Scan barcode
A review by llamallamacallurmama
Royal Bastard by Avery Flynn
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
**Most of my reviews contain detailed CW/TW sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
Audio (John Lane)
3.75/5
Summary: After an upsetting diagnosis, the MMC's estranged grandfather, an earl, orders his secretary, the FMC, to track down the MMC and whip him into shape to take over their ancestral responsibilities. Meanwhile, the FMC's past drama puts some pressure on their budding relationship.
Stats: CR - leaning romcom, M/F, part of a series, stands entirely alone, open door.
Notes: I'm not a big rom com lover, but this one balanced the plot, reality and humour pretty well. I think the main characters were clearly built out of modern romance lover requests (he's gentle-ish, he unironically reads fantasy romance, he asks about "how to do sex" for her, both partners share control of their sexual encounters, she's confident in her sexuality and into sex, they both go to the bathroom and clean up/pee afterwards, little things like that). It doesn't do a lot for me, but I think a lot of readers look for those kinds of characters. The setting is a little England but make it Disneyland - very kitschy, very twee. The narration is quite good - the author or narrator did make the FMC very posh though, while the rest of her family has a heavy Yorkie accent, which is a little odd, but not a real complaint. The crisis was a little dumb and rushed.
OTT and Spoilery Content Warnings (CW) and Trigger Warnings (TW):
Parental abandonment, classism, infidelity in previous relationship (not by MC), family estrangement, parent/character with early stage dementia, end of life planning, foster care, death of parent, ill parent. Hard of hearing/deaf character (due to bacterial meningitis), Alcohol, character with migraines, some gore-y zombie makeup, blackmail (with intimate photos, not by an MC)
Audio (John Lane)
3.75/5
Summary: After an upsetting diagnosis, the MMC's estranged grandfather, an earl, orders his secretary, the FMC, to track down the MMC and whip him into shape to take over their ancestral responsibilities. Meanwhile, the FMC's past drama puts some pressure on their budding relationship.
Stats: CR - leaning romcom, M/F, part of a series, stands entirely alone, open door.
Notes: I'm not a big rom com lover, but this one balanced the plot, reality and humour pretty well. I think the main characters were clearly built out of modern romance lover requests (he's gentle-ish, he unironically reads fantasy romance, he asks about "how to do sex" for her, both partners share control of their sexual encounters, she's confident in her sexuality and into sex, they both go to the bathroom and clean up/pee afterwards, little things like that). It doesn't do a lot for me, but I think a lot of readers look for those kinds of characters. The setting is a little England but make it Disneyland - very kitschy, very twee. The narration is quite good - the author or narrator did make the FMC very posh though, while the rest of her family has a heavy Yorkie accent, which is a little odd, but not a real complaint. The crisis was a little dumb and rushed.
OTT and Spoilery Content Warnings (CW) and Trigger Warnings (TW):