Definitely a fun read! This is on my list to purchase for my library. It felt like Gossip Girl gone royal. Fun read!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: January 7, 2025

This had all the ingredients to be great, but the recipe got mixed up. I struggled to keep interest throughout because there were so many subplots. It picked up, but was honestly just a downer. Everyone in this is pretty awful (and had pretty awful lives up until this point). Almost everyone in this is also so exceptionally cruel that it was difficult to stomach. Very little redemption or resolution for most characters in this. Alaric was the only one I liked and he was just left floating in limbo at the end.

The book is exactly as described, with lots of intrigue, scheming and backstabbing, with a touch of romance. The plot is interesting. But I truly couldn't have cared less about the characters, which made it hard for me to stay interested in the story. Sadie just felt rather unextraordinary, and Titus and Alaric's interest in her baffled me. Emmeline was definitely set up to be the villain in this, but honestly, I probably liked her the best despite her stooping to questionable choices to try to come out on top. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

THOUGHTS

I don't know. I'm not usually a fan of melodrama, but this book... This book could have benefited from some melodrama. It just fell rather flat. The characters, the competition... I didn't get invested in any of it.


PROS
Ruthless Ladies: Though the characters mostly fell flat in this book, I can at least appreciate that these ladies--the princess Emmeline in particular--were the most ruthless royal competitors. Much more so than their male counterparts. They pulled no punches, and they looked good doing it. It's nice to have a preppy (literal) princess slip so easily into this no-nonsense, no-mercy role.

Messy Relationships: If there was one element this book really did get right, it was the interpersonal drama. These relationships are messy. There are love triangles that aren't love triangles because they don't know each other that well--but they see some romantic potential. There's squabbling. There's in-fighting. It all feels very high school... just like it should. They're teenagers, after all. And I loved that.

Unequal Odds: Plots that revolve around contemporary royalty tend to be pretty escapist, and that's also the case here. But this book makes a pointed effort of exposing class inequality, even among the "elite" students at this boarding school. Our world isn't a meritocracy, no matter how much we pretend otherwise. The best of the best still get trumped by the wealthy, and that's just the way it is. And that sucks, which this book acknowledges. And that shouldn't be the case, which this book acknowledges. And Lindsey Duga does a really good job of weaving this thread of inequality into the escapist plot itself without either point clashing--which is a great accomplishment.


CONS
"Transformative" End: I don't want to spoil anything. That's not what I do here. So I'll tiptoe around this criticism. There's one character who snaps at the end, who has a rapid transformation into their real, hardened self. And... that just didn't work for me. It didn't make sense. It wasn't earned. It felt lazy and cheap, and I was disappointed. It fell so flat.

Identity Crisis: Above everything else, this book suffers from a sort of identity crisis. Did it want to be a competition book? That's how it set itself up, but the competition was nonexistent. Did it want to be a fluffy contemporary royal story? Well, it didn't quite reach "fluff" status. Did it want to be a social commentary? It wasn't serious enough for that. Did it want to be a romance? The romantic interests didn't really exceed anything but "interest" status. It wanted to be a lot of things, I think, and it failed to deliver on pretty much every front. Was it a bad book? No, but I didn't really enjoy reading it. It didn't lean into any of its aspects enough to really hook me.

A... Contest?: This book pitches itself as a contest for the throne, but... there is no contest. Oh, they keep saying these kids are being "tested," but if you're looking for criteria, for challenges, for goals and achievements, well, this book has none. There's no way of judging how anybody's doing, or even what they're supposed to do. So I found it pretty impossible to get invested in any of these characters, because what was I supposed to root for? Nobody knew what was going on. Were there rankings? Were they going up or down? Everything was a shot in the dark, so nothing meant anything. And that doesn't make for a very fun read.


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/10
Those who loved Cale Dietrich's The Rules of Royalty will like diving into this new facet of royal life. Those who enjoyed Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries will like following along with these royals-in-training.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this novel. 3.5ish/5 stars.

I'm a sucker for like....royalty novels and this combines that with a competition and also exposing of how corrupt governments are. I also like the political elements of this novel and how the heirs use their scheming and actually awful methods to gain favor and be named heir. I also like how all four of the heirs in competition are vastly different from each other, but I do think Alaric and Emmeline are lacking the "what am I doing this for" factor like Sadie and Titus have....but yet all of them except Alaric made some really, really, really corrupt decisions by the end of the novel. Also....can we have novels without forced romances in them??

Also....when is book 2? I do think some of it was like ?!?!?! but I also binged this on a snow day and when it ended I was like :o oh no because holy heck my heart.

This is a good YA dark academia book that pits four teenagers against each other to become the heir to the King’s throne. Three of them are the royal grandchildren of the King who were sent away & raised by guardians out of the public eye. The fourth is a teenager that won a scholarship to the elite academy they are all sent to that is infamous for breeding the world’s next generation of leaders – and liars.

Titus has always known his heritage & is suffering under the enormous pressure of ruthless parents who will do anything to put him on the throne. He comes off as arrogant & cunning but also hides a boy that just wants his parent’s love & acceptance. Alaric grew up in foster care & basically raised himself. He is a hardened & brutal “man of the streets” but has a softer side for anyone bullied & those less fortunate. Emmeline grew up rich, but alone & neglected. She just wants love & attention from her family. Sadie doesn’t know why she was chosen, but she’s intent on taking advantage of the opportunity.

The four interact with each other much as you’d expect, with suspicion & wariness. Some try to form an alliance, others try a fake romance, yet others use revenge & spite to get what they want. Each heir is both likeable & unlikeable on their journey to the throne, fitting nicely into their stereotypes. The book is fast paced with interesting side characters that provide levity & a respite from the competition. However, the author doesn’t go far enough below the surface of the heirs’ development as I’d like, & some plot points were not fully fleshed out. Those are my hangups, tho. You should check this one out yourself.

Thank you @NetGalley @christyottavianobooks & @linzduga for the complimentary e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

I will not be finishing this book as there was language that I did not appreciate and the story was getting nowhere fast.

I love when books have fun with their premise and deliver in full, and Royal Heirs Academy definitely did.

Four teens. One throne. Alaric, Emmeline, Titus, and Sadie were all accepted into Almus Terra Academy; a school that is known for teaching the world's next generation of leaders. All four have just found out that they are in the running for the throne of Ashland. Alaric, Emmeline, and Titus are in the running as the grandchildren of King Leander; but Sadie is chosen for her abilities and special circumstances. Throughout the book, there are secrets, betrayals, a love triangle, blackmail, royal drama, and so much more. And the ending is a twist you'll never see coming.

I absolutely loved this book! I'm always found boarding school dynamics so interesting, and the stakes of this school made it even more dynamic. I think the concept for this book made it very unique. The fact that Alaric, Emmeline, and Titus were all sent out into the world without knowing their actual identities (for the most part) was both a sad and interesting plotpoint. I also felt very connected with Sadie for the whole novel because she got completely thrown into this competition, and it turns her entire world upside down. I mean, she goes THROUGH IT in this book, but she is such a badass that she ends up becoming stronger with every hardship thrown her way. The secrets and mysteries in this book were also so good and well thought out. And the ending! I could not even believe it.

<spoiler> I mean Emmeline really deserved that karma because she was so horrible the entire book and I was so glad that it all bit her in the ass. And when Sadie was able to get the heir apparent title through blackmailing the king, I was so proud. When she said she had nothing to lose, it really broke my heart, especially after Titus royally screwed her over. I'm hoping she can get with Alaric because he is so much better. Plus he has broken boy energy and I definitely feel like she could fix him.</spoiler>

I definitely recommend this book if you love boarding school vibes, secrets, betrayals, love triangles, and royal drama!

OMG. Read this.

Found family. Academic Rivals. Royals who didn't know they were royals. ROYAL COMPETITION. Parent issues. Family guilt. LOVE TRIANGLE.

Its all here.

I'll start with the girls. Sadie, not royal but competing on scholarship to maybe rule if she wins. Tragic family events that made her doubt who she is and if she has what it takes. Emmeline, raised with no contact to actual family but was taught the ways of the wealthy with the best clothes and school money could buy but no idea who her parents were.

The boys. Titus, raised knowing (by his parents secret calls) everything but never knowing the love of his parents. The only thing they care is that he win. Not about him. Starts out not being a character I loved with his snobby self but let me tell I loved him by the end. This poor boy! He has been through it and I am definitely rooting for him. Alaric, I am completely obsessed with. Raised knowing nothing, in and out of foster care, eventually raised by himself. Mom passed away as a child and a father who loathes him. OMG I am his biggest fan. All in.

This book though, what?!?!? So, so good. And the ending I never saw coming. SIGN ME UP FOR NEXT SEMESTER.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

When I first started reading this novel, I really liked it. I enjoyed the concept, but as I kept reading it fell a little flat for me. The plot was very slow, and a lot of what happened was being told instead of shown, which made it hard for me to connect with any of the characters, or even route for them to become heir. I really wanted to like Sadie, but I didn't. Even her relationship with Titus or potential relationship with Alaric left me bored. I didn't feel a connection with her character and Alaric, or her character and Titus. There wasn't much development shown with their characters to make the relationships believable. I wish there had been more chapters with Emmeline and Titus, as I found there stories to be the most interesting. I did like the ending, so if there is another book, I might read it to see what happens. But overall this was just okay and not super memorable.

I think my main issue was I was unable to connect with any of the characters. Because of that I didn’t find it as enjoyable as I hoped. Usually anything with royalty is something I love. With that said, if you love books with angst filled rich teenagers and young heirs trying to outdo one another to become the chosen ruler, then this is probably a book you will love. Sadly, it wasn’t for me.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
I would encourage you to check out this book if you'd love to read about rich teenagers going through a semester at a high class, rigorous boarding school because that's pretty much all this book is, which isn't a bad thing.

The four characters are competing with each other to become heir, but they have no idea how they are being judged, which created a plot that was pretty subtle. Most scenes are the characters going to class, or in detention, or at the dining hall, all scheming and plotting and trying to figure out how to pull ahead of the others in a competition they have no events for. Although I did enjoy seeing the internal politics of the school and how the characters dealt with those. But I feel like this book was caught somewhere between having a compelling plot and no plot just vibes. It really was like they were just living life with a side dish of scheming, so if you've ever wanted to attend a rigorous, super fancy boarding school, read this book! I wish there were certain things they were supposed to be doing rather than just living and hoping they're doing the right thing, although the uncertainty of the competition did add delicious tension. As did the romance. Nothing was easy and everyone had to work for their relationships.

As for the characters, they all had compelling motivations and interesting, unique personalities, but I didn't click with any of them. I did enjoy seeing how everyones thoughts and feelings and relationships changed, and loved how they all came from very different backgrounds. Seeing four different ways of thinking and leading, and their different desires and personalities was a fun contrast made even better because we saw how they came to be the way they were. The messy familial relationships between parent and child and how that influenced the characters was very interesting. I was also surprised by the ending, as I wasn't expecting there to be a sequel, but there definitely will need to be one-- the story does not feel complete.

As for the writing, I think the style just wasn't for me, which obviously hampered my enjoyment. I think the writing could have benefitted from some slimming down and tightening up, but I can see that that wouldn't be the case for everyone.

Overviewing the book makes it seem like it would be exactly the kind of story I'd love, but something just wasn't clicking. I would encourage you to read the book however, as I think it was a case of just not right for me personally.

I just finished Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga, and wow, what a ride! This book pulled me straight into a world full of romantic tension, royal drama, and juicy family secrets. Set in a glamorous boarding school, it follows four teenagers who are vying for the chance to inherit a European kingdom.

From the very beginning, I was hooked. The story took me on such an emotional rollercoaster—one moment I was swooning, the next my heart was aching, and then I’d find myself angry or even in tears. The way all those feelings were woven together kept me completely captivated.

The pacing was perfect—fast and engaging. Honestly, I couldn’t put it down. I devoured every page, and when I reached the end, I found myself wishing there was more. If you love stories with drama, romance, and twists that keep you guessing, this book is a must-read!

Alaric Durham, Emmeline Rhodes, and Titus Cross…three teenagers raised under very different circumstance with a few unusual things in common. They didn’t know their parents, families, or love. Now, brought together at an elite boarding school, Almus Terra Academy, a shocking secret will turn their lives upside down. They are all the grandchildren of Leander Eldana, King of Ashland. Pawns in their grandfather’s mysterious plans, they were separated from their family sixteen years ago and raised in secret for their own safety. King Leander has now brought them forth from hiding to take their places amongst the royal family. They, along with Sadie Aurelia, scholarship student and loyal Ashland subject, will compete against each other to be named King Leander’s heir and wear his crown. The four heir apparents must navigate a cutthroat competition while finding their places amongst the complex hierarchy of Almus Terra. Who will win and who will find themselves collateral damage in the conflict for the crown?

Lindsey Duga’s Royal Heirs Academy is a delicious mix of Gossip Girl and Game of Thrones with a heaping helping of Succession. There are no creatures on Earth more devious than teenagers and when money, power, and prestige are on the line the games they play can be down right brutal. Duga does not shy away from showing them in all their vicious glory. She weaves a tale full of intrigues, machinations, and power struggles. It’s fascinating and unnerving in equal measures. All four of the main characters are extremely complicated individuals, full of insecurities and delusions of grandeur. Readers can find themselves both sympathizing with and hating them at the same time. Typical teenagers to the nth degree! Duga is able to make them relatable as they maneuver through very unrelatable circumstances. The story is fun and fantastical, a little bit fairy tale and a little bit horror story. It grabs you from the first chapter and keeps you guessing as your loyalties ping pong back and forth from one teen to the next. It’s a grand, high stakes drama and I can’t wait for the next installment of Duga’s twisted game.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ROYAL HEIRS ACADEMY by Lindsay Duga

🏫 Boarding School
👑 Royal Drama
♟️ Heir Competition
🏰 American Royals x The Inheritance Games
🖤 Enemies to Lovers

This was QUITE the way to end 2024 reading! If I had read this earlier, I'm positive it would have ended up on one of my best-of lists. Maybe I'll have to make an exception and stick it on one for 2025 since that's when it's technically published. 🤔 Usually I consider that cheating, but I might have to make an exception here.

I'm still giddy over this ride. If you loved American Royals, you'll definitely like this. I daresay I may have even liked it more? The plot moves and with the competition angle, the stakes feel much higher. I loved all of the characters. (Okay, I didn't LOVE all of them, but they were all very well-rounded and although we had 4 main characters, their voices were all unique.) And that ending? 🤯 Give me the second book nooowww.

This is one that both adults and teens can enjoy. Even though it says for grades 9 and up, I think it'd be fine down to 7. Everything is closed door and besides a little bit of drinking, I didn't get any other major red flags for content. The writing is also seriously fantastic.

Alright, Lindsey Duga, I'm in. When do we get the next one?

Royal Heir Academy by Lindsey Duga is a fun novel featuring unique characters, a cut throat competition, and political scheming.

Although the novel had a slow start, by the end I found myself immersed within the story and the high stakes. Specifically, I devoured the last 20% of the book.

As readers, we get to see inside the minds of all the characters competing for the throne, including Titus, Alaric, Sadie, and Emmeline. Personally, I loved Sadie’s perspective the most, and found it the most entertaining. I also enjoyed seeing the intricacies of Emmeline, as she is a cunning young woman and a force to be reckoned with. I appreciated how all of the characters were somewhat morally grey, and even if you hated what a character was doing, you could still find sympathy for them.

The story also featured a little romance, but I wouldn’t read this book purely for the romance aspect, as it was smaller. It featured somewhat of a love triangle trope, but made it work somehow.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and would read the next one, even though it took a long time to pick up. I think it’s perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games series or the American Royals series!

The ending of the book sticks out for me because it felt pretty badass of *redacted* to do what they did and it really shows their character development. Titus, Emmeline, Sadie and Alaric all have a POV in the book; this helps develop the nuances in their characters and what drives them. Although I am biased toward Sadie and Titus, Emmeline and Alaric are written in a way where it is hard to hate them as characters because I understand the hand they were dealt and my hate is reserved for their actions. I feel that the four potential heirs should’ve interacted more with each other and in different variations. The book also could’ve benefited from a bit more conflict to create more action.

Royal Heirs Academy is a fun YA novel filled with drama, romance, secrets, and betrayals. Emmeline, Titus, Alaric, and Sadie all receive acceptance letters to the infamous Almus Terra Academy, a school that breeds world leaders, business executives, and technology pioneers. For them, their studies are the least of their concerns, for each is competing to be named heir apparent of Ashland. Titus, who has always known about his royal lineage, is terrified of disappointing his parents, especially since they do not know about his biggest secret. Emmeline has always wondered why she was raised by nannies and assistants. Now that her parents have finally revealed themselves, she just wants to get to know them and experience a loving relationship. If being named heir is what that takes, she will stop at nothing. Alaric, who was first raised in foster care and then on the streets, is determined to make a better life for himself - and show all of the privileged elites that you don't have to be raised with a silver spoon to be successful. Finally, Sadie, who is still struggling over a recent tragedy, wants nothing more than to help those who truly need it, including endangered sea animals. Being named heir would give her the power to make life-changing decisions and help the less fortunate. When the four meet at the academy, tensions couldn't be higher.

Royal Heirs Academy has everything an exciting YA drama needs: enemies-to-lovers (to enemies?) romance, family drama, competition, revenge, and all of the plotting and scheming. The book definitely gives off Gossip Girl vibes with notes of Elite. The characters are all well-developed, and the author does a great job providing the necessary backstories for each. The author ends the book on a cliffhanger, so be warned. I cannot wait for the next book in the series! This was an easy five-star read for me!

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.