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Royal Blood #2
Royal Scandal
The second book in the Royal Blood series about an American girl who threatens the royal family by exposing their darkest scandals—even as they get more sinister.
American girl turned monarchy nightmare, Evan Bright, has gotten used to the press about her but the media attention has only seemed to get worse.
From desperate clickbait articles about her and the President's son to Royal Record headlines pitting her against Princess Maisie, it seems everyone is dying for Evan to return back to America for good. Meanwhile Evan is receiving mysterious threats about her real story being reveiled in a tell-all biography.
When more information is leaked about Evan, she fears she will always be Britain's media villain. But the threats escalate when there is an attempted assassination with no suspects...and Evan believes the person is in the palace's walls.
They say what doesn't kill you will make you stronger...but what if it's the royal family who wants you dead?
American girl turned monarchy nightmare, Evan Bright, has gotten used to the press about her but the media attention has only seemed to get worse.
From desperate clickbait articles about her and the President's son to Royal Record headlines pitting her against Princess Maisie, it seems everyone is dying for Evan to return back to America for good. Meanwhile Evan is receiving mysterious threats about her real story being reveiled in a tell-all biography.
When more information is leaked about Evan, she fears she will always be Britain's media villain. But the threats escalate when there is an attempted assassination with no suspects...and Evan believes the person is in the palace's walls.
They say what doesn't kill you will make you stronger...but what if it's the royal family who wants you dead?
416 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2024
About the author
Aimee Carter
46 books4,787 followersAimée Carter is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the author of over a dozen books, including The Goddess Test series, the Blackcoat Rebellion series, and the Simon Thorn series for middle grade readers, now a #1 international bestselling series under the title Animox. Her newest middle grade book, Curse of the Phoenix, will be released in June from Margaret K. McElderry Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
October 9, 2023
Reading books that make you happy regardless of the genre is why I'm so happy I got back into reading, and Royal Scandal is one of those! If you ever loved spy novels as a kid or series like Twilight, Divergent, etc. (or the energy of Lizzie McGuire) - this series gives me much of that same fun, adventurous, nostalgically cozy, completely engrossed feeling! I wanted to curl up with an orange-cicle dream pop and flop into a bean bag chair. This is truly a FANTASTIC young adult/new adult series, and I've loved it every step of the way!
THOUGHTS:
- This is so much more than just a YA mystery. The writing in this series is spectacular and makes me want to recommend it to everyone I know. Forever on my comfort reads list.. Aimee Carter's writing just made me so happy!! I really can't explain it but I wish I could read this series again for the first time because it brought me so much joy!!! (That feeling is so rare for me! Both books in this series so far have pulled me out of reading slumps!!)
- Do you ever land on a cliffhanger and then want to throw your Kindle?!! Because that's what I did at the end of Royal Scandal. The way this ends is fantastic. It's big, it's loud and convoluted... There were things I picked up along the way but Carter's writing is giving Sarah J Mass energy with that last quarter blowing up everything you thought you knew!! This one isn't even out yet, and I'm dying for the next book. This story shall live rent-free in my head until the next book comes out, which I hope happens so soon!
- I love our heroine - but I love the side characters too. It's easy to love a heroine who doesn't want fame or riches, I think? But what's harder is to love characters that you feel deserve a lil' struggle? Carter pulls off, making you want to be friends with the mean girl and having a crazy level of compassion for those struggling with mental illness in a way you might never have considered.
**Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
THOUGHTS:
- This is so much more than just a YA mystery. The writing in this series is spectacular and makes me want to recommend it to everyone I know. Forever on my comfort reads list.. Aimee Carter's writing just made me so happy!! I really can't explain it but I wish I could read this series again for the first time because it brought me so much joy!!! (That feeling is so rare for me! Both books in this series so far have pulled me out of reading slumps!!)
- Do you ever land on a cliffhanger and then want to throw your Kindle?!! Because that's what I did at the end of Royal Scandal. The way this ends is fantastic. It's big, it's loud and convoluted... There were things I picked up along the way but Carter's writing is giving Sarah J Mass energy with that last quarter blowing up everything you thought you knew!! This one isn't even out yet, and I'm dying for the next book. This story shall live rent-free in my head until the next book comes out, which I hope happens so soon!
- I love our heroine - but I love the side characters too. It's easy to love a heroine who doesn't want fame or riches, I think? But what's harder is to love characters that you feel deserve a lil' struggle? Carter pulls off, making you want to be friends with the mean girl and having a crazy level of compassion for those struggling with mental illness in a way you might never have considered.
**Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
September 26, 2023
Oh my goodness! I didn't expect this sequel to surpass the brilliance of the first installment, but this heart-throbbing, action-packed, wild ride left me hyperventilating. It truly takes your breath away and blows your mind! And that cliffhanger at the end made me scream so loudly. I've already become addicted to Evan's riveting adventures, and I can't resist reading dozens of books if the pacing is anything like these two. Even though I'm older than the targeted age group, it didn't stop me from becoming fully invested in this journey! I could barely control my breathing after devouring the entire installment in one sitting.
Here's a quick summary of the new sequel:
But first, let me provide a quick recap of where we left off in the first book: Evan Bright, the illegitimate daughter of British King Alexander, was sent to live with her royal parents whom she had never known after spending years at boarding schools with limited interaction with her mother due to health issues. Of course, her arrival at the Royal Palace created a huge scandal, bringing her into contact with her sister Maise, the future queen, her mother Helena, and her grandmother Constance. Only Helen's nephew Christopher and her full-time babysitter Tibby were the friendly faces supporting her miserable life in the kingdom. Also, His Royal Highness Prince Benedict of York was the first member of the family to treat her with any decency after she arrived in London. However, he was also the one who leaked a video of her pushing Jasper Cunningham off a balcony after the sleazy individual tried to rape her. The footage was edited, of course, implicating Evan in Jasper's murder. She luckily found out the truth, was acquitted of the crime, and had Ben banished from the palace.
She thought she had already gotten rid of the problem and was pursuing a more peaceful life with her father by her side, getting closer to her step-sister, and enjoying the company of her boyfriend Kit, who planned to spend Christmas with her. But unfortunately, the unexpected reappearance of Ben in their lives starts a turmoil of events that turn Evan into both a victim and a perpetrator. The press keeps pushing Evan's limits and pointing at her as if she's the one responsible for the demise of the monarchy.
Evan believes that Ben is behind all these dark schemes, but unfortunately, nobody is on her side to believe her declarations. She starts hearing voices that make her question her own reality. Is she also inheriting her mother's mental problems, or is someone specifically targeting her?
Now, the lives of her loved ones are also at risk, and she has to face her fears, calculating how far she can go to save their lives. Who can she trust when everyone in her life is suspected of plotting her demise?
Read this book urgently, immediately, ASAP, and leave your highly appreciated reviews, because this book deserves all the hype it may get. I cannot wait to read the next installment, and I'm crossing my fingers that it won't be the last book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's / Delacorte Press for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Here's a quick summary of the new sequel:
But first, let me provide a quick recap of where we left off in the first book: Evan Bright, the illegitimate daughter of British King Alexander, was sent to live with her royal parents whom she had never known after spending years at boarding schools with limited interaction with her mother due to health issues. Of course, her arrival at the Royal Palace created a huge scandal, bringing her into contact with her sister Maise, the future queen, her mother Helena, and her grandmother Constance. Only Helen's nephew Christopher and her full-time babysitter Tibby were the friendly faces supporting her miserable life in the kingdom. Also, His Royal Highness Prince Benedict of York was the first member of the family to treat her with any decency after she arrived in London. However, he was also the one who leaked a video of her pushing Jasper Cunningham off a balcony after the sleazy individual tried to rape her. The footage was edited, of course, implicating Evan in Jasper's murder. She luckily found out the truth, was acquitted of the crime, and had Ben banished from the palace.
She thought she had already gotten rid of the problem and was pursuing a more peaceful life with her father by her side, getting closer to her step-sister, and enjoying the company of her boyfriend Kit, who planned to spend Christmas with her. But unfortunately, the unexpected reappearance of Ben in their lives starts a turmoil of events that turn Evan into both a victim and a perpetrator. The press keeps pushing Evan's limits and pointing at her as if she's the one responsible for the demise of the monarchy.
Evan believes that Ben is behind all these dark schemes, but unfortunately, nobody is on her side to believe her declarations. She starts hearing voices that make her question her own reality. Is she also inheriting her mother's mental problems, or is someone specifically targeting her?
Now, the lives of her loved ones are also at risk, and she has to face her fears, calculating how far she can go to save their lives. Who can she trust when everyone in her life is suspected of plotting her demise?
Read this book urgently, immediately, ASAP, and leave your highly appreciated reviews, because this book deserves all the hype it may get. I cannot wait to read the next installment, and I'm crossing my fingers that it won't be the last book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's / Delacorte Press for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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April 14, 2024
3⭐️
👑 Expectations: 👑
✨ Royal Scandals/Drama
✨Gaslighting
✨Mentions of Sexual Assault
✨Attempted Murder (at least on three different occasions)
✨Revengeful Behavior
✨Depictions of Schizophrenic Symptoms
✨Discussions on Terrorist Behavior
✨Several Annoying Characters
📝 Thoughts: 📝
It is officially time for me to accept that I am going to be an outlier when it comes to this book as well as this series. In all honesty, only 5% of me truly understand how and why both books #1 & #2 has 4⭐️ & 5⭐️ ratings. Both books are very well written and, sometimes, the drama is both entertaining and hilarious. But, the rest of me, the other 95% of me, wonders if I am reading the same series as everyone else. It took me 15 days to finish Book #1 and 7 days to finish Book #2 (I cancelled major plans just to finish this book over the weekend). For each book, I could only read four chapters at a time with a three hour break in between. I was bored most of the time. The majority of the characters are annoying and disrespectful (for no reason might I add). And the plot for both books is EXTREMELY lost on me. Like seriously, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE THESE BOOKS REALLY ABOUT??? I spent EVERYDAY contemplating on whether I should DNF after every chapter. Though I am happy that I allowed my completist personality trait to push me forward, I know that I am going to be in a reading slump for the next week. 😔😔😔.
So. Book #2. Only slightly better than Book #1 but, NOT BY MUCH. 😬😬😬. Where Book #1 felt disorganized and disjointed in several areas, Book #2 is where this series has FINALLY found its focus. Book #2 is all about revenge. Book #1 ended with the revelation that a royal family member is out to destroy Evangeline “Evan” Bright all because she is the daughter of the current King of the British Monarchy and they are afraid of losing their spot in the line of succession (at least that is what’s been hinted at throughout both books). Once Book #2 starts, 6 months have passed and the royal family is in shambles and said evil Royal family member is back to continue their mission. As said Royal family member continues to destroy Evangeline, she soon finds herself truly alone. No matter how many people she informs about her thoughts and theories about the Royal family member who hates her, no one believes her. Because of this, Evangeline waits about 85% of this book to finally tell her mom what has been happening. To make matters even worse, it takes her sister, Princess Mary 91% of this book to finally listen but not before she practically destroys her closeness with Evangeline. Other Royal family members even get caught up in the line of fire and things just spiral out of control. It is just one drama filled chapter after the next and while some chapter are more entertaining than the next, I genuinely spent this entire book lost, annoyed, and ready for it to end. Again, though this book had a much clearer focus than Book #1, I still have not idea what the point of this story is nor what the author is trying to accomplish. Similar to a few other reviewers, I had to suspend my belief to understand why common sense was missing among all of the characters as well as to understand why and what the purpose of all the hatred toward Evangeline is.
And please. DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON THE FORMAT OF EACH CHAPTER. Similar to Book #1, each chapter begins with either a quote, text message conversations, two-three page Royal interviews, a gossip column article, or a twitter exchange. And similar to Book #1, it was both distracting and annoying. These pieces of information took a lot of excitement out of me wanting to hurry and read the next chapter. It just became too much after chapter 5. 😐😐😐.
Reviewing this book is really hard for me because, honestly, I am just so happy to be done with it. If you find yourself wanting to read this book then I genuinely think you should. Just make sure you are in the mood to read about misplaced anger, a lot of nastiness, and characters who will MOST DEFINITELY get on your nerves. 🫣🫣🫣. Unfortunately, for me, this is where I leave this series. I really wish Aimée Carter the best on her future writing journey as well as any endeavors she might experience. 🥰🥰🥰.
👑 Thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for granting my request for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!👑
Publication Date: March 26, 2024
👑 Expectations: 👑
✨ Royal Scandals/Drama
✨Gaslighting
✨Mentions of Sexual Assault
✨Attempted Murder (at least on three different occasions)
✨Revengeful Behavior
✨Depictions of Schizophrenic Symptoms
✨Discussions on Terrorist Behavior
✨Several Annoying Characters
📝 Thoughts: 📝
It is officially time for me to accept that I am going to be an outlier when it comes to this book as well as this series. In all honesty, only 5% of me truly understand how and why both books #1 & #2 has 4⭐️ & 5⭐️ ratings. Both books are very well written and, sometimes, the drama is both entertaining and hilarious. But, the rest of me, the other 95% of me, wonders if I am reading the same series as everyone else. It took me 15 days to finish Book #1 and 7 days to finish Book #2 (I cancelled major plans just to finish this book over the weekend). For each book, I could only read four chapters at a time with a three hour break in between. I was bored most of the time. The majority of the characters are annoying and disrespectful (for no reason might I add). And the plot for both books is EXTREMELY lost on me. Like seriously, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE THESE BOOKS REALLY ABOUT??? I spent EVERYDAY contemplating on whether I should DNF after every chapter. Though I am happy that I allowed my completist personality trait to push me forward, I know that I am going to be in a reading slump for the next week. 😔😔😔.
So. Book #2. Only slightly better than Book #1 but, NOT BY MUCH. 😬😬😬. Where Book #1 felt disorganized and disjointed in several areas, Book #2 is where this series has FINALLY found its focus. Book #2 is all about revenge. Book #1 ended with the revelation that a royal family member is out to destroy Evangeline “Evan” Bright all because she is the daughter of the current King of the British Monarchy and they are afraid of losing their spot in the line of succession (at least that is what’s been hinted at throughout both books). Once Book #2 starts, 6 months have passed and the royal family is in shambles and said evil Royal family member is back to continue their mission. As said Royal family member continues to destroy Evangeline, she soon finds herself truly alone. No matter how many people she informs about her thoughts and theories about the Royal family member who hates her, no one believes her. Because of this, Evangeline waits about 85% of this book to finally tell her mom what has been happening. To make matters even worse, it takes her sister, Princess Mary 91% of this book to finally listen but not before she practically destroys her closeness with Evangeline. Other Royal family members even get caught up in the line of fire and things just spiral out of control. It is just one drama filled chapter after the next and while some chapter are more entertaining than the next, I genuinely spent this entire book lost, annoyed, and ready for it to end. Again, though this book had a much clearer focus than Book #1, I still have not idea what the point of this story is nor what the author is trying to accomplish. Similar to a few other reviewers, I had to suspend my belief to understand why common sense was missing among all of the characters as well as to understand why and what the purpose of all the hatred toward Evangeline is.
And please. DO NOT GET ME STARTED ON THE FORMAT OF EACH CHAPTER. Similar to Book #1, each chapter begins with either a quote, text message conversations, two-three page Royal interviews, a gossip column article, or a twitter exchange. And similar to Book #1, it was both distracting and annoying. These pieces of information took a lot of excitement out of me wanting to hurry and read the next chapter. It just became too much after chapter 5. 😐😐😐.
Reviewing this book is really hard for me because, honestly, I am just so happy to be done with it. If you find yourself wanting to read this book then I genuinely think you should. Just make sure you are in the mood to read about misplaced anger, a lot of nastiness, and characters who will MOST DEFINITELY get on your nerves. 🫣🫣🫣. Unfortunately, for me, this is where I leave this series. I really wish Aimée Carter the best on her future writing journey as well as any endeavors she might experience. 🥰🥰🥰.
👑 Thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for granting my request for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!👑
Publication Date: March 26, 2024
April 21, 2024
What in the fucking cliffhanger is this!?!?! Tell me what’s going on immediately
April 16, 2024
4.5 stars…
WHAT THE HECK????? WHAT WAS THAT ENDING???? i need to process, i’ll write my review later but WHATTTTTT????
okay review time!! as i mentioned in my bio, all my reviews are basically ramblings so…have fun reading my weird thoughts!
SPOILER ALERT!!!
SO. what was going on, huh? a billion things at once. CLIFFHANGER ALERT 🚨 😭 why do authors do this, huh? do they just hate us THAT much??
but anyway.
FIRST OF ALL…ben’s back. it’s safe to say that he genuinely scared the crap out of me. everything that seemed to be happening was (in my head, and apparently evangeline’s too) kept going straight back to him.
AHHH!!! yk something i loved about this book?? the family drama!!! i’m such a dramatic person and i live for family drama. i mean…this drama was a tad bit too much for my liking, i like when there’s a lot of action (which trust me, there was but i wanted more) but yeah, alexander and her mom were rlly cute and all there scenes together acting normal….ugh i live for happy endings (even though i sure as hell didn’t get one)
HOLD ON: why in the jacket flap of the book, it mentions the presidents son in a way as if he is in the book much, but he probably got like 2 pages worth of time. i wanted more of that guy!
okay…time for my favorite thing to do! character breakdown!!
EVANGLINE: ngl i liked her a lot more than i liked her in the first book. i feel like we saw more raw parts of her here and ugh i love this girl i just wanted to give her a hug throughout the whole book
KIT: he’s so cuteeeee 🥰🥰 he’s so soft and gentle and protective and so adorable and i’m at loss of words, he’s a gem 💎
ben: still creepy as ever
maise: still annoying but she’s getting better
alexander: he has a great story but…they guy is a little too passive
laura: she’s a very loving, gentle, and kind person, i love that
helene: words can’t describe how much i hate her. you think of laura as a home wrecker but girl. you literally hook up with you husbands freaking brother and then don’t wanna separate, but in your narrative, you’re always right and all that matters is your reputation?? like tell me that makes sense, cuz maybe i’m missing something
so yeah, that’s the completed ramblings of yusra! enjoy <333
WHAT THE HECK????? WHAT WAS THAT ENDING???? i need to process, i’ll write my review later but WHATTTTTT????
okay review time!! as i mentioned in my bio, all my reviews are basically ramblings so…have fun reading my weird thoughts!
SPOILER ALERT!!!
SO. what was going on, huh? a billion things at once. CLIFFHANGER ALERT 🚨 😭 why do authors do this, huh? do they just hate us THAT much??
but anyway.
FIRST OF ALL…ben’s back. it’s safe to say that he genuinely scared the crap out of me. everything that seemed to be happening was (in my head, and apparently evangeline’s too) kept going straight back to him.
AHHH!!! yk something i loved about this book?? the family drama!!! i’m such a dramatic person and i live for family drama. i mean…this drama was a tad bit too much for my liking, i like when there’s a lot of action (which trust me, there was but i wanted more) but yeah, alexander and her mom were rlly cute and all there scenes together acting normal….ugh i live for happy endings (even though i sure as hell didn’t get one)
HOLD ON: why in the jacket flap of the book, it mentions the presidents son in a way as if he is in the book much, but he probably got like 2 pages worth of time. i wanted more of that guy!
okay…time for my favorite thing to do! character breakdown!!
EVANGLINE: ngl i liked her a lot more than i liked her in the first book. i feel like we saw more raw parts of her here and ugh i love this girl i just wanted to give her a hug throughout the whole book
KIT: he’s so cuteeeee 🥰🥰 he’s so soft and gentle and protective and so adorable and i’m at loss of words, he’s a gem 💎
ben: still creepy as ever
maise: still annoying but she’s getting better
alexander: he has a great story but…they guy is a little too passive
laura: she’s a very loving, gentle, and kind person, i love that
helene: words can’t describe how much i hate her. you think of laura as a home wrecker but girl. you literally hook up with you husbands freaking brother and then don’t wanna separate, but in your narrative, you’re always right and all that matters is your reputation?? like tell me that makes sense, cuz maybe i’m missing something
so yeah, that’s the completed ramblings of yusra! enjoy <333
April 10, 2024
A quite intriguing middle book. I rated it three stars because it ran a little long and I didn't think there needed to be two attacks on the family. Maybe it will all.come together in the last book.
I kinda thought Evan was bratty and annoying in this book. 💀💀 Every time something happens, she is blamed. Why does she keep wanting to stay and put herself through all of the trauma? In the middle of the book, they wanted to send her back to America so she could be safe. Why didn't they go through with that? She would have been safe. I don't think any loving dad would want their daughter gallivanting around and possibly getting killed in a foreign country when it would just be better to send her back home. They were going to but somehow she convinced them not to. Horrible idea. They should have overrided her decision.
Next was how Helene was so mean. It isn't that bad if your husband doesn't love you. She knew from the start that he couldn't love her that way. That's why she got with Nicholas. Why does she have to play the victim? There was no reason to do that BBC interview. It made things worse. She and Venetia just love airing their dirty laundry out and about.
Another thing was how Evangeline was always around when something bad happened. People were killed and she was blamed. If she's getting blamed so much, she's either being framed or actually doing bad stuff. It's been proven that she isn't doing bad stuff so why isn't the Palace supporting her? They didn't even issue any statement. They just let her be thrown to the wolves. Some family. She should leave. What is she really gaining from them? Just PTSD and horrible memories. The whole lot of her family are backstabbers and people with borderline personality disorder. When Maisie almost blamed her for everything that was horrible. What kind of sister does that?
I enjoyed the book but the characters need some serious therapy after the series is over. 💀💀
I kinda thought Evan was bratty and annoying in this book. 💀💀 Every time something happens, she is blamed. Why does she keep wanting to stay and put herself through all of the trauma? In the middle of the book, they wanted to send her back to America so she could be safe. Why didn't they go through with that? She would have been safe. I don't think any loving dad would want their daughter gallivanting around and possibly getting killed in a foreign country when it would just be better to send her back home. They were going to but somehow she convinced them not to. Horrible idea. They should have overrided her decision.
Next was how Helene was so mean. It isn't that bad if your husband doesn't love you. She knew from the start that he couldn't love her that way. That's why she got with Nicholas. Why does she have to play the victim? There was no reason to do that BBC interview. It made things worse. She and Venetia just love airing their dirty laundry out and about.
Another thing was how Evangeline was always around when something bad happened. People were killed and she was blamed. If she's getting blamed so much, she's either being framed or actually doing bad stuff. It's been proven that she isn't doing bad stuff so why isn't the Palace supporting her? They didn't even issue any statement. They just let her be thrown to the wolves. Some family. She should leave. What is she really gaining from them? Just PTSD and horrible memories. The whole lot of her family are backstabbers and people with borderline personality disorder. When Maisie almost blamed her for everything that was horrible. What kind of sister does that?
I enjoyed the book but the characters need some serious therapy after the series is over. 💀💀
March 17, 2024
Another great book, wonderful writing and full of the twists and turns every good mystery needs!
Back with Evan in the Royal Palace, and everything seems to be fine... until it's not. More bad press and scandal but still with the heart that I love about these books.
I simply love this series, and honestly, I find it hard not to! It's exactly the kind of fun and enjoyable read I need to get me through a rainy weekend!
Out March 26, 2024!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
Back with Evan in the Royal Palace, and everything seems to be fine... until it's not. More bad press and scandal but still with the heart that I love about these books.
I simply love this series, and honestly, I find it hard not to! It's exactly the kind of fun and enjoyable read I need to get me through a rainy weekend!
Out March 26, 2024!
Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!
May 21, 2024
Cliffhangers should be outlawed
April 12, 2024
THIS WOMAN. SHE LEFT ME ON A CLIFFHANGER GRAHFRHAHHHHH. THIS IS NOT FAIR. I DEMAND COMPENSATION. Spoilers belowww
The reasons why this isn't 5 stars:
I honestly felt like this was mainly going back and forth between parent drama to assassination attempts to Ben and repeat, as much as it was entertaining.
I absolutely hated the parent drama, though. It disgusts me way too much, even if Alexander and Laura are good parents to Evan and if Helene is hurting and whatever excuse there is. There is no reason for there to be so much cheating and affairs going on yet no firm decision.
Characters:
Evan - my poor mc, she's struggling so much. Whenever she had those "hallucinations" and PTSD, I felt so bad😭 She is such a strong character and lowkey relatable
Kit - MY SWEETHEART. I love Kit so much, it's unbelievable. He makes me so happy and giggly, just sigh. He's so sweet to Evan, does not try ANYTHING, and cries for her almost 24/7. He's such a pure man.
Maisie - I think she's growing on me, I hated her during the first book. There's been character development and though I find her incredibly annoying at times, I can empathize and imagine her situation.
Ben - The NERVE of this guy. He's such a despicable yet typical white boy, it makes me want to snarl the way mmcs always do because authors think we like it.
Helene - this woman kept trying to play the victim when the BBC interview was so unnecessary and problem-making. I'm sorry your husband cheated and all BUT THEN U SNAGGED HIS BROTHER, so why are you complaining??? Shut yo ahh up rn Ms. Queen 🤨
Venetia- just ick.
The reasons why this isn't 5 stars:
I honestly felt like this was mainly going back and forth between parent drama to assassination attempts to Ben and repeat, as much as it was entertaining.
I absolutely hated the parent drama, though. It disgusts me way too much, even if Alexander and Laura are good parents to Evan and if Helene is hurting and whatever excuse there is. There is no reason for there to be so much cheating and affairs going on yet no firm decision.
Characters:
Evan - my poor mc, she's struggling so much. Whenever she had those "hallucinations" and PTSD, I felt so bad😭 She is such a strong character and lowkey relatable
Kit - MY SWEETHEART. I love Kit so much, it's unbelievable. He makes me so happy and giggly, just sigh. He's so sweet to Evan, does not try ANYTHING, and cries for her almost 24/7. He's such a pure man.
Maisie - I think she's growing on me, I hated her during the first book. There's been character development and though I find her incredibly annoying at times, I can empathize and imagine her situation.
Ben - The NERVE of this guy. He's such a despicable yet typical white boy, it makes me want to snarl the way mmcs always do because authors think we like it.
Helene - this woman kept trying to play the victim when the BBC interview was so unnecessary and problem-making. I'm sorry your husband cheated and all BUT THEN U SNAGGED HIS BROTHER, so why are you complaining??? Shut yo ahh up rn Ms. Queen 🤨
Venetia- just ick.
March 22, 2024
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Thrillers, Suspense, Crime
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Aimee Carter's Royal Scandal is the second installment in the authors Royal Blood trilogy. Fans of fictionalized series like The Crown and American Royals will love this reimagining of the royal family. With more secrets, romance and scandal than book one, this series is poised to get better and better and have readers hooked. Six months after being exposed as the King Alexander’s illegitimate daughter, Evangeline Bright is still trying to embrace her new role as Britain's favorite media villain.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult, Thrillers, Suspense, Crime
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Aimee Carter's Royal Scandal is the second installment in the authors Royal Blood trilogy. Fans of fictionalized series like The Crown and American Royals will love this reimagining of the royal family. With more secrets, romance and scandal than book one, this series is poised to get better and better and have readers hooked. Six months after being exposed as the King Alexander’s illegitimate daughter, Evangeline Bright is still trying to embrace her new role as Britain's favorite media villain.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 1, 2023
I have no words, except why? The author has left me hanging. This book was nonstop, action, tense, leaving me with major PTSD. Just when you think everything is going fine in Evans world, everything blows up in her face. The same cast of characters are involved, with some new additions. I will say I teared up a few times, and I wanted to throw my iPad across the room with frustration.Aimee Carter knows how to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Sadly, I’m going to have to wait probably a year, until the next book comes out. It will be worth the wait. If you like edge of your seat, family, drama, and true love. This is the sequel for you. Thank you, Net Galley for the ARC.
June 28, 2024
CRAZY BOOK. the cliffhanger was wild. the characters are mid, but it literally doesn't matter bc there's like 10 major life-threatening events through the ENTIRE book. she can NEVER catch a break. i really need the third book to come out. i don't even want to imagine the chaos that evan is going to cause now...
maisie grew on me this book, but kit annoys me so much bc he has no personality. give him a negative trait, please!! he's too nice. she thinks for a second that he's done something wrong and it's never true, let him do something bad! or make him slightly interesting!!!
OH, and i was right about his brother!! i knew that was fishy. we don't completely know why yet. and evan FINALLY got a phone. i see now why she didn't have one. it was important to the plot but it was hard to suspend my disbelief. her father is the king of england. she can afford a phone. and you're already having me believe all these shenanigans, AT LEAST have something be normal.
maisie grew on me this book, but kit annoys me so much bc he has no personality. give him a negative trait, please!! he's too nice. she thinks for a second that he's done something wrong and it's never true, let him do something bad! or make him slightly interesting!!!
OH, and i was right about his brother!! i knew that was fishy. we don't completely know why yet. and evan FINALLY got a phone. i see now why she didn't have one. it was important to the plot but it was hard to suspend my disbelief. her father is the king of england. she can afford a phone. and you're already having me believe all these shenanigans, AT LEAST have something be normal.
April 1, 2024
Royal Scandal
5 stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It ends on a freaking CLIFFHANGER!!! How on earth am I supposed to wait for the next book ? This book falls into my exclusive category of sequel surpassing the first one in every way ! Has to be the book of the year for me so far ! Hands down.
The exhilarating pace, character development and the twists and turns at the end of every chapter had me screaming so hard ! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Some of the events were so unexpected and shocking, I could hardly breathe!!
I seriously can't wait to read the next!!! I wanna know what happens obviously but more than anything else I NEED a happy ending for my favorites. They have been through so much.
Aimee Carter, what a talent ! It takes a great deal of effort and skill to write a book/series which keeps you hooked right from the start till the end. Well done♥️.
5 stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It ends on a freaking CLIFFHANGER!!! How on earth am I supposed to wait for the next book ? This book falls into my exclusive category of sequel surpassing the first one in every way ! Has to be the book of the year for me so far ! Hands down.
The exhilarating pace, character development and the twists and turns at the end of every chapter had me screaming so hard ! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Some of the events were so unexpected and shocking, I could hardly breathe!!
I seriously can't wait to read the next!!! I wanna know what happens obviously but more than anything else I NEED a happy ending for my favorites. They have been through so much.
Aimee Carter, what a talent ! It takes a great deal of effort and skill to write a book/series which keeps you hooked right from the start till the end. Well done♥️.
May 6, 2024
OMG! what just happened? plz dont tell me thats how she ends the book. i-i-i cant evennnn nooooo she cant do that to meeee😭😭
July 20, 2024
I oftentimes wonder how I would act if I were to be named heiress to a fortune out of nowhere-
LIKE HELLO YES, PICK ME, CHOOSE ME, LOVE ME
LIKE HELLO YES, PICK ME, CHOOSE ME, LOVE ME
June 24, 2024
Really enjoyed this!! The audiobook was fantastic as always and there were lots of twisty turns, as promised!! The cliff hanger is absolutely CRIMINAL though, what the hell
March 12, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ROYAL SCANDAL by Aimee Carter
📚 Second in a Series
👑 Modern-Day Royals
🏎️ Fast-Paced
📰 Mixed Media
🧠 Mental Health Rep
I tiptoed into reading this one because while I liked the first in the series, I didn't love it. I am happy to announce that this one is fantastic.
This plot moves. Just when you think something was momentous enough to dissect for a minute, Carter throws you another curveball. It was quite the ride. My chest was pounding quite a bit.
There is clear character growth with many of the characters here- specifically Evan and Maisie. It was nice to see a lot more dimension added. I also loved a lot of the historical tidbits (I have no idea if any of it was based on real legislation), but it added a layer of depth that made the story feel a lot more authentic. The mixed media parts at the beginning of the chapters were some of my favorite parts!
And that ending?! I have to wait for the third now? Sheesh!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children's for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
📚 Second in a Series
👑 Modern-Day Royals
🏎️ Fast-Paced
📰 Mixed Media
🧠 Mental Health Rep
I tiptoed into reading this one because while I liked the first in the series, I didn't love it. I am happy to announce that this one is fantastic.
This plot moves. Just when you think something was momentous enough to dissect for a minute, Carter throws you another curveball. It was quite the ride. My chest was pounding quite a bit.
There is clear character growth with many of the characters here- specifically Evan and Maisie. It was nice to see a lot more dimension added. I also loved a lot of the historical tidbits (I have no idea if any of it was based on real legislation), but it added a layer of depth that made the story feel a lot more authentic. The mixed media parts at the beginning of the chapters were some of my favorite parts!
And that ending?! I have to wait for the third now? Sheesh!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children's for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
May 24, 2024
Read this almost exactly a year to the day that I read the first book in the series—and again on a long flight. In Royal Scandal, Evan has started to find her footing within the royal family...more or less. But as the book goes on, and death threats turn into murder attempts, it becomes ever clearer that not everyone is happy with her new role—and they'll do anything to stop it.
I was very entertained by book 1, but I am not as convinced for book 2. Because...as much as I wanted this to be a series, I was hoping for new conflict in each book. Instead, it seems that the conflict is: book 1) Evan gets used to being a royal in the public eye, and not everyone wants to see her succeed; book 2) the same people really, really don't want her to succeed; and book 3) presumably she vanquishes the people who really, really don't want her to succeed. Was it still fun to read? Yes. But it reminded me of why I stopped reading YA dystopian trilogies—the second book always felt like a placeholder between the plot and worldbuilding of the first book and the conclusion of the third book. Cliffhanger and all.
Will I read book 3 anyway...? Well, yeah. Ideally on another intercontinental flight. And I can confirm that, especially when the third book is out, it'll make for a nice light series to zoom through all at once. But I think I'll not be too sorry if this stays a trilogy rather than growing longer.
I was very entertained by book 1, but I am not as convinced for book 2. Because...as much as I wanted this to be a series, I was hoping for new conflict in each book. Instead, it seems that the conflict is: book 1) Evan gets used to being a royal in the public eye, and not everyone wants to see her succeed; book 2) the same people really, really don't want her to succeed; and book 3) presumably she vanquishes the people who really, really don't want her to succeed. Was it still fun to read? Yes. But it reminded me of why I stopped reading YA dystopian trilogies—the second book always felt like a placeholder between the plot and worldbuilding of the first book and the conclusion of the third book. Cliffhanger and all.
Will I read book 3 anyway...? Well, yeah. Ideally on another intercontinental flight. And I can confirm that, especially when the third book is out, it'll make for a nice light series to zoom through all at once. But I think I'll not be too sorry if this stays a trilogy rather than growing longer.
February 19, 2024
Holy crap. I love this book series and I already can’t wait for the next book even though this one isn’t technically out yet. Ugh. The twists that happened and the cliffhanger ending was literally perfect!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC in return for a review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC in return for a review.
March 28, 2024
This was UNHINGED- and I am here for it!😂
Just check your disbelief at the gate and buckle
up, because this was a fast paced roller coaster ride, all to set up the next book. Book 3 better bring Bad Benny to justice!
I enjoyed the listening experience as I only read the audiobook. I cannot believe all Evangeline was put through, but she and her found family made it through to the end. I cannot wait to see if they can take down scheming Ben!
Just check your disbelief at the gate and buckle
up, because this was a fast paced roller coaster ride, all to set up the next book. Book 3 better bring Bad Benny to justice!
I enjoyed the listening experience as I only read the audiobook. I cannot believe all Evangeline was put through, but she and her found family made it through to the end. I cannot wait to see if they can take down scheming Ben!
January 20, 2024
This sequel was so good and so infuriating. Almost on principle, I don't really read series -- I'm a one and done reader. BUT I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I need to know now. Like the first, this book is tightly paced and twisty and a lot of fun. I continue to be so obsessed with and so annoying about this series and I make no apologies.
February 12, 2024
Wow! Book 1 was nicely suspenseful and twisty. This book blew me away! I couldn’t put it down and was shocked by the end! This was my first fantastic five-star read of 2024 and I’m eagerly awaiting the conclusion! The characters remained true to their personalities and the action was nail-biting. Loved this book.
May 12, 2024
And while the words she said and the accusations she slung hours earlier still hang between us, with the smoke rising from the castle and the flames flickering towards the night sky, they seem to fade until they, too, drift away on the wind.
In my discussion of Book 1, I made a brief comparison with two other series. I'm still comparing here, but with another series this time: Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls books. It's pure coincidence, of course, but some things in Royal Scandal definitely made me think of that series.
It's mostly in the general set-up of the entire book series. There are clearly some problems in Book 1, but they're nothing compared to what the characters get thrown at in Book 2. This is some next-level shit, guys. There are quite some shocking scenes which I hadn't seen coming, with several of them having big, long-term consequences. There are several psychologically important elements present as well, especially for Evan and (but less so) Maisie.
All that just to say that Aimée Carter really surprised me on a number of occasions. In fact, after a while it started getting a bit heavy even for me, since the emotional aspect is very important in this book. After a while, everything becomes more balanced, though.
Evan is still a great character, although I feel there was some time in the book during which her emotional instability was starting to annoy me a bit. I understand she's having troubles, but at that point I felt like she was overreacting just a teensy bit.
Maisie also has her difficulties, and she does act up every now and again and starts throwing tantrums. That already annoyed me a bit in Royal Blood, but it was more present here. She's not always too kind to her friends or Evan, and while there are some moments when I felt sympathy for her, she did get on my nerves a couple of times. I'm glad that she always finds her way again, though.
This book is also a clear example of why sometimes having a main character romantically involved with someone else is terrible, because there were several scenes - especially in the first half of the book - where Evan's only talking with Kit or doing stuff with Kit. It felt to me as if she was neglecting most other people around her.
Tibby is still amazing. Alexander too - well, for as long as he's around, ahum...
Aiofe was a nice addition. It was obvious from the very start that there's something going on with her, the way Kit reacts, but I didn't know what it was until the author starts explaining it all. And I have to add: I was never really buying that .
As I already said in Book 1: I loved Laura (and her relationship with Alexander). It's clear that Evan has somehow been judging her mother and her parents' relationship for years in a way that is very unfair. She starts to form a better understanding of it and them now, though, and Laura's presence and role are great. You don't get parents with such a good background in a novel, in my opinion.
I guess the ending of this book - who's the mole? - wasn't very difficult to get to if you're a reader. There were only a handful of possibilities and at least to me, one stood out. That's not to say that the plot isn't well done - it definitely is. Carter had me on the edge of my seat for quite some time. There is a lot going on in this book, you hardly know where to look, with so many important things happening, but she weaves it all together in a masterful way. And the writing is good too.
The cover is ugh, too. The British one, I mean - just look at it!
Book 1 was an appetiser, so it seems. Book 2 raises the stakes considerably, and clearly will have a direct link with Book 3 - which I'm guessing will be the final one in the series. I am very excited to find out what's going to happen and how everything will work out.
8.3/10
In my discussion of Book 1, I made a brief comparison with two other series. I'm still comparing here, but with another series this time: Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls books. It's pure coincidence, of course, but some things in Royal Scandal definitely made me think of that series.
It's mostly in the general set-up of the entire book series. There are clearly some problems in Book 1, but they're nothing compared to what the characters get thrown at in Book 2. This is some next-level shit, guys. There are quite some shocking scenes which I hadn't seen coming, with several of them having big, long-term consequences. There are several psychologically important elements present as well, especially for Evan and (but less so) Maisie.
All that just to say that Aimée Carter really surprised me on a number of occasions. In fact, after a while it started getting a bit heavy even for me, since the emotional aspect is very important in this book. After a while, everything becomes more balanced, though.
Evan is still a great character, although I feel there was some time in the book during which her emotional instability was starting to annoy me a bit. I understand she's having troubles, but at that point I felt like she was overreacting just a teensy bit.
Maisie also has her difficulties, and she does act up every now and again and starts throwing tantrums. That already annoyed me a bit in Royal Blood, but it was more present here. She's not always too kind to her friends or Evan, and while there are some moments when I felt sympathy for her, she did get on my nerves a couple of times. I'm glad that she always finds her way again, though.
This book is also a clear example of why sometimes having a main character romantically involved with someone else is terrible, because there were several scenes - especially in the first half of the book - where Evan's only talking with Kit or doing stuff with Kit. It felt to me as if she was neglecting most other people around her.
Tibby is still amazing. Alexander too - well, for as long as he's around, ahum...
Aiofe was a nice addition. It was obvious from the very start that there's something going on with her, the way Kit reacts, but I didn't know what it was until the author starts explaining it all. And I have to add: I was never really buying that .
As I already said in Book 1: I loved Laura (and her relationship with Alexander). It's clear that Evan has somehow been judging her mother and her parents' relationship for years in a way that is very unfair. She starts to form a better understanding of it and them now, though, and Laura's presence and role are great. You don't get parents with such a good background in a novel, in my opinion.
I guess the ending of this book - who's the mole? - wasn't very difficult to get to if you're a reader. There were only a handful of possibilities and at least to me, one stood out. That's not to say that the plot isn't well done - it definitely is. Carter had me on the edge of my seat for quite some time. There is a lot going on in this book, you hardly know where to look, with so many important things happening, but she weaves it all together in a masterful way. And the writing is good too.
The cover is ugh, too. The British one, I mean - just look at it!
Book 1 was an appetiser, so it seems. Book 2 raises the stakes considerably, and clearly will have a direct link with Book 3 - which I'm guessing will be the final one in the series. I am very excited to find out what's going to happen and how everything will work out.
8.3/10
April 2, 2024
When I picked up Royal Scandal I remembered how much I loved the first book and hoped that this one would be just as good, I was thrilled to discover that it is just as good if not maybe even a smidge better than the first in the series. It took me a minute to remember where we had left off in book one but I soon was back in the swing of things and looking forward to finding out how Evan was going to handle being part of the monarchy and in the public eye.
I loved that Evan was still mostly the same, she had to behave a little differently because she was now representing the Royal family too, but she still had her defiant side and was able to stand out even if it was unintentional. The relationships between Evan and the other Royals were much improved; especially the relationship with her sister Maisie, they still had their moments but I enjoyed that they were supporting each other more; which meant there was more at stake. There were a lot more interesting dynamics between the characters this time, secrets, relationships, and press speculation causing a lot more tension for each of them.
That was something that worked even better in this book than in the last, the articles, interviews, and text exchanges at the start of every chapter. As things really start to get tense these are a brilliant way to see just how volatile it is becoming for Evan and the Royals, it is also really interesting to see how perceptions are changed so easily by gossip and inaccurate reporting which feels very relatable to me right now.
As for the plot of this story, it was brilliant, I feel I have to be a little vague because I don’t want to spoil everything that happens and just how good it is, but trust me there are a lot of surprises in this book. Just when I thought things might start to get easier for Evan and her family everything takes a turn once again and she finds herself in all sorts of danger. I liked that there were points in the story where I was questioning everyone’s loyalty and the suspense of what might happen next was electrifying.
But oh my goodness that ending, I honestly gasped when I got to the end and was both exhilarated and frustrated at the cliffhanger. I already want the next book, I am dying to know what happens. This is definitely a series that you want to pick up, I highly recommend it.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
I loved that Evan was still mostly the same, she had to behave a little differently because she was now representing the Royal family too, but she still had her defiant side and was able to stand out even if it was unintentional. The relationships between Evan and the other Royals were much improved; especially the relationship with her sister Maisie, they still had their moments but I enjoyed that they were supporting each other more; which meant there was more at stake. There were a lot more interesting dynamics between the characters this time, secrets, relationships, and press speculation causing a lot more tension for each of them.
That was something that worked even better in this book than in the last, the articles, interviews, and text exchanges at the start of every chapter. As things really start to get tense these are a brilliant way to see just how volatile it is becoming for Evan and the Royals, it is also really interesting to see how perceptions are changed so easily by gossip and inaccurate reporting which feels very relatable to me right now.
As for the plot of this story, it was brilliant, I feel I have to be a little vague because I don’t want to spoil everything that happens and just how good it is, but trust me there are a lot of surprises in this book. Just when I thought things might start to get easier for Evan and her family everything takes a turn once again and she finds herself in all sorts of danger. I liked that there were points in the story where I was questioning everyone’s loyalty and the suspense of what might happen next was electrifying.
But oh my goodness that ending, I honestly gasped when I got to the end and was both exhilarated and frustrated at the cliffhanger. I already want the next book, I am dying to know what happens. This is definitely a series that you want to pick up, I highly recommend it.
Originally posted on everywhere and nowhere
July 15, 2024
I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks
"Royal Scandal" is book 2 in the "Royal Blood" series by Aimee Carter. Six months have gone by since Evan Bright was exposed as the illegitimate daughter of the King of England. Now a new threat emerges as her life is in peril once again after a near-death experience. The whole royal family is being targeted by an anti-monarchist group and it's clear there's an insider in the palace working against the family. Evan has to work fast and know who to trust in order to find who is trying to destroy the royal family before it's too late.
Such a great second book! Seriously, two books in, and I am super impressed with this series. Young adult is sometimes very hit or miss with me, but damn, I am loving this series so far. Things skyrocket in this particular installment in some truly shocking, unexpected ways that I totally didn't see coming. There's several near-death experiences not only with Evan, but with other member of the royal family. There's scandal from a TV interview that Queen Helene gives. Evan doesn't trust Ben after the crap he pulled in the previous book. And there's clearly an informant in the palace letting the media in on on all the gossip that all makes Evan look bad and to blame for everything going on. It gets pretty heated and intense in this installment and I really appreciate Aimee Carter letting loose and not being afraid to shy away from some tough subject matter. The book gets dark, and it gets dark fast. I continued to love and enjoy all these characters, who are all complex in their own ways. Totally shipping Evan and Kit! They are so perfect for each other. Maisie continues to be a drama queen, but I love her soft moments with Evan. The unexpected arrival of Evan's mom at Christmas causes some juicy drama between all involved. I need the third book, like, right now! It ends in such a way that you are certainly hanging for more and can't wait to see what Evan has up her sleeve.
"Royal Scandal" is book 2 in the "Royal Blood" series by Aimee Carter. Six months have gone by since Evan Bright was exposed as the illegitimate daughter of the King of England. Now a new threat emerges as her life is in peril once again after a near-death experience. The whole royal family is being targeted by an anti-monarchist group and it's clear there's an insider in the palace working against the family. Evan has to work fast and know who to trust in order to find who is trying to destroy the royal family before it's too late.
Such a great second book! Seriously, two books in, and I am super impressed with this series. Young adult is sometimes very hit or miss with me, but damn, I am loving this series so far. Things skyrocket in this particular installment in some truly shocking, unexpected ways that I totally didn't see coming. There's several near-death experiences not only with Evan, but with other member of the royal family. There's scandal from a TV interview that Queen Helene gives. Evan doesn't trust Ben after the crap he pulled in the previous book. And there's clearly an informant in the palace letting the media in on on all the gossip that all makes Evan look bad and to blame for everything going on. It gets pretty heated and intense in this installment and I really appreciate Aimee Carter letting loose and not being afraid to shy away from some tough subject matter. The book gets dark, and it gets dark fast. I continued to love and enjoy all these characters, who are all complex in their own ways. Totally shipping Evan and Kit! They are so perfect for each other. Maisie continues to be a drama queen, but I love her soft moments with Evan. The unexpected arrival of Evan's mom at Christmas causes some juicy drama between all involved. I need the third book, like, right now! It ends in such a way that you are certainly hanging for more and can't wait to see what Evan has up her sleeve.
October 21, 2023
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, what a cliffhanger!!!! Before reading this novel, I knew from Goodreads that there would be a third book in the series. However, I wasn't expecting such a big cliffhanger at the end of this one! I now want to read the third book even more than I wanted to read this one. And considering I jumped straight from finishing the first book into reading the ARC of this one, that's saying something.
Beyond that cliffhanger, here are my other thoughts about this book, in no particular order:
--I read it in one sitting.
--I really appreciate the character development that happened on the page in this novel, as well as what's happened off the page between the previous book and this one. Mainly, I loved seeing how the bond between Maisie and Evan has grown. And the one between Evan and Kit. And Tibby and Evan. Basically, I just love all of it.
--I enjoyed the mystery pervading this story's plot. Most of my thoughts surrounding it were essentially, "We know who's behind it all. Right?" Gives significant look at book. "Right????" The mystery of who's behind everything, and how they've managed to do it, kept me reading and second-guessing myself. The narrative is well-crafted to provide both mystery as well as a very enjoyable read.
--I loved the new characters introduced in this book, and I hope to see more of them. (Although when it came to the fate of that one character--you'll know the one once you read the book--I was kinda devastated. I'd gotten to like that character, and I hadn't seen that particular fate coming. Well, okay, I kinda saw it coming. But still.)
--While reading this book, I laughed, I cried (not nearly as much as when I read the previous one, though), and I melted thanks to the adorable romance. Oh, and I was also on the edge of my seat, waiting to see how things would be resolved. And I'm still waiting for that, thanks to the cliffhanger.
I can't wait to read the third book in the series!
Wow, what a cliffhanger!!!! Before reading this novel, I knew from Goodreads that there would be a third book in the series. However, I wasn't expecting such a big cliffhanger at the end of this one! I now want to read the third book even more than I wanted to read this one. And considering I jumped straight from finishing the first book into reading the ARC of this one, that's saying something.
Beyond that cliffhanger, here are my other thoughts about this book, in no particular order:
--I read it in one sitting.
--I really appreciate the character development that happened on the page in this novel, as well as what's happened off the page between the previous book and this one. Mainly, I loved seeing how the bond between Maisie and Evan has grown. And the one between Evan and Kit. And Tibby and Evan. Basically, I just love all of it.
--I enjoyed the mystery pervading this story's plot. Most of my thoughts surrounding it were essentially, "We know who's behind it all. Right?" Gives significant look at book. "Right????" The mystery of who's behind everything, and how they've managed to do it, kept me reading and second-guessing myself. The narrative is well-crafted to provide both mystery as well as a very enjoyable read.
--I loved the new characters introduced in this book, and I hope to see more of them. (Although when it came to the fate of that one character--you'll know the one once you read the book--I was kinda devastated. I'd gotten to like that character, and I hadn't seen that particular fate coming. Well, okay, I kinda saw it coming. But still.)
--While reading this book, I laughed, I cried (not nearly as much as when I read the previous one, though), and I melted thanks to the adorable romance. Oh, and I was also on the edge of my seat, waiting to see how things would be resolved. And I'm still waiting for that, thanks to the cliffhanger.
I can't wait to read the third book in the series!
March 20, 2024
Ever since I read ‘Royal Blood’ last year, I have been a huge fan of Aimée Carter, so of course I expected book two in this series to be another addictive banger. But, what I didn't expect was to love it as much as I did book one. I thought there was no way that this book could come close to the action-packed, whirlwind, mystery that was ‘Royal Blood’, but I’m happy to say that I was mistaken. ‘Royal Scandal’ had the addictive dramatic flare that I fell in love with last year. A brand new mystery to follow with the same beloved characters. This book was the perfect mix of mystery, drama, romance and family that we all grew to love when this series first came out, I’m so glad that book two is almost here! The only thing that upsets me about this series is how long I’ll have to wait to get the third instalment and the answers that I’ve been looking for. Reading ‘Royal Scandal’ reminded me just how much I fell in love with these characters in book one, and of my love for YA mysteries! If you’ve read book one, you’re going to love this one. If you haven’t, why not?
Thank you Usborne YA, Netgalley, and Aimée Carter for sending me an E-Arc of this one, because I was struggling to hold on until the release date ;)
Don’t think this series is your thing? Let me convince you otherwise! Read this book if you love:
・❥・Gossip Girl meets The Princess Diaries
・❥・Secrets, lies and scandal
・❥・Mysteries to solve and action-packed drama
・❥・Side plot romance
・❥・Books set in England
Thank you Usborne YA, Netgalley, and Aimée Carter for sending me an E-Arc of this one, because I was struggling to hold on until the release date ;)
Don’t think this series is your thing? Let me convince you otherwise! Read this book if you love:
・❥・Gossip Girl meets The Princess Diaries
・❥・Secrets, lies and scandal
・❥・Mysteries to solve and action-packed drama
・❥・Side plot romance
・❥・Books set in England
April 9, 2024
In the Royal Scandal, the drama continues and reaches new heights that I could have never expected. What an unbelievably tumultuous ride! I went through so many emotions and had so much fun. I couldn't put this book down.
I enjoyed reading about Maisy and Evan's relationship growth. They finally got the chance to care for each other like the true sisters they are which helped shape the story. It's unbelievable the depths that a certain person went to to try to kill off Evan. Evan even thought she was going mad because no one believed her. When all the pieces came together I thought yes, they will nail him now but then that ending left me hanging. I am so annoyed... It sucks I have to wait a year to read the next book but it will be well worth the wait.
I enjoyed reading about Maisy and Evan's relationship growth. They finally got the chance to care for each other like the true sisters they are which helped shape the story. It's unbelievable the depths that a certain person went to to try to kill off Evan. Evan even thought she was going mad because no one believed her. When all the pieces came together I thought yes, they will nail him now but then that ending left me hanging. I am so annoyed... It sucks I have to wait a year to read the next book but it will be well worth the wait.
March 16, 2024
I am OBSESSED with this YA royal thriller that sucks you in and doesn't let you go. Of course it ends on a cliff hanger and I am left waiting in eager anticipation for the next installment. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of the American Royals series by Katharine McGee. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and @prhaudio for a complimentary digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! Be prepared for romance, betrayals and tons of family drama when you enter this world. Definitely recommended to start with book one.
April 24, 2024
I read Royal Blood last year and really enjoyed it, so I was so excited to get my hands on Royal Scandal. After all the drama of the first book, you'd think Evan would manage to catch a break, but book two packs just as much of a punch, only bringing more mysteries to the table.
I loved seeing Evan continue to navigate her new life in the royal family, and see her relationships progress with various members, such as her sister Maisie, and boyfriend Kit. All of the ins and outs of the family's dynamic was really fleshed out in this book - particularly with both the girl's parents, and their respective relationships.
Carter keeps us guessing right to the end, with a cliffhanger that's left me longing for book three already.
I loved seeing Evan continue to navigate her new life in the royal family, and see her relationships progress with various members, such as her sister Maisie, and boyfriend Kit. All of the ins and outs of the family's dynamic was really fleshed out in this book - particularly with both the girl's parents, and their respective relationships.
Carter keeps us guessing right to the end, with a cliffhanger that's left me longing for book three already.
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