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allanvdh's review
1.0
Dull and worrying Transphobic
This book is dull and not even that funny by making mockery of people.
It is not ok to write a scene where the king is snickered at while being forced to wear clothes of another gender.
That is pure transphobia and the reason why so many Trans youth struggle because the author here like many people think it’s something to make fun of and try get a laugh out of it.
There is nothing funny or wrong about a person who wants to wear clothes from a gender different to theirs but by making it a mockery scene and making the protagonist character be mocked for it is a blow for all Trans people who get mocked or bullied in life. The scene below is sick and wrong but not a person wishing to wear clothes of another gender. That person has a right to chose without the rest of the world and this dull Author throwing opinions and bigoted views on people’s choices.
“I want you,” the Editor said, pausing for two full beats, “to put on a woman’s dress, and let our artists paint your portrait.” The King drew back. “You want what?” “You,” the Editor said, “to put on a woman’s dress, and let our artists paint your portrait.” “That’s sick.” “Wrong,” Duke Edward corrected with emphasis. “It’s news.” “I am not putting on a woman’s dress and makeup just so you can—” “I never said anything about makeup. But that’s a bloody good idea…” “I won’t do it! I refuse!”
Do not make this news, do not make a mockery or joke of something because all you do is hurt real Trans people.
Do not buy this book!!
This book is dull and not even that funny by making mockery of people.
It is not ok to write a scene where the king is snickered at while being forced to wear clothes of another gender.
That is pure transphobia and the reason why so many Trans youth struggle because the author here like many people think it’s something to make fun of and try get a laugh out of it.
There is nothing funny or wrong about a person who wants to wear clothes from a gender different to theirs but by making it a mockery scene and making the protagonist character be mocked for it is a blow for all Trans people who get mocked or bullied in life. The scene below is sick and wrong but not a person wishing to wear clothes of another gender. That person has a right to chose without the rest of the world and this dull Author throwing opinions and bigoted views on people’s choices.
“I want you,” the Editor said, pausing for two full beats, “to put on a woman’s dress, and let our artists paint your portrait.” The King drew back. “You want what?” “You,” the Editor said, “to put on a woman’s dress, and let our artists paint your portrait.” “That’s sick.” “Wrong,” Duke Edward corrected with emphasis. “It’s news.” “I am not putting on a woman’s dress and makeup just so you can—” “I never said anything about makeup. But that’s a bloody good idea…” “I won’t do it! I refuse!”
Do not make this news, do not make a mockery or joke of something because all you do is hurt real Trans people.
Do not buy this book!!
danielad's review against another edition
3.0
I first saw this novel in Mount Pearl's used book (and bong and hookah and illegal knife) shop. I'd visited the place a number of times but I only took notice of the book once I saw it listed in the giveaway section on this site. Once I realized that Scott was also living in St. John's, I messaged him and soon found out that we have a few mutual friends . . . .
In any case, Royal Flush is a comedic novel (I don't usually read funny stuff) about the King of the Kingdom who is only the King because no one else wants the title. Being a fairly pathetic ruler, he executes whomever he wishes and plays polo with his adviser.
The novel begins with the King being compelled to find a wife. As you can imagine, he's not very good at romance and ends up imprisoning his first date because he isn't comfortable with small-talk. I won't tell you much more about the story other then that, should you decide to read it, you'll end up meeting a whole host of odd groups and characters, including The Traveling Linguists Guild, a tribe whose language consists entirely of prepositions, and The Wisest Man Alive.
In any case, Royal Flush is a comedic novel (I don't usually read funny stuff) about the King of the Kingdom who is only the King because no one else wants the title. Being a fairly pathetic ruler, he executes whomever he wishes and plays polo with his adviser.
The novel begins with the King being compelled to find a wife. As you can imagine, he's not very good at romance and ends up imprisoning his first date because he isn't comfortable with small-talk. I won't tell you much more about the story other then that, should you decide to read it, you'll end up meeting a whole host of odd groups and characters, including The Traveling Linguists Guild, a tribe whose language consists entirely of prepositions, and The Wisest Man Alive.
atlantic_reader_wannabe's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book! It was full of that downhome humour that I love when reading books by Newfoundland writers. I was chuckling throughout the book and even laughed out loud on occasion. It's such a fun book to read and it's so enjoyable!
mayarend's review against another edition
4.0
Royal Flush is about The King. That's his name (kind of like "The Doctor" you know?). He is the King at The Kingdom and rules there, of course. Not that he does much, he hangs people every now and then or throws them into dungeons, but mostly, he embarrasses himself and shows up on the local tabloid in shameful stories that aren't always true, but sometimes, sadly, they are.
The King is a loner, but his advisor keeps telling him he must marry - a King must have a Queen and heirs, of course. But The King never wanted to marry. He did want to be King, of course, that's basically why he IS King. I mean, no one else wanted to.
So there is the King and hisAdvisor. And suddenly the King falls in love with someone at a bar, while drunk. And decides to marry her. But she doesn't want to - he's not really that much fun. And from then on, well, the story gets a bit... Weird.
You see, this is a complicated yet simple book. The plot isn't confusing, one thing happen after the other and you understand it perfectly. But, on the other hand, things become quite extraordinaire, the characters are JUST as obvious as they seem, which is a new one for me, usually authors try to make their characters deep, confusing, complete as human beings. Here we see people who are, really, just people in the end. You can always relate them to that cousin you know isn't very deep or that co-worker who seems to survive on instinct. But that's exactly where it gets complicated. It's hard to talk about it without spoiling the whole story - no plot twists, you see. Well, several plot twists, but not on the way we usually see them on the "I bet you didn't see that coming, right, so now I changed everything so you'd be surprised" kind of way. More on the "hum let's do something different with the characters now!"
Our King isn't the brightest or the fittest, or even the most charming. He isn't any of those things at all, bright, fit or charming. He's just plain and boring. And yet, you keep on reading and turning pages because, well, you just have to find out why on Earth he keeps on living and how on hell the author will find yet another way to torture him.
He almost loses his kingdom, but doesn't, then he really does, then he roams the land, finds another kingdom, goes back, travels, regains his kingdom, loses the kingdom and so on. It's complicated, of course. Always with a "companion", the Fiddler. The Fiddler has a name, but I didn't bother to look it up. The fiddler also has a lady-friend, a girlfriend if you like, who, of course, the King falls in love with. That's a very interesting part of the book, that and The Wisest Man Alive.
When I write it down, it seems like a stupid book. And in a way, it is. But it is so clearly intentionally stupid that you just have to keep on reading. It's a quick read, a fast paced book that can keep you busy during your boring idle hours, like Lunch Hour!
The King is a loner, but his advisor keeps telling him he must marry - a King must have a Queen and heirs, of course. But The King never wanted to marry. He did want to be King, of course, that's basically why he IS King. I mean, no one else wanted to.
So there is the King and hisAdvisor. And suddenly the King falls in love with someone at a bar, while drunk. And decides to marry her. But she doesn't want to - he's not really that much fun. And from then on, well, the story gets a bit... Weird.
You see, this is a complicated yet simple book. The plot isn't confusing, one thing happen after the other and you understand it perfectly. But, on the other hand, things become quite extraordinaire, the characters are JUST as obvious as they seem, which is a new one for me, usually authors try to make their characters deep, confusing, complete as human beings. Here we see people who are, really, just people in the end. You can always relate them to that cousin you know isn't very deep or that co-worker who seems to survive on instinct. But that's exactly where it gets complicated. It's hard to talk about it without spoiling the whole story - no plot twists, you see. Well, several plot twists, but not on the way we usually see them on the "I bet you didn't see that coming, right, so now I changed everything so you'd be surprised" kind of way. More on the "hum let's do something different with the characters now!"
Our King isn't the brightest or the fittest, or even the most charming. He isn't any of those things at all, bright, fit or charming. He's just plain and boring. And yet, you keep on reading and turning pages because, well, you just have to find out why on Earth he keeps on living and how on hell the author will find yet another way to torture him.
He almost loses his kingdom, but doesn't, then he really does, then he roams the land, finds another kingdom, goes back, travels, regains his kingdom, loses the kingdom and so on. It's complicated, of course. Always with a "companion", the Fiddler. The Fiddler has a name, but I didn't bother to look it up. The fiddler also has a lady-friend, a girlfriend if you like, who, of course, the King falls in love with. That's a very interesting part of the book, that and The Wisest Man Alive.
When I write it down, it seems like a stupid book. And in a way, it is. But it is so clearly intentionally stupid that you just have to keep on reading. It's a quick read, a fast paced book that can keep you busy during your boring idle hours, like Lunch Hour!
superdhebz's review
3.0
A book full of wit. The story revolves around The King whose actions and reactions to almost everything he does are funny. A ridiculous story. Thanks Goodreads First Reads and Scott Bartlett for such a witty, good vibes, book!
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