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Kria #3

The Bastard Prince

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Reyes O'Bannon lives a fairly quiet life, despite his role as the King's secretary. His days are filled with appointments, paperwork, and avoiding the romantic attentions of Kinnaird, the Duke of Keyes; attentions that become harder to ignore with each passing day...

Then the Kingdom is attacked, and the nature and location of the attacks make it painfully clear there is a traitor in their midst. The attacks are further compounded by the sudden arrival of a man who claims to have a legitimate claim on the throne, a bastard prince who knows things from the King's past that no one else could know.

As the problems increase, both within the palace and across the Kingdom, Reyes can only watch as Kinnaird is sent out to unravel the mystery and the King begins to fall apart.

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

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797 people want to read

About the author

Megan Derr

284 books2,948 followers
Megan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.

meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr

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5 stars
409 (36%)
4 stars
416 (36%)
3 stars
238 (21%)
2 stars
50 (4%)
1 star
16 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
Profile Image for Nikyta.
1,463 reviews263 followers
April 13, 2011
I really enjoyed this one. It was loosely (and I do mean loosely) related to Prisoner and only in the respect that Kria and Salhara are mentioned. But still just getting even that little piece of information made me want to re-read my all time favorite book. I will resist the temptation, though. Maybe.

Reyes and Kinnaird (I really like that name) made an adorable and funny pair. Reyes is all bookish and the King's sole secretary and Kinnaird is the King's falcon and pretty muscular and adventurous. Kinnaird is infatuated with Reyes but Reyes is playing hard to get. Well, technically, he really likes Kinnaird but doesn't think a relationship could work between them. There's just too many obstacles in their way; what with Kinnaird doing the King's errands all the time and their separate social statuses. Their individual personalities and abilities compliments each others, however, so they are actually a perfect fit and with the King's blessings and Reyes worrying it makes it harder and harder for Reyes not to give in. He does eventually but up until then he makes Kinnaird work for it which I highly enjoyed ^_^

This book was kind of a surprise to me. I knew I was going to like it (Megan Derr is my favorite author after all) but I was kind of expecting something else and when I got this I was pleasantly surprised. It's filled with suspense and mystery and I was overall just kind of shocked with what happens. Never saw that ending coming. The mystery is, if you look closely, a little obvious. I didn't actually get who was the bad guy until about half way through but that was mostly because I was too caught up in how cute Reyes was. Lol. And can I just say how sweet Kinnaird's flowers are? I think I loved that the most especially since he didn't stop doing his little 'ritual' even after he wooed Reyes into his clutches once and for all. I will say that I was highly intrigued by the twins and I'm hoping one day we'll get to see them again because I want to know if they can actually do what everyone just thinks is a legend!

Overall, this story is a surprisingly cute, suspenseful story. It's a simple read but you'll still be drawn into the story even if it's not to your liking, I think. Definitely recommended.
Profile Image for Ami.
6,261 reviews489 followers
August 16, 2014
More like 4.25 stars

Megan Derr's stories will always be dear to me due to the "Dance" tri-fecta (Dance with the Devil, Dance in the Dark, and Midnight) and I could count on her for quick, fluffy, light read. This older release has been on my 'keep for rainy days' virtual box because it came to me well recommended. I admit that I haven't really been satisfied with Derr's stories lately and I was in need for something easy -- so I thought it would be a good time to read it.

Well, I loved it!

I love Ms. Derr's grumpy characters the most -- and here, Reyes was the epitome of her grumpy character. I loved how annoyed Reyes was because of Kinnaird's romantic attempt to woo him, but at the same time he loved Kinnaird for doing it. And other characters seemed to enjoy teasing him about it. It was an adorable and romantic kind of pursuit and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The mystery was well-played -- I enjoyed the twist and more revelation in the end. I thought the resolution to the threats was also a very good one -- although it was rather quick in the end (I wish Ms. Derr would write long epic battle one of these days). I liked the idea of world-built here. We also had female characters (usually the female to male characters ration is pretty small)! One was particularly intriguing and seemed to hold her own just find among the other males.

Despite the less-than-stellar editing (not that it surprises me anymore), all in all, this is probably one of my personal beloved stories from Ms. Derr -- the kind that I could re-read, if I ever re-read stuffs, that is ^^.
Profile Image for Vivian ♪(┌・。・)┌		.
628 reviews66 followers
September 26, 2012
As someone very aptly put this, The Bastard Prince is, a very pleasant book. Not much more, but still very pleasant and enjoyable read.

It is not bad. Oh no, never that. It's just, it lacked a bit of something that would probably have boosted it into a more memorable category.

I liked it. The romance was cute and had me smiling a certain parts of the books and the mystery wasn't all too obvious (well, once you find out it's a bit of a facepalm moment as you think "Why the fuck didn't I think of that?") and it was altogether quite good book.

And once the little "twist" was revealed that was a pretty major facepalm too. I mean, why the hell didn't I think of that?. It was so obvious yet not obvious.

Anyway, this was quite an enjoyable read and a nice addition to the world of Kyria (though I'm still trying to figure out where the hell they are, since it doesn't seem like Illussor, and definitely isn't Kyria or the other place. . . I seriously thought there were only three countries. Whoops? turns this was set on another continent but same world). Recommended for a very easy, light and fun read!
Profile Image for Query.
129 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2012
The main story is cute, but the politics (in-story politics, anyway) made me incredibly uncomfortable. The good guys are good, the bad guys are bad, and the solution was really ridiculous. So 2.5 stars.
Profile Image for Natalie  H.
3,814 reviews30 followers
April 30, 2022
Not sure why I didn't cotton onto Reyes identity. The flowers were sweet but they spent too long away from each other. I liked how close the king and Reyes already were. Sharla was interesting, I liked how that part played out. The little bonus bits were sweet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Erica.
1,691 reviews37 followers
June 10, 2019
It took me forever to get around to reading this, since the first two stories in this series were so much darker than Megan Derr's usual. This story, though, is much lighter than those first two books, which was a pleasant surprise. Sweet romance, political machinations, magical battles . . . fun for everyone!
100 reviews8 followers
January 9, 2012
I liked this story but didn't love it. The mystery was good and I liked Kinnaird, but Reyes behaved like a classic female love interest; it just didn't feel like an m/m story to me.

3.5 stars
Profile Image for Elsi.
320 reviews
February 4, 2018
Wonderful historical fantasy book from Megan Derr! Wonderful emotion, story and surprising end as well! Can't recommend it enough!
Profile Image for Kris.
354 reviews34 followers
December 1, 2010
I just reread this and it reminded me of how much I liked this author's approach to fantasy. Great stuff.

***

The Tasting:

Why I bought it: I'm pretty sure that I was in the mood for m/m fantasy at the time.

Dislike/like (ending on a high note):

Dislike~ Not really a dislike, but I guessed early on in the story what the 'big reveal' was. Still, I did like the way it happened. *zipping lips* And that's all I'm gonna say about that...

Like~ For someone who is a huge fantasy fan such as myself, it is always a bit like taking a step into a minefield when it comes to trying a new-to-me author in this genre. I've found one of the most off putting things with unfamiliar fantasy stories is the world building so I was particularly delighted this author avoided the info dump. I definitely appreciated the subtlety with which she painted a picture of the world through character and plot development. Nice. :)

Dislike~ Won't lie to you. Some of the editting in this and the other Less Than Three books leaves something to be desired. Silly stuff mostly like misspellings. No doubt this will be jarring for some readers, but I was soon able to dismiss it whilst reading The Bastard Prince because of my interest in the story.

Like~ This plot might not be as complex nor as romance-y as some readers may ordinarily like; however, I found the main mystery storyline engaging - especially as I was intrigued to see how it would enable the 'big reveal' - and the characters appealing. A good, solid, all-round read.
So, what I think: After finishing this I was very pleased to have discovered a new m/m fantasy author. I've reread The Bastard Prince a number of times now and think it is one of the best of Megan Derr's work.

==================================================

‘Tasting’ is my version of a mini-review where I talk a (very) little about what I liked and disliked about a book as well as who I think the story will appeal to. Oh, and I’ve added a bit about why I picked up the book in the first place – sometimes this can be interesting to know.
Profile Image for L-D.
1,478 reviews64 followers
February 13, 2012
Reyes O'Bannon is the King's unassuming and highly efficient personal secretary. He is very good at his job, so much so that the King removed his staff of secretaries and relies only on Reyes. Kinnaird, the Duke of Keyes, is enamored of the lanky, bespectacled secretary and courts him unabashedly; attentions that become harder to ignore with each passing day...

When the kingdom is attacked on many fronts, Kinnaird and other men loyal to the King are sent to investigate, leaving Reyes home to worry about Kinnaird.

I thought this was another great book from Megan Derr. I've been a really big fan of hers since reading her Dance with the Devil series. This book is not quite as creative as the Dance with the Devil series, but it is entertaining nonetheless. I thought the character development was nicely done and although I wasn't surprised at the ending, I still enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Wax.
1,295 reviews22 followers
October 25, 2018
If you go into this thinking that it's in the same realm as Prisoner, you will be disappointed. Kria and Salhara are mentioned, but only as an aside. But it has all the hallmarks of a great Megan Derr story, with world-building, magic and pining/grumpy characters. I loved seeing uber-confident Reyes, the King's secretary, stumble when he is faced with the affection of Kinnaird, a Duke. Reyes continues to rebuff Kinnaird's advances because he does not feel that he can compete either with his duties (as King's Falcon) nor his status. There's a mystery with a twist that I felt was well-done.

Re-read 3/11/17: Still really liked it. Reyes and Kinnaird are so much fun together.
Profile Image for Ayanna.
1,632 reviews62 followers
October 27, 2013
Kay, awkward phrasing makes it totally sound like

I'm going to assume he wasn't, due to the total lack of panicking and wtf from people around him.

Took me forever to actually read this. I think I was searching for Dieter and Beraht in the rest of the series, but I never found them because they weren't the point anymore, not after the first one.

The plot wasn't bad. Not-quite-so-red-herring and all.

*shrug
It's Megan Derr. I've discovered Derr seems to be my dream author, or pretty damn close. Her writing style just works for me.
Profile Image for Anita.
2,022 reviews27 followers
December 14, 2016
I have to say that shifters/fantasy/magic are definitely not my go to genres. I usually spend my time trying to understand the world building. Shifters bring a whole 'nother complexity to things. When do they shift/ why do they shift/can they do what they do in animal form after they shift - too many silly questions. This book was sweet. Really did like Reyes and Kinniard - couple of sweet guys. Didn't get that whole shifting thing, though. Surprisingly the mystery and the magic worked for me. So I feel terrible rating this a 3 when this was read because of a GR challenge. But there it is. Cute story, though.
Profile Image for Dee Wy.
1,455 reviews
August 21, 2011
Prequel to Derr's highly rated Prisoner in that it introduces us to the world of Kria, this story includes intrigue, betrayal and romance. Though it starts off slowly with world-building and introductions to a host of characters, it picks up about halfway and the ending made it all feel worthwhile. I enjoyed it and am glad to have read this novella before starting Prisoner.
Profile Image for orannia.
317 reviews13 followers
October 30, 2011
I love this book. It just...worked for me on so many levels. The characters were three-dimensional, the plot was interesting (and no, I had no idea who the villains were) and the setting - WOW! Fascinating. I can't wait to read more by this author.
Profile Image for Rissa.
2,286 reviews3 followers
January 22, 2014
I loved it!!!!!! I was intrigued with Reyes and Kinnaird when I read Holiday Treats and I just had to get their story and it was lovely!
I totally figured it out a little but was still surprised with Reyes' secret! Ahhhhh so wonderful! I want more! :)
Profile Image for Ingrid.
285 reviews2 followers
November 23, 2011
Great novella. Loved that it sort of takes places in the same world as Prisoner and Bound. Would love to see more :)
Profile Image for Susana.
1,299 reviews36 followers
February 19, 2018
4 stars
In a world where magic is essential for survival young Reyes O’Bannon has managed to rise from his humble origins to achieve the coveted position of Royal Secretary. Serving his beloved king and stoically avoiding the relentless courtship of handsome Lord Kinnaird Hess, Duke of Heyes, are his main tasks until the day an impostor shows up claiming to be a bastard prince, and trouble beings to brew all along the kingdom of Elamas…
A bit on the shortish side, in this charming story our hero is a young secretary who seems to have a very organised life. He enjoys his job as the only royal secretary, and his love and loyalty to his king is undeniable. His only problem is fencing off the advances of Kinnaird Hess, who seems determined to turn Reyes into his lover… and even something more. His happy existence crumbles when a series of dangerous attacks in some of the important cities of the kingdom make clear that there is a traitor in the palace. The arrival of an impostor claiming to be the King’s bastard son only serves to increase the stress on the king, who seems to age with every passing day. With his not so unwanted suitor away trying to find the traitor, and his king dangerously threatened, Reyes will have to do everything in his hand to save the day, even if that means revealing a very well hidden secret about himself…
I really liked this novel, though I must recognise the world-building was a bit overwhelming in the first chapters, but it soon gives place to the relentless action which, together with the charming characters, makes it really enjoyable and very difficult to put down. I fell in love with Reyes and Kinnaird, and did not expect the revelations at the end.
Very recommendable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ΛNNΞ.
622 reviews
September 28, 2017
Probably my least favorite of the Kria series. I did enjoy all of these books immensely however, this one's abrupt and unexpectedly dissatisfying ending kind of spoiled what might have been another excellent addition to a much loved series. There was always something a little off about the cliquey nature of the MCs relationship with the king and elites. Just something did not sit right with me on how they seemed to know what was best for everyone ... maybe it is real life seeping into my fiction ... still, there was not a huge amount of chemistry or drama in this relatively short book ... so it does not get the same rating as the other two previous books did. I still loved snarky, beautiful Reyes very much ... I just wished the ending was not as abrupt and inconsistent with everything that came before ...

I am still a huge fan of this author and will read more of her books. A master storyteller, her world building and drama are second to none ... very impressed so far ...
Profile Image for Kaa.
618 reviews68 followers
February 28, 2018
Ugh, this book is basically two of my least favorite things in romance mushed together:
1. Romance by attrition. I hate "romances" where one partner wins the other one over basically by wearing the other person down until they stop saying "no". That's not romantic, that's sexual harassment.
2. Horrible women. For over half of the book, there is one female character. She's (supposedly - she never actually appears on the page or gets to speak for herself) pretty much awful. A second woman eventually shows up and isn't terrible, but it never balanced out for me.
These two things guaranteed that this book was never going to get a great rating from me, but I didn't like the plot, either. The enemy's scheming never made sense, and so it didn't feel dangerous. The twist at the end felt pointless, since it didn't actually change anything and the foreshadowing wasn't good enough to give it any real emotional impact for me.
Profile Image for Amy Chichi Hsiao.
242 reviews22 followers
December 16, 2019
As much as I like the last part, this book is by far the worst of the franchise. I wasn't so happy about Bound, but compared with this book, Bound is still not bad.

The whole treason plot was messy, and I was utterly shocked when seeing the second time Kinnaird got home the book was like 70% through. This book could well be a novella and would have been much better a story if that was the case.

The thing I love Derr's works most - world building, is missing here. There's also nothing about working out difference between different countries/races, which was a huge plus in the predecessors. I'm very disappointed with this book. The only reason it didn't get one star is it belongs to a franchise I love.
Profile Image for iam.
1,254 reviews158 followers
November 10, 2021
I loved the rest of this series so of course I had to read this one too, though I found it very hard to place in time and place for quite a while.
Not gonna lie, I thought I wouldn't enjoy the romance in this one since Kinnaird is very pushy and does not respect Reyes's boundaries repeatedly. I found this uncomfortable, though I overall did enjoy their dynamic and how they ended up together, because of course Reyes DOES want Kinnaird to do all the things he tells him he doesn't.
I enjoyed the rest of the book a lot too. The mystery around the title and incidents, and the final resolution and the entire plot and setting and side characters were really lovely.
Profile Image for Justyna Małgorzata.
255 reviews
October 27, 2018
Compared to Prisoner and Bound, this story is quite short. It was quite a pleasant read though, not as epic as the other in Kria series, but still quite enjoyable. The romance was sweet, both Reyes and Kinn are likeable enough. If not for the short mention of Kria and Salhara, this story could be read as a stand-alone and I was a little disappointed because I expected to read something more about the new, united Empire. Overall, worth 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Ilona Fenton.
1,060 reviews33 followers
May 8, 2024
I didn't even read the synopsis of this book before acquiring it since it was by Megan Derr and I thought it was about Kria.
It turned out to be exactly what I expected. A great story with well rounded characters, plenty of intrigue, and a sweet romance.
My only complaint was that it only had a superfluous connection to Kria with only one mention of the flowers and the war between the Krians and Salharans.
Profile Image for MaelleMaud.
778 reviews2 followers
September 1, 2018
Reyes & Kinnaird
Nice little one in Kria’s setting. This one is totally out of the scope of the 2 previous ones but I was happy to be in this universe with a shorter, lighter story.
And there are shifters 😁❤️😁
I liked both characters and the plot was quite entertaining. Nice pleasant fantasy romance!!
Profile Image for Lie.
101 reviews3 followers
September 23, 2017
I knew the title was suspicious. But the big reveal at the end seemed out of nowhere... unless I missed some clues.
I liked the resolution with Sharla tho lol that was so absurd but like what the hell
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews

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