Royal Bastards will capture your attention for the title alone; however, fans of adventure will stay for the action-packed trials that the main characters experience. There's heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, and romance.

Tilla is a bastard, and as such, she's not really part of her father's family. Sure, she lives in the same castle, but she's not welcome at the family's table. Instead, she's left with the other bastards, until a visiting princess decides to shake things up and get to know those that normally sit on the fringes. And, it ends up being a good thing due to the rebellion that Tilla's father decides to start. Tilla and her band of bastards decide to throw their lot in with the princess and keep her alive, which means that they are running for their life.

What I liked about Royal Bastards was the fact that all of the characters actually acted like teenagers. None of them were the "chosen one" who would save the day, instead, saving the day wasn't exactly intentional. Doubt crept in, petty jealousies lead to betrayal, and a whole host of other drama. I really liked that Till and co. were flawed characters. It lead to many authentic and great moments throughout the book. What I found less appealing was the numerous modernisms introduced in the dialogue f the book. I'm torn with whether or not these were intentional, and the fact that I was left uncertain of the fact hampered my enjoyment. I would have rather the author owned the unusualness of the world he created (which I felt evoked a historical feel) rather than left this setting ambiguous with the choice of words.

If you're looking for an adventurous tale that doesn't mince words, Royal Bastards is a lot of fun. The characters aren't your typical wonder kids, instead they are crass and funny, making them all the more appealing.

Fantasy-adventure and fast-paced story of a small group of teenagers with nothing and everything in common. Well done, a bit violent for my lighthearted tastes but nothing over the top, and war violence against women was carefully not described, only alluded to.

Royal Bastards was one of my most anticipated releases of 2017. An epic fantasy adventure with a hint of history and a whole lot of magic, Andrew Shvarts debut was a wild, hilarious ride that I could not put down.

The novel follows Tilla, the bastard of Lord Kent of the Western Province, who witnesses a terrible crime and finds herself on the run with her half-brother Jax, a Zitochi warrior called Zell, Miles, the bastard of House Hampstedt, who’s been in love with her for years, and the Princess of Noveris, Lyriana. Pursued by mercenaries and Zell’s violent, psychopathic brother Razz, the group scours through the countryside attempting to find a place of safety and a way to protect the heir to the throne. As the group of bastards band together and grow closer, they realise that they alone are all that stands between the rise of a civil war that will tear the kingdom apart, and that they must find a way to warn the king. But first, they have to survive the journey.

Tilla was a fantastic protagonist and I enjoyed her character development. At the beginning of the novel, she was concerned only with gaining her father’s approval, but as the story progressed, she came to learn some hard truths about herself and her family. There were a few occasions of girl-on-girl hate, which irked me a little, but Tilla changed her ways and grew past that. Her wry character voice was the star of the novel for me, and there were many occasions I found myself laughing out loud at her thoughts and descriptions. Despite being a historical fantasy (and compared to Game of Thrones), the novel had a very modern tone and used a lot of 21st century idioms. It took a long while to wrap my head around this, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the novel.

There is a suggestion of a love triangle in the novel, but it was also very obvious as to who Tilla would eventually choose. The budding romance between the two characters was pulled off adequately; the tender slow burn was very sweet and not at all in the reader’s face, but there were still a few scenes where I just didn’t believe how quickly Tilla fell for her love interest. That being said, I look forward to watching the romance develop even further in the next novel in the series.

I absolutely adored Jax, Tilla’s half-brother. He was one of the funniest characters in the novel, and incredibly loyal to Tilla. Shvarts expertly developed the sibling relationship; Tilla and Jax’s love for each other felt very genuine and I’m so glad we have a YA novel that promotes such an affectionate relationship between a brother and sister.
Zell was the second funniest character, but not by purpose: as a Zitochi warrior, he didn’t comprehend many aspects of the Western culture and his confusion resulted in many laugh-out-loud moments. Zell also had a touchingly depressing background story that deeply touched me, and I thought he was a wonderful, complex character.

Lyriana was a sweet girl, but I didn’t begin to really like her until the last quarter of the book. Granted, she was only 15, but her character didn’t felt very developed – she was more like an overenthusiastic puppy. However, she does turn into quite the little badass and I appreciated her steadfastness and dedication to her new friends. I also really respected the fact that Lyriana is POC and that Shvarts continually brought this up. In fact, the rulers of the Kingdom of Noveris were all people of colour – great job, Shvarts! (Take note, other fantasy authors!)
Like Lyriana and Tilla, Miles went through intense character development: he was a sweet, if annoying, character at the beginning of the story, but through the weeks they spend on the road, he grows. He was a pretty bland character, but was still an integral part of the group of bastards, as well as the story.

While I had a few issues with the characters, the world-building was astounding and was explained with great detail and finesse. As I read an uncorrected galley proof, I really hope the final copy of the novel contains a map so readers can enjoy the novel in its entirety. I also really appreciated the fact that this was not a sexist culture: women could hold high offices and enjoyed a significant freedom of sexuality (at least in the West and Zitochi lands). Thank you so much for that Shvarts! (Again: take note, other YA fantasy authors).
The novel was also surprisingly dark; considering the humour and modern tone, I expected the book to be a light adventure read. Boy, was I wrong! The novel takes a dark turn at the 20% mark, which definitely assisted in my enjoyment of the story. There’s political intrigue, magic, castles and Royal Houses, assassinations, and an incredibly complex history that spans hundreds of years. In this, Royal Bastards could definitely be compared to Game of Thrones.

Royal Bastards was a fast-paced and entertaining novel. While the fantasy elements were developed quite wonderfully, I would still classify it as light fantasy and easy to read, especially if you are new to this genre. Shvarts is definitely an author to watch out for – especially with his fantastic treatment of women and people of colour – and I would certainly recommend this novel. It didn’t blow me away like I thought it would, but Royal Bastards was still an enjoyable read.

For a more in-depth review watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FKsB...

I received a copy an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tilla is a bastard. Her father is a noble and her mother was a house maid. Tilla has no position and no chance of inheriting her father's title. She lives a life of uncertainty on her father's estate with her half brother, Jax. Then one day Princess Lyriana come to visit and she choses to pass her time with Tilla, Jax and two other bastards, Miles and Zell. The five uncover a plot against Lyriana's father, the King, and must go on the run to save themselves and stop a war.

I had mixed reactions to this book. This was a fast paced adventure which I totally appreciated. I sat and read the whole thing in less than a day. However, by the next day I couldn't remember most of the details which means while easy to read the story is also easy to forget. I enjoyed the world building and thought for a first time author the story was well written and well paced yet I found the modern language mixed in with a historic setting to be distracting.

I decided to wait a few days before writing my review because I couldn't decide how many stars. My choice for 4/5 stars remains the correct choice I believe.

My main problem with Royal Bastards was that the simple writing and inner dialogue starts out seeming to be more of a Middle Grade read. As the story progresses you learn that's not the case.

The world building was pretty good. I love looking at maps to understand the layout and I believe using one in this book wpuld have helped me a little more, the final book has a map but my early copy did not. The characters and their relationships were developed although there was one part that felt like the dreaded insta-love.

What got me the most was how emotionally invested I became in these characters. I was not expecting to become so attached with them based on the way I felt at the beginning.

The magic elements were definitely interesting and I would love to learn more so hopefully we can in the next book.

Would I recommend this book? Yes. Will I continue reading this book? Yes.

I requested a copy of ROYAL BASTARDS from NetGalley after the cover caught my eye. I’m a fan of light fantasy and heavy battles, so I hoped this would be the kind of book I usually enjoy, but I was cautiously optimistic. And then…

I freaking loved this book!

I was hooked from the beginning. First, I love the title. It’s edgy, spot on and clearly defines the primary characters. Tilla, Jax, Miles and Zell are all the bastard children of powerful rulers. As bastards they exist on the periphery of their parent’s powerful circles: neither fully included, nor fully removed from the Lords and their “legitimate” families.

Then, during a dinner to honor the visiting Princess Lyriana, the princess does the unimaginable: she opts to be seated at the Bastard’s table in the back of the hall with Tilla and her fellow bastards. In the dark of the night they find themselves leading the Princess through the underground tunnels so that she can dip her toes in the sea. Instead they witness a heinous crime, perpetuated by Tilla’s father and Miles’s mother, that is certain to lead to civil war. Worse still, they’ve all been seen, and now they are on the run for their lives.

ROYAL BASTARDS is a fun adventure story. It has intrigue, excitement and humor. I loved the modern humor and voice set against a very antiquated type of society. This book was a fast and exciting read and I’m hoping there is a sequel (it’s definitely set up for one).

This new fantasy series follows a group of Royal Bastards - illegitimate children of royals - as they try to save a royal princess' life and prevent a war. Sixteen year-old Tilla is the bastard daughter of Lord Kent of the Western Province; she lives in comfortable accommodations, but her father has held her at arm's distance ever since his legitimate wife bore him two daughters. Tilla's half brother, Jax, from a different father, lives on Kent's lands as a stablehand. While Jax is happy with life as it is, Tilla longs for legitimacy and a better relationship with her father; two things he's withheld from her thus far. She's invited to her father's banquet honoring the visiting royal princess Lyriana, and sits at the bastard table with Miles, a bastard from neighboring House Hampsted, and Zell, a trueborn son-turned-bastard from the warrior Zitochi clan of the North. Lyriana insists on sitting with them and getting to know them, and ends up tagging along on what was supposed to be an evening out between just Jax and Tilla. While out at the shore, the group stumbles upon a horrific and treasonous episode that puts every one of their lives in danger: in Miles' and Tilla's cases, even from their own parents.

The group of teens is on the run, hoping to make it back to Lyriana's kingdom before the combined forces of Lord Kent, Lady Hampsted, and the Zitochi clan can catch them. The bastards have to stay alive, prevent a mage slaughter, and a civil war that will claim thousands of lives - can they get along long enough to survive the journey?

There's a lot of story to unpack in this first book. The biggest stumbling block for me was the contemporary language used in the high fantasy setting. It's off-putting and took me out of the flow of the novel. Vernacular aside, Royal Bastards is a fast-paced adventure, loaded with intrigue, betrayal, and teen romance. I like the world-building: a fantasy world where bastards are recognized and can gain legitimacy if their parents choose to bestow it upon them; a major coup in the works, and plenty of intrigue and betrayal to keep things interesting. There's rich character development, particularly in the relationship between Jax and Tilla and Tilla's growth throughout the novel. There's some diversity in the characters, although some fantasy tropes pop up here; most notably, the clueless royal who wants to meet "the little people" and the brooding, fur-wearing savage.

YA fantasy fans will dig in and enjoy this one. I'd booktalk Erin Bow's The Scorpion Rules as an interesting counterpart that looks at the relationship between royals and their children and war. Talk up the Game of Thrones books to readers that may be familiar with the HBO series. Give a copy of Joshua Khan's Shadow Magic and Dream Magic books to younger siblings who aren't ready for this one yet.

Royal Bastards is a really fun YA fantasy story filled with action, adventure, and actually manages to get quite dark. The book is thoroughly entertaining. It is not afraid to bring the death, though it fits beautifully in the plot. Andrew Shvarts created excellent characters that are impossible not to get invested in. There is romance and strong friendship. The plot will have you hooked..unable to put it down! Magic, humor, and betrayal are laced through these pages making up a marvelous story. I look forward to the sequel. Fans of YA fantasy should not hesitate to check out Royal Bastards.

This book has been on my radar since I first heard about it. While I felt the synopsis gave a lot away, I’m always up for a YA fantasy, and thankfully, this book didn’t let me down.

This was a near perfect read for me. It was a quick and easy read, too. Nothing too complicated, and nothing that felt like info-dumping either. I finished this book in a matter of days, and already I hope there’s a sequel planned. While reading this book, I had a funny thought though: I had heard next to nothing about this book, whether it be on the #bookstagram community or Twitter, which is really sad because if you enjoy fantasy, you’ll enjoy this book.

There isn’t anything too complex about this novel. The world-building is good, and there may have been times I became confused but I think it’s mainly because there was no map in the eARC version. (Was there one in the physical ARC? Can someone help me out there?) The protagonists are all enjoyable characters, and I liked the internal conflict Tilla, the main character, felt as the story progressed.

What started as a group of unknowns bastards quickly became a tight-knit group of friends (despite the plot twist, which I didn’t see coming! I’m horrible at guessing those). I also wasn’t expecting the amount of feels when Zell, the Zitochi warrior, shared his story. But I think I’ve found another OTP so heyyyyy, I’m not complaining! 😉 Princess Lyriana came to be one of my favorite characters, too. Despite being only fifteen and a bit childish in the beginning, it becomes obvious she hasn’t seen a lot of hardship and of course has lived a fairly pampered life. n the beginning, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Princess Lyriana, but I’m glad she came to prove her own. In her case, I loved the magical aspect of this book, the idea of mages, rings, and different types of magical schools. This is why I’m hoping for a sequel because I’d love to see this explored in later books.

Some might say this book is predictable, and while we see the good guys persevere as usual, as I said before, I’m horrible at predicting things or looking out for plot twists, so I found myself unable to put this book down. However, I did wish there was a bit more descriptions, not in terms of world-building but just in terms of everyday things: buildings, the outdoors, etc.

I enjoyed the action, too, and author did well putting obstacles into the characters way. When I felt like something dragged, an event or scene came to change my mind and rile me up again. I’ll definitely add this book to my own library when it’s released!

Shvarts, Andrew Royal Bastards, 346 pages. Hyperion, 2017. $19. Language: R (100+ swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (naked, implied sex); Violence: PG-13 (on-page murders, fighting, torture).

FYI: The name of this book is Royal Bastards, so it uses the words bastard any time it refers to this group of adventurers. I did not count that word as a swear.

Tilla and the other royal bastards in her father’s province are used to sitting at the back of the banquet hall with the least of everything. When Lyriana, the heir to the throne of the kingdom visits, she gets to know the bastards and they invite her along on their evening adventure to the shore. There however, they witness their parents killing Lyriana’s guardian. The teens flee in terror and must stay ahead of the pursuing soldiers if they want to stay alive.

At first the teens' story seems like so many other fantasy books that are available nowadays. However, by the end I was fully invested in their story and am very much looking forward to the next installment.

HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

A group of bastards joins forces with a princess, all of them witness something that they shouldn't have seen. They journey across the world seeking refuge from those coming to kill them.

The amount of language, sexual jokes, and detailed violence makes it a difficult sell to older teens and inappropriate for young teens. I did not have a problem with the modern patterns of speech, this is a fantasy world and characters don't need to conform to regulated patterns. I found this way of speech compelling.

This book was pretty much Game of Thrones meets a CW TV show. It was a quick read thanks to it's non-stop action and I enjoyed the camaraderie of the characters. The present day vernacular was, for reals, a bit jarring.

Royal Bastards is Andrew Shvarts first novel, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that it his first published work. Written with experience, the book reads like a best-seller. It has everything that the YA market enjoys and embraces. Action, magic, political intrigue and a touch of romance … This book honestly has it all. Yet, while these factors are apparent in many books, Shvarts writes in a refreshing and unique way that makes the reader become fully immersed in the world. I was left wanting more once the book was completed - I honestly can’t wait for the sequel! One aspect of the book that I loved was the sarcasm and humour! Sometimes YA books can take a very serious tone, but while the subject matter approached heavier topics, there was still enough comic relief to make the reader feel light. Overall, I highly recommend this book. If you are a fan of Mary E Pearson’s The Remnant Chronicles or Morgan Rhodes Falling Kingdoms series, than I highly suggest you pick up this book!

The royal bastards were children born from mothers that weren't royalty. They were allowed to join the family in the dining room but had their own table in the back. Tilla aches for the time when she and her father did many things together but he married and has a new family now. Still, she's loyal to him. So she's totally shocked when she watches kill another royal...

Disney-Hyperion and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published June 6th.

Tilla and her brother along with a couple more boys and a princess find themselves condemned to death for witnessing the killing. They run...

The way isn't easy, those who lived in castles have to adjust to living in the wild, they aren't sure where they should run and, in time, they aren't sure who they are loyal to. After all, Tilla wanted to be acknowledged and important in her kingdom but she's not sure about her father's actions and plans for the future. She feels he's betraying trusts.

She's also learning about a culture she didn't know much about before. The warrior bastard with them is a killer but he also has emotions and cares, even if he's not supposed to. That how he was declared a bastard.

By the end, Tilla has found her love, lost her brother, been betrayed and life has changed forever for her. She and her friends that remain are a tight unit that will handle anything life throws at them.

I loved this story. It really grabbed me by the heart and took me on a journey to another world. The romance is sweet and adds to the story overall. Even if they are on a new path, I can see them going far in the world.

in depth


Royal Bastards was one of my most anticipated books of the year, and for good reason. I remember thinking partway through, with a sniffle, that it's exactly the fantasy book I didn't even realize I needed, or how much. The main character, Tilla, is a fierce, vibrant, relatably scattered hero. There's a group of multidimensional friends rather than a simple MC-love interest-isolated from everyone story like the ones I keep seeing. Friends! The plot is straight out of an action movie, and there's magic, murder, and snark. I'm in physical pain from aching for a sequel.

This is a breakneck book that starts with a brutal, unexpected murder and bounces from from one violent mishap to the next. A dark comedy of errors. A friend-group journey book. Think young adult The Lord of the Rings crossed with Harry Potter crossed with Game of Thrones crossed with Inglorious Basterds. Bad things happen to good people. Loyalties are tested. Off-color sexual innuendos are made. The writing is from Tilla's point of view and is peppered with modern-day idioms, giving the story a more tongue-in-cheek tone than most high fantasy. And, except for a few stilted segments, it works.

On this foundation is the story of five misfits in terrible danger. They're caught in the middle of a civil war, on the run from one side. Each character has their own motivations and desires, their own personality. You get to see each of them struggle and grow. The changing dynamics of their relationships. The blossoming of true friendship and love, but also jealousy, pettiness, and doubt. Tilla is adorably bumbling but loyal; Lyriana is a stone-cold badass; Zell is smooth and unapologetically, pragmatically murderous; Jax is the reincarnation of Fred and George; Miles is a little dweeb with brave ideas. I cared deeply about each of them, which only heightened the tension.

There were a few elements that didn't settle as well with me. First, I was a little concerned about how Zell's people, who have darker skin, are called barbarians and heathens by the white House Stark-sort of people. Given the whole danger of the dark-skinned agressor trope. Especially since Zell was portrayed as an exception. However, I think Shvarts does a good job of commenting on these assumptions in-text and labeling them as wrong. Also, I thought it was a little too easily good vs evil. Like, obviously the murderers were wrong, but wasn't it undertandable they were rising against the magic-wielding ruling class? Yet Tilla is totally fine delivering her people (the rebels) to the crown. Seemed a bit too black-and-white for me. Give me more nuance!

On the whole, Royal Bastards was an astounding debut. It was so funny and heartfelt, brutality mixed with aww-moments, magic and monsters and five friends sticking together despite the world against them. The magic system and political machinations are clever and wasted on just one book; I could live in this world forever. It's a fantasy that blends seriousness with sarcasm. Despite a few kinks, it's so vivid and fun, with cinematic fight scenes and breathless action, that I can easily imagine it becoming its own franchise.
in a sentence

Royal Bastards is a sparkling, funny, brutal fantasy adventure about five misfits forming bonds and battling insurmountable odds--and defying the expectations of the adults in their lives.

Betrayal, Romance, Action, Magic, Friendship, Laughter, Kick-ass females, Hot boys, Twist & turns... What more can a reader ask for?!? Huge 5 stars!!! I was completely lost in this novel from page one till the very end. ROYAL BASTARDS is definitely one to have your MUST READ for 2017!!!!!

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. There was a twist or two but nothing contrived-the plot was good and well paced, yet eventful. I was also pleased to hear there will be a sequel and look forward to reading it. A bit of adventure, magic, betrayal, and coming of age(s) for this motley group of teenagers who must grow up all too fast is a great choice for fans of fantasy and magic.