in depth


Royal Bastards was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and for good reason. I remember thinking partway through, with a sniffle, that it's exactly the fantasy book I didn't even realize I needed, or how much. The main character, Tilla, is a fierce, vibrant, relatably scattered hero. There's a group of multidimensional friends rather than a simple MC-love interest-isolated from everyone story like the ones I keep seeing. Friends! The plot is straight out of an action movie, and there's magic, murder, and snark. I'm in physical pain from aching for a sequel.

This is a breakneck book that starts with a brutal, unexpected murder and bounces from from one violent mishap to the next. A dark comedy of errors. A friend-group journey book. Think young adult The Lord of the Rings crossed with Harry Potter crossed with Game of Thrones crossed with Inglorious Basterds. Bad things happen to good people. Loyalties are tested. Off-color sexual innuendos are made. The writing is from Tilla's point of view and is peppered with modern-day idioms, giving the story a more tongue-in-cheek tone than most high fantasy. And, except for a few stilted segments, it works.

On this foundation is the story of five misfits in terrible danger. They're caught in the middle of a civil war, on the run from one side. Each character has their own motivations and desires, their own personality. You get to see each of them struggle and grow. The changing dynamics of their relationships. The blossoming of true friendship and love, but also jealousy, pettiness, and doubt. Tilla is adorably bumbling but loyal; Lyriana is a stone-cold badass; Zell is smooth and unapologetically, pragmatically murderous; Jax is the reincarnation of Fred and George; Miles is a little dweeb with brave ideas. I cared deeply about each of them, which only heightened the tension.

There were a few elements that didn't settle as well with me. First, I was a little concerned about how Zell's people, who have darker skin, are called barbarians and heathens by the white House Stark-sort of people. Given the whole danger of the dark-skinned agressor trope. Especially since Zell was portrayed as an exception. However, I think Shvarts does a good job of commenting on these assumptions in-text and labeling them as wrong. Also, I thought it was a little too easily good vs evil. Like, obviously the murderers were wrong, but wasn't it undertandable they were rising against the magic-wielding ruling class? Yet Tilla is totally fine delivering her people (the rebels) to the crown. Seemed a bit too black-and-white for me. Give me more nuance!

On the whole, Royal Bastards was an astounding debut. It was so funny and heartfelt, brutality mixed with aww-moments, magic and monsters and five friends sticking together despite the world against them. The magic system and political machinations are clever and wasted on just one book; I could live in this world forever. It's a fantasy that blends seriousness with sarcasm. Despite a few kinks, it's so vivid and fun, with cinematic fight scenes and breathless action, that I can easily imagine it becoming its own franchise.
in a sentence

Royal Bastards is a sparkling, funny, brutal fantasy adventure about five misfits forming bonds and battling insurmountable odds--and defying the expectations of the adults in their lives.

Betrayal, Romance, Action, Magic, Friendship, Laughter, Kick-ass females, Hot boys, Twist & turns... What more can a reader ask for?!? Huge 5 stars!!! I was completely lost in this novel from page one till the very end. ROYAL BASTARDS is definitely one to have your MUST READ for 2017!!!!!

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. There was a twist or two but nothing contrived-the plot was good and well paced, yet eventful. I was also pleased to hear there will be a sequel and look forward to reading it. A bit of adventure, magic, betrayal, and coming of age(s) for this motley group of teenagers who must grow up all too fast is a great choice for fans of fantasy and magic.

Posted on bookishdiana.wordpresss.com
To be posted: May 11,2017


I honestly loved this book, so much it was SO FREAKING AMAZING. I LOVED THE CHARACTERS, THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.

So in my head it reminded me so much of Six of Crows meets The Kiss Of Deception.

Its a story of betrayal, hot boys, friendship, family, Magic, twists and everything you can imagine.

The characters were completely real they were flawed, and just felt real.

The stakes were high in this book, you felt the tension between the characters, and felt the pressure and felt the pain of each character.


Another great thing about this book is that that some of the characters I didn't like, which felt real because lets be honest who likes every person in the world not me. The characters were flawed and completely believable. I ALSO LOVED SOME OF THE CHARACTERS THEY HAVE TAKEN MY HEART.

They were witty, and so much fun. You just felt the tension between all of them and it so good.

The writing style was also something I loved, when it comes to fantasy book most are written and they are hard to understand, but I loved how it was so simple and easy to understand.
The pacing was a but slow in the begging but it soon picked up the pace and it was completely entertaining, the action scenes were so well written.

Also....

p.s..... get ready to be destroyed.

This started off on a good note and went downhill fast. The positive: I did like the basic story itself, even if it was pretty ordinary- warring kingdoms, one kingdom with magic, one "barbarian" kingdom in the north; it was a bit lazy. But I liked how it was unfolding and I liked the mage magic with the rings. Otherwise, I'm having a hard time thinking of positives. I couldn't stand Tilla and didn't feel any connection to the other characters, except for one moment towards the end with Lyriana (it was badass). But yeah, the dialogue felt so MODERN and not at all like a fantasy novel! And they cursed constantly- I'm no prude and have a sailor mouth of my own but it was so jarring to me. Every other phrase was what the hell? That asshole, that bitch, holy shit! It felt so unnatural. There's liberal use of the words crazy and insane too, which is not ideal. And I never felt a sense of danger even though there was a lot of action- it almost felt too easy at some points. Plus I could very much tell that the author must be a Game of Thrones fan- so many names were barely a twist on GoT character/place names that it also distracted me. I don't know, I almost gave up at the 40% mark and maybe I should have. I didn't buy the relationships between the characters or some of their choices or again, the dialogue. The romances were eye-roll worthy. Maybe this will work for people who don't read much fantasy but I'm not sure. I'm disappointed because I was very much looking forward to this book.

I absolutely devoured this book. The characters were incredible, and I liked that they had to make such hard choices between their families and what they felt was right. They were well fleshed out, and I loved the journey they went on- both mentally and physically. They had to figure out where their loyalties lay, and they had to avoid a lot of people who didn’t want them to live to even make that choice.

The adventure part was fabulous, definitely had me on the edge of my seat. The plot moved along at a great pace, and I loved the development of the characters. They started out as a very unlikely group, but they ended up forging relationships and friendships along the way. I loved that the females became close friends, I love a strong female friendship. And I enjoyed the romantic aspects as well!

The way the book was written was wonderfully entertaining, too. There was so much witty banter, and just… fun. While there was a lot of serious stuff going on, the characters still kept a sense of humor, and it made the book so enjoyable to read. Because yes, the stakes were incredibly high, but it was nice to have some normalcy in the midst of it.

Bottom Line: I loved the blend of fun and high stakes, and the fabulous mix of relationships that were explored- familial, friendships, and romance. Definitely a win!

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1982253137

Royal Bastards was an unexpected love for me. It caught my eye as soon as I heard about it and it did not disappoint. Sure there was some predictable moments and the plot felt a little flat at some points, but I was addicted as soon as I finished that first chapter.

My favourite part of Royal Bastards is the group of strangers who then turned into friends as they tried to survive together. I love books that don’t just feature a main character but a group of main characters. It also featured some diverse characters without sounding forced! Lyrianna and her family are pointed out for having dark skin and they weren’t cast in a minor role which was great to see! I was also REALLY happy to see that this wasn’t another ‘chosen one’ fantasy. The group of characters really did work together.

Royal Bastards started off sounding a bit middle grade but somewhere along the way it became young adult. Think along of the lines of Harry Potter. It felt younger at the start but grew into an older audience. Same idea here! I was nervous at the beginning because of that but don’t let that stop you!

The only two flaws I can possibly think of was that it was borderline insta-love and that it was much too short. I finished the whole book in two sittings which is great but I think it could have used a little more character development at some points. The romance wasn’t technically insta-love since the characters were on a month long journey, but it felt rushed because of the length of the book I think.

If you’re a fantasy lover then this is an easy option for you. There was a good mixture of humour, romance, and action while still being unique enough to not be like all the other young adult fantasies. It’s going to be a series to watch out for!

Things I enjoyed about this book - 5 well developed characters with good story arcs and believable motivation, engaging plot, and satisfying romance for the protagonist (I love the romance). Things that fell flat - the fantasy world wasn't well explained, and the characters used modern language, idioms and mannerisms which jolted me out of their world. Something I'm not sure how I feel about - the way the author addressed the "friendzone" issue. I'll give the next installment a chance, for sure!

It wasn't my favorite but was a good first title. The cover is TERRIBLE. However, it was unusual to have such modern dialogue with what felt like a period piece. It was jarring. I felt like I was watching a bad CW version of the book. I know authors want to be "hip," but readers usually pick certain books for their prescribed settings. Historical=historical setting and manner of speaking. Once I got over that, I enjoyed the action and the overall plot. The main character was a bit immature and childish, but I bought it for their character.

I enjoyed it, but it was a bit rushed- beyond insta-love in some cases. Also, at times, the language was anachronistic- "he's hot" "I had abs" super out of place.

This was a good adventure/fantasy story for older teens and adults. Tons of action to keep the reader's attention! Recommended.

This is the case where a book starts out super strong, but peters out, despite being an all-around interesting read. There were things I didn't care for about, things I wish were better explained, and the romance progression kind of threw me off, but the world and storyline was entertaining enough to keep me reading and despite my problems with it, I still really enjoyed it in the end.

Tilla was a great character and I liked seeing her progression through the book. She and Jax are half siblings and I really appreciated their bond. While there's nothing really special about them, they do hold their own against the threats against them and my heart pulled for Jax in the end. The whole lot wasn't bad to get to know, even the one I didn't like. I also really liked the mix of magic, fantasy, and action that the author did very well. That's what really kept me engaged in the book. Lyriana has magic and Zell is a skilled warrior. I loved what they brought to the table and learning more about each of their people. I loved seeing how Lyriana pulled from her magic and the extent of it and also learning about the different kinds of magic in their world. Zell was an interesting character and his tribe is brutal, but intriguing. He's the aloof, strong, yet silent type and while there were certain things I liked about him, I didn't really appreciate the romance between him and one of the female characters.

In actuality, I could've done without the romance at all. While I will say those kinds of emotions are key to certain plot lines, it wasn't developed enough for me to really care for it. And like I said, I wish the history of this land was developed a bit more. I couldn't really care for the main characters' parents and their reasons to rebel. While I could easily understand why they did what they did, I just didn't sympathize with them and you don't really get enough of both sides to figure out who you side with.

In any case, I really enjoyed reading this and it's a lot lighter than your typical fantasy and magic book. The characters alone draw you in and you kind of want to stick around and see what happens to them. Their adventures are filled with action and drama as well as betrayal, and if there were sequel (but please only make a duology, because that's really all it needs) I would definitely read it.

Action, magic, betrayal, romance... What more could you ask for from a YA fantasy? Royal Bastards not only delivers, but manages to pull it off as unpredictable.

Starting this book I didn't really get into it straight away. I didn't really like Tilla, our main protagonist. Consequently, it's in her POV, so I wasn't quite sure on the book. But, Shvarts turned it around and developed Tilla into a better character. After the group witnesses a crime, the story starts. Then I was completely hooked. This is one of those 'I just can't put it down' reads.

The main focus is the friendships between the five protagonists as is they run for their lives. Shvarts has given Tilla time with each individual to evolve their relationship with each other. The writing of this is really natural and there doesn't seem to be any inconsistent writing. So Tilla isn't in love with Jax one minute and then despises him the next, there's a very clear feeling towards him and she acts suitably on how she see's him as her brother.

I loved the princess, Lyriana. At first, she may seem weak and emotional, sometimes slightly annoying. Which Tilla does express in her view as well. But Lyriana really grows into her own. Due to the fact Royal Bastards is the first in a trilogy, Lyriana is most likely going to lead her kingdom at some point. Hence, this book proves she will be a strong, just and fair leader to her people. The character building by Shvarts is fantastic.

I actually enjoyed the 'love triangle' in this book. And I say love triangle very loosely here. Tilla knows what she wants and what she doesn't. Tilla shows her feelings throughout the book, and it's shown from the first chapters that the love of one of the triangle is completely unrequited. Because of this, it is, yes, predictable but it's not annoying as a trope.

Magic was mostly unexplained. Rings channel the magic, but some people dont need the rings to do magic. Although I would say it's not a big issue. It is probably me being picky. I found the misconception to be strange. I will give Shvarts the benefit of the doubt, and it will be further explained in the next book though.

The ending was so good. Things just kept happening that I just couldn't predict. Shvarts completely played with my emotions. I was angry. But also excited to get my hands on the next book.

This was another fantastic YA standalone. I could get used to these. Although the synopsis pretty much tells the entire story. :/

I know there's quite a few teens in my life who are looking for a book like this.

This story will suck you and have you rooting for these kids so me moment and then yelling at them at another. I wanted these kids to succeed so bad but sometimes I wanted to knock some sense into them and tell them to grow up. But they're just kids, I had to remind myself.

I wasn't sure what was going to happen. Everyone was against them. They knew too much. To be honest, I wasn't sure if this was going to be the start of another series. There was so much going on. But thankfully it did wrap up in the end.

I need more books like this.

I'm always drawn to this kind of book, Fantasy with a little romance. Royal Bastards was a good read, with a fair amount of world building and magical elements woven throughout the story. I found myself really drawn to Zell's character. I loved his whole concept and how we found out what he was really made of in the end. There was one thing that rubbed me the wrong way, but it was minor. Some parts of the book were out of character, like when Tilla said something about the "Guys" or some of the dialogue could be found in todays world instead of this old world setting. Its like the book broke character and thought it was Urban Fantasy for a moment. Even with this little pet peeve of mine, I still gave it four stars. It was enjoyable and I can't wait for the sequel.

This is a great YA fantasy story. The characters of Tilla, Jax, Miles, Zell and Lyriana are well rounded and we learn their history without it dragging down the storyline. The author does a great job of weaving in their backstories. The story starts out nice and lighthearted and then it takes a dark turn. There is humor, friendship, fighting, romance and death. The story moves along nicely and I cared for the characters hoping they would all be safe and survive. I don't like to wait for the next book in a series or a trilogy but when this book was over I was kind of wishing it wasn't a stand alone. Very entertaining, I had a hard time putting it down. I actually thought about having my tablet on my desk at work so I could read while I was working and hope no one would notice. This is well worth your time if you like this genre.

I completed this book in a single sitting. Loads of fun and quite a few surprises! I think teens would enjoy this adventure.

This is a fun book with a really great premise. I definitely dug the idea of looking at what the life of a bastard would be like-I wonder what the bastards of A Game of Thrones would be like if they banded together. It'd probably be interesting, but certainly not as fun as this. Lighthearted and jokey at times, and when it's time to get down to the very serious business of witnessing their parents commit treason, it's doesn't disappoint. I feel like with the way this ended, it won't be the end of this story, and I'm glad.

Unfortunately a quarter of the way through I had to DNF this book. The writing style was too much middle grade for my taste and the story failed to hook me in any which way. I do say I did enjoy the synopsis and cover, but ultimately this book was simply not my cup of tea. In the future I plan on giving it another shot but for now it's not for me.