It's hard to do fairytale retellings in a new and clever way, but I really think that B.R. Meyers has it! The gender swapped component, a strong female leader, a focus on sustainability, I really enjoyed this! It for sure reminds me of Cinder, but Cinder is one of my comfort reads so I'm not mad at it.

Definitely fun to read a gender swapped Cinderella with a sci fi backdrop! Overall, would definitely recommend to my friends that also love reading about royal characters, especially with a sci fi/fantasy element.

This book had a really interesting concept to me and included a royalty element that I'm usually a huge sucker for. However, as I started reading it I just felt a drag that I couldn't shake and that ended up being the nail in the coffin for this one for me.

First of all, I didn't see the Cinderella retelling aspect, not necessarily because of the gender swap, but because it just seemed like a coincidence. Characters were interesting enough, a bit of instant-love but still very likable. I thought there were a couple of plot holes that were a bit annoying. The twist in the book was a bit of a surprise for me, but I found myself just ready to be done with the book at that point. Sorry…

** Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book! **

I enjoyed reading several aspects of this book! The pacing was wonderful, characters were well drawn, and the reading experience on the whole was delightful.

This is a super adorable gender-bent sci-fi retelling of Cinderella. Told in dual perspectives over the course of a few short weeks(?), we follow Aiden, a kitchen boy in the Palace who dreams of running away to a different planet, and Delia who is the crown princess to Planet Astor. The conflict mostly follows Delia's choice in suitors as she falls in love with Aiden and the impending destruction of her planet. I found this novel to be an easily accessible sci-fi adventure for younger fans of the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. The pacing is a little uneven as the first 75% of the book is establishing the conflict and Aiden and Delia's relationship and then the very end is ridiculously fast paced. I think if this was split into two books it would have been perfect. But I think it would be a really good entry level Teen book for older middle schoolers and early high schoolers.

As a gender-swapped science fiction Cinderella retelling, Rogue Princess was well-crafted and clever. The characters were compelling and enjoyable to follow. The inclusion of LGBT representation in two of the side characters was unexpected, but a welcome addition. Unfortunately, the climax of the story was far too rushed and convenient, the conclusion too neatly wrapped up, to make this a 5-star read. Would recommend for readers who enjoy science fiction and fairy tales with a heavy dose of romance, but the ending may fizzle out.

I'm a huge sucker for gender-swapped fairy tales-- like yes! I mean fairy tale retellings in general are a love of mine, but throw in role reversals and I'm game! So, I had high hopes going into this one. Perhaps, too high...

It is hard to put my thoughts together in a way that doesn't spoil things. Mostly, I didn't like how events progressed and how easy I found the ending. So, I can't go further into detail. There also felt like a whole bunch of random other inclusions that made the book feel chaotic, to me.
I'm not even mad at the plot twist-- how it went down and everything surrounding it? totally, but it's fine. The twist reminded me of Ashley Poston to be honest, which is strange since the closest comparison I have for this book is Cinder.

Anyhow, I see how some people will enjoy this sci-fi retelling-- it has decent world-building and interesting characters, it just ended up not being for me.

Rogue Princess finds Princess Delia fleeing an arranged marriage on a stolen spaceship. She is supposed to marry a prince who will secure an alliance and save her failing planet, but she is dreaming of true love. Aidan, a handsome stowaway on the royal spaceship, is a common thief who is fleeing his abusive family, complete with wicked stepbrothers, in hopes of making a new life for himself on a distant planet. Sparks fly when they discover each other and must work together to battle pirates and a planned coup to take over their planet. As they cooperate to thwart planetary revolution, Delia thinks Aidan is an undercover bodyguard, and he does little to disavow this notion. Uncovering a long-hidden secret and the truth behind the conspiracy threatens to derail their affection for each other in this charming interstellar twist on Cinderella, which is filled with romance and political intrigue.

I've read a lot of fairytale resellings and sci-fi set in space books so I thought why not give this one a try as well. It was entertaining and had some surprise twists but overall wasn't a stand out for me. I think it didn't know whether it wanted to be a retelling or an original royalty in space story. Some aspects of the Cinderella story were very heavy handed while at other times it seemed to forget its own plot and veer off in another direction. The characters were witty and flirty which made for an entertaining book. I'd definitely recommend this for readers new to a sci-fi who want something light and accessible.

This took a few chapters to get into, but the effort was worth it! Princess Delia and Aidan were an interesting couple, neither one relying on the other to define themselves yet gave each other the ability to grow into better selves. This is the type of heroine I enjoy seeing in fiction, whether it be young adult or not. This genderbent retelling of the Cinderella tale brought many characters to life and took me back to the days of watching adventurous stories of romance, royalty, and finding happiness together.

As far as fairytale retellings go, this was definitely a unique take. It didn't always work for me, but I loved the reimagining of Cinderella and how it was gender-swapped. It was a pretty good book, overall, but not one of my new favorites.

I was so bored for a lot of this book. In fact, it only got interesting within the last 100 pages. This book was such a copy of The Lunar Chronicles and The Selection, I can’t say there was anything overly unique about it. The Lunar Chronicles starts as a Cinderella retelling, just like this book. The similarities continue to an annoying extent, but I won’t spoil anything.

I did like the plot twists in the last 100 pages. They’re the only things that saved this book from a 2 star review. Suddenly the book became good and the author hooked me. If she had added more action in the middle, maybe the book could’ve been better.

I enjoyed the romance and I felt this book had lots of potential. Hopefully farther into her career B.R. Myers will learn how to improve on the action. And who knows, maybe I was just being overly picky with this one?

The Rogue Princess was not what I was expecting when I climbed aboard that spaceship with Princess Delia and Aidan and began my own journey of getting to know who Princess Delia and Aidan are.

Princess Delia stole a spaceship trying to escape getting married. There was a number of Princes from other planets vying for Princess Delia’s hand in marriage. Princess Delia was expected to pick a Prince to marry a Prince that could help save her people and planet. But Princess Delia didn’t want to get married especially to someone she didn’t love. She had dreamed all her life of marrying her Princes Charming.

The whole time I was reading Rogue Princess I kept trying to make my own assumptions as to how the story was going to turn out in the end but by my calculations I was way off base. No matter how hard I tried to figure out the end with different scenarios running around in my head I was totally wrong with each and every guess I made. I believe that was one of the biggest twists that I have ever seen before. I never expected a twist like that.
But it was great and it worked so well. I am still dreaming over that twist.

Rogue Princess pulled me into its depths from the very beginning and kept me glued to the pages with all the action and the twists around every corner. I really enjoyed being on this journey with Princess Delia and Aidan as they got to know each other and getting to know them myself. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us as their journey continues in the next book.

If you like fairy tales, fairy tale retelling, princess, princes or the Cinderella story then you are going to absolutely love Rogue Princess. One click yourself a copy today to begin this wonderful adventure.

Buckle up friends, this story is a wild ride. The twists, turns, and upside-down feeling you get while enjoying a rollercoaster is similar to how I felt after finishing this book. Myers does a superb job with her world building and character development.

Princess Delia is an interesting character, like most royals who are forced into alliance based marriages she is dreading the decision. There is so much at stake for her planet that has run out of energy the marriage feels like the only logical thing to do. Princess Delia’s assessments of the suitors made me laugh more than once. There’s a lot to be said for her sister’s ranking system as well. As a love obsessed younger sibling, Shania provides a lighthearted view of this serious decision for Delia.

Despite being thrown into a spiral of new information about her people and planet, Princess Delia never misses a beat. She is determined to do better while still holding true to the ancestors of her people. Her fierce stubbornness and willingness to make changes for the good of the planet are noteworthy. Despite living a privileged life, Delia wants everyone to find happiness and that starts with her.

Aidan’s story is much darker. As a servant in the palace his only goal is to get off this planet and find a better life. His step family treats him like a servant and Aidan just wants his freedom. So much so that he “borrows” a prince’s dagger and is stealing a ship when the Princess jumps aboard in an attempt to escape the palace life. Together they find their way to an empty field on the outskirts of the city only to be met with pirates. Pirates that were outlawed 10 years ago. Suddenly Princess Delia is very aware that she has no idea what is really going on in her kingdom and she vows to change that.

Despite having lied about who he is, Aidan becomes an asset to Delia. As he is feeding her information they both realize there is a big rebel plan about to unfold. Aidan and Delia navigate secret meetings, late night rendezvous’ and are continually drawn to each other. The sparks begin to fly, you might say.

What happens as the rebel plot unfolds is nothing less than spectacular. You won’t want to put it down for fear of missing a single moment. No spoilers, but trust me when I say you will want to read this book. If you enjoy strong princesses, pirate shenanigans, epic battles, and surprise twists than this story is definitely for you.

This futuristic, sci-fi, reverse Cinderella retelling is pure gold. B.R. Myers weaves a tale with fascinating characters, stunning world building, and a story that tugs at your heart and makes you care. Princess Delia is due to inherit the crown, but first she must a choose a prince to marry. And love plays no part in that decision. She must choose a mate from a neighboring planet with the resources her planet needs in order to survive. It’s purely a business transaction, and one she feels ill-prepared to make. Because although she’s been raised from the moment of birth to assume the throne and lead her people, no one has prepared her to be anyone’s wife. Aidan is a scavenger, taking what he can from the wealthy inhabitants of the palace to buy his way off the planet, a place that doesn’t hold much for a boy with no status. He lives with his stepfather and two stepbrothers who treat him as nothing more than their servant. When Aidan sees his chance to steal a ship and get off the planet for good, his plans are thwarted when the princess uses the same ship to attempt something similar. Sparks fly as these two, with their own secrets securely intact, must rely on one another to uncover a plot to bring down the monarchy.

Plot
The plot centers on discovering who is out to kill the queen and usurp power so they can be stopped, but there are strong subplots that involve the undeniable attraction between Aidan and Delia all while Delia is supposed to be choosing a prince to marry so she can save her planet. Everything is woven expertly together. The secrets both are carrying provide page-turning moments and the right amount of interpersonal conflict while the external conflict drives the main pulse-pounding plot. A clandestine rebellion, pirates, and amazing tech create a world rife with both danger and excitement.

Characters
Myers has created amazing, intense, likable characters. While Delia, as our main character and all of her conflicting goals and emotions, is intense and moody, her younger sister, Shania, steals the show. Shania is bubbly and effervescent, and finds the whole mating game romantic as she attempts to help her sister find the most swoon-worthy husband. Aidan is the yin to Delia’s yang as a jaded commoner with a sharp tongue and wit to offset her doom and gloom.

What I Loved About ROGUE PRINCESS
1. Shania. She’s so sweet, optimistic, and everything Delia needs.

2. Delia. Her sense of honor, despite everything she wants, makes her someone you can’t help rooting for.

3. Tech. Everything from wind-up homing birds to flying gliders makes this a world of both romance and futuristic elegance, with a healthy steampunk vibe.

4. World Building. The author creates vivid scenes, rich with sights, colors, sounds, and smells that bring them to life in even the most stubborn imagination.

5. Retelling with a Twist. I’m always a sucker for a good fairytale retelling, but this futuristic, role-swapping twist made this version a little different for me. The added intrigue meant that I didn’t know exactly what was going to happen, even though Cinderella’s ending is as familiar as almost anything.

Bottom Line
A thrilling, romantic space opera retelling of Cinderella.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours, Netgalley, and Swoon Reads for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

I’m the worst at figuring out retellings unless they explicitly tell me THIS IS A ______ RETELLING, like this book said it’s a gender-swapped sci-fi retelling of Cinderella. I personally would not have guessed, and that could be because I’m not a huge Cinderella fan, or just haven’t watched it enough to catch it. Either way, I personally really enjoyed this novel and I don’t even think Cinderella when I think of this novel. I just don’t, and I think that works out better for me.

Don’t you just love it when princesses don’t want to get married in order to rule their kingdoms? I personally love it a lot, because if they are the ones born into royalty, why can’t they rule on their own? Why do they neeeeeeeeeeed a husband if it’s not a marriage of love, you know? I know about doing your duty and all that, but come on. Princesses can rule as Queens without having to have a husband in order to be fulfilling their duty. I also get the whole political alliance thing, which is why Princess Delia needs to marry someone in the first place, but come on. That kind of thinking is so antiquated and needs to be looked at and changed. Political alliances should be sealed based on a marriage. But anyway, that’s just my own personal thoughts on this whole thing.

I am also a huge fan of strong sister bonds in novels, and I feel like Delia and Shania had that in this novel. I get that sisters aren’t always friends at all hours of the day, but being able to truly support your sister in times of need and just be there for her is what makes me love reading about sisters. I don’t have a sister, but if I did, I’d want a strong bond between us. I wouldn’t even mind having a novel just about Delia and Shania, and I’m curious if Myers would do a spin off on Shania and what she gets into these days.

I definitely want a physical copy of this novel once it comes out, because I can see myself reading this one again and going back into this world. I loved Delia. I loved Shania. Aidan made me laugh and I just can’t get enough of this novel.

I am not really the go-to person for sci-fi recommendations, as this is something that I am not normally into reading. But, I was interested in reading Rogue Princess because I was excited about a Cinderella rating that is set in space.

Rogue Princess follows the journey of Princess Delia, who has to choose a husband to better her country in a dilemma a la The Selection, and Aidan, who is a poor boy in the palace that does chores and steals trinkets for extra money. This book tells their love story.

This book is a little slow on the build up, but if it is not a concern to you, the plot twist will be worth it in the end. The romance in this story is also sweet and heartwarming, so it is perfect for all the hopeless romantics like me.

Overall, the Rogue Princess is an enjoyable read for all lovers of SciFi and Cinderella retellings.

The description of this book was so exciting to me. I had hopes. The cover was beautiful and there was just something about this book that called to me. I just didn’t love it.

The first half of this book DRUG ON. I found myself struggling to get through it and contemplating whether or not I should finish the book or not. I didn’t like Aidan’s character either the first half. I thought there was far too much angst and whining for my taste. I know they are teenagers, but boy PLEASE STOP. He turned me off and I didn’t think that Delia should even give him the time of day.

The kingdom as a whole was well done. I liked that there were a lot of things going on politically and I felt there was a real question of what was going to happen. Who would Delia marry to save her kingdom?

Truly I don’t want to share any spoilers, but the end left me with mixed feelings. I liked the twist but I think too it was a bit of an “eh” moment. It was a happy ending but not the one that I thought would happen. It wasn’t satisfying to me but it was positive too. There was a future and I get why Myers was trying to do. It just didn’t hit me on an emotional level.

I loved this combination of a gender-swapped Cinderella and science fiction so much! I became so invested in Aidan and Princess Delia and how their story changed with each new reveal. This young adult novel has adventure and intrigue, along with wonderful characterization of both the main and secondary characters. Highly recommended!