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Mark of Royalty
At a time when royal infants are marked at birth, a royal advisor makes a terrible misstep — and an infant princess must be secreted away to save her life. Named Sarah by Miranda, the woman who agrees to raise the child as her own, the girl is unaware of her royal heritage — even though Miranda has done all she can to pair Sarah with the king's nephew, Lord Chad. But unexpected events prevent the expected betrothal.
Determined to fulfill her devoted mother's wishes, Sarah reserves her heart for Chad despite her growing affections for another man. But as plots against the crown unfold, someone accidentally discovers Sarah's mark of royalty — setting the stage for discoveries that will shake the kingdom to its core.
Determined to fulfill her devoted mother's wishes, Sarah reserves her heart for Chad despite her growing affections for another man. But as plots against the crown unfold, someone accidentally discovers Sarah's mark of royalty — setting the stage for discoveries that will shake the kingdom to its core.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
April 23, 2018
This book had some major pluses and some major flaws. What I liked about the book was the story. It was a new twist on an old idea and I thought it was a great idea. The setting, mostly the house and the orchard were nice backdrops and added to the feel of the book. But it was the story itself and the cleanliness of the book that got it to three stars. The characters were ok I got to know them but am not sure I liked them. Sarah was so silly and something was off with the Prince, can't quite put my finger on it and the sister.......I knew nothing about her and couldn't quite like her.The Step Father,on the other hand, was complex and and I found myself liking, then hating, then pitting him. The writing was the worst part for me. It was very choppy and disjointed. The book did not flow well, the chapter names gave too much away. The way it was written from everyone's point of view was all wrong, I like to know what everyone is thinking but there are ways to do that, that work, this did not. Oh and the conversations between the characters were so bad, they said the silliest most predictable things. Uhhhgg ok enough. I did like the book enough to plow through all the problems and finish it and I guess that is saying something.
December 22, 2017
My twelve year old self would have loved this story without exception, but as an adult reader I had a hard time getting past the convenient plot twists that sacrificed the characterization. Throughout the book the reader is told that Sarah is a free willed, assertive young woman, but every time she was put in a difficult situation, she rode her horse in a field and then came home and accepted her punishment. She doesn't DO anything in the story. Instead, she is usually the last to know. The author tells us that she is strong willed and then shows us that she is weak and really really unobservant (What? I'm a princess and I never bothered to question why I had a unicorn branded into my back? Gasp!). That being said, there were several moments where I found myself immersed in a scene and enjoying myself immensely (the unicorn in the orchard comes to mind) but I feel like overall the characters (especially Sarah and certainly Clyde) were sacrificed for the plot, and it would have been a much stronger story if the authors had allowed her to be assertive as they asserted her to be.
February 19, 2011
Yes, you kinda know where this plot is going but it was fun reading it all the way along.
Sweet romance.
Sweet romance.
March 25, 2011
Absolutely loved this story. It was definitely a page turner, well developed plot and characters. It reminded me of Cinderella, but this time the girl is a princess and just doesn't know it.
The Queen of Kyrnidan kingdom gives birth to twins, the first a girl is given the mark of royalty, not knowing that the second is a son. Prophesies have been foretold throughout the kingdom that the queen would give birth to a son that would help re-establish the kingdom and so the King's assistant marked the prince with his mark and took the princess and gave her to a trusted friend. The princess was in danger as she was the firstborn and not a son that she would be killed to fulfill the prophesy. This woman, Melinda fled the country to Spain, where she remarried and raised the princess as her daughter, Sarah. Felicia, Melinda's blood daughter later came and she raised the girls together, but always tended to Sarah's needs to keep her safe from exposure by her royalty mark. Melinda gets Sarah exposed to the royal family in the area because she wants her to have what she was born for leadership. Sarah builds a relationship with Lord Chad, the king's nephew with the future goal being a match, but when tragedy comes, taking Melinda, Sarah closes off to everyone and Chad turns his attention to Felicia. Sarah feels betrayed by her sister, Chad and her stepfather who has never accepted or loved her. But she turns her heart toward a stranger she meets in the orchard, Alex. He is the Crowned Prince, but doesn't reveal himself and they become acquanted as their real selves with their unbecoming, carefree ways of living. There is also a invasion happening in this kingdom and there is disension happening among the people regarding who should be their next leader, Prince Alexander or Lord Chad. Chad has schemed and bribed plots against the prince and when he finds out that the Prince wants Sarah, he goes back to wanting her for spite. That's when the seamstress from Kyrnidan, who knows of Sarah's true parentage helps the Prince to win Sarah and the kingdom back. The king's council meets and Sarah learns the secret of her past, she now can marry the prince and hold her head high with knowing she is able to fullfill her responsibilities that she has just become aware of by uniting two kingdoms, but also unite in love with her prince.
The Queen of Kyrnidan kingdom gives birth to twins, the first a girl is given the mark of royalty, not knowing that the second is a son. Prophesies have been foretold throughout the kingdom that the queen would give birth to a son that would help re-establish the kingdom and so the King's assistant marked the prince with his mark and took the princess and gave her to a trusted friend. The princess was in danger as she was the firstborn and not a son that she would be killed to fulfill the prophesy. This woman, Melinda fled the country to Spain, where she remarried and raised the princess as her daughter, Sarah. Felicia, Melinda's blood daughter later came and she raised the girls together, but always tended to Sarah's needs to keep her safe from exposure by her royalty mark. Melinda gets Sarah exposed to the royal family in the area because she wants her to have what she was born for leadership. Sarah builds a relationship with Lord Chad, the king's nephew with the future goal being a match, but when tragedy comes, taking Melinda, Sarah closes off to everyone and Chad turns his attention to Felicia. Sarah feels betrayed by her sister, Chad and her stepfather who has never accepted or loved her. But she turns her heart toward a stranger she meets in the orchard, Alex. He is the Crowned Prince, but doesn't reveal himself and they become acquanted as their real selves with their unbecoming, carefree ways of living. There is also a invasion happening in this kingdom and there is disension happening among the people regarding who should be their next leader, Prince Alexander or Lord Chad. Chad has schemed and bribed plots against the prince and when he finds out that the Prince wants Sarah, he goes back to wanting her for spite. That's when the seamstress from Kyrnidan, who knows of Sarah's true parentage helps the Prince to win Sarah and the kingdom back. The king's council meets and Sarah learns the secret of her past, she now can marry the prince and hold her head high with knowing she is able to fullfill her responsibilities that she has just become aware of by uniting two kingdoms, but also unite in love with her prince.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2011
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!! I loved it. The whole book is good, but when you get about half way through you won't want to put it down because you will want to know what is going to happen!!! I really enjoyed this story. I couldn't put the book down. There was even a bit of humor and sarcasm. I liked that while it was sometimes predictable, it was still unexpected.
I liked Sarah and Alex. I thought they were cute together. Sarah goes through the story not knowing her true heritage, which I thought was interesting. But she didn't go from rags to riches. She was not raised in poverty but she was still humble and a bit of a black sheep in her own way. An excellent princess story with twists and a happy ending.
I am glad to say the story was really intriguing, tense, entertaining, fun, and enjoyable to read. I'd definitely recommend this book. The Mark of Royalty was written by two sisters. I hope they plan on witting more books together in the future.
:) SO worth the time!
I liked Sarah and Alex. I thought they were cute together. Sarah goes through the story not knowing her true heritage, which I thought was interesting. But she didn't go from rags to riches. She was not raised in poverty but she was still humble and a bit of a black sheep in her own way. An excellent princess story with twists and a happy ending.
I am glad to say the story was really intriguing, tense, entertaining, fun, and enjoyable to read. I'd definitely recommend this book. The Mark of Royalty was written by two sisters. I hope they plan on witting more books together in the future.
:) SO worth the time!
June 11, 2012
It was cute but it took me a really long time to get into it. I really felt that there were details that could have been added to make it a bit better. At times I began to feel the horses were the main characters which bugged me for awhile. Read it at least once.
August 14, 2018
This story was captivating and I loved it. It was so tragic in places but Sarah’s character was so strong that you did not get bogged down in the challenging situations. I did not like Felicia and she never fully redeemed herself in my eyes but then neither did her father. Overall - Great read!
September 2, 2014
Original review posted on Wishful Endings.
3.5 Stars
Mark of Royalty started off really well in the first few pages. I was pulled in by the intrigue of what was going on and why this baby was being taken away. The next several chapters of the story were a little slow for me. I liked getting to know the family and I could see that the authors were trying to pass on some information, but I thought it could have been handled a little differently. Then about a third of the way through the story began picking up for me and continued to engage me the rest of the way.
There were a few things that did bother me a little. There were a few places in the dialogue or with the characters where there were inconsistencies (such as when Chad explained the celebration to Sarah like she hadn't been living in his country since practically birth) and where things were too unrealistic. These would be my only gripes.
I really liked Sarah, even though I did feel she was pretty head strong. I liked her sister as well in the beginning, but then began to not like her as she seeks more prestige and power and betrays her sister. I continually hoped that these sisters would mend their relationship and that Felicia would support her sister more fully again. I won't say what ends up happening.
Then you have Lord Chad and Alex. Chad was the usual spoiled royalty in many ways, but was also a friend to both girls at one point or another. I liked Alex immediately and also figured out who he was right away. It was interesting seeing how his relationship with Sarah grows. I did feel they feel in love rather quickly.
There was plenty of intrigue, some political maneuvering, some suspense as to what was going to happen - who would be in danger, and when Sarah would realize who she was. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Alex and Sarah and the intrigue. They made this story for me.
Overall Mark of Royalty was an enjoyable read. It's one I can recommend to my nieces and friends and anyone who enjoys sweet, but intriguing, historical romance. I'm excited to pick up the next book, Bonds of Loyalty!
Content: Clean
Source: Purchased
3.5 Stars
Mark of Royalty started off really well in the first few pages. I was pulled in by the intrigue of what was going on and why this baby was being taken away. The next several chapters of the story were a little slow for me. I liked getting to know the family and I could see that the authors were trying to pass on some information, but I thought it could have been handled a little differently. Then about a third of the way through the story began picking up for me and continued to engage me the rest of the way.
There were a few things that did bother me a little. There were a few places in the dialogue or with the characters where there were inconsistencies (such as when Chad explained the celebration to Sarah like she hadn't been living in his country since practically birth) and where things were too unrealistic. These would be my only gripes.
I really liked Sarah, even though I did feel she was pretty head strong. I liked her sister as well in the beginning, but then began to not like her as she seeks more prestige and power and betrays her sister. I continually hoped that these sisters would mend their relationship and that Felicia would support her sister more fully again. I won't say what ends up happening.
Then you have Lord Chad and Alex. Chad was the usual spoiled royalty in many ways, but was also a friend to both girls at one point or another. I liked Alex immediately and also figured out who he was right away. It was interesting seeing how his relationship with Sarah grows. I did feel they feel in love rather quickly.
There was plenty of intrigue, some political maneuvering, some suspense as to what was going to happen - who would be in danger, and when Sarah would realize who she was. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Alex and Sarah and the intrigue. They made this story for me.
Overall Mark of Royalty was an enjoyable read. It's one I can recommend to my nieces and friends and anyone who enjoys sweet, but intriguing, historical romance. I'm excited to pick up the next book, Bonds of Loyalty!
Content: Clean
Source: Purchased
November 13, 2014
I thought this was a cute story; it had a kind of fairytale feel to it. The story moved along quickly and kept me interested. It actually reminded me of a couple other books I’ve read. Where there is a princess who is in disguise for one reason or another. This book ended up going a different direction than I was expecting, and I liked that while it was predictable, it was still unexpected. I liked the main character Sarah and her love interest Alex. I thought they were cute together. Sarah goes through the story not knowing her true heritage, which I thought was interesting. It was a fun, entertaining read.
There were just a few things that I didn’t like, or could have been improved. First, I had no idea when this story was supposed to take place. It mentioned real places such as France and Spain, but I didn’t know if they were supposed to be real characters or what timeframe the story was taking place. I also felt that about halfway through the book some of the characters (Chad, Felicia and Clyde especially) started acting out of character. I could understand the change in Clyde, but the other two just did a 180. Chad had been a loving, close friend to Sarah throughout and then all of the sudden he become a villain? I would have liked a little more build up for that kind of change. Felicia just seemed really fickle, her character shows up randomly throughout and each time she almost acts like a different person. The other problem I had was more of a personal pet peeve. There were multiple POV throughout the story which in my opinion interrupts the flow and prevents you from really getting attached to just one or two characters. I don’t mind if a story switches POV from chapter to chapter, but not during the chapter with multiple POV throughout.
Bookworm Rating: 3, G
Similar Reads:
The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook
The False Princess by Eilies O’Neal
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley
There were just a few things that I didn’t like, or could have been improved. First, I had no idea when this story was supposed to take place. It mentioned real places such as France and Spain, but I didn’t know if they were supposed to be real characters or what timeframe the story was taking place. I also felt that about halfway through the book some of the characters (Chad, Felicia and Clyde especially) started acting out of character. I could understand the change in Clyde, but the other two just did a 180. Chad had been a loving, close friend to Sarah throughout and then all of the sudden he become a villain? I would have liked a little more build up for that kind of change. Felicia just seemed really fickle, her character shows up randomly throughout and each time she almost acts like a different person. The other problem I had was more of a personal pet peeve. There were multiple POV throughout the story which in my opinion interrupts the flow and prevents you from really getting attached to just one or two characters. I don’t mind if a story switches POV from chapter to chapter, but not during the chapter with multiple POV throughout.
Bookworm Rating: 3, G
Similar Reads:
The Decoy Princess by Dawn Cook
The False Princess by Eilies O’Neal
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley
October 25, 2012
Who is the intended audience? Teenage girls.
What is the main issue? That, no matter what, you will find love and can be yourself.
The setting makes it seem more classical. Princesses and Balls belong in that time, but it could be in another.
The antagonists are Lord Chad and Lord Clyde. Protagonists are Sarah, Alex, and Miranda
Story Summary
A princess is born, but political standing make her life dangerous. So she is whisked away, and put in Miranda's care. They go to another country, Miranda gets married, and has Felicia. Her and Sarah grow up together and Miranda dies young. Sarah is supposed to be with Lord chad, but she ignores him. While in the orchard, years later, she sees a man on a horse. Ales falls for her, but problems bar their realationship. Then, in the end, Sarah finds out she's a princess from another country, and marries Alex.
Why did I like the book? How Sarah gets put through al these trials, but makes it through them.
Some quotes:
"Little black demon would suit me better." Page 28
"Do you mind if I call you sister?" Page 218
One theme: Hold in there, all will be well.
My recommendation: To girls going through rough times. It gives hope to all those who read it.
First borns are marked in the Royal families at birth . Not many would think to add that cool fact.
What is the main issue? That, no matter what, you will find love and can be yourself.
The setting makes it seem more classical. Princesses and Balls belong in that time, but it could be in another.
The antagonists are Lord Chad and Lord Clyde. Protagonists are Sarah, Alex, and Miranda
Story Summary
A princess is born, but political standing make her life dangerous. So she is whisked away, and put in Miranda's care. They go to another country, Miranda gets married, and has Felicia. Her and Sarah grow up together and Miranda dies young. Sarah is supposed to be with Lord chad, but she ignores him. While in the orchard, years later, she sees a man on a horse. Ales falls for her, but problems bar their realationship. Then, in the end, Sarah finds out she's a princess from another country, and marries Alex.
Why did I like the book? How Sarah gets put through al these trials, but makes it through them.
Some quotes:
"Little black demon would suit me better." Page 28
"Do you mind if I call you sister?" Page 218
One theme: Hold in there, all will be well.
My recommendation: To girls going through rough times. It gives hope to all those who read it.
First borns are marked in the Royal families at birth . Not many would think to add that cool fact.
May 24, 2011
This story had a Cinderella feel to it and I am a pushover for a clean, romantic princess story. Mark of Royalty told the story of a girl who was the firstborn twin and was given the royal mark (brand) at birth, only to be followed by a twin brother. He, too, was given the mark and the girl was taken away to be raised away from the kingdom so she wouldn't be killed. Sarah grew up as a normal girl, but was matched with a relation to royalty in her new country. She unexpectedly meets Alex and feels a growing attraction to him. Will she honor the wishes of her mother or follow her heart?
I loved Miranda! She was given Sarah as a baby and devoted her life to treating this girl as normally as possibly, and yet did a fantastic job at protecting Sarah and giving her the opportunies that she felt Sarah deserved. She kept the peace with her new husband and was such a stabilizing force in their home.
Sarah was a great character as well. She behaved so unconventionally for her time, yet was true to herself and her interests. She did what she had to do to take care of herself, even if it meant punishment.
In my opinion, all the characters were well developed and fun. I loved the hint of Cinderella, yet the differences made it unique.
I loved Miranda! She was given Sarah as a baby and devoted her life to treating this girl as normally as possibly, and yet did a fantastic job at protecting Sarah and giving her the opportunies that she felt Sarah deserved. She kept the peace with her new husband and was such a stabilizing force in their home.
Sarah was a great character as well. She behaved so unconventionally for her time, yet was true to herself and her interests. She did what she had to do to take care of herself, even if it meant punishment.
In my opinion, all the characters were well developed and fun. I loved the hint of Cinderella, yet the differences made it unique.
April 20, 2011
This was a fun read. But you have to turn your mind off.
The story itself sweeps you away, and the characters are dashing and romantic or dastardly and conniving. All entertaining stuff.
I kept getting pulled out of the story by weird things. If you want to set a story in some made up land, I am totally cool with that, and you can give the characters whatever names you feel like and I'll totally buy into it. But the moment you set your story someplace real, like say, Spain or France, a certain level of believability needs to be expressed. Like the names: Lord Chad? A King named Richard (somewhere in France/Spain)? A Princess named Sarah (in the middle ages and not Jewish)? Jordan? Sedrick? And then Austria, the country, is invading this made up kingdom (that is somewhere inside France). Again, I wish the authors had just made up all the geography instead of trying to set it someplace real(ish).
But it reminded me a lot of Ever After, in a good way. SO if you likes that movie I would pick up this book.
The story itself sweeps you away, and the characters are dashing and romantic or dastardly and conniving. All entertaining stuff.
I kept getting pulled out of the story by weird things. If you want to set a story in some made up land, I am totally cool with that, and you can give the characters whatever names you feel like and I'll totally buy into it. But the moment you set your story someplace real, like say, Spain or France, a certain level of believability needs to be expressed. Like the names: Lord Chad? A King named Richard (somewhere in France/Spain)? A Princess named Sarah (in the middle ages and not Jewish)? Jordan? Sedrick? And then Austria, the country, is invading this made up kingdom (that is somewhere inside France). Again, I wish the authors had just made up all the geography instead of trying to set it someplace real(ish).
But it reminded me a lot of Ever After, in a good way. SO if you likes that movie I would pick up this book.
August 20, 2014
This story is SO GOOD!
A babe born to fulfill a prophecy is given the royal birthmark...
Only to discover she is a daughter, not the son that she was suppose to be...
And when her twin brother is born right after her...
He is also given the royal birthmark and the daughter is whisked away to save her life.
The girl is raised by a woman who is determined to love her and give her all the advantages she might have had had she remained at the castle.
She gives her the name of Sarah, but her royal heritage is fully kept from all.
As time goes on Sarah has a chance to marry the king's nephew...but her heart is set on another.
"As plots against the crown unfold, someone accidentally discovers Sarah's secret mark of royalty—setting the stage for discoveries that will shake the kingdom to its core."
Sarah has a chance to run...
Will she take it~
OR will she be given the chance to fulfill the prophecy as she was born to do?
What would YOU do?
A FUN read!
Watch for my review of the sequel BONDS OF LOYALTY :)
A babe born to fulfill a prophecy is given the royal birthmark...
Only to discover she is a daughter, not the son that she was suppose to be...
And when her twin brother is born right after her...
He is also given the royal birthmark and the daughter is whisked away to save her life.
The girl is raised by a woman who is determined to love her and give her all the advantages she might have had had she remained at the castle.
She gives her the name of Sarah, but her royal heritage is fully kept from all.
As time goes on Sarah has a chance to marry the king's nephew...but her heart is set on another.
"As plots against the crown unfold, someone accidentally discovers Sarah's secret mark of royalty—setting the stage for discoveries that will shake the kingdom to its core."
Sarah has a chance to run...
Will she take it~
OR will she be given the chance to fulfill the prophecy as she was born to do?
What would YOU do?
A FUN read!
Watch for my review of the sequel BONDS OF LOYALTY :)
March 25, 2014
This book reminded me of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. While it didn't take on all of the qualities of the fairy tales, there were many situations that made me think of them.
Sarah was removed from her royal home as a newborn. She was spirited away by a King's advisor to save her life. She is taken by a kind woman to live in a far away land where no one will know the mark of royalty that she bears on her shoulder.
There is also a wonderful older seamstress who comes to Sarah's rescue at one point in the story to give her a proper dress to attend a kindgdom celebration. She reminded me of a fairy godmother. Sarah doesn't know she is a princess and her suitor is hiding his identity as well.
There is an abusive step-father and a jealous sister.
The book is a pleasure to read. I enjoyed the characters of Alex and Sarah. Each is as honest and forthright as possible, but still have misunderstandings and miscommunications.
This book is perfect for lovers of fairy tale stories.
Sarah was removed from her royal home as a newborn. She was spirited away by a King's advisor to save her life. She is taken by a kind woman to live in a far away land where no one will know the mark of royalty that she bears on her shoulder.
There is also a wonderful older seamstress who comes to Sarah's rescue at one point in the story to give her a proper dress to attend a kindgdom celebration. She reminded me of a fairy godmother. Sarah doesn't know she is a princess and her suitor is hiding his identity as well.
There is an abusive step-father and a jealous sister.
The book is a pleasure to read. I enjoyed the characters of Alex and Sarah. Each is as honest and forthright as possible, but still have misunderstandings and miscommunications.
This book is perfect for lovers of fairy tale stories.
March 10, 2011
At a time when royal infants are marked at birth, a royal advisor makes a terrible misstep—and an infant princess must be secreted away to save her life. Named Sarah by Miranda, the woman who agrees to raise the child as her own, the girl is unaware of her royal heritage—even though Miranda has done all she can to pair Sarah with the king’s nephew, Lord Chad. But unexpected events prevent the expected betrothal.
Determined to fulfill her devoted mother’s wishes, Sarah reserves her heart for Chad despite her growing affections for another man. But as plots against the crown unfold, someone accidentally discovers Sarah’s mark of royalty—setting the stage for discoveries that will shake the kingdom to its core.
A very fun, quick read that has it all: intrigue, romance, faith. Definitely worth a day of putting off laundry! :)
Determined to fulfill her devoted mother’s wishes, Sarah reserves her heart for Chad despite her growing affections for another man. But as plots against the crown unfold, someone accidentally discovers Sarah’s mark of royalty—setting the stage for discoveries that will shake the kingdom to its core.
A very fun, quick read that has it all: intrigue, romance, faith. Definitely worth a day of putting off laundry! :)
January 26, 2011
I loved this book, I don't own a Kindle but the book version isn't on this sight yet. The Mark of Royalty was written by two sisters. I hope they plan on writting more books together.
Miranda is surprised when Apollo the King's Advisor comes to her with a baby girl in his arms; the baby has the mark of royalty on her shoulder since she is the firstborn, but she is a twin and the second baby is a son and he was given the mark of royalty also. There is a prophecy predicted that all firstborns would be male and if not than the child was killed. So Apollo brought the baby to Miranda and asked her to give the child a name a take her far away to live in another country and to protect her from anyone knowing her true identity.
Miranda is surprised when Apollo the King's Advisor comes to her with a baby girl in his arms; the baby has the mark of royalty on her shoulder since she is the firstborn, but she is a twin and the second baby is a son and he was given the mark of royalty also. There is a prophecy predicted that all firstborns would be male and if not than the child was killed. So Apollo brought the baby to Miranda and asked her to give the child a name a take her far away to live in another country and to protect her from anyone knowing her true identity.
July 29, 2014
Sarah is the firstborn of twins to the king and queen of Kyridian, but a prophesy has doomed her to die if she is allowed to live. Knowing the risk she will be in if she stays in the kingdom, Apollo, the king’s trusted advisor, spirits her away to another country where she is raised by Miranda as her own. Miranda loves Sarah and tries to do her best for the lost princess when she comes of age. But as Sarah grows and life challenges her with death, betrayal, and a wicked step-father, she must discover her own self-worth and rise to her responsibilities. This story captivated me with a fairy tale plot, intriguing characters, and well-written dialogue. I had a hard time putting it down to get laundry done—so beware!
February 24, 2011
Cute story with a cinderellaesque (yes, I like to make up words, thank you very much) feel.
Sarah has no idea that she is a princess. But after the loss of her mother (or the woman whom she believes to be her mother), events are set in motion that lead the to revelation that she is indeed a princess, and first born, of a neighboring kingdom. (don't worry, this isn't a spoiler, we know from the start that Sarah is a Princess, we just have to wait to see how she discovers her hidden royalty).
A nice, quick read (I finished it in one evening.
Sarah has no idea that she is a princess. But after the loss of her mother (or the woman whom she believes to be her mother), events are set in motion that lead the to revelation that she is indeed a princess, and first born, of a neighboring kingdom. (don't worry, this isn't a spoiler, we know from the start that Sarah is a Princess, we just have to wait to see how she discovers her hidden royalty).
A nice, quick read (I finished it in one evening.
May 9, 2011
Darling fairytaleish story of a princess who doesn't know who she truly is. She is kind, clever and accepting of others. She trusts others to a fault and always sees the good often when there is none. I loved how the authors were able to change my mind and feelings about many characters in the story. I evolved as a reader the way the characters were evolving over time. The romance was sweet, the outcome fairly obvious early on, but the ride was fun and always exciting. Sword fights, ball gowns, castles and princes- what's not to love? :)
March 25, 2014
I got to meet the authors of this book, and new that it was a first time book for them. Consequently, I was prepared to indulge, and just decide to like it. I am glad to say the story is really intriguing, tense and enjoyable. The writing is a little bit amateur but really a joy to read! I realized that one part is my dream first meeting, being the romantic I am :) Love, Sariah
PS. They both grew up in Monticello, but neither live here now.
PS. They both grew up in Monticello, but neither live here now.
January 29, 2018
3.5 Stars
I love fairy tale retellings! This is a good twist on Cinderella, with some elements of Sleeping Beauty as well. The beginning was great! Then the story stalled for me. Thankfully it picked up again, and once Sarah and Alex met, I didn’t want to stop reading. I liked both of them, although Sarah was a bit too naïve and trusting sometimes. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the way everything worked out.
I love fairy tale retellings! This is a good twist on Cinderella, with some elements of Sleeping Beauty as well. The beginning was great! Then the story stalled for me. Thankfully it picked up again, and once Sarah and Alex met, I didn’t want to stop reading. I liked both of them, although Sarah was a bit too naïve and trusting sometimes. Overall, I enjoyed the book and the way everything worked out.
July 31, 2011
Two words: SO GOOD!!! I really just love it when the main character of a book actually knows who she is and what she stands for. Sarah is stubborn in her ways, a quality that I can very much relate to :). I love the romance, and I love that it was sweet and loving, without being over bearing, or even under-bearing! I loved it through and through!!!
February 27, 2011
This book had a sort of Cinderella and Ever After feel to it. I, personally, really enjoyed reading it because it was a feel good, romantic kind of book. A hidden princess, the evil step father, a dashing young prince and a happily ever after ending. My teenage daughter is going to LOVE it. :)
March 31, 2011
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!! I loved it. :D It is so good the whole way through but when you get about half way you won't want to put it down because you will want to know what is going to happen!!! :) SO worth the time!
August 8, 2011
Despite the cliched premise, this book was still a fun read. YA will definitely enjoy it.
My editor-persona reared it's ugly head in the first chapter with all the head-hopping and a few other craft errors, so hoping subsequent books will iron out the novice writer mistakes.
My editor-persona reared it's ugly head in the first chapter with all the head-hopping and a few other craft errors, so hoping subsequent books will iron out the novice writer mistakes.
August 20, 2012
I thought this was such a cute story! A quick, easy read.
January 4, 2019
Mark of Royalty is a wonderful book! The story tells of a princess, Sarah of Kyrnidan, who is taken away at birth to save her life because she was born minutes before her brother, the would-be heir to the throne. Before she was taken away, she was given the royal mark as official heir to the throne. She grows up in a foreign land, raised by a woman who wasn’t her mother not knowing her royal heritage. My favorite part of the book is when she learns that she is, in fact, a royal princess. Another favorite part from the book was a plot twist where the prince of the foreign land where Sarah lives is caught in a storm, loses his horse, and wanders randomly to a village shop for cover. There, he finds out from the shopkeeper, who is from the Kyrnidan, that Sarah is the lost princess. Eventually, he then helps her return to her country to claim the throne, and asks her father for permission to marry her to bring an alliance between the two countries. I love the way this book all came to a happy ending. Very satisfying. I enjoyed reading it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read books that have romance and fantasy, but also for those who find joy in a main character coming to know something amazing about themselves that they didn’t before. This book has it all.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. As far as “Cinderella/lost princess” stories go, it was amazing. It was easy to read and cleaver in the way the plot was revealed.
I would compare this book to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Harry arrives at Hogwarts having grown up in the mortal world not knowing his own fame and power as a wizard. People of all ages stare at him and even know his name without meeting him. He eventually finds out that he is the one person to have survived a killing curse from a wicked wizard named Voldemort. Basically, he is one of the most important, famous wizards in the entire world. Mark of Royalty is similar in that the main character is secretly famous and comes to discover this fact in the story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read books that have romance and fantasy, but also for those who find joy in a main character coming to know something amazing about themselves that they didn’t before. This book has it all.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. As far as “Cinderella/lost princess” stories go, it was amazing. It was easy to read and cleaver in the way the plot was revealed.
I would compare this book to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Harry arrives at Hogwarts having grown up in the mortal world not knowing his own fame and power as a wizard. People of all ages stare at him and even know his name without meeting him. He eventually finds out that he is the one person to have survived a killing curse from a wicked wizard named Voldemort. Basically, he is one of the most important, famous wizards in the entire world. Mark of Royalty is similar in that the main character is secretly famous and comes to discover this fact in the story.
February 16, 2017
What an enjoyable book! There were some VERY loose similarities to some old fairy tales, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty to name a couple, but just barely. Mostly it was a story of a secret kept until it came out just in the nick of time to save the day. The good guys were very good, the bad guys were bad.
I loved Miranda, Sarah's secretly adopted mother. Her (half-) sister was forgivable. Alex was wonderful, and very worthy; I appreciated his intelligence, his gift for strategy, his humility. (Although his frequent solo jaunts seemed a little unlikely...that will make sense when you read the book.) I felt mostly sorry for but sometimes angry with Sarah's stepfather, Clyde. Apollo, the first and nearly last character in the book - ahh, I would love to read a whole book about him, where he finds his own happiness! There were a handful of others, but I won't destroy the story for you!
Sigh. Such a satisfying book!
I loved Miranda, Sarah's secretly adopted mother. Her (half-) sister was forgivable. Alex was wonderful, and very worthy; I appreciated his intelligence, his gift for strategy, his humility. (Although his frequent solo jaunts seemed a little unlikely...that will make sense when you read the book.) I felt mostly sorry for but sometimes angry with Sarah's stepfather, Clyde. Apollo, the first and nearly last character in the book - ahh, I would love to read a whole book about him, where he finds his own happiness! There were a handful of others, but I won't destroy the story for you!
Sigh. Such a satisfying book!
February 20, 2018
This left much to be desired. The love story was cute, so if you are okay with a shallow plot, but a nice cute-meet and progression, then I'd recommend it.
The thing that bothered me was that the story is based upon a prophecy, but it just kind of peters out. Nothing happens from it. I feel the characters would've still met had the circumstances not been altered by the "prophecy". Things came together too quickly throughout the book. I felt like the character was whisked away to this or that, and there wasn't really any build up.
The one redeeming factor was that I hated one of the antagonists. His traits as a character were really good, and I loved to hate him. The heroine and her LI were basically one-dimensional.
Anyway, the story definitely didn't end how I thought it would, but again, if you want a cute, innocent love story, go ahead and try this one out. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
The thing that bothered me was that the story is based upon a prophecy, but it just kind of peters out. Nothing happens from it. I feel the characters would've still met had the circumstances not been altered by the "prophecy". Things came together too quickly throughout the book. I felt like the character was whisked away to this or that, and there wasn't really any build up.
The one redeeming factor was that I hated one of the antagonists. His traits as a character were really good, and I loved to hate him. The heroine and her LI were basically one-dimensional.
Anyway, the story definitely didn't end how I thought it would, but again, if you want a cute, innocent love story, go ahead and try this one out. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
March 7, 2022
The beginning of this was a bit slow, and I nearly gave up on it.
And then I was totally into the story and could barely contain my excitement when it came to the part where everything was revealed.
And then I was kind of let down. That moment where everyone found out the truth could have been so much more dramatic! Instead… the guy from the beginning just regurgitated everything I’d read already. And even the moment with Chad… it all happened off screen and was mentioned after the fact.
So. It was good enough. A 3.5 rating is more accurate for me. I may or may not read the second book. While I’m interested in it… I’m not interested in a love triangle at the moment. Which I gather happens in the second book.
And then I was totally into the story and could barely contain my excitement when it came to the part where everything was revealed.
And then I was kind of let down. That moment where everyone found out the truth could have been so much more dramatic! Instead… the guy from the beginning just regurgitated everything I’d read already. And even the moment with Chad… it all happened off screen and was mentioned after the fact.
So. It was good enough. A 3.5 rating is more accurate for me. I may or may not read the second book. While I’m interested in it… I’m not interested in a love triangle at the moment. Which I gather happens in the second book.
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