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Rogue Princess
A princess fleeing an arranged marriage teams up with a snarky commoner to foil a rebel plot in B.R. Myers' Rogue Princess , a gender-swapped sci-fi YA retelling of Cinderella .
Princess Delia knows her She must choose a prince to marry in order to secure an alliance and save her failing planet. Yet she secretly dreams of true love, and feels there must be a better way. Determined to chart her own course, she steals a spaceship to avoid the marriage, only to discover a handsome stowaway.
All Aidan wanted was to “borrow” a few palace trinkets to help him get off the planet. Okay, so maybe escaping on a royal ship wasn’t the smartest plan, but he never expected to be kidnapped by a runaway princess!
Sparks fly as this headstrong princess and clever thief battle wits, but everything changes when they inadvertently uncover a rebel conspiracy that could destroy their planet forever.
Princess Delia knows her She must choose a prince to marry in order to secure an alliance and save her failing planet. Yet she secretly dreams of true love, and feels there must be a better way. Determined to chart her own course, she steals a spaceship to avoid the marriage, only to discover a handsome stowaway.
All Aidan wanted was to “borrow” a few palace trinkets to help him get off the planet. Okay, so maybe escaping on a royal ship wasn’t the smartest plan, but he never expected to be kidnapped by a runaway princess!
Sparks fly as this headstrong princess and clever thief battle wits, but everything changes when they inadvertently uncover a rebel conspiracy that could destroy their planet forever.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2020
82 people are currently reading
7560 people want to read
About the author
B.R. Myers
13 books510 followersAlways in the mood for a good scare, B.R. Myers spent most of her teen years behind the covers of Lois Duncan, Ray Bradbury, and Stephen King.
She is the author of the Mary Higgins Clark Award winning novel, A Dreadful Splendour, as well as numerous books for teens. Her YA novels have been chosen by the School Library Journal and the CCBC as top picks. Before she became a full time writer, she was a registered nurse for thirty-two years. A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.
She is the author of the Mary Higgins Clark Award winning novel, A Dreadful Splendour, as well as numerous books for teens. Her YA novels have been chosen by the School Library Journal and the CCBC as top picks. Before she became a full time writer, she was a registered nurse for thirty-two years. A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, she lives in Halifax with her family—and there is still a stack of books on her bedside table.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 527 reviews
September 23, 2023
Overall, I really enjoyed this. The story was sweet and I loved the characters. It gave me Cinder by Marissa Meyers Vibes.
Part of me wants to give this a 3.5 stars because of the predictability but.. unsure yet. Full review soon.
Part of me wants to give this a 3.5 stars because of the predictability but.. unsure yet. Full review soon.
January 16, 2020
A fabulous combination of science-fiction and a gender-swapped fairy tale retelling, Rogue Princess is so much fun. If you loved Marissa Meyer's Cinder, you must read Rogue Princess.
Princess Delia is strong, smart and independent, yet, for political reasons, she has to choose and marry a prince and thus secure a safer future for her people. But what if your head and your logic is telling you one thing, while your heart is convinced there must be a way to negotiate a deal that would give an energy source for her planet without entering this heartless marriage. She steals a spaceship (hooray to girl power!) and discovers that it already has a secret passenger, Aidan, who is running away from his stepfather.
My sci-fi heart fell in love with this book, which deals with serious sustainability issues, but is also an extremely entertaining story with fabulous characters. Delia is a strong female lead and we need protagonists like her if we ever want to achieve true gender equality. Delia's sister Shania was very funny and deserves a special mention. There is great diversity in the cast which is always welcome in any YA book.
There are unexpected twists and turns in this unforgettable space adventure, and there is an unexpected conclusion, so if you think you have it all figured out, wait and read until the end- you will be surprised!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Swoon Reads for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Princess Delia is strong, smart and independent, yet, for political reasons, she has to choose and marry a prince and thus secure a safer future for her people. But what if your head and your logic is telling you one thing, while your heart is convinced there must be a way to negotiate a deal that would give an energy source for her planet without entering this heartless marriage. She steals a spaceship (hooray to girl power!) and discovers that it already has a secret passenger, Aidan, who is running away from his stepfather.
My sci-fi heart fell in love with this book, which deals with serious sustainability issues, but is also an extremely entertaining story with fabulous characters. Delia is a strong female lead and we need protagonists like her if we ever want to achieve true gender equality. Delia's sister Shania was very funny and deserves a special mention. There is great diversity in the cast which is always welcome in any YA book.
There are unexpected twists and turns in this unforgettable space adventure, and there is an unexpected conclusion, so if you think you have it all figured out, wait and read until the end- you will be surprised!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Swoon Reads for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
dnf
January 16, 2020Dnf: page 52
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this book but it just isn’t for me. It isn’t capturing my attention and when I’d put it down, I had no motivation to pick it back up. I don’t think I was reading anything special so to speak.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this book but it just isn’t for me. It isn’t capturing my attention and when I’d put it down, I had no motivation to pick it back up. I don’t think I was reading anything special so to speak.
February 17, 2022
think a gender swapped Cinderella retelling set in a futuristic space world with an enemies to lovers romance.
YES I LOVED IT. GORGEOUS AND AMAZING.
le plot (yes it is the publisher’s summary because school has destroyed 95% of my free time)
“Princess Delia knows her duty: She must choose a prince to marry in order to secure an alliance and save her failing planet. Yet she secretly dreams of true love, and feels there must be a better way. Determined to chart her own course, she steals a spaceship to avoid her arranged marriage, only to discover a handsome stowaway.
All Aidan wanted was to “borrow” a few palace trinkets to help him get off the planet. Okay, so maybe escaping on a royal ship wasn’t the smartest plan, but he never expected to be kidnapped by a runaway princess!
Sparks fly as this headstrong princess and clever thief battle wits, but everything changes when they inadvertently uncover a rebel conspiracy that could destroy their planet forever.”
OMGOSH people the NUMBER of plot twists I did not see coming because they were that unique and out-of-the-complete-blue was ASTRONOMICAL. This book gave me serious Lunar Chronicles vibes without actually being the Lunar Chronicles, and I was here for every second of it 💕
The characters were solid, I loved the realistic (and surprisingly non-toxic) relationships, both platonic and romantic. My favorite relationship, besides that *chef’s kiss* enemies to lovers drama, was most certainly the hilarious dynamic between Delia and her little sister Sheila. As a sister myself, I give them Ye Royal Sibling Stamp of Authenticity because they were SOOOO PERFECTLY SNARKY AND BOSSY AND LOVING
can I just join their sister gang? please?
Speaking of Delia, that girl is smart, skilled, independent, AND knows that loving a guy definitely does not mean her world centers around him.
OK WELL NOW SHE'S PERFECTION.
Furthermore, it was ridiculously refreshing to read about a heroine who loved the culture and history and heritage of her people more than money or building an unbeatable army.
I mean really, hats off to the girl. She does not know how much of an anomaly she is.
*cries in relief while glaring at the pile of aimless helplessness called Bella Swan*
However, this review would not be complete without me putting in a good word for Aiden. Aiden is the perfect complement to Delia. He is so protective and gentle and caring for her it actually gave me hope for humanity 😍
Aiden's really just the most adorable little cinnamon roll who uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism (ha relatable) and melts into an ecstatic puddle of goo whenever Delia smiles at him SO BASICALLY I LOVE AIDEN AND HE DESERVES A VERY HAPPY HAPPILY EVER AFTER
BUT THEN THERE WAS A PLOT TWIST ABOUT HIS IDENTITY THAT MADE ME GO LIKE WHAT IT WAS SO GOOD. HE'S BASICALLY-
...
mk i'll shut up now go read this.
Ratings:
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
If This Book Was a Movie Rating: PG
Recommendations If You Liked This Book:
Cinder (and the rest of the Lunar Chronicles series) by Marissa Meyer
YES I LOVED IT. GORGEOUS AND AMAZING.
le plot (yes it is the publisher’s summary because school has destroyed 95% of my free time)
“Princess Delia knows her duty: She must choose a prince to marry in order to secure an alliance and save her failing planet. Yet she secretly dreams of true love, and feels there must be a better way. Determined to chart her own course, she steals a spaceship to avoid her arranged marriage, only to discover a handsome stowaway.
All Aidan wanted was to “borrow” a few palace trinkets to help him get off the planet. Okay, so maybe escaping on a royal ship wasn’t the smartest plan, but he never expected to be kidnapped by a runaway princess!
Sparks fly as this headstrong princess and clever thief battle wits, but everything changes when they inadvertently uncover a rebel conspiracy that could destroy their planet forever.”
OMGOSH people the NUMBER of plot twists I did not see coming because they were that unique and out-of-the-complete-blue was ASTRONOMICAL. This book gave me serious Lunar Chronicles vibes without actually being the Lunar Chronicles, and I was here for every second of it 💕
The characters were solid, I loved the realistic (and surprisingly non-toxic) relationships, both platonic and romantic. My favorite relationship, besides that *chef’s kiss* enemies to lovers drama, was most certainly the hilarious dynamic between Delia and her little sister Sheila. As a sister myself, I give them Ye Royal Sibling Stamp of Authenticity because they were SOOOO PERFECTLY SNARKY AND BOSSY AND LOVING
can I just join their sister gang? please?
Speaking of Delia, that girl is smart, skilled, independent, AND knows that loving a guy definitely does not mean her world centers around him.
OK WELL NOW SHE'S PERFECTION.
Furthermore, it was ridiculously refreshing to read about a heroine who loved the culture and history and heritage of her people more than money or building an unbeatable army.
I mean really, hats off to the girl. She does not know how much of an anomaly she is.
*cries in relief while glaring at the pile of aimless helplessness called Bella Swan*
However, this review would not be complete without me putting in a good word for Aiden. Aiden is the perfect complement to Delia. He is so protective and gentle and caring for her it actually gave me hope for humanity 😍
Aiden's really just the most adorable little cinnamon roll who uses sarcasm as a defense mechanism (ha relatable) and melts into an ecstatic puddle of goo whenever Delia smiles at him SO BASICALLY I LOVE AIDEN AND HE DESERVES A VERY HAPPY HAPPILY EVER AFTER
BUT THEN THERE WAS A PLOT TWIST ABOUT HIS IDENTITY THAT MADE ME GO LIKE WHAT IT WAS SO GOOD. HE'S BASICALLY-
...
mk i'll shut up now go read this.
Ratings:
Star Rating: ★★★★☆
If This Book Was a Movie Rating: PG
Recommendations If You Liked This Book:
Cinder (and the rest of the Lunar Chronicles series) by Marissa Meyer
January 12, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Nathalie DeFelice
I’m always a sucker for fairytale retellings, and this next one is a delightful and gender swapped retelling of Cinderella. Not only is it set in space, but it has a twist that I don’t think most readers will see coming because I certainly didn’t. The author takes a beloved fairytale and turns it into a unique and fun retelling that I won’t forget. Add this to your TBR, especially if you love sci-fi retellings of fairy tales, or if you just love space in general!
In Rogue Princess, Princess Delia is in a pickle. In order to save her kingdom, she must choose a husband. However, she secretly dreams of falling in love, and in trying to find a better way to save her kingdom, she runs off…with a stowaway in tow. Aidan on the other hand, was only trying to make it away from the palace with a few trinkets stowed away, all so he can get off the planet. He didn’t count on butting heads with a runaway princess! Sparks will fly between the two as they uncover a plot to overthrow everything Delia has been working toward, and it will be a race against time to stop them. Will they survive long enough to save the planet, and fall in love?
This story started off a little slowly for me, but then built into a fantastic climax and resolution. I loved Delia, she has such a fierce personality that understands she has a duty to her people, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to do her best to find a different way. That same personality trait is what gets her into trouble time after time in this story, and I’m definitely here for it. I also loved her sister Shania. She’s hilarious, and I her commentary on the physical attributes of the princes was a delight to read. She helped liven up Delia when she had more serious moments, and I loved the sisterly bond that they shared.
Of all of the characters, the one I truly loved the most was Aidan. He’s a softy, but he’s full of wit. He’s quick as a whip, and his way of getting out of tricky situations is as fascinating as Delia’s way of getting into them. I loved the interactions that he had with Delia using the mechanical bird. They were both comical, and incredibly sweet. I honestly was not expecting the depth to his character, and when you read this book (because you definitely should), you’ll find out why.
As I mentioned, it started off a little slow for me, but it quickly builds into a story that has you on the edge of your seat. While the story is set in space, there wasn’t a lot travelling to other places. I was a little disappointed in this, mainly because I felt there was a great opportunity to cultivate a larger world. However, the story makes up for it in the lore that makes up Delia’s planet. I loved how the mythos of the world really shaped how the monarchy kept up with certain traditions, like their hair. I can’t say too much without spoiling things, but it makes some of the sacrifices that happen in this book more meaningful.
While there is a bit of insta-love in this story, I do appreciate that there are moments that also build up the romance. The relationship between Delia and Aidan is based on mutual trust and respect, but it’s the sacrifices that they make for each other that truly cemented this for me. There’s also another relationship in the book that I wish we had gotten to see a little more, but only because I would have loved to get to know those characters a little better.
If there’s anything I wish I’d seen a little more, it would be more world building and development of some of the side characters. I wanted to immerse myself in Delia’s world, and while the lore certainly helped, I couldn’t quite picture the world she was living in. I didn’t have that trouble on Aidan’s end though. There were also a couple of side characters I would have loved to get to know a little better. However, I just feel like that means we need another story in this world *wink, wink*.
This story is an 7/10 for me. I loved reading it, but I definitely needed a little more world building and character development. However, it’s a solid read if you love retellings, and fairy tales.
I’m always a sucker for fairytale retellings, and this next one is a delightful and gender swapped retelling of Cinderella. Not only is it set in space, but it has a twist that I don’t think most readers will see coming because I certainly didn’t. The author takes a beloved fairytale and turns it into a unique and fun retelling that I won’t forget. Add this to your TBR, especially if you love sci-fi retellings of fairy tales, or if you just love space in general!
In Rogue Princess, Princess Delia is in a pickle. In order to save her kingdom, she must choose a husband. However, she secretly dreams of falling in love, and in trying to find a better way to save her kingdom, she runs off…with a stowaway in tow. Aidan on the other hand, was only trying to make it away from the palace with a few trinkets stowed away, all so he can get off the planet. He didn’t count on butting heads with a runaway princess! Sparks will fly between the two as they uncover a plot to overthrow everything Delia has been working toward, and it will be a race against time to stop them. Will they survive long enough to save the planet, and fall in love?
This story started off a little slowly for me, but then built into a fantastic climax and resolution. I loved Delia, she has such a fierce personality that understands she has a duty to her people, but that doesn’t mean she’s going to do her best to find a different way. That same personality trait is what gets her into trouble time after time in this story, and I’m definitely here for it. I also loved her sister Shania. She’s hilarious, and I her commentary on the physical attributes of the princes was a delight to read. She helped liven up Delia when she had more serious moments, and I loved the sisterly bond that they shared.
Of all of the characters, the one I truly loved the most was Aidan. He’s a softy, but he’s full of wit. He’s quick as a whip, and his way of getting out of tricky situations is as fascinating as Delia’s way of getting into them. I loved the interactions that he had with Delia using the mechanical bird. They were both comical, and incredibly sweet. I honestly was not expecting the depth to his character, and when you read this book (because you definitely should), you’ll find out why.
As I mentioned, it started off a little slow for me, but it quickly builds into a story that has you on the edge of your seat. While the story is set in space, there wasn’t a lot travelling to other places. I was a little disappointed in this, mainly because I felt there was a great opportunity to cultivate a larger world. However, the story makes up for it in the lore that makes up Delia’s planet. I loved how the mythos of the world really shaped how the monarchy kept up with certain traditions, like their hair. I can’t say too much without spoiling things, but it makes some of the sacrifices that happen in this book more meaningful.
While there is a bit of insta-love in this story, I do appreciate that there are moments that also build up the romance. The relationship between Delia and Aidan is based on mutual trust and respect, but it’s the sacrifices that they make for each other that truly cemented this for me. There’s also another relationship in the book that I wish we had gotten to see a little more, but only because I would have loved to get to know those characters a little better.
If there’s anything I wish I’d seen a little more, it would be more world building and development of some of the side characters. I wanted to immerse myself in Delia’s world, and while the lore certainly helped, I couldn’t quite picture the world she was living in. I didn’t have that trouble on Aidan’s end though. There were also a couple of side characters I would have loved to get to know a little better. However, I just feel like that means we need another story in this world *wink, wink*.
This story is an 7/10 for me. I loved reading it, but I definitely needed a little more world building and character development. However, it’s a solid read if you love retellings, and fairy tales.
February 18, 2020
Rogue Princess A Creative Fantasy Sci-fi Retelling Spoof
B.R. Myers is an author I’ve read and enjoyed in the past. Her young adult paranormal series was quite fun and creative. I’m excited to see her dive into a fantasy/sci-fi retelling. Paired with a fun and unconventional cover Rogue Princess sounded like a Cinderella retelling with all the imagination I need to enjoy re-exploring this fairytale.
Did B.R. Myer’s creativity in Rogue Princess sweep away this Fangirl?
For me my mindset is very important going into a new book. And I was in just the right place to enjoy Rogue Princess. Having just finished a year stacked with fantasy reads and balking at reading more I needed something light, fun and easy to consume. And Rogue Princess doesn’t take itself too seriously! It knows that it’s a fairytale retelling cobbling together a new story from different past Cinderellas. It’s not afraid to poke fun at the different fantasy and sci-fi elements it draws from to give me just what I needed… a light, fun and easy to read adventure.
Princess Delia is my kind of princess.
Delia is from a long line of ruling queens. Her mother is her role model and taking responsibility for her people is a duty she embraces. At the same time she wants to be a part of the action. If it’s flying ships, fighting pirates or saving children. I can really root for a girl who understands who she is, a princess, and chooses to do what’s right. She becomes a little confused where her path should go, but I enjoyed how she found her way.
Aiden is my kind of body guarding thief.
Thieves aren’t really a trope that I enjoy. I’m too much of a rule following oldest for me to get behind thievery. But a character who comes into himself around the right person is something I can support. Normally we see this happening with a girl finding her Mr. Right. I loved that we gender swapped this and paired it with some neat back history for our decidedly NOT alpha male Aiden. He is a bundle of surprises and I rooted for his happiness as much as for our duty bound princess’.
At the heart of Rogue Princess is winning world building folklore.
Cinderella is not a new fairy tale to us. Most readers have read at least a dozen different versions if not many more. So it takes a lot to give us something new. Gender swapping the main characters was a great start to refreshing the fairy tale. Myers though takes it a step farther by setting the story on a new fantasy world. This really worked well because it allowed her to craft original folklore for the background of the planet. It uses the Cinderella fairy tale as a frame for an entirely new fairy tale. It’s a fun way to give girls female empowered examples they will want to emulate.
And the underlying themes add powerfully to the female empowered message.
-The importance of following your heart.
-Love of family, especially the bond between sisters and daughters to their mothers.
-Loving who you love however they are labeled by the world.
-Being environmentally responsible and socially active.
-Sacrificing for those people and ideals that are important to you.
Rogue Princess is a fun gender swapped retelling mashup of different Cinderellas with our favorite fantasy and sci-fi elements. A little mystery and a rootworthy princess rounds out the folklore that seams the world. Pirates, air ships and secret tunnels make for a light and easy to read adventure.
B.R. Myers is an author I’ve read and enjoyed in the past. Her young adult paranormal series was quite fun and creative. I’m excited to see her dive into a fantasy/sci-fi retelling. Paired with a fun and unconventional cover Rogue Princess sounded like a Cinderella retelling with all the imagination I need to enjoy re-exploring this fairytale.
Did B.R. Myer’s creativity in Rogue Princess sweep away this Fangirl?
For me my mindset is very important going into a new book. And I was in just the right place to enjoy Rogue Princess. Having just finished a year stacked with fantasy reads and balking at reading more I needed something light, fun and easy to consume. And Rogue Princess doesn’t take itself too seriously! It knows that it’s a fairytale retelling cobbling together a new story from different past Cinderellas. It’s not afraid to poke fun at the different fantasy and sci-fi elements it draws from to give me just what I needed… a light, fun and easy to read adventure.
Princess Delia is my kind of princess.
Delia is from a long line of ruling queens. Her mother is her role model and taking responsibility for her people is a duty she embraces. At the same time she wants to be a part of the action. If it’s flying ships, fighting pirates or saving children. I can really root for a girl who understands who she is, a princess, and chooses to do what’s right. She becomes a little confused where her path should go, but I enjoyed how she found her way.
Aiden is my kind of body guarding thief.
Thieves aren’t really a trope that I enjoy. I’m too much of a rule following oldest for me to get behind thievery. But a character who comes into himself around the right person is something I can support. Normally we see this happening with a girl finding her Mr. Right. I loved that we gender swapped this and paired it with some neat back history for our decidedly NOT alpha male Aiden. He is a bundle of surprises and I rooted for his happiness as much as for our duty bound princess’.
At the heart of Rogue Princess is winning world building folklore.
Cinderella is not a new fairy tale to us. Most readers have read at least a dozen different versions if not many more. So it takes a lot to give us something new. Gender swapping the main characters was a great start to refreshing the fairy tale. Myers though takes it a step farther by setting the story on a new fantasy world. This really worked well because it allowed her to craft original folklore for the background of the planet. It uses the Cinderella fairy tale as a frame for an entirely new fairy tale. It’s a fun way to give girls female empowered examples they will want to emulate.
And the underlying themes add powerfully to the female empowered message.
-The importance of following your heart.
-Love of family, especially the bond between sisters and daughters to their mothers.
-Loving who you love however they are labeled by the world.
-Being environmentally responsible and socially active.
-Sacrificing for those people and ideals that are important to you.
Rogue Princess is a fun gender swapped retelling mashup of different Cinderellas with our favorite fantasy and sci-fi elements. A little mystery and a rootworthy princess rounds out the folklore that seams the world. Pirates, air ships and secret tunnels make for a light and easy to read adventure.
January 22, 2020
A fabulous gender-swap retelling of the Cinderella fairytale set in space!
1. If you think Princess Leia is feisty, you haven’t met Princess Delia. She flies ships, fights pirates, and is fearless. She doesn’t want to marry one of the many princes who have come to her planet to vie for her hand.
2. Her little sister Shania is hilarious! One word: Equipment (this scene had me rolling).
3. The pirates are violently charming.
4. Aiden is a wise-cracking hero whose wit keeps you smiling while Delia saves their lives. He’s no alpha male, but that doesn’t make him a wimp. He’s full of surprises.
5. “If the SHEW fits!" (I was so late to the party on getting that play on words. Very clever.)
6. A lovely romance with a surprising conclusion.
Highly recommend for fans of Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles.
1. If you think Princess Leia is feisty, you haven’t met Princess Delia. She flies ships, fights pirates, and is fearless. She doesn’t want to marry one of the many princes who have come to her planet to vie for her hand.
2. Her little sister Shania is hilarious! One word: Equipment (this scene had me rolling).
3. The pirates are violently charming.
4. Aiden is a wise-cracking hero whose wit keeps you smiling while Delia saves their lives. He’s no alpha male, but that doesn’t make him a wimp. He’s full of surprises.
5. “If the SHEW fits!" (I was so late to the party on getting that play on words. Very clever.)
6. A lovely romance with a surprising conclusion.
Highly recommend for fans of Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles.
August 30, 2019
The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz
***Thank you so much to Swoon Reads for the review copy of ROGUE PRINCESS in exchange for an honest review!***
From the moment I laid eyes on Rogue Princess and read the summary I was sold. A gender bent, sci-fi, Cinderella retelling? Umm, YES PLEASE! I am really in love with the character art on this cover, I think it captures the vibes of this book perfectly and is so eye catching. Rogue Princess was such a fun read that was full of twists and turns and a plot twist that you will never see coming! Rogue Princess if perfect for of the Cinder Chronicles, Cinderella and Science fiction fans alike.
Princess Delia knows that she must marry to save her dying planet, but she is reluctant to. She wants to marry for true love, not for a political alliance. But a princess must do what a princess must do. After her failed mission to run away and meeting the handsome palace chore boy Aidan, things begin to get interesting. The two discover a rebel plot and are in a race against time to stop it. But with so many obstacles standing in their way and so many unexpected events that happen will Delia and Aidan be able to save their beloved planet?
Rogue Princess is told in both, Delia and Aidan point of views. I loved being able to see the struggles both characters face. Delia's situation reminded me a little bit of The Selection, princes from other planets are competing for her time and attention to become her husband, but Delia is having none of it. Aidan is a chore boy in the palace and steals trinkets to sell to pay for passage off the planet to begin a new life away from his cruel step brothers and step father. He never expected the ship he would be escaping on would be manned by the Princess. I found both characters to be smart and witty. Their personalities and actions seemed to balance each other out and they both wanted to get to the bottom of this rebel plan.
THAT. PLOT. TWIST. I did not expect it at all. It was so masterfully done and creative and is going to leave you shell shocked. I know I was, I read this book on a road trip and I legit closed the book and stared out the window processing all the epicness. I wish I could say more, but spoilers! You're just going to have to read to find out what I am talking about! 😉
My heart melts for the romance in this novel. This is a Cinderella retelling! Did we not expect for Delia and Aidan to fall in love!? The romance is tender and sweet and brings forth the question of the sacrifices you will make for the person you love. I lived for all of Delia and Aidan's moments and rooted for them from the moment Delia found him on the floor of her ship.
Overall I can't give Rouge Princess enough praise. I simply love this story so much and has to be one of my favorite Cinderella retellings ever. This book is perfect for those looking for a quick, fun standalone with a romance that is going to make you swoon. I am really looking forward to reading more from B.R. Myers soon!
***Thank you so much to Swoon Reads for the review copy of ROGUE PRINCESS in exchange for an honest review!***
From the moment I laid eyes on Rogue Princess and read the summary I was sold. A gender bent, sci-fi, Cinderella retelling? Umm, YES PLEASE! I am really in love with the character art on this cover, I think it captures the vibes of this book perfectly and is so eye catching. Rogue Princess was such a fun read that was full of twists and turns and a plot twist that you will never see coming! Rogue Princess if perfect for of the Cinder Chronicles, Cinderella and Science fiction fans alike.
Princess Delia knows that she must marry to save her dying planet, but she is reluctant to. She wants to marry for true love, not for a political alliance. But a princess must do what a princess must do. After her failed mission to run away and meeting the handsome palace chore boy Aidan, things begin to get interesting. The two discover a rebel plot and are in a race against time to stop it. But with so many obstacles standing in their way and so many unexpected events that happen will Delia and Aidan be able to save their beloved planet?
Rogue Princess is told in both, Delia and Aidan point of views. I loved being able to see the struggles both characters face. Delia's situation reminded me a little bit of The Selection, princes from other planets are competing for her time and attention to become her husband, but Delia is having none of it. Aidan is a chore boy in the palace and steals trinkets to sell to pay for passage off the planet to begin a new life away from his cruel step brothers and step father. He never expected the ship he would be escaping on would be manned by the Princess. I found both characters to be smart and witty. Their personalities and actions seemed to balance each other out and they both wanted to get to the bottom of this rebel plan.
THAT. PLOT. TWIST. I did not expect it at all. It was so masterfully done and creative and is going to leave you shell shocked. I know I was, I read this book on a road trip and I legit closed the book and stared out the window processing all the epicness. I wish I could say more, but spoilers! You're just going to have to read to find out what I am talking about! 😉
My heart melts for the romance in this novel. This is a Cinderella retelling! Did we not expect for Delia and Aidan to fall in love!? The romance is tender and sweet and brings forth the question of the sacrifices you will make for the person you love. I lived for all of Delia and Aidan's moments and rooted for them from the moment Delia found him on the floor of her ship.
Overall I can't give Rouge Princess enough praise. I simply love this story so much and has to be one of my favorite Cinderella retellings ever. This book is perfect for those looking for a quick, fun standalone with a romance that is going to make you swoon. I am really looking forward to reading more from B.R. Myers soon!
January 27, 2020
This is one of those times where I absolutely should have DNFed, but I didn't because I don't know. It was a quick, mildly amusing read at first, but then my amusement dissipated until the bonkerpants conclusion, so I suffered through much of it.
On a high level, this book is a genderflipped Cinderella retelling, which is an idea I can SO get behind. The opening chapters feel heavily like a genderflipped Cinder with little originality. Then the book goes in its own direction, mostly by having world building somewhat reminiscent of The Selection. Delia's choosing her future king from among a group of princes at the palace; people are betting on the odds of selection, but there's no explanation of how people know who to bet on or where these odds come from. This is just one of the many things that do not make sense.
Some more things that make no sense:
- The clockwork bird that can find you anywhere.
- The fact that the royalty swears pirates don't exist but the pirates are everywhere.
- The fact that the pirates talk in an overblown antiquated style while everyone else speaks in modern diction.
- Delia's ridiculous fighting skills without explication.
- The way that any of AIDAN's robot things are explained, particularly how his fuel cell dies and a video of his maker tells him he can live a human life span on the energy he has generated if he wants, so he thinks yes and BAM he's fine. Like, too bad you waited until his fuel cell was empty, because he can't move to generate the kinetic energy that could have powered him GAH.
- That Delia believes Aidan's second and third explanations for why he's around, even though she'd caught him in prior lies.
- The fact that the reader is supposed to be into this ship that was constant lying and then the revelation that he's a robot.
- The fact that Aidan has conveniently been carrying ALL OF THE ANSWERS all this time. Gotta love a plot that hinges on convenience. And sandworm poop. (That's a true fact.)
I'm sorry to say this, but this is not a good book. It might be hilaribad if you're in the right mood or fun if you haven't read that much.
On a high level, this book is a genderflipped Cinderella retelling, which is an idea I can SO get behind. The opening chapters feel heavily like a genderflipped Cinder with little originality. Then the book goes in its own direction, mostly by having world building somewhat reminiscent of The Selection. Delia's choosing her future king from among a group of princes at the palace; people are betting on the odds of selection, but there's no explanation of how people know who to bet on or where these odds come from. This is just one of the many things that do not make sense.
Some more things that make no sense:
- The clockwork bird that can find you anywhere.
- The fact that the royalty swears pirates don't exist but the pirates are everywhere.
- The fact that the pirates talk in an overblown antiquated style while everyone else speaks in modern diction.
- Delia's ridiculous fighting skills without explication.
- The way that any of AIDAN's robot things are explained, particularly how his fuel cell dies and a video of his maker tells him he can live a human life span on the energy he has generated if he wants, so he thinks yes and BAM he's fine. Like, too bad you waited until his fuel cell was empty, because he can't move to generate the kinetic energy that could have powered him GAH.
- That Delia believes Aidan's second and third explanations for why he's around, even though she'd caught him in prior lies.
- The fact that the reader is supposed to be into this ship that was constant lying and then the revelation that he's a robot.
- The fact that Aidan has conveniently been carrying ALL OF THE ANSWERS all this time. Gotta love a plot that hinges on convenience. And sandworm poop. (That's a true fact.)
I'm sorry to say this, but this is not a good book. It might be hilaribad if you're in the right mood or fun if you haven't read that much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2020
“We gain power, not by what we take, but by what we’re willing to give up.”
A quick, fun read, but nothing super memorable. I liked the twists on the classic fairytale, but unfortunately, I couldn't stop unconsciously comparing to Cinder, and in the end, Rogue Princess just doesn't have the sparkle of The Lunar Chronicles.
Delia was a fun heroine, and Aidan was very interesting. But everything else felt surface-level: The side characters all seemed to be pretty one-dimensional, and the world-building was only okay—there were a lot of conveniences that would probably be explained as ~sci-fi~ but in reality still requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief. The romance was sort of instalovey, and then, after *that*, I felt kind of weird about it. Especially because no one really addressed or questioned it?? Then I started questioning myself for feeling weird about it, and I'm still not sure where I stand on it.
Actually, no, I take that back. I feel weird about the romance. And not just *that* (although, yes, oof), but all the secrecy on Aidan's part just didn't seem like a promising way to build a solid relationship.
Overall, I didn't dislike this, but I do feel there were a lot of missed opportunities to really dive into and expand on the world and the characters, and to execute that plot twist just a liiiiiitle bit more elegantly.
January 24, 2020
Rogue Princess is a gender-flipped, sci-fi retelling of Cinderella that is somewhat reminiscent of the film Ever After in terms of plot beats. Princess Delia must marry for the good of her planet, but she wishes there were another way to save her people. Aiden is a kitchen boy and minor thief, but when he meets Delia, he pretends to be someone else, someone worthy of her time and attention.
This was a fun and easy read with some inventive elements, but I didn't love some of the plot choices made. There is a plot twist near the end that I wasn't a fan of and that (in part) made it difficult for me to take the romance seriously. Some of the side characters feel like over the top stereotypes (like the silly, boy-crazy sister, the silly and self-involved suitor, etc.) which was okay and entertaining, but again made it hard for me to take it seriously. If you are looking for a fun and fluffy read, this is a good pick, but I wouldn't expect anything terribly groundbreaking. One other thing that I found irritating is that the cover shows a young woman of color, but in the book we don't get descriptions of the princess's appearance. Rather, lots of side characters have skin that is described as "white" (which itself feels a little odd in places where "pale" would have made more sense). I guess we are supposed to assume Delia has darker skin just because it isn't described as white? That feels like a real missed opportunity.
I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This was a fun and easy read with some inventive elements, but I didn't love some of the plot choices made. There is a plot twist near the end that I wasn't a fan of and that (in part) made it difficult for me to take the romance seriously. Some of the side characters feel like over the top stereotypes (like the silly, boy-crazy sister, the silly and self-involved suitor, etc.) which was okay and entertaining, but again made it hard for me to take it seriously. If you are looking for a fun and fluffy read, this is a good pick, but I wouldn't expect anything terribly groundbreaking. One other thing that I found irritating is that the cover shows a young woman of color, but in the book we don't get descriptions of the princess's appearance. Rather, lots of side characters have skin that is described as "white" (which itself feels a little odd in places where "pale" would have made more sense). I guess we are supposed to assume Delia has darker skin just because it isn't described as white? That feels like a real missed opportunity.
I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
March 5, 2023
Rogue Princess by B.R. Meyers is an excellent intertext with a twist on the Cinderella classic fairy tale.
I love a good inter text, so Rogue Princess was a natural for me! It didn't hurt that the cover is gorgeous, and the author is Canadian! Bonus points, eh!
Princess Delia needs to pick a prince - a man to marry who will help build an alliance and save her planet. Of course, she's a wee bit of a rebel and decides to steal a spaceship to run away from her life's problems. And then, she meets our "Cinderella" - Aidan. This thief just wants to live his life, but ends up slowly falling head over heels for the Princess. All the while, it turns out a big conspiracy regarding the planet and sustainability is going on, so the two of them will need to address that at some point... Or else the planets might be in jeopardy.
This book is a fast paced, fantastical, and romantic read that kept me hooked. I am blown away with how fun this sci-fi, gender swapped take of Cinderella was, and I definitely suggest it to those who love a great fairy tale retelling.
Five out of five stars!
I love a good inter text, so Rogue Princess was a natural for me! It didn't hurt that the cover is gorgeous, and the author is Canadian! Bonus points, eh!
Princess Delia needs to pick a prince - a man to marry who will help build an alliance and save her planet. Of course, she's a wee bit of a rebel and decides to steal a spaceship to run away from her life's problems. And then, she meets our "Cinderella" - Aidan. This thief just wants to live his life, but ends up slowly falling head over heels for the Princess. All the while, it turns out a big conspiracy regarding the planet and sustainability is going on, so the two of them will need to address that at some point... Or else the planets might be in jeopardy.
This book is a fast paced, fantastical, and romantic read that kept me hooked. I am blown away with how fun this sci-fi, gender swapped take of Cinderella was, and I definitely suggest it to those who love a great fairy tale retelling.
Five out of five stars!
September 27, 2021
| Reader Fox Blog |
Rogue Princess by B. R. Myers is, by all accounts, right up my alley. It's a Cinderella retelling, which we all know I love, with a strong female lead and a pretty interesting plotline. I should have loved this book. Unfortunately, I did not. And when I sat down to think about why I didn't fall in love with this book just as I have many Cinderella retellings in the past (I swear, Cinderella retellings have to be the one film type that I've watched the most of, not even getting into novels that I've read), it came down to essentially two things: the writing and the inspiration.
Also, just as a note to all reading this: in order for me to accurately explain my issues with Rogue Princess, there will be a lot of spoilers. I'll try to keep the huge plot twists under a hidden "see more" option so you can choose to click to read it if you'd like, but a lot of the general things will be mentioned.
I referenced it earlier in a brief initial reaction review that I wrote, but Rogue Princess spent a lot of time taking inspiration from various other Cinderella retellings. From Marissa Meyer's Cinder--which happens to be my favorite series of all time--to Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted (the movie version, though). This, I suppose, can be forgivable in some circumstances. Whenever we're looking at a retelling you have to expect that a certain number of things in the story will have come from other stories. And depending on how it's done, I genuinely don't mind it. Just look at Cinder, a mashup of various fairytales from Rapunzel to Snow White alongside Cinderella and Sailor Moon. And I love Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles with all my heart.
The problem with Rogue Princess is it takes too much.
And sure, I'll give it some credit where credit is due: many of the things Myers mixed into her novel were actually pretty cool. She included some wonderfully fascinating plot points regarding androids, though a deus ex machina did clean up the end conflict far too quickly. Regardless, Myers was able to make some of the ideas lifted from other renditions her own in a pretty exciting way.
That is...right up until it comes to Ever After.
See, I can get behind the way Myers blended Ella Enchanted and Cinder. It was new and interesting; best of all it actually worked. But the amount of lifting that was done from Ever After seriously bothered me. It was so blatant that I basically was able to figure out 99% of the plot the moment I noticed what was happening. What's worse, Myers lifted near-exact lines from the film.
Unfortunately, I don't have a gif for "are you coy on purpose?"
Then there's the fact that the purpose behind the line was lifted, too, since it all came down to royal character wanting to know the name of our Cinderella character. I legitimately wanted to scream. Listen, I named my iPhone after Prince Henry from this film. There wasn't even a slight chance that I wasn't going to catch that one.
Anyway, that one line basically began my irritation, but the rest of the novel continued it. Let's talk about some other parallels this novel had with Ever After.
It begins with the very start of the novel.
Our story begins with Princess Delia/Prince Henry stealing a method of transportation (spaceship/horse) to escape an arranged marriage. Throughout the story, interactions between Delia/Henry and their parents revolve around the need for the arranged marriage that Delia/Henry does not want. The aforementioned transportation theft and subsequent escape is interrupted by the involvement of Aiden/Danielle with some small differences between film and book.
Then the pirates/gypsies attack (I am unsure if this term is appropriate as it was used in the film and so, for the rest of this review I will be using the term Roma), again, with some differences. Danielle wasn't involved in that part of the movie and Aiden is involved in the novel. Next, that bit of name runabout happens, resulting in my losing my mind. Then they're attacked by pirates/Roma again. This attack results in a fight between Princess/Prince and one of the pirates/Roma where the strong female character has a victory. This victory results in the two joining the group of outcasts for a party.
And at this party, naturally, Delia/Henry and Aiden/Danielle share a kiss. And here is where another piece of my irritation comes in. This kiss was described almost exactly as the kiss in the film is acted, right down to the cheering from their new group of friends and the turn of Delia/Danielle's chin.
At this point, I was 100% certain that Myers was lifting from Ever After.
The story progresses and Delia/Henry drops Aiden/Danielle off at home, asking that they meet them in a special place (a sacred tree by the lake / sacred ruins). Some awfulness, with differences, happens to Aiden/Danielle at the hands of the horrible stepfamily, though at least one of the stepsiblings seems less awful than the others (admittedly, this is more obvious in the film than the book and I may have been guessing based on prior knowledge here). Then Aiden/Danielle meets Delia/Henry at the special place and the conversation begins with talk of love and proceeds to end unhappily.
Next, the Ella Enchanted and Cinder bits come in via a plot twist. I'll say that this probably could have been a really brilliant piece of the story had it not been for the fact that the general idea was so blatantly borrowed from other retellings.
Everyone goes home happy?
Eh, I just don't know about this one. The degree to which I saw other stories tangled in together just got so excessive. I think, perhaps, I could have forgiven it a little more than I have had I actually liked the characters, but even that was difficult for me. This I chock up to the writing itself just not being up to par. I found Aiden extremely annoying basically every single time he spoke and I never understood, not for a second, why he or Delia liked each other. There was a lot of insta-love involved, which only made the whole thing worse.
I can't say it was terrible. I've definitely read much worse in the past. At the same time, though, there's not a lot of redeeming in this novel. I'd rather just watch Ever After and Ella Enchanted on their own and read The Lunar Chronicles again. I didn't need this mashup and all it really did was irritate me in the end. Also, I got definite Aladdin vibes from Aiden on so many occasions that I was genuinely thrown off since I knew in advance that it was a gender-bent Cinderella.
So, ultimately, we're left with a subpar gender-bent Cinderella retelling that borrowed heavily from a lot of other places (I'm sure I've even missed something). And all it did was leave me irritated in the end. Add the fact that it was initially super hard for me to get into at first (I began reading this book in November and only just finished it in March) and I just can't really find a way to appreciate it.
But, on the bright side:
I found an "are you coy on purpose" gif!!
"Are you coy on purpose or do you honestly refuse to tell me your name?"
"No...and yes."
| Reader Fox Links |
Rogue Princess by B. R. Myers is, by all accounts, right up my alley. It's a Cinderella retelling, which we all know I love, with a strong female lead and a pretty interesting plotline. I should have loved this book. Unfortunately, I did not. And when I sat down to think about why I didn't fall in love with this book just as I have many Cinderella retellings in the past (I swear, Cinderella retellings have to be the one film type that I've watched the most of, not even getting into novels that I've read), it came down to essentially two things: the writing and the inspiration.
Also, just as a note to all reading this: in order for me to accurately explain my issues with Rogue Princess, there will be a lot of spoilers. I'll try to keep the huge plot twists under a hidden "see more" option so you can choose to click to read it if you'd like, but a lot of the general things will be mentioned.
I referenced it earlier in a brief initial reaction review that I wrote, but Rogue Princess spent a lot of time taking inspiration from various other Cinderella retellings. From Marissa Meyer's Cinder--which happens to be my favorite series of all time--to Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted (the movie version, though). This, I suppose, can be forgivable in some circumstances. Whenever we're looking at a retelling you have to expect that a certain number of things in the story will have come from other stories. And depending on how it's done, I genuinely don't mind it. Just look at Cinder, a mashup of various fairytales from Rapunzel to Snow White alongside Cinderella and Sailor Moon. And I love Meyer's The Lunar Chronicles with all my heart.
The problem with Rogue Princess is it takes too much.
And sure, I'll give it some credit where credit is due: many of the things Myers mixed into her novel were actually pretty cool. She included some wonderfully fascinating plot points regarding androids, though a deus ex machina did clean up the end conflict far too quickly. Regardless, Myers was able to make some of the ideas lifted from other renditions her own in a pretty exciting way.
That is...right up until it comes to Ever After.
See, I can get behind the way Myers blended Ella Enchanted and Cinder. It was new and interesting; best of all it actually worked. But the amount of lifting that was done from Ever After seriously bothered me. It was so blatant that I basically was able to figure out 99% of the plot the moment I noticed what was happening. What's worse, Myers lifted near-exact lines from the film.
Unfortunately, I don't have a gif for "are you coy on purpose?"
Then there's the fact that the purpose behind the line was lifted, too, since it all came down to royal character wanting to know the name of our Cinderella character. I legitimately wanted to scream. Listen, I named my iPhone after Prince Henry from this film. There wasn't even a slight chance that I wasn't going to catch that one.
Anyway, that one line basically began my irritation, but the rest of the novel continued it. Let's talk about some other parallels this novel had with Ever After.
It begins with the very start of the novel.
Our story begins with Princess Delia/Prince Henry stealing a method of transportation (spaceship/horse) to escape an arranged marriage. Throughout the story, interactions between Delia/Henry and their parents revolve around the need for the arranged marriage that Delia/Henry does not want. The aforementioned transportation theft and subsequent escape is interrupted by the involvement of Aiden/Danielle with some small differences between film and book.
Then the pirates/gypsies attack (I am unsure if this term is appropriate as it was used in the film and so, for the rest of this review I will be using the term Roma), again, with some differences. Danielle wasn't involved in that part of the movie and Aiden is involved in the novel. Next, that bit of name runabout happens, resulting in my losing my mind. Then they're attacked by pirates/Roma again. This attack results in a fight between Princess/Prince and one of the pirates/Roma where the strong female character has a victory. This victory results in the two joining the group of outcasts for a party.
And at this party, naturally, Delia/Henry and Aiden/Danielle share a kiss. And here is where another piece of my irritation comes in. This kiss was described almost exactly as the kiss in the film is acted, right down to the cheering from their new group of friends and the turn of Delia/Danielle's chin.
At this point, I was 100% certain that Myers was lifting from Ever After.
The story progresses and Delia/Henry drops Aiden/Danielle off at home, asking that they meet them in a special place (a sacred tree by the lake / sacred ruins). Some awfulness, with differences, happens to Aiden/Danielle at the hands of the horrible stepfamily, though at least one of the stepsiblings seems less awful than the others (admittedly, this is more obvious in the film than the book and I may have been guessing based on prior knowledge here). Then Aiden/Danielle meets Delia/Henry at the special place and the conversation begins with talk of love and proceeds to end unhappily.
Next, the Ella Enchanted and Cinder bits come in via a plot twist. I'll say that this probably could have been a really brilliant piece of the story had it not been for the fact that the general idea was so blatantly borrowed from other retellings.
Everyone goes home happy?
Eh, I just don't know about this one. The degree to which I saw other stories tangled in together just got so excessive. I think, perhaps, I could have forgiven it a little more than I have had I actually liked the characters, but even that was difficult for me. This I chock up to the writing itself just not being up to par. I found Aiden extremely annoying basically every single time he spoke and I never understood, not for a second, why he or Delia liked each other. There was a lot of insta-love involved, which only made the whole thing worse.
I can't say it was terrible. I've definitely read much worse in the past. At the same time, though, there's not a lot of redeeming in this novel. I'd rather just watch Ever After and Ella Enchanted on their own and read The Lunar Chronicles again. I didn't need this mashup and all it really did was irritate me in the end. Also, I got definite Aladdin vibes from Aiden on so many occasions that I was genuinely thrown off since I knew in advance that it was a gender-bent Cinderella.
So, ultimately, we're left with a subpar gender-bent Cinderella retelling that borrowed heavily from a lot of other places (I'm sure I've even missed something). And all it did was leave me irritated in the end. Add the fact that it was initially super hard for me to get into at first (I began reading this book in November and only just finished it in March) and I just can't really find a way to appreciate it.
But, on the bright side:
I found an "are you coy on purpose" gif!!
"Are you coy on purpose or do you honestly refuse to tell me your name?"
"No...and yes."
| Reader Fox Links |
August 4, 2024
Goodreads, PLEASE let us have half stars. It’s books like this that make it hard to figure out whether to round up or down.
[REVIEW]
DISCLAIMER: When writing a negative review, it is never my intention to sound like I don’t think ANYONE should read a book I rated one or two stars. If I discouraged you, I might be taking away your chance from discovering your newest favorite book. Therefore, please don’t let my review TOTALLY deter you from reading Rogue Princess. This is simply collection of my thoughts and opinions on the book. This is me saying, “I didn’t like Rogue Princess and here’s why.” I’m not saying, “I didn’t like Rogue Princess, and here’s why you shouldn’t like it/read it.”
(I am aware some people need to see others’ thoughts and opinions to help them to decide whether or not to buy/read a book. If this review does help you, and that’s what you needed, that’s fine! However, don’t just take my word for it. Look at what others are saying, and decide from there.)
*Trigger/content warnings in this book for kidnapping and talk of an arranged marriage*
If you know me, you know that I’m TRASH for Cinderella retellings. Call me basic, but if I see the word “Cinderella” on the blurb, I’m picking the book up. I was especially intrigued by this one because I heard that a gender-swapped retelling—AND it gave me low-key Lunar Chronicles vibes. Therefore, I went into this EXPECTING to love it.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this very much. For one, the pacing was all over the place. One moment the characters were running for their lives, and the next they were chilling. For another, the romance got VERY aggravating to read about at times. This was NOT enemies to lovers, folks. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Anyways, the more I read of this, the more I thought I was going to hate this.
BUT THEN, a plot twist was revealed somewhere in the last ~30% of this. This plot twist entirely changed my thoughts on things I’d been frustrated about beforehand. Was the plot twist developed to its full potential? No, and I really think that this whole book should’ve been lengthened and polished more. But that plot twist DID get me. And that’s the main reason I’ve been going back and forth between rating this two or three stars.
Anyways, let’s get into the specifics! Maybe that’ll help me figure out what to rate this.
MY THOUGHTS ON…
WHAT I LIKED:
•Aidan and Delia did have some good banter! I especially loved it near the beginning, it reminded me of Aladdin and Jasmine’s in Disney’s Aladdin. It wasn’t enough for me to be like, “Oh my gosh, PLEASE get together, I can’t get enough of you two!!!” But it did make me laugh a few times.
•I knew this was going to be a Cinderella retelling, but I also picked up on some Rapunzel elements when Delia mentioned having long hair and feeling trapped in the castle. My favorite type of retellings are when fairy tales/fairy tale characters come together (i.e. The Lunar Chronicles and The Sisters Grimm), so that was a pleasant surprise!
•My favorite character was Delia’s sister Shania. She made me chuckle anytime she talked about the suitors with Delia, or when she teased Delia about crushing on Aidan. I also loved when she comforted Delia after Aidan rejected the proposal and ran off. She was such a good sister!
•Like I said earlier, the plot twist did shock THE HECK out of me. Aidan actually being an AI and being used by the Resistance??? Suddenly, certain choices he’d made beforehand that had either confused and/or frustrated me made PERFECT sense. Also, this reveal made me EVEN MORE worried when his stepfamily told him to kill Delia at the ball (while also making sure he wouldn’t remember why he was going to the ball in the first place). Like I said earlier, I do think the plot twist could’ve been fleshed out just a little more. But that was still a dam good plot twist.
MY CRITIQUES:
•I do think the story started too late. Which is odd for me to critique, because my usual complaint is that a story opened up too early. When it came to Rogue Princess, though, the main characters met within the first two chapters, and suddenly we were thrusted into action. We didn’t get a glimpse of Aidan’s life with his stepfamily until Chapter 8, nor did we learn much about Delia other than she was reluctant to get married. I think we needed a few more chapters before Aidan and Delia met so we can get to know the characters and get settled into the world more.
•This needed SO MUCH more world-building. I wanted to see more of the place Aidan lived, to see more of what the average citizen’s life was like. I wanted to understand WHY the citizens were getting restless. SHOW us, don’t just tell.
Additionally, Delia’s suitors were from vastly different planets. I didn’t expect to travel to each one, but I DID want to know more about the histories and relationships between Delia’s and her suitors’ planets. I wanted to see why it was so hard for Delia to choose for political purposes, all while falling in love with someone who was NOT one of the suitors on top of that.
•Most, if not all, of the side characters were one-dimensional. I couldn’t tell you the name of any of Delia’s advisors or servants. I didn’t care about any of Delia’s suitors, not even Felix, even after he was revealed to be a bad guy. Aidan’s stepfamily was part of the Resistance, but then had a sudden change of heart, and we really didn’t get to spend time with them to figure out why. Also, there was a lot of unrest, so why wasn’t Delia’s mother, the queen, more concerned about it? Even if she wasn’t, WHY NOT? There was so much potential to give depth to all of these characters, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
•Aidan’s stepfather, A VILLAIN, was depicted as fat. For the love of Pete, can we STOP having the only fat characters in books be villains? Fat people have voiced countless times about how hurtful the evil, greedy fat character trope is. Fat characters deserve be properly and positively represented. Do better, authors.
•Aidan and Delia were supposed to go from enemies to lovers, but they were hardly enemies before they were thinking, “Wait, you’re not so bad, maybe I DO like you.” No no no no NO. Give me ENEMIES to lovers, not enemiestolovers. Like I said, Aidan and Delia’s banter when they were falling in love was good—I have no doubt that the banter would’ve been just as good if they’d been enemies for a little while longer.
•Going off of that, Delia proposed to Aidan within less than A MONTH of knowing him. I know they couldn’t have more time together because the Resistance was using Aidan, and needed to rebel as soon as possible. But a PROPOSAL?! There could’ve been another way for Aidan and Delia to have a fallout before the big reveal.
•The climax and ending was WAY too rush. Within one chapter, Felix was defeated, Aidan found out he could actually live a full life, and everyone was living happily ever after. The last chapter was Aidan telling Delia that they can’t produce an heir, Delia saying she was fine with that, and then that was it. Like, okay, it’s good that you’re both fine with not having children. But how are you going to figure out who’s next in line after you die? And why end the book there??? It was just so random???
FINAL THOUGHTS:
After writing this review, I’ve come to the conclusion to rate this two stars. I really hate saying that, because I REALLY thought I was going to enjoy this. Unfortunately, I just feel like everything needed to be developed A LOT more.
I’m not sure if and who I’d recommend this to. Maybe if you’re looking for a sci-fi novel that’s not TOO HEAVY on the world-building, you might enjoy this. If you’re trash for Cinderella retellings as much as I am, you could try this, but maybe just don’t be like me and go in with HIGH expectations.
[REVIEW]
DISCLAIMER: When writing a negative review, it is never my intention to sound like I don’t think ANYONE should read a book I rated one or two stars. If I discouraged you, I might be taking away your chance from discovering your newest favorite book. Therefore, please don’t let my review TOTALLY deter you from reading Rogue Princess. This is simply collection of my thoughts and opinions on the book. This is me saying, “I didn’t like Rogue Princess and here’s why.” I’m not saying, “I didn’t like Rogue Princess, and here’s why you shouldn’t like it/read it.”
(I am aware some people need to see others’ thoughts and opinions to help them to decide whether or not to buy/read a book. If this review does help you, and that’s what you needed, that’s fine! However, don’t just take my word for it. Look at what others are saying, and decide from there.)
*Trigger/content warnings in this book for kidnapping and talk of an arranged marriage*
If you know me, you know that I’m TRASH for Cinderella retellings. Call me basic, but if I see the word “Cinderella” on the blurb, I’m picking the book up. I was especially intrigued by this one because I heard that a gender-swapped retelling—AND it gave me low-key Lunar Chronicles vibes. Therefore, I went into this EXPECTING to love it.
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this very much. For one, the pacing was all over the place. One moment the characters were running for their lives, and the next they were chilling. For another, the romance got VERY aggravating to read about at times. This was NOT enemies to lovers, folks. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Anyways, the more I read of this, the more I thought I was going to hate this.
BUT THEN, a plot twist was revealed somewhere in the last ~30% of this. This plot twist entirely changed my thoughts on things I’d been frustrated about beforehand. Was the plot twist developed to its full potential? No, and I really think that this whole book should’ve been lengthened and polished more. But that plot twist DID get me. And that’s the main reason I’ve been going back and forth between rating this two or three stars.
Anyways, let’s get into the specifics! Maybe that’ll help me figure out what to rate this.
MY THOUGHTS ON…
WHAT I LIKED:
•Aidan and Delia did have some good banter! I especially loved it near the beginning, it reminded me of Aladdin and Jasmine’s in Disney’s Aladdin. It wasn’t enough for me to be like, “Oh my gosh, PLEASE get together, I can’t get enough of you two!!!” But it did make me laugh a few times.
•I knew this was going to be a Cinderella retelling, but I also picked up on some Rapunzel elements when Delia mentioned having long hair and feeling trapped in the castle. My favorite type of retellings are when fairy tales/fairy tale characters come together (i.e. The Lunar Chronicles and The Sisters Grimm), so that was a pleasant surprise!
•My favorite character was Delia’s sister Shania. She made me chuckle anytime she talked about the suitors with Delia, or when she teased Delia about crushing on Aidan. I also loved when she comforted Delia after Aidan rejected the proposal and ran off. She was such a good sister!
•Like I said earlier, the plot twist did shock THE HECK out of me. Aidan actually being an AI and being used by the Resistance??? Suddenly, certain choices he’d made beforehand that had either confused and/or frustrated me made PERFECT sense. Also, this reveal made me EVEN MORE worried when his stepfamily told him to kill Delia at the ball (while also making sure he wouldn’t remember why he was going to the ball in the first place). Like I said earlier, I do think the plot twist could’ve been fleshed out just a little more. But that was still a dam good plot twist.
MY CRITIQUES:
•I do think the story started too late. Which is odd for me to critique, because my usual complaint is that a story opened up too early. When it came to Rogue Princess, though, the main characters met within the first two chapters, and suddenly we were thrusted into action. We didn’t get a glimpse of Aidan’s life with his stepfamily until Chapter 8, nor did we learn much about Delia other than she was reluctant to get married. I think we needed a few more chapters before Aidan and Delia met so we can get to know the characters and get settled into the world more.
•This needed SO MUCH more world-building. I wanted to see more of the place Aidan lived, to see more of what the average citizen’s life was like. I wanted to understand WHY the citizens were getting restless. SHOW us, don’t just tell.
Additionally, Delia’s suitors were from vastly different planets. I didn’t expect to travel to each one, but I DID want to know more about the histories and relationships between Delia’s and her suitors’ planets. I wanted to see why it was so hard for Delia to choose for political purposes, all while falling in love with someone who was NOT one of the suitors on top of that.
•Most, if not all, of the side characters were one-dimensional. I couldn’t tell you the name of any of Delia’s advisors or servants. I didn’t care about any of Delia’s suitors, not even Felix, even after he was revealed to be a bad guy. Aidan’s stepfamily was part of the Resistance, but then had a sudden change of heart, and we really didn’t get to spend time with them to figure out why. Also, there was a lot of unrest, so why wasn’t Delia’s mother, the queen, more concerned about it? Even if she wasn’t, WHY NOT? There was so much potential to give depth to all of these characters, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
•Aidan’s stepfather, A VILLAIN, was depicted as fat. For the love of Pete, can we STOP having the only fat characters in books be villains? Fat people have voiced countless times about how hurtful the evil, greedy fat character trope is. Fat characters deserve be properly and positively represented. Do better, authors.
•Aidan and Delia were supposed to go from enemies to lovers, but they were hardly enemies before they were thinking, “Wait, you’re not so bad, maybe I DO like you.” No no no no NO. Give me ENEMIES to lovers, not enemiestolovers. Like I said, Aidan and Delia’s banter when they were falling in love was good—I have no doubt that the banter would’ve been just as good if they’d been enemies for a little while longer.
•Going off of that, Delia proposed to Aidan within less than A MONTH of knowing him. I know they couldn’t have more time together because the Resistance was using Aidan, and needed to rebel as soon as possible. But a PROPOSAL?! There could’ve been another way for Aidan and Delia to have a fallout before the big reveal.
•The climax and ending was WAY too rush. Within one chapter, Felix was defeated, Aidan found out he could actually live a full life, and everyone was living happily ever after. The last chapter was Aidan telling Delia that they can’t produce an heir, Delia saying she was fine with that, and then that was it. Like, okay, it’s good that you’re both fine with not having children. But how are you going to figure out who’s next in line after you die? And why end the book there??? It was just so random???
FINAL THOUGHTS:
After writing this review, I’ve come to the conclusion to rate this two stars. I really hate saying that, because I REALLY thought I was going to enjoy this. Unfortunately, I just feel like everything needed to be developed A LOT more.
I’m not sure if and who I’d recommend this to. Maybe if you’re looking for a sci-fi novel that’s not TOO HEAVY on the world-building, you might enjoy this. If you’re trash for Cinderella retellings as much as I am, you could try this, but maybe just don’t be like me and go in with HIGH expectations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2020
"It is my duty to not only wear the crown, but to be the crown. I only thrive if the kingdom thrives."
📚 Series: No, standalone.
📚 Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Retelling
📚 POV: Dual POV, one for each lead
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Read if: you are a fan of Cinder, Cinderella, and love stories set in space.
👑👑👑👑
I am not really the go-to person to for sci-fi recommendations, as this is something that I am not normally into reading. But, I was interested in reading Rogue Princess because I was excited about a Cinderella retelling that is set in space.
Rogue Princess follows the journey of Princess Delia, who has to choose a husband to better her country in a dilemma a la The Selection, and Aidan, who is a poor boy in the palace that does chores and steals trinkets for extra money. This book tells their love story.
This book is a little slow on the build up, but if it is not a concern to you, the plot twist will be worth it in the end.
The romance in this story is also sweet and heartwarming, so it is perfect for all the hopeless romantics like me.
Overall, the Rogue Princess is an enjoyable read for all lovers of SciFi and Cinderella retellings.
👑👑👑👑
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Thrill Factor/ Mystery: ⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.67/5 ☁
Much thanks to Swoon Reads and Xpresso Book Tours for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
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Want to read
August 17, 2019A gender-swapped YA retelling of Cinderella set in space? YAH, I want to be BLESSED BY THIS.
January 31, 2020
Rogue Princess was such a fun read. It's a retelling of the classic fairytale, Cinderella, with science and technology entangled throughout it. This book is about Princess Delia trying to save her dying planet and the only way she can do so is by choosing a prince to marry. However, Delia wants to find another way to save her planet. Thus, she runs away and happens to find a boy, Aidan, who's just looking for a way out too. Together, they try to save the planet from falling into rebel hands.
B.R. Myers really impressed me. This plot was fun and entertaining. It had so many great moments that just got you so invested into the story. The plot was a bit fast paced, but you can totally keep up and enjoy. Myers' writing was great as well. The world she built had both a traditional and modern feel. I was just really into it. The characters were written so well. Delia was headstrong, caring, and just wanted to save her planet. Delia's character arc was so amazing. I loved her devotion and dedication to her duties. She was a fighter and she was ready to do whatever she could to help her planet. Aidan was an interesting character. He was witty, kind, and just wanted to have a life of his own. He helps Delia throughout the book by showing her a world she wasn't familiar with. Aidan's arc was seriously so good. And together, Delia and Aidan were such a match. I loved reading their dynamic and how they just balanced each other. The other characters were a great contribution to the story. Shania was amusing. She had many great moments and I just loved how she kept checking every prince out, I mean same. The princes were all so different from each other. It was nice to the mix and obviously, Prince Quinton was the best of them all. The pirates were just the best. Myers did a fantastic job with all the characters.
Overall, I loved this book quite a lot. It had the right amount of adventure, romance, and fun. It's a fairytale coming to life in the science fiction world. I just loved it and I was captivated all throughout. And god, that plot twist nearly took the life out of me. It was such a good twist!! I never saw it coming!! Seriously, read this book. You will not be disappointed.
B.R. Myers really impressed me. This plot was fun and entertaining. It had so many great moments that just got you so invested into the story. The plot was a bit fast paced, but you can totally keep up and enjoy. Myers' writing was great as well. The world she built had both a traditional and modern feel. I was just really into it. The characters were written so well. Delia was headstrong, caring, and just wanted to save her planet. Delia's character arc was so amazing. I loved her devotion and dedication to her duties. She was a fighter and she was ready to do whatever she could to help her planet. Aidan was an interesting character. He was witty, kind, and just wanted to have a life of his own. He helps Delia throughout the book by showing her a world she wasn't familiar with. Aidan's arc was seriously so good. And together, Delia and Aidan were such a match. I loved reading their dynamic and how they just balanced each other. The other characters were a great contribution to the story. Shania was amusing. She had many great moments and I just loved how she kept checking every prince out, I mean same. The princes were all so different from each other. It was nice to the mix and obviously, Prince Quinton was the best of them all. The pirates were just the best. Myers did a fantastic job with all the characters.
Overall, I loved this book quite a lot. It had the right amount of adventure, romance, and fun. It's a fairytale coming to life in the science fiction world. I just loved it and I was captivated all throughout. And god, that plot twist nearly took the life out of me. It was such a good twist!! I never saw it coming!! Seriously, read this book. You will not be disappointed.
October 23, 2022
Princess Delia, heir to the throne of Astor, knows that she must choose a prince to marry in order to secure an alliance. She decides to run away...but things don't exactly go as planned when she steals the same ship that someone else was already 'borrowing.' Aiden, a boy with an interesting past, is desperate to escape from Astor to get away from his abusive Stepfather and stepbrothers. Batling pirates, rebels, and sometimes each other, Delia and Aiden must band together to protect the people of Astor. Sparks fly in this sci-fi adventure, genderswapped, and slightly enemies to lovers retelling of Cinderella.
Ok, I'll admit I wasn't sure I'd like this book at first, but I grew to love it. The plot twist is absolutely INSANE and I guarantee that you will NOT see it coming! The book is addicting once the story gets going, and you won't be able to put it down.
Shout out to the incredible Ashleigh for recommending this book to me. It was awesome! Thank you!
#edcteenbookbox
Ok, I'll admit I wasn't sure I'd like this book at first, but I grew to love it. The plot twist is absolutely INSANE and I guarantee that you will NOT see it coming! The book is addicting once the story gets going, and you won't be able to put it down.
Shout out to the incredible Ashleigh for recommending this book to me. It was awesome! Thank you!
#edcteenbookbox
May 20, 2023
Rogue Princess is a light sci-fi reverse Cinderella story where the boy is Cinderella. There are some major plot twists and this is a fun story overall. Readers who don’t like sci-fi will definitely still enjoy this. I do like sci-fi and I wanted more of that. There were some ships, androids, etc but other than that the story was not focused on those details.
Cleanliness: 3/5-no swearing. one character is a homosexual and there is reference of him kissing another man. There are also kisses between the main characters.
Cleanliness: 3/5-no swearing. one character is a homosexual and there is reference of him kissing another man. There are also kisses between the main characters.
January 6, 2020
I love fairytale retelling and Rogue Princess was such a wonderful surprise. It’s fresh, clever, unique, romantic and has such a fantastic cast of strong, diverse characters.
Princess Delia knows her duty. Choose a husband that will benefit the kingdom. That doesn’t mean her heart doesn’t long for a love match. Determined to find another way to secure the energy source her planet needs, she attempts to steal a space ship and broker a deal. Aiden wants to find a better life away from the control of his stepfather and step brothers. Stealing items while working at the palace has enabled him to secure a new future for himself. But when he steals a valuable item from a prince he must run, and finds himself on Delia’s spaceship. The two don’t make it far, intercepted by pirates. Delia must return to the palace and face the wrath of the queen, Aiden to his stepfather. But the two have a connection and together begin to uncover a plot to over throw the monarchy.
Rogue Princess is a sci-fi romanctic adventure, with themes of sustainability issues and equality. Advanced technology means there are servant androids and mini personal flying craft, spaceships and mentions of other planets, but the story remains firmly grounded on Delia’s home planet.
The story is split between Delia and Aiden’s perspectives, which is perfect for the flow of the story and the reader’s understanding of events. Delia is a strong character. She can fight, fly and bargain with the best of them. She stands up for herself, wants to do the right thing and is struggling to balance her desires for her kingdom with the dreams of her heart. Aiden is an interesting character. He plays the role of Cinderella in this gender swapped retelling. He is kind and opens Delia’s eyes to a world she hasn’t seen before. While Rogue Princess is a retelling it doesn’t feel like one. So much is new and unique. And while the traditional fairytale is shadowed in the story, it’s subtle, where you pick up things afterwards and go, oh that’s like that in the fairytale. Very clever.
There is such a great cast of diverse characters in Rogue Princess. Delia’s sister is hilarious with her sneaky lewd comments and commentary on the princes. LGBT characters face persecution for their choices on other planets and aside from a few mentions of dark complexions, skin colour is not mentioned expect that Aiden is the outsider with fair hair and pale skin.
There is a twist at the end that I just did not see coming. I was blown away, impressed and just fell that much more in love with this story. Try to avoid spoilers if you can because the surprise is worth it.
I highly recommend Rogue Princess for lovers of science fiction, for lovers of fairytale tellings or even for people who enjoy a fun story with lots of adventure and strong characters.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Princess Delia knows her duty. Choose a husband that will benefit the kingdom. That doesn’t mean her heart doesn’t long for a love match. Determined to find another way to secure the energy source her planet needs, she attempts to steal a space ship and broker a deal. Aiden wants to find a better life away from the control of his stepfather and step brothers. Stealing items while working at the palace has enabled him to secure a new future for himself. But when he steals a valuable item from a prince he must run, and finds himself on Delia’s spaceship. The two don’t make it far, intercepted by pirates. Delia must return to the palace and face the wrath of the queen, Aiden to his stepfather. But the two have a connection and together begin to uncover a plot to over throw the monarchy.
Rogue Princess is a sci-fi romanctic adventure, with themes of sustainability issues and equality. Advanced technology means there are servant androids and mini personal flying craft, spaceships and mentions of other planets, but the story remains firmly grounded on Delia’s home planet.
The story is split between Delia and Aiden’s perspectives, which is perfect for the flow of the story and the reader’s understanding of events. Delia is a strong character. She can fight, fly and bargain with the best of them. She stands up for herself, wants to do the right thing and is struggling to balance her desires for her kingdom with the dreams of her heart. Aiden is an interesting character. He plays the role of Cinderella in this gender swapped retelling. He is kind and opens Delia’s eyes to a world she hasn’t seen before. While Rogue Princess is a retelling it doesn’t feel like one. So much is new and unique. And while the traditional fairytale is shadowed in the story, it’s subtle, where you pick up things afterwards and go, oh that’s like that in the fairytale. Very clever.
There is such a great cast of diverse characters in Rogue Princess. Delia’s sister is hilarious with her sneaky lewd comments and commentary on the princes. LGBT characters face persecution for their choices on other planets and aside from a few mentions of dark complexions, skin colour is not mentioned expect that Aiden is the outsider with fair hair and pale skin.
There is a twist at the end that I just did not see coming. I was blown away, impressed and just fell that much more in love with this story. Try to avoid spoilers if you can because the surprise is worth it.
I highly recommend Rogue Princess for lovers of science fiction, for lovers of fairytale tellings or even for people who enjoy a fun story with lots of adventure and strong characters.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
January 17, 2020
This YA retelling of Cinderella in space drew me in with the cover and the promise of a gender-swapped tale. Did it live up to my expectations? I will get to that in a bit. First of all, there were some bits I really fell in love with: 1) As mentioned above, the cover. Also, the symbolism of Delia's braid and its import for her wedding night. 2) The sand worms! Did anyone else have a flashback to Kevin Bacon in "Tremors?" 3) Delia's sister Shania is the perfect foil for her and added some necessary humor and lightness. 4) The sci-fi additions that were acronyms like (Aidan), but especially SHEW (If the SHEW fits. . .) 5) Aidan and Delia working together to save Astor -- although it was a bit rushed.
What I did not love: 1) The worldbuilding was weak --I really wanted to see the other planets. 2) The princes all blurred together. 3) Quinton--he offers a marriage in name only, because of his great romance with his page who suddenly disappears altogether. 4) The big reveal of Aidan as AI was not entirely a surprise and I find his ability to function essentially like a human being to be an incredible leap, even for sci-fi. It also is creepy. All in all, the pros overrule the cons. An entertaining read.
Thank you to Swoon Reads and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I did not love: 1) The worldbuilding was weak --I really wanted to see the other planets. 2) The princes all blurred together. 3) Quinton--he offers a marriage in name only, because of his great romance with his page who suddenly disappears altogether. 4) The big reveal of Aidan as AI was not entirely a surprise and I find his ability to function essentially like a human being to be an incredible leap, even for sci-fi. It also is creepy. All in all, the pros overrule the cons. An entertaining read.
Thank you to Swoon Reads and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2020
This was such a fun book. So many twists and turns I did NOT see coming.
February 6, 2020
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours, Netgalley, and Swoon Reads for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
I’m the worst at figuring out retellings unless they explicitly tell me THIS IS A ______ RETELLING, like this book said it’s a gender-swapped sci-fi retelling of Cinderella. I personally would not have guessed, and that could be because I’m not a huge Cinderella fan, or just haven’t watched it enough to catch it. Either way, I personally really enjoyed this novel and I don’t even think Cinderella when I think of this novel. I just don’t, and I think that works out better for me.
Don’t you just love it when princesses don’t want to get married in order to rule their kingdoms? I personally love it a lot, because if they are the ones born into royalty, why can’t they rule on their own? Why do they neeeeeeeeeeed a husband if it’s not a marriage of love, you know? I know about doing your duty and all that, but come on. Princesses can rule as Queens without having to have a husband in order to be fulfilling their duty. I also get the whole political alliance thing, which is why Princess Delia needs to marry someone in the first place, but come on. That kind of thinking is so antiquated and needs to be looked at and changed. Political alliances should be sealed based on a marriage. But anyway, that’s just my own personal thoughts on this whole thing.
I am also a huge fan of strong sister bonds in novels, and I feel like Delia and Shania had that in this novel. I get that sisters aren’t always friends at all hours of the day, but being able to truly support your sister in times of need and just be there for her is what makes me love reading about sisters. I don’t have a sister, but if I did, I’d want a strong bond between us. I wouldn’t even mind having a novel just about Delia and Shania, and I’m curious if Myers would do a spin off on Shania and what she gets into these days.
I definitely want a physical copy of this novel once it comes out, because I can see myself reading this one again and going back into this world. I loved Delia. I loved Shania. Aidan made me laugh and I just can’t get enough of this novel.
I’m the worst at figuring out retellings unless they explicitly tell me THIS IS A ______ RETELLING, like this book said it’s a gender-swapped sci-fi retelling of Cinderella. I personally would not have guessed, and that could be because I’m not a huge Cinderella fan, or just haven’t watched it enough to catch it. Either way, I personally really enjoyed this novel and I don’t even think Cinderella when I think of this novel. I just don’t, and I think that works out better for me.
Don’t you just love it when princesses don’t want to get married in order to rule their kingdoms? I personally love it a lot, because if they are the ones born into royalty, why can’t they rule on their own? Why do they neeeeeeeeeeed a husband if it’s not a marriage of love, you know? I know about doing your duty and all that, but come on. Princesses can rule as Queens without having to have a husband in order to be fulfilling their duty. I also get the whole political alliance thing, which is why Princess Delia needs to marry someone in the first place, but come on. That kind of thinking is so antiquated and needs to be looked at and changed. Political alliances should be sealed based on a marriage. But anyway, that’s just my own personal thoughts on this whole thing.
I am also a huge fan of strong sister bonds in novels, and I feel like Delia and Shania had that in this novel. I get that sisters aren’t always friends at all hours of the day, but being able to truly support your sister in times of need and just be there for her is what makes me love reading about sisters. I don’t have a sister, but if I did, I’d want a strong bond between us. I wouldn’t even mind having a novel just about Delia and Shania, and I’m curious if Myers would do a spin off on Shania and what she gets into these days.
I definitely want a physical copy of this novel once it comes out, because I can see myself reading this one again and going back into this world. I loved Delia. I loved Shania. Aidan made me laugh and I just can’t get enough of this novel.
December 26, 2023
2023 reads: 389/350
2023 tbr: 92/100
princess delia is supposed to choose a prince to marry whose kingdom will help hers. she’s far from ready for marriage, though, so instead she steals a spaceship to run away on. instead, she discovers a handsome stowaway named aidan…and gets caught. she continues deliberating the marriage options while unable to deny her attraction to this commoner.
this was a really fun book, and it was a quick read, too! i will say, though, this book probably could have been a bit longer, as the ending felt rushed. there were so many plot twists that were revealed in the later part of the book that weren’t able to be all the way fleshed out. however, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of this intriguing story filled with a forbidden/secret romance, nods to cinderella, and fantasy politics. i’d recommend this to anyone looking for a quick fantasy read.
2023 tbr: 92/100
princess delia is supposed to choose a prince to marry whose kingdom will help hers. she’s far from ready for marriage, though, so instead she steals a spaceship to run away on. instead, she discovers a handsome stowaway named aidan…and gets caught. she continues deliberating the marriage options while unable to deny her attraction to this commoner.
this was a really fun book, and it was a quick read, too! i will say, though, this book probably could have been a bit longer, as the ending felt rushed. there were so many plot twists that were revealed in the later part of the book that weren’t able to be all the way fleshed out. however, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of this intriguing story filled with a forbidden/secret romance, nods to cinderella, and fantasy politics. i’d recommend this to anyone looking for a quick fantasy read.
February 22, 2023
This was cute! I thought about giving it 2.5 stars but the end was pretty good and had an awesome plot twist I could have never seen coming, so that bumped it up for me. It is definitely for fans of The Lunar Chronicles.
June 9, 2020
*Actual rating is a 3.5
I enjoyed this, I really did.. but I had such high hopes for this one and unfortunately it ultimately let me down. Maybe I was expecting a Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) level of retelling, or maybe not.. I don't know.
The characters were all right.. the plot was okay. The world building was fine... There just wasn't anything memorable about it... nothing was truly outstanding. Maybe I should lower my rating, but I just currently don't have the heart to.
I enjoyed this, I really did.. but I had such high hopes for this one and unfortunately it ultimately let me down. Maybe I was expecting a Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) level of retelling, or maybe not.. I don't know.
The characters were all right.. the plot was okay. The world building was fine... There just wasn't anything memorable about it... nothing was truly outstanding. Maybe I should lower my rating, but I just currently don't have the heart to.
September 12, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.
This is going to be a really hard one to talk about without going into spoilers. When I saw this was a gender reverse of Cinderella, I was intrigued. You don't get to see many takes on it where the guy is in the role of Cinderella. This is more like taking some familiar elements about the story-- the stepfamily, the ball, the shoe that fits just right-- and build a different story around it. I really think that the Lunar Chronicles have spoiled me on fairy tale retellings. Don't get me wrong, this book still did some things to make this a unique take, I guess I was just hoping for something else.
My biggest problem in this book is similar to the problem in Mulan 2. Basically, these princesses are in an arranged marriage in order to assure peace in China. If they don't go through with it, there will be war, people will die, etc. That's pretty much what's at stake here in this book. If going through an arranged marriage was all that was at stake, then yeah, I could root for Delia fighting that and wanting to marry for love. But it's the fate of her entire planet! Millions of people's lives depend on her arranging a marriage. Sorry, but it's hard to root for love over an arranged marriage in this case. Plus I'm a little tired of arranged marriages being shown as bad things. There are still people who do it, and they turn out happy together.
Also, Delia was an extremely frustrating main character. Besides what I just mentioned before, she seems really dumb at times. Aidan is constantly evasive and refuses to answer even the most simple of questions, and she never seems suspicious of him or tries to pursue the line of questioning or dives deeper into investigating where he came from. Actually, her mother's pretty frustrating, too. She seems to already know there's a resistance going on and doesn't seem to do anything about it. She is so insistent on this marriage being the only thing that'll help fix their planet when there are clearly lots of problems going on that she needs to solve that don't have anything to do with a marriage. Also, the security on the palace sucks. I don't want to go into it because of spoilers, but good lord. I don't know how this monarch survived with the terrible job they do at background checks and body scans or whatever they do in this world.
Now on to the romance. I want to give it some leeway since it is based on a fairy tale where insta-love is just what happens, but even so, I would've liked a modern update in that regard. And again, it's hard to root for their love when the fate of an entire planet may depend on Delia's marriage. Plus I feel like all of the other princes were portrayed as so "wrong" for her when it would've been more interesting to have a few who could've been good matches. For example, there's this one prince who's constantly mocked because he is a fan of this TV show and has a model ship collection, and has a lot of wigs I guess. The plot basically eliminated any competition Aidan would have had, and I don't want to explain for spoiler reasons.
I need to talk about the ending a little bit. There were about two or three deus ex machina moments in the last fourth of the book that had me rolling my eyes and thinking "of course". Yes, I know that this is based on a fairy tale, and those last parts felt very fairy tale-ish in nature, but with all this other serious stuff going on, I guess I was hoping for a different sort of conclusion. Don't introduce all these problems if you're going to sweep them all up at the end like they weren't as big of a deal as they were built up to be.
I will say that the mythology of this world was very cool. I almost wish I'd been reading that book instead. I also really liked Shania's character. She was so fun and energetic and funny.
It's written well and when the climax was going on, I was definitely flipping pages to see what would happen next. To me, it just seems like this would've been pretty much the same book without any of the Cinderella elements.
This is going to be a really hard one to talk about without going into spoilers. When I saw this was a gender reverse of Cinderella, I was intrigued. You don't get to see many takes on it where the guy is in the role of Cinderella. This is more like taking some familiar elements about the story-- the stepfamily, the ball, the shoe that fits just right-- and build a different story around it. I really think that the Lunar Chronicles have spoiled me on fairy tale retellings. Don't get me wrong, this book still did some things to make this a unique take, I guess I was just hoping for something else.
My biggest problem in this book is similar to the problem in Mulan 2. Basically, these princesses are in an arranged marriage in order to assure peace in China. If they don't go through with it, there will be war, people will die, etc. That's pretty much what's at stake here in this book. If going through an arranged marriage was all that was at stake, then yeah, I could root for Delia fighting that and wanting to marry for love. But it's the fate of her entire planet! Millions of people's lives depend on her arranging a marriage. Sorry, but it's hard to root for love over an arranged marriage in this case. Plus I'm a little tired of arranged marriages being shown as bad things. There are still people who do it, and they turn out happy together.
Also, Delia was an extremely frustrating main character. Besides what I just mentioned before, she seems really dumb at times. Aidan is constantly evasive and refuses to answer even the most simple of questions, and she never seems suspicious of him or tries to pursue the line of questioning or dives deeper into investigating where he came from. Actually, her mother's pretty frustrating, too. She seems to already know there's a resistance going on and doesn't seem to do anything about it. She is so insistent on this marriage being the only thing that'll help fix their planet when there are clearly lots of problems going on that she needs to solve that don't have anything to do with a marriage. Also, the security on the palace sucks. I don't want to go into it because of spoilers, but good lord. I don't know how this monarch survived with the terrible job they do at background checks and body scans or whatever they do in this world.
Now on to the romance. I want to give it some leeway since it is based on a fairy tale where insta-love is just what happens, but even so, I would've liked a modern update in that regard. And again, it's hard to root for their love when the fate of an entire planet may depend on Delia's marriage. Plus I feel like all of the other princes were portrayed as so "wrong" for her when it would've been more interesting to have a few who could've been good matches. For example, there's this one prince who's constantly mocked because he is a fan of this TV show and has a model ship collection, and has a lot of wigs I guess. The plot basically eliminated any competition Aidan would have had, and I don't want to explain for spoiler reasons.
I need to talk about the ending a little bit. There were about two or three deus ex machina moments in the last fourth of the book that had me rolling my eyes and thinking "of course". Yes, I know that this is based on a fairy tale, and those last parts felt very fairy tale-ish in nature, but with all this other serious stuff going on, I guess I was hoping for a different sort of conclusion. Don't introduce all these problems if you're going to sweep them all up at the end like they weren't as big of a deal as they were built up to be.
I will say that the mythology of this world was very cool. I almost wish I'd been reading that book instead. I also really liked Shania's character. She was so fun and energetic and funny.
It's written well and when the climax was going on, I was definitely flipping pages to see what would happen next. To me, it just seems like this would've been pretty much the same book without any of the Cinderella elements.
December 15, 2019
* Thank you FierceReads for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review *
ACTUAL: 4.25 stars
As an overview, this novel is a sci-fi, gender-swapped, Cinderella retelling - and I was really excited for it. Delia feels trapped in an arranged marriage to save her failing planet. Aidan is more interested in a few palace trinkets that can provide him money and a bargaining chip off the planet. When their paths cross in a royal spaceship, their lives become intertwined. As the danger of a rebel uprising continues to threaten the palace, her budding relationship with Aidan threatens her stance on securing a marriage alliance.
I really liked this one. The mix of romance and science fiction was written well, and the quirky characters were witty and amusing - Shania in particular was great. There some plot twists I was not expecting, and those were exciting and drew me in further. I also loved the gender-swapped Cinderella retelling concept, that really intrigued me. In terms of things I personally was not a fan of, the plot had some lacking points for me - things were either rushed or feeling incomplete. I found the relationship between the Delia and her mother a bit forced, and found both characters at points rather dumb or naive.
Overall, the love story was cute, and I recommend this one for fans of the Lunar Chronicles and retellings.
ACTUAL: 4.25 stars
As an overview, this novel is a sci-fi, gender-swapped, Cinderella retelling - and I was really excited for it. Delia feels trapped in an arranged marriage to save her failing planet. Aidan is more interested in a few palace trinkets that can provide him money and a bargaining chip off the planet. When their paths cross in a royal spaceship, their lives become intertwined. As the danger of a rebel uprising continues to threaten the palace, her budding relationship with Aidan threatens her stance on securing a marriage alliance.
I really liked this one. The mix of romance and science fiction was written well, and the quirky characters were witty and amusing - Shania in particular was great. There some plot twists I was not expecting, and those were exciting and drew me in further. I also loved the gender-swapped Cinderella retelling concept, that really intrigued me. In terms of things I personally was not a fan of, the plot had some lacking points for me - things were either rushed or feeling incomplete. I found the relationship between the Delia and her mother a bit forced, and found both characters at points rather dumb or naive.
Overall, the love story was cute, and I recommend this one for fans of the Lunar Chronicles and retellings.
November 1, 2021
This book had a promising beginning. The writing style reminds me of the Lunar Chronicles, and the world was a little like Dune, plus the cover is lovely. I was put off by the idea of a girl fleeing an arranged marriage (please, someday I want a book about a girl who chooses to *stay* and make it work), but my interest significantly increased when I realized that she had not yet chosen/been assigned someone to marry.
The prose just got worse and worse, particularly relating to the romance (which I just don't think the author can write very well), and though the idea of a main character being (spoiler) an android without knowing it (Loki reference, maybe?) was really cool, I didn't appreciate the way it was handled and hated the choice Delia made in regard to who she would marry. The climax/conclusion felt very rushed and there were a lot of loose ends left to tie up.
And it wasn't really a Cinderella retelling. The connections were incredibly vague and I didn't know it was supposed to be fairytale-inspired until I read the description on Goodreads.
The prose just got worse and worse, particularly relating to the romance (which I just don't think the author can write very well), and though the idea of a main character being (spoiler) an android without knowing it (Loki reference, maybe?) was really cool, I didn't appreciate the way it was handled and hated the choice Delia made in regard to who she would marry. The climax/conclusion felt very rushed and there were a lot of loose ends left to tie up.
And it wasn't really a Cinderella retelling. The connections were incredibly vague and I didn't know it was supposed to be fairytale-inspired until I read the description on Goodreads.
June 2, 2021
Two hours into the audio book and the plot felt like it was moving in slow motion. On top of that, I didn't find myself connecting to either main character. I felt like a solid 25% of the book was enough time to know this wasn't the book for me and so, I DNF'd it. It didn't deliver what I was looking for, but that has more to do with my own preferences than any glaring issue with the book.
Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy it as much as I hoped to and found myself wanting more than was on offer.
Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy it as much as I hoped to and found myself wanting more than was on offer.
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