerced into going. It’s just “lucky” that she ends up being bought by someone she likes. Though how she talks about him made me think she didn’t like him… but then we hear that she is in love with him? I wasn’t sold.
5. Everything is so easy for this woman. We hear that “this is so expensive. I can’t afford it” while she’s paying $50k for her daughter’s school and willing to spend whatever to make her daughter happy.
6. She has a flight response during her pregnancy where she just would run from folks when startled. I think there is a mention of a 5-hour run!? So confusing. What!?
7. She’s scared that her parents will take her child. Has she not communicated with them at all in 10 years? Weird? We get a few interactions with her parents in the beginning and then, they’re just gone from the story. It’s weird.
8. The guy offers her a job during their one-night stand which she refuses. And then he is gone later. He had given her a false name and she (and the auction organizers) can’t find him to let him know he has a daughter.
9. She dreams of the guy and is “in love with him” for over 10 years! This isn’t a spoiler (cause I haven’t read far enough to know if I’m right) but I’m pretty sure they are really talking in her dreams. If so, what an asshole! She tells him she wants him around and wishes he would know their daughter and he says “nah… you and our daughter don’t need me. You good”. What!? Even when she’s freaking out about how to pay for things, he’s like “you good… just use your savings”. If he is real, and I’m pretty sure he is, what a callous, uncaring response.
10. Her daughter goes to a boarding school within a day of being accepted. That seems fast.
11. She doesn’t remember the face or voice of someone she knew for 3 years so as to not recognize the man she loves’ voice when she hears it again. What? Once again, not a spoiler… I’m not sure that it’s the guy, but I’m pretty sure. I’m not great with faces or voices either… OF STRANGERS! But, it’s not like she has face blindness. She remembers folks all the time. Just not the guy that she supposedly loves.
12. Why doesn’t she just get the genetic testing and find this guy!? Also, why would he stay away until (I’m assuming here cause I haven’t gotten to this part yet) she’s entered into another auction!?
April 18, 2023
I enjoyed reading about Mackenzie, but the story was just too long! Too much rehashing of nulls! The testing for her daughter dragged on too long! Hardly any magic involved.
April 7, 2018
1.4.2018 - 4*
Tohle byla... zvláštní kniha.
Ale v dobrém.
Podivně Null and Void mělo svá negativa, která ale zároveň byla vybalancovaná humorem, takže se dala v pohodě přejít.
- desetileté dítě, nad jehož chováním jsem se občas musela pozastavit. Mireya byla na svůj věk příliš vyspělá. Ale příliš jsem se bavila proto, abych to opravdu řešila.
- nezdá se to, ale je to dlouhá kniha. Dlouhá především pro časové rozpětí, které popsala. Ale opět, bavilo mě to. I když se v tom trochu ztratil děj.
- jelikož jsem si všimla, že mobilní verze ne vždy skryje nebo i upozorní - pozor, celá odrážka je SPOILER!! ... konec SPOILERU
Ve výsledku je to ale absurdní a v některých aspektech trochu smutná kniha, u které jsem se neuvěřitelně bavila. Měla jsem hrdiny, kterým jsem fandila, kroutila hlavou nad tím, co desetiletá dcera vyváděla. Absurdními situacemi, které Copperfield představila. (Mackenziiny alergie? Mireya desetiletý génius? Těhotenské úprky? *smích*) Pokud do toho nejdete s příliš velkým očekáváním - na které by mohlo dojít, jelikož je to propracovaný a poutavý svět, který autorka ale příliš nezačlenila do samotného příběhu - chcete se prostě bavit, je to dokonalé. Ale děj není úplně nejkonzistentnější, sem tam jsou pořádné logické boty, některé situace jsou vtipně absurdní a někdy prostě jen šílené a nereálné. Což sedí do celkové atmosféry, ale pro serióznější čtenáře může být těžší překousnout. ^^
Tohle byla... zvláštní kniha.
Ale v dobrém.
Podivně Null and Void mělo svá negativa, která ale zároveň byla vybalancovaná humorem, takže se dala v pohodě přejít.
- desetileté dítě, nad jehož chováním jsem se občas musela pozastavit. Mireya byla na svůj věk příliš vyspělá. Ale příliš jsem se bavila proto, abych to opravdu řešila.
- nezdá se to, ale je to dlouhá kniha. Dlouhá především pro časové rozpětí, které popsala. Ale opět, bavilo mě to. I když se v tom trochu ztratil děj.
- jelikož jsem si všimla, že mobilní verze ne vždy skryje nebo i upozorní - pozor, celá odrážka je SPOILER!! ... konec SPOILERU
Ve výsledku je to ale absurdní a v některých aspektech trochu smutná kniha, u které jsem se neuvěřitelně bavila. Měla jsem hrdiny, kterým jsem fandila, kroutila hlavou nad tím, co desetiletá dcera vyváděla. Absurdními situacemi, které Copperfield představila. (Mackenziiny alergie? Mireya desetiletý génius? Těhotenské úprky? *smích*) Pokud do toho nejdete s příliš velkým očekáváním - na které by mohlo dojít, jelikož je to propracovaný a poutavý svět, který autorka ale příliš nezačlenila do samotného příběhu - chcete se prostě bavit, je to dokonalé. Ale děj není úplně nejkonzistentnější, sem tam jsou pořádné logické boty, některé situace jsou vtipně absurdní a někdy prostě jen šílené a nereálné. Což sedí do celkové atmosféry, ale pro serióznější čtenáře může být těžší překousnout. ^^
September 28, 2018
Generally speaking, I'm a fan of this author (she also goes by RJ Blain and possibly some other names.) She always tries to be funny in her books, with some significant success, but she has some areas for improvement as an author. She wastes a lot of words on repetitive dialogue. (For example - two characters were talking, then someone else walks into the room, so the character starts over to bring the new character up to speed on the conversation. Problem: the reader already HAS that information. It's boring, and it happens a LOT.) She also spends too little time building believable relationships among characters. (For example, the heroine and the queen become instant BFFs in this book.) Lastly, she wrote an entire book about magic, and almost no one every uses any magic. UGH! I finished the book, but I was less than impressed. I'm thinking that the author could really use a writing partner. She needs someone to rein it in when she starts rambling and help build stronger plot lines. It was based too much on a specific brand of humor and not enough on storytelling.
The premise of this book is that magic came to the world and now only the magical have wealth and power. The heroine has no magic, but she spends a night with a magical man and it changes her life in surprising ways.
The premise of this book is that magic came to the world and now only the magical have wealth and power. The heroine has no magic, but she spends a night with a magical man and it changes her life in surprising ways.
July 5, 2018
Null and Void was an absolutely awesome read (in fact, I immediately went to my eRetailer and bought the rest of her books--which messed up this month's book budget).
Two words: Goat dowry.
This book is all about the characters and relationships. While the heat level never exceeds simmer, the romance and tension is heated. I laughed so hard at the relationship between Mireya and Mackenzie, and Mackenzie and everyone else. And the goat votes will make you laugh even more. Yeah, some of the plot was pretty transparent-- but the true value in this gem is the relationships. And, the goats.
This is a must read and one of my favorite books this year.
Two words: Goat dowry.
This book is all about the characters and relationships. While the heat level never exceeds simmer, the romance and tension is heated. I laughed so hard at the relationship between Mireya and Mackenzie, and Mackenzie and everyone else. And the goat votes will make you laugh even more. Yeah, some of the plot was pretty transparent-- but the true value in this gem is the relationships. And, the goats.
This is a must read and one of my favorite books this year.
September 19, 2021
2021 bk 290. Very well developed plot. This is not just a young chick main character, but shows her growth over time as an independent woman, politico, and single mother in an alternate universe where magic is indeed king and the world is divided into kingdoms ruled by magic users. The main character is a null - which makes her a detested minority among many, but not some of the more powerful in the Texan Kingdom. I loved the scenes where members of the Texas Congress kept drawing goats on ballots as her dowery to participate in the auction, and that is all I'm saying about that. A fun read that at times made me want to tear my hair. Now to track down book one of the series in paperback - this can easily be read out of order, in case you are wondering.
March 13, 2018
I am somewhat conflicted about this book. I enjoyed reading it, I might even read it again sometime. It was a fun read, with great characters and dialog. The cute quirkiness of most of the major characters is a Hallmark of this author (for all of her pseudonyms). The plot was decent. Not earth-shattering but with enough twists to feel as though something actually happens)
The worldbuilding is barely adequate at best. There's enough info for a reader to get a feel for things, but it falls apart miserably if you actually try to think beyond the superficial levels. I think the author just wanted royalty at any cost and so she kludged this together as quick as possible. We're told that the world is violently prejudiced against nulls (nulls are the magicless minority). But then when we are shown the elite that run the world and make all the rules, they mostly are completely free of prejudice. The author has a "Royalty" fixation. She wants to have everything about the Royals be pure and idyllic. But that is at odds with the premise of the story, so she simply pretends that it isn't.
To me, having a good, coherent world that feels like something that could actually happen is important. This doesn't have that.
But still, the writing is good otherwise (well, there are an ungodly number of typos, but aside from that).
The fantasy magic element of the world is almost as null as the main character. It's all just a thinly veiled excuse for having a king of Montana. But if you can get past this then it's a good story and worth recommending.
The worldbuilding is barely adequate at best. There's enough info for a reader to get a feel for things, but it falls apart miserably if you actually try to think beyond the superficial levels. I think the author just wanted royalty at any cost and so she kludged this together as quick as possible. We're told that the world is violently prejudiced against nulls (nulls are the magicless minority). But then when we are shown the elite that run the world and make all the rules, they mostly are completely free of prejudice. The author has a "Royalty" fixation. She wants to have everything about the Royals be pure and idyllic. But that is at odds with the premise of the story, so she simply pretends that it isn't.
To me, having a good, coherent world that feels like something that could actually happen is important. This doesn't have that.
But still, the writing is good otherwise (well, there are an ungodly number of typos, but aside from that).
The fantasy magic element of the world is almost as null as the main character. It's all just a thinly veiled excuse for having a king of Montana. But if you can get past this then it's a good story and worth recommending.
March 6, 2020
Romance with a twist
I loved the Royal States world building and was highly entertained by the quirky characters. I enjoyed this book. Even though it got a bit repetitive in the middle and could have had some areas cut, there was still something about it that captured my interest. An entertaining romance.
I loved the Royal States world building and was highly entertained by the quirky characters. I enjoyed this book. Even though it got a bit repetitive in the middle and could have had some areas cut, there was still something about it that captured my interest. An entertaining romance.
November 24, 2017
Fantastic
I'm really excited about the alternate fantasy future this story is set in. If you like Ilona Andrews paranormal romance series, you will like this.
The sexual tension is delicious, all while keeping the bedroom door closed. The family dynamic is humorous and precious. The supporting characters are solid. The foreshadowing helped me to figure out the mystery before the heroine, but that was part of making it funny.
I anticipate the next book!
I'm really excited about the alternate fantasy future this story is set in. If you like Ilona Andrews paranormal romance series, you will like this.
The sexual tension is delicious, all while keeping the bedroom door closed. The family dynamic is humorous and precious. The supporting characters are solid. The foreshadowing helped me to figure out the mystery before the heroine, but that was part of making it funny.
I anticipate the next book!
September 15, 2018
Even though there were some weak spots I really enjoyed the book! It was a bit weird but fun read :D
April 12, 2018
3.33 stars Goodreads; 3.75 stars Amazon. Fun, w/likable, if implausibly slow-to-catch-on, lead.
The world is similar in some ways to that of Ilona Andrews's Hidden Legacy (a system dominated by a small number of families with magical heritage), but this is much less an action fantasy. It's a little bit Cinderella, though part of that trope is given a twist.
I find it implausible that a woman so politically canny and determined would remain willfully ignorant about the royals, and even the Royals (i.e., the rulers themselves). I found myself wondering, "How long before the light's finally going to dawn?" about more than one plot-element. Then all of these very powerful people whom we eventually get to know (other than one stupid New York b****, the restrictive NY Royals being only an off-screen influence, not named characters) are remarkably down-to-earth and more egalitarian than most of their underlings.
I saw one trope coming from a mile away. Who else here has read Mercedes Lackey's By the Sword? Once you get much past the first part of N&V, you may guess why I asked, though the books are, in almost every other way, quite different. In case others don't guess, I'll avoid any spoiler.
Re. "past the first part", I didn't expect to have the story jump about 11 years, during which the H & h have been apart. Mackenzie's "little miracle", Mireya, isn't the baby I'd expected, but a charming, extra-bright girl; I (having been a too-bright child myself, and never having been a parent, anyway) am not going to get into how accurate the age-portrayal is or isn't. I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to accept "Dylan"'s reason for staying out of their lives for so long, but it made a certain sense when finally explained.
With RJ Blain for an author (even under a pseudonym), humor is of course a major element, though not as over-the-top as in, for instance, Playing with Fire: A Magical Romantic Comedy.
OTOH, the powerless legal status of nulls, including Mackenzie's fear of losing Mireya (which drives her campaign to bring about overdue change), is surprisingly serious. Whatever discriminated-against group you consider it a metaphor for (I thought of the Native American children removed to Indian schools, though here there can even be no pretense of "in the interests of the child"), the concept of making it personal, rather than statistics, is effective.
In the author's afterword, she emphasizes a different ethical-crisis issue: underage (child) marriage, which will apparently be a recurrent theme in the series, but I found its implementation in this volume at least to be an odd choice toward making the criticism, since it's a "best possible outcome" example.
Then again, the sexual ethics were a bit unusual for a monogamous-HEA romance, from the start, with Mackenzie considering that (to paraphrase) "there wasn't much she wouldn't try once, if it meant that much money (millions) going to a good charity." The fact that the auction-winner worked out to be a guy she knew and was attracted to doesn't change the less-pleasant possibilities.
N.b, I probably ought to mention that (as usual for Ms. Blain, even w.a. Copperfield), the sexual content is closed-door or at most fade-to-black.
The writing is enjoyable, but it could use one more editorial pass. This is typical for Ms. Blain, and it's not going to stop me from reading her books, but I did catch about two dozen typos, iffy syntaxes, and such. (One repeated construction about which I'm still wondering whether it's a regionalism is using a past participle where I'd expect a present participle, or the addition of "to be": e.g., "He's the one who needs sedated" ... though my list includes a couple other clear errors involving past participles, so it may just be her.) I do wish Kindle made it easier to share whole "Notebooks", since I'm compelled to mark what problems I notice. Toss me a couple bucks, Ms. Blain, or a book I don't yet own, and make the transcribing worth my while, maybe? *makes winsome eyes at the author*
The world is similar in some ways to that of Ilona Andrews's Hidden Legacy (a system dominated by a small number of families with magical heritage), but this is much less an action fantasy. It's a little bit Cinderella, though part of that trope is given a twist.
I find it implausible that a woman so politically canny and determined would remain willfully ignorant about the royals, and even the Royals (i.e., the rulers themselves). I found myself wondering, "How long before the light's finally going to dawn?" about more than one plot-element. Then all of these very powerful people whom we eventually get to know (other than one stupid New York b****, the restrictive NY Royals being only an off-screen influence, not named characters) are remarkably down-to-earth and more egalitarian than most of their underlings.
I saw one trope coming from a mile away. Who else here has read Mercedes Lackey's By the Sword? Once you get much past the first part of N&V, you may guess why I asked, though the books are, in almost every other way, quite different. In case others don't guess, I'll avoid any spoiler.
Re. "past the first part", I didn't expect to have the story jump about 11 years, during which the H & h have been apart. Mackenzie's "little miracle", Mireya, isn't the baby I'd expected, but a charming, extra-bright girl; I (having been a too-bright child myself, and never having been a parent, anyway) am not going to get into how accurate the age-portrayal is or isn't. I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to accept "Dylan"'s reason for staying out of their lives for so long, but it made a certain sense when finally explained.
With RJ Blain for an author (even under a pseudonym), humor is of course a major element, though not as over-the-top as in, for instance, Playing with Fire: A Magical Romantic Comedy.
OTOH, the powerless legal status of nulls, including Mackenzie's fear of losing Mireya (which drives her campaign to bring about overdue change), is surprisingly serious. Whatever discriminated-against group you consider it a metaphor for (I thought of the Native American children removed to Indian schools, though here there can even be no pretense of "in the interests of the child"), the concept of making it personal, rather than statistics, is effective.
In the author's afterword, she emphasizes a different ethical-crisis issue: underage (child) marriage, which will apparently be a recurrent theme in the series, but I found its implementation in this volume at least to be an odd choice toward making the criticism, since it's a "best possible outcome" example.
Then again, the sexual ethics were a bit unusual for a monogamous-HEA romance, from the start, with Mackenzie considering that (to paraphrase) "there wasn't much she wouldn't try once, if it meant that much money (millions) going to a good charity." The fact that the auction-winner worked out to be a guy she knew and was attracted to doesn't change the less-pleasant possibilities.
N.b, I probably ought to mention that (as usual for Ms. Blain, even w.a. Copperfield), the sexual content is closed-door or at most fade-to-black.
The writing is enjoyable, but it could use one more editorial pass. This is typical for Ms. Blain, and it's not going to stop me from reading her books, but I did catch about two dozen typos, iffy syntaxes, and such. (One repeated construction about which I'm still wondering whether it's a regionalism is using a past participle where I'd expect a present participle, or the addition of "to be": e.g., "He's the one who needs sedated" ... though my list includes a couple other clear errors involving past participles, so it may just be her.) I do wish Kindle made it easier to share whole "Notebooks", since I'm compelled to mark what problems I notice. Toss me a couple bucks, Ms. Blain, or a book I don't yet own, and make the transcribing worth my while, maybe? *makes winsome eyes at the author*
February 15, 2018
In the distant past magic rose and the world crashed - taking the United States with it. At some point powerful family talents took power and created the Royal States out of the areas they organized out of the chaos. They retained the US names although not necessarily the boundaries - for example New York contains Maryland. At the time of the story everything has settled down – no zombies, no screaming thugs – but magic is power and being without magic [a null] makes you less than nothing. And, of course, our heroine is a null...
I enjoyed the story although the romance was mostly at the fringes of the plot. She's a strong woman and fights for the rights of nulls [and apparently a few other minorities] throughout the book. I loved the humor – she's definitely someone you would like to know.
Looking at the reviews some people loved it and some hated it – but I enjoyed it enough to pre-order the next book in this world: "The Captive King".
FYI Susan Copperfield also writes as RJ Blain.
I enjoyed the story although the romance was mostly at the fringes of the plot. She's a strong woman and fights for the rights of nulls [and apparently a few other minorities] throughout the book. I loved the humor – she's definitely someone you would like to know.
Looking at the reviews some people loved it and some hated it – but I enjoyed it enough to pre-order the next book in this world: "The Captive King".
FYI Susan Copperfield also writes as RJ Blain.
August 5, 2022
In the words of Cherish Finden... Love it, love it, love it
I've read this book at least four times and I never tire of it. I love the humour, I love the characters and I love the romance. This won't be the last I read this book either.
I've read this book at least four times and I never tire of it. I love the humour, I love the characters and I love the romance. This won't be the last I read this book either.
June 8, 2020
Cheesy goodness. I am however, detracting one star due to MacKenzie's tstl attitude. Who in their right mind would not expect a certain king to be you-know-who after all the hints they dropped. Come on, that drawn out reveal was so unnecessary.
June 6, 2018
Tohle bylo... divny :D Hrozne vtipny, ale zaroven neuveritelne chaoticky a nelogicky.
October 25, 2023
Loved it. Re-read four times.
April 4, 2018
Well.
I am completely unsure of what I think of this book. I'm not even sure whether the rating I gave it is what I really want to rate it or not. Props to Susan Copperfield for completely baffling me.
For the first 50 percent of this book, I vacillated between DNF'ing and pushing forward. I struggled with how completely unrealistic all of the characters actions were, their reasons for said actions, their interactions with each other, etc etc. I was SO frustrated.
At about 50 percent, I walked away from the book and spent a couple of hours in my head trying to decide if I was going to continue reading. At that point, I decided to start reading the book as a satire, and threw all of my realistic expectations out the window. I decided to just enjoy the fact that Copperfield's writing was enjoyable.
Making that decision allowed me to really get into the last half of the book. The romance was ridiculous; the Royals were nothing more than overgrown children; government officials acted toddlers after eating entirely too much candy. The issues that Copperfield brought up in this book (underage marriage and prejudice being the primary issues) were treated lightly, without the seriousness that such things deserve. Prejudice due to social standings based on magical abilities was talked about consistently throughout the book, but only shown through a few lines by supporting characters; these supporting characters moved past their prejudices quickly with just a few words spoken by the main character. I'm not sure the author has spent a lot of time around children because none of the children in this book acted like any children I know (although I will admit, I don't know any exceptionally spoiled rich children but if they act like Mireya, thank goodness for that!). Also, where was the magic?! This dystopian society is based on a person's bloodline and ability to do magic and for close to the first 75 percent of the book, THERE WAS NO MAGIC! What?? Most of the magic that happened in the last 25 percent were only to prove one point. Very confusing. I can't even think of all of the silly things in this book that just irked me. BUT! In spite of all of that, I did find myself enjoying the story, and I genuinely liked most of the characters (except Mireya, because that whole, throwing tantrums at 10 spoiled beyond belief nonsense was super unattractive). The characters were mostly dumb as a box of rocks, collectively, but endearing all the same. And seriously, Copperfield gets an extra star on the rating because I really don't think I've ever read anything quite like this book. And I'm not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing. I'm not sure if I will read the next book. Copperfield left me very confused feeling all the way around.
I am completely unsure of what I think of this book. I'm not even sure whether the rating I gave it is what I really want to rate it or not. Props to Susan Copperfield for completely baffling me.
For the first 50 percent of this book, I vacillated between DNF'ing and pushing forward. I struggled with how completely unrealistic all of the characters actions were, their reasons for said actions, their interactions with each other, etc etc. I was SO frustrated.
At about 50 percent, I walked away from the book and spent a couple of hours in my head trying to decide if I was going to continue reading. At that point, I decided to start reading the book as a satire, and threw all of my realistic expectations out the window. I decided to just enjoy the fact that Copperfield's writing was enjoyable.
Making that decision allowed me to really get into the last half of the book. The romance was ridiculous; the Royals were nothing more than overgrown children; government officials acted toddlers after eating entirely too much candy. The issues that Copperfield brought up in this book (underage marriage and prejudice being the primary issues) were treated lightly, without the seriousness that such things deserve. Prejudice due to social standings based on magical abilities was talked about consistently throughout the book, but only shown through a few lines by supporting characters; these supporting characters moved past their prejudices quickly with just a few words spoken by the main character. I'm not sure the author has spent a lot of time around children because none of the children in this book acted like any children I know (although I will admit, I don't know any exceptionally spoiled rich children but if they act like Mireya, thank goodness for that!). Also, where was the magic?! This dystopian society is based on a person's bloodline and ability to do magic and for close to the first 75 percent of the book, THERE WAS NO MAGIC! What?? Most of the magic that happened in the last 25 percent were only to prove one point. Very confusing. I can't even think of all of the silly things in this book that just irked me. BUT! In spite of all of that, I did find myself enjoying the story, and I genuinely liked most of the characters (except Mireya, because that whole, throwing tantrums at 10 spoiled beyond belief nonsense was super unattractive). The characters were mostly dumb as a box of rocks, collectively, but endearing all the same. And seriously, Copperfield gets an extra star on the rating because I really don't think I've ever read anything quite like this book. And I'm not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing. I'm not sure if I will read the next book. Copperfield left me very confused feeling all the way around.
May 17, 2023
Rating or reviewing books by this author (pseudonym or not) always ends up being very painful to me.
She writes actually strong female main characters that are not just a thin veneer to satisfy some genre trend.
They are actually intelligent while still feeling like actual humans with facets with depth and flaws that keep them interesting and not become boring marry-sues.
She has a wicked sense of humor that is easily on par with male authors which is incredible and incredibly entertaining.
She tells stories that, instead of following the easy clichée by forcing her characters down some predefined path and ruining any and all of their believability in the process, actually feel new and surprising and interesting in a way I only notice after I read another book by her after some time.
In this one, the author explores an unexpected situation and its consequences without taking prisoners.
She just follows where the story goes from there which ends up being bittersweet in the best way.
That is not to say there is no planning or steering going on. But the way it is written it is not obvious to the reader which is the best kind of planning in a story.
So why is a critique of her books always so painful then?
Because she overdoes it all. The first half of this book was an easy 4-star if not bordering on 5 stars for me. But the longer it goes on the more she keeps stacking the silly jokes higher and higher to the point where I am having trouble taking anything serious anymore. It sometimes seems like for example the main character's parents could lie on the floor bleeding out and while they die they trade witty quips and ridiculous punchlines with their daughter instead of calling an ambulance. This is purely an exaggerated hypothetical of course but I think it brings across how the humor and the ridiculousness are stacked too high. The author also has a tendency to keep jokes around for too long even after they stopped being funny.
In the same vein of too much of a good thing, the way the story demonstrates the strength and willfulness of the main character goes over the top in the same way. It almost feels like the author is trying to compensate for all the spineless and shallow doormats in other modern urban fantasy at once.
But in the process, it swings too far the other way.
The cheesiness of the endings is also way too much. It's sweet like drinking syrup straight. And I am very tolerant of incredible cheesiness from all the run-of-the-mill paranormal romances I've read. But this is a bit too much even for me and at the same time, it stretches the believability and consistency of the characters I previously praised so highly to an intolerable degree as well.
From my experience, all her books suffer from basically exactly these same problems to varying degrees.
The author clearly has skills, creativity, and humor far beyond most urban fantasy authors and I want to acknowledge her competence but she blows it every time when closing out her stories.
So as much as it pains me this gets just 3 stars from me, like always.
She writes actually strong female main characters that are not just a thin veneer to satisfy some genre trend.
They are actually intelligent while still feeling like actual humans with facets with depth and flaws that keep them interesting and not become boring marry-sues.
She has a wicked sense of humor that is easily on par with male authors which is incredible and incredibly entertaining.
She tells stories that, instead of following the easy clichée by forcing her characters down some predefined path and ruining any and all of their believability in the process, actually feel new and surprising and interesting in a way I only notice after I read another book by her after some time.
In this one, the author explores an unexpected situation and its consequences without taking prisoners.
She just follows where the story goes from there which ends up being bittersweet in the best way.
That is not to say there is no planning or steering going on. But the way it is written it is not obvious to the reader which is the best kind of planning in a story.
So why is a critique of her books always so painful then?
Because she overdoes it all. The first half of this book was an easy 4-star if not bordering on 5 stars for me. But the longer it goes on the more she keeps stacking the silly jokes higher and higher to the point where I am having trouble taking anything serious anymore. It sometimes seems like for example the main character's parents could lie on the floor bleeding out and while they die they trade witty quips and ridiculous punchlines with their daughter instead of calling an ambulance. This is purely an exaggerated hypothetical of course but I think it brings across how the humor and the ridiculousness are stacked too high. The author also has a tendency to keep jokes around for too long even after they stopped being funny.
In the same vein of too much of a good thing, the way the story demonstrates the strength and willfulness of the main character goes over the top in the same way. It almost feels like the author is trying to compensate for all the spineless and shallow doormats in other modern urban fantasy at once.
But in the process, it swings too far the other way.
The cheesiness of the endings is also way too much. It's sweet like drinking syrup straight. And I am very tolerant of incredible cheesiness from all the run-of-the-mill paranormal romances I've read. But this is a bit too much even for me and at the same time, it stretches the believability and consistency of the characters I previously praised so highly to an intolerable degree as well.
From my experience, all her books suffer from basically exactly these same problems to varying degrees.
The author clearly has skills, creativity, and humor far beyond most urban fantasy authors and I want to acknowledge her competence but she blows it every time when closing out her stories.
So as much as it pains me this gets just 3 stars from me, like always.
June 12, 2018
Dryly funny.
In a dystopian North America magic is the norm and the United States have become the Royal States. If you have no magic you are a null. It doesn't matter how intelligent you are you will go nowhere fast. Mackenzie Little is a null, just as her parents are and their parents before them. Mackenzie had a business degree but works on data analysis and spread sheets
until, one day, she snaps and walks out. She has already come to the notice of her boss, Dylan Mason, who tells her that he is also leaving and would like to offer her a job. Knowing that he is so far above her in status and already falling for his sophistication and good looks, she angrily refuses. Imagine her surprise when she finds herself caught up in a lottery where he buys her companionship and services for 24 hours. She is even more surprised when she lands a good position in another kingdom but finds herself pregnant as well!
The whole situation seemed strange to me. Her job involves getting the Texas Congress to pass laws protecting the rights of bills and other minorities. She wasn't a member of Congress but she could get up and our forward a motion and then call for discussion and a vote. I confess to not being up on how American politics work so this seems strange to me.
The book also gets into the question of betrothals and marriages with one betrothal being between a 10 year old girl and a fifteen year old boy with the wedding to take place when the girl is 15! That seems barbaric.
Despite that, I appreciated the dry wit and often funny dialogue. I didn't appreciate the poor English and proof reading. Even making allowances between American and English some sentences were just awful.
Overall, I liked the concept but found the story unbelievable to the extent that I wouldn't buy the next book.
In a dystopian North America magic is the norm and the United States have become the Royal States. If you have no magic you are a null. It doesn't matter how intelligent you are you will go nowhere fast. Mackenzie Little is a null, just as her parents are and their parents before them. Mackenzie had a business degree but works on data analysis and spread sheets
until, one day, she snaps and walks out. She has already come to the notice of her boss, Dylan Mason, who tells her that he is also leaving and would like to offer her a job. Knowing that he is so far above her in status and already falling for his sophistication and good looks, she angrily refuses. Imagine her surprise when she finds herself caught up in a lottery where he buys her companionship and services for 24 hours. She is even more surprised when she lands a good position in another kingdom but finds herself pregnant as well!
The whole situation seemed strange to me. Her job involves getting the Texas Congress to pass laws protecting the rights of bills and other minorities. She wasn't a member of Congress but she could get up and our forward a motion and then call for discussion and a vote. I confess to not being up on how American politics work so this seems strange to me.
The book also gets into the question of betrothals and marriages with one betrothal being between a 10 year old girl and a fifteen year old boy with the wedding to take place when the girl is 15! That seems barbaric.
Despite that, I appreciated the dry wit and often funny dialogue. I didn't appreciate the poor English and proof reading. Even making allowances between American and English some sentences were just awful.
Overall, I liked the concept but found the story unbelievable to the extent that I wouldn't buy the next book.
July 23, 2024
I really liked the characters-- very colorful and flavorful. Main character is a single mom who works her butt off to have a good life with her daughter. When she is asked to take leadership of a special committee, she gets the leverage she needs to push through some reforms she has been fighting for for years. But even with that bit of relief, she has a lot on her plate: she still has to lead the international-event-planning committee. How will she set up the event? She agonizes over it-- and has mixed feelings about her own romantic status-- and events in her daughter's life. The romantic-status and daughter's life stuff (the family drama, if you will) is allowed to fully play out for our enjoyment. The rising tension of the event-planning ends up getting dropped like a hot potato. [Details with small spoilers below]
Also, there are some small spelling & grammar issues.
[Small, spoilers follow]
Somebody else takes care of everything (event-planning-wise) while our main character is in the hospital. This is totally believable-- sometimes life just be like that-- but it felt very unsatisfying.
Once we learn about the event, we expect that's where our lady and her man will reconnect. The story starts building that way... and then the characters get impatient. They have their own personal climax. Then our lady ends up in the hospital and everything else we were expecting to happen is swept under the rug / dismissed as unimportant, because they finally found each other.
It's a fun story & a good read though: light and crazy, which seems to be par for the course with this series.
Also, there are some small spelling & grammar issues.
[Small, spoilers follow]
Somebody else takes care of everything (event-planning-wise) while our main character is in the hospital. This is totally believable-- sometimes life just be like that-- but it felt very unsatisfying.
Once we learn about the event, we expect that's where our lady and her man will reconnect. The story starts building that way... and then the characters get impatient. They have their own personal climax. Then our lady ends up in the hospital and everything else we were expecting to happen is swept under the rug / dismissed as unimportant, because they finally found each other.
It's a fun story & a good read though: light and crazy, which seems to be par for the course with this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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