This was not at all what I was expecting. I absolutely loved the premise of this one. Where a princess from a neighbouring kingdom works her way into the kings court of there enemies to find her mother, But to do so she must entertain the masses and survive. I thought that the romance in this one was so cute! From the very moment that Piper meets Ari.

This could easily have been made into a series or even with a companion novel as I enjoyed this one however I felt like there were still questions left unanswered at the end.

Oh, I so wish I had read this book as a teen and not an adult reading YA. I think it would have gone over much better. Unfortunately (and this isn't necessarily a fault of the book's) it felt a bit too much like The Selection (which I.. did not like even as a teen) and was just a little too fluffy for what I was looking for. I appreciated that the book focuses less on finding a husband, though, and more about pursuing a passion because I think that's such an important message. And the character dynamics and friendships were great. THE KING'S 100 is honestly a nice light read blending sci-fi and fantasy, and perfect for teens. Just wasn't a good fit for me and that's totally okay!

I enjoyed the story and I thought the set up of the two different kingdoms was such a cool idea. Watching Piper grow was wonderful. I was worried about the second hand embarrassment when she was in Mondaria would be too much for me, but it wasn't so I count that as a plus. I would be interested to see if this book gets a sequel and I would like to see where the sequel would take us.

I would have loved this book in junior high. A YA story where teenager characters act, talk, and think like teenagers, The King’s 100 includes action and intrigue but overall offers a lighter tone with teen drama and romance. Readers in junior high or early high school would enjoy this book, and if you’re in the mood for a lighter YA read with a unique premise, I would recommend picking it up.

From the beginning, Piper’s world immediately had me hooked. She is a princess in the STEM Kingdom of Capalon, where logic is valued over emotion and all decisions are based on research and calculations. Throughout the first few chapters we meet Piper’s sister, Queen Evelyn, and explore Piper’s kingdom while getting to know her through 1st person POV. I really enjoyed the set up and think author Karin Biggs did some excellent worldbuilding presenting Capalon in a compelling manner without too many boring info dumps or explanations via character dialogue. When Piper discovers her late mother might still be alive in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, she devises a plan to infiltrate the Mondarian king’s mansion to find her.

This was a really highly anticipated release and I was so happy to receive the ARC. This was such a fantastic start to a series and it kept me wanting more at all times. I loved the world and the characters and ai cant wait to see how it all unfolds!

I wasn't sure what to think with this book. I loved the idea behind the plot, but the overall setting took a lot to get into - futuristic technology combined with a fantasy fairytale kingdom setting.. whilst it was overall unique, it felt out of place at times even if it was designed with a purpose to create a distinction between the kingdoms and the people within.
The kingdoms of Capalon and Mondaira are at war with one another and have sworn to kill the enemy on sight, creating a border between them that most remain guarded at all times. The unemotional robot-like Capalons who focus on technology and facts over emotions vs. the romantic and passionate Mondarians who are more laid back and live life to the fullest through their desires. It was a pleasing contrast to see our main protagonist Piper, Princess of Capalon, feeling like she doesn't belong amongst her people as she lets her emotions get the better of her and can't help but find joy in singing. A trait her mother passed onto her before she died, compassion and love is shown as a weakness that must be focused out of a person. Piper remains a disappointment to her people after her parents died, including her sister - the new Queen of Capalon, who demands facts, order and a strong belief in matching based on intelligence within the kingdom. She has little time for her emotional little sister. When Piper discovers a note that her mother is still alive and being held captive by the Mondarian royal family, she decides to risk it all to bring her back on her own under a disguise. What she finds instead is a life she couldn't have imagined amongst the Mondarian people filled with life, colour, music and love.
It's wonderfully sweet and filled with hope, friendship and a first love romance you know will end happily ever after. Whilst the book didn't blow me away, I really enjoyed it and I'm keen to discover what happens next.

2.5 stars

I honestly enjoyed reading it. It's some nice escapism that I need at the moment. I also really like that Layla, who looks like she would be set up to be the mean girl of the story, actually ends up as the main character's friend. Like Layla doesn't try and sabotage our main character or talk bad with her or act jealous. She can act mean but she hangs out with Piper and stuff.

That aside, romance is like a really big thing in this book. The main character and all the other character's subplot all have something to do with romance. And I, as a person who is a sucker for romance have to say that I wish it wasn't. Especially cause the main drive of our main character is not for her mother that she went to find, which she and others acknowledge that worst case scenario, her plan leads to a war between kingdoms, but a drummer boy.

The world itself also bugs me. World building is something I don't think is the most important to me but it bugged me in the book. I felt some explanations on how this world works and stuff would be great. And like other people have said, the kingdom that is known for innovation doesn't have many records of the past and history but that stuff helps create innovation in the first place? I just feel like the kingdoms aren't very fleshed out and I really it was.

But again, I still enjoyed reading it (which is why this isn't a one star), and I would probably read the sequel just to see what happens.

this book was not quite as easy for me to fly through as other royalty-focused books, my preferred genre, but it was unique and I think that contributed to it. Once the characters felt familiar it went by much faster and I wanted more!

Piper is a teenage girl living in a STEM centric dystopia, where people do not have emotions or indulge in what feels like any of the seven deadly sins. As someone that got both STEM and humanities degrees, I was enticed by this premise. Finally, a world that makes the connection between the two "opposites." I felt a little disappointed that I did not see more of Piper showing this background outside of using "big words" and being able to do some basic arithmetic. It feels like every time she does something outside of what she grew up with, it's in a negative light. While her life was terrible in Capalon, I wish she showed her intelligence in different ways.
Which leads me to my next point: the characters. The side characters truly made this novel. Layla, Reese, Gen, and the others were enjoyable and with a lot of depth. Layla has to be my absolute favorite, especially later in the novel. Reese and Darden were enjoyable additions, and I loved Piper's interactions with them. I wished I had liked the protagonist more, as her relationships with others were great.
Some of the twists were great. Without getting into spoilers, I liked Piper the most when she realizes an important piece of information and the steps she takes to really get that. However, the final twist threw me for a loop, with not much details to hint at it.
I would love to learn more about the world that they live in, and I think that world building would have helped in the beginning. In particular, while I don't expect fantasy fiction to be realistic by any means, I am confused as to why a STEM centric world would even have a kingdom, given the need for logic. Additionally, having the King's 100 with magicians, drummers, and singers could have been more detailed outside of a flyer. I wish this was elaborated a little more, but it could be great for a sequel!
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the characters within it, but I was left a little confused and wanting more out of the world building than I got.

This is a good YA (young adult) read. For those interested in Sci-Fi/fantasy/romance. Story was well told and would definitely appeal to a teenage audience.

A book with a premise like this has already won half the battle for me. I love books like this. However, the writing is a bit juvenile and aimed probably more towards the younger side of YA. In any case, it was fun and I would reccomend it.

The writing style in this book was jarring to say the least. It came across quite juvenile and while the plot was appealing to me, the execution was lacking. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sci-fi and simpler language in terms of writing. However, it is not for me.

I'm torn on this one. I did like it, but wasn't a fan of parts at the same time. Still a fun read and enjoyable.

This was a book made for me. I loved it!
The writing is great, the characters are well-written and the worldbuilding was beautiful!
I just wished for more!

i really enjoyed reading this book, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the plot. I would hope that there was more in the series.

Unfortunately, this book was not made for me. I am beyond disapointed because I really had high hopes for this one. But it was too slow for me, I did not enjoy the writing style of the author and I ended up not liking how the story went.

I hadn’t read such a lovely and romantic young adult story for a while! I’m so glad I got this ARC! It was a feelgood read for me!

Capalon is a high tech kingdom, where intelligence and innovation are highly appreciated. Piper Parish is the sixteen year old princess of Capalon who appreciates emotions and feelings more than everything else has more value in Capalon. Her older sister, the Queen, views Piper’s tears during their parents’ funeral as a weakness, not to mention her strange affinity for singing. This is not only the Queen’s view, but also the view of the citizens of Capalon. The princes is a disappointment to all of them. She still misses her parents. She is no role model, like her older sister. But when she receives an anonymous note, stating that her mother is alive and is living at the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, she risks everything to find her and bring her back to their lives.

She uses a Mondarian ID that she had found some time ago and as Paris Marigold she heads to her adventure. On her arrival in Mondaria she bumps into a cute boy named Ari, get’s herself soaked in hot chocolate and finds the opportunity she needed to get closer to where her mother is believed to be living. She auditions for the King’s 100, an esteemed performance court of singers, magicians, and drummers. Thanks to her love for singing, that was disapproved in Apalon, she makes it to the court as a singer and she convinces everyone she was home schooled and that’s why she is unaware of so many things. She finds herself amidst a group of young girls and boys she soon becomes friends with, living at an academy like environment and learning life from a different angle.

The story is a mix of sci-fi and fairy tale. It starts with the technological advanced Capalon, where logic prevails and emotions are nowhere to be found. Everything is based on calculations, from the daily meal to the match of a pair. Love is not considered something important in human relationships. What is important, most of all, is to make the perfect matches so as to have the perfect offspring, one that can continue the legacy and evolve technology. Capalon doesn’t care about colors and how to make things more beautiful. Capalon cares about technology.

Modaria on the other hand is very much like our world, without television or radio, but with a King and a court of performers. The performers are young men and women and they can be members of the court for four seasons, should the King chooses to give them this opportunity. Which means, Mondaria is the place any young person would be able to have a good time spent with friends, finding love and wearing a pair of jeans. A member of the King’s 100 though get’s to perform for the King and his guests, wearing beautiful clothes like ball gowns and beautiful black suites!

I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters of the book. Piper’s friendship with Darden and Layla was my favorite. It was so easy for her to make friends as she was so open to everything new. She put everything through logic, as she was always used to do and she came out so innocent and lovable. Piper and the rest of the characters are a bunch of teens and this is how the act on each and every situation. It would be strange to read something different. The dialogues and actions fit to that age group.

One thing I would like to see more is the world building. Capalon is not very clear to me. I would appreciate a bit more information of that so interesting place. Another part that I don’t know enough is the history between Capalon and Mondaria. How they became enemies and why would a Capalon citizen be sentenced to death if found in Mondaria.

The ending was a big question mark. There are hidden messages and a back story that points to a sequel. I would gladly read one. The King’s 100 was a quick read for me. I enjoyed Karin Biggs writing style and I would love to read more of her work.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.

I’m not the target demographic for this book but it sounded intriguing so I had to request it. I think I would have loved this book as a youngster so it’s difficult for me to know how to rate it. I think younger me would have given it 4 stars but today me would say 3 stars so I’ll give it 3.5

When I read the description of this book, I knew I had to read it and to begin with, I was right. A mix of sci-fi and fantasy which is right up my street however, the more I read, slower I felt the plot got.

The book is centred around the princess entering her enemies land in search of her mother who died 3 years before after receiving a letter stating that she was still alive. I would recommend this book to lovers of angsty YA books.

Overall, this book was a good read. The characters did have a development throughout and my favourite character was Ari over everyone! I won’t be picking up the sequel that I think will be coming in the future after the cliffhanged.

Sadly, this book was not for me. I think it was mainly the writing style but it could also be purely a me thing - reading it at the wrong time.

I hope others enjoy it.