Review Detail

RISE OF THE VICIOUS PRINCESS is an intriguing YA fantasy. Charis is the princess of Calera, a kingdom at war with their neighbor, Montevallo. Her life changes when an assassination attempt leaves her mother wounded. An overzealous guard means they cannot question the assassin nor the spy found in Charis's bath. Knowing that there must a spy in their midst, her mother, Queen, delivers a drastic ruling, leaving Charis feeling alone, grieving, and beginning to take on ruling responsibilities while her mother heals.

As Charis navigates the politics of the kingdom, she also finds herself developing feelings for her new bodyguard while also fighting off assassination attempts of her own. She must consider what is best for her people as she forges a new path forward- even if it sacrifices herself in the process.

What I loved: Charis is a really compelling character, raised to understand that everyone is her enemy and still looking for kindness and friendship anyway. She has faced every betrayal and still come through wanting to trust the people around her, luckily with the support of her father who wants happiness for her future. As her life is threatened, she becomes closer with Tal, her father's bodyguard who has become her own and her closest confidant. Tal is quiet but grows to also care for Charis as much as he is able to, given the differences in their stations.

Charis's world is kept limited by her role and the dangers posed to her, so the reader only explores this world through her rule around the castle/capital. However, through this, we get to learn about the politics, surrounding kingdoms, and non-human beings that are also entering into the conflicts. These elements were really fascinating, and I am hoping to learn more about the other kingdoms in the sequels.

Themes around duty, trust/betrayal, war, politics, dangerous alliances, and following your heart make this a really engaging read. Charis is really coming into her own and navigating a world where everyone has expectations of her. Her life is not her own, and she wants to do the best for her kingdom while also feeling the tug of her own heart.

The twists at the end I absolutely did not see coming, and I love that I was surprised by the way things played out. Highly recommend for people who love a fantasy with a good mystery and shocking reveals.

Final verdict: An engaging and twisty YA fantasy, RISE OF THE VICIOUS PRINCESS features endearing characters, an intriguing world, and thought-provoking themes. Highly recommend for fans of ASH PRINCESS, STOLEN SONGBIRD, and YEAR OF THE REAPER.