After a weak start where I was a bit lost and wanted to give up on this book, I suddenly got hooked up on it because the story started moving and it never stalled until the end.

This is a fantasy book about people from the court of a sort of fairytale world where royals have to fight against goblins, dwarves and whatnot and to win their battles, they need a partner to kiss. Why, you ask? The title refers just to this: the kiss of a royal is able to strengthen the partner and protect him/her during the battle and heal wounds as well. You may think that these royals are people full of love that they go and kiss everyone, but the truth is far from it. A kiss is regarded by many as an act of love, but for people like Ivy Myriana, a direct descendant of the ancient royal family, it isn't. A kiss is just a weapon, a means to an end. When Ivy is partnered by another royal, Zach, her view on kisses and feelings such as love and friendship change completely, and she starts questioning herself whether the lifestyle of the royals is right and if it is the way to destroy their enemies and stop the war.

The book has a weak start for me. Until after a few chapters, I wasn't able to bring myself to connect with the story - I thought it had potential but wasn't giving me that feeling where I said "I cannot wait to turn the page to read". I found the first chapters lacking of substance, and a tad confusing. Being this a fantasy book with fantasy events, I expected more descriptions of why this or that happens. But we get that later, and I was glad for that, otherwise I would have DNF'd the book althogether. Maybe the first part needs fixing, I don't know. After the male protagonist was introduced, I was taken in by the story because it started picking up the page and a lot of things happened but there were also breaks in between actions, and I was relieved because as much as I like when they story is not static, I also need to take my breath.

Overall, the story had many surprising moments I didn't see coming and the main characters, Ivy and Zach, had a nice development both character-wise and as a couple. There was the right amount of angst between them, but being this a young adult book, not much romantic action, but I don't complain. After all, despite dealing with themes like love and lust, the main story is about romantic feelings but also other quests for the characters.

I would recommend this to fantasy lovers and fairytale lovers, because this book deals with a lot of magic things, evil queens, witches, and similar things.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy for an honest review.

When I read the synopsis I was confused ... but intrigued.

The "Royals" are fighting hoards of monsters: orcs, griffins, goblins, etc all being created by an evil queen in the forest. The only way the royals stand a chance is with their "kiss." Royals have been blessed with magic that manifest when they say or think a spell and seal it with a kiss. They have strengthening kisses, healing kiss, anything and everything, but in this society its just a kiss. There's not any feelings of romance behind these life-saving gestures.

Enter Zach. The most powerful prince, that Princess Ivy is determined to have as her partner. She can only imagine the change they could have in this war together.

But he refuses to kiss her.

This book reads like a new fairy tale, it was unlike anything I've read before which a feat unto itself. It kept me turning the page desperate to know the answers of who is right: Ivy who thinks that a kiss is just another weapon in her arsenal or Zach who thinks a kiss is a gesture of love.

I'll be adding Lindsey Duga to my list of autobuy authors, I truly loved this unconventional story.

Huge thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the Royals going around kissing everyone to heal them or stop curses. Seemed to take the intimacy out of kissing. Turns out that was the point. Zach works to change Ivy's mind as to what kissing is supposed to represent. Although Ivy is brought up strictly not believing in love she has an open mind and uses her intelligence to figure out what is truly going on. Zach and Ivy are not together romantically for most of the book due to this. He slowly brings her around to accepting that love does exist and is good. I loved this book. It not only had the slow simmer between Ivy and Zach but the friend relationships were developed and showed growth. The epilogue added just the right amount of seeing into their future. I received an ebook at no charge for which I voluntarily provided an honest review.

Kiss of the Royal had a promising enough premise, but overall the execution was only average.

The setting and world were interesting but overall underdeveloped. As were the most of the characters aside from Ivy and Zach, but even their development could have been improved. And while it technically was not insta-love, we later learn that Zach did, in fact, fall for Ivy very early on in the story.

Writing-wise, it was, again, average and much of the plot was rather predictable. Don't get me wrong it wasn't a bad read. But in a saturated YA-fantasy market, it doesn't really do anything to set itself apart.

I Voluntarily read and reviewed "Kiss of the Royal". All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First Thoughts:

I was interested in reading this book because of the premise. A kick-ass heroine? Count me in. I went into this book thinking it was possibly book one of a series but I later discovered it wasn't. That this book is a stand-alone. And while I was half-way through I learned this and thought it couldn't possibly conclude by the end of this book. There was a lot going on and I really thought it was going to be another "Throne of Glass" series. But I was wrong, most of the problems were concluded and I was quite suprised.

Goodreads Summary:

In the war against the Forces of Darkness, the Royals are losing. Princess Ivy is determined to end this centuries-long conflict once and for all, so her new battle partner must succeed where others failed. Prince Zach's unparalleled skill with a sword, enhanced by Ivy's magic Kiss, should make them an unstoppable pair-but try convincing Zach of that.

Prince Zach has spent his life preparing for battle, but he would rather be branded a heretic than use his lips as nothing more than a way to transfer magic. A kiss is a symbol of love, and love is the most powerful weapon they have--but try convincing Ivy of that.

With fate of their world on the line, the battlefield has become a testing ground, and only one of them can be right. Falling for each other wasn't part of hte plan--but but try convinci9ng their hearts of that.

Plot:

This book is filled with lots of action and suspense. The interesting part about this book is the kiss of the royal. It's supposed to enhance their bodies; make them almost impossible to destroy but it doesn't always work. Some Royals kisses are stronger than others. Like Ivy's because she's a direct descendant of the ancestor who had the first Kiss. Though throughout the story so many things were questioned and things kept getting flipped, what you believed at first wasn't necessarily the truth to begin with. I liked that about this book, it really added another depth to the story that made it worth continuing to read. And Royals is anyone who has blood of a king or queen and has the power of the kiss. Princes and princesses is what they're called and they can be pure royal, half royal or even quarter royal. The purer the blood the stronger the kiss. Anyways it was nice seeing characters introduced throughout the book and to see how they were introduced to the story-line.

Romance:

So this is the part of the story that is tricky at first because the Royals grew up to believe love wasn't real so the feelings they ever should feel towards another person is lust. But some characters were born thinking the opposite so we have a clash of characters. There is romance for sure and this whole book really is based off the fact of love so there has to be some romance. But the main product of romance isn't introduced until later on in the book. But I did like the end result.

Characters:

Ivy is a pretty cool character to get to know. She has a fragile side but throughout the book she keeps it hidden. But she's so strong both physically and emotionally. She tries her best to keep her act together throughout the book. It isn't until the last half of the book, is where she can't keep it in any longer. She has to let her true self out. Zach is a pretty kick-ass character too. He has a softer side too but he chooses to show it whenever. He has nothing to hide. Brom, Ivy's page is a pretty cool character, he's so sweet and likable. I immediately took a liking to him. The other characters that were introduced were cool too and added to the story.

Transformation of the Character:

Ivy for sure did a lot of transforming in this story. She starts off one way and ends of being someone totally different. But she is still strong, just in another way. Zach like I mentioned above, didn't necessarily change much but he was still a good character in the book. The other characters did some transforming but I'll leave that up to you as a reader to figure out which ones!

Description:

The description in the book was well thought out and well explained. I liked the description of the scenery, it was like I was there and could imagine it perfectly. One scene in particular that I remember vividly is where they came in contact with the Sable dragon egg. It was described in a way that had me shivering, lol. Also the way the emotions were described was good too because it really allowed us to feel what the characters were feeling. It was like feeling a particular emotion for the first time because in this one case Ivy felt something she had never felt before. It was awesome and inspiring.

Style:

This is written in first person and only in one POV. Using first person in this story allowed us to get inside Ivy's head; it was quite spectacular. I liked that I was able to get inside Ivy's head so easily. It really gave me the perspective of someone whose never felt love. To never identified familiar love. Also to be written in only Ivy's point of view allowed the reader to only experience this world in her point of view. I think if we could have been in one or two more point of views it would've allowed the reader to really see the world. It was such a complex world I think it would've done more good than harm. I liked the author's writing style too. I've never read anything by this author, so her writing was new to me. It was well written and easy to read. I definitely liked the way the author wrote this world and was able to conclude a complex plot in one book; bravo to you Ms.Duga!!

Quote of the Book:

"The raging storm inside me died down to a gentle breeze. Slowly, I nodded. Zach smiled and moved his hands to my hair tied in a tight bun. "Now," he murmured. With a quick tug, he removed the ribbon, and my hair tumbled down around my shoulders. "Let's have some fun.""

Last Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the fantasy of this book. It was complex and amazing to see unfold. Though there were times I guessed what was going to happen, it was still fun to read. Definitely recommend this to fantasy readers and anyone who likes a good kick-ass heroine. So go out there and pre-order it if you think this is the story for you!

I tried really hard to get into this book and like it, but from the very start, I realised it just wasn't for me at all. Parts were too over descriptive and a bit cringy for my liking. And I just didn't like any of the characters.

In what could have easily been a cheesy Disney style disaster, this book manages to tell the story of love and just how powerful the emotion can be.

“Kiss of the Royal” weaves the tale of a kingdom in the midst of a drawn out battle against an Evil Queen and her dark forces against the princes and princess born and bred to fight them with the help of a Kiss that can be used for anything from protection to strength and to heal. When Princess Ivy looses her partner and is forced to take on another in order to keep fighting she finds herself paired with the strange new arrival Prince Zachariah, Zach for short, who not only wishes to fight alone but also without the help of her Kiss. As the battle continues both must put their prejudices aside in the hopes of coming out victorious because failure means death to more than just the pair of them but the entire kingdom itself.

I didn’t expect this to be a retelling and in a way it plays both sides with gentle nods to classic tales like Snow White and Beauty and the Beast but in other ways it’s almost an inversion of the classic story we were all raised on where the infamous kiss looses ya weight as it’s thrown around so easily in this universe and the concept of “true love” being all powerful is chalked up to mythology. Seeing these two people who believe in very different things working together to survive this situation they were thrown into was a lot of fun and the back and forth conversations about their ideals where so important especially the threads that dove into the importance of consent.

There are parts of the actual fighting that sort of got muddied for my near the end it seemed like there was a lot of thrown in obstacles at moments that could have been cut out but at that time I was so invested in this duo and their banter but also their growing respect and trust for the other that when it all came down to it I really didn’t mind. Their chemistry and the bonds seen between outside characters really helps sell this story and the importance of love in whatever form that it appears and that’s really the most important takeaway.

If you’re looking for something to fill the hole Once Upon a Time left in your heart with a determined sword wielding Princess and a Prince who is willing to lay it all on the line for the people he loves this is the perfect book for you!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**

3.5 stars - This clean, young YA fantasy tale was well thought out, just wasn’t my cup of tea. I believe younger YA fantasy readers would love the characters and find the various supernatural beings a wonder.

"Kiss of the Royal" was a really fun YA fantasy/romance that is suitable for even younger YA readers. In this alternate world, Royals have magical powers that can be unlocked with a Kiss (to be differentiated from kisses which are sans magic/for Lust). They are partnered as a Prince/Princess to fight against the evil creatures threatening to take over the lands and kill the citizens in the kingdom. As a pair, the Princess gives the Prince a magical Kiss that will aid him in the fight- her powers go towards his battle skills- but Kisses can also be used to break curses or heal.

As part of the Legion (not to mention the current most powerful as a direct descendant of Myriana), Ivy has been paired with several partners who have been killed in the line of duty. The Legion has separated emotion from Kisses, and although they are allowed to occasionally give into Lust, they do not believe Love exists. Eventually, Ivy will be retired to Freida where she will be required to create heirs with whomever the council decides should be the father. Ivy would like to avoid going to Freida and wants to fight for her people and make her cold mother, the Queen, proud (a very difficult feat).

When a new powerful swordsman arrives, Ivy is excited to learn that he has been chosen to be her partner. His accomplishments without Kisses are so impressive that she can't wait to see what he can do with a Kiss. However, Zach is not like the other Princes Ivy has known. He is determined to continue with a Kiss- and potentially without a partner. His mother was a Romantica- a group of people who believe in Love and marriage (unlike the Legion). Zach believes Kisses should not be used and might be willing to let Ivy fight at his side, although certainly not just to use her powers. Setting out on a quest to save humanity will not be easy with their ideologies completely at odds.

Ivy and Zach were fantastic characters to follow, and I actually wish we got both points-of-view instead of just Ivy's because the suspense was killing me at times! The romantic tension absolutely could be cut with a knife. It certainly gave an extra dimension to an already interesting premise that carried the book forward easily. This was a page-turner that should not be missed!

Overall, it's pretty clean- a couple times things got a little out of hand, but not enough that I would caution against this for younger YA readers. The premise is very cute and the lessons good for a younger audience. I think it's a great read for a variety of ages. It's a highly enjoyable story about adventures, sacrifice, and love, and I absolutely adored it!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Sounded interesting so I gave it a go. Slow build and quite serious until Zach’s arrival. Ivy has the weight of a kingdom on her shoulders and is down five partners, she’s strong willed and dangerously stubborn. Given the relationship with her mother, surprising. Zach is the complete opposite, the legendary swordsman with a joker like personality and far from a prince in every way. My sole thought throughout this book was just kiss her already. The two compliment each other nicely despite their differences. Favourite character was Brom, I liked their relationship and how he’s always there. I liked the concept of love, both sides and the way the story flowed. It was sweet and beautiful.

I received Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. That has no impact on my thoughts. My thoughts are my own.

I saw this book on Facebook first and the cover had me intrigued. I like how bold it is. Covers are pretty much my thing. I could stare at them for hours. Then I finally read the plot and I knew I had to read this.

The plot was unique. It was very much like Once Upon a Time but it had it's own fantasy story to it. I really liked Ivy, and then when Zach came into the book... I actually REALLY liked him. I liked how mysterious he was, and his quotes were good, especially his sarcasm ones.

For the most part, this was an easy read though there were a couple of spots where it was kind of slow and that made it be a 4.5. I still rounded it up to a five because of the plot, characters, writing, and cover. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book!

Interesting concept. Beginning was very good, I liked that there was no instalove, but the other half of the book was a bit slow and boring.

I completely fell in love with Ivy and Zach’s story. It was such a thrilling and alluring read. It was like nothing I’ve ever read before.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t appeal to me once I picked it up. I couldn’t connect with the writing or the characters. Maybe I’ll give it another try in the future.

Wow, this book is amazing! To think it's a debut novel! It's so much better that the last ten books I've read. The plot, the characters, the writing style, and the romance (especially the romance!), everything is sooo good! I read this in one sitting, I couldn't put it down! To the author, please write more. The world needs more of your works.

I highly recommend this book!

I absolutely fell in love with Ivy and Zach. Their personalities are practically the same side of the coin and that is why they butt heads so often. Their views are different on how to save their home and that is ultimately why they cannot cooperate. But as things get more dangerous and they are more desperate to save everything they have ever known and loved, they come together and that isn't the only thing.