Member Reviews
In ‘Royal Heirs Academy’, Alaric, Emmeline and Titus (King Leander’s grandchildren) are competing with Sadie (a local orphan) to become the future heir of Ashland. The four heirs are sent to Almus Terra Academy to learn and compete for the title. The concept of a school to train future world leaders was intriguing, but the execution was underwhelming.
My first issue with the book is the accents/speech. There was an effort to make Alaric sound Irish and Emmeline was raised in NYC. However, the majority of the other characters speak with an American accent, despite the Academy being located in France and featuring students from around the world. For example, Titus was raised in London and the student council president, Calixa, is the daughter of the President of France, but I would never guess that based on how they talk. Additionally, Sadie refers to her family as ‘Mah’ and ‘Grannah’, which feels very out of place with how she speaks otherwise.
I also did not understand the lack of training from the crown. Yes, taking classes at the academy in international business, etc. is helpful, but if the grandchildren were raised elsewhere they would likely need to learn the history, alliances, etc. specific to Ashland.
I’m also confused by the series of events that setup the book. I felt the reasoning why the parents were not in contention for the line of succession was not explained well. Furthermore, King Leander claims the reason why he sent the grandkids away was because he not only wanted to protect his grandkids, but also raise them differently than their parents. However, there didn’t seem to be an effort to raise the grandchildren with different values, leading to the grandchildren also coming off as spoiled and ruthless.
Lastly, the timeline for naming an heir feels short. King Leander claims he can change it at any point, which sets up the rest of the series, but I feel like constantly changing the line of succession would cause confusion and undermine the people’s confidence in the heir. Additionally, the whole competition feels like it would create the infighting that led to civil wars in the past, which the King is trying to avoid.
3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Royal Rivalries? Check. Blackmail? Check. Deceit? Check. Romance? Check. A good underdog story? Also check.
Leander is King of Ashland. However, his stronghold is weak. He is scared for the safety of his family and the legacy of his kingdom. He sends his three adult children away, has them send their children/his grandchildren (the potential royal heirs) to foster care, and requires them all to cut ties with the potential royal heirs until the kingdom is stronger.
Fast forward 16 years later. The kingdom is stronger and King Leander is now looking for who should be heir. He finds his three grandchildren (2 boys, 1 girl), all living different lives, and one additional girl, a commoner from Ashland, who he identifies as a potential fourth heir. He sends them each to Almus Terra Academy to demonstrate who should become the heir.
Though the story line is okay for tweens, there is one scene in the book that begins to move towards an adult theme, leading me to keep my recommendation towards high school. It was good book and a good read.
Was expecting something more like Gossip Girl, Fate, or Maxton Hall, but this was a totally different direction than I was anticipating. The writing style was easy to follow, but I couldn't find myself interested in the fighting or drama.
This was a decent book overall, but it wasn't extraordinary. I think my main problem with it is that it felt like I'd read it before. The story was almost a mashup of American Royals, Paper Princess, and The Inheritance Games. While I'm fine with books that remind me of others, there wasn't enough original or unique content for me to appreciate this story on its own.
The ending was unrealistic and it was obvious that Sadie would be chosen as heir just for the sake of the underdog winning.
Bonus points for chronic illness rep. 3.25/5⭐.
I wanted much more from this read. The characters were just okay at best and I had a hard time keeping track of who was who, mostly because I didn't enjoy the characters. Someone else might like this but I found it to be bland and just run of the mill.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lindsey Duga and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
King Leander Eldana has ruled Ashland without naming an heir to the crown. When his grandchildren were born, he sent them away to be raised out of the public eye. They are older now and it's time to name his heir! How will he do it? In the halls of Almus Terra Academy, a boarding school infamous for breeding the world’s next generation of leaders.
Titus has always known he’d inherit Ashland’s future. Alaric was not raised with a silver spoon. He may not be fit to be king with his hand-me-down clothes or his short temper. Emmeline only wants to please her parents. If that means securing the crown, she won’t hesitate to destroy anyone in her way. Sadie is not an official grandchild and has no idea why she’s been given a chance to bring new blood to the throne.
A fast-paced enjoyable read! I was definitely surprised by the ending. I cannot wait to recommend this book to others!
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for the advanced reader copy.
I was hoping Royal Heirs Academy would be the kind of fun romp, peek behind the curtain of royal life that Katherine McGee's American Royals series was. Unfortunately, I found this book to meander and get bogged down into details about each character that could've been held off on until we had more invested in them. Disappointing, for me.
honestly a little disappointing. a very standard idea undermined by how the characteres are done and how little i sympathize for them. 3 stars. tysm for the a rc
Reading this transported me back to the early 2000s YA. Every main character read the same with no individuality and completely ego driven. The descriptions of the setting was done well but that’s about it unfortunately.
Quick and easy read, kind of a no brainer but definitely enjoyable. I recommend to anyone who wats an easy and light read.
Such a fun read. While kind of what I expected from a YA book it still kept me engaged and loving the story and characters… while finally hoping for more in this installment at the end because it just doesn’t feel like enough because it was that good.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review!
To be honest, this book started really slowly, and I almost gave up and DNF. But I’m glad I stuck with it to the end, and now I can’t wait for the sequel. I think it’s tough to write from four different perspectives and make you feel for each character and yet feel so upset at each character as the perspective shifts. While all compete for a throne, the underlying story of revolution and trying to make the world a different and better place while suffering under the rule of the wealthy few, really resonated. I thought this was great, and if it had hooked me from the beginning it would have probably gotten 5 stars.
Also, I am rooting for Titus and Sadie, not so much for Emmeline and Oliver. Oakley was a little frustrating, but I loved her complexity and humor, I just wish we saw more of her being friends with Sadie and not just Emmeline. I am stumped about how to feel about Alaric. I liked that he stood up to his dad, but you can’t decide what you want to root for him for. And King Leander needs to go. Really looking for to the sequel.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free kindle book! My opinions are my own and are freely given.
I loved this book so much and really hope there are more coming! ❤️ King Leander sends away his three grandchildren when they are babies to protect them and to make sure they don't turn out as horrible as his own children did (I really need more backstory on that if we get more books). Now, years later, Titus, Emmeline, and Alaric (cousins) are reunited at Almus Terra Academy, learning about their royal birthright and that they will be fighting over the title of heir. To top it all off, the king chose a random girl, Sadie, to also fight for the title of heir (not physically fighting, btw).
The author does a great job developing the characters, which is often a hard thing to do when they are going back and forth between the POV of four different people. Each person is so clear that you have no problem switching between the different POVs. I definitely have decided who I don't think should get the crown, but not sure who really should. I mean, they are all sixteen and being pitted against each other. So maybe the one who is the 'villian' may have been friends with everyone if not put in this situation. Maybe they should all just start a revolution and take down the monarchy as teenagers lol
Will be looking for more books by this author! Really hope this is going to be a series :)
Great characters and fun storyline involving the ultimate private school, princes, a princess, and a naive non-royal - which of them will survive the ultimate test and become the next ruler of Ashland? Teens will definitely enjoy this story, which seems ripe for a sequel.
The Kingdom of Ashland has no heir, as the King has deemed his children unworthy. However, he sends his 3 grandchildren away as babies to be raised not knowing they are royalty, and brings them back as teenagers to decide who to name as the next ruler. But there's a twist as a fourth contender is also introduced...
Some parts of this book didn't quite make sense, but overall I still completely adored it. The characters were brilliant, the twists were gripping and that ending ... Loved it!
Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy to review
I’m a sucker for anything involving royals, so this book had me hooked from the start! The mix of a high-stakes royal succession, a boarding school filled with drama, and a touch of romance was spot on. The relationships, both between the heirs and the other students, felt well-developed and layered, which added so much depth to the story.
The quick pacing kept me engaged, and I really liked the multiple POVs—it gave a great glimpse into each character’s mindset and motivations. That said, I wish the beginning had spent a bit more time introducing the characters before switching POVs. It would’ve made their dynamics and backstories hit even harder.
The world-building was immersive, and the writing style made it easy to sink into the story. Plus, i really loved those plot twists. They were surprising but made sense in hindsight, which is the perfect balance for me.
I also appreciated how the book tackled heavier topics like parental abuse and mental health in a thoughtful and respectful way. It added emotional weight without feeling out of place. And basic on that ending I'm really hoping for book two!
All in all, a super engaging read with a few areas that could’ve been fleshed out more—but a solid win for fans of royal drama and intrigue.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
“Royal Heirs Academy” spotlights the drama and ambition in the lives of young heirs through unique and captivating storytelling. King Leander’s children are horrible prospects for the throne. In order to secure the future of his country, he isolates his grandchildren to grow up away from their families and privileged lifestyles. All 3 grandchildren, plus 1 extra, receive news that they will be attending an elite boarding school to prepare them to compete for the crown. I loved the concept of this story, and the “Succession”-esque competition for their grandfather’s approval. I was absolutely pulled into Duga’s storytelling and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Titus, Alaric, Emmeline, and Sadie have all had different upbringings. What they have in common is that they all have the chance to be the heir to Ashland. King Leander Eldana has decided that his three grandchildren and one commoner will compete to determine who he will name as heir. They will do this while attending Almus Terra Academy in France. Each of these teens has different strengths and weaknesses. Who will come out on top? Will friendships, alliances, or divisions be formed?
Royal Heirs Academy is a stand-alone realistic fiction story that was a pleasure to devour. The alternating points of view were easy to follow and led to a greater understanding of the characters and what they were going through. Duga created a plausible situation in today’s world, and I found myself finding a reason to get back to the book outside of my normal reading time. Royal Heirs Academy is a fun escape read.
This book is an ARC from NetGalley. The plot had all the ingredients for a gripping tale of back stabbing, betrayal, and blackmail in an academic setting. Yet, it missed the mark. The story remained high level, and matured. I am not sure if this is going to be a series, but if so, it felt like this was filler to get to the interesting part of the story #netgalley #royalheirsacademy #succession #competition #ya
This book was enthralling from the beginning. So ruthless, heartbreaking, romantic, funny, and inspired individuality. I cannot describe how the ending of this book made me feel. I wanted to scream and then high five Sadie and punch Emmiline. I cannot wait for this book to come out so more people can feel the same way I do. The only thing that I found challenging to decipher was the 3rd person unknown narrator. I think that if it was in first person for each POV change it would be a bit more relatable and the reader would feel more like the characters themselves.