La venganza de la princesa

Secrets of the Kalyva Crown #1

by Lorraine Hall, Cristina de la Cerda Caraballo (Translator)

Ella estaba interpretando el papel de princesa. Él, jugando con fuego. Para vengar la muerte de sus padres, que fueron ejecutados por una traición que no habían cometido, Lisias Balaskas contrató a Alexandra, una joven sin pasado, para que se hiciera pasar por la princesa Zandra del reino de Kalyva, desaparecida veinte años atrás, en medio de un sangriento intento de golpe de Estado. Alexandra no recordaba nada de su infancia. Siempre había vivido en las calles, y había sobrevivido trabajando como espía. Cuando Lisias la contrató para hacerse pasar por la princesa, no se esperaba que fueran a saltar chispas entre ellos, ni tampoco que, por algún extraño motivo, sintiera que pertenecía a aquel lugar, que cada rincón del palacio le resultara familiar...

Genres: Contemporary

160 pages, Paperback

Published August 9, 2023

Reviews

[Aou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the pace!

[RomLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing the role of his princess! Al is hired to help Greek billionaire Lysias avenge his parents’ murders—by posing as a long-lost royal and his fiancée! But when an unruly spark flares between them she can’t shake the feeling that she belongs by his side…

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read that the author was inspired by the story of the Grand Duchess and Anastasia, which was interesting since it was eventually proven that Anna Anderson, was not her. DNA results showed Anastasia had indeed been killed along with her three sisters and the rest of the Russian Royal family at Ekaterinburg. No matter, it was an interesting premise. However, I was frustrated at the lack of backstory information for Alexandra. She managed to go from living on the streets and doing amazing tasks in Athens, to transforming herself into a proper princess despite having left the pace when she was four years old.

As a heroine she was altogether too perfect. Kind, loving, adaptable, understanding, compassionate etc etc.

The author writes very well and I found myself moving swiftly through the story wondering what would happen next. However, I felt the characters never really came to life for me. Lysias remained locked into his revenge seeking mindset and behaved in such a cold and uncaring manner for far too long. His transformation at the end, was far too quick and abrupt and I didn’t believe in it.

Diamandis was unfortunately a horrible character for most of his appearances in the book and I have no interest in reading his book.

If you like your Mills and Boons to have a ‘fairy story’ edge, then you’ll probably like this a lot. Personally I think it’s almost impossible to match the skill and talent which Caitlin Crews brings to that type of story. CC is in a class of her own., so it’s an unfair comparison.

I enjoyed it but I didn’t love it - but this author is definitely worth following - and I wish her luck for the future.

[Mattie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one a lot, the plot and the characters were so well written. Alexandra and Lysias were such a great match, their connection was clear from the moment he realized she was a woman not a boy.

Alexandra was great, I liked that she didn't let people push her around and how she responded to her brothers cruelty when he tried to put them in his parents old living quarters. I liked how she responded to Lysias's demands by making demands of her own and didn't let him get away with rejecting her.

I liked Lysias very much as well, his backstory was so sad, I could totally understand why he would want revenge after what happened to his parents. I liked the progression of him falling for Alexandra and him not being able to help but fall for her.

I liked almost everything about the story and while I didn't hate the ending I just wish Alexandra hadn't gone after him at the end when he left her. At least he was in the process of realizing he loved her and was about to go after her when she showed up. P.

[Debs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lysias and Al saving each other

A thoroughly enjoyable story with surrounding area twists and turns in a plot that sees Al, surviving on the streets as a boy, unite with the rich Lysias who is intent on revenge. His goal is to bring down the King that had the parents of Lysias executed after a failed coup. Al, Alexandra, has no memory of her childhood. Lysias too many, most dark and brutal, but he is convinced his latest scheme will lay his night terrors to rest. As Lysias puts his revenge in motion, the fact that they are in fact sharing the same nightmarish experiences slowly reveals itself. A satisfying read with great characters. Five stars.

[Carmelita Clardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome beginning

This is the first book in the series and it didn’t disappoint. The H hired the h to find out some information about a presumed dead princess, he discovers that she is a woman and not a boy. The H was out for revenge against his former friend. The h is actually the princess but doesn’t remember her life. The plot and characters were very well written and developed. This is the first time I have read anything by this author, this was a page turner, I couldn’t put it down. Great epilogue.

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Secrets of the Kalyva Crown (Book #1)

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Secrets of the Kalyva Crown (Book #1)

[Jodi Virea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that that heroine was tough & smart. They were a perfect match for each other. Great story.. can’t wait for book 2.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘That sounds like stalking, Alexandra.’ 99%
Will royal revenge turn into a love match instead? A highly enjoyable first in series that introduces us to the royal family of Kalyva.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Puntuación Final: 2.0

[Natalie Brandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it significantly more than I thought I would. It was based off of Anastasia Romanov so- you know it had to be at least decent.

[Lexi Arenberg]

Definitely not a slow burn, which I usually prefer. Very smutty, but I didn’t love the MMC.

[Belladonnabooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Turns out, she was the princess after all!