Lindsey Duga’s Royal Heirs Academy is an exhilarating ride into a world where power, ambition, and love collide. Set in the prestigious Almus Terra Academy, this book delivers a gripping blend of high-stakes competition, secret alliances, and unexpected romances that will keep readers hooked from start to finish.

The story introduces us to four distinct heirs: Titus, confident in his right to the throne; Alaric, hardened by his tough upbringing; Emmeline, desperate for her parents’ approval; and Sadie, an outsider with nothing to lose. Each character brings their own unique strengths and vulnerabilities, making for a dynamic and layered narrative. As they navigate the cutthroat environment of the academy, alliances shift, and rivalries deepen, leading to a thrilling game of strategy and survival.

Lindsey masterfully balances the intense competition with moments of genuine emotion, exploring themes of family, identity, and the lengths one will go to for power and acceptance. The enemies-to-lovers romance adds a delightful twist, heightening the tension while deepening the complexity of the characters' relationships.

With its fast-paced plot, complex characters, and richly developed setting, Royal Heirs Academy is a captivating story that will appeal to fans of intrigue, romance, and drama. Lindsey Duga’s writing shines, making this a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling escape into a world of royals, secrets, and betrayals.

The idea of this book is really fun. Each heir is a unique and detailed character. I enjoyed some of the ideas in here. I was just frustrated because I didn't understand the king or his angle enough throughout the book. I needed more background on him to make more sense. Also, a lot of the book is just talking about plans and logistics. The scenes with action are lacking. I wanted to enjoy it more than I did. Then, it ends on the need for a sequel. I can't imagine I will be reading that.

rating: 3.5 stars

my thoughts: this could have been SO much better than it turned out to be, in my opinion! take a minute to thoroughly think about everything related to this book: the plot, the intrigue, the royalty, the boarding school, the tension - it's <i>such</i> a good premise, right? and it could have been executed magnificently, and honestly, it wasn't. the descriptions and landscapes/locations were wonderful, truly; as well as the names for the people AND organizations, institutions and countries. the concept of almus terra is genuinely mind-boggling; i could keep on wishing forever to be able to study in a high school like THAT. many themes were discussed throughout this book, mostly indirectly, but still. most of them revolved around the "underdogs" and the "poorer" or the "general public". i feel like the idea of the general mass revolting for better inclusion in the council (leaders) actually brings out some issues faced in politics and country-ruling nowadays.

the characters: if i'm being honest, all the main characters in this <b>sucked</b>. the ONLY somewhat good/unique ones were alaric and emmeline.

emmeline: she was DEFINITELY my favourite character !! i know she's not the nicest, but to be honest, that's only on the outside. all you have to do is get her talking because she <u>cares</u>. but noooooo she just <i>had</i> to be ruined and made the "bad guy". everyone just hated her for no reason other than the fact that she was goal-oriented, clear-headed, and thought best for herself. sure, that doesn't sound so good, but you really have to think of the things she's gone through. oliver though 💔

alaric: IRISH GUYYYYY!! i'll be honest, in the beginning, i didn't really like him. but as the story progressed, i started liking him more and more. he would've been a much better match for sadie, but then again, i'm not the author, am i?

sadie: ugh i could go on and on and on and on and on about this girl. listen, i'm usually a sucker for the underdogs rising and whatever, but sadie was just NOT it. her personality was just so annoying, like i'm sorry but i can't even talk about it.

titus: hi grayson 2.0 (worse version)!! i never liked his character, and if this has a sequel, i never will, either.

the ending: to be honest, i expected something like that to happen. knowing sadie, i just had a feeling !! all in all, it's a good book, but it could have been pulled off much better than it was. the writing is fast-paced and engaging, which is a good sign, though. if this has a sequel - which, judging by that cliffhanger, i think it will - i'll probably pick it up, too !!

thank you to NetGalley, Little Brown Books, and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

King Leander sent his heirs away to be raised out of the spotlight. It's time to name a successor, and the King knows just how to choose them. He sends the candidates to Almus Terra Boarding School, to see how they'll rule and lead. Titus, Emmeline, Alaric, and Sadie are thrown into competition with each other where the winner takes all: the Kingdom of Ashland. Filled with intrigue, romance, lies, and revenge, the four heirs will stop at nothing to get what they want. Twisty and page-turning!

This started out SO fun and intriguing, but kind of devolved into typical high school drama for me. Maybe I had my expectations wrong, but I wanted more competition and challenges, and they were too late and too unimportant compared to all the unrealistic squabbling.

I wish I had liked this more, but it was not bad!

Riveting from the first page, the premise hustles the four potential heirs into immediate competition for the throne. The narrative is swift and efficient. The four intertwining povs are utilized perfectly to keep up the intrigue and heighten the tension. Each of the main characters is so distinctive and, even if they're not your favorite of the four, seeing their complicated dynamics from each of their minds is consistently entertaining. Their backgrounds bring such complexity to how each of them navigates the competition, socialization, and school life in general. The mixing of monarchy and college age growth is truly delicious here. All of the secondary characters are so well developed, as well. So much drama, so many emotionally complicated dynamics, so much depth to each character--genuinely, this book is an absolute treat. I miss this world already and cannot wait for more.

Royal Heirs was an interesting book to say the least. I enjoyed most of it but some parts I just genuinely couldn’t get myself into. Its multiple POV’s dealing with views of Alaric, Sadie, Titus and Emmeline but you will come to notice that the book seems to be heavily based around Sadie. I enjoyed each character, Alaric, the most and I felt the book explored each character’s issue profusely and well. The parts I found myself struggling with was how the book set it up to be Sadie and Alaric almost but then suddenly swapped to Titus and Sadie and I had & and still have no appeal in those two characters being together. The romance was good other than that. The world building in this story was also good and I think the ending really sets it up for book two!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Oof, this one really does run you through the full gamut of emotions.

If you're expecting frothy or lighthearted, this is not the book. This was juicy and complicated and extremely messy. All of it amounts to a lot of fun, and a pretty heartbreaking ending. All of the characters are great, but it's easiest to fall for Alaric and Sadie because they are the most earnest and upfront with who they are and who they want to be. Titus and Emmeline are more difficult than that, but they're painted so well that you can't help but root for them at times, even when they don't make it easy. The plot twists definitely keep coming and don't let up for a second, and the relationship dynamics are constantly shifting. The next book is definitely going to be an interesting ride to say the least.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great, would recommend. Perfect mix of monarchy and romance while still being relatable enough to the average reader

I really enjoyed this as a concept and enjoyed the overall feel of this book. It uses the royalty element that I was looking for and was engaged with the characters. Lindsey Duga wrote this perfectly and was hooked from the first page, it uses the concept perfectly and was glad I got to read this. I hope there is more in this world as it was a great read and enjoyed getting to know the characters.

A royalty story - but set in a boarding school? Sign me up! I enjoy stories about royalty, but this one had an interesting twist in that the royal grandchildren have grown up isolated from that world. The King wants to choose one of them as his successor, and has sent them all to this elite boarding school to see who will impress him the most, and then pick that person to be his successor.


There are four main perspectives:

Alaric: I loved him. He was great, and had a very different background from the others. His chemistry with Sadie was excellent as well. He really challenged her.

Emmeline: she’s ruthless and determined, but also has some vulnerability. I liked that she wasn’t just a villain character but that you can also feel some empathy for her and understand why she’s the way she is.

Titus: I didn’t mind him, but I preferred Alaric more. It was interesting to follow him and learn about the secrets he is keeping and why.

And finally -

Sadie: the only one who isn’t royal. I really enjoyed her as a character. From her banter with Alaric, to her holding her own against the other contenders who were brought up very differently than her, she was a heroine I couldn’t help but root for.


I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. I absolutely flew through the story. I could not turn the pages fast enough. I liked following each of the characters and learning their motivations. The writing style was engaging and despite having multiple perspectives, I never had difficulty differentiating between the narrators, so props to the author for that. The story felt unique and I loved every second.

The ending was - WOW. I really hope there is a sequel here because I would definitely check it out. Honestly, I want it right now!

I REALLY enjoyed this one!! After all that praise, what else can I give it but 5 stars? It was really well done!

Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga is a captivating dive into the ruthless world of royalty, where ambition meets identity in the most compelling way! Set in the grand Almus Terra Academy, this modern fairytale draws you in from the first page. Four teenagers, bound by royal blood but worlds apart in every other way, compete for the Ashland throne in a high-stakes game that kept me reading well into the night. The mysterious King Leander has kept these grandchildren secret for years, and now their emergence creates the perfect storm of drama, intrigue, and rivalry.

The characters are brilliantly crafted, each bringing something special to the story. Titus, the polished prince, makes you question everything about leadership while dealing with his own inner struggles. Alaric steals scenes with his tough exterior and hidden depths - his character development is particularly impressive. Emmeline commands attention as the ambitious socialite, but there's so much more to her than meets the eye. And Sadie? She's a fantastic outsider whose empathy and resilience make her unexpectedly compelling.

Duga's storytelling shines through every chapter. The alliances, betrayals, and political maneuvering are masterfully executed. Think of it as The Crown meets high school drama, but with higher stakes and deeper emotional resonance. The side characters, especially Oakley and Oliver, add rich layers to an already complex narrative.

The romance weaves naturally through the power plays and politics, creating moments of genuine tension and emotional depth. These relationships feel authentic and add real stakes to the already complex web of loyalties and betrayals.

Those plot twists! Just when you think you know where the story is heading, Duga surprises you with clever turns that make perfect sense in hindsight. Each revelation adds depth to both the characters and the overall narrative.

Royal Heirs Academy is a must-read for anyone who loves stories about power, self-discovery, and complex characters navigating treacherous waters. The world-building is rich, the emotional arcs are satisfying, and the ending leaves you eager for the next installment. Perfect for fans of elite drama with a royal twist, this book delivers excitement, emotion, and intrigue in equal measure.

A solid five stars for this engaging, well-crafted story that proves there's plenty of life left in the royal academy genre when done right. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Five glittering, drama-filled, royal-worthy stars! 👑✨ This book is going straight to my favorites shelf, and I'll be shoving it into everyone's hands until they read it too!
P.S. Team Alaric forever! (But ask me again tomorrow because these characters keep making me change my mind! 😅)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Christy Ottaviano Books for sharing this very captivating journey's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so fun! If you loved princess diaries the. You will love this book! The story was so entertaining!

This book had everything I needed. Going into it I thought it may fall short, and not be as compelling as the description but I was proven wrong. I love the plot of this book and Almus Terra Academy is the perfect setting. I also surprisingly liked all four heirs. I thought that I might only like one or two of them but each POV showed the unique personalities they had and the emotions each of them were experiencing which made me root for all of them at different points throughout the book. The side characters were great as well, Oakley and Oliver specifically really added to the book and showing how the four heirs interacted with other people. All of that mixed with romance, alliances, and revenge, this book had me racing to see who would be named heir at the end. And I was not disappointed. It was also a perfect setup for a sequel that I hope is coming soon.

5⭐️

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.

THE WAY that I was sucked in to this!! This story is about four heirs at a prestigious boarding school competing for a throne. For being YA, I love how the author handled some of the topics and brought a great level of depth to each of the characters. Every one of the heirs is flawed, yet have qualities that make you root for them. I definitely loved and recommend this and need the sequel immediately!!

Royal Heirs Academy was so fun, and exactly what I needed. I loved the idea that it was comped to American Royals, because I am obsessed with that series. I would say that's definitely similar in some of the vibes, and I loved the multi-perspective chapters. I'm waiting to see if another one is going to come out!

This book was a lot of fun. I can see the comparisons to the shows mentioned in the synopisis - I would definitely recommend to those readers including readers that loved The American Royals Series. I enjoyed that it featured 4 characters and it really kept the plot moving. Excellent YA!

Just as amazing as I expected! I love that the author not only portrays blue blood royals at the school, but also the teens of the wealthy elite (C-Suites) and the regular people who are just lucky to be there (the Scholars). Such a perfect representation of the current world we live in while at the same time being a complete fantasy.

Love all four of the main characters for different reasons, though it seems like Sadie is considered to be the main one readers should be rooting for.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The most cutthroat high school you’ve ever seen. A riveting peek behind the curtain of the 1%, with a heart-pounding mix of betrayal, love, and politics thrown in. Once you start reading, you simply can’t stop!

Read Royal Heirs Academy by Lindsey Duga if you like…

🌹 Enemies to lovers
🌹 Rags to riches
🌹 Love triangles
🌹 Betrayal and intrigue
🌹 Secret lives of royalty


🩷HER🩷
Sadie:
Recently orphaned, heart on her sleeve, passionate about helping people, the Cinderella of the 1%

Emmeline:
Manhattan socialite, beautiful, ruthless, will do whatever it takes to become queen

💙HIM💙
Alaric:
Irish foster child with a traumatic upbringing, street smart and tough as nails with a soft heart

Titus:
Born and bred to be heir with all the poise and sophistication one would expect from a prince

📖 THEIR STORY 📖
Four teenagers, raised with vastly different upbringings in four different parts of the work are thrown into a competition at one of the world’s most elite schools to be named heir apparent to a European kingdom. Secrets, alliances, betrayals abound as the group learns what it means to be royalty and what it takes to win the crown.


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And thank you to Lindsey Duga and #NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Royal Heirs Academy.

If you like elite schools for the rich and famous with cutthroat competitions for a crown, you’re going to love this book!

Wow. I was captivated by this book. The boarding school setting, fight for royal succession, and light romance were amazing. I found the relationships well developed between the heirs as well as with students around them. There better be a second book coming out of this, because that end left a lot of loose ends to tie up.