Reluctant Prince (Kingdom of Cymmera Trilogy Book 1) Author: Dani-Lyn Alexander
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Release Date: 2014
Pages: 212
Source: This book was given to me by YA Bound Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Betrayal lies cloaked in shadow.
Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger.
Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.
My Review: In Cymmera, there has been an ongoing war for a hundred years. In order to end the war, it is prophesied that a girl from the human world will save their kingdom. Jackson, a warrior and a prince, is about to be a Death Dealer. In order for him to do so, he must get the girl that has been prophesied. When he crosses over he meets Ryleigh, who has been ordained as Cymmera’s chosen. Ryleigh does not want to leave her fourteen-year old sister behind. Through a series of dangers, both Ryleigh, Mia, and Jackson are in Cymmera. Ryleigh must embark on a quest to save the kingdom.
I really did not care for Ryleigh. There was not really any character development to her. I felt that she was perfect. She did not have any flaws. She did love her sister and wanted to take care of her, which was perfectly commendable. However, there was very little evidence of flaws or inner conflict that made her really human. I found her a bit whiny throughout the story. Other than that, she was not a character that stood out.
Overall, this book is about family, love, and courage. I felt that this book needed more work. I did not feel anything for the characters. I also thought how Mia is portrayed in this book to be weird. She is fourteen, yet everyone treats her like she is five. Indeed had the author not told us in the beginning her age, I would have thought of her as a young child. I did not really like the instant love in this book. There was really not any development to Ryleighs and Jackson’s relationship, and the characters are also flat. Still, I did like the world-building of Cymmera, an alternate medieval fantasy world, and the story was light and entertaining. However, there was really little substance to it. This book was slow getting started but picked up halfway. I also did not think that the cliffhanger was needed, and it should have been resolved differently. After reading Reluctant Prince, I am reluctant to read the sequel, Lost Princess. Yet, nevertheless I’ll read it, and hope that it is better. Reluctant Prince is a trifle fantasy read that will keep you entertained for a few hours, but with glaring problems and forgettable characters, it will not whet your appetite.
Rating: 2 ½ stars out of 5 stars
This is the official book trailer for Reluctant Prince:
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