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emilyjolie's review against another edition
2.0
idk why i'm reading this series asdfgh the characters make me so angry i want to scream. but i will probably continue and read the 4th one ngl
juliathorp's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
2.75
aimee's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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
5.0
mewjane's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readwithriahh's review against another edition
4.5
The third installment in this series was my absolute favorite. I loved that we continued on with some of the themes that stuck out to me in the first two books. I loved the character growth from Beatrice, Samantha, Nina, and Daphne, and I absolutely loved how we got more politics in this final book. Though this is something I didn’t know I was missing in the other books, I found it to add another layer of depth to the story for me! The drama continues through book three and Katharine just knows how to write it and keep the reader’s interest. Once again, I absolutely devoured this book and that CLIFFHANGER, PLEASE. I cannot wait for book four later this year!
ekathol's review against another edition
3.0
3.5(?). a little redundant as we get to book three with similar storyline but does the cliffhanger have me looking forward to book four already? of course.
pastelsux's review against another edition
5.0
This series seriously just keeps getting better and better as the books go on. The characters I find the most compelling only get *more* compelling with time, and the ones I originally didn’t enjoy as much (not that I didn’t like their characters/stories, I just preferred others to theirs) got more engaging. I’m so glad I found an easier way to check these books out from the library (and I can definitely see why they were so popular that they had tens-of-weeks-long waiting lists), and I’m so excited to read the next one.
jlynch89's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.25
worldsunlikeourown's review against another edition
4.0
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Beatrice has now fully stepped into her role as queen, but her next challenge is already around the corner. The League of Kings, a conference in which royalty from around the world participate, is approaching, and Beatrice is to host this time. Sam, as the ‘spare’, is now her sister’s heir, is struggling with her new situation even as her relationship with Marshall grows more serious. Once rivals in pursuit of Prince Jefferson, things take a surprising turn when Nina and Daphne find themselves on the same side as a greater threat appears in the form of Lady Gabriella Madison, and they must find a way to work together to take her down.
What I liked best about this book was the more in depth look we got at the larger world these characters live in, from what the situation is like for the nobility in America through Sam and Marshall’s storyline, to the royals from other countries and the politics of the whole situation. Between the League of Kings conference, which seemed to mostly be a bunch of parties with some debates and politics thrown in, Sam finishing up a royal tour, and Nina and Jeff in college, this book felt more light hearted at times than the first two, and the change in setting from the palace was certainly welcome. The plot was engaging though I found the pacing in the first half or so of the book a little slow. Rivals is an interesting choice of title for this book. I initially assumed it referred to Nina and Daphne – which it does, but it also applies to Beatrice and Sam in different ways for the situations they are going through and learning to handle too.
Rivals continues to follow the same 4 POVs of Beatrice, Nina, Sam and Daphne. I was hoping for Jeff’s POV in this book to be honest, as I continued to find him a singularly annoying character – though there is a little more insight into his situation and some character development too. With regards to Samantha’s arc, I kind of saw it coming, because the decision she finally arrives at with regards to her complicated relationship with Marshall seemed a bit obvious to me right from the beginning – it was a very Sam like thing to do after all. As a character though, she didn’t stand out to me as much in this book as she did in the previous instalments. The focus this time was very clearly around Beatrice, Nina and Daphne. I enjoyed following Beatrice as she fully steps onto the world stage of royal politics, and alone at that, meeting others of her own age who seem glamorous and fun, but also struggling to determine if she can really trust them. Nina and Daphne’s unexpected alliance in the face of a greater threat was surprising, though it provided some very interesting insight into Daphne as a character.
While I do greatly enjoy Katharine McGee’s brand of drama, I felt that this went somewhat overboard. The addition of Gabriella Madison as a new antagonist to push Nina and Daphne into a sort of friendship, only for everything to be turned on its head again (thanks to – no shocker, Jeff) was unnecessary at this late stage in the story. Seeing a more human side to Daphne was intriguing, but it felt rather jarring to me, because we all know exactly what she has done so far to achieve her goal and it makes her hard to sympathize with in my opinion. Gabriella was really not needed – between Beatrice’s ruling woes, Sam and Marshall’s uncertain relationship and Nina, Jeff and Daphne’s problems, there’s more than enough going on for an entertaining read.
Nonetheless, Rivals ended on an interesting note and I’m definitely looking forward to book 4, though I do hope the series wraps up with it. I would continue to recommend this series as it remains a fascinating take on a what-if at a crucial point in history!
Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Beatrice has now fully stepped into her role as queen, but her next challenge is already around the corner. The League of Kings, a conference in which royalty from around the world participate, is approaching, and Beatrice is to host this time. Sam, as the ‘spare’, is now her sister’s heir, is struggling with her new situation even as her relationship with Marshall grows more serious. Once rivals in pursuit of Prince Jefferson, things take a surprising turn when Nina and Daphne find themselves on the same side as a greater threat appears in the form of Lady Gabriella Madison, and they must find a way to work together to take her down.
What I liked best about this book was the more in depth look we got at the larger world these characters live in, from what the situation is like for the nobility in America through Sam and Marshall’s storyline, to the royals from other countries and the politics of the whole situation. Between the League of Kings conference, which seemed to mostly be a bunch of parties with some debates and politics thrown in, Sam finishing up a royal tour, and Nina and Jeff in college, this book felt more light hearted at times than the first two, and the change in setting from the palace was certainly welcome. The plot was engaging though I found the pacing in the first half or so of the book a little slow. Rivals is an interesting choice of title for this book. I initially assumed it referred to Nina and Daphne – which it does, but it also applies to Beatrice and Sam in different ways for the situations they are going through and learning to handle too.
Rivals continues to follow the same 4 POVs of Beatrice, Nina, Sam and Daphne. I was hoping for Jeff’s POV in this book to be honest, as I continued to find him a singularly annoying character – though there is a little more insight into his situation and some character development too. With regards to Samantha’s arc, I kind of saw it coming, because the decision she finally arrives at with regards to her complicated relationship with Marshall seemed a bit obvious to me right from the beginning – it was a very Sam like thing to do after all. As a character though, she didn’t stand out to me as much in this book as she did in the previous instalments. The focus this time was very clearly around Beatrice, Nina and Daphne. I enjoyed following Beatrice as she fully steps onto the world stage of royal politics, and alone at that, meeting others of her own age who seem glamorous and fun, but also struggling to determine if she can really trust them. Nina and Daphne’s unexpected alliance in the face of a greater threat was surprising, though it provided some very interesting insight into Daphne as a character.
While I do greatly enjoy Katharine McGee’s brand of drama, I felt that this went somewhat overboard. The addition of Gabriella Madison as a new antagonist to push Nina and Daphne into a sort of friendship, only for everything to be turned on its head again (thanks to – no shocker, Jeff) was unnecessary at this late stage in the story. Seeing a more human side to Daphne was intriguing, but it felt rather jarring to me, because we all know exactly what she has done so far to achieve her goal and it makes her hard to sympathize with in my opinion. Gabriella was really not needed – between Beatrice’s ruling woes, Sam and Marshall’s uncertain relationship and Nina, Jeff and Daphne’s problems, there’s more than enough going on for an entertaining read.
Nonetheless, Rivals ended on an interesting note and I’m definitely looking forward to book 4, though I do hope the series wraps up with it. I would continue to recommend this series as it remains a fascinating take on a what-if at a crucial point in history!