Reviews with content warning for Addiction - How to Find a Princess

How to Find a Princess by bestselling American author Alyssa Cole, is the second book in her Runaway Royals series and billed as a queer Anastasia retelling.

The real Anastasia is no fairy tale of course, but a 17-year-old whose life ends with revolution and murder along with her immediate family. But the question of if she could have survived, and those who claimed to be her, has sparked numerous stories in fiction over the course of the 20th century and beyond regardless of the reality. The most famous rendition probably by Marcelle Maurette. Her French play was adapted for English audiences by Guy Bolton in the 1950s, then in turn a Hollywood film, four decades later the 20th century fox animated movie, and in only the last few years back to Broadway. The US overwhelmingly has a thing for this sort of idea, but that ironically probably says more about it.

As for me I was looking for a queer romcom for a little lighter summer reading. The swoony cover caught my eye. Cole’s novel too starts entertainingly, cheeky of US pop culture and is modern. Politics are another element that often inform so many takes on Anastasia. Here segueing a history for the Mediterranean island kingdom of Ibarania among real circumstances both past and present, touching on imperialism, poking fun at monarchy and popular obsession with royals.Cole is also good at showing the interiority of her characters. Building romance with a lot of immediate belligerent sexual tension between Makeda and Beznaria and keeping to a slow burn. (Though after reading the book, I do have the question why no glasses on for the model of Bez on the cover?) The neurodivergent Bez, whose “too-muchness” is often referenced, particularly has a fun line early on in response to a personal question:

“I’m queer. I use the term pan, in part because it captures my puckish nature, but I prefer and have only dated women, with the exception of an unfortunate two-week debacle with my high school best friend Steven.”

But… and it’s a big but…beyond a tale of a lost royalty this story comes off a lot less like the comparison that is used.

I didn’t feel a strong linking with Makeda (being short, possessing a peculiar item of jewelry

Spoiler

any significance of which gets forgotten by the end

, interpretation on her name) or Beznaria (from a family with connections to the royals, an investigative agent, who isn’t entirely truthful) to characters or real figures that are a part of the mythos who have come before them. In fact, Cole seems to draw from many princess sources. Additionally, at 400 pages, near eleven hours long, the length greatly eclipses other versions of Anastasia I’ve mentioned. Typically, there is a journey with complications working the characters together with a little time plus forced proximity. Cole has a closer to two-week sea voyage starting in chapter nine which continues for just about the same number of chapters. Yet the choice is only to make a riff about any etiquette or protocol lessons. Which as acknowledged later is detrimental to Makeda who relies on careful plan making, even though her goal is to prove she isn’t royal. Instead, the ruse at play is a fake marriage. A trope I like, I recalled another wlw book featuring fake dating, a boat trip, and the Mediterranean. It too works for Cole’s characters as both have some stuff they need to work out, so a relationship push isn’t a bad development (and this also works into the twist). However, so much focus on this then leaves only two chapters for the royal mystery to really surface again with the pair finally in Ibarania. The mystery is crucial, supposed to be a hook to exploit, just like the hunt is about more than finding the truth. Usually, later sections will also involve some of the most emotionally dramatic scenes or addressing of trauma. But this goes by in a flash giving short shrift to what should be compelling aspects.

So, I completed the book feeling like I would have gotten more enjoyment out of it if the narrative had more intensity to the end. It may be inspired by Anastasia, but Alyssa Cole in drawing from the princess canon has crafted her own more distinctive contemporary queer royal fairytale.

Content Warnings

rockyroadbutch's review

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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ashleycmms's review

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Content Warnings

caseythereader's review

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emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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citymouse's review against another edition

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3.0

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zombiezami's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

qace90's review

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emotional funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.

Oh my god!!!! Alyssa Cole does it again and I am a bubbling glass of joy having read this book! One of my most anticipated 2021 releases and it was ~excellent~! Full review closer to release.

Full review:

Oh my god, this book brought me so much joy! Alyssa Cole once against has written an absolutely wonderful romance with characters who make me feel all the feelings.

Beznaria Chetchevaliere was first introduced in How to Catch a Queen as part of the World Federation of Monarchists (WFM) and also as par of Damsel in Distress Rescuer, and I almost immediately wanted her to get a girlfriend. Learning this book would be following her, and she would get the girl (this is a romance after all!) I was immediately grabby hands, and then the cover was revealed!

Makeda Hicks is used to fixing everything and taking care of people, especially as her mother has been obsessed with proving they’re descended from the lost queen of Ibarania and when she wasn’t believed she turned to alcohol and gambling, forcing Makeda to grow up faster to ensure things were taken care of. After losing her job and her girlfriend in the same day, Makeda decides its time to start being selfish and stop giving all her sweetness away. When Bez arrives at her grandmother’s B&B saying she believes she really is the lost princess, Makeda finally relents on going to Ibarania with every intention of proving she isn’t the princess so she can finally be free from the trauma that belief has brought her.

This book really brought me so much joy to read and I love Makeda and Bez so much. Especially Bez, with her brain fireflies and chaotic adherence to her personal code of honor. I loved the romance that develops between them, as well as the ways consent and communication are shown. This was so sweet on many levels, even as both Makeda and Beznaria have internal stress about how choices are playing out and what the future may hold for them.

This was an excellent modern day royals romance that I’m looking forward to rereading many times. It was funny and sweet, with hints of angst that just increased the intensity of the romance.

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