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kconnorz's review
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
ethel1995's review against another edition
Forgot how silly these books are lol and how many exclamation points they use. Glad to finish the series that’s really all I have to say lol
a_strix_named_strix's review against another edition
5.0
I've been following this series for years, since book 1. I saw these characters grow and change.
This is a review of all of the series (I read Inheritance, but barely remember it, so mostly, I won’t be mentioning it).
Daphne
Daphne was easily my least favorite POV for three books running. When Majesty was said to be the end, I was frustrated with the decision to have her end up with Jeff, who she displayed barely any real love for. Especially in book 1 (she gradually improves, esp when Himari calls out her bullshit), she is irritating. I found Himari waking up and the fact that even when Daphne has a clean slate to set things right with Himari, pre-drugging, she still couldn't fix the friendship to be painfully realistic. Some friendships won't ever work without significant change from part(y/ies) involved. Some friendships can't be repaired because they are fundamentally unworkable. Daphne wasn't willing to change enough then. I really wish Himari would've appeared, if only in the ending.
Her partnership with Nina was probably the highlight of book 3, but, ultimately its unraveling felt realistic but not satisfying to read. Is it realistic she'd double down? Yes, but it fed some of the most painfully trite drama in the entire series (and I say this as someone who didn't mind the love triangle, Beatrice's relationship mess, or Samantha). I physically cringed every time Nina or Daphne ranted about how awful the other person was.
(Also, did anyone notice that the only way that Daphne was redeemed from "alpha bitch" status was for someone else, Gabriella, to take that place?)
Her relationship with Ethan is one of the endgame pairings I expected back in book 1, but completely forgot about until book 4, and it fits well. Ethan did turn against Daphne in book 2 before being absent to my memory in book 3, but her leaving AB status meant that she underwent enough of a change (and narrative paradigm shift) for it to feel earned. I certainly like Ethan/Daphne more than her with Jeff.
While I feel Daphne's ending fits her well (finally breaking out of her mother’s grasp), and it should feel earned, it doesn't quite land for me. Daphne just didn't change enough, and hidden layers don't change that. Daphne chose to drug Himari. She was at best an irritating but well enough written villain or dark antihero. Could she have been handled better? Yes, but esp in Reign she was handled well.
Samantha
I wasn't too interested in her love life really ever, I enjoyed her character pretty much consistently (book 2 was her best in my opinion), and never once hated her or found her bland. She and Marshall were highlights in unmenorable points. They had chemistry.
Meanwhile, the "party girl acts out because of expectations and being treated as unimportant" trope was played well here, esp as the heir. Book 4 also was a highlight for her development. Even as her titles were stripped, she got more freedom, and grew into herself. She finally was allowed to be less uptight (instead of just rebelling) and find a role that fit her--the looser, laid-back royal who connects with people in a genuine way.
Nina and her had an interesting friendship, however it did feel like Nina's storyline and not Sam's. I wish we'd seen a bit more depth from her end, honestly.
Sam overall was solidly written and rather consistent--there isn't as much to say.
Nina
Nina was my favorite POV for most of the series. I love the trope of commoners and royals as friends, and I always rooted for her to end up with Jeff. She was interesting and also, rather consistent. She had less going on that I remember (I really should've done a full series reread to prepare), but the consistent exploration of her commoner status lent a grounding to this story where two POVs are royals, and one is noble-ish and lives in the public eye. The plot twist at the end of book 4 felt half-assed and dull, though, with little follow-through. Her desire for privacy made her and Daphne great foils, especially with her quiet envy and knows that she doesn’t really belong in Sam and Jeff's world, and is only there because they let her be. That is fascinating, and one of the only real issues the books tackle in this otherwise very pro-royalty, glamorous series. She was consistently interesting even in duller entries. Unfortunately, she never QUITE shined, either.
I always preferred her and Jeff, she liked him for him in ways that the almost gold-diggerish Daphne didn't. Her maturity to respect Jeff's choice of Daphne and know that she couldn't remain friends with him because of that was really emotional and pognient to Reign's themes. In Rivals, she was at her dullest, but in Reign she really grew.
Her and Ethan were a bit bland, but did work. With two books more, they could've been great. I liked Ethan's development, but she mainly served to propel his development/one book arc, and that was it.
James was fine, he and Nina had chemistry, but needed a bit more time. The mutual yearning for privacy made it more compelling. Nina did really mainly develop in her dynamics with others, whether it was Sam, Ethan, Daphne, Gabriella, James, or Jeff, and most of her arcs were centered around that.
Beatrice
I will come out and say it: Her and Conner were bland. I found her milquetoast and unremarkable until Rivals. Most of AR's strength is its characters and usage of relationships, pressures, and dynamics to propel interesting, interwoven arcs, and Beatrice was mainly separate from everyone else. In Rivals, her realization that she was just following her friends was great development, and her final major conflict (that being shoring up support) meant that she did really have to introspect. Unfortunately, for most of Reign's second half, she twiddled her thumbs. Not as cliche as 1/2 Beatrice, but irritating. Her relationship with Teddy was well-done. I love them together, but they are bland in a fairy tale-esque way.
Jeff
I dislike Jeff. He has no character arc (not really when compared to everyone else, esp as a functionally main character). He's dense. He's goofy but lovable. He doesn't have Ethan or even Himari's level of arc or inner life. He feels like more of a goal for Daphne and Nina, part of the Fun Twins with Sam, and the Heartthrob Royal with everyone else.
Even as acting king, he barely does anything that doesn't mainly forward someone else's arc. I maintain that he should've had a Reign POV.
Book Opinions
My general ranking is
1) Rivals. It gives everyone great development, made me hate Daphne less, and even made Beatrice's chapters not a slog and less disconnected from the themes and plot!
2) Reign. It ties a few nice bows on everything and is mainly free from Majestyism.* Unfortunately, the early resolution of its synopsis's plot leaves Jeff's potential big characterization break on the table and never is quite what it could've been, and it loses steam around the 2/3rd mark. It was satisfying, and did generally develop the characters compellingly, with great romantic drama that never felt forced (a benefit of its cast's development at this point).
3) American Royals (no subtitle). It does a good job at introducing these people, but didn’t have Reign's properly fleshed out characters yet or sense for the natural progression of romantic arcs and how they lead into each other. It's basically what most series of this type have: a pilot book.
4) Majesty. It has Majestyism in spades, that being forced drama that feels like filler. There are good parts (Sam and Nina, Ethan, Himari), but especially Daphne just didn't have enough depth to carry the immense weight of supporting the entire story (most character motivations come from her here besides Sam and bland Beatrice , Ethan's relationship with Nina, Himari's entire deal, the Nina/Jeff/Daphne love triangle).
Also, the entire series is strangely pro-royal. Given the Thousandth Floor saga's strange reality-show-esque overuse of drug abuse, incest, and death of the mkst interesting characters, I shouldn't be surprised, but the more grounded setting (and less over-the-top trappings) threw me off. The series comes close at points to the barest commentary (which CAN strengthen a narrative even as un-heavy as AR's is), but dodges the broader look at class divides (Nina/Sam), the pressures of generational aspirations and "mini me" parents (Daphne and her ex-model mom), how the public can sort of dehumanize celebs (all of Reign, that is its central theme, being dehumanization), racism (Marshall), and hereditary monarchy's failings in able leaders (Beatrice in Reign). But it doesn't.
This is a review of all of the series (I read Inheritance, but barely remember it, so mostly, I won’t be mentioning it).
Daphne
Daphne was easily my least favorite POV for three books running. When Majesty was said to be the end, I was frustrated with the decision to have her end up with Jeff, who she displayed barely any real love for. Especially in book 1 (she gradually improves, esp when Himari calls out her bullshit), she is irritating. I found Himari waking up and the fact that even when Daphne has a clean slate to set things right with Himari, pre-drugging, she still couldn't fix the friendship to be painfully realistic. Some friendships won't ever work without significant change from part(y/ies) involved. Some friendships can't be repaired because they are fundamentally unworkable. Daphne wasn't willing to change enough then. I really wish Himari would've appeared, if only in the ending.
Her partnership with Nina was probably the highlight of book 3, but, ultimately its unraveling felt realistic but not satisfying to read. Is it realistic she'd double down? Yes, but it fed some of the most painfully trite drama in the entire series (and I say this as someone who didn't mind the love triangle, Beatrice's relationship mess, or Samantha). I physically cringed every time Nina or Daphne ranted about how awful the other person was.
(Also, did anyone notice that the only way that Daphne was redeemed from "alpha bitch" status was for someone else, Gabriella, to take that place?)
Her relationship with Ethan is one of the endgame pairings I expected back in book 1, but completely forgot about until book 4, and it fits well. Ethan did turn against Daphne in book 2 before being absent to my memory in book 3, but her leaving AB status meant that she underwent enough of a change (and narrative paradigm shift) for it to feel earned. I certainly like Ethan/Daphne more than her with Jeff.
While I feel Daphne's ending fits her well (finally breaking out of her mother’s grasp), and it should feel earned, it doesn't quite land for me. Daphne just didn't change enough, and hidden layers don't change that. Daphne chose to drug Himari. She was at best an irritating but well enough written villain or dark antihero. Could she have been handled better? Yes, but esp in Reign she was handled well.
Samantha
I wasn't too interested in her love life really ever, I enjoyed her character pretty much consistently (book 2 was her best in my opinion), and never once hated her or found her bland. She and Marshall were highlights in unmenorable points. They had chemistry.
Meanwhile, the "party girl acts out because of expectations and being treated as unimportant" trope was played well here, esp as the heir. Book 4 also was a highlight for her development. Even as her titles were stripped, she got more freedom, and grew into herself. She finally was allowed to be less uptight (instead of just rebelling) and find a role that fit her--the looser, laid-back royal who connects with people in a genuine way.
Nina and her had an interesting friendship, however it did feel like Nina's storyline and not Sam's. I wish we'd seen a bit more depth from her end, honestly.
Sam overall was solidly written and rather consistent--there isn't as much to say.
Nina
Nina was my favorite POV for most of the series. I love the trope of commoners and royals as friends, and I always rooted for her to end up with Jeff. She was interesting and also, rather consistent. She had less going on that I remember (I really should've done a full series reread to prepare), but the consistent exploration of her commoner status lent a grounding to this story where two POVs are royals, and one is noble-ish and lives in the public eye. The plot twist at the end of book 4 felt half-assed and dull, though, with little follow-through. Her desire for privacy made her and Daphne great foils, especially with her quiet envy and knows that she doesn’t really belong in Sam and Jeff's world, and is only there because they let her be. That is fascinating, and one of the only real issues the books tackle in this otherwise very pro-royalty, glamorous series. She was consistently interesting even in duller entries. Unfortunately, she never QUITE shined, either.
I always preferred her and Jeff, she liked him for him in ways that the almost gold-diggerish Daphne didn't. Her maturity to respect Jeff's choice of Daphne and know that she couldn't remain friends with him because of that was really emotional and pognient to Reign's themes. In Rivals, she was at her dullest, but in Reign she really grew.
Her and Ethan were a bit bland, but did work. With two books more, they could've been great. I liked Ethan's development, but she mainly served to propel his development/one book arc, and that was it.
James was fine, he and Nina had chemistry, but needed a bit more time. The mutual yearning for privacy made it more compelling. Nina did really mainly develop in her dynamics with others, whether it was Sam, Ethan, Daphne, Gabriella, James, or Jeff, and most of her arcs were centered around that.
Beatrice
I will come out and say it: Her and Conner were bland. I found her milquetoast and unremarkable until Rivals. Most of AR's strength is its characters and usage of relationships, pressures, and dynamics to propel interesting, interwoven arcs, and Beatrice was mainly separate from everyone else. In Rivals, her realization that she was just following her friends was great development, and her final major conflict (that being shoring up support) meant that she did really have to introspect. Unfortunately, for most of Reign's second half, she twiddled her thumbs. Not as cliche as 1/2 Beatrice, but irritating. Her relationship with Teddy was well-done. I love them together, but they are bland in a fairy tale-esque way.
Jeff
I dislike Jeff. He has no character arc (not really when compared to everyone else, esp as a functionally main character). He's dense. He's goofy but lovable. He doesn't have Ethan or even Himari's level of arc or inner life. He feels like more of a goal for Daphne and Nina, part of the Fun Twins with Sam, and the Heartthrob Royal with everyone else.
Even as acting king, he barely does anything that doesn't mainly forward someone else's arc. I maintain that he should've had a Reign POV.
Book Opinions
My general ranking is
1) Rivals. It gives everyone great development, made me hate Daphne less, and even made Beatrice's chapters not a slog and less disconnected from the themes and plot!
2) Reign. It ties a few nice bows on everything and is mainly free from Majestyism.* Unfortunately, the early resolution of its synopsis's plot leaves Jeff's potential big characterization break on the table and never is quite what it could've been, and it loses steam around the 2/3rd mark. It was satisfying, and did generally develop the characters compellingly, with great romantic drama that never felt forced (a benefit of its cast's development at this point).
3) American Royals (no subtitle). It does a good job at introducing these people, but didn’t have Reign's properly fleshed out characters yet or sense for the natural progression of romantic arcs and how they lead into each other. It's basically what most series of this type have: a pilot book.
4) Majesty. It has Majestyism in spades, that being forced drama that feels like filler. There are good parts (Sam and Nina, Ethan, Himari), but especially Daphne just didn't have enough depth to carry the immense weight of supporting the entire story (most character motivations come from her here besides Sam and bland Beatrice , Ethan's relationship with Nina, Himari's entire deal, the Nina/Jeff/Daphne love triangle).
Also, the entire series is strangely pro-royal. Given the Thousandth Floor saga's strange reality-show-esque overuse of drug abuse, incest, and death of the mkst interesting characters, I shouldn't be surprised, but the more grounded setting (and less over-the-top trappings) threw me off. The series comes close at points to the barest commentary (which CAN strengthen a narrative even as un-heavy as AR's is), but dodges the broader look at class divides (Nina/Sam), the pressures of generational aspirations and "mini me" parents (Daphne and her ex-model mom), how the public can sort of dehumanize celebs (all of Reign, that is its central theme, being dehumanization), racism (Marshall), and hereditary monarchy's failings in able leaders (Beatrice in Reign). But it doesn't.
kristeno23's review
2.5
every character’s personality changes in every book and not in a character growth way. social commentary attempts are clunky. sick of everyone by the end.
happy for bea though.
happy for bea though.
lauraerna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kwillen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jojoleemac's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dayamarie's review against another edition
4.0
This was my favorite book of the series. It definitely had its fair share of drama and cringy moments, but the characters also had more depth. I couldn’t stop listening (love the narrator). There was so much I didn’t see coming but was very happy with. There was one particular story line for a particular character that I wished went a different way but maybe people can drastically change.
jcrawford728's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
finklefish24's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0