Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Yesss!!! Excellent sequel to this series. I was a little nervous at first at the beginning, I was afraid that the story line and the characters was going to take a turn that would resemble more of a CW Gossip Girl story line. But going further into the story we are given the main focus of the plot and I was happy to see the the familiar characters I had grown to love from book one. This book has a great balance of drama, mystery, and character growth. Can't wait for the next one.

Gosh, I love how funny this series is! Tilla made me chuckle while reading, just as much as she did in Royal Bastards . And while this one didn't *quite* match the intensity of book one, it was still a solid sequel that leaves me excited for the third book!

What I Liked:

Banter and humor on point. Oh, I love this in any book, but it's especially fun in this series. The author does a great job of mixing the humor with the more serious moments, and I quite enjoy it. It's a tough balance to get right, but he's managed in both books.

The characters are so relatable. I loved that they all had their own blindspots and flaws, as well as their own strengths. They're so well fleshed out that it's quite easy to see why they make such a good team. And there are definitely a lot of morally grey decisions that the characters make, and I am always on board with those.

Some of the romantic stuff seemed deliciously juicy. And I mean this in a very good way- it's the good kind of drama. I'll say no more for the sake of spoilers, but I actually kind of liken the series in general to a royal Jane the Virgin sometimes, in that sure it can be a little zany, but there's a lot of heart to this series.

There are some wonderfully lovely friendships that develop during the course of the book. Some have progressed from where they started, some were new, but I loved that there was a focus on friendships. Sure, romance is a part of the book, but not the biggest part.

The plot had some very good twists. Some things I did not see coming and was quite shocked at, yay! And, they set up the final book very well.

What I Didn't:

There were a few slow points where I did kind of want things to move along a bit. Not terribly so, but enough that it merits mentioning.

Since the characters were more or less in one general area, I felt like there were fewer questions answered in terms of world-building, and I'd found the world so fascinating in book one that I'd love more answers!

Bottom Line: Overall a very solid sequel with intensely likable- and realistic- characters. Humor mixes with high stakes in the best way possible to leave the reader excited for more!

Man, this book was something. It was a real page turner, which I consider to be a massive achievement for a sequel.

We're skipping six months from the first book. Tilla and Lyriana, along with Tilla's boyfriend Zell and Lyriana's cousin Ellorian, are now living in the kingdom. However, it's obvious that people aren't that warm to Tilla being around, secretly finding her to be a spy for her father. Zell, due to being a Zitochi, is sent to be a City Watchman and to train younger kids how to fight.

Tilla goes through a lot of crap in this book. She starts to see people who shouldn't have magic suddenly perform magic. When she tries to alert people, they don't believe her. Not even her friends and her own freaking boyfriend. If there is one thing that really irks me it's this element. Clearly, Tilla is getting some bruises from these people who aren't supposed to have magic. Where else would she get the bruises? Tripping over her own two feet?

Tilla is still reeling over the death of Jax and it's really sad because it's causing her to slowly build a wall in front of her heart, especially when it comes to finding happiness with Zell. Also, she is having to deal with the betrayal of her father and being away from her home, feeling like an outcast in the kingdom.

Lyriana is suffering, as well. I enjoyed her character more this time around. She had to give up her magic and it's really breaking her heart. Being a Mage is something she has always known and to no longer have it really causes her to act out and struggle. It's very modern, which I now understand is a necessary element the author wanted. For the first book, the modern feel annoyed me a bit, but now I see that it's one of those settings that seems like it's medieval, but there are modern qualities (technology, light, etc).

Though Zell did get on my nerves at times, I loved his character development here. In the first book, he did have a hard exterior more than anything. In this book, we see that shell basically crack open and it's all because of how he feels for Tilla, though he does get annoyingly protective. The dude has some major secrets though, so minus twenty points! Bad boyfriend.

Andrew Shvarts really knows how to scare people. I kept turning the page and would get so worried that something terrible would happen that would just break my heart and then it'd be okay. But, this book kept making me gasp and flinch and everything that I probably shouldn't do in public while reading this at work. Still, the ending of this book and the massive cliffhanger broke my heart in the end and I don't know how I'm going to be able to wait for the third book. Or how I'm going to recover. I guess I'll need to read something campy next.

I absolutely loved the first book in my series - it was one of my favorite releases of 2017, and I was so excited for City of Bastards that I could barely stand myself while I waited. Unfortunately, I had such a difficult time getting into it. I strongly believe that Royal Bastards should have been a stand-alone with a slightly altered ending, and have felt this way for some time now, but reading City of Bastards proved that. The plot isn't suited for a series, and the filler material felt so strange and out of place. I kept thinking that neither the writing style nor the characters' actions (or plot) matched the first book, and it was such a drastic difference that it felt like an entirely different series or author. I ultimately decided to put the book down about halfway through in hopes of salvaging my love for the first book, and won't be continuing the series.

I received an e-galley of City of Bastards from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. I also received an early finished copy from the publisher for a storygramtour on Instagram. Therefore my review is of a finished copy since I restarted the book when I was 25% finished.

What I loved about Royal Bastards was the camaraderie the characters in the book shared. I loved how different they all were and how they still somehow managed to band together. And in the first 100 pages of Cuty of Bastards their friendship was there, but it wasn't as close. Everyone was coping with the events from book one in their own ways and they weren't relying on and trusting each other the way they should. And that was what made this book so hard for me. They were still working together but Tilla also kept going off on her own and getting into trouble. But it's okay because the second half of the book gave me everything I was hoping for. And I regret reading it so slowly for the first half.

That brings me to my other point: the first 100 pages felt like an entirely different series. It felt like we went from a country at the brink of war with a group of teenagers being crucial to its survival to starting book two feeling like I was reading a murder mystery. It all came back together eventually but I was so confused for that first 100-150 very slow pages. And that's why I dropped this to a 4 star rating.

The last 200 pages saved this book for me. Everything I hoped for in this book was provided: camaraderie, betrayal, intrigue, hair-brained schemes, war, and etc. The second half of City of Bastards went so quickly! Went from spending 2 weeks on 150 pages to reading 200 pages in a couple of hours. The pacing could have been a bit better in the beginning, but it gave this book such an explosive ending. Pay attention to what happens in the first half because every little bone thrown your way leads to something in the end. I'll admit I did see some of the plot twists coming, but most of them surprised me as they hit me one after another.

I do recommend this series to my friends. And I'm looking forward to the next book. If you loved Royal Bastards stick it out and push yourself through the slow beginning because it all pays off in the end.

A sequel that did not disappoint! This story continued in this second book of our main character, Tilla, and not everything is peachy keen for her.

This book is even better than the first one in the series! It has something for everyone: romance, drama, mystery, suspense, and action. Nothing in the story is what it appears. While the story starts off slowly the speed quickly picks up.

When I first read Royal Bastards, I thought it was a standalone. As soon as I found out there were more books coming, I knew I had to read them. These books were so exciting and nothing like I thought they would be. My teens loved the first one and I know they’ll find this one equally as exciting. And now we have to wait for the next one!!

Tilla and her companions Zell, Lyrianna, and Ellarion have made it to the relative safety of Lightspire after fleeing Tilla's rebellious father Lord Elric Kent. However, they suffered losses along the way. Tilla lost her beloved brother Jax and childhood friend Miles decided to throw in his lot with the rebels. She is a ward of the king and should feel safe and happy. That just isn't the case, though.

Tilla is somewhat cushioned by being a favorite of the king who feels he owes her for protecting his daughter Lyriana, she nonetheless feels that most people only see her as the daughter of the traitor who is trying to overthrow the king. The king's Chief Inquisitor is especially certain that she is a spy working for her father.

Lyriana is having problems too. She is drinking too much to try to mask her grief at Jax's death because she had fallen in love with him. She is also dealing with the loss of her magic. A punishment for using it has cost her her place in an order of magic users and her trial saved her life but a consequence made her promise not to use magic again.

Tilla's relationship with Zell is also changing. While Tilla was given a place at the University, Zell was sent to the City Guard. They find it hard to see each other as often as they would like because of Zell's work. When Tilla's roommate, the daughter on one of the powerful Southern barons, is found dead in their room, the Chief Inquisitor wants to write it off as suicide but Tilla is certain that she was murdered. Despite the danger it puts her in, she is determined to find out the truth.

As Tilla investigates, she finds that the city has its own rebellion growing as the cultists are determined to overthrow Lyriana's family and go back to the original tenets of their faith. They feel that the Volaris are abusing the magic that they were supposed to guard and took for themselves. Their leader is the Grey Priestess. Tilla has some encounters with her. She also has some encounters that seem to show that the magic that should be confined to people in Lightspire is also showing up in the rebels.

The more Tilla and her friends investigate, the more they find conspiracies and secrets and enemies. This is an exciting entry into a series that sees Tilla go from a young woman who wants to find safety, comfort and happiness to a young woman who is pulled into a fight she becomes determined to win.

I enjoyed this story. The magical system was interesting. The characters were well-developed. The story was filled with action and was emotionally intense.

This book and the series is very much character-driven. Tilla is so fun with her snark and sarcasm! If You loved the first book, you will love the second. It has some of the same problems most middle of the trilogy books suffer, and it leaves the reader desperate and ready for the last one!!

I really enjoyed reading Royal Bastards last year. I had even already pre-ordered City of Bastards before I got the ARC on NetGalley. First, I have to say that this is a solid second book for a series, and it didn’t suffer middle book syndrome at all. City of Bastards still had that old world feel with a modern voice that I enjoyed so much in the first book.
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This book picks up right where the first left off, but it felt like an entirely different world at first. I think that was the point though. The city of Lightspire is vastly different and more wealthy than where Tilla grew up. Time jumps pretty quickly in the beginning as we see what Tilla, Zell, Lyriana, and Ellarion are doing, where they are living, and how they are coping. A mysterious death leads the group to search for the murderer. They find that the murder plot is much deeper than they thought. There is so much backstabbing and political plotting involved. I really like the way the author addressed cultural identity in this book. Tilla and Zell are outsiders with serious grief, and the way they deal with it seemed true to life. City of Bastards was very exciting for a second book, and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next one. This book releases June 5th, so be sure to get yours hands on it.

I really enjoyed the first book in Shvarts' series. It was unique and the author wasn't afraid to take risks and dive into the nitty gritty. This book though, fell a little short for me. It gave me the impression that it was a royal coming of age book, instead of the struggles of a bastards life. Think the Selection by Kiera Cass. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first, only because I was expecting one thing and got another.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

City of Bastards picks up just where Royal Bastards left off. Tilla, daughter of the murderous Lord Elric Kent (who is trying to take over the entire kingdom, btw), has escaped her home in the West with her hunky boyfriend Zell and her best friend, Lyriana (who just so happens to be the princess). She has been enrolled in Lightspire's prestigious university, has made friends with her roommate (the glamorous daughter of an Eastern baron), and has all the pretty dresses and parties to attend that she could ever have dreamed of.

So, why isn't she happy? Maybe it's because, as the daughter of the guy trying to take over the entire kingdom, everyone thinks she's a traitorous spy. Maybe it's the lingering loss of her brother, Jax. Maybe she just doesn't quite fit in with the rich and fancy life. Maybe she should just relax and stop looking for trouble. But then, things get even more complicated. Tilla finds the body of a friend, who everyone insists committed suicide (although she had given no indication she was even depressed). There's a group of cult-like anti-magic mages (but... how?!) that are disrupting city parties, and everything is just very confusing. Tilla won't stop searching for answers, even as her friends beg her to let the matter drop... because it could be even more dangerous than she could imagine.

I loved Royal Bastards and couldn't wait for the sequel... and now I need book three! It has all the adventure and intrigue of Game of Thrones, with less of the sparky bits and adult situations (making it perfect to recommend to teen fans of the show). Even though the books are set in a fantasy world, Tilla's voice is fresh and modern, and also sometimes sarcastic and often hilarious.

Holy cannoli! That world building though!

City of Bastards is the second book to Andrew Shvarts Royal Bastards series. The first book being called Royal Bastards which follows five teenagers who are caught in the middle of a civil war. Well, Tila is back with some friends who have to face treachery and betrayal that lurks around every corner.

I loved this book because I found it to be simultaneously plot-driven and character-driven. It featured an intriguing and relatable cast of characters (just like the first one) who were shoved into such thrilling situations. Many fantasy novels nowadays have been criticized for their lack of diversity. Well, you'll probably find this series a breath of fresh air. I genuinely enjoyed this sequel and I thoroughly look forward to the next one.

Did not enjoy the beginning. Could not continue.
Will not be finishing.

I really enjoyed the first book and was happy to get the second from here. The world was beautifully built and the characters are beautifully developed. It was a little slow to begin, but picked up quickly.

Shvarts, Andrew City of Bastards (Royal Bastards #2), 384 pages. Hyperion (Disney), 2018. $19. Language: R (100 + swears, 2 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting).

Tillandra, Lyriana, Zel , and Ellarion have finally survived their breakneck flight to Lightspire and are under the protection of Lyriana’s father, the king. As Tilla settles into a life as a normal girl and not the unwanted bastard daughter of Elric Kent the traitor, she doesn’t realize that her new friends are pulling away. But Lord Kent is still out there and treachery and betrayal in large quantities await Tilla and her friends.

Unlike the first book in the series, this one spends a lot of time dithering before anything of note actually happens. Once the action starts (you are going to have to wait and wait), then you will be able to jump in and enjoy. Unfortunately the waiting doesn’t add any depth or interest or even backstory to the action - it really is just a placeholder until life begins. Students who read the first will want this one, though, despite its shortcomings.

HS - OPTIONAL (ratings). Cindy, Library Teacher

Good solid sequel. I enjoyed this one, but not as much as the first. I think that young adults will really enjoy the action and bring back the familiar characters.

I enjoyed Royal Bastards so much that I just couldn’t wait to read further in to lives of Tilla and her friends. Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed by Shvarts’ second installment in the series. This book picks up right where the first one ended. The city of Lightspire is described beautifully throughout the begging chapters, and given ever more details as the novel continues on. The characters carry a lot of emotion from the first novel into the second and create a wonderful base to grow from. I enjoyed getting to know them all a little better as the novel progressed.
The storyline was quite solid, yet was heavier on the political side of things this time. These plotlines could get drawn out and quite cumbersome at times, yet became essential to the story and does not detract from a great reading experience. And there wasn’t any lacking in the action department either. Tilla, Zell, Ellarion, and Lyriana never ceased to keep out of trouble throughout the book. It was fun to try and keep up with them and see how exciting their escape could be. Shvarts does a great job weaving the story together and creating twists and turns that can surprise even a seasoned reader. The final reveal is both heart wrenching and shocking. This story was well thought out and masterfully put together to keep all its’ secrets until the end. I look forward to reading more from this author and about Tilla and the gang in the future.

This is the second book in the Royal Bastards series. It's a strong successor to the first book in the series, retaining much of the diversity and grittier approach to fantasy YA adventure romance that made the first installment so engaging. Sexual content, swearing, and a somewhat staggering body count (even by Shvart's pretty bloody standards) may render this book ill suited for the younger spectrum of YA readers, but teens and YA-loving adults will have much to celebrate. This book also lays the groundwork for what should be an excellent third volume (and possibly, given recent YA trends, fourth and fifth volume as well).