Review Detail

ROYAL BASTARDS was something I kept seeing on Instagram and Twitter, and immediately I loved the cover! You guys I love me a good cover and I loved how this cover had the bold font and the chair that’s almost invisible until it hits the light! Just looking at it was so cool. Then I read the summary and I knew this would definitely be a me book. ROYAL BASTARDS follows Tilla, a bastard child to Lord Kent. All Tilla wants in this life is to sit at her fathers' side, but instead, has to sit at the bastards table. It isn’t until visiting Lightspire royalty come that Tilla’s life is forever changed. Now on the run with her half-brother, the princess, a Zitochi, and a childhood friend Miles, Tilla must decide where her loyalties lie.

I am such a huge fan of fantasy and I really think Royal Bastards delivered on everything I love about that genre. I have read books very similar to Royal Bastards, but I am a sucker for these types of books so I knew going in I would enjoy it. Especially because a rag-tag team that becomes family, is definitely a trope I will go down with! Not to mention Tilla and Lyriana (the princess)! They were AHHHHMAZING! Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed each character but I loved these two the most. They are both such different characters, but so amazing in their own ways. And later on in the book with Lyriana WOW! Total BA! I also really loved Tilla and Lyriana’s friendship. I loved that they grew to be family and they took care of each other and protected each other. I am also a huge sucker for good female relationships! Plus they are both so freaking cool!

Another thing I really enjoyed was how much time was spent more on the characters than the world. Don't get me wrong I love world building and I think it's important but I felt like Andrew spent a lot of time fleshing out each character and really giving them a voice in this world, and I for one loved that direction. And despite only seeing from Tilla’s POV I really felt like I left the book knowing each of the characters better and I could see how much they loved each other. One thing I will mention is that this book does start out light but gets dark in a lot of places. For me I don’t mind blood or guts so I’m not sure how much would bother someone, but if it does bother you just be warned it is in this book quite a bit. That being said I think the balance between gory and funny was good, at least for me.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, quick read that will keep you guessing until the end. Andrew Shvarts debut book is definitely one to check out. As of yet, they have not added any more to this series, but I am keeping my fingers crossed because I really really want to see how this story unfolds. Color me intrigued! Seriously though, if you love fantasy and daring escapes, you will really want to add this one to your list!