This book is a wild, messy ride that I both enjoyed and side-eyed in equal measure. First off, the spice? Oh, honey, it’s a five-alarm fire. The chemistry between Cate and the crowned prince had me fanning myself like a Victorian lady with the vapors—those steamy scenes were the glue holding this chaotic little gem together. I mean, when they weren’t plotting regicide or batting lashes at each other, they were tangled up in sheets.

But—and it’s a big but—the world-building? Yikes, it’s flimsier than my resolve to skip dessert. The nobility and monarchy are just... cool with losing their titles to this “Uprising” that’s hyped up but suspiciously MIA the entire book. I kept waiting for these rebels to storm the castle, but nope—they’re offstage, sending chill letters like, “Sure,  let the princey run for president, just win the vote, k?” What even is this vibe? And the government for this experiment? Nonexistent. No one’s rebuilding a nation here; it’s all “kill the king, strip the titles, someone’s president now, yay!” Lady M’s scheming to be president just so she can pass laws to crown herself queen was peak drama—loved her unhinged energy—but it only highlighted how little sense the politics made.

Plot-wise, it’s mostly sex and longing glances until the villain showdown, where things get wonky fast. The prince, who spent a week getting sex lessons to hype himself up for patricide if a dad he actually loves, just shrugs and lets this Lady M go because Cate’s like, “This isn’t you, babe.” Cue my eye-roll—dude, wasn’t that the whole plan? Two seconds later, Lady M tries to shank him and bolts. Oh, and poor Dom, the princess? Murdered by Lady M and her Gifted goon squad, and it’s treated like a footnote. I gasped, then pouted—give my girl a proper send-off, Falon!

So, three stars: swoony, snarky fun with behemoth a side of “huh?” It’s a glittery hot mess I couldn’t put down, but I need more than bedroom acrobatics and a shrug of a revolution next time.