This was an interesting new world, definitely great for anyone who loves fairytale or royalty themed fantasy. It definitely gives off The Cruel Prince vibes, so that is a great readalike. The characters aren't necessarily the most likeable, but that's supposed to be the point. They both will do whatever it takes to further their status in society.

The central romance might have been the best thing about this book. There is a lot of court intrigue, but sometimes I had difficulty following it. This might have been becuase I listened to the audiobook, though. The narrator was great, but sometimes I don't pay quite as close attention, so maybe I missed something plotwise.

While I don't think this necessarily needed to be a series, I do understand where the author wants to go with the story. I am kind of interested in seeing what happens next, so I might pick up the next book when it comes out. We'll see!