Chrysanthemum Palace: A Royal Romance: The Princess Eleanor Chronicles Book 1

by Morgana Sinclayr

After receiving a mysterious letter signed by an unlikely figure from her past, California teen Eleanor Aurora is shocked to discover she's a princess!

Her life is about to change forever as she prepares to move to the Kingdom of Narea in the Far East.Equipped with only the guidance of a family friend and a renowned etiquette coach, the high school senior is abruptly thrust into the fascinating yet strict world of Narean high society. There, she must navigate the struggles of fitting in where she’s not welcome—in a new country, a new school, and a new family.

As Eleanor journeys toward the Chrysanthemum Throne, she'll experience drama, culture shock, betrayal, and heartbreak. Unlike the childhood fairytales she was raised on, the road to happily ever after has more twists and turns than she could have ever imagined.



Chrysanthemum Palace is the first book of the Princess Eleanor Chronicles series by Morgana Sinclayr. Perfect for fans of The Princess Diaries and the Selection series, this coming-of-age tale filled with drama will compel readers to follow Eleanor’s journey of fulfilling her true purpose in life.

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2024

About the author

Morgana Sinclayr, former Kawaii fashion reporter for NHK World Japan, has channeled her love of storytelling into her debut novel, Chrysanthemum Palace, the first in The Princess Eleanor Chronicles series. This enchanting story invites readers into a world where discovering one’s true purpose can be as thrilling—and as daunting—as finding out you’re royalty.

Inspired by her love of anime, K-pop, rock, and fairytales, Morgana brings to life culturally rich, fantastical worlds with heroes you can truly root for.

Diagnosed with Autism at 16, she is a proud advocate for neurodivergent voices in literature. She currently resides in Augusta, Georgia, where she’s crafting the next chapter of Eleanor’s adventure.

Reviews

[Emily Verhagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Diaries / Forged By Blood / The Selection vibes. Now I need to get the second one 😬

[C E Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently picked up "Chrysanthemum Palace" for my 12-year-old granddaughter, and it has quickly become a favorite in our home! The story follows Eleanor Aurora, a California girl who discovers she’s a princess in the enchanting kingdom of Narea.

What I love most is how my granddaughter relates to Eleanor’s journey. She’s been captivated by the excitement and challenges Eleanor faces; like adapting to royal life and navigating friendships in a new school. My granddaughter often runs to me, excited to share her favorite moments and plot twists, especially when Eleanor stands up for herself or makes tough choices.

The themes of loyalty and self-discovery resonate with her, and it's been wonderful to see her engage with the story on that level. We’ve had some great discussions about friendship and being true to oneself, which I think is so important for her age.

Overall, "Chrysanthemum Palace" isn’t just a fun read; it’s sparked meaningful conversations between us. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to share a captivating story with a young reader. It has truly made our reading time together special!

[Aurora · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whatever this is, it's not actually a royal romance, it's more of a tragedy with barely-there bodyguard romance. I couldn't even tell at first whether the stepbrother was supposed to be the love interest or the bodyguard, and it feels a bit like the stepbrother was originally supposed to be the love interest due to her commenting on him being attractive when she first meets him and them telling each other they love each other right before he betrays her, which is confusing. In general, there's far too much head-hopping and tense-switching. It doesn't make sense to switch POVs more than two-thirds of the way into the book for the first time and it doesn't make sense to basically switch POVs while it's still ostensibly under the POV of a different character (head-hopping). I can tell this was first written when the author was a sophomore, honestly. Also, the world building feels incomplete and the author desperately needs to learn about show don't tell.

[Tina Crampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. It's a good story and I loved how it showed that real love means putting someone else first. I didn't see that plot twist coming but it made the story even better.

I especially like the fact that the story is age appropriate for the target audience. A lot of stories today contain scenes that are too explicit for young adults or explore subjects that parents should discuss with their children, especially during the child's formative years. Once the child reaches maturity, they can make their own choices based on their beliefs.

With that said, I am excited to read the sequel when it is released. I highly recommend this book.

[Jeannie Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am 65 years old and I loved this book. I love prince and princess stories. I can’t wait to share it with my 2 granddaughters. If I had to say anything negative it would be, I was left hanging and wanting more. But that’s the purpose. So I can’t wait for the second in the series. And of course I will get the last one. It’s nice to know the author personally. What an awesome girl she is, in so many ways. She’s so talented. She can speak Russian, Japanese, of course English and she is learning Spanish. I highly recommend that you get her book.

[Lisa Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshingly innocent, age appropriate story of a young girl's self discovery that leaves you wanting more. I also like the culturally diverse world that I got to see through Eleanor's eyes. The blending of both the East Asian and African cultures was very interesting. The ending left me at the edge of my seat!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how descriptive this book is. As a person that’s more into graphic novels, I really did enjoy this book. Not all romances end in happiness and those are my favorite kind of stories. I guess I like a tragedy I find it more dramatic and leaves me feel something more than “and they lived happily ever after.” A story with real emotions makes it all the more compelling.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was cute! It could have used some work, though, but it was a good for the most part! It just felt rushed in some places and had some scenes that didn’t seem necessary! I will be waiting to read what happens in book two!