Wow! This book was not what I expected in the best way possible! Evans story had me hooked from the beginning and I found myself finding more time to read just one more chapter.

I love all royal books as do my students and I know this is a book they will thoroughly enjoy. Evans story was unique in the sense that she knew her father was a king yet had never met him.

I found myself rooting for her, shocked by different moments and excited for her future. I am so excited to see that this book will be part of a trilogy! I can’t wait for the next one to be released.

I will be recommending this to all of my students but will provide a bit of a trigger warning as there are some sensitive topics throughout this book. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy.

This book was not at all what I expected and I loved it so much! The growth of the characters, the tight plotting, and the storyline were tightly woven together. A strong coming-of-age story for teens.

I've read a few secret royal books before, but this was a bit different in that Evan knew her dad was the king all along. I liked that change and that her dad's relationship with her mom was complicated and had more to it than it seemed. Stories with a girl who has absent parents or parental issues really get to me and I felt for Evan and how she felt abandoned.

I enjoyed reading about Evan finding her place in her father's family and navigating the scrutiny that comes with being royal. It had plenty of drama to keep my interest and I thought Evan's budding romance was cute.

The mystery wasn't actually quite mysterious, it kept telling us what happened so that very little guessing was involved. It fueled the plot, but I could have done without it. I also thought this wrapped up well and doesn't need a sequel, but I felt that way about The Goddess Test too, so who knows?

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the copy

The first book in the Royal Blood trilogy introduces Evan Bright, the illegitimate American daughter of Britain's King Alexander. After being expelled from her ninth boarding school for setting it on fire, the king's personal secretary spirits her away to Windsor Castle, where her half sister and stepmother greet her with cold shoulders. Evan wants to go home to her mother Laura, who is schizophrenic, but because of the disease, Evan is not allowed to live with her. Her 18th birthday, when she can make her own decisions, is only a month away. But during her time in England, Evan is assaulted by Jasper Cunningham who ends up murdered with Evan being the prime suspect She and the king's nephew Kit attempt to clear her name. Readers who enjoy everything royal will find this a unique take on the genre.

For whatever reason I had heard this just another vampire book. It really made me push this to the back and not want to read it. And I almost missed a gem! Because this book had me locked in from beginning to end.

So the main problem I had with this was the characters. She was completely spoiled and didn’t listen to anyone. And she was basically the stereotypical teen who thought she knew everything. And she basically knew nothing. And for whatever reason she couldn’t tell that she didn’t know anything when everyone else could. Normally teens being teens don’t bother me, but for I think because of the things she was doing (like committing ARSON) I was annoyed.

The plot of this is what made me stay glued to these pages. (Well my Air Pods lol) I’m a SUCKER for some messy royalty drama, and Lordt this one was filled with it. Not only is there a mystery, there’s some paternity drama, and more. I couldn’t stop reading this until it was done. Aimee Carter did a well crafted mystery/thriller with a great ending that I was quite satisfied with. Anddddddd there’s going to be another (at least 2 according to Goodreads) Though I didn’t feel like there needs to be more, I welcome them. But this one was wrapped up quite nicely on its own. Plus, all the secrets were revealed in this one, so i’m curious what they’re going to bring up for the next book. Because in my opinion, that was part of the charm of this book. Not only was there a mystery happening, but she had no one on her side to help her.

This mystery was so good! I was so invested. In this case, Evan is the detective. And though she’s a teen it didn’t bother me at all. Y’all know I will DNF with a quickness. But in this one there weren’t any weird mystery/thriller tropes, like when the teens randomly get clues that the others don’t. I mean they did, but it wasn’t because they went to go and clean some files at the police station. (Yes I actually read that in a YA book once before.) I am very particular with thrillers and mysteries, but even with that one trope being there, I thought it was great.

This one wasn’t really on my radar since I wasn’t a huge fan of her previous series. But it’s true when they say that authors evolve. Because I want the next book in this series YESTERDAY! How am I supposed to wait an entire year for the next book?!

A great story of living in a blended family and having parents with mental illness, oh yea and one parent being the King of England!!! This book was intense! From seeing the family dynamics, the pressures of being royal, gossip rags/media, and throwing in sexual assault/date rape in the mix there is a lot going on. A great read for HS age kids.

This was a quick read I really enjoyed! It was like part royal scandal part serious issues. I liked the protagonist a lot and I didn't figure out the mystery until late. Am definitely intrigued and looking forward to book 2!

Evangeline Bright was eleven years old when her grandmother let her in on a life-changing fact: she’s the illegitimate daughter of the King of England. One of the most well-guarded secrets to exist, His Royal Highness Alexander II, monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, fathered Evangeline in 2005 only to leave her and her mother behind in America.

Knowing that he lives royally, with his real wife and daughter, Evan has never forgiven Alexander for abandoning her, and Alexander has never reached out. But when Evan, now seventeen, is expelled for the ninth time in six years, she is plucked out of her boarding school in Vermont and flown to her family—the Royal family—against her will. Is she prepared for Windsor Castle? Not at all. And are they prepared for her? Most certainly not.

Things are tense when Evan arrives in London and before she has the chance to absorb Royal etiquette, someone close to the Crown ends up dead. All eyes are on Evan. After all, she was the one last seen with the victim and who else but the King’s illegitimate issue—the delinquent American—be responsible for killing one of their own? Evan must prove her innocence before the whole country decides she’s the villain. She just needs to convince herself first.

ROYAL BLOOD is the exciting new YA thriller you get when you turned Amanda Bynes’ What A Girl Wants into a murder mystery! A fun, twisty, and dramatic teen novel, this trilogy-opener stands out for the excellent job it does at destigmatizing schizophrenia and handling s3xual assau!t plots with care. The cliffhanger was great and I’m really looking forward to the sequels!

Royal Blood by Aimee Carter is the first book in a new series about Evan Bright, an American girl who is the illegitimate daughter of the King of England. She is taken to England to spend the summer with her father and his family, and she isn't exactly treated like royalty. I really enjoyed this story since I am fascinated by anything that is even slightly about the British royal family, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

If you are a fan of Tokyo Ever After, American Royals or the Princess Diaries, add this your your TBR. The plot is well thought out and multilayered. The author wove her words to give you clues about the culprit. It kept me reading and wanting to discover how it all played out. Evan was a character that was enjoyable to read. The book touches on tough topics from sexual assault and infidelity to mental health. I'm excited to read the next book in the series.

Evan knows that her dad is the king of England, but no one else does. When she gets into trouble and is forced to live with her dad, the entire world finds out. If matters couldn't get worse, she is the vicinity of a murder.

I really had a fun time with this book. I would have really loved it after reading Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series.

Evan, though, feels like a generic "misunderstood girl that gets kicked out of boarding school" character. And that personality doesn't really carry all the way through the story. I also think the mystery plot was super basic and we didn't get a lot of clues or twists.

Royal Blood was a pleasant surprise hit. I went in expecting royalty, murder and a splash of chaos and that was exactly what I got (with slightly more chaos).

The twists and turns of the plot kept me genuinely guessing the outcome and the character growth was honest and well thought out. I really appreciated the sort of “found family” Evan found herself in (even if they technically were related to her).

Carter writes about some delicate topics with sensitivity but also with a bluntness that was truly welcomed. This book gets emotional in places but doesn’t get bogged down with it nor do the character’s emotions feel overshadowed by anything else.

It is an onion of a book with layers of romance, thriller, mystery, and family drama. It’s about Evan as she learns to accept herself and how to open up and welcome in those who could be good friends if she let them.

I’m looking forward to future installments in the series.

Content Warnings - Sexual Assault, Mental Illness, Attempted Murder, Murder

Evan just wants to return home to her mom but thats difficult when your the wedlock child of a King. When Evan is shipped to England to escape a media frenzy, she is propelled into a royal life and its deadly. Royal blood examines the pressure of responsibility and the bonds that make family. Evan is a multifacet protagonist and gives an edge to her sister's royal image. While the plot is centered on a mystery death, it seems more about interpersonal relationships and doesn't allow for the mystery to really expand and organically play out. There could have been more drama to add intensity and an urgent feeling. Yet, the way Carter uses social media and the understanding of consent does draw attention to an important topic.

I loved this start to a new young adult trilogy, with a touch of mystery, murder, and romance. Evan Bright is the illegitimate American 17-year old (soon to be 18) daughter of the King of England, who finds herself in England for the first time meeting family members who understandably do not want her there. How she navigates personal relationships, especially after a party ends with her as the chief suspect for the death of a young man, is an interesting journey, and I will look forward to the next entries in the series. This is my first book by this author but I will be searching out her backlist.

3.5 Stars

Royal Blood by Aimée Carter is a thriller with a royal twist. Following the King of England’s secret American daughter, this one contains scandals, secrets, and a strong main character who finds herself as a suspect in a murder investigation. Fans of fast-paced mysteries and all things royalty will not want to miss this one.

As the secret American daughter of the King of England, Evan is used to keeping secrets. However, after starting a fire at her boarding school, she is sent to London to live with the royal family–a family she has never met. Instead of glamour, Evan is greeted by her half sister and the Queen who resent her existence and finds herself in the public eye after the press exposes her identity. When Evan becomes a suspect in a murder investigation, the scrutiny only escalates, and she must uncover the truth about what happened as even more scandalous secrets come to light.

❀ ENJOYABLE MAIN CHARACTER

I enjoyed Evan’s character, and she is strong. I felt for her as she must spend time with a family that isn’t happy to meet her, and she hasn’t seen her mother since she was a child. Evan’s situation becomes even more difficult as the media watch her every move and she’s not sure who she can trust. Despite all the challenges Evan faces, she perseveres, and I enjoyed watching her learn more about herself and her family as the book progresses.

❀ A FAST-PACED THRILLER

Royal Blood by Aimée Carter is a fast-paced thriller filled with scandal. I enjoyed the concept of a secret princess, and the main character is strong. This is a great read for fans of the royalty trope.

A very solid royal contemporary YA. I liked that it was less romance focused than most (though there is a romance).

It does follow some well-trod ground, in which a regular girl has to learn to be royal (think The Princess Diaries, What a Girl Wants, Tokyo Ever After). But main character Evan has known for years that she's the illegitimate daughter of the King of England. The book also adds an alt-history twist, in which Edward VIII did not abdicate, and Princess Elizabeth never reigned.

Royal Blood is the first book in a series. So if you like it, that's great for you, but if you want a standalone, it's not. I also think the title makes it seem like a vampire book, but no.

Royal Blood is an excellent book highlighting Evangaline as she comes into her own. Filled with turns and twists, there is never a dull moment as she learns what it is like being a Royal. A fabulous, fun read filled with emotion that you never want to end!

Part thriller part mystery, royal family, who can you trust? This start to a new series presents many compelling elements of YA mysteries. The relationship between the protag and her mom left some to be desired, but the dynamics of the royal family were intriguing.

Fun YA mystery with a royal vibe, readers who enjoy books about royalty should like this. The mystery part of the story fell a little flat for me because the twists were somewhat expected. The instalove was a little unbelievable to me as well. Nice, light, gossipy book.

A great mystery! I read this one for screening before pre-ordering for my high school library. I know my students will absolutely love the mix of royal and thrilling mystery. This one will be a popular one!