Well, it’s been a week for all things royal, so I think it’s time to cap it off (or perhaps crown it? π) with a celebration of some of the best fictional royals out there!
Vivia Nihar from The Witchlands Series by Susan Dennard
Listen. Vivia Nihar is the lesbian princess of my dreams and I adore her. She works so hard to provide for her people while also trying to carve out space for herself from her father and brother’s shadows, and I LOVE HER. More Vivia in the future, please and thanks! β€οΈ
Hesina from Descendant of the CraneΒ by Joan He
Hesina was truly a delight to read about in the ARC I got from Edelweiss, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a finished copy and see exactly how she finally took shape. She was wonderful in the ARC, afraid and filled with grief, but demanding answers, and it really made me understand that she was in her late teens. She’s practically a kid, dealing with far too much at once, and I had so much sympathy for her.
Markos fromΒ Song of the CurrentΒ by Sarah Tolcser
At first, I hated Markos, because he started the book as an absolute ass. By the end of the book, though, he was half of one of the smoothest enemies to lovers relationships I’ve ever read, and I’m completely enamored by how important family is to him. It grounded his character and revealed an incredibly important layer to him that made him far more interesting and sympathetic. Worth all the early page “oh please just drop him in the water” thoughts in the end!
Kell from the Shades of Magic Series by VE Schwab
This was honestly a toss up between Kell and Rhy, but ultimately, I love Kell just a little more because he’s the cautious one who keeps getting pulled in over his head, and I see something of myself in him a lot of the time. Plus, he has ridiculously neat magic, and he’s totally in love with Lila Bard. Dude, me too.
Xifeng fromΒ Forest of a Thousand LanternsΒ by Julie C. Dao
Quick sidebar: THE YA SNAKE WAS HERE BEFORE IT WAS COOL. AND IT CONTINUES TO FREAK ME OUT I hate snakes so much, please save me from the rise of YA snakes.
ANYWAY, I was really pleased with this book because it was a Snow White retelling from the evil queen’s POV, and told during her rise to power. Xifeng is hardly a good person, and she doesn’t start out as royalty, but I loved reading about how she clawed her way into power and the terrible things she did to get there. She’s a horrible person, but she’sΒ fascinating, and that’s what made her story so damn good.
And there you have it: my five fave royals! Tbh, this list could change in the future because I’m a sucker for YA fic with royals in it, BUT. As it stands, these are the best, the ones who’ve stolen my heart, the ones who delight me the absolute most.
But which royals rule your bookish world? Do we have to go to war (and if we did, tbh, who would win)? Tell me all about it!
I loved Xifeng! Forest of a Thousand Lanterns was such a fascinating Snow White retelling. And OMG the YA snake.
One of my favourite royals is definitely Nikolai Lantsov, though.
It was SOOOOOO good and probably the first villain retelling I’ve read! And lol that snake is GOING PLACES.
Everyone seems to love him! Tbh…all I know is that he’s from the Grishaverse. Did not get into the trilogy and don’t know anything else, haha.
I have so many of these on my TBR! And the snake! There are so many YA books with snakes on the cover now!
I hope you enjoy them, then!
Lol, yeah it’s everywhere! Clearly has a very successful career now, good job, YA snake. π