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The King's 100
“A fun Sci-fi Fairytale mashup that is sure to please fans of The Lunar Chronicles!” – Lorie Langdon, author of Olivia Twist and Gilt Hollow
Sixteen-year-old princess, Piper Parish, is a disappointment to the citizens of Capalon, a STEM-structured kingdom where innovation is valued above all. Her older sister, the queen, views Piper's tears during their parents' funeral as a weakness, not to mention her strange affinity for singing. When Piper receives an anonymous note stating her mother is still alive and living in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, Piper chooses to risk death and flees Capalon to prove once and for all that she's not just the queen's defective little sister.
Posing as a Mondarian citizen named Paris Marigold, Piper bumps into a cute black-haired boy named Ari who encourages her to audition for the King's 100, an esteemed performance court of singers, magicians, and drummers. Piper lands a spot as a singer and dives head-first into a world of glittering dresses, girl-code, sugar, blackmail, and physical contact-all while taking direction from an evil maestro.Under Mondarian law, Piper will be killed if her identity is revealed. But living a life without the freedom to love might actually be the most dangerous risk of all.
Sixteen-year-old princess, Piper Parish, is a disappointment to the citizens of Capalon, a STEM-structured kingdom where innovation is valued above all. Her older sister, the queen, views Piper's tears during their parents' funeral as a weakness, not to mention her strange affinity for singing. When Piper receives an anonymous note stating her mother is still alive and living in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, Piper chooses to risk death and flees Capalon to prove once and for all that she's not just the queen's defective little sister.
Posing as a Mondarian citizen named Paris Marigold, Piper bumps into a cute black-haired boy named Ari who encourages her to audition for the King's 100, an esteemed performance court of singers, magicians, and drummers. Piper lands a spot as a singer and dives head-first into a world of glittering dresses, girl-code, sugar, blackmail, and physical contact-all while taking direction from an evil maestro.Under Mondarian law, Piper will be killed if her identity is revealed. But living a life without the freedom to love might actually be the most dangerous risk of all.
Unknown Binding
First published July 21, 2020
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About the author
Karin Biggs
4 books52 followersKarin lives in Indiana with her loving husband and two beautiful children.
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August 2, 2020
I would have loved this book in junior high. A YA story where teenager characters act, talk, and think like teenagers, The King’s 100 includes action and intrigue but overall offers a lighter tone with teen drama and romance. Readers in junior high or early high school would enjoy this book, and if you’re in the mood for a lighter YA read with a unique premise, I would recommend picking it up.
From the beginning, Piper’s world immediately had me hooked. She is a princess in the STEM Kingdom of Capalon, where logic is valued over emotion and all decisions are based on research and calculations. Throughout the first few chapters we meet Piper’s sister, Queen Evelyn, and explore Piper’s kingdom while getting to know her through 1st person POV. I really enjoyed the set up and think author Karin Biggs did some excellent worldbuilding presenting Capalon in a compelling manner without too many boring info dumps or explanations via character dialogue. When Piper discovers her late mother might still be alive in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, she devises a plan to infiltrate the Mondarian king’s mansion to find her.
Since Capalon was so riveting, I was expecting something equally unique for Mondaria. While Mondaria is the opposite of Capalon in that emotions and self-expression are allowed, I was a bit disappointed to find it’s pretty comparable to our world today, minus the monarchy and a few futuristic touches. We learn that the these kingdoms are actually future versions of what I’m guessing is the USA, but ties to “ancient” cities such as Paris have been long forgotten.
In Mondaria, teenagers wear jeans and plaid shirts, obsess over their hair and makeup, and frequent coffee shops and clothing boutiques. To get into the king’s mansion, Piper auditions for The King’s 100, a group of musicians and magicians who perform exclusively for the king and his court. The 100 mainly consists of teenagers who reside in dorm-style living and spend their days rehearsing for upcoming shows.
Since Piper has always relied on logic to make decisions, it was quite funny seeing her in this new environment where self-expression is allowed. For example, she points out when auditioning for the King’s 100 that her appearance shouldn’t matter if selections are based on talent. This train of thought follows her throughout the book and made for some laugh out loud moments.
I enjoyed Piper’s friendships with the other characters in the series, especially Darden and Layla. When Piper’s main group of girlfriends was introduced, I was pleasantly surprised that a typical “mean girl” wasn’t established and the female characters supported each other from the get-go. Later there is some petty jealousy around boys that made me roll my eyes as a 20-something-year-old, but thinking back to junior high/high school, well… there were definitely some parallels.
We get a slow burning and very sweet friends-to-lovers romance in this book. Although Mondaria has two young princes, Piper is not interested in them but rather finds herself falling for thoughtful and charming fellow King’s 100 drummer, Ari Novak. It’s clear from their first meeting that Piper and Ari are into one other, and while it was wonderful to see them form a solid friendship on their way to love, by the end of the book I was dying for them to be together!
The other side characters are… interesting. The Mondarian royal family comes into play later in the book, and I wish we could’ve had a few scenes where Piper interacts with them sprinkled into the earlier parts of the story to get to know them and provide some buildup to the end. Since we don’t really need to care about these characters until they’re dumped into the finale, it made the ending a bit anticlimactic. However, in spite of this, it did still leave me intrigued. There isn’t really a villain in this story, and the stakes are mostly centered around whether Piper will be revealed as the Capalon princess. Mondarian law mandates that, as their sworn enemies, Capalons who dare set foot in their kingdom will be executed. I found this a bit extreme, but I was willing to roll with it. We get villainous vibes from the Maestro, conductor of the King’s 100 musicians, but honestly his behavior was so erratic that I had zero idea how Biggs actually wanted the reader to feel about him.
While there is one LGTBQ+ character in this book, I was disappointed that there weren’t more. Specifically, this book could have benefitted from adding LGBTQ+ characters in Mondaria to contrast Capalon’s King Xavier. Matches in Capalon are solely based on intelligence to produce the brightest heirs, so they do not factor in romantic feelings or sexual orientation. It’s established early in the book that Queen Evelyn’s match, King Xavier, is a gay man. I would’ve liked for Piper to have LGBTQ+ friends in Mondaria who are openly allowed to love whomever they wish, further exploring the differences between the kingdoms and allowing Piper to see what it means to truly love freely. Other than Xavier, this book is pretty straight, especially in the cringeworthy New Year’s Eve ball scene where couples are matched to kiss at midnight as part of the King’s 100 spectacle. Speaking of kissing, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but cutting someone off mid-sentence to kiss them is not romantic!
The ending of this book felt a bit rushed for everything that happened, and of the mysteries Piper had to decipher throughout the story I was pleasantly surprised by the big revelation of one (the roses), but disappointed by the other (the note). However, the cliffhanger ending was one I never saw coming, and it seems like Biggs has provided the set up for a sequel. I will definitely be on the lookout for updates on the continuation of Piper’s story!
Thank you to Immortal Works via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
From the beginning, Piper’s world immediately had me hooked. She is a princess in the STEM Kingdom of Capalon, where logic is valued over emotion and all decisions are based on research and calculations. Throughout the first few chapters we meet Piper’s sister, Queen Evelyn, and explore Piper’s kingdom while getting to know her through 1st person POV. I really enjoyed the set up and think author Karin Biggs did some excellent worldbuilding presenting Capalon in a compelling manner without too many boring info dumps or explanations via character dialogue. When Piper discovers her late mother might still be alive in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, she devises a plan to infiltrate the Mondarian king’s mansion to find her.
Since Capalon was so riveting, I was expecting something equally unique for Mondaria. While Mondaria is the opposite of Capalon in that emotions and self-expression are allowed, I was a bit disappointed to find it’s pretty comparable to our world today, minus the monarchy and a few futuristic touches. We learn that the these kingdoms are actually future versions of what I’m guessing is the USA, but ties to “ancient” cities such as Paris have been long forgotten.
In Mondaria, teenagers wear jeans and plaid shirts, obsess over their hair and makeup, and frequent coffee shops and clothing boutiques. To get into the king’s mansion, Piper auditions for The King’s 100, a group of musicians and magicians who perform exclusively for the king and his court. The 100 mainly consists of teenagers who reside in dorm-style living and spend their days rehearsing for upcoming shows.
Since Piper has always relied on logic to make decisions, it was quite funny seeing her in this new environment where self-expression is allowed. For example, she points out when auditioning for the King’s 100 that her appearance shouldn’t matter if selections are based on talent. This train of thought follows her throughout the book and made for some laugh out loud moments.
I enjoyed Piper’s friendships with the other characters in the series, especially Darden and Layla. When Piper’s main group of girlfriends was introduced, I was pleasantly surprised that a typical “mean girl” wasn’t established and the female characters supported each other from the get-go. Later there is some petty jealousy around boys that made me roll my eyes as a 20-something-year-old, but thinking back to junior high/high school, well… there were definitely some parallels.
We get a slow burning and very sweet friends-to-lovers romance in this book. Although Mondaria has two young princes, Piper is not interested in them but rather finds herself falling for thoughtful and charming fellow King’s 100 drummer, Ari Novak. It’s clear from their first meeting that Piper and Ari are into one other, and while it was wonderful to see them form a solid friendship on their way to love, by the end of the book I was dying for them to be together!
The other side characters are… interesting. The Mondarian royal family comes into play later in the book, and I wish we could’ve had a few scenes where Piper interacts with them sprinkled into the earlier parts of the story to get to know them and provide some buildup to the end. Since we don’t really need to care about these characters until they’re dumped into the finale, it made the ending a bit anticlimactic. However, in spite of this, it did still leave me intrigued. There isn’t really a villain in this story, and the stakes are mostly centered around whether Piper will be revealed as the Capalon princess. Mondarian law mandates that, as their sworn enemies, Capalons who dare set foot in their kingdom will be executed. I found this a bit extreme, but I was willing to roll with it. We get villainous vibes from the Maestro, conductor of the King’s 100 musicians, but honestly his behavior was so erratic that I had zero idea how Biggs actually wanted the reader to feel about him.
While there is one LGTBQ+ character in this book, I was disappointed that there weren’t more. Specifically, this book could have benefitted from adding LGBTQ+ characters in Mondaria to contrast Capalon’s King Xavier. Matches in Capalon are solely based on intelligence to produce the brightest heirs, so they do not factor in romantic feelings or sexual orientation. It’s established early in the book that Queen Evelyn’s match, King Xavier, is a gay man. I would’ve liked for Piper to have LGBTQ+ friends in Mondaria who are openly allowed to love whomever they wish, further exploring the differences between the kingdoms and allowing Piper to see what it means to truly love freely. Other than Xavier, this book is pretty straight, especially in the cringeworthy New Year’s Eve ball scene where couples are matched to kiss at midnight as part of the King’s 100 spectacle. Speaking of kissing, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but cutting someone off mid-sentence to kiss them is not romantic!
The ending of this book felt a bit rushed for everything that happened, and of the mysteries Piper had to decipher throughout the story I was pleasantly surprised by the big revelation of one (the roses), but disappointed by the other (the note). However, the cliffhanger ending was one I never saw coming, and it seems like Biggs has provided the set up for a sequel. I will definitely be on the lookout for updates on the continuation of Piper’s story!
Thank you to Immortal Works via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 26, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The King's 100 gave me an interesting world. Where kingdoms are sort of at war with each other and they also value different things. In it, you will meet Piper who is a sixteen year old princess. Her kingdom is fascinated by all scientific things. They are also extremely healthy and I don't think I will ever look at kale ever again. Even if kale cubes sound interesting to try.
It wasn't surprising that all the other kingdoms compare them to robots.. because they definitely act like it. I honestly felt bad for Piper because of how she was treated by everyone in her own kingdom. Yet, she still went out on her own to prove something - mostly to herself. She found things that her kingdom desperately needs: joy, love, and I don't know.. human interaction?
Definitely got some Romeo and Juliet vibes as well. Especially when it came down to Piper, aka Paris, and Ari. Even though she was pretending to be someone else you could definitely see that these two had a connection. It was laughable that she kept saying, no we are friends. Yet, they only had eyes for each other.
These two had their fair share of drama as well but it was all entertaining. I definitely devoured this book and I'm looking forward to the next one. Mostly because I still have questions, hopes, and dreams for certain people. I need my ships to sail people!
The King's 100 gave me an interesting world. Where kingdoms are sort of at war with each other and they also value different things. In it, you will meet Piper who is a sixteen year old princess. Her kingdom is fascinated by all scientific things. They are also extremely healthy and I don't think I will ever look at kale ever again. Even if kale cubes sound interesting to try.
It wasn't surprising that all the other kingdoms compare them to robots.. because they definitely act like it. I honestly felt bad for Piper because of how she was treated by everyone in her own kingdom. Yet, she still went out on her own to prove something - mostly to herself. She found things that her kingdom desperately needs: joy, love, and I don't know.. human interaction?
Definitely got some Romeo and Juliet vibes as well. Especially when it came down to Piper, aka Paris, and Ari. Even though she was pretending to be someone else you could definitely see that these two had a connection. It was laughable that she kept saying, no we are friends. Yet, they only had eyes for each other.
These two had their fair share of drama as well but it was all entertaining. I definitely devoured this book and I'm looking forward to the next one. Mostly because I still have questions, hopes, and dreams for certain people. I need my ships to sail people!
August 8, 2020
I really enjoyed this read. 
It was a lot lighter than most of the YA I've been reading with war-torn worlds. If you love a classic princess story this is a book for you. Piper is a princess in a land that is scientifically advanced. They only eat healthy foods like kale cubes. Never any sugar or alcohol. Things like gambling, jokes, and love are through of as wastes of time and are avoided at all costs. They are a very robotic seemingly cold people. Children are nannies by robots. so avoid the added emotion I suppose. ( Kinda sounds like volcans right?!)
Even Piper's marriage is set up with a man who on paper is the smartest in her age bracket. Piper is seen as a misfit because she showed moral weakness by crying at her parent's funeral. The whole community seems to despise her for her supposed weakness.
One day Piper receives a mysterious note saying that her deceased mother is hiding in the neighboring kingdom's palace. This kingdom is the complete opposite of hers. Piper sees an opportunity to find her lost mother and she takes it.
I see several influences in this story. Romeo and Juliet, The kingdoms are called Capalon and Mondaria/ Capulet and Montague? Cinderella.
At times I felt like I was watching Cinderella dropped into High School The Musical.
I found the writing charming, I loved the cast characters. There was ever some surprising twists in the road.
My only complaint was the ending. I THINK it's being set up for a book 2 but it left me with the need for more info. It almost felt like a chapter more was needed OR possibly a few paragraphs less. Either way I look forward to more from this author.
It was a lot lighter than most of the YA I've been reading with war-torn worlds. If you love a classic princess story this is a book for you. Piper is a princess in a land that is scientifically advanced. They only eat healthy foods like kale cubes. Never any sugar or alcohol. Things like gambling, jokes, and love are through of as wastes of time and are avoided at all costs. They are a very robotic seemingly cold people. Children are nannies by robots. so avoid the added emotion I suppose. ( Kinda sounds like volcans right?!)
Even Piper's marriage is set up with a man who on paper is the smartest in her age bracket. Piper is seen as a misfit because she showed moral weakness by crying at her parent's funeral. The whole community seems to despise her for her supposed weakness.
One day Piper receives a mysterious note saying that her deceased mother is hiding in the neighboring kingdom's palace. This kingdom is the complete opposite of hers. Piper sees an opportunity to find her lost mother and she takes it.
I see several influences in this story. Romeo and Juliet, The kingdoms are called Capalon and Mondaria/ Capulet and Montague? Cinderella.
At times I felt like I was watching Cinderella dropped into High School The Musical.
I found the writing charming, I loved the cast characters. There was ever some surprising twists in the road.
My only complaint was the ending. I THINK it's being set up for a book 2 but it left me with the need for more info. It almost felt like a chapter more was needed OR possibly a few paragraphs less. Either way I look forward to more from this author.
September 2, 2020
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I hadn’t read such a lovely and romantic young adult story for a while! I’m so glad I got this ARC! It was a feelgood read for me!
Capalon is a high tech kingdom, where intelligence and innovation are highly appreciated. Piper Parish is the sixteen year old princess of Capalon who appreciates emotions and feelings more than everything else has more value in Capalon. Her older sister, the Queen, views Piper’s tears during their parents’ funeral as a weakness, not to mention her strange affinity for singing. This is not only the Queen’s view, but also the view of the citizens of Capalon. The princes is a disappointment to all of them. She still misses her parents. She is no role model, like her older sister. But when she receives an anonymous note, stating that her mother is alive and is living at the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, she risks everything to find her and bring her back to their lives.
She uses a Mondarian ID that she had found some time ago and as Paris Marigold she heads to her adventure. On her arrival in Mondaria she bumps into a cute boy named Ari, get’s herself soaked in hot chocolate and finds the opportunity she needed to get closer to where her mother is believed to be living. She auditions for the King’s 100, an esteemed performance court of singers, magicians, and drummers. Thanks to her love for singing, that was disapproved in Apalon, she makes it to the court as a singer and she convinces everyone she was home schooled and that’s why she is unaware of so many things. She finds herself amidst a group of young girls and boys she soon becomes friends with, living at an academy like environment and learning life from a different angle.
The story is a mix of sci-fi and fairy tale. It starts with the technological advanced Capalon, where logic prevails and emotions are nowhere to be found. Everything is based on calculations, from the daily meal to the match of a pair. Love is not considered something important in human relationships. What is important, most of all, is to make the perfect matches so as to have the perfect offspring, one that can continue the legacy and evolve technology. Capalon doesn’t care about colors and how to make things more beautiful. Capalon cares about technology.
Modaria on the other hand is very much like our world, without television or radio, but with a King and a court of performers. The performers are young men and women and they can be members of the court for four seasons, should the King chooses to give them this opportunity. Which means, Mondaria is the place any young person would be able to have a good time spent with friends, finding love and wearing a pair of jeans. A member of the King’s 100 though get’s to perform for the King and his guests, wearing beautiful clothes like ball gowns and beautiful black suites!
I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters of the book. Piper’s friendship with Darden and Layla was my favorite. It was so easy for her to make friends as she was so open to everything new. She put everything through logic, as she was always used to do and she came out so innocent and lovable. Piper and the rest of the characters are a bunch of teens and this is how the act on each and every situation. It would be strange to read something different. The dialogues and actions fit to that age group.
One thing I would like to see more is the world building. Capalon is not very clear to me. I would appreciate a bit more information of that so interesting place. Another part that I don’t know enough is the history between Capalon and Mondaria. How they became enemies and why would a Capalon citizen be sentenced to death if found in Mondaria.
The ending was a big question mark. There are hidden messages and a back story that points to a sequel. I would gladly read one. The King’s 100 was a quick read for me. I enjoyed Karin Biggs writing style and I would love to read more of her work.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.
I hadn’t read such a lovely and romantic young adult story for a while! I’m so glad I got this ARC! It was a feelgood read for me!
Capalon is a high tech kingdom, where intelligence and innovation are highly appreciated. Piper Parish is the sixteen year old princess of Capalon who appreciates emotions and feelings more than everything else has more value in Capalon. Her older sister, the Queen, views Piper’s tears during their parents’ funeral as a weakness, not to mention her strange affinity for singing. This is not only the Queen’s view, but also the view of the citizens of Capalon. The princes is a disappointment to all of them. She still misses her parents. She is no role model, like her older sister. But when she receives an anonymous note, stating that her mother is alive and is living at the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, she risks everything to find her and bring her back to their lives.
She uses a Mondarian ID that she had found some time ago and as Paris Marigold she heads to her adventure. On her arrival in Mondaria she bumps into a cute boy named Ari, get’s herself soaked in hot chocolate and finds the opportunity she needed to get closer to where her mother is believed to be living. She auditions for the King’s 100, an esteemed performance court of singers, magicians, and drummers. Thanks to her love for singing, that was disapproved in Apalon, she makes it to the court as a singer and she convinces everyone she was home schooled and that’s why she is unaware of so many things. She finds herself amidst a group of young girls and boys she soon becomes friends with, living at an academy like environment and learning life from a different angle.
The story is a mix of sci-fi and fairy tale. It starts with the technological advanced Capalon, where logic prevails and emotions are nowhere to be found. Everything is based on calculations, from the daily meal to the match of a pair. Love is not considered something important in human relationships. What is important, most of all, is to make the perfect matches so as to have the perfect offspring, one that can continue the legacy and evolve technology. Capalon doesn’t care about colors and how to make things more beautiful. Capalon cares about technology.
Modaria on the other hand is very much like our world, without television or radio, but with a King and a court of performers. The performers are young men and women and they can be members of the court for four seasons, should the King chooses to give them this opportunity. Which means, Mondaria is the place any young person would be able to have a good time spent with friends, finding love and wearing a pair of jeans. A member of the King’s 100 though get’s to perform for the King and his guests, wearing beautiful clothes like ball gowns and beautiful black suites!
I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters of the book. Piper’s friendship with Darden and Layla was my favorite. It was so easy for her to make friends as she was so open to everything new. She put everything through logic, as she was always used to do and she came out so innocent and lovable. Piper and the rest of the characters are a bunch of teens and this is how the act on each and every situation. It would be strange to read something different. The dialogues and actions fit to that age group.
One thing I would like to see more is the world building. Capalon is not very clear to me. I would appreciate a bit more information of that so interesting place. Another part that I don’t know enough is the history between Capalon and Mondaria. How they became enemies and why would a Capalon citizen be sentenced to death if found in Mondaria.
The ending was a big question mark. There are hidden messages and a back story that points to a sequel. I would gladly read one. The King’s 100 was a quick read for me. I enjoyed Karin Biggs writing style and I would love to read more of her work.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.
dnf
January 8, 2021 I received this ARC from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This book took me a while to get into and I honestly couldn’t mesh with the writing and world. I’ve been on and off with this book for weeks and I decided to just drop it permanently instead of forcing myself to read something i wasn’t able to sync to. That is the only reason I DNF’d this book. Being a sci fi-fantasy mashup, I thought it was a really interesting concept but I think this book just wasn’t for me. That’s the only reason I gave it a low rating. I have nothing against this book personally.
This book took me a while to get into and I honestly couldn’t mesh with the writing and world. I’ve been on and off with this book for weeks and I decided to just drop it permanently instead of forcing myself to read something i wasn’t able to sync to. That is the only reason I DNF’d this book. Being a sci fi-fantasy mashup, I thought it was a really interesting concept but I think this book just wasn’t for me. That’s the only reason I gave it a low rating. I have nothing against this book personally.
October 6, 2020
Piper is the Princess of Capalon and she goes on a secret mission on her own to the neighbor enemy country of Mondaria. After a rumor that her mother didn't die a few years ago, but she's captured there, she wants to go and rescue her, so her goal is to somehow get into the palace, rescue her mother and return to their country.
She uses the audition to be a member of the King's 100 as a means to get into the palace. This audition is looking for people to entertain the King and his guests and they were looking for singers, magicians and drummers. Piper uses another girl's identity, so she's now Paris. She meets Ari and she gets close to him, even though he's the enemy and she should stay away from them. She also meets some other people at the palace, court members like her. She gets torn since feelings isn't something she's experienced before as her country is very cold and robotic like, so all this is very foreign to her. But she mustn't stray away from her goal and she must stay hidden under that disguise because she could end up executed.
This was one of the best dystopian books I’ve read lately! I know it says fantasy, but this gave me a dystopian feel, so I can’t help but consider this that 🙈 No matter where it belongs, this was such an amazing book! I loved the plot, the characters were very interesting and I really liked the relationships that the princess developed. The suspense was real, since I feared constantly that they would discover her and I couldn’t trust anyone for some reason. Read my full review on my blog and use the slide to see the mood board I created for this book ❤️ Definitely recommend that!😍
Thank you for to the author for the opportunity to read an early copy of The King’s 100.
December 11, 2020
"You looked like a girl who was starved of a certain kind of love and found the one person who could give it to you, but you refused to do anything rational about it."
A beautiful and unique debut about a girl learning embrace herself.
SUMMARY
Piper Parish is the second-born princess of Capalon and an utter disappointment to her citizens. In Capalon, technology and science is revered above all else, and emotions are seen as a waste of energy. So when Piper sheds tears at her parents funeral, her citizens view it as weakness. Even Piper's elder sister, the queen, views her as a failure.
When Piper receives a note claiming that her mother is still alive and hiding out in Mondaria, the enemy kingdom, she devises a plan to get her mother back and prove to her people that she has worth. Piper flees to Mondaria, but doesn't count on how difficult it would be to survive in a kingdom so opposite from her own. Her only chance at survival is to win a spot in The King's 100, a performance court full of magicians, drummers, and singers. If she is discovered, Mondarian law dictates her death. But as Piper dives into this world of friendship and love, she begins to question if the cold kingdom she grew up in is a place she wants to return to.
REVIEW
I was sent a copy to review from the author, and I am so glad!
The King's 100 is a very unique novel and I struggle to put it in a genre. It is a blend of sci-fi, dystopian, and contemporary.
The kingdom of Capalon is a sci-fi society where technology and science rules. They frown upon emotions and the arts. Every citizen is matched with someone who has a similar intelligence score, and they all have a device implanted that is, essentially, an AI.
The kingdom of Mondaria reveals in the arts and celebrates the pleasure of life. They are a technology-free kingdom. It is most similar to our own world, minus the tech.
I will admit that this novel does feel very YA at times, but our MC is sixteen. There was some boy drama that I scoffed at, but this novel is set in a dorm-like HS setting so it makes sense to me. The characters acted like real teenagers and I applaud Biggs for that.
I really loved that the novel focused on Piper's growth. She has never had the chance to fully process her grief, never been able to explore her emotions, and this is a story about her coming into herself. I really appreciate that the romance wasn't the main focus either, it was a slow-burn that remained as a subplot. It was sweet because it was Piper's first time ever embracing her emotions and having to deal with these romantic inklings.
The main reason why this book was a 4-star was that the ending felt very rushed. I wish that it had been drawn out and not just thrown at me. Because of the quick nature of the resolution, I had some trouble truly believing it. There were also a lot of loose ends - it becomes quite clear that a sequel is planned.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and will keep an eye out for whatever Biggs publishes next.
A beautiful and unique debut about a girl learning embrace herself.
SUMMARY
Piper Parish is the second-born princess of Capalon and an utter disappointment to her citizens. In Capalon, technology and science is revered above all else, and emotions are seen as a waste of energy. So when Piper sheds tears at her parents funeral, her citizens view it as weakness. Even Piper's elder sister, the queen, views her as a failure.
When Piper receives a note claiming that her mother is still alive and hiding out in Mondaria, the enemy kingdom, she devises a plan to get her mother back and prove to her people that she has worth. Piper flees to Mondaria, but doesn't count on how difficult it would be to survive in a kingdom so opposite from her own. Her only chance at survival is to win a spot in The King's 100, a performance court full of magicians, drummers, and singers. If she is discovered, Mondarian law dictates her death. But as Piper dives into this world of friendship and love, she begins to question if the cold kingdom she grew up in is a place she wants to return to.
REVIEW
I was sent a copy to review from the author, and I am so glad!
The King's 100 is a very unique novel and I struggle to put it in a genre. It is a blend of sci-fi, dystopian, and contemporary.
The kingdom of Capalon is a sci-fi society where technology and science rules. They frown upon emotions and the arts. Every citizen is matched with someone who has a similar intelligence score, and they all have a device implanted that is, essentially, an AI.
The kingdom of Mondaria reveals in the arts and celebrates the pleasure of life. They are a technology-free kingdom. It is most similar to our own world, minus the tech.
I will admit that this novel does feel very YA at times, but our MC is sixteen. There was some boy drama that I scoffed at, but this novel is set in a dorm-like HS setting so it makes sense to me. The characters acted like real teenagers and I applaud Biggs for that.
I really loved that the novel focused on Piper's growth. She has never had the chance to fully process her grief, never been able to explore her emotions, and this is a story about her coming into herself. I really appreciate that the romance wasn't the main focus either, it was a slow-burn that remained as a subplot. It was sweet because it was Piper's first time ever embracing her emotions and having to deal with these romantic inklings.
The main reason why this book was a 4-star was that the ending felt very rushed. I wish that it had been drawn out and not just thrown at me. Because of the quick nature of the resolution, I had some trouble truly believing it. There were also a lot of loose ends - it becomes quite clear that a sequel is planned.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and will keep an eye out for whatever Biggs publishes next.
April 2, 2020
I love books like The Selection, with royalty and big ball gowns and Love, so I was excited to read Karin Bigg's The King's 100. If you're looking for a light-hearted romance, with just enough science fiction for flavor, but not enough to be overpowering or confusing, this is a good book for you. The premises are relatively simple-- two opposite, and rival, Lands (Capalon and Mondaria-- interestingly similar to Capulet and Montague from Romeo and Juliet... coincidence? I think not. Also look for other fairy tale references, such as Cinderella). A Capalon princess searches for her dead (or is she?) mother, the queen. But of course to look for her, Capalon Princess Piper has to go to Mondaria. The differences between the two "Lands" initially felt oversimplified, but was ultimately apt in creating a sense of the two kingdoms and driving home themes later on.
The characterization was well done, so much so that I didn't realize it was happening (which is a feat, since I often pick up on these things as an author). It was also unexpected since the world-building felt so obvious (not necessarily in a bad way). Part of it, I think, is that the characterization relied partially on the world building (ie Piper is logical because Capalons are). Nonetheless, the characters felt whole and realistic, without being cookie-cutter. It was easy to root for Piper, even during the "scary-movie-situations" where you're saying "don't go down the dark stairs" and the character does anyway.
In the same vein, I tend to hate when characters withhold information, deny/lie about their feelings, or generally have issues that could be fixed with talking. From a plot perspective, and in terms of the world, I get it. But its still frustrating. Similarly, while the distinct differences of the Lands made sense in terms of world building, a bit of nuance would have been wonderful. Especially as a researcher I know science isn't that logical, given the need to infer and interpret, biases in publishing, and the arbitrary nature of statistics. But even with that aside, it would have been nice (namely more realistic and believable) for it to be Capalon-scientists-who-are-logical-except-they-love-cake or Mondarians-who-are-emotional-except-really-into-being-fiscally-responsible.
I have to say, the ending was amazing and made me like the characters and worlds more than I thought I would. There was enough closure to be satisfied, but enough left unresolved that the ending 1) was thought-provoking and 2) feels like the world continues on beyond the story, as it should. Not only was it a great way to end, it lent credibility to both the world and the story. Additionally, the plot was predictable enough that it both made sense and was satisfying, while also having enough novelties to be unique.
Overall, a great debut from Karin Biggs! I can't wait to see what she writes next!
The characterization was well done, so much so that I didn't realize it was happening (which is a feat, since I often pick up on these things as an author). It was also unexpected since the world-building felt so obvious (not necessarily in a bad way). Part of it, I think, is that the characterization relied partially on the world building (ie Piper is logical because Capalons are). Nonetheless, the characters felt whole and realistic, without being cookie-cutter. It was easy to root for Piper, even during the "scary-movie-situations" where you're saying "don't go down the dark stairs" and the character does anyway.
In the same vein, I tend to hate when characters withhold information, deny/lie about their feelings, or generally have issues that could be fixed with talking. From a plot perspective, and in terms of the world, I get it. But its still frustrating. Similarly, while the distinct differences of the Lands made sense in terms of world building, a bit of nuance would have been wonderful. Especially as a researcher I know science isn't that logical, given the need to infer and interpret, biases in publishing, and the arbitrary nature of statistics. But even with that aside, it would have been nice (namely more realistic and believable) for it to be Capalon-scientists-who-are-logical-except-they-love-cake or Mondarians-who-are-emotional-except-really-into-being-fiscally-responsible.
I have to say, the ending was amazing and made me like the characters and worlds more than I thought I would. There was enough closure to be satisfied, but enough left unresolved that the ending 1) was thought-provoking and 2) feels like the world continues on beyond the story, as it should. Not only was it a great way to end, it lent credibility to both the world and the story. Additionally, the plot was predictable enough that it both made sense and was satisfying, while also having enough novelties to be unique.
Overall, a great debut from Karin Biggs! I can't wait to see what she writes next!
July 4, 2020
Full review is available here
Actual rating 4.5/5* due to some issues with underdeveloped characters. But as a whole, the book blew me away!
The King’s 100 by Karin Biggs follows princes Piper on her quest to discover her presumably deceased mother while learning the intricacies of being a wholesome human. Coming from a land where emotions are considered flaws and only science-oriented skills and stone-cold intelligence have value, she discovers a whole new world of values, friendship, love, and emotions when she ends up in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria.
In order to investigate a mysterious clue regarding her mother’s whereabouts, Piper infiltrates the elite entertainment troupe known as The King’s 100 as Paris Marigold. Knowing full well she’ll be executed if they discover her, our heroine goes through the processes of changing completely.
This is one of the things I loved about this book. Piper’s change, her learning to behave like ordinary humans do felt natural, gradual, and natural. She wasn’t suddenly the perfect undercover agent.
Another thing that made me swoon and truly appreciate the book, was the slow-burn romance. I am tired of insta-love and enemies-to-lovers tropes. It all felt innocent, natural, and quite Romeo-and-Juliet like.
But probably the biggest merit of the book is the world Karin Biggs has built. It has its unique qualities, it’s vivid and interesting, and you just want to discover more about it. It’s magical and refreshing, and filled with warmth. For a long time, I believed I no longer enjoyed young-adult SF/F because it’s all the same tropes and archetypes. This felt different in a way I’m not sure I can put into words.
Biggs’ writing style is very pleasant and melodic, not too heavy or annoyingly flowery. It was a pleasure witnessing the world and Piper conquering everything she’d never experienced before. Looking forward to the next book. A big THANK YOU to Netgalley and the publisher for the provided opportunity, it was a pleasure!
Actual rating 4.5/5* due to some issues with underdeveloped characters. But as a whole, the book blew me away!
The King’s 100 by Karin Biggs follows princes Piper on her quest to discover her presumably deceased mother while learning the intricacies of being a wholesome human. Coming from a land where emotions are considered flaws and only science-oriented skills and stone-cold intelligence have value, she discovers a whole new world of values, friendship, love, and emotions when she ends up in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria.
In order to investigate a mysterious clue regarding her mother’s whereabouts, Piper infiltrates the elite entertainment troupe known as The King’s 100 as Paris Marigold. Knowing full well she’ll be executed if they discover her, our heroine goes through the processes of changing completely.
This is one of the things I loved about this book. Piper’s change, her learning to behave like ordinary humans do felt natural, gradual, and natural. She wasn’t suddenly the perfect undercover agent.
Another thing that made me swoon and truly appreciate the book, was the slow-burn romance. I am tired of insta-love and enemies-to-lovers tropes. It all felt innocent, natural, and quite Romeo-and-Juliet like.
But probably the biggest merit of the book is the world Karin Biggs has built. It has its unique qualities, it’s vivid and interesting, and you just want to discover more about it. It’s magical and refreshing, and filled with warmth. For a long time, I believed I no longer enjoyed young-adult SF/F because it’s all the same tropes and archetypes. This felt different in a way I’m not sure I can put into words.
Biggs’ writing style is very pleasant and melodic, not too heavy or annoyingly flowery. It was a pleasure witnessing the world and Piper conquering everything she’d never experienced before. Looking forward to the next book. A big THANK YOU to Netgalley and the publisher for the provided opportunity, it was a pleasure!
June 6, 2020
Reminiscent of a Sci Fi version of The Selection series .
One of my favorite things about this book is that it didn't cling to all of the typical YA tropes . Instead of going the typical route of the King or prince wanting to select a wife to marry instead they are being selected to be one of the Kings One Hundred performers ; magicians , musicians , and singers . Another thing I loved was just the plationic friendship between two characters . It had all of the elements that I loved in Jo and Laurie's friendship in Little Women .
This is a light read , much easier on the mind than the depressing gloomy dystopian world's this kind of story often takes place in . Though it was fast paced there wasnt a whole lot of action . ( Which didn't really bother me ) The characters are ACTUALLY likeable . The only bits I didn't find easy to read were the first few chapters . Those felt a little off to me
Content : PG ( Nothing graphic )
*A girl talks about losing her virginity
*Several affairs are revealed
*The prince is a Playboy
*Very mild language
*Couples are said to be matched and it's hunted that someone was not matched to thier " sexual preference " ( they aren't supposed to have feelings so that doesn't even make sense)
Thank you so SOOOO much Netgalley , the publisher and most of all the author for this free copy in exchange for a review . I enjoyed it immensely . 😍* All opinions are my own *
February 23, 2021
[This ARC was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
Karin Biggs's debut novel, The King's 100, is set in a futuristic world, although the specifics of why the situation was the way it was were never explained. It revolves around a princess of one of the countries, whose name I can't remember, who runs away to the neighbouring country in belief that she'll find her supposedly dead mother there.
Now, I found a lot of issues with the concept itself, so let's get into them one by one. The princess is from a supposedly "scientific" country. We are told (not shown!) that all they do is innovate, innovate, innovate. They think the other countries stupid for not doing the same. How come that a princess of such country with supposedly (I'm sorry about this word, I have a feeling it's going to be repeated even more often) top science and computers and basically top everything, can just sneak out? She literally took her hoverboard and just walked away. It's against everything we've been told in the beginning, which if I may add, was so rushed I couldn't keep up. Introducing the reader a little slower would've been nice. Then she comes to this other country with a fake ID (which we don't know how she got) and gets straight into the King's court. Yeah, it's ridiculous. And that's only the beginning.
I'm not going to discuss the plot further in order to avoid spoilers, but let's just delve a little deeper into Piper's (I remembered her name!) behaviour and other things. I wrote notes during reading, so we'll follow them.
1, the author tried to show us how Piper was different because she was brought up in the "robotic" country, yet the only proof we see of that is when she speaks like a ridiculous robot about two or three times in the whole novel.
2, one of the countries was called Mondaria, which I couldn't but replace with Mandalorian at the beginning. A different choice would've been wiser.
3, once again - although supposedly smart, she made terrible and idiotic choices. Also, there were at least two times in the book where she was like, "crap, if I mess this up, my sister's gonna start a war". And she DID NOT care.
4, she kissed and groped a random guy just because she thought, that her crush who already had a girlfriend, would get jealous. And I'm not even going to discuss her whole attitude towards boys-girls relationship, which in her country were prohibited, but she still seeks out a boy and sees no problem in it. If I was being brainwashed for sixteen years of my life, it'd have some effect. On Piper, it had NONE whatsoever.
5, despite the fact that she came to the King's Court to search for her mother, she thinks about her a 1529 times less than about her crush. Also, the unravelling and the "grand finale" were ridiculous. It basically cancelled the whole point of the book. The only reasonable thing was her decision at the very end.
In conclusion, The King's 100 felt like an underdeveloped and badly written sci-fi Gossip Girl with a mystery subplot. Unfortunately, a big NO for me.
→1 star
Karin Biggs's debut novel, The King's 100, is set in a futuristic world, although the specifics of why the situation was the way it was were never explained. It revolves around a princess of one of the countries, whose name I can't remember, who runs away to the neighbouring country in belief that she'll find her supposedly dead mother there.
Now, I found a lot of issues with the concept itself, so let's get into them one by one. The princess is from a supposedly "scientific" country. We are told (not shown!) that all they do is innovate, innovate, innovate. They think the other countries stupid for not doing the same. How come that a princess of such country with supposedly (I'm sorry about this word, I have a feeling it's going to be repeated even more often) top science and computers and basically top everything, can just sneak out? She literally took her hoverboard and just walked away. It's against everything we've been told in the beginning, which if I may add, was so rushed I couldn't keep up. Introducing the reader a little slower would've been nice. Then she comes to this other country with a fake ID (which we don't know how she got) and gets straight into the King's court. Yeah, it's ridiculous. And that's only the beginning.
I'm not going to discuss the plot further in order to avoid spoilers, but let's just delve a little deeper into Piper's (I remembered her name!) behaviour and other things. I wrote notes during reading, so we'll follow them.
1, the author tried to show us how Piper was different because she was brought up in the "robotic" country, yet the only proof we see of that is when she speaks like a ridiculous robot about two or three times in the whole novel.
2, one of the countries was called Mondaria, which I couldn't but replace with Mandalorian at the beginning. A different choice would've been wiser.
3, once again - although supposedly smart, she made terrible and idiotic choices. Also, there were at least two times in the book where she was like, "crap, if I mess this up, my sister's gonna start a war". And she DID NOT care.
4, she kissed and groped a random guy just because she thought, that her crush who already had a girlfriend, would get jealous. And I'm not even going to discuss her whole attitude towards boys-girls relationship, which in her country were prohibited, but she still seeks out a boy and sees no problem in it. If I was being brainwashed for sixteen years of my life, it'd have some effect. On Piper, it had NONE whatsoever.
5, despite the fact that she came to the King's Court to search for her mother, she thinks about her a 1529 times less than about her crush. Also, the unravelling and the "grand finale" were ridiculous. It basically cancelled the whole point of the book. The only reasonable thing was her decision at the very end.
In conclusion, The King's 100 felt like an underdeveloped and badly written sci-fi Gossip Girl with a mystery subplot. Unfortunately, a big NO for me.
→1 star
April 11, 2021
The Kings 100 by Karin Biggs was the Selection meets Cinder, I loved every second of it.
5/5 stars
The plot was so amazing. We meet Piper who is the Princess of Capalon just after her sister Evelyn after their parents died three years ago. Their kingdom is science based and statics based, but Piper grew up on music and her current belief that her mother is still alive has her the crazy person of the kingdom. She receives a note saying her mother is alive in a neighboring kingdom of her sworn enemies.
I loved Piper, seeing her transition from practically a robot into someone who loves singing and has a big personality was honestly so much fun. I’m not going to reveal the other characters as you definitely have to meet them yourselves before passing judgment, but all of our supporting characters were loveable and so unique. The romance... yes! I loved the romance!
This was such a light and fun read it was very different from the harsh topics I’ve been reading, and I really needed that! Karins writing style is so beautiful and enjoyable that I found myself unable to put the book down.
I definitely recommend this to my Selection fans, my Cinder fans, my fairytale fans, and anyone who needs a light read right now. It was so enjoyable and I really hope it was a lead into a second book!
5/5 stars
The plot was so amazing. We meet Piper who is the Princess of Capalon just after her sister Evelyn after their parents died three years ago. Their kingdom is science based and statics based, but Piper grew up on music and her current belief that her mother is still alive has her the crazy person of the kingdom. She receives a note saying her mother is alive in a neighboring kingdom of her sworn enemies.
I loved Piper, seeing her transition from practically a robot into someone who loves singing and has a big personality was honestly so much fun. I’m not going to reveal the other characters as you definitely have to meet them yourselves before passing judgment, but all of our supporting characters were loveable and so unique. The romance... yes! I loved the romance!
This was such a light and fun read it was very different from the harsh topics I’ve been reading, and I really needed that! Karins writing style is so beautiful and enjoyable that I found myself unable to put the book down.
I definitely recommend this to my Selection fans, my Cinder fans, my fairytale fans, and anyone who needs a light read right now. It was so enjoyable and I really hope it was a lead into a second book!
June 7, 2020
I love the characters and the conflicts they each go through. Karin does a great job making the characters distinct and easy to keep track of, letting me focus on the story of how they face and overcome challenges. The world of The King's 100 pits nation against nation as the characters fight to overcome old attitudes. They discover that their differences don't have to be walls keeping them apart.
As the book's editor, I had the opportunity to read this a lot more times (and a lot earlier) than most will. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I have.
As the book's editor, I had the opportunity to read this a lot more times (and a lot earlier) than most will. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I have.
May 21, 2020
Lovely YA fantasy novel geared towards a younger YA audience.
It’s true that science and facts are important. But in the ‘STEM-only kingdom of Capalon,’ jokes and junk food are strictly avoided and displays of emotion are met with the equivalent of solitary time-out punishments. Princess Piper has a big heart, and her capacity to feel emotions and express creativity is too great to be limited to cold, hard facts and nothing else. With newfound hope based on a letter indicating that her mother may still be alive, she cleverly sneaks out to a far-away land on a rescue mission.
The kingdom of Mondaria is the polar opposite of STEM-only Capalon. Mondaria Royals value art and expression so much that they house and employ 100 entertainers on the castle grounds for frequent performances. These musicians and magicians are creative and talented teenagers whom Piper finds herself living amongst for a few months as she gathers clues and tries to find her mother inside the royal palace.
Along the way, the Princess makes friends far more easily than one might expect, growing up in an emotionless kingdom. She has a great heart, and that takes her far. She also gains the affection of a likewise self-less boy named Ari, who is rather swoon worthy. Piper and Ari’s flirtation is one of many; mild and entertaining drama results from attempts at romance and jealousy among the Court entertainers.
The Princess’ tale comes to a satisfying conclusion at the end of ‘The King’s 100,’ but author Karin Biggs has crafted the perfect set-up for a sequel. I hope we can return to these kingdoms and follow these characters a bit longer!
#TheKings100 #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com
It’s true that science and facts are important. But in the ‘STEM-only kingdom of Capalon,’ jokes and junk food are strictly avoided and displays of emotion are met with the equivalent of solitary time-out punishments. Princess Piper has a big heart, and her capacity to feel emotions and express creativity is too great to be limited to cold, hard facts and nothing else. With newfound hope based on a letter indicating that her mother may still be alive, she cleverly sneaks out to a far-away land on a rescue mission.
The kingdom of Mondaria is the polar opposite of STEM-only Capalon. Mondaria Royals value art and expression so much that they house and employ 100 entertainers on the castle grounds for frequent performances. These musicians and magicians are creative and talented teenagers whom Piper finds herself living amongst for a few months as she gathers clues and tries to find her mother inside the royal palace.
Along the way, the Princess makes friends far more easily than one might expect, growing up in an emotionless kingdom. She has a great heart, and that takes her far. She also gains the affection of a likewise self-less boy named Ari, who is rather swoon worthy. Piper and Ari’s flirtation is one of many; mild and entertaining drama results from attempts at romance and jealousy among the Court entertainers.
The Princess’ tale comes to a satisfying conclusion at the end of ‘The King’s 100,’ but author Karin Biggs has crafted the perfect set-up for a sequel. I hope we can return to these kingdoms and follow these characters a bit longer!
#TheKings100 #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com
May 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! The story itself was fascinating and had me hooked. I could not put it down. It was nice to read a YA novel where the teenagers were very realistic in their thoughts and interactions. I would be very curious to see this story continued into a second book.
I did listen to the audiobook. Overall, the narrator did a rather good job. The recording did sound as though it was done in a “hard” room or without “dampers” for the sound. That took a bit of getting use to.
I did listen to the audiobook. Overall, the narrator did a rather good job. The recording did sound as though it was done in a “hard” room or without “dampers” for the sound. That took a bit of getting use to.
April 4, 2020
This book didn't turn out exactly how I thought it would. There was a twist which could set it up for a sequel.
I really liked all the characters and how there was a lot of dialogue which made it really fun to read.
You won't be able to stop reading this one so clear your schedule!
I really liked all the characters and how there was a lot of dialogue which made it really fun to read.
You won't be able to stop reading this one so clear your schedule!
April 11, 2021
A very interesting dystopian/contemporary novel. I enjoyed the unique worldsetting, where the different kingdoms of Capalon and Mondaria are at war with each other and each kingdom values very different things.
The MC is a young princess, and her growth throughout the novel feels realistic and relateable - same with the relationships between all the characters. I really loved that Piper evolved so much during the novel - she learned to embrace her (very human) feelings, turning out to be great singer, and just overall coming into her self. She was feeling more as herself than she ever had before - even though she masqueraded under a false identity.
Overall a sweet and light read, recommended for anyone in need of something with a unique setting and feel-good vibes. I got caught and could hardly put it away until finished.
*I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review*
The MC is a young princess, and her growth throughout the novel feels realistic and relateable - same with the relationships between all the characters. I really loved that Piper evolved so much during the novel - she learned to embrace her (very human) feelings, turning out to be great singer, and just overall coming into her self. She was feeling more as herself than she ever had before - even though she masqueraded under a false identity.
Overall a sweet and light read, recommended for anyone in need of something with a unique setting and feel-good vibes. I got caught and could hardly put it away until finished.
*I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review*
July 6, 2020
3.5 stars
Originally published on nightingfae's blog
How should I start reviewing this book? Maybe by saying that I was expecting a YA fantasy novel but it's turned out to be a YA dystopia without any fantasy. But it's fine, because nothing in the synopsis let see that there'll be fantasy in it, maybe the cover gave me false expectations. However, I always enjoy a good dystopia, if it's properly explained, exposed and developed, which The King's 100 is not.
We're introduced to a new world order –we know it's a future world because Paris is called "the ancient city of Paris" more than once–, which gives us a glimpse to how the world has evolved to a new kind of society. A society that's divided between two kingdoms: Capalon, a high-tech society, where people act like robots, are forbidden to show their emotions and waste their time on hobbies, and are centered in working for the technological evolution; and Mondaria, quite the opposite of the other kingdom, because their people sing, play instruments, eat what they want and enjoy the little things in life –basically, a 21st century society.
But what I missed was a little bit of "history" to explain us how they got there. Yes, they tell us about the war between the two realms, but a deeper explanation of the world's history was missing to make it all more realistic and to locate the reader into the story.
Apart from this, the story is entertaining, though the premise is quite overexploited and foreseeable –the old "friends-to-lovers" trope mashed up with the classic "lying-about-my-identity-and-then-having-to-apologize" trope. But again, it's okay, because at the end it's a beautiful tale about love, friendship and family, about how important it is to show our emotions and to give more importance to the people than to the technology, because we're human beings and we live through emotions.
Karin Biggs' writing style is perfect for the young-adult public she's writing to, the expressions she uses and the way she explains the scenes are really well chosen, and in a good way there were parts that made me laugh, frown my brow and skip a heartbeat at times. Which I think is a good signal. I think that Karin Biggs has so much potential and I hope I'll have the chance to see it evolve and grow in the future.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Originally published on nightingfae's blog
How should I start reviewing this book? Maybe by saying that I was expecting a YA fantasy novel but it's turned out to be a YA dystopia without any fantasy. But it's fine, because nothing in the synopsis let see that there'll be fantasy in it, maybe the cover gave me false expectations. However, I always enjoy a good dystopia, if it's properly explained, exposed and developed, which The King's 100 is not.
We're introduced to a new world order –we know it's a future world because Paris is called "the ancient city of Paris" more than once–, which gives us a glimpse to how the world has evolved to a new kind of society. A society that's divided between two kingdoms: Capalon, a high-tech society, where people act like robots, are forbidden to show their emotions and waste their time on hobbies, and are centered in working for the technological evolution; and Mondaria, quite the opposite of the other kingdom, because their people sing, play instruments, eat what they want and enjoy the little things in life –basically, a 21st century society.
But what I missed was a little bit of "history" to explain us how they got there. Yes, they tell us about the war between the two realms, but a deeper explanation of the world's history was missing to make it all more realistic and to locate the reader into the story.
"You always come back for the people you love."
Apart from this, the story is entertaining, though the premise is quite overexploited and foreseeable –the old "friends-to-lovers" trope mashed up with the classic "lying-about-my-identity-and-then-having-to-apologize" trope. But again, it's okay, because at the end it's a beautiful tale about love, friendship and family, about how important it is to show our emotions and to give more importance to the people than to the technology, because we're human beings and we live through emotions.
Karin Biggs' writing style is perfect for the young-adult public she's writing to, the expressions she uses and the way she explains the scenes are really well chosen, and in a good way there were parts that made me laugh, frown my brow and skip a heartbeat at times. Which I think is a good signal. I think that Karin Biggs has so much potential and I hope I'll have the chance to see it evolve and grow in the future.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2021
I had the pleasure of being the audiobook narrator for this novel, so I've read it through several times! I can honestly say I love it. Piper is a truly likeable protagonist and I was absorbed by the worlds that Karin Biggs creates. The storylines are intriguing and the characters are relatable, which makes for a fantastic read.
May 29, 2020
This book has great general appeal. Anyone will enjoy it who likes tons of romantic tension, dances and parties, and a nice touch of sci-fi/fantasy.
Piper Parish grows up in a society where love is stifled and science is encouraged. She runs off into her enemies‘ land when she learns that her mother may still be alive and dwelling in the enemies castle. She gets in to the castle by joining a group of talented entertainer youth and all the fun and games start.
There are a lot of fun and enjoyable characters in this book. My favorite was definitely Layla, who was tough and biting while actually being a big soft sweetheart.
I did kind of wonder why she spends so much time hanging out, without really being active in the quest for her mother, but it does sort itself out in the end with a great story twist.
This is an enjoyable lighthearted read full of fun, happiness, and a powerful message about love and friendship.
Piper Parish grows up in a society where love is stifled and science is encouraged. She runs off into her enemies‘ land when she learns that her mother may still be alive and dwelling in the enemies castle. She gets in to the castle by joining a group of talented entertainer youth and all the fun and games start.
There are a lot of fun and enjoyable characters in this book. My favorite was definitely Layla, who was tough and biting while actually being a big soft sweetheart.
I did kind of wonder why she spends so much time hanging out, without really being active in the quest for her mother, but it does sort itself out in the end with a great story twist.
This is an enjoyable lighthearted read full of fun, happiness, and a powerful message about love and friendship.
April 26, 2021
To start, I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
My review contains minor spoilers, you've been warned.
I loved this book. The narrator has a lovely voice and did an excellent performance. She kept a good pace and had distinct voices for the characters so it was easy to keep track of who was speaking.
The story is simple but unique. I honestly wanted the book to be longer (or even a duology) to get more world building because the author created a really interesting futuristic setting that has a lot of potential. The epilogue left it open ended for more books but I don't know if there will be more. I hope the will be!
The book has romance but really only kissing and reference to virginity so it's appropriate for a younger audience. The character does read romance novels that have smut but never goes into detail. There is also minimal use of swearing but it does happen like three or four times.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who liked the lunar chronicles, the selection series, or the princess diaries. It's a quick read that is a lot of fun and I didn't want to put it down.
Also it has a happy ending, and I loved it. Very satisfying.
My review contains minor spoilers, you've been warned.
I loved this book. The narrator has a lovely voice and did an excellent performance. She kept a good pace and had distinct voices for the characters so it was easy to keep track of who was speaking.
The story is simple but unique. I honestly wanted the book to be longer (or even a duology) to get more world building because the author created a really interesting futuristic setting that has a lot of potential. The epilogue left it open ended for more books but I don't know if there will be more. I hope the will be!
The book has romance but really only kissing and reference to virginity so it's appropriate for a younger audience. The character does read romance novels that have smut but never goes into detail. There is also minimal use of swearing but it does happen like three or four times.
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who liked the lunar chronicles, the selection series, or the princess diaries. It's a quick read that is a lot of fun and I didn't want to put it down.
Also it has a happy ending, and I loved it. Very satisfying.
September 27, 2020
I received a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book, I thought it was so much fun to read and all of the characters were amazing. The storyline and the world building were both absolutely incredible and I loved all the details about the different kingdoms. This book is perfect for fans of The Selection and The Lunar Chronicles. This book was absolutely amazing and is the perfect book who people who enjoy sci-fi and romance.
I absolutely loved this book, I thought it was so much fun to read and all of the characters were amazing. The storyline and the world building were both absolutely incredible and I loved all the details about the different kingdoms. This book is perfect for fans of The Selection and The Lunar Chronicles. This book was absolutely amazing and is the perfect book who people who enjoy sci-fi and romance.
April 24, 2020
Young Adult, Sci-Fi Romance, Futuristic
First Person, female-POV
This is a standalone book with HEA, but we end with a feeling that it will become a series. There is a lot to be explored here yet.
This was a pleasant surprise!!!
The debut book of the author and it is already such a great one.
The story is unique, the main characters are easy to love and the romance is cute.
I also believe this will be a series, because we have a lot more to learn from these characters. I also got a feeling that Piper's sister will get a story with Corbin.
Everlasting kind of romance!!!!
31/35 STARS – 4 STARS (between 28 stars and 31 stars)
Addictiveness: 4 Character: 5 Cover: 4 Freshness: 4.5 Plot: 4 Romance: 5 Writing Style: 4
Action 2/5 Angst 1/5 Darkness 0/5 Humor 3/5 Romance 5/5 Suspense/Mystery 3/5
Would I recommend? Yes, to anyone looking for a promising new author with a promising new series.
Would I re-read this book/series? Yes.
Would I read more from the author? I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
Addictiveness: 4/5 I was invested in this story from the beginning. It was a fast-paced, sweet romance that got me hooked. I couldn't let go of the book and the characters. As addictive as pizza!!
Character: hero 4/5, heroine 5/5, secondary characters 4/5, growth 4.5/5, real 4/5 I loved them all. They were multidimensional characters with great emotional growth.
Piper was a wonderful heroine. I truly enjoyed the duality of her personality. She was very logical because of her culture, but we always got a glimpse of the emotions shining through. She had an amazing story arch with a huge personal growth throughout the book. Even though so logical, she was loyal, sweet and fun to be with. She was a strong, powerful female. I loved her!!! At the end of the day, she was a teenager through and through with doubts, jealousy and uncertainty.
Ari was a great hero. He was really sweet and caring. He was different, but didn't really care or tried to change to fit in. He had angst in his past, but he always tried to be understanding and avoid hurting others that sometimes he was the one getting hurt. Like Piper he had a good story arch and a great evolution through out the book. I missed reading his POV, but at the same time, we learned a lot about him, through Piper's eyes.
Secondary characters ... so many amazing ones. I can't wait to read more about all of their friends. I do have a love/hate relationship with Evelyn, but I tried to understand her culture and also age. I would love to read an Xavier book, loved him.
Villain/antagonists ... this is a hard one. There is a villain, that sort of ended up envying Piper and a couple of antagonists. I have to say the biggest antagonist for this book maybe culture differences, which I totally loved how the author worked that into the story.
Characters were easy to love, connect and understand!!!
Cover: art 4/5, title 5/5, color-font 5/5, buy 4/5 I’m obsessed with book covers. I love to find snippets of the stories within the art. This one was a great cover. I love the colors and ethereal vibe given to it. The art was sweet and enchanting. It was easy to find out this would be a story about a princess. Because of the simplicity of the art work the size of the font and color worked perfectly. I think the title was catchy and I only miss a bit of subtitle. I love when subtitles entice the reader to guess more. I would easily buy this book by its cover without needing to read the blurb!!!
Freshness: 4.5/5 Unique! Even though the concept of the story is a teenager cliché, the princess that finds her prince in a commoner; the story felt new, different than anything that is out there. The world built was creative and the knowledge of the musical world gave the story a good balance of real and fictional. As fresh as mentos!!!
Plot: believable 4/5, conflict 5/5, dialogue 4/5, ending 5/5, enjoyment 5/5, opening 4/5, pace 4/5, setting 5/5, subplots 4/5, twists 5/5 Great opening and amazing ending. Believable plot, with funny dialogues and wonderful pace. Superb setting, interesting subplots with unexpected twist. High level of enjoyment!
So many good things to mention about this plot.
I love the concept of the futuristic Romeo and Juliet love story. I've truly enjoyed the believable vibe the author gave this musical world. I adored how we could feel both cultures differences and how the group of friends were able to adapt and learn from each other, without even knowing.
I also loved the underlining plot of a teenager trying to cope with her mother's death in a world that was against "irrational feelings", such as love.
Romance: believable 5/5, chemistry 4/5, description 4/5, development 4/5, steam 1/5 I loved this cute, sweet romance. From the moment they met I could feel their attraction, but at the same time their love story was a slow burning one. They truly became friends before progressing their relationship. It was sweet, it felt believable and it ended with a lot more to come. Everlasting romance!!!!
Writing Style: 4/5 I see a bright future for Ms. Biggs career as an author. In this debut novel she gave the readers creative plot, with amazing characters, cohesive writing and sweet romance. Great writing!!!
I'm a huge fan of dual point-of-view and I always miss the male-POV in most romances that only give us a one side voice. At the same time, I had authors that told me before, that sometimes they only "hear" one voice and can't force the other. I totally understand that creative vein.
This book doesn't say it will be a series, but I'm counting that it will be. The end was beautiful, but also there are a lot loose ends that I need resolution. :)
You MAY read this because you enjoy the fairytales; you SHOULD read this because you like sweet romance; you MUST read this because it is UNIQUE!!!
July 24, 2020
What an enjoyable read!
This was a great, fun, fast book.
If you've read The Selection by Kiera Cass you will probably like this too.
The characters were numerous and unique.
The setting was great.
The story line was brilliant, yet soft and easy and fun.
The ending was good and overall a fabulous book!
Will keep this author on my radar.
This was a great, fun, fast book.
If you've read The Selection by Kiera Cass you will probably like this too.
The characters were numerous and unique.
The setting was great.
The story line was brilliant, yet soft and easy and fun.
The ending was good and overall a fabulous book!
Will keep this author on my radar.
March 30, 2020
Intrigue, swoon-worthy romance, and a touch of magic made it impossible to put this book down! I fell in love with Piper’s story, the way in which she discovered what it means to follow her heart, the friendships she formed as a result, and the confidence she gained in finding true joy. Fans of The Selection and The Beholder will love this book.
April 15, 2020
I fell in love with this book instantly.
This story started out feeling very similar to Cinder by Marissa Meyer, then quickly whisked me away into a land of ball gowns, performers, and perfectly authentic teenage flirtation. I could not eat it up fast enough. It took me back to my high school madrigal days, spending time in practice rooms, performing onstage, and all the delicious drama that comes with it. Karin manages to get teenagers so right without them being overly angsty (annoying) or melodramatically romantic (“I would die for you, Riley”). Instead, the characters explore themes of what makes healthy friendships, value in emotional expression, and loyalty. I loved every moment with this book.
This story started out feeling very similar to Cinder by Marissa Meyer, then quickly whisked me away into a land of ball gowns, performers, and perfectly authentic teenage flirtation. I could not eat it up fast enough. It took me back to my high school madrigal days, spending time in practice rooms, performing onstage, and all the delicious drama that comes with it. Karin manages to get teenagers so right without them being overly angsty (annoying) or melodramatically romantic (“I would die for you, Riley”). Instead, the characters explore themes of what makes healthy friendships, value in emotional expression, and loyalty. I loved every moment with this book.
April 9, 2021
I enjoyed this story! It was a good YA/dystopian type story! Like if divergent and the selection series had a baby!! It kept my attention, kept you guessing and the epilogue has me wanting a 2nd book!!
February 18, 2021
Usually I'm kind of a slow reader, but I read this book in two days! It is excellently paced, jumping right into the action straight from the beginning, successfully hooking the reader. I'm also often picky when it comes to romances, especially teenage romances, but I think the main couple in this story was very well done. I found the main character to be deep, complex, and I really enjoyed her intellectual nature which I thought was refreshing. I also liked that the male lead was sweet, kind, gentle, and selfless. I think it's important to have more male romantic leads like this because it helps young readers set healthy relationship standards. This book also had plenty of high-stakes drama to keep the story interesting, something I am a huge fan of! There was never really a dull moment in this entire read. Also, this is just a minor thing, but I wanted to mention it because I thought it was really cool...I really liked how the King described Piper's voice as "vulnerable and untrained," citing that it was different from the other powerhouse singers. I thought that was such an awesome detail to mention because it emphasizes that there are several types of different singing voices that sound beautiful, not just what's on the radio. I would love to see messages like more throughout books/movies/tv shows/ music. It's very encouraging. Another refreshing feature of the story is the friendships, which are deep, genuine, and healthy. I think it's common in many YA romances for friendships to get overlooked in favor of the couple but that definitely wasn't the case here, and it actually made the romantic relationship that much more enriching in my opinion.
October 16, 2020
WOW! I loved this book!
The concept hinges on a deep rivalry between two kingdoms: an unfeeling, data-driven, STEM-based kingdom (Capalon), and a vibrant, emotion-filled, ARTS-based kingdom (Mondaria).
Piper Parish, the princess of Capalon, has an affinity for singing and has earned the disapproval of her sister, the Queen. Soon to be "matched" to a future husband she's never met, she resigns herself to do the "proper thing" by putting away the foolish fancies of her love for the arts.
But when a mysterious note reveals that her late mother might still be alive in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, Piper risks death by disguising herself as a singer in the King's 100 (an elite performing group.)
With an evil maestro, a budding group of friends, and the potential for falling in love - something she's never even considered - Piper must risk everything to uncover the truth. As the lies thicken, so does her chance of making it out of Mondaria alive.
A spell-binding debut from a talented author! The characters were so rich and alluring. This book is a YA fantasy masterpiece. What a ride! I highly recommend it. Plus, the author is the sweetest person EVER! 😍
The concept hinges on a deep rivalry between two kingdoms: an unfeeling, data-driven, STEM-based kingdom (Capalon), and a vibrant, emotion-filled, ARTS-based kingdom (Mondaria).
Piper Parish, the princess of Capalon, has an affinity for singing and has earned the disapproval of her sister, the Queen. Soon to be "matched" to a future husband she's never met, she resigns herself to do the "proper thing" by putting away the foolish fancies of her love for the arts.
But when a mysterious note reveals that her late mother might still be alive in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, Piper risks death by disguising herself as a singer in the King's 100 (an elite performing group.)
With an evil maestro, a budding group of friends, and the potential for falling in love - something she's never even considered - Piper must risk everything to uncover the truth. As the lies thicken, so does her chance of making it out of Mondaria alive.
A spell-binding debut from a talented author! The characters were so rich and alluring. This book is a YA fantasy masterpiece. What a ride! I highly recommend it. Plus, the author is the sweetest person EVER! 😍
June 5, 2020
In her debut novel, Karin Biggs charms her readers with her beautifully witty narration and word play. I thoroughly enjoyed her character development through charismatic dialogue and descriptive language. She paints vivid pictures with her narration, especially in scenes between main characters. I was fully engulfed in the heated moments between Ari and Piper. The idea that a character might disguise herself in an unknown territory is not entirely new, but Biggs won me over with her performing arts spin. The plot (particularly the Piper and Ari storyline) held me through to the end, but I look forward to a sequel that delves deeper into the history of Mondaria and Capalon and maybe Piper's pursuit of answers about her parents' downfall.
More than anything, this book is about a teenager's first experience in love when she is feels she is finally able to accept emotions as a part of humanity; raw and all-consuming.
More than anything, this book is about a teenager's first experience in love when she is feels she is finally able to accept emotions as a part of humanity; raw and all-consuming.
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