I just enjoy this series so much. Is it breaking any new ground in the realm of fantasy or romance? No, but it's got the Bachelor trope, humans, elves, dwarves, gryphons, royalty, and a mystery. It's a good time.

I actually had no idea who was behind the mystery in this installment. I had my suspicions but I was wrong and I like being wrong in these cases.

Also, I both liked and was a little heartbroken by the fact that both Qloey and her husband (not naming just in case you haven't read the first installment yet) were noted to be deceased in the beginning of this book. Not a spoiler - we knew Qloey's fate by the end of the last book and she is a grandmother now after all, but still - it was "aw, man" moment for me.

I'm not particularly sold on any of Zoya's suitors so far, though I do seem to like the one that she's already written off as a friend. Maybe the next installment will surprise me and they'll decide to give it a go.

2.5 ⭐️
1 🌶️

The RMC: Princess Zoyechka is the 4th book in a series, but can be read as a standalone. I have not read the first 3 books and did not have trouble reading this book. There are mentions of previous RMCs that I assume were in the previous books but otherwise the story is its own.

As advertised, this story is similar to The Selection but with magic and fantasy elements. I love a good YA book, but I felt this read more chapter book or young YA. Zoya was childishly obsessed with gryphons and some of the terms and events were more juvenile. Example: a pet name used was “beefcake”?

The ending wasn’t too predictable, but I didn’t feel there was much independent character development to be able to make any predictions.

This book ends in a cliffhanger, which I love because it leaves the reader wanting more.

In complete honesty, this book was a little too slow paced for me and I would have DNF’d it, but I’m a completionist and can’t do that. This I why it took a longer time for me to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zoiy Galloway for this free ARC copy. This is my voluntary review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The lovely blend of fantasy, romance, and intrigue in Zoiy G. Galloay's "The Royal Matchmaking Competition: Princess Zoyechka" makes for an enticing beginning to the RMC series. Princess Zoyechka finds herself in the middle of an unprecedented competition in this delightful story, as suitors from all walks of life compete for her hand in marriage and the coveted title of Supreme King of Velazia.

Galloay uses a unique and interesting method for choosing a husband: gryphon rides, espionage, and intense rivalry between the suitors. The author expertly combines comedy, romance, and adventure themes to create a story that compels readers to turn the pages.

This book stands out because of its colorful cast of characters, each of which has unique traits and goals. Every character in the plot, from the vivacious Princess Zoyechka to the enigmatic suitor manipulating strings behind the scenes, adds complexity and intrigue. There are further layers of suspense and tension created by the interactions between the suitors, which range from sly rivalry to friendliness.

The book's skill at striking a balance between sentimental and humorous passages is one of its strongest points. Readers will be left guessing until the very end of this endearing and exciting tale about the growing romance between Zoyechka and her suitors.

Young adult readers searching for a clean, engrossing read will find this book to be an excellent option due to Galloay's readable and captivating writing style. Readers may fully immerse themselves in the magical realm of Velazia without worrying about discomfort thanks to the lack of gore and triggers.

I was expecting The Selection vibes and it’s basically that but way better! Lots of fun fantastical elements and a fun plot <3

The ending though … 😨

What a fun fantasy! For those who enjoyed The Selection and are looking for a sweet, funny, clean YA fantasy, this is for you. It's #4 in the series but can be read as the first (which I did, and it was great - so now I want to go read the others!).

Bachelorette but make it YA romantasy.
The story was fast paced but not rushed which is enjoyable and the characters were all very interesting. I devoured this book in a few days and I don’t even usually read much fantasy. 🥰

Incredibly entertaining! It's like a fantasy version of the Selection with elves, dwarves, goblins and best of all the Gryphons! I mean really the Gryphons steal the show in this one. Our princess has a tough decision to make on who her future husband should be. I found myself rooting for more than one person because the characters are so good! MC did annoy me at times with some of the things she did but it's all part of the storyline I guess. I would love to see the next book! Would definitely recommend if you enjoyed the Selection and fantasy adventures.

This was a very fast paced book. I did like that author did a good job of making the villain unguessable until the very end. Usually I can figure out who it is but in this book I had no idea. A lot of the characters didn't really hit with me. Quite a few of them I wanted to disappear from the book. Others, made decisions that really didn't make sense in the novel. I am looking forward to the next one though!

Such an easy & cute read. Princess Zoya is relatable and the perfect addition to the series. While I did not read books 1-3, this story picked up after but was not a difficult read at all. I’d love to go back and read the previous books because they were referenced enough to not be confusing, but the references also made me want to know the other characters stories. All in all, a solid 4 star book.

The Royal Matchmaking Competition is a cute book featuring a Princess Zoychecka - aka Zoya. This is a bachelor/bachelorette type story where the contestants compete for the hand of the princess. It has a bit of a twist with the contestants being elves, dwarves, princes, dukes and commoners so there are a wide variety of competitors. There are game shows, parties, gryphon rides, competitions and dates with the princess.

This seems to be book 1 for Princess Zoya's Royal Matchmaking Competition since the book ends on a cliffhanger. I liked the creativity with the different types of characters and countries in the book but the description didn't indicate there would be more to this princess's story so I hope the author wraps up the book or let's the reader know how many books may be part of Zoya's story. There are other books to the series but this seems to be the beginning of Zoya's story.

Thank you to the author for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a great book. I really loved the first series. It is not the best written book ever. But I enjoyed it a lot anyway. The romance was really cute.

“The Royal Matchmaking Competition” is a romantasy perfect for those who enjoy political intrigue and adventure. It is customary for the princess to choose her husband among 12 suitors. But Princess Zoya is looking for more than a companion, she’s set on finding the one who will seek adventure and fun with her. I instantly fell into the plot with the delightful writing style. The pace of the story really picked up towards the end, and there are several twists and surprises.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.