Reviews

Royals by Tegan Bennett Daylight

through_my_eyes81's review against another edition

3.0

Good YA novel about teens and a baby stuck in a shopping centre. Written by a Blue Mountains author and was relatable by the description of the centre in Penrith. I found it a little stilted in parts although I’m not the target audience for this novel. Passed on to the teen at home for a second opinion.

alyx7564's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious 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? No

4.0

stories's review

challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Fascinating. Sold as a “modernised response to Lord of the Flies”, and certainly there are nods to it. But trap the teens (plus baby) in a shopping centre, rather than a desert island. (And thus add a bizarre magical gimmick to make it plausible). 

Very readable, and it would be interesting to compare more directly to LotF, particularly in regards to characters and pacing. 

Somewhat gimmicky “like” and consumerism moments, and an irritatingly “literary” ending when contrasted against some of the more heavy handed moments elsewhere, but an interesting take 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Pandemic/Epidemic, Car accident, Vomit, Ableism, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, and Homophobia

rainbow_storm3200's review

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

childofthetortoise's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

cass_89's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective fast-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

3.75

froggie_alex's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

hrdallos's review against another edition

3.0

I’m not sure I entirely understand

craitlin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

amydotreads's review against another edition

relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0