A fun, typical romantasy novel with good world-building. If you're looking for a quick read that will leave you wanting more, this is a good book to pick up. The chemistry between the FMC and MMC is great, and the pacing is fast without feeling rushed, 4.5 stars!

4 ⭐️

An academic setting that could potentially kill you, with a mentor/mentee relationship — my absolutely favorite — and this did not disappoint.

Overall the story was fast paced and had me wanting to know what happens next. There are definitely a few plot points I can’t wait to see develop in book two. I also hope Phoenix gives Daegle a little more hell. She’s such a strong character, and doesn’t take shit from anyone, but she lets him off the hook a little too easily.

This was an easy and enjoyable read! The story follows a human protagonist navigating the challenges of trying to earn a place at an elite academy full of fae—powerful, mysterious, and often dangerous beings after she breaks the rules before she even starts!!
The pacing was smooth, the world-building intriguing without being overwhelming, and the characters were easy to connect with. If you’re looking for a fantasy story with just the right balance of magic, tension, and heart (without getting bogged down in overly complex lore), this is a great pick. Perfect for fans of light fantasy and academy-style adventures.
Thankyou to NetGalley & Xpresso Book Tours for this ARC, all opinions are my own 😊

Okay, whew. That was something!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the story. The plot was interesting and captivating, it kept leaving me wanting more and more.

Phoenix is one hell of a badass and I absolutely adore her. At first I had my doubts about Deagel but he did redeem himself later on.

I still have many questions; especially thanks to the last chapters that were from the POV of someone we do not know yet. It gave us a cliffhanger that has me very interested in seeing where the story will take us in book 2! 🙌🏼👀

I appreciate the opportunity to read this but unfortunately I will not be finishing it as the story did not really grab me.

The fmc, Pheonix (yes, thats her bada*s name!) Is strong, clever and so unexpectedly funny. She is the only human at a fae academy - can you feel the vibe yet?! I loved all the adventure this held, the characters and rivalry and spy vibes. The trainer/instructor to trainee trope was done seamlessly and in a way that was so fun and steamy. The mmc, Daegel seemed emotionally unavailable but im so interested in how their relationships grows and hopefully continues in this series.

Well, it's a yes from me!

Phoenix, the only human among fae, enters the deadly training grounds to join the legendary Order and avenge her family's murder. But everything changes when she discovers her new instructor is the masked stranger she shared one unforgettable night with. Now, torn between vengeance and forbidden desire, Phoenix must survive brutal trials, ruthless rivals, and a love that could destroy her.

I knew I was going to love this one as soon as I started reading. It has that vibe where the heroine's a total badass, which is exactly why I was constantly worried about her boldness, yet cheering her on at the same time. The romance is gorgeous, the chemistry intoxicating, and the main hero is strong and protective, but also a little secretive. Yumm!

Phoenix's choice of weapon is a bow. And it's a bow with a mind of it's own. I loved those parts!

“Okay, buddy,” I whisper to my bow. “How about we try this new tactic?”
I wait for the bow to respond in any way. But nothing comes.
“Of course,” I say with a sigh. “With your attitude, I shouldn’t expect our communication issues to be solved this fucking easily.”

The writing is smooth, focused and very flowy.

Now, it's the mystery surrounding Phoenix's revenge that has me hooked. I can hardly wait for book #2!

3.90 ⭐️
2 🌶️

Vicious Princess was exactly the fast-paced Romantasy I needed right now. From the first chapter, I was hooked by the academy setting—full of rivalries, harsh training, spy missions, and the delicious tension of a forbidden romance with a Fae instructor.

Phoenix, the only human at Ezkai Academy, is such a strong lead. She’s determined, witty, and decisive, with a unique ability to sense emotions and a deep connection to her bow that I loved. Her drive for revenge gave her story real weight, though I do wish we’d seen more about how joining the Order would directly tie into that mission.

The romance worked well for me—the instructor/trainee dynamic kept me invested, and Daegel’s pine-forest presence made him both swoon-worthy and mysterious. I did want a little more emotional development between them, but the spark was definitely there.

The pacing was one of the book’s strengths: tense and addictive without feeling rushed. While the worldbuilding wasn’t overly complex, it was immersive and had just enough intrigue to keep me turning pages. That ending left me with so many questions: What really happened to Phoenix’s family? What secrets is Daegel hiding? And… where are the dragons? 🐉

Overall, this was tense, entertaining, and filled with just the right mix of action, romance, and mystery. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel to see where Phoenix’s journey goes next.

Thank you NetGalley & Karolina Wilde for the ARC! ✨

I went into Vicious Princess with pretty low expectations—I had honestly forgotten what it was about before I started reading. But wow, it completely surprised me in the best way! From the very first chapters, I was hooked, and it only got better as the story unfolded. Karolina Wilde delivers a sharp, addictive read with just the right mix of tension, intrigue, and swoony moments.
I loved how the characters leapt off the page, and the twists kept me engaged the whole way through. By the end, I was already desperate for more—book two cannot come soon enough!

This was such an engaging read: the writing style flows really easily and kept me turning the pages quickly. I really enjoyed the main character. Phoenix’s backstory was one of my favorite parts.

That said, there were a few things that didn’t quite work for me personally. The story starts with a different love interest and includes another flirtation, which took away a bit of the “slow burn” dynamic I prefer in romance. Dragons were mentioned frequently (and even hinted at on the cover with the scales), so I was surprised they didn’t play a more active role in the story itself. Lastly, while I understood the reasoning behind the plot twist at the end, it was a bit confusing to follow a POV that hadn’t been introduced before.

Overall though, I really liked the story, the relationships, and the world-building, and I’m curious to see where the series goes next. It’s definitely a book I’d recommend

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

This book surprised me with how much I liked it. It was a pretty run of the mill romantasy world and magic system, but it was very fun to read and the romance worked really well. 

I was a little concerned at first because the transition between the prologue and chapter 1 was really weird (prologue super depressing and then chapter 1 starts with a sex scene), but it only got better from there. 

I would have loved a map of the city and the palace to help imagine the world. 

It was a really quick read and very accessible which can be hard to find in the fantasy genre, so I appreciated that. 

The main character was very different from other FMCs which I appreciated. She wasn't really book smart, which is a nice change. 

The last few chapters were weird, I could have done without them.

This was an amazing read! Literally was obsessed over it!
The world building in this was absolutely phenomenal, I was enveloped by it and loved the world. Daegel was such a fun character, shes got an amazing personality that I adored. Also PHOENIX BOY OH BOY!
I will be posting a full review tomorrow, August 16th on my instagram @sky_loves_books.

⭐ 3.5 / 5
I received an e-ARC of Vicious Princess through NetGalley — thank you to the author, publisher, and Xpresso Book Tours for the opportunity.

I’m a sucker for an academy setting, so the premise of Vicious Princess immediately caught my attention. Phoenix, the only human among merciless fae, has the unique ability to sense others’ emotions and sensations — a detail I really enjoyed, especially paired with her skill and connection to her bow. I’m hoping book two explores that weapon bond even more, because it was one of my favorite aspects.

The worldbuilding here leans into familiar territory: a competitive academy, ruthless trials, and the constant fight to climb the ranks. It’s a trope I’ve seen often, but I didn’t mind that — it delivered the intensity and rivalries I was expecting. I do wish we’d seen more of Phoenix’s past training before the academy, as I think that could have deepened her arc and the stakes.

While the story had engaging moments and I enjoyed the core concept, the writing style didn’t completely work for me. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t always draw me in as much as I’d hoped. That said, the pacing moved well, and there were enough intriguing elements (and unanswered questions) to keep me invested for the sequel.

Overall, Vicious Princess offers a blend of romance, revenge, and survival in a harsh fae world. Fans of Throne of Glass or Fourth Wing might find themselves right at home here — just be prepared for a few familiar beats along the way. I’ll be keeping an eye out for book two to see where Phoenix’s journey goes next.

Vicious Princess - Karolina Wilde
5+✨
What an amazing world I was just thrown into. I was hooked right from the first chapter and I hated having to put it down. There was never a boring moment and I didn’t feel like some chapters were just fillers to make the book longer, everything was there for a reason. I love academy settings in books and this did not disappoint.
So our FMC Phoenix lost her family in a fire, and swore she would get revenge on their killer. So she travels to the place where they train the most elite soldiers, to even have a chance to be chosen she needs to survive 6 months of ruthless training in the Ezkai Academy. To make it even more interesting it turns out one of her instructors is a man she spent a very passionate night with. If that is not a recipe for an interesting story I don’t know what is.
I can’t think of a bad thing to say about this book, the only thing I can say is I hope the next book keeps the single POV, since the last chapters were from some random dude, but perhaps that was only to set up the next book. Here is what you get from this book,
🌱Romantasy
🌱Elite soldiers
🌱Fae
🌱Academy
🌱Revenge
🌱Forbidden love
🌱Secrets
I recommend you get your paws on this book on the 26th August!
Now I will wait for book 2!
Thank you NetGalley and Karolina Wilde for this ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily💕

3.5 🌟🌟🌟.5

You will really enjoy this book if you like somewhat frequent spicy scenes, mentor/mentee dynamic, academy drama, and an ending that buttons itself up with a nice bow and then introduces a new plot line that will go nicely into book 2.

The prologue started out so sad with the death of the FMC's entire family and then literally the first page of chapter one someone is going down on our FMC, which was a shock. I enjoyed once the book started to get into the academy setting and going through the training and getting to know the other trainees.

The romance vould have been a bit more emotional. There was drama and learning secrets and arguing about those secrets but nothing that really brought them together in a way that felt like more than a good lay. I was expecting Princess to be his pet name for her, but everyone ended up calling her that throughout the book.

I will be reading the next book and I hope they go more into the past of Phoenix's family and what her father did/who he was, as well as building more of the relationship between our FMC and MMC.

Thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read this early!

In Vicious Princess, we follow Phoenix, the only human to enter the ruthless Ezkai Academy, where the elite soldiers of the Order are trained. Driven by the desire to avenge her family’s death, she faces brutal training, sharp rivalries, and a forbidden love that could jeopardize everything. Among five combat units, Phoenix stands out as a Phantom Ranger — a lethal archer — while struggling to find her place in a world ruled by the fae.

The story blends fantasy and romance with a military academy atmosphere, reminiscent of Divergent with its faction-like divisions and intense physical challenges. The plot flows naturally, without overwhelming the reader with excessive explanations or heavy glossaries, making it an accessible and fast-paced read. Highlights include the magical bond between Phoenix and her bow — culminating in a symbolic moment of self-discovery.

On the downside, some conflicts and relationships are resolved too quickly or lack depth, particularly regarding the protagonist’s family background and the weight of her revenge motivation. The pacing also fluctuates: while some chapters are utterly gripping, others slow down with a repetitive pattern of romance scenes followed by battles. Small narrative inconsistencies and logic gaps in certain passages may also stand out to more attentive readers.

Still, Vicious Princess offers a solid balance of action, romance, and intrigue, set in a world that, while not groundbreaking, is easy to immerse in. It’s the kind of fantasy perfect for readers looking for something engaging, uncomplicated, and with a dash of spice — all wrapped up with an irresistible cliffhanger leading into the sequel.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

⭐️ 4/5

Phoenix enters a brutal academy to join an elite military of fae where she is the only human. Deadly skill, cunning, and romantic tension intertwine, but the biggest challenge might not be surviving to avenge her family but navigating and finding her place in an unfamiliar world.

I needlessly braced for spice-first, plot-second when heat hit in chapter one—but once we got rolling, Vicious Princess locked into the exact lane I love. The story effortlessly combines a fantasy setting with a military school vibe, layering in romance, rivalries, and intrigue that kept me hooked throughout. It’s easy to feel comfortable in this world without feeling bogged down by overcomplicated details—the glossary is barely needed, and the writing flows naturally.

While the plot isn’t groundbreaking, I loved the way the story develops naturally. Some conflicts felt a bit rushed or underexplored, but I’m hopeful these threads will pay off in future installments. The magical element of Phoenix bonding with her bow—learning its name and embracing her true self—was a particularly satisfying moment of self-discovery. Overall, it’s a captivating start to a series I’ll definitely continue. Make sure you follow the link to the bonus chapter from Daegel’s point of view for a spicy little treat.

Favorite Quotes:
“… life is fucking cruel. You either end up on the wall with an arrow between your eyes or are the one holding the bow. I know what I’d rather choose.” – Phoenix POV

Divergent and Fourth Wing lovers, this is for you!

Not going to lie, I had my doubts at the very beginning but before I knew it, I was HOOKED. Especially when Phoenix arrives at Ezkai Academy, part one of her revenge plan, to start her ruthless training to see if she’s accepted into the Order of elite soldiers. Like Divergent with their factions, Vicious Princess has five different Units with Phoenix being the only human among fae, not to mention she's a Phantom Ranger (certified badass with a bow and arrow). Of course she has a forbidden student / mentor love interest with lots of spicy scenes and Roman, her best friend / bunk mate who I adore, through all the training and trials.

Although there are a few flashbacks to her relationship with her dad throughout, I would’ve liked more on her family to really build on the revenge plot from losing them. It happened so quickly and is mentioned throughout as the reason for her ambitions of joining the Order. I’m guessing that’s all coming though - I’m definitely keen for book two, also is she a secret royal?

This book was a pretty good balance of everything: action, romance, trials. I wasn’t a fan of Kata’s storyline and how everyone was suddenly friendly as it just felt too easy and sudden for me, but I was still entertained otherwise.

I will say that the use of “forwards” when it should have been “forward” drove me absolutely crazy toward the last half. It got really bad and repetitive which I didn’t notice in the first half.