Member Reviews
This is a very interesting book. The Cover looks amazing and the charakteres are very likeable. The Story is great.
The King's 100 was a light, entertaining read. I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more political intrigue, which is what I was expecting, but the adventure was super fun to follow.
I liked the characters for the most part, and the writing had me hooked from page one.
I felt the internal chronology was a bit off, especially in the beginning, where Piper just sort of jumps around from place to place. I also felt like it wrapped up very quickly, and was a bit disappointed there.
I'd recommend it to fans of Kiera Cass' The Selection.
This was a fun, light read! I would say this book definitely falls of the younger side of YA based on how the characters act and the content of the story. Personally, I would have preferred there to be more world building and political intrigue. Going into this book, I expected Piper to be sneaking and spying to try to find her mother. Instead, the plot focused on her character development and her making friends/ falling in love. My main complaint is that I feel like she made essentially no effort to find her mother even though that was her entire purpose. Beyond that, this book was easy and enjoyable to read. The end sets up for a sequel and peaked my interest for future books. I know a lot of people will enjoy this for the likable characters and the lighthearted plot.
Read as an ARC from NetGally
3.5/5, but I'm going to round up because I really like the characters.
The King's 100 is a sweet story about Princess princess from a kingdom of logic (Capalon) who gets a tip that her dead mother might not be dead. Instead, she may be being held in the Mansion of their enemy. She steals an identity and heads to their enemy kingdom (Mondarian) that is all about feelings and not-logic. There, she joins the King's 100; a group of 100 court members whose job is to entertain the king's guests. The King's 100 also lives in the Mansion, which gives Piper the perfect opportunity to find her mother, and get back to Capalon.
I think this book has a lot of potential. The characters are all lovable personalities and each one stood out to me. I want all of Piper's friends to be happy. I like how they all dealt with their relationships in their own way.
Words to describe this book: Lies, love, logic, secrets.
I loved how this book planted secrets as we read. I loved Darden and I was pleasantly surprised that he had been leaving the notes/roses. His magic added mystery to the story, and I'm glad he's taking the situation with his queen of hearts carefully.
I really liked how Biggs didn't actually resurrect Piper's mother. It felt so right that even though Piper had come chasing a dream, she still stayed and learned how to love. I especially loved the Sugar Rush scene where just to stop Ari from kissing Heather, she risked her life in an act. I also loved her and Ari's conversations -- I wish that we had gotten to read a few more of those rather than just have summaries. However, they really showed how Ari and Piper were truly learning to love each other and not just as a face or a smile.
I felt that she was chasing a lot of false hope (a smell, a note) and I'm glad she didn't coincidentally stumble upon her mother. It really proved her character growth, and I'm excited to see how perhaps Evelynn will learn how to love as well. I certainly want a prologue featuring the first time the Queen and Prince Corbin met.
I have a couple problems with this book:
- Time passage:
This was more obvious in the beginning of the story. Within an hour of us being introduced to Piper's she's run off to Mondarian. Then less than a day letter she's off to the Mansion and then a couple hours later, she's in the King's 100. It just felt so unnatural; like this Princess just suddenly had a spark of recklessness, then got lucky one event after another. She even meets Ari as soon as she gets to Mondarian. Like, what are the odds? She barely even explored the city. This leads into my next point.
-World Building:
We never got to explore Capalon and see the conditions Piper lived under. There's nothing for us to compare Mondarian to. I would've wanted the introduction to this book to be Piper just going through her days as a Princess. Then, the note about her mother should have come in. It was just too abrupt. Furthermore, we never got to truly experience anything outside the Mansion. I get that's the main setting of the book, but it just felt like there was so much out there that we never got to see. It made it hard to reciprocate with Piper since I had little to no idea where she was coming from.
- The fact that Piper just magically figured everything out:
She picked up Layla and one of the Princes based on two things; something she said and that she wanted to switch seats. Like... the connection was just so weak. There were no other indications of Layla and a Prince. I feel she could of had more dialogue spiting him, y'know? Also how on earth did Piper guess the Maestro's affair with the Queen?
- Chip:
I expected Chip to play a larger role in the story. I wanted Piper to find comfort in Chip rather than him just being an assistant. I wanted Chip to have a personality. But there were barely conversations with it, and now Chip is dead. He was tossed aside as if he were nothing... I feel like it would have been cool if Piper had at first found comfort with Chip, but then found real friends.
-Ari:
Okay there was a bit of insta-love with him and I wasn't a huge fan. As soon as we met Ari, I knew he'd be the love interest because of how he was described. No other character was described with so much detail. I wish his backstory was more fleshed-out; that he went to visit his father even. Still, he's sweet and I like him.
-STEM:
As someone who loves STEM, I hate how it was represented in the book. I don't think it should be included in the book description. It's barely mentioned in the story, and I have no idea what each Ward does? Is Art eventually going to become a world so that Capalon is now STEAM? I just feel like the book would've gone smoother without these Wards.
Overall this was a fun read, and I can see a great series in the future! I look forward to reading more of Biggs work!
I seriously loved this book! The artwork on the cover is so beautiful! It drew me to the book immediately. The story was just as amazing.
It follows from the perspective of Princess Piper. Her country is technologically advanced but it comes at a cost. Their kingdoms goal is to create the smartest rulers and people. Meaning that every aspect of their life revolves around being smarter and maki by new technologies. They don’t even drink coffee!
When Pipers parents (the king and queen) are killed in an accident, her sister becomes queen and Piper struggles with suppressing hi her emotions. Understandably! Her people believe that emotions should be suppressed, so Pipers affinity for singing and her occasional panic attacks make her an oddity to others around her.
When Piper receives a note that her mother may be alive in their enemy kingdom, she leaves everything she has ever known to investigate. She finds herself assuming a new name as a singer in the Kings 100. She develops new friendships and relationships, experiencing a new way of living her life and feeling like herself.
The ending of this book felt like it could potentially lead into another. I really really hope it does!!
Thank you NetGalley and Immortal Works for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Umm, it was not bad. I think it just was not my cup of tea. For me, the characters were unlikable, I did not root for anyone. Everyone seemed a bit two dimensional.
The plot was nice, but I think the characters ruined my enjoyment. There was quite a bit of “telling” rather than “hinting”. And all the backstories took a lot away from the main plot. The ending for me was anti-climactic and little forced. I am also guessing there was be a second book about Piper’s sister.
I really did not like “Bernie”, I think he was made to be eccentric, but he just seemed like a prick, that yelled a lot.
This book will be in my “meh” pile. I think if you like princess stories with a hint of dystopian and too many characters then this is your book. Oh, and if you like the main character to be a little “naive”. I really wanted to like this book.
I was given this book from Netgalley for an HONEST opinion. Thank you.
This book is like a mash up of a few of my favourite series and I love it for that. This is an exciting story and would recommend to anyone who is a fan of the Selection. just fab!
This book will be great for people who are a fan of the selection. The execution felt a little too young for me, but I usually only read more mature teen books or adult books. This is a good book for the right audience. I would sell it to readers who like enjoy fantasy and sci-fi alike because it has a nice blend of both.
This was such a refreshing beautiful read.
In this The Selection meets The Lunar Chronicles story, we find a futuristic world where Princess Piper of Capalon is in search for her mother who, she believes, is kept captive in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria. By making this journey, she finds herself surrounded by a world full of color, love, friendship, feelings and music.
This book was addictive since page 1. The story and the characters got me hooked so fast and they are all part of my heart now. The inside journey Piper goes through was just so beautifully written it made me feel as if I was her all the time. Also, the rest of the characters are so precious, how they develop their friendship was so cute to read.
There was only one tiny moment, getting to the end of the book, where I thought I'd be a bit disappointed, because it felt like the whole story about her mother just disappeared and the book became just a love story, BUT the ending was so amazing and had so much information, so it's open enough to give me hope for a possibility of a sequel? I'm so in love with this story I would devour the next one right now.
In general terms, I love this book with my whole heart. It was beautiful and I can’t wait for more of these amazing characters and their stories.
Thanks to Netgalley and Immortal Works for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book is an interesting change from normal royalty books in that it doesn't take place in the middle ages, in fact they are very technologically advanced. Our main character Piper is the princess of Capalon, a kingdom that values math, science, and technology and abhors art, music, and basically all emotions. When Piper runs away to the rival kingdom Mondaria to look for her mother, she experiences the feelings she's repressed her whole life and finds out what makes her happy.
The plot was okay, I liked seeing Piper fall in love and make friends, but the storyline with her mother kind of fell by the wayside and I would have liked more action. I think there was a lot the author could have put in about the rival with Mondaria, her mother, and spying at the court, but it ended up being a simple romance. It was a quick read and the epilogue packed a lot of information in which gives me hope that the sequel will have more mystery in it.
I enjoyed this book. The story of Piper and her trials and tribulations, while she tries to reconnect with her mother, is exciting and kept me intrigued. I enjoyed having many different theories that kept me guessing and being thrown off again. Yes, some were predictable, but that's okay! I like being right too. These twists and turns continue right up until the very end, and now I need more information!
Piper is the second sister in the Kingdom of Capalon, stuck with a raging set of emotions when those around her suppress emotion and see it as a fault. I feel this resonates with readers having experienced not belonging and wanting to find that one thing that makes it better, in Piper's case this is her mother, presumed dead.
The cast of characters, the king's 100, in this book, are delightful. Watching their stories pan out and as they try to live their dreams and help build themselves a better future while all stuck together is entertaining. All of the main side characters had exciting plots, and they played out well together as Piper treads around them, trying to find any information about her mother.
Piper's story is an interesting one that kept me intrigued. I would give it a solid 3.5 stars. It was worth the read and enjoyable, and that's all I ask for a book that I had a good time reading it.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
All I can say is wow!!! Extremely well written!! I think Piper is a great character and I am glad to see the character progress during book!
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The King's 100 gave me an interesting world. Where kingdoms are sort of at war with each other and they also value different things. In it, you will meet Piper who is a sixteen year old princess. Her kingdom is fascinated by all scientific things. They are also extremely healthy and I don't think I will ever look at kale ever again. Even if kale cubes sound interesting to try.
It wasn't surprising that all the other kingdoms compare them to robots.. because they definitely act like it. I honestly felt bad for Piper because of how she was treated by everyone in her own kingdom. Yet, she still went out on her own to prove something - mostly to herself. She found things that her kingdom desperately needs: joy, love, and I don't know.. human interaction?
Definitely got some Romeo and Juliet vibes as well. Especially when it came down to Piper, aka Paris, and Ari. Even though she was pretending to be someone else you could definitely see that these two had a connection. It was laughable that she kept saying, no we are friends. Yet, they only had eyes for each other.
These two had their fair share of drama as well but it was all entertaining. I definitely devoured this book and I'm looking forward to the next one. Mostly because I still have questions, hopes, and dreams for certain people. I need my ships to sail people!
I typically don't care for technical futuristic fantasy. While this book started off that way, it quickly developed into a delightful story that was great to read during a pandemic. I would categorize it as a feel good story. It was not as complex as it could have been, or even as I thought that it would be in the beginning. But, sometimes that is ok! I get the impression that book 2 will have a more complex plot.
I also loved that the story stood on its own, even though the author does a nice job of setting up her second book. I sometimes dread cliff-hangers, and I don't consider this book to end on such a note.
I also found the book to be relatively clean. There was a little adult-ish talk, but that was about it.
I thought that her character development was pretty good, especially at the beginning. Again, I think that there is more that she could have done with the story, and maybe she is saving those elements for subsequent books, but even if she doesn't dig deeper into those "Easter eggs" so to speak, the book is quite enjoyable.
The King's 100 has an interesting premise which reeled me in, but it left me still wanting 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.
The King's 100 was exactly what I expected and I love it that much for that. Perfect for young readers and fans of Meg Cabot. The King's 100 follows Princess Piper, a Capalon, who sneaks in to the enemy country of Mondaria to find any traces of her mother who mysteriously perished years before. There she auditions to become part of the King's 100, an acting and entertainment group based in the King's court.
It is really cute to see Piper explore the enemy kingdom and her own feelings. As a stem-focused country, Capalon puts emphasis on science and tries to remove emotion from every decision. So when Piper begins to feels the strings of love or jealousy, she shies away from these emotions and tries to focus on her goal of finding out more about the long lost queen.
This was a super quick and easy read. I can easily see this becoming a script for a Disney movie or an ABC Family show—it's light, it's fun, and it has a strong female lead. The ending did leave some things unresolved so I'm sure there will be a sequel that follows.
Thank you Immortal Works Press and Ms. Biggs for the chance to read The King's 100!
Wow, in a time when I really needed an escape, this book came through! I loved the idea behind this story, and the romances were perfectly executed. It’s been a while since I’ve read a romance that was written so believably and realistically. It was enjoyable to watch the cold, practical side of Piper gradually melt under Ari’s love. The supporting cast of characters and their romantic interests were also great additions to the plot. I would have liked to have seen more of Piper’s sister, Queen Evelyn, and given how things ended in the epilogue, I’m guessing I will in the sequel. The LGBTQIA+ representation in a leading character and the implication that has for the future rulers of the two kingdoms was also well portrayed, and I can’t wait to see how that plays out. I wish that the beginning and ending were a little more developed, but overall this was a very enjoyable book. It was very difficult to put down, and I can foresee it appealing to a wide array of readers. Anyone who picks this gem up won’t be disappointed.
To add to the reading experience, I recommend listening to the song Paris by Magic Man. It really helps set the mood for the story :)
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley, opinions are my own.
The King’s 100 was such a fun and engaging read that I literally couldn’t put it down and finished the entire book in one day.
This YA fantasy takes place in the kingdoms of Capalon, a STEM community (how cool is that?!) and Mondaria, a kingdom that loves the arts.
When the Princess of Capalon sneaks over the wall into enemy territory, she discovers a part of herself she didn’t know existed and, well, things gets a little cray cray.
This book is full of suspense, betrayal, forbidden love and friendship.
It definitely ended with a set up for a sequel. I can’t wait!
I really enjoyed this read. It was a lot lighter than most of the YA I've been reading with war-torn worlds. If you love a classic princess story this is a book for you. Piper is a princess in a land that is scientifically advanced. They only eat healthy foods like kale cubes. Never any sugar or alcohol. Things like gambling, jokes, and love are through of as wastes of time and are avoided at all costs. They are a very robotic seemingly cold people. Children are nannies by robots. so avoid the added emotion I suppose. Even Piper's marriage is set up with a man who on paper is the smartest in her age bracket. Piper is seen as a misfit because she showed moral weakness by crying at her parent's funeral. The whole community seems to despise her for her supposed weakness.
One day Piper receives a mysterious note saying that her deceased mother is hiding in the neighboring kingdom. This kingdom is the complete opposite of hers. Piper sees an opportunity to find her lost mother and she takes it.
I see several influences in this story. Romeo and Juliet, The kingdoms are called Capalon and Mondaria/ Verona and Mantua? Cinderella,
At times I felt like I was watching Cinderella dropped into High School The Musical.
I found the writing charming, I loved the cast characters. There was ever some surprising twists in the road.
My only complaint was the ending. I THINK it's being set up for a book 2 but it left me with the need for more info. It almost felt like a chapter more was needed OR possibly a few paragraphs less. Either way I look forward to more from this author.
I am not going to lie at first I did not enjoy the book because it was so confusing trying to figure out where we were, and I could not stand Piper/Paris. There are multiple holes in this story, most of which are due to Piper and her characterization. I would love to know how far into the future we are in because Paris is an ancient city. There is a real Romeo and Juliet vibe going on with the kingdom names being Capalon and Mondaria being mortal enemies.
The moment I fell in love with the book was the moment that Piper stopped thinking and started feeling where she acted because she wanted Ari not to kiss Heather, so did a stupid death-defying stunt that he told her not to do.
I only kept reading because of Ari, Layla, Reese, and the rest of the gang. They were real characters with feelings and were not afraid to be. If there is a second book in which the ending of this novel leads people to believe there might be, I would be curious to read it because the book finally got human characters with flaws and emotions.
If you would like to read my full review, you can check out my blog at https://bookgirlreviewsbooks.blogspot.com/
4 out of 5 stars.