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A Princess Tale #1
The Royal Spy
A Princess Tale Book 1
If only deciding who you are was easy. For Princess Katie, making her choice is quite a challenge, made worse when her two worlds collide. If she chooses to be a princess she'll be a failure in the eyes of her father, but if she chooses to remain a spy she'll miss out on the life she was born to live. Under the guise of a princess who is there to win the heart of the prince, she is sent to spy on a neighboring country. But this mission proves different from the ones that she is used to. She's seen secret passages, and betrayal but she's usually hiding in the shadows, not having tea with the queen or bantering with the prince.
If she had spent more time as a princess maybe this quest wouldn't be so hard.
Excerpt:
I pushed myself up and nearly stopped breathing again. The man who I had just knocked to the ground was none other than Prince Jarin. Definitely not the shadow, I thought. “That’s it, you—” the prince began as he pushed himself up and raised his fist. “Stop!” I guarded my face with both hands. “Katie?” “Ah…hello, fancy meeting you here,” I stammered.
If only deciding who you are was easy. For Princess Katie, making her choice is quite a challenge, made worse when her two worlds collide. If she chooses to be a princess she'll be a failure in the eyes of her father, but if she chooses to remain a spy she'll miss out on the life she was born to live. Under the guise of a princess who is there to win the heart of the prince, she is sent to spy on a neighboring country. But this mission proves different from the ones that she is used to. She's seen secret passages, and betrayal but she's usually hiding in the shadows, not having tea with the queen or bantering with the prince.
If she had spent more time as a princess maybe this quest wouldn't be so hard.
Excerpt:
I pushed myself up and nearly stopped breathing again. The man who I had just knocked to the ground was none other than Prince Jarin. Definitely not the shadow, I thought. “That’s it, you—” the prince began as he pushed himself up and raised his fist. “Stop!” I guarded my face with both hands. “Katie?” “Ah…hello, fancy meeting you here,” I stammered.
223 pages, ebook
First published April 6, 2015
87 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
Cassie M. Shiels
18 books51 followersCassie M. Shiels was born in Idaho, but moved around the Pacific Northwest while growing up. She has always enjoyed books and was one to be found, reading late into the night, on the school bus or before she did her homework. In middle school she determined that she liked creating her own stories as much as she liked reading them; so she decided she wanted to be a writer and keeps working on making that dream come true with every story idea that bounds into her head. Cassie and her writing, visit her website: www.cassiemshiels.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 4, 2022
3.5 stars, personally.
This was just a Kindle Unlimited book I started on a whim, but it was an entertaining read. It was super clean, so thank you to the author for that! A few parts or sentences were...cheesy, honestly, quite a few parts were cheesy, but I still found myself smiling over some of those parts. ...And maybe eye rolling as well, but that's fine. Some things were a little too perfect for Katie at times (such as hearing the villain's reasons/plans at the right moment or discovering hidden passageways to the exact helpful place needed), but it's a short book so things need to be a little easy for our main girl, yes? Overall, I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. It was a decent read that distracted me for a couple hours.
Content: Some fighting and pain (very mild); A person is killed by another (no details); Mentions of murders & assassinations.
Language: Nothing worse than 'dumb', 'stupid', etc.
Spiritual: A couple mentions of fortune tellers & acting as one.
(There was quite a bit of missing punctuation and jarring paragraph changes, which did pull me out of the story.)
This was just a Kindle Unlimited book I started on a whim, but it was an entertaining read. It was super clean, so thank you to the author for that! A few parts or sentences were...cheesy, honestly, quite a few parts were cheesy, but I still found myself smiling over some of those parts. ...And maybe eye rolling as well, but that's fine. Some things were a little too perfect for Katie at times (such as hearing the villain's reasons/plans at the right moment or discovering hidden passageways to the exact helpful place needed), but it's a short book so things need to be a little easy for our main girl, yes? Overall, I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. It was a decent read that distracted me for a couple hours.
Content: Some fighting and pain (very mild); A person is killed by another (no details); Mentions of murders & assassinations.
Language: Nothing worse than 'dumb', 'stupid', etc.
Spiritual: A couple mentions of fortune tellers & acting as one.
(There was quite a bit of missing punctuation and jarring paragraph changes, which did pull me out of the story.)
July 6, 2015
I just have to say that right from the beginning, I was intrigued because I love a good princess story, especially when she is a strong and capable woman. Of course, it doesn't hurt that we share the same name. Speaking of names, there are two other characters in this story who share names with my kids!
Katie is a princess by birth, but is trained to be a spy and she's really good at what she does. Being a spy would give me a panic attack, but not this Katie! Her father sends her on a mysterious mission, where her cover is to be who she really is--a princess. This is hard for her because she doesn't really know how to act, but following her instincts proves to be the key to success. She is so honest and down-to-earth. I love the way she worms her way right into every aspect of the situation, including her relationship with the king. I really enjoyed the humor, adventure, and of course, the romance.
There are many great characters and situations in this book. The mystery is a fun element that really brings out strong personality traits and is cleverly done. However, there are a few instances when I would have liked more information or more emotion to be played out. I like to be involved in getting from Point A to Point B and not just told what happened. There are some typos, but the story is engaging enough that they're only a minor nuisance.
This is a fun read for almost all ages, as it is clean and entertaining, without the smut and gore.
Content: very mild romance; mild violence (no gore); nothing else of note.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Katie is a princess by birth, but is trained to be a spy and she's really good at what she does. Being a spy would give me a panic attack, but not this Katie! Her father sends her on a mysterious mission, where her cover is to be who she really is--a princess. This is hard for her because she doesn't really know how to act, but following her instincts proves to be the key to success. She is so honest and down-to-earth. I love the way she worms her way right into every aspect of the situation, including her relationship with the king. I really enjoyed the humor, adventure, and of course, the romance.
There are many great characters and situations in this book. The mystery is a fun element that really brings out strong personality traits and is cleverly done. However, there are a few instances when I would have liked more information or more emotion to be played out. I like to be involved in getting from Point A to Point B and not just told what happened. There are some typos, but the story is engaging enough that they're only a minor nuisance.
This is a fun read for almost all ages, as it is clean and entertaining, without the smut and gore.
Content: very mild romance; mild violence (no gore); nothing else of note.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
July 6, 2015
Super cute book. It was unbelievable but still cute. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the language and sayings were too modern for the time it was set and that annoys me. I like the prince and the princess didn't annoy me.
April 2, 2023
Such a surprising and fun book!
This book was great! It is simple, clean, and yet exciting, unexpected, and sweet. I loved it all!! I highly recommend it!
This book was great! It is simple, clean, and yet exciting, unexpected, and sweet. I loved it all!! I highly recommend it!
June 3, 2015
The Royal Spy has it all, action, adventure, romance, mystery, and quirky humor. Cassie has a very distinct voice that differentiates her from many first time authors. There are grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, as well as a few minor plot holes that would have been picked up with more thorough editing. There are times where things can get a little disorienting for the reader, but once you get past that you'll fall for the characters and get thrown into a whirlwind of events that keeps the book interesting from the first to the last page. Overall it is an enjoyable book. Great for a first time author. I hope to see more of Cassie Shiels' work out in the published world soon!
February 11, 2016
Cassie did a fabulous job of this book. I was well written and thought out. She implemented great fencing and a girl power with femininity. It's a strong young adult, touching tween reading area. Enjoyable for adults who enjoy young adult as well such as myself. Well done Cassie! Fun! Enjoyable, and engaging!
April 24, 2024
This was a really fun book. It was a playful YA novel with suspense, action, playful comedy, as well as a bit of romance. So, a little bit of everything. This would be great for the middle school age group reader. The main character is a princess and a spy and on a daring mission has to confront both sides of her personality.
July 21, 2015
It has been a long time since I have found a good book this clean, surprising, and fun to read! A good book for all ages!
August 31, 2021
The Royal Spy had a great premise featuring Katie, a princess who has been raised by her dad, the king, to be the best spy in the country. It's on her next mission that this book starts, and it's the first that has her acting as the one thing she's not that used to being: a princess.
While I'm still not sure if the author delivered on all she promised, I liked the idea of all these adventures Katie found herself being a part of, as well as her discovering this new side to herself. King Zaccory, Queen Elna, and prince Jarin were definitely interesting characters, and it was nice to change my pace and read something less focused on romance and more on the spy adventure. With all that being said, I think the story "jumped" a bit too much in its plot, revelations, and/or reactions to these last ones.
I'd recommend this book to MG readers, or really early teens, who are looking for a story more focused on adventure and the possibility of being a spy, than on being a princess waiting for her Prince Charming to save the day. ~ 3.5 stars
While I'm still not sure if the author delivered on all she promised, I liked the idea of all these adventures Katie found herself being a part of, as well as her discovering this new side to herself. King Zaccory, Queen Elna, and prince Jarin were definitely interesting characters, and it was nice to change my pace and read something less focused on romance and more on the spy adventure. With all that being said, I think the story "jumped" a bit too much in its plot, revelations, and/or reactions to these last ones.
I'd recommend this book to MG readers, or really early teens, who are looking for a story more focused on adventure and the possibility of being a spy, than on being a princess waiting for her Prince Charming to save the day. ~ 3.5 stars
August 23, 2021
3.5 stars
My feelings about this book are complicated. I enjoyed the story, and a few of the characters (mainly King Zaccory) but it needs some serious editing. By that, I mean: grammar, then/than, the King was called Zachary at least twice that I noticed, end quotes missing, some continuity issues, and spelling mistakes.
The characters building was okay, some better than others, but the world building could have used some more attention.
Lastly--the dialogue, especially during the fight scenes, was cliche and a bit juvenile and/or naive.
I can tell the author put a lot of love into this book and it's characters, and I can appreciate anyone who is able to write and publish a book on their own. This does come off as a "first work" type of novel, but the author has potential if they can get a good editor and work on action dialogue. Overall, it was a fun read despite my criticisms.
My feelings about this book are complicated. I enjoyed the story, and a few of the characters (mainly King Zaccory) but it needs some serious editing. By that, I mean: grammar, then/than, the King was called Zachary at least twice that I noticed, end quotes missing, some continuity issues, and spelling mistakes.
The characters building was okay, some better than others, but the world building could have used some more attention.
Lastly--the dialogue, especially during the fight scenes, was cliche and a bit juvenile and/or naive.
I can tell the author put a lot of love into this book and it's characters, and I can appreciate anyone who is able to write and publish a book on their own. This does come off as a "first work" type of novel, but the author has potential if they can get a good editor and work on action dialogue. Overall, it was a fun read despite my criticisms.
September 25, 2020
This is a wonderful clean medieval fairytale. Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses and of course a plot to overthrow the Royals! The story is full of intrigue and suspense, surprises and romance. The characters are strong,and dedicated, fun and engaging. Other than the occasional sword and dagger fight (mild), it is a clean wholesome story. The narrator was able to keep me focused and entertained throughout. I will be checking out their next book! I received this book and this is my honest review.
September 28, 2020
What a great concept for a book! With 4 daughters I thought we had read every possible princess scenario there was, but this is fresh and fun! A perfect middle grade or YA book... though I am far older than that and enjoyed it!
I am always on the lookout for strong female role models for my girls who love to read. The problem with a lot of those books is they portray men anywhere from oblivious to bumbling idiots... this book did a good job of having strong male and female characters. I really liked the storyline and the moral lessons.
I am always on the lookout for strong female role models for my girls who love to read. The problem with a lot of those books is they portray men anywhere from oblivious to bumbling idiots... this book did a good job of having strong male and female characters. I really liked the storyline and the moral lessons.
October 19, 2020
Katie is bold, brave, and the best spy in her nation. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know anything about the cultural expectations for the “proper”, demure behavior expected of a princess.
When she is sent to spy on her neighboring nation, she is asked to take on the mantle of princess, pretending to court Prince Jarin. This might just be her hardest cover-story yet. The irony is that she is the daughter of a king.
This is a delightful tale full of exciting twists and turns!
The narrator did a lovely job!
When she is sent to spy on her neighboring nation, she is asked to take on the mantle of princess, pretending to court Prince Jarin. This might just be her hardest cover-story yet. The irony is that she is the daughter of a king.
This is a delightful tale full of exciting twists and turns!
The narrator did a lovely job!
December 8, 2021
Easy read; the story had a lot more potential. The plot could have been given a lot more detail and enhancement, perhaps turned into its own series by itself; been more than a simple happily ever after story. I like a simple happily ever after story once in a while, but this could have been a deep, female empowerment story rather than a sad excuse to make this just a little different than a Disney fairytale. I’m actually a little disappointed.
September 19, 2020
A charming princess tale with a cute premise. The undercover princess who is not sure how to be one.
The dialogue between her and the King is some of my favorite. My only issue was the language was a bit too modern for a fairy tale. But then again Disney does the same. Cute story. Worth the read.
The dialogue between her and the King is some of my favorite. My only issue was the language was a bit too modern for a fairy tale. But then again Disney does the same. Cute story. Worth the read.
April 26, 2023
This book is so badly written that it is cringe worthy. I got 1/3 of the way through and couldn't finish it bc the characters are bland and the author did not do a very good job captivating the reader with a well written storyline. I hate that I wasted time reading this when I could've been reading a better written book series. Don't waste your time and read this.
August 4, 2021
Freshman
It was a fun book. No depth just lighthearted fun but for what it’s worth, get another editor as there were several spelling and grammar/missing words etc that sometimes your basic spellchecking misses.
It was a fun book. No depth just lighthearted fun but for what it’s worth, get another editor as there were several spelling and grammar/missing words etc that sometimes your basic spellchecking misses.
April 17, 2023
This is a really fun and cute story all about a princess who is turned into a spy. I think pre-teens or teenagers would like this book best. My favorite character is King Zaccory. If you want something to read that is light and fun, this is it.
September 2, 2023
I liked the plot of Princess Katie being a spy and falling in love with Prince Jarin. However, the writing seemed off…maybe telling instead of showing not sure. The dialogue seemed stilted and unnatural sometimes.
July 17, 2019
I liked this book. This book has good characters and a good plot.
April 18, 2020
This story is adorable! It keeps you engaged the whole time and has some fantastic plot twists! I really enjoyed this sweet read and will definitely continue reading Cassie Shiels' books!
September 27, 2020
The Royal Spy is a fun, yet intriguing story. It is well paced and the characters are interesting and easy to root for (or despise). The narrator gave a delightful performance.
July 7, 2021
DNF, too childish and unbelievable for me. It did seem cute, though.
July 31, 2022
Unconventional princess
Cute, light-hearted tale filled with many plot twists and turns. Katie, is a fun character to read about and her interaction with the royal family she is spying on is unique. This princess spy needs another story just to learn about all of her spy missions. Several other characters have a moment to shine as the story moves along and I found the King to be most endearing. I still wonder why he and the prince do not know about and use all of the secret passageways. I recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about unconventional princesses.
Cute, light-hearted tale filled with many plot twists and turns. Katie, is a fun character to read about and her interaction with the royal family she is spying on is unique. This princess spy needs another story just to learn about all of her spy missions. Several other characters have a moment to shine as the story moves along and I found the King to be most endearing. I still wonder why he and the prince do not know about and use all of the secret passageways. I recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about unconventional princesses.
February 28, 2023
Lovely characters
This was a fun read. With a bit of drama thrown in. But I liked the king, Katie and Jarin together. They make for an entertaining group that I want to root for and hang with.
This was a fun read. With a bit of drama thrown in. But I liked the king, Katie and Jarin together. They make for an entertaining group that I want to root for and hang with.
December 24, 2023
A very cute story of a princess spy. Fast paced enough to keep you interested and guessing the next move until the end. Very sweet ending.
October 20, 2023
Stars: 2.5 (of 5); Hearts: 1 (of 5);
Tags: fairy tale fiction, princesses & princes, court intrigue, clean romance;
Brave’s Merida meets Disney’s Princess Protection Program…?
Well not quite, but this book reminded me of something along those lines. So if you’re looking for a light princess-y adventure with a sprinkle of action and romance on the side look no further. But if you’re looking for something a bit more substantial than a Disney teeny movie then this book will probably disappoint you. The blurb promises a neat princess-spy adventure but sadly neither plot, characters nor writing style manage to rise above middle school level which turns the whole read into one underwhelming experience imo.
Maybe, if it was just the subpar writing, I could look past that. But there are just too many other flaws like weak plot lines and all the 2-dimensional characters which failed to spark any kind of attachment in me. I realize this might sound snobby, but my 15+ years of reading fiction of all genres has made me picky, sorry.
But, seriously, neither “Katie the spy” nor “Katie the princess” sounds very impressive. Also, though Katie is supposed to be the best spy her kingdom has to offer, she doesn’t manage to uncover a single secret by herself. Instead, she needs a mysterious shadow figure (which the author conveniently provided for her) who practically hand-feeds her the answers she’s been looking for… etc. etc.
Enough ranting though. Every book deserves a fair chance and this one just didn’t turn out to be my cup of tea. But, as said before, if you’re looking for a light princess-y adventure in between this one might be right up your alley.
I won't check out the author’s other books for now, but one day if I’m bored and out of other options (and her books are still available in KU) I might.
So long … too many books to read, only so much time 😉
Tags: fairy tale fiction, princesses & princes, court intrigue, clean romance;
Brave’s Merida meets Disney’s Princess Protection Program…?
Well not quite, but this book reminded me of something along those lines. So if you’re looking for a light princess-y adventure with a sprinkle of action and romance on the side look no further. But if you’re looking for something a bit more substantial than a Disney teeny movie then this book will probably disappoint you. The blurb promises a neat princess-spy adventure but sadly neither plot, characters nor writing style manage to rise above middle school level which turns the whole read into one underwhelming experience imo.
Maybe, if it was just the subpar writing, I could look past that. But there are just too many other flaws like weak plot lines and all the 2-dimensional characters which failed to spark any kind of attachment in me. I realize this might sound snobby, but my 15+ years of reading fiction of all genres has made me picky, sorry.
But, seriously, neither “Katie the spy” nor “Katie the princess” sounds very impressive. Also, though Katie is supposed to be the best spy her kingdom has to offer, she doesn’t manage to uncover a single secret by herself. Instead, she needs a mysterious shadow figure (which the author conveniently provided for her) who practically hand-feeds her the answers she’s been looking for… etc. etc.
Enough ranting though. Every book deserves a fair chance and this one just didn’t turn out to be my cup of tea. But, as said before, if you’re looking for a light princess-y adventure in between this one might be right up your alley.
I won't check out the author’s other books for now, but one day if I’m bored and out of other options (and her books are still available in KU) I might.
So long … too many books to read, only so much time 😉
July 11, 2020
This book was amazing.
The king's antics, the banter, and the bizarre situations the prince and Katie find each other in made me laugh the entire way through the book. I could not help but tell people about the book as I devoured it in a couple days.
I loved the characters, too. Princess Katie was definitely a different princess than the stereotype. Her skills learned through training and spying made her the perfect person for the mission. And the mission was perfect for her own growth as a person.
One theme I noticed was about deciding for oneself what decisions to make. Three characters were forced to choose between the two controlling influences in their lives. One portrayed exactly what obeying two opposing masters looked like--someone undoing his own work and gaining no ground in either direction. This theme is something that impacts my life right now and I have never seen it portrayed so clearly in a book.
The plot combined the perfect balance of intrigue, humor, and romance. The mysteries kept me on my toes, the humor kept me laughing, and the sweet romance kept me wanting more. I look forward to Cassie Shiels's upcoming works.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The king's antics, the banter, and the bizarre situations the prince and Katie find each other in made me laugh the entire way through the book. I could not help but tell people about the book as I devoured it in a couple days.
I loved the characters, too. Princess Katie was definitely a different princess than the stereotype. Her skills learned through training and spying made her the perfect person for the mission. And the mission was perfect for her own growth as a person.
One theme I noticed was about deciding for oneself what decisions to make. Three characters were forced to choose between the two controlling influences in their lives. One portrayed exactly what obeying two opposing masters looked like--someone undoing his own work and gaining no ground in either direction. This theme is something that impacts my life right now and I have never seen it portrayed so clearly in a book.
The plot combined the perfect balance of intrigue, humor, and romance. The mysteries kept me on my toes, the humor kept me laughing, and the sweet romance kept me wanting more. I look forward to Cassie Shiels's upcoming works.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2015
This story about a princess spy is aimed at middle grade/YA audiences, but is enjoyable to adults as well. The story is set in older times but does not feel historical. It is full of fun, humor, adventure, mystery, and quirky characters. I could easily see this book turned into a family movie. There is just something for everyone.
Content: sword fighting, murder, deception, and a platonic romance
Content: sword fighting, murder, deception, and a platonic romance
May 12, 2016
A Royal Spy was an enchanting fairy tale with a twist. The interaction between the princess and the King was a lot of fun and you found yourself cheering on the protagonist whether she was in the role of a princess or the role of a spy. I enjoyed this refreshing take on a traditional idea and hope to read more about the royal spy and how she meshes her two very different lives to become the best queen ever!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews