Stars (Out of 10): 9/10 Stars
Favorite Character: Liam (so much depth throughout the story!)
Spoiler Free: Oh man, I could not put this book down! This definitely would’ve been one of those “devour in one sitting” books had I not been reading it on my commute (and been forced to put it down constantly.) Right from the beginning, the plot and world just draw you in. You’re constantly forced to consider every event and the secrets it holds, as Jules constantly reminds you that secrets are everywhere, and the Geldings and other royals will do whatever it takes to keep them. And this book definitely delivered on that front! I questioned everything, had so many theories, and still I was surprised by every twist this book seemed to take! That, plus the able to fully capture my attention without a full focus on romance, just proved how well written this book was, and how fascinating the idea was.
Almost everything about this book screamed that it was just another YA fantasy book in the kingdoms wave. Yes, the premise seemed awesome, but so many do. So needless to say, I definitely went in with mediocre expectations. But with each new page, the book constantly rose above and beyond anything I expected it to be!
Careful! Spoilers beyond this point!
Spoilers: Ahhhh. Just everything that happened in those last 50 pages has me reeling!
I can’t believe I didn’t realize Caro was controlling everything all along. It was so obvious there was something off about her (her constant watching of Jules, often pushing her to do things that could reveal the truth, etc.), but I still was so blind to it! She seemed so trustworthy to me, as a reader, that it’s no wonder Jules fell into her trap in the actual story.
Also Liam! I definitely guessed early on that Liam was the true love interest, but I still didn’t expect that whole mess to turn out as it did! (Why didn’t she kiss him!!!) Also, can I just say again that I love when MC’s find out the “big bad guy” is actually a sweetheart? Definitely feel that vibe happening here, and I love it! Only thing I’m mad about is that Liam didn’t end up going with her. So now in Evermore I first need to wait for them to reunite.
Also, what is up with Roan? It was never fully mentioned, but there was definitely more to him than originally shown, and I hope the next book starts unraveling that thread. From Bea warning Jules that she was better than that snake, Bea smiling at Roan until realizing Jules was with him (when servants are usually pretty shy around the royals?), and Roan always smelling like a different type of flower/perfume, it definitely seems like that dude was super shady and sleeping around with more than a few servant girls. In the end, I think this realization, either conscious or subconscious, is what made his death not break Jules’s heart. Maybe she realized that the kiss they shared wasn’t one out of love, but of lust or manipulation instead? Who knows! I just hope this is a path that’s uncovered farther.
And then there was the plot, which didn’t let go for a moment the entire book. From page to page, we are constantly gaining more clues to put together the puzzle, and it makes even the normally filler scenes super interesting to read!