I tried really hard to get into this book and like it, but from the very start, I realised it just wasn't for me at all. Parts were too over descriptive and a bit cringy for my liking. And I just didn't like any of the characters.

In what could have easily been a cheesy Disney style disaster, this book manages to tell the story of love and just how powerful the emotion can be.

“Kiss of the Royal” weaves the tale of a kingdom in the midst of a drawn out battle against an Evil Queen and her dark forces against the princes and princess born and bred to fight them with the help of a Kiss that can be used for anything from protection to strength and to heal. When Princess Ivy looses her partner and is forced to take on another in order to keep fighting she finds herself paired with the strange new arrival Prince Zachariah, Zach for short, who not only wishes to fight alone but also without the help of her Kiss. As the battle continues both must put their prejudices aside in the hopes of coming out victorious because failure means death to more than just the pair of them but the entire kingdom itself.

I didn’t expect this to be a retelling and in a way it plays both sides with gentle nods to classic tales like Snow White and Beauty and the Beast but in other ways it’s almost an inversion of the classic story we were all raised on where the infamous kiss looses ya weight as it’s thrown around so easily in this universe and the concept of “true love” being all powerful is chalked up to mythology. Seeing these two people who believe in very different things working together to survive this situation they were thrown into was a lot of fun and the back and forth conversations about their ideals where so important especially the threads that dove into the importance of consent.

There are parts of the actual fighting that sort of got muddied for my near the end it seemed like there was a lot of thrown in obstacles at moments that could have been cut out but at that time I was so invested in this duo and their banter but also their growing respect and trust for the other that when it all came down to it I really didn’t mind. Their chemistry and the bonds seen between outside characters really helps sell this story and the importance of love in whatever form that it appears and that’s really the most important takeaway.

If you’re looking for something to fill the hole Once Upon a Time left in your heart with a determined sword wielding Princess and a Prince who is willing to lay it all on the line for the people he loves this is the perfect book for you!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**

3.5 stars - This clean, young YA fantasy tale was well thought out, just wasn’t my cup of tea. I believe younger YA fantasy readers would love the characters and find the various supernatural beings a wonder.

"Kiss of the Royal" was a really fun YA fantasy/romance that is suitable for even younger YA readers. In this alternate world, Royals have magical powers that can be unlocked with a Kiss (to be differentiated from kisses which are sans magic/for Lust). They are partnered as a Prince/Princess to fight against the evil creatures threatening to take over the lands and kill the citizens in the kingdom. As a pair, the Princess gives the Prince a magical Kiss that will aid him in the fight- her powers go towards his battle skills- but Kisses can also be used to break curses or heal.

As part of the Legion (not to mention the current most powerful as a direct descendant of Myriana), Ivy has been paired with several partners who have been killed in the line of duty. The Legion has separated emotion from Kisses, and although they are allowed to occasionally give into Lust, they do not believe Love exists. Eventually, Ivy will be retired to Freida where she will be required to create heirs with whomever the council decides should be the father. Ivy would like to avoid going to Freida and wants to fight for her people and make her cold mother, the Queen, proud (a very difficult feat).

When a new powerful swordsman arrives, Ivy is excited to learn that he has been chosen to be her partner. His accomplishments without Kisses are so impressive that she can't wait to see what he can do with a Kiss. However, Zach is not like the other Princes Ivy has known. He is determined to continue with a Kiss- and potentially without a partner. His mother was a Romantica- a group of people who believe in Love and marriage (unlike the Legion). Zach believes Kisses should not be used and might be willing to let Ivy fight at his side, although certainly not just to use her powers. Setting out on a quest to save humanity will not be easy with their ideologies completely at odds.

Ivy and Zach were fantastic characters to follow, and I actually wish we got both points-of-view instead of just Ivy's because the suspense was killing me at times! The romantic tension absolutely could be cut with a knife. It certainly gave an extra dimension to an already interesting premise that carried the book forward easily. This was a page-turner that should not be missed!

Overall, it's pretty clean- a couple times things got a little out of hand, but not enough that I would caution against this for younger YA readers. The premise is very cute and the lessons good for a younger audience. I think it's a great read for a variety of ages. It's a highly enjoyable story about adventures, sacrifice, and love, and I absolutely adored it!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Sounded interesting so I gave it a go. Slow build and quite serious until Zach’s arrival. Ivy has the weight of a kingdom on her shoulders and is down five partners, she’s strong willed and dangerously stubborn. Given the relationship with her mother, surprising. Zach is the complete opposite, the legendary swordsman with a joker like personality and far from a prince in every way. My sole thought throughout this book was just kiss her already. The two compliment each other nicely despite their differences. Favourite character was Brom, I liked their relationship and how he’s always there. I liked the concept of love, both sides and the way the story flowed. It was sweet and beautiful.

I received Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. That has no impact on my thoughts. My thoughts are my own.

I saw this book on Facebook first and the cover had me intrigued. I like how bold it is. Covers are pretty much my thing. I could stare at them for hours. Then I finally read the plot and I knew I had to read this.

The plot was unique. It was very much like Once Upon a Time but it had it's own fantasy story to it. I really liked Ivy, and then when Zach came into the book... I actually REALLY liked him. I liked how mysterious he was, and his quotes were good, especially his sarcasm ones.

For the most part, this was an easy read though there were a couple of spots where it was kind of slow and that made it be a 4.5. I still rounded it up to a five because of the plot, characters, writing, and cover. Thank you Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book!

Interesting concept. Beginning was very good, I liked that there was no instalove, but the other half of the book was a bit slow and boring.

I completely fell in love with Ivy and Zach’s story. It was such a thrilling and alluring read. It was like nothing I’ve ever read before.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t appeal to me once I picked it up. I couldn’t connect with the writing or the characters. Maybe I’ll give it another try in the future.

Wow, this book is amazing! To think it's a debut novel! It's so much better that the last ten books I've read. The plot, the characters, the writing style, and the romance (especially the romance!), everything is sooo good! I read this in one sitting, I couldn't put it down! To the author, please write more. The world needs more of your works.

I highly recommend this book!

I absolutely fell in love with Ivy and Zach. Their personalities are practically the same side of the coin and that is why they butt heads so often. Their views are different on how to save their home and that is ultimately why they cannot cooperate. But as things get more dangerous and they are more desperate to save everything they have ever known and loved, they come together and that isn't the only thing.