I really loved the first book in this series. It was really hard to connect to this particular book. I loved the character Tillandra, but I felt this book was more disjointed.

Thank you for the advanced copy.

I started reading this without realizing that it was the second in a series — and while I was able to follow the plot fine, I kept thinking I was going to get a big flashback to explain some of the events and people the main characters kept referring to.

It was fine. I mean, it’s action-packed. Tilla and her friends have returned to the capital Lightspire after some serious action defeating — at least for the moment — her traitor father. (That all happened in the first book.) But they haven’t left trouble behind: More than one plot is afoot in the glittering city of magic, and while Tilla’s life is luxurious and pampered, it’s also under constant observation. When one of her friends is murdered in the room they share, Tilla gets pulled into a mystery that may be even deadlier than the one she’s just managed to escape. There’s romance (pretty standard YA stuff), violence (actually A LOT of violent violence, so be aware), and so many twists and turns that you may need a yoga session when you’re done. The author is definitely not afraid to go dark, and while some things are predictable, there are plenty of surprises. (Sometimes the surprises seem to exist just to surprise the reader with no textual logic behind them, but it certainly did keep me turning pages.)

What a fun series! I really enjoyed this sequel! This setting and the characters are fun to read about, and well written.

When I was first approved to read this book, I didn't know it was a sequel. So I decided to read Royal Bastards, and honestly fell in love with the story so much. Which was why I was expecting the same feeling in the second book, but... I was disappointed. The second book fell into the Second Book Syndrome and it sucks.

While in the end of the first book we had a lot of room for character growth and plot development, it felt like this was a filler book. Nothing really happened (or it took forever to happen) and the characters were just bland. But not all hope is lost - the third part of the book actually got back in place and it was pretty good! It left room for the story to take its final course and the bastards win... which is always my hope and dreams, for the underdogs to be recognized and win something (lol).

But let's talk characters:

- Tilla was... well, the worst version of Tilla. I thought we were over the point were she's selfish - she was always so courageous and helpful and considerate of others. In this book though, she became the complete opposite of herself - she made decisions that were unconsidered and she failed to recognize when her friends and closest ones were in pain. I want my Tilla back! I'm hoping the ending of this second book gave her a little nudge to grow and become something better.

- Zell and Lyriana acted more like supporting characters then ever - and that really irritates me. While Zell was just the "emotional support" that Tilla needed (whom she totally used and never really paid much attention), Lyriana was just one of those backup dancers in old tv shows - we know they're there... we just can't properly see them. And honestly she has so much potential to be more, to be better explored in the story... it just fails me to understand why she was sub-used.

- Ellarion = LOVE. He filled the void that Jax left, and he did it beautifully. His sarcasm and sassy remarks made the first 2/3 of the book better. And I consider now him a part of the bastards and I'LL PROTECT HIM WITH MY LIFE. (please don't kill him)

Even though I didn't enjoy the first 2/3 of the book, the ending honestly made it better. And it felt like none of that happened and we're still on the same fast paced book as we were on the first one. I'm eager to know what will happen with our group and specially what will happen to Miles.

After reading the first book I really had no interest in this but i gave it a shot and read about 50 pages. I just feel it.

City of Bastards is book two of the Royal Bastards series by Andrew Shvarts. I was so excited to get a copy of this book that I broke my own rules around how far in advance I can read a book before it comes out. And it was totally worth it!!

This book picks up several months after the end of book one and Tilla is now living in the capital of Lightspire under the protection of Lyriana’s father, the Volaris King. It has taken some time to get used to all the new things but Tilla has adjusted. Despite the support, there are still a great number of people in Lightspire who see her as the daughter of the traitor who is waging war against them and they treat her like it when the King and Princess aren’t looking. Of course, she is still trying to come to terms with her brother’s death and

Zell is also trying really hard to adjust and find a place. When Lyriana boasted about his fighting skills and he beat three of his toughest men, the Captain of the City Watch offered him a place to stay and a place within the watch as long as he taught the men the Zitochi fighting style. It appears to be the best fit for him as he tries to figure out what to do next.

A lot happens in this book and Tilla and Zell getting used to Lightspire is really only a small piece of the puzzle. When Tilla’s roommate is found dead, everyone insists that it was suicide but Tilla doesn’t believe it. She knew Markiska and knew she would never have done such a thing. As Tilla digs into what happened, she learns more about the cult that is causing trouble in the capital and she also finds out more about how the West is beating the Lightspire mages.

I love the characters in this book. Of course, I talked about Tilla and Zell but just as important to the story are Princess Lyriana and Ellarion. Lyriana is, like Tilla, still trying to get over Jax’s death but she is doing it by being reckless. Tilla absolutely realizes this but doesn’t call her out on it. Instead, she stands by and supports Lyriana as best she can. I loved the friendship these two have built and while sometimes they hold things back, they are still very supportive and protective of each other. Ellarion is right with them every step of the way and uses his magic to help find answers and protect them. He is a perfect balance for this group with his knowledge of the kingdom and magic. Things get really interesting for him as he pushes the boundaries of his magic and I can’t wait to see how he is impacted in the next book.

There are a lot of reveals in this book both around what is happening with the West and the mage power. These characters tend to keep secrets from each other with the intention of protecting each other but in reality, it only makes things more difficult. I had some real concerns about some of these characters once things were revealed but I also have high hopes that they can all figure out how to make things work. Things just aren’t black and white in this book and it’s hard to disagree with any of the reasons why people are rebelling against the Volaris family.

Overall, I thought this was a great book two in this series and I can’t wait to see where Shvarts goes next with the story and these characters. There isn’t much more I can say without potentially ruining the story but I will leave you with this. To quote Tilla, they may have lost the battle, but they will continue to fight the war. As the beginning of the resistance, they have a chance to create a new world and they are determined to do it together. If you are looking for a book that has magic, great characters, and an engaging story, definitely check this series out. I’ll be over here, impatiently waiting for the next book.

Thank you to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Note: City of Bastards is the second book in Andrew Shvarts' Royal Bastards series so please be aware that this review will contain spoilers for the first book. If you'd rather find out how the story begins you can read my review of Royal Bastards here.

So now we've got that cleared up let's talk about this story. Tilla, Zell and Lyriana have finally made it safely to the city of Lightspire and Lyriana has been returned to her family. While the king is grateful that his daughter has come home and is grateful for the help that Tilla and Zell gave her he's in a very difficult position because both of their fathers are still in open rebellion and trying to overthrow him. He can't really allow Tilla and Zell free roam of the city and he's not completely sure they can be trusted so he offers Tilla a place at a prestigious university to study alongside his daughter and Zell is asked to join the City Guard and help train the others on his fighting techniques.

This story has a very different feel to its predecessor, rather than the non-stop action of their journey this book is about trying to find a place in a new life. Tella is completely out of her element and trying to learn a whole new set of rules to live by. Where life in her father's castle was very relaxed and she could spend her time as she pleased here she must follow the rules and try not to upset the balance. We're introduced to new characters and have time to explore a completely new setting in Lightspire which I really enjoyed. While this book has a more sedate pace during the first half there is still plenty of action later on, Tella quickly realises that everything within the city is not what it seems and she's left trying to figure out who can be trusted and who is lying to her.

I have to admit that while I liked the new characters that are introduced I still missed Jax and I was a little disappointed that Zell wasn't around as much but I was soon swept up into the story and found myself eagerly reading waiting to see what would happen next. Some of the twists in the second half were great and things have definitely been set up for an explosive finale in the next book. This series has been a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all comes together!

City of Bastards was a great follow up to Royal Bastards. The story was intriguing, with wonderful imagery and world building, and full of conflict. The sequel picks up as Tilla and company are finding their places in Lightspire, the regent city. Tilla may feel out of place, but at least she is being protected by the will of the King. However, many still believe she is a spy for her father’s uprising, especially so when she discovers her good friend dead. Tilla suspects foul play and starts to dig deeper into the localized rebellion happening within the city.

Tilla is a complex and strong character. She knows herself, even when she has doubts or when others do. She struggles with the loss of her former life, her brother, and technically her entire family. Her father tried to murder her once, and she knows no matter how much she questions his motives, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her for the trouble she has caused him. Zell was also struggling with his place. He is so far removed from his world, that he seems to just be filling time and going through the motions, except when he is with Tilla. When Zell and Tilla are together it feels like their love could conquer all.

This story is really about war, politics, and power. But at what cost and to whom? Do you have the morality to fight back? Would you stand up against an oppressive regime? And ultimately, how do you know who is right and who is wrong? Tilla struggles with all of this as the world unfurls around her. She learns so much about the Titans and the Mages, but it is herself that she truly discovers.

I can’t say that I am surprised at the ending, something big was going to go down. But while I was reading, I definitely thought something else entirely was happening. I loved (and hated) how it ended, it was so full of suspense and shock! It also leaves hope for the future…aka next book! Now the waiting begins.

This series definitely gives a strong nod to Game of Thrones, just YA style! It’s also an easy read, and I really love how the verbiage is modern, which also makes it easily digestible. The writing is so enrapturing, you can just get lost in the world. If you are a fan of YA fantasy full of action, brutality, love and ultimately the struggle of knowing yourself, I think you will love this series!

I loved the book and the series. I would highly recommend the book. I loved the characters. It was an easy and fast pass book. I cannot wait for more from this series and author.

I received a free copy for honest review from Disney-Hyperion through Netgalley. Thank you Disney-Hyperion for providing me with a copy. I needed this sequel after reading and loving Royal Bastards.
I read Royal Bastards and loved it so much! I needed to know what happened next. I wondered how everything was going to go, what was going to happen. Tilla's journey in City of Bastards is different from her journey in Royal Bastards. I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this sequel so much. It was full of action, adventure, mystery, intrigue, danger, and humor, like the first book. It was exciting to read. I now need to know what happens next, and I have such a long, long wait for the third book.
This was a different book from Royal Bastards. Royal Bastards was very much a journey book of misfits becoming friends. City of Bastards starts off in a very different place. The journey is over and the group has changed. They've made it to Lightspire, which is supposed to be a safe harbor, the end of their journey, but it isn't as safe as they thought. But just because City of Bastards is different doesn't mean that it's bad, it was really, really good!
I really enjoy Tilla as a character. She's funny. I also enjoy reading her struggle and how she deals with things.
Zell and Tilla, I love together. They had a little bit of trouble in this phase of their relationship, which made me sad. So, not everything was great with them, but I know they'll make it through everything.
There is a gap in the group that makes me sad. No Spoilers, but I am missing some people.
There was a ton of action in this one. The ending was crazy. I need to know what happens next. This series is a lot of fun. I'd definitely recommend it. I do think Royal Bastards is slightly more fun than this sequel, but that might not even be a fair assessment. Royal Bastards and City of Bastards have different vibes from each other, which makes it interesting. I really like this series. I need to know what happens next with Tilla, Zell, Ellarion, Lyriana, and Miles.
Thank you again Disney-Hyperion for providing me with a free copy. I loved it!

I really had high expectations for the 2nd book in the series. While I enjoyed it, it seemed to drag somewhat in the middle and I had to really push to finish it. Unfortunately, the ending left me completely disappointed. I will still recommend the title to patrons but may choose to skip the next book personally.

As far as second books in a series go, this one was fun! I remember the first book, Royal Bastards, being FULL of adventure with monsters that completely creeped me out. Book 2 is a bit slower on the adventure, but instead brings lots of mystery and magic.

We find out more about the magic system in this world and where their magic actually originates, which I found to be one of the most interesting aspects of the book. Andrew Shvarts continues to break hearts, so be warned and have your tissues ready!

Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I can’t wait to see how the trilogy wraps up in book 3!

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Totally off topic, but it is so exciting to see a book with my name in it, even if it is a male character, since it doesn't happen very often. Plus, I love this series so that makes it even more exciting!

That being said, I didn't love this book as much as the first one but it was still really good. Royal Bastards was more of an adventure while City of Bastards felt more like a drama with adventure thrown in. I was surprised by the ending and I think it will set up the third book nicely.

I was a *huge* fan of <i>Royal Bastards</i>, so was really looking forward to this book. I was glad to see it picked up relatively soon after the end of its predecessor, but man, oh man, did Shvarts put on the brakes. While <i>RB</i> started out at breakneck speed and barely let up through the whole story, <i>CoB</i> starts out REALLY slowly. But don't let that fool you - it's just the calm before the storm.

This time around, the kids find themselves attempting to fit into their new roles in Lightspire while trying to recover from the loss of their homes, their families, and their friends (and deal with the realizations that their parents attempted to murder them). When one of Tilla's new friends is murdered, she takes it upon herself to find the killer - but the more she digs, the more she becomes convinced she's stumbled onto a conspiracy of epic proportions. No one is safe, no one is to be trusted, and Tilla, Zell, and Lyriana have only each other to rely on.

I loved the snarky humor and the fun merry band feel. It makes it that much more devastating when Shvarts sucker punches you with a game-changing traumatic event - which he does more than once. He puts our heroes through blood and trauma and gut-wrenching trials; this isn't your average safe YA read, people. Ye be warned.

THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR A ADVANCE COPY FOR REVIEW.
Book two of the Royal Bastards series was by far my favorite of the two. This book gave me the feelings of my early years of picking up amazing YA books and experiencing them as a young adult, but still as adult i enjoyed it so much. This book gives you a heartache for what tilla, and her friends/ companions have through go through, and how throughout the journey they start loosing their innocence, and purity. It makes you leaving wanting more and more until you realize you've gone through a whole book in no time. I enjoyed the world building so much, and could get lost in it always!

Title: City of Bastards
Author: Andrew Shvarts
Genre: YA/fantasy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Tilla has finally made it to safety in the city of Lightspire. She’s there with her boyfriend, Zell, and her best friend, Princess Lyriana—safe from her rebelling, murderous father (she’s his illegitimate, disposable daughter), who’s intent on overthrowing the king. But the whispers and accusations follow her even as she attends the prestigious University.

Life in Lightspire isn’t what she imagined, but she does her best to fit in…until she stumbles on the body of one of her friends and sees a mysterious mage with deadly powers. Tilla’s friends won’t listen to her—what she saw is treason, and she’s already under suspicion due to her father.

But Tilla knows what she saw and is determined to find out the truth. Things don’t make sense: not the secretive cult causing trouble in Lightspire, not how her father’s army is beating the invincible Lightspire mages, and certainly not the secrets those closest to her are keeping.

I haven’t actually read Royal Bastards, which is the first book in this series. And that did not make much difference at all in reading City of Bastards (although it might have explained the title a little bit). Although the setting is pretty traditional for fantasy, Tilla (and Lyriana) is a surprisingly modern teenager, complete with getting drunk and how open she is about her physical relationship with Zell. (So, if you’re expecting “traditional” fantasy/medieval values, that’ll be a shocker.) Her observations give the story an edge and settle the reader firmly in her point-of-view, so we’re just as shocked as she is at the murder and betrayal she experiences. I loved these characters, and I intend on going back and reading Royal Bastards to catch up.

(Galley provided by Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.)

It's about a 3.5 for me. The beginning was hard to swallow because Tilla was different, going from a stubborn and strong-headed, fierce girl to mostly checked out. Making Zell go along with it was also hard to watch, and pretty much half the book was read with a frustrated reading experience. The end was really good, I thought, and it ended the epic fantasy installment pretty well. I think a younger audience would find this heart-pumping because of all the emotional angst and action.

Holy moly! What an explosive ending to this sequel! I can't believe this second book was so action-packed. It started a little slow but did not stay that way for long. Soon we were in the action and mystery of the death of Tilla's friend and roommate. It got a bit annoying in the middle with Tilla making stupid decisions that put her life in danger and Zell being all secretive. I still enjoyed these characters: Tilla, Lyriana, and Zell. I enjoyed seeing more of Ellarion and Galen towards the end. I liked the introduction of Marlo and Garrus and Aurelia. I have to say that I've read so many books that I can usually predict what's going to happen next but this book actually surprised me. I did not see the twist at the end. I did not see it ending like that at all. It was so devastating and sad all that happened because of Lord Kent's bid for power. This book had me on the edge of my seat and I cannot wait for the third book to see how this all turns out.

Tilla is now safe from her father in Lightspire and she now lives luxuriously under the protection of the King, with Zell and Lyriana attempting to settle into her life as a student in the city's prestigious university. Unfortunately as the bastard daughter of a traitor, whispers and stares follow her everywhere and the memories of her dead brother plague her every waking moment. Then, she finds the corpse of a new friend. The death is officially ruled a suicide, but when Tilla herself gets attacked by a stranger with terrifying powers, she’s convinced there's a conspiracy behind it all. Her friends suggest she stay quiet, so she won't be labelled a traitor to the throne like her father. Tilla, however, can't let this go and the more she looks into the situation herself, she only finds more unanswerable questions. How is the West seemingly winning against Lightspire Mages? Is it connected the mysterious cult wreaking havoc in the capital? Only one thing is for certain and that's that nothing is as it seems. The longer Tilla and her friends are in the capital, the sooner the war will come to the capital city of Lightspire.

Royal Bastards was one of my favorite YA debut fantasy novels of 2017, so needless to say I was thrilled to be approved for the sequel, City of Bastards, on NetGalley. This sequel is easily one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2018 and luckily it did not disappoint me in the least. This sequel was easily just as great, and possibly even better, than the original story. Honestly, I loved being back with Tilla, Zell, and Lyriana. Like before, the world-building is great and I particularly enjoyed exploring the capital city of Lightspire and seeing how it compares to it compares to Tilla's homeland. My favorite aspect of this story though is easily the cast of characters - all together they make a fantastic team and their friendship is #goals. Plus, the dialog is pretty killer. I'd certainly want these characters on my side when it comes right down to it. Tilla is one of my favorite new characters in YA and she has to be one of the most relatable yet badass characters I've encountered in an epic fantasy world. It's great to see our characters grow as they begin to deal with the brutal fallout of the events of book one, as well as to try to move on with their lives. Finally, I have to mention just how refreshing I find Shvarts' humorous contemporary writing style. It's quite unique for the epic fantasy genre, but he totally manages to make it work for and it's easy to imagine the world coming to life around me.

Overall, City of Bastards (Royal Bastards #2) by Andrew Shvarts is a fantastic follow-up to one of my favorite YA fantasy debut novels of last year, and it's one my favorite reads so far this year. It's quite a refreshingly fun (and sometimes downright brutal), twisty, addicting, funny, and fast-paced and action-packed read with a tight core cast. If you haven't already started this series I can't recommend it enough. I don't know about you, but I'm dying to read the third book in this series.

After escaping the West and her traitor father, who still wants to murder her, Tilla thought she was safe in the luxurious and noble city of Lightspire. She has her best friend, the princess, and her boyfriend, the foreign warrior. But she feels eyes on her everywhere she goes, her roommate and friend has been murdered, and she's being followed by a terrifying mage. To make matters worse, her father is winning his civil war and threatening the safety Tilla once thought she had.

City of Bastards is the sequel to Royal Bastards, which saw Tilla accidentally witness, help and then betray her father's rebellion. She falls in love and is stabbed in the back. She finds new friends and feels her first real loss. I loved the first book for its intricate plot, twists and romance. I was really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I was worried that the setting would feel stale, but since Tilla traveled through most of the first book and this part of the story takes place in a completely new and unique city, it felt brand new. I actually felt more immersed in and enjoyed the setting more in this sequel than I did in the first book. I got to know the world, the religion and culture of Tilla's world more in the story than I have previously.

The plot was more intricate than the previous book. While the first book has the excitement of the chase and Tilla's struggle with her love for her father and her morals, this book had more deceit and intrigue. I enjoyed trying to piece the story and figure out how what was going was going to further the plot that I got hooked onto in the first book. I got frustrated in some parts because it often so unrelated to the plot of the first book, although it was still a good story line.

The biggest problem I had with this book, in additional to my fear of a meandering middle book plot line, was the language. I noticed this bit in the first book, but it stuck like a sore thumb in the sequel. The world feels somewhere between steampunk and medieval, but Tilla's language in her speech and her inner dialogue is extremely modern. Nothing pulls me out of a dark, deep moment than Tilla's declaration of "It sucked." or something similar. While it could be the author's attempt at edgy or relatable writing, it came off as lazy editing.

City of Bastards is just as exciting and fast paced as the first book in the Royal Bastards series. The setting really pulled me in more than it had in the first book. I was often distracted and frustrated by a plot that didn't seem to have much to do with the original book, but I still enjoyed the story. However, Tilla's language pulled me out of the world and often made me question the time period of the book. I'll still be keeping an eye out for the next book in the series though, to see where the story is going next.