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Rise of the Vicious Princess #1
Rise of the Vicious Princess
The first in a YA political fantasy duology about a fierce princess determined to bring lasting peace to her kingdom regardless of the cost to her heart.
Princess Charis Willowthorn is the dutiful sword of Calera. Raised to be ruthless and cunning, her only goal is to hold her war-torn kingdom together long enough to find a path toward peace with their ancient foe, Montevallo, even if the cost is her own heart.
When violence erupts in the castle itself and an unseen enemy begins sinking Calera’s ships, Charis realizes a threat much greater than Montevallo is coming for her people. So she forms a plan. By day, she is Calera’s formidable princess intent on forging an alliance with Montevallo. By night, she disguises herself as a smuggler and roams the sea with a trusted group of loyalists, hunting for their new enemies. And through it all, there’s the one boy she can’t have—who guards her life but steals her heart.
But her enemies are much closer than Charis realizes, and her heart isn’t the only thing she has left to lose.
Princess Charis Willowthorn is the dutiful sword of Calera. Raised to be ruthless and cunning, her only goal is to hold her war-torn kingdom together long enough to find a path toward peace with their ancient foe, Montevallo, even if the cost is her own heart.
When violence erupts in the castle itself and an unseen enemy begins sinking Calera’s ships, Charis realizes a threat much greater than Montevallo is coming for her people. So she forms a plan. By day, she is Calera’s formidable princess intent on forging an alliance with Montevallo. By night, she disguises herself as a smuggler and roams the sea with a trusted group of loyalists, hunting for their new enemies. And through it all, there’s the one boy she can’t have—who guards her life but steals her heart.
But her enemies are much closer than Charis realizes, and her heart isn’t the only thing she has left to lose.
415 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2022
79 people are currently reading
7999 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Redwine
26 books4,035 followers**Please read my FAQ before sending any requests: http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/p/faq.html **
C.J. Redwine loves fairy tales, Harry Potter, and going to the movies. If the novel writing gig ever falls through, she’ll join the Avengers and wear a cape to work every day. To learn more about C.J., visit her website at www.cjredwine.com
C.J. Redwine loves fairy tales, Harry Potter, and going to the movies. If the novel writing gig ever falls through, she’ll join the Avengers and wear a cape to work every day. To learn more about C.J., visit her website at www.cjredwine.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
August 10, 2024
Reread: 15/03/21
Rating: 5 stars
The Plot twist at the end got me again wow.
But the princess and the bodygaurd trope in this is 🤌 out of question.
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First read: 05/11/22
Rating: 5 stars
This is very random but the romance gives off Annalies and julian from the barbie and the pauper vibe. And I loved it !
Rating: 5 stars
The Plot twist at the end got me again wow.
But the princess and the bodygaurd trope in this is 🤌 out of question.
⊰⊹═══⊹⊱✩⊰⊹═══⊹
First read: 05/11/22
Rating: 5 stars
This is very random but the romance gives off Annalies and julian from the barbie and the pauper vibe. And I loved it !
October 2, 2023
Rise of the Viscious Princess” is an engaging fantasy set in Calera where Princess Charis attempts to stop a war with another kingdom. She is taught by her mother to be brutal, hard, and unforgiving. Yet Charis learns kindness, compassion, and love from her father. She needs all of these traits to save her kingdom.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves political intrigue, royal politics, and enemies to lovers with a huge twist! The story begins right on the action and I usually like when books build up a little before a lot of action, but once I learned all the different kingdoms and players I got into it more. The book ended in a MAJOR cliff hanger (it’s 1 am and I stayed up to finish this, so you know it was good!) and I definitely need the second book NOW.
Cleanliness/Content Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5
The two main characters kiss, no bad language. Some fighting and minor violence (people dying by sword). Suitable for 14+
My favorite part of the book is when C J Redwine thanked Jesus and then Taylor Swift in the acknowledgments 💕
May 24, 2022
Rise of the Vicious Princess is a fantastic ya fantasy that sucked me in from its first pages. A story with dynamic characters and setting, as well as a ton of political intrigue and unexpected revelations, the story follows Princess Charis Willowthorn, a formidable young woman and heir to the throne. Conditioned from a young age to rule, Charis’s mother is unrelenting in her demands and expectations of Charis, and Charis proves she is up for the challenge. Though only seventeen, she is a strong leader, and she faces many difficult challenges. I love her take-charge personality, her diplomacy, and her intelligence.
“Be smarter. Strike harder. Never falter, never waver, never break.”
Charis’s father is the opposite of his wife. Kind and loving, he shows Charis that there is more to life than becoming Queen. I love his gentle way and his unwavering love for his daughter. They have a close relationship, and they bring so much happiness to each other, which Charis doesn’t really have with many people. I think Charis’s father knows she needs someone in her corner, especially after some tragic events occur near the start of the story. That’s why he assigns one of his guards to Charis.
As I mentioned before, the story has a ton of political intrigue, and Charis spends much of her time dealing with the effects of a long-time war, potential new dangers and enemies, and traitors in her midst. It’s never a dull moment for Charis, and she must always be on guard as she tries to figure out how to end the war peacefully, stop all of the killing and destruction, and find out what is happening to all of the ships that seem to have been destroyed by an unidentifiable enemy. Charis is determined to solve the mystery, end the war, and prove her worth to her mother. It makes for a super intense and dramatic read, and the story goes in several unexpected and fascinating directions. Luckily, she has her newly appointed guard Tal to help her maneuver through all of these complicated and potentially dangerous situations.
The romance is one of my favorite parts of the story, which will come as no surprise. I adore a swoon-worthy romance, and this one had all of the elements I love. With a little bit of angst, a lot of pining, and fantastic banter, this couple challenges each other in the best of ways. They also have major enemies-to-lovers vibes, which is one of my favorite romance tropes! I love how their relationship progresses and how they slowly begin to trust and rely on each other. They have great chemistry, though after some of the revelations in this book, I’ll be curious to see how they handle their secrets and feelings of betrayal, not to mention what their future holds.
I couldn’t put this book down! The characters, the romance, the political intrigue, the fantasy elements, the family drama – all of it was entertaining, immersive, and gripping. And that ending! My word, it’s so intense and heart-wrenching, and several secrets are revealed that could change the trajectory of Charis’s journey. I can’t wait to read the next book!
Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
“Be smarter. Strike harder. Never falter, never waver, never break.”
Charis’s father is the opposite of his wife. Kind and loving, he shows Charis that there is more to life than becoming Queen. I love his gentle way and his unwavering love for his daughter. They have a close relationship, and they bring so much happiness to each other, which Charis doesn’t really have with many people. I think Charis’s father knows she needs someone in her corner, especially after some tragic events occur near the start of the story. That’s why he assigns one of his guards to Charis.
As I mentioned before, the story has a ton of political intrigue, and Charis spends much of her time dealing with the effects of a long-time war, potential new dangers and enemies, and traitors in her midst. It’s never a dull moment for Charis, and she must always be on guard as she tries to figure out how to end the war peacefully, stop all of the killing and destruction, and find out what is happening to all of the ships that seem to have been destroyed by an unidentifiable enemy. Charis is determined to solve the mystery, end the war, and prove her worth to her mother. It makes for a super intense and dramatic read, and the story goes in several unexpected and fascinating directions. Luckily, she has her newly appointed guard Tal to help her maneuver through all of these complicated and potentially dangerous situations.
The romance is one of my favorite parts of the story, which will come as no surprise. I adore a swoon-worthy romance, and this one had all of the elements I love. With a little bit of angst, a lot of pining, and fantastic banter, this couple challenges each other in the best of ways. They also have major enemies-to-lovers vibes, which is one of my favorite romance tropes! I love how their relationship progresses and how they slowly begin to trust and rely on each other. They have great chemistry, though after some of the revelations in this book, I’ll be curious to see how they handle their secrets and feelings of betrayal, not to mention what their future holds.
I couldn’t put this book down! The characters, the romance, the political intrigue, the fantasy elements, the family drama – all of it was entertaining, immersive, and gripping. And that ending! My word, it’s so intense and heart-wrenching, and several secrets are revealed that could change the trajectory of Charis’s journey. I can’t wait to read the next book!
Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Read
May 23, 2020OMG! Finally! I have been checking her name for updates on a new book for close to a year now! Is this part of ravenspire? Y'know? Doesn't even matter. I know it will be amazing coming from C.J
July 27, 2022
The cover is awful. Just saying.
I'm pretty conflicted about this book. It wasn't great, but I do think it was better than Redwine's Ravenspire series, and I enjoyed it as a fun (almost guilty pleasure) read. Content-wise it wasn't awful, aside from plenty of violence and a bit of romance, especially at the end. So... what was I so conflicted about?
On one hand, I couldn't relate to the princess, Charis, because it's rubbed in so hard that this princess is vicious and angry and powerful. (I'm none of those things, fyi.) That was made a VERY big deal, so it was kind of annoying to read. But on the other hand, Charis was compassionate, kind, and struggled with being vulnerable. She even had a sort of a savior complex. (Yes, I realize those statements are contradictory. I don't know how the author managed it.) So Charis wasn't all good, but neither was she bad.
Now about the monarchy. In one sense it was odd reading about a princess who was going to lead her country in such a heavy-handed way (the amount of political maneuvering in this was insane). But Charis was better than your average princess; she cared about her country's citizens AND she put in the work, folks. In so many YA fantasies, the princesses are completely absorbed in their own lives, but that's not how life works! Charis did the work of leading her people and I respect that.
One minor pet peeve - Charis kept thinking about her kingdom's poverty, yet she never wore the same dress twice. And all of her dresses are described in minute detail, so I can say with confidence that she could have helped with the crisis so much just by selling half her wardrobe. Also I grew weary with the constant dress descriptions. Too many snakes and daggers. (Besides, she always thought things like, "I must wear this gorgeous but extremely intimidating dress so my people know they can trust me". C'mon girl, just get to know your subjects! Make good decisions and let them trust you because you're smart, thoughtful, and have their best interests in mind instead of what you wear.)
The romance was fun. I predicted the big ending twist (well, the romance part of it) long before the end. But Redwine kept me guessing whether it would actually happen or not. Again, I respect that. But I won't lie, I'm glad she had the twist. It's a great setup for the next novel.
All in all, while I don't recommend this book, I don't not recommend it either. It probably isn't worth a read but hey, it's sort of fun, and different than a lot of what I've been reading lately.
P.S. The author hasn't released anything about the next novel in the duology yet and the cliffhanger is absolutely terrible (aka I need the next book now), so be warned.
I'm pretty conflicted about this book. It wasn't great, but I do think it was better than Redwine's Ravenspire series, and I enjoyed it as a fun (almost guilty pleasure) read. Content-wise it wasn't awful, aside from plenty of violence and a bit of romance, especially at the end. So... what was I so conflicted about?
On one hand, I couldn't relate to the princess, Charis, because it's rubbed in so hard that this princess is vicious and angry and powerful. (I'm none of those things, fyi.) That was made a VERY big deal, so it was kind of annoying to read. But on the other hand, Charis was compassionate, kind, and struggled with being vulnerable. She even had a sort of a savior complex. (Yes, I realize those statements are contradictory. I don't know how the author managed it.) So Charis wasn't all good, but neither was she bad.
Now about the monarchy. In one sense it was odd reading about a princess who was going to lead her country in such a heavy-handed way (the amount of political maneuvering in this was insane). But Charis was better than your average princess; she cared about her country's citizens AND she put in the work, folks. In so many YA fantasies, the princesses are completely absorbed in their own lives, but that's not how life works! Charis did the work of leading her people and I respect that.
One minor pet peeve - Charis kept thinking about her kingdom's poverty, yet she never wore the same dress twice. And all of her dresses are described in minute detail, so I can say with confidence that she could have helped with the crisis so much just by selling half her wardrobe. Also I grew weary with the constant dress descriptions. Too many snakes and daggers. (Besides, she always thought things like, "I must wear this gorgeous but extremely intimidating dress so my people know they can trust me". C'mon girl, just get to know your subjects! Make good decisions and let them trust you because you're smart, thoughtful, and have their best interests in mind instead of what you wear.)
The romance was fun. I predicted the big ending twist (well, the romance part of it) long before the end. But Redwine kept me guessing whether it would actually happen or not. Again, I respect that. But I won't lie, I'm glad she had the twist. It's a great setup for the next novel.
All in all, while I don't recommend this book, I don't not recommend it either. It probably isn't worth a read but hey, it's sort of fun, and different than a lot of what I've been reading lately.
P.S. The author hasn't released anything about the next novel in the duology yet and the cliffhanger is absolutely terrible (aka I need the next book now), so be warned.
June 20, 2022
I was leery of this book. The trope of a BA girl who is mean and vicious to get what she wants (and ends up not a nice person while she's at it) is one that I don't like. So with a title like this one, I wasn't sure I'd like this book, even though I LOVED this author's Ravenspire series.
But I shouldn't have worried! Yes, this princess can be vicious. But she also has a heart and has true grief and compassion and humanity that balance out her harsher qualities. And the author does a great job of balancing the sharp edges Karis gets from her mother with the soft heart that she gets from her father.
This book is mostly about court intrigue with bunches of assassination attempts. Be prepared for a bit of death and darkness even while it is balanced out with hope and a brave princess doing what it takes to save her people and her kingdom.
And that ENDING!!! Argh!!! This has a MASSIVE cliffhanger! I can't WAIT for the next book!
But I shouldn't have worried! Yes, this princess can be vicious. But she also has a heart and has true grief and compassion and humanity that balance out her harsher qualities. And the author does a great job of balancing the sharp edges Karis gets from her mother with the soft heart that she gets from her father.
This book is mostly about court intrigue with bunches of assassination attempts. Be prepared for a bit of death and darkness even while it is balanced out with hope and a brave princess doing what it takes to save her people and her kingdom.
And that ENDING!!! Argh!!! This has a MASSIVE cliffhanger! I can't WAIT for the next book!
October 17, 2022
DNF 5%
Героиня: Я умна, жестока и невероятно красива! Я спасу свое королевство!
Героиня: опаздывает на суперважный прием из-за новой прически, учит свою речь на ходу и ноет про недоступных мальчиков.
Извините, я умерла от кринжа еще в первой главе.
Язык отстой.
Героиня: Я умна, жестока и невероятно красива! Я спасу свое королевство!
Героиня: опаздывает на суперважный прием из-за новой прически, учит свою речь на ходу и ноет про недоступных мальчиков.
Извините, я умерла от кринжа еще в первой главе.
Язык отстой.
May 5, 2024
“You’re so used to being what others need you to be. So careful to be responsible and do your duty to others. I thought you were carelessly misunderstanding me, when really you were drowning, and it never occurred to you to call out for help. Instead, you use your last breath to take care of others.”
This book. *sobbing* I did not expect to love it as much as I did. But then, I didn’t expect that powerful depiction of depression and anxiety and the impossible expectations that you can never quite measure up to.
I think the moment I fell in love with this book was when Charis was deeply depressed after a horrible tragedy and her new bodyguard, Tal, has an important conversation with her about how she is going to burn herself out if she keeps up her current pace.
“I can’t afford to slow down.”—Charis
“You can’t afford not to.”—Tal
“My kingdom needs me.”
“They can do without for a few days.”
It’s not only one of the first times someone has stood up to Charis, but it is also the first time someone has asked her what SHE needs. She is so startled because it is always the kingdom first. And Tal slowly won over my trust, just as he did Charis, with his gentle care for her through her depression. Making sure she ate. Sparring with her. Giving her a safe space. And my personal favorite, literally forcing her to sit down in front of a fire with hot cocoa and a kitten in her lap so she could rest.
(I do love a man who loves cats. When Tal said he has a favorite cat, I was a goner.)
Then, Charis must sign a marriage contract with her enemy to broker peace. It sounds cliche, but it is done quite well within the politics of the world, and there are a lot of people who are very angry about it. So Charis is literally signing her life away, her happiness, her freedom, and everyone is talking about how negatively this decision affects them. Because they didn’t get their revenge and other such reasons. But Charis has given up EVERYTHING for her ungrateful people. I love what her cousin Nalani said about the situation:
“But that means you have to spend the rest of your life with the enemy. It means you never get to rest. You never get a break. Even in your private chambers, your quiet moments, you have to always be on guard.”
“I can handle it.”—Charis
“I know you can. But I want better for you. I want a man like your father. Someone who would let you be who you need to be and love you for it without asking for anything in return you hadn’t already offered to give.”—Nalani
That last line. *weeping* when everyone around Charis is always taking, taking, taking, trying to exploit her and use her and looking for every sign of weakness, Nalani refuses to think that way—she wants her cousin to be with someone who RESPECTS her, who is good and kind and caring. Something Charis has given up on.
And then there is Tal. Good, kind, funny, protective, considerate Tal, who never pushes her boundaries and who apologizes for what he perceives might’ve made her uncomfortable and who puts her above himself. Who doesn’t demand she drop her duty and be with him but cares for her and protects her through it all. Who rescues a kitten and makes sure Charis is taking care of herself and challenges Charis and makes her stronger. I haven’t read this good of a slow burn in a LOOOOOONG time. The wonderful healthiness of the relationship reminded me of Ziva and Kellan from Blade of Secrets. Amazing communication. No unhealthy tropes or possessiveness.
And let’s not forget my boy Holland, Charis’ cousin who refuses to adhere to social norms and doesn’t know what to do when someone flirts with him. Some of my personal favorite quotes:
“Then all you can do is decide each day what you will do and what you won’t do. Just because you feel something doesn’t mean you need to act on it. For example, next time you decide to have a conversation about romance, you could hold those feelings until you’re with my sister.”
And,
“Stop talking [about romance] this instant, or I will throw myself overboard.”
I swear if something happens to him I will RIOT.
I wanted to murder Ferris. He was one of the worst about taking from her, expecting that he will become her king and talking down to her and pushing her boundaries and leering at her and assuming he can control her. But she is not to be controlled. I was so glad when she finally put him in his place.
And then there is the ENDING. WHAT????? I am so glad I didn’t have to wait for this second book. There was a certain twist that literally made me cry “WHAT???”
I highly, highly recommend this beautiful political fantasy. So many beautiful themes. So many lovable characters. Such a sweet ship. I will be thinking about this story for years to come.
NOW ONTO BOOK TWO
This book. *sobbing* I did not expect to love it as much as I did. But then, I didn’t expect that powerful depiction of depression and anxiety and the impossible expectations that you can never quite measure up to.
I think the moment I fell in love with this book was when Charis was deeply depressed after a horrible tragedy and her new bodyguard, Tal, has an important conversation with her about how she is going to burn herself out if she keeps up her current pace.
“I can’t afford to slow down.”—Charis
“You can’t afford not to.”—Tal
“My kingdom needs me.”
“They can do without for a few days.”
It’s not only one of the first times someone has stood up to Charis, but it is also the first time someone has asked her what SHE needs. She is so startled because it is always the kingdom first. And Tal slowly won over my trust, just as he did Charis, with his gentle care for her through her depression. Making sure she ate. Sparring with her. Giving her a safe space. And my personal favorite, literally forcing her to sit down in front of a fire with hot cocoa and a kitten in her lap so she could rest.
(I do love a man who loves cats. When Tal said he has a favorite cat, I was a goner.)
Then, Charis must sign a marriage contract with her enemy to broker peace. It sounds cliche, but it is done quite well within the politics of the world, and there are a lot of people who are very angry about it. So Charis is literally signing her life away, her happiness, her freedom, and everyone is talking about how negatively this decision affects them. Because they didn’t get their revenge and other such reasons. But Charis has given up EVERYTHING for her ungrateful people. I love what her cousin Nalani said about the situation:
“But that means you have to spend the rest of your life with the enemy. It means you never get to rest. You never get a break. Even in your private chambers, your quiet moments, you have to always be on guard.”
“I can handle it.”—Charis
“I know you can. But I want better for you. I want a man like your father. Someone who would let you be who you need to be and love you for it without asking for anything in return you hadn’t already offered to give.”—Nalani
That last line. *weeping* when everyone around Charis is always taking, taking, taking, trying to exploit her and use her and looking for every sign of weakness, Nalani refuses to think that way—she wants her cousin to be with someone who RESPECTS her, who is good and kind and caring. Something Charis has given up on.
And then there is Tal. Good, kind, funny, protective, considerate Tal, who never pushes her boundaries and who apologizes for what he perceives might’ve made her uncomfortable and who puts her above himself. Who doesn’t demand she drop her duty and be with him but cares for her and protects her through it all. Who rescues a kitten and makes sure Charis is taking care of herself and challenges Charis and makes her stronger. I haven’t read this good of a slow burn in a LOOOOOONG time. The wonderful healthiness of the relationship reminded me of Ziva and Kellan from Blade of Secrets. Amazing communication. No unhealthy tropes or possessiveness.
And let’s not forget my boy Holland, Charis’ cousin who refuses to adhere to social norms and doesn’t know what to do when someone flirts with him. Some of my personal favorite quotes:
“Then all you can do is decide each day what you will do and what you won’t do. Just because you feel something doesn’t mean you need to act on it. For example, next time you decide to have a conversation about romance, you could hold those feelings until you’re with my sister.”
And,
“Stop talking [about romance] this instant, or I will throw myself overboard.”
I swear if something happens to him I will RIOT.
I wanted to murder Ferris. He was one of the worst about taking from her, expecting that he will become her king and talking down to her and pushing her boundaries and leering at her and assuming he can control her. But she is not to be controlled. I was so glad when she finally put him in his place.
And then there is the ENDING. WHAT????? I am so glad I didn’t have to wait for this second book. There was a certain twist that literally made me cry “WHAT???”
I highly, highly recommend this beautiful political fantasy. So many beautiful themes. So many lovable characters. Such a sweet ship. I will be thinking about this story for years to come.
NOW ONTO BOOK TWO
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2024
Heavy on the in-world politics, which can be dense at times if you're trying to read quickly, but hard-hitting on the emotions and romance that keep you up at 5am and questioning where this book has been all your life. I went to bed thinking about it and woke up thinking about it and probably will only keep thinking about it until April 30 when the sequel releases.
The relationships felt compellingly realistic under complex circumstances: Charis is both brutal and compassionate, independent and vulnerable. Tal is both serious and funny, stoic and loving. Somehow, the paradoxes work, and the relationships never feel rushed.
It's one part Princess Bride, one part Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and one part Game of Thrones (rated PG edition), and I can't wait till April.
The relationships felt compellingly realistic under complex circumstances: Charis is both brutal and compassionate, independent and vulnerable. Tal is both serious and funny, stoic and loving. Somehow, the paradoxes work, and the relationships never feel rushed.
It's one part Princess Bride, one part Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and one part Game of Thrones (rated PG edition), and I can't wait till April.
September 14, 2022
Amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing. Literally her best book to date. Redwine made me cry while I was in Target. I will forgive her long enough to read the next book in this series. If you haven't read this yet then you aren't living your life correctly. Pick it up. Now.
August 1, 2022
I honestly do not know how to review this book because I don't know how to accurately explain how much I love it.
I have been a fan of C. J. for years now, and she continues to amaze me. Rise of the Vicious Princess might just be my new favorite of hers.
This story is full of political intrigue, incredible world building, and fantastic character development. Charis is the heir to a kingdom struggling against another. They've been at war for her entire life, but the attacks are getting worse. Not only that, but she's been taught from an early age that she needs to be fierce and not trust anyone. With several attempts on her life, she has no reason to doubt that lesson.
Until Tal comes into the picture. After a failed assassination attempt on the queen, Tal is assigned as Charis's personal bodyguard. She, of course, argues this because she knows how to protect herself, but it's her ailing father's wish, so she reluctantly agrees while keeping him at arm's reach. At least, that's the plan. The problem is, they start becoming friends, and she starts questioning whether she actually needs to face the world alone or if she can let people in.
I loved seeing Charis grow. Not only did she slowly start trusting Tal and enjoying his company, but she started seeing that her two cousins were genuine friends as well. She begins to realize that it might be better to face all these struggles with people supporting her. The relationship between her and Tal felt so real and natural, and there was so much tension in this slow-burn romance. I adored it!
The writing was great, as expected. C. J. has such a skill for sucking me into a book and keeping me there. She's truly a master storyteller, and I just want to stay in her magical worlds forever.
At this point, Rise of the Vicious Princess is my favorite book of 2022 so far. It is full of action, secrets, romance, betrayal, and fantastic characters. This is absolutely one I will re-read in the future. I cannot wait for the next book!
*Originally posted on YA Books Central: https://www.yabookscentral.com/rise-o...
I have been a fan of C. J. for years now, and she continues to amaze me. Rise of the Vicious Princess might just be my new favorite of hers.
This story is full of political intrigue, incredible world building, and fantastic character development. Charis is the heir to a kingdom struggling against another. They've been at war for her entire life, but the attacks are getting worse. Not only that, but she's been taught from an early age that she needs to be fierce and not trust anyone. With several attempts on her life, she has no reason to doubt that lesson.
Until Tal comes into the picture. After a failed assassination attempt on the queen, Tal is assigned as Charis's personal bodyguard. She, of course, argues this because she knows how to protect herself, but it's her ailing father's wish, so she reluctantly agrees while keeping him at arm's reach. At least, that's the plan. The problem is, they start becoming friends, and she starts questioning whether she actually needs to face the world alone or if she can let people in.
I loved seeing Charis grow. Not only did she slowly start trusting Tal and enjoying his company, but she started seeing that her two cousins were genuine friends as well. She begins to realize that it might be better to face all these struggles with people supporting her. The relationship between her and Tal felt so real and natural, and there was so much tension in this slow-burn romance. I adored it!
The writing was great, as expected. C. J. has such a skill for sucking me into a book and keeping me there. She's truly a master storyteller, and I just want to stay in her magical worlds forever.
At this point, Rise of the Vicious Princess is my favorite book of 2022 so far. It is full of action, secrets, romance, betrayal, and fantastic characters. This is absolutely one I will re-read in the future. I cannot wait for the next book!
*Originally posted on YA Books Central: https://www.yabookscentral.com/rise-o...
July 11, 2022
I had no idea this was not a standalone. That ending was completely unexpected so while a part of me was rejoicing with an "I KNEW IT!!", the other part immediately was slapped down with a cliffhanger. Will I survive until the next book is released? Probably. But I'm not super happy about the wait. Don't worry... I now am fully aware it's a duology.
CJ Redwine wrote one of my favorite YA fantasy series, Ravenspire. They sit with Sabaa's Ember in the Ashes, Mary’s Remnant Chronicles, Suzanne's Hunger Games, and Tricia's Daughter of a Pirate King series for YA recommendations that I consistently send other readers' way. Picking up a new CJ book was an absolute no brainer.
Charis is not a sweet and demure princess ready to stand by a man's side one day. She is calculating and oftentimes ruthless, raised to take the throne and continue in the manner her Queen mother has ruled. An assassin gets too close to the royal family and loyalties everywhere come into question.
I love the intrigue, court politics, and delightful romance. It's very similar in nature to Kingdom of Blood and Ash (minus the more mature content) or Ash Princess. The audiobook was narrated by Lauren Ezzo, who brings the story to life in such a way that the 11+ hours went by like a snap of the fingers.
Thank you to Harper Audio for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
CJ Redwine wrote one of my favorite YA fantasy series, Ravenspire. They sit with Sabaa's Ember in the Ashes, Mary’s Remnant Chronicles, Suzanne's Hunger Games, and Tricia's Daughter of a Pirate King series for YA recommendations that I consistently send other readers' way. Picking up a new CJ book was an absolute no brainer.
Charis is not a sweet and demure princess ready to stand by a man's side one day. She is calculating and oftentimes ruthless, raised to take the throne and continue in the manner her Queen mother has ruled. An assassin gets too close to the royal family and loyalties everywhere come into question.
I love the intrigue, court politics, and delightful romance. It's very similar in nature to Kingdom of Blood and Ash (minus the more mature content) or Ash Princess. The audiobook was narrated by Lauren Ezzo, who brings the story to life in such a way that the 11+ hours went by like a snap of the fingers.
Thank you to Harper Audio for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
July 6, 2022
DNF @38%. This book is so slow that it’s impossible for me to stay engaged longer than 15 minutes at a time. I gave it two stars because the writing was still good. I just couldn’t get into the slow storyline.
December 15, 2022
Rating: 3.5 stars
I still can’t wrap my head around how I feel about this book.
On one hand, there were so many moments where I was fully invested, stressed or swooning. On the other hand, I was dragging through the book and fairly bored.
The characters were likeable and the romance was okay mostly and at some points amazing (so quite the roller coaster). The plot was good, a little slower than I liked. A little too much court politics for me.
I did enjoy how the story wrapped up and I think I may pick up the sequel. Majorly undecided.
I still can’t wrap my head around how I feel about this book.
On one hand, there were so many moments where I was fully invested, stressed or swooning. On the other hand, I was dragging through the book and fairly bored.
The characters were likeable and the romance was okay mostly and at some points amazing (so quite the roller coaster). The plot was good, a little slower than I liked. A little too much court politics for me.
I did enjoy how the story wrapped up and I think I may pick up the sequel. Majorly undecided.
June 27, 2022
Huge thanks to Balzer and Bray and Edelweiss for the e-galley
What I liked:
Charis's character development and her tenacity. She'd been raised to be cunning and certainly lives up to her teachings.
The political intrigue and the twists and turns in the plot.
The writing: this has to be one of the author's best-written novels.
What I didn't like:
It took a while for the plot to move and almost gave up once or twice.
The twists will surprise those who didn't get them coming (I did, so it kind of took away the shock)
I was hoping for a bit more adventure.
I think this book will resonate with teens and younger readers as it does follow the classic YA fantasy tropes (but done rather well)
I cannot wait for book two!
What I liked:
Charis's character development and her tenacity. She'd been raised to be cunning and certainly lives up to her teachings.
The political intrigue and the twists and turns in the plot.
The writing: this has to be one of the author's best-written novels.
What I didn't like:
It took a while for the plot to move and almost gave up once or twice.
The twists will surprise those who didn't get them coming (I did, so it kind of took away the shock)
I was hoping for a bit more adventure.
I think this book will resonate with teens and younger readers as it does follow the classic YA fantasy tropes (but done rather well)
I cannot wait for book two!
April 4, 2023
Super great!
rtc b/c it's SPRING BREAK!!!
rtc b/c it's SPRING BREAK!!!
July 12, 2023
Ze začátku pomalý, ale konec megga dobrej.
May 22, 2024
⭐️ 4 stars
What a book!!! I didn't have high expectations and I didn't read any reviews beforehand, but after reading it, I was left with a very relieved feeling. Not because the book was bad; on the contrary, it was so good. The plot, especially with its political intrigue, is immaculately executed. I like how every thread connects to another, slowly uncovering the connections between these two kingdoms and the others surrounding them. The depth of the problem really made me feel like I was there, discussing it with them, which I found very entertaining. The world-building is also noteworthy. It's not perfect in its descriptions, but it comes close. Scenes like the ball make the kingdom's atmosphere more alive. This book also shelved as pirates but not really that "pirate" since only the main characters spending some time as captains of ships for investigating. Despite all these good things, I also felt there were some missing points in the plot. Additionally, it is packed with slow pacing, which made it hard to be fully hooked by the storyline. There is a lot of repetition and mention of unnecessary things. Also, the fact that the main character cares about her kingdom but rarely visits it confused me. I thought she was going undercover or something to visit them, but she didn’t, so I guess she needs to learn a lot.
The romance is one of my favorite parts, not just the slow-burn but also their dynamics, which I adore. In the beginning, the love interest focuses on describing how their friendship and understanding grow, so I didn't see much romantic closeness initially. Then, halfway through the book, this closeness starts to turn into a more intimate relationship, revealing their true feelings towards each other. Their longing stares melted my heart.
Then there’s the ending, which I actually guessed was going to happen. Something felt off about this character since that scene happened, so I just waited for the reveal, and the accident made for a very cliffhanger ending.
After finishing this book, I just wanted to jump to book 2 immediately because the ending made me want to read more. I hope the next book includes higher stakes and more detail in every corner of the storyline. Absolutely, I liked this and would recommend it to everyone since it’s so underrated.
What a book!!! I didn't have high expectations and I didn't read any reviews beforehand, but after reading it, I was left with a very relieved feeling. Not because the book was bad; on the contrary, it was so good. The plot, especially with its political intrigue, is immaculately executed. I like how every thread connects to another, slowly uncovering the connections between these two kingdoms and the others surrounding them. The depth of the problem really made me feel like I was there, discussing it with them, which I found very entertaining. The world-building is also noteworthy. It's not perfect in its descriptions, but it comes close. Scenes like the ball make the kingdom's atmosphere more alive. This book also shelved as pirates but not really that "pirate" since only the main characters spending some time as captains of ships for investigating. Despite all these good things, I also felt there were some missing points in the plot. Additionally, it is packed with slow pacing, which made it hard to be fully hooked by the storyline. There is a lot of repetition and mention of unnecessary things. Also, the fact that the main character cares about her kingdom but rarely visits it confused me. I thought she was going undercover or something to visit them, but she didn’t, so I guess she needs to learn a lot.
The romance is one of my favorite parts, not just the slow-burn but also their dynamics, which I adore. In the beginning, the love interest focuses on describing how their friendship and understanding grow, so I didn't see much romantic closeness initially. Then, halfway through the book, this closeness starts to turn into a more intimate relationship, revealing their true feelings towards each other. Their longing stares melted my heart.
Then there’s the ending, which I actually guessed was going to happen. Something felt off about this character since that scene happened, so I just waited for the reveal, and the accident made for a very cliffhanger ending.
After finishing this book, I just wanted to jump to book 2 immediately because the ending made me want to read more. I hope the next book includes higher stakes and more detail in every corner of the storyline. Absolutely, I liked this and would recommend it to everyone since it’s so underrated.
June 27, 2023
Did I fully understand the politics in a political fantasy? Heck no! That’s simply the backdrop for a great slow burn romance. And that’s how I approach life
2024 election? Someone’s gotta fall in love. Tis the season for star-crossed fates and potential voter fraud ❤️❤️
State of the union? More like state of OUR union babyyyyy 😘
Now I’m not going to question the probability of a male palace guard living in a room next to the princess…
This book is pitched as going undercover on smuggler ships…yeah we went on a boat ride for like four chapters and spent the rest in the castle
Ok let’s now discuss the love of my life, Tal. Hi ;)
I’m not the ruler of a country let alone in a group activity of any sort, therefore i don’t have to marry for political reasons.
My resume for being your wife includes; 500 hours of unplayed graphic design work, a limited learners driving permit, and a healthy fear of electric toothbrushes
You have a plot twist I guessed from the beginning? No problem! (See I’m very understanding and kind and most of all humble)
Overall, I give this a high value man out of ten
2024 election? Someone’s gotta fall in love. Tis the season for star-crossed fates and potential voter fraud ❤️❤️
State of the union? More like state of OUR union babyyyyy 😘
Now I’m not going to question the probability of a male palace guard living in a room next to the princess…
This book is pitched as going undercover on smuggler ships…yeah we went on a boat ride for like four chapters and spent the rest in the castle
Ok let’s now discuss the love of my life, Tal. Hi ;)
I’m not the ruler of a country let alone in a group activity of any sort, therefore i don’t have to marry for political reasons.
My resume for being your wife includes; 500 hours of unplayed graphic design work, a limited learners driving permit, and a healthy fear of electric toothbrushes
You have a plot twist I guessed from the beginning? No problem! (See I’m very understanding and kind and most of all humble)
Overall, I give this a high value man out of ten
Read
June 14, 2023I was fully prepared to love this and rate it 5-stars, which is why I'm so disappointed that I didn't even LIKE it enough to finish. Charis had the same 2 thoughts repeatedly, and she thought she was the bomb-dot-com but was in fact not. She was an imperious child playing at having everything under control, believing that hiding her issues was being strong, and severely punishing families who were against war. It took an entire village being exterminated on her watch to finally prompt her to think up creative solutions, rather than just sip tea in pretty dresses. She was not impressive, considering that she'd been training all her life to rule. Tal, who was technically always present, had no presence. Meanwhile, the plot was bogged down by convoluted political intrigue that got me feeling lost and easily disinterested. Literally, nothing happened by the 20% mark and I couldn't continue past the 37% mark. After what Charis did to Tal's home city, I couldn't believe in a romance between them. Also, their conversations weren't witty! They were frustratingly dull.
April 20, 2022
I was completely immersed into the world C.J. Redwine created. Princess Charis is the type of MC I love to read. She is strong, determined, and inquisitive. Charis finds her kingdom under attack and a guard that Charis can not stand and that she thinks is ruthless is forced to protector her. They are given close accommodations. This enemies to lovers story had me swooning. With new creatures and a world lush and intriguing. I already want to dive back in and the ending has me needing the sequel like yesterday. This book has a major twist at the end that I never saw coming. A definite 5 star read!
May 19, 2022
For now, I have one word.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
When I have more words I will share them.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
When I have more words I will share them.
October 8, 2022
Loved it! Stayed up late to finish it and being tired the next day was an acceptable payment.
January 9, 2025
I’m not sure where to start…
This book was very predictable, pretty much from chapter 1 you could pinpoint who the “spies” were and what the big twist was at the end of the book. Honestly, I was a little disappointed when the big reveal finally happened, I think I was holding out hope that the author wouldn’t actually do something so cliche and obvious.
This book was clearly written for a much younger audience than I lean toward. It felt even young for a YA novel. I mean, the princess threatens to kill people, and there is some death but… nothing really “vicious”, really, for most of the book she’s just a sweet sad little girl. But the writing feels very immature. The romance is cute, but not really convincing and Charis’s entire character doesn’t feel real… she’s very underdeveloped and boring to be frank. Not to mention how typical Tal is.
Maybe I’ve read too many fantasy YA novels and they’re all beginning to feel the same, but I found this book to be quite underwhelming.
This book was very predictable, pretty much from chapter 1 you could pinpoint who the “spies” were and what the big twist was at the end of the book. Honestly, I was a little disappointed when the big reveal finally happened, I think I was holding out hope that the author wouldn’t actually do something so cliche and obvious.
This book was clearly written for a much younger audience than I lean toward. It felt even young for a YA novel. I mean, the princess threatens to kill people, and there is some death but… nothing really “vicious”, really, for most of the book she’s just a sweet sad little girl. But the writing feels very immature. The romance is cute, but not really convincing and Charis’s entire character doesn’t feel real… she’s very underdeveloped and boring to be frank. Not to mention how typical Tal is.
Maybe I’ve read too many fantasy YA novels and they’re all beginning to feel the same, but I found this book to be quite underwhelming.
July 20, 2022
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Language: clean
Content: There was some kissing, a bare chest scene, a man looking over the main female character and causing her to blush, etc. Very mild, nothing that would make me knock off a star.
There are deaths scenes by various ways, but it's nothing gruesome or graphic, where I feel the need to share some spoilers into people die.
Favorite Character: Tal, Holland, Hildy (yes, the cat). Charis is a good female character, but she is definitely broken...
Conclusion:
I've loved C.J. Redwine's books, and this one was probably her best book yet! Absolutely loved it, however, the reason I did not give it 5 stars, is because the ending was rushed and I was able to figure the two main plot twists less then half way through the book. Honestly, the book felt more like ground work for the actual story line (which is no surprise, since she announced this will be a series). The romance between Tal and Charis is adorable! I loved Charis' father, the king, and how sweet and caring he was to her. Charis character development was really good - until the ending, and then it felt like it back tracked.
I realize my conclusion makes it sound like a terrible book, but the story was adorable and it's more of a cozy read book (if you ignore the hurried ending). Would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, YA romance, and cats.
My Rating: 4/5 stars
Language: clean
Content: There was some kissing, a bare chest scene, a man looking over the main female character and causing her to blush, etc. Very mild, nothing that would make me knock off a star.
There are deaths scenes by various ways, but it's nothing gruesome or graphic, where I feel the need to share some spoilers into people die.
Favorite Character: Tal, Holland, Hildy (yes, the cat). Charis is a good female character, but she is definitely broken...
Conclusion:
I've loved C.J. Redwine's books, and this one was probably her best book yet! Absolutely loved it, however, the reason I did not give it 5 stars, is because the ending was rushed and I was able to figure the two main plot twists less then half way through the book. Honestly, the book felt more like ground work for the actual story line (which is no surprise, since she announced this will be a series). The romance between Tal and Charis is adorable! I loved Charis' father, the king, and how sweet and caring he was to her. Charis character development was really good - until the ending, and then it felt like it back tracked.
I realize my conclusion makes it sound like a terrible book, but the story was adorable and it's more of a cozy read book (if you ignore the hurried ending). Would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, YA romance, and cats.
June 25, 2022
A great story of love and sacrifice and what it means to be a princess in a war torn land. Charis presents herself as cold and cruel and none see past the mask she wears. It's an interesting aspect to be the reader knowing the pain she silently endures.. The characters are intense and the political intrigue on point for a dramatic story. I love the romance aspect and how it grew slowly despite the forbidden aspect that pulled the characters along. And don't get me started on the plot twist! The author uses amazing wordsmithing to weave the tale and paint an amazing picture. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
July 9, 2022
The ONLY reason this book doesn’t get 5 stars is because it does start off very slow and it took a while for me to see where the book was going and get into it. Once it picked up, I had a hard time putting it down, and I literally did not figure out any of the twists that came in the last 4 chapters. I actually screamed when this book ended and I don’t think I’ve ever done that before. I absolutely need book 2 asap because my heart was just shredded to pieces (in the best possible way of course).
Anyway, I loved it and it’s 4.5 stars from me, even with the insane cliffhanger
Anyway, I loved it and it’s 4.5 stars from me, even with the insane cliffhanger
July 18, 2022
Oh HELLS YEAH. This was so much fun.
Royal politics, intrigue, and backstabbing? ✓
Literal backstabbing and multiple assassination attempts? ✓
Slow burn romance deliciousness? ✓
A princess trained in the art of political maneuverings, cruel when necessary—and makes no apologies for it— while deeply caring for her people? ✓✓
Even though any regular reader of YA/fantasy will totally see the twist coming, it makes this book no less enjoyable. Definite recommend if you're a fan of Hannah Whitten, Holly Black, and SJM.
Royal politics, intrigue, and backstabbing? ✓
Literal backstabbing and multiple assassination attempts? ✓
Slow burn romance deliciousness? ✓
A princess trained in the art of political maneuverings, cruel when necessary—and makes no apologies for it— while deeply caring for her people? ✓✓
Even though any regular reader of YA/fantasy will totally see the twist coming, it makes this book no less enjoyable. Definite recommend if you're a fan of Hannah Whitten, Holly Black, and SJM.
June 3, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
C.J. Redwine's Rise of the Vicious Princess is an action-packed start to a new duology full of political intrigue, smugglers, and sea monsters. The story is a truly classic-feeling epic fantasy with all the ingredients that YA fantasy readers adore—exciting adventure, strange beasts, and of course a fabulous romance. Princess Charis Willowthorn is the dutiful sword of Calera. Raised to be ruthless and cunning, her only goal is to hold her war-torn kingdom together long enough to find a path toward peace with their ancient foe, Montevallo, even if the cost is her own heart.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
C.J. Redwine's Rise of the Vicious Princess is an action-packed start to a new duology full of political intrigue, smugglers, and sea monsters. The story is a truly classic-feeling epic fantasy with all the ingredients that YA fantasy readers adore—exciting adventure, strange beasts, and of course a fabulous romance. Princess Charis Willowthorn is the dutiful sword of Calera. Raised to be ruthless and cunning, her only goal is to hold her war-torn kingdom together long enough to find a path toward peace with their ancient foe, Montevallo, even if the cost is her own heart.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
March 29, 2022
Ughhh... I saw that ending coming, I kind of braced for it, hoping against hope it wouldn't be that bad... but it was so terribly devastating. *sob* The title makes sense now.
Anyway, this story was spectacular, I wish I could read it again for the first time.
RTC
*huge thank you to Netgalley for the copy ❤
Anyway, this story was spectacular, I wish I could read it again for the first time.
RTC
*huge thank you to Netgalley for the copy ❤
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