The second book in the series picks up a bit after the first ends and our favorite characters are back with more drama and lies to comb through. Such a fun read and had me laughing out loud quite a bit.

Royal Scandal is a. very strong follow up to Royal Blood. It does not suffer from second book syndrome in the slightest.

Right off the bat, we are thrown back into the action-packed and drama-filled antics of Evan and the Royal family. Where Royal Blood was a bit slow to get to the action, Royal Scandal comes in with the drama blazing. Literal shots fire, signaling just the beginning of one twist, turn, and bombshell- pun relevant but not intended- after another.

I loved that we got to see Evan's mom be with Evan and Alexander despite the tumultuous circumstances. This provided Evan and us as the reader a port in the storm that was everything going on. I also loved Evan and Maisie's fragile relationship. They definitely need each other; Evan literally ran into a burning building for her. Although Evan swears Maisie wouldn't do the same for her, we all know she totally would, or she'd send someone in for her.

Maybe I am too American to really get it but Ben is going to a pathological amount of effort for the crown. Why be king when you get plenty of perks as prince and none of the headaches of ruling? But seriously (attempted) murders, treason, terrorism, arson, bombs, like that's a lot especially considering Ben's perceived threat doesn't want the crown at all.

This sequel perfectly answered a number of questions while pulling on and weaving threads I didn't even pick up on in Royal Blood. I got answers to previous questions but now I have a ton more questions. I really need Alexander to be okay and Jenkins to not be shady. I also need to know what Evan is planning. Honestly, I never suspected Kit or anything, even when it looked bad, so I'm not worried about him but I am side-eyeing everyone else for the foreseeable future, I need book three sooner than as soon as possible.

The first book in this series was one of my top reads of 2023! I was so happy to finish the year with receiving and reading the sequel. The only issues I had with this books is that I have no ideas how I’ll wait until the third book is released, because Aimée Carter certainly set readers up with another promising book. The reason I loved the first book so much was because Evan was such an interesting and engaging narrator. I felt like she lived up to those expectations here again as she’s more engrossed in the Royal society and all of the gossip and rumors that come with!

I was so excited to see that we were getting more books in this series, and this did not disappoint.

This is the second book in a planned series about a young American girl who finds herself at the heart of the British royal family. Evan is the illegitimate daughter of the British King, and in the first book was at the center of a murder investigation. In book 2, Evan is the target of a murder campaign, and her main suspect may just be family.

I loved seeing our characters again, especially in the fall out of the events of the last book. The family drama is back. Evan has complicated relationships with all of the people in her family, and it was entertaining to see that develop- especially with her half-sister (and the heir apparent) and her grandmother (the dowager). I'm eager to see how those continue to develop.

Likewise, the intrigue was great. I think it was actually must more interesting in this book, because instead of a murder mystery we are dealing with something much larger and with much more dire consequences. It doesn't help that Evan, possibly the least-popular member of the family in the public's eye, is the target.

I would warn potential readers that there is a bit of mental health gaslighting and depictions of mental health struggles in this, even more so than the first book. There is also a good amount of gun violence and other weapons on the page. The book also ends on a cliffhanger, making me eager to see what Evan has up her sleeve!

First of all, thank you to Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Royal Scandal. Having enjoyed Royal Blood, I was very excited to be given the opportunity to review the second book in this series.

Now to the review...

Royal Scandal was unhinged. Unhinged in a Riverdale + American Royals series + Veronica Mars sort of way. Like, be prepared to send "disbelief" to the moon because in no way would any of what happens in Royal Scandal..... happen in the real world. Like zero percent. And for me, I just couldn't. I just couldn't go along for a ride that was so beyond believable.

Because I don't want to give anything away, I only mention this one thing that bothered me a lot throughout a good portion of the book --- A traumatic event happens to Evan and I found it wild that at no point in the aftermath of the event did anyone recommend some mental health support, especially since there are important characters dealing with known mental health issues. This is obviously a minor issue but it truly bothered me. (Note: someone does eventually suggest mental health support but that is much, much later in the book after a lot more things happen).

Anyhow, I've focused on the less ideal parts of the book enough. Thankfully there were some good things about Royal Scandal. First, Royal Scandal is really about setting up things for the next book, and so the last five or so chapters really, really pay off. In fact, they were strong enough that I will likely give the third book a chance. I also really enjoyed the usage of news articles, blog posts, text chains, etc. in between the chapters. It's a format that I really think works here. Lastly, the writing itself was easy to handle and the book itself moves fairly quick.

All in all, Royal Scandal was an okay book. As mentioned above, the last 25% or so really kept this book from being a miss for me. To those who enjoyed the first book, I would say give this a shot but just know that it is a setup kind of book and is definitely not as great as the first.

Loved! I tell everyone that this is the modern day princess diaries book. I just finished the second in the series and I cannot wait for more!,,

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of Royal Scandal by Aimee Carter.

Royal Scandal is the second book in the Royal Bloods series. After all the drama introduction to the first Royal Bloods book, we are welcomed back with more scandals and drama. I found this book to be highly entertaining and a fast paced read. Overall I would recommend this book series if you enjoyed the first book. Now that I've finished this one it's going to be hard to wait for the third book in the series to be published.

Loved this sequel, and can't wait for the next one! We continue to follow Evan as she navigates royal life. Even though her relationship with Kit, her sister, and her father are going well, she continues to deal with the fallout from when she was attacked, and new threats.

Although this is a YA book, I think that the writing and snappy dialogue would be enjoyable for many adults as well!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the third. What a great mix of mystery, romance and drama. This is one that teens (and adults) will enjoy!

I absolutely loved this book. It was beautifully written and the setting was beautiful. I love her books so much. I was so happy to be able to read this book.

Omg I loved this book! It’s like American Royals meets Ally Carter books. I will definitely recommend students check this one out.

This book and this series is simply IMPECCABLE! Not just as a YA book, but an impeccable book period! I cannot wait to read more from it! I’m a forever fan of this author and will read books from her until she stops writing!!!

I LOVED this book and I just can't wait for what comes next. There is a next right? I can't handle if the series doesn't finish!

This sequel to Royal Blood was full of twists and turns. I’m excited and anxiously waiting for the 3rd installment. Will buy for my middle school library.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I think this series is definitely an underrated one and deserves more hype. I really enjoyed this book because of the lack of predictability. I may have been able to guess one of the points in the book but there were so many twists and turns that it was increasingly harder to guess. I could NOT put this book down am so glad I got approved for this book. I cannot wait for the next book to come out!

I would recommend this book to anybody that likes royalty with a hint of murder mystery vibe. It’s a perfect book to get out of a slump and to maybe take a break from other genres.

“Royal Scandal” is an enticing combination of “Princess Diaries” and “What a Girl Wants,” yet also with murder and chaos thrown into the mix. This series is just fun! The cast of characters and budding romance are entertaining. The news clips that prelude the chapters add to the intrigue of the plot. Despite the drama and mystery, the story still covers deeper themes well in a way that feels authentic.
If you enjoyed the first book, then this addition to the series is a must-read! I can’t wait for the next book (especially after that cliffhanger)!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Royal Scandal by Aimee Carter was fantastic! If you haven’t read Royal Blood make sure to read it first. If you have already read the first book in the series then you’re in for a treat! I loved the second book just as much as the first and finished it in one day!

"Royal Scandal" by Aimee Carter is an absolute gem of a novel. The character development in this book is exceptional, drawing you deeper into the lives and complexities of the characters. The plot twists are brilliantly executed, keeping you on the edge of your seat with every turn of the page. What truly sets this book apart is the slowly built tension and suspense – it's masterfully done, making it impossible to put down. Aimee Carter has crafted a captivating story that is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thrilling and character-driven tale.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Royal Scandal.

I enjoyed Royal Blood, the first book in this series, but it wasn't a book that really stuck with me. Royal Scandal, however, is a book I'm still thinking about days later. Picking up shortly after the events of Royal Blood, we are almost immediately in the thick of the action that just doesn't seem to leave Evan alone.

From the first action to the last, this was a ride I didn't want to end, and when the book did end, I almost threw my Kindle across the room because... well... I. Want. More.

Looking forward to book three in this series!

Wow, what a cliffhanger!!!! Before reading this novel, I knew from Goodreads that there would be a third book in the series. However, I wasn't expecting such a big cliffhanger at the end of this one! I now want to read the third book even more than I wanted to read this one. And considering I jumped straight from finishing the first book into reading the ARC of this one, that's saying something.

Beyond that cliffhanger, here are my other thoughts about this book, in no particular order:

--I read it in one sitting.

--I really appreciate the character development that happened on the page in this novel, as well as what's happened off the page between the previous book and this one. Mainly, I loved seeing how the bond between Maisie and Evan has grown. And the one between Evan and Kit. And Tibby and Evan. Basically, I just love all of it.

--I enjoyed the mystery pervading this story's plot. Most of my thoughts surrounding it were essentially, "We know who's behind it all. Right?" Gives significant look at book. "Right????" The mystery of who's behind everything, and how they've managed to do it, kept me reading and second-guessing myself. The narrative is well-crafted to provide both mystery as well as a very enjoyable read.

--I loved the new characters introduced in this book, and I hope to see more of them. (Although when it came to the fate of that one character--you'll know the one once you read the book--I was kinda devastated. I'd gotten to like that character, and I hadn't seen that particular fate coming. Well, okay, I kinda saw it coming. But still.)

--While reading this book, I laughed, I cried (not nearly as much as when I read the previous one, though), and I melted thanks to the adorable romance. Oh, and I was also on the edge of my seat, waiting to see how things would be resolved. And I'm still waiting for that, thanks to the cliffhanger.

I can't wait to read the third book in the series!