My Thoughts: City of Bastards by Andrew Shvarts

City of Bastards
(Royal Bastards #2)
by Andrew Shvarts
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Publication Date: June 5th 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781484767634
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: For Review

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Tilla, bastard of House Kent, has it made. Safe from her murderous father in the dazzling capital of Lightspire, she lives a life of luxury under the protection of the Volaris King, alongside her boyfriend Zell and best friend, Princess Lyriana.

So why isn’t she happy? Maybe it’s the whispers and stares that follow her wherever she goes, as the daughter of the traitor waging war against Lightspire. Or maybe it’s the memories of her beloved brother, Jax, who lies cold in his grave even as she tries to settle into a life in the city's prestigious University.

Then, Tilla stumbles upon the body of a classmate, a friend. The authorities are quick to rule it a suicide and sweep it under the rug, but when Tilla herself is attacked by a mysterious man with terrifying powers, she’s convinced of a conspiracy. Her friends beg her to stay silent; what she's suggesting is impossible... and treasonous.

But Tilla can't, won't, let it go. And the deeper she digs, the more questions she uncovers. How is the West beating the supposedly invincible Lightspire Mages in battle? Is it connected to the shadowy cult wreaking havoc in Lightspire? Nothing is as it seems in the glorious capital, and Tilla’s presence might just be the spark that sets the Kingdom aflame. (Goodreads)

I have been curious to get my hands on City of Bastards by Andrew Shvarts ever since I finished the first book in the series, Royal Bastards, last summer. After that ending in the first book, I was super curious to know what was going to happen next for the characters in this story. I'm thrilled to have finally read the book, and now I need book 3 asap!

So, as I mentioned in my review for the Royal Bastards, I love that this series has some pretty awesome characters in it, and I'm so glad we get to see almost all of the people we love from the previous book once again in this sequel. I don't know about you guys, but heroines in the story are definitely my faves. Tilla and Lyriana prove time and time again that they can definitely take care of themselves, and I kind of love this for them. Don't get me wrong, the guys in the story are great, especially Zelll, but it's the ladies that really make this story pop.

The storyline for the book follows along the same line as the previous book, though the setting is completely different, and that was interesting. It seems like there may have also been a lot more action in this sequel as well. I was almost to the end of the book when I started wondering if this series was a duology, or a trilogy, and I'm surprised that I forgot to check beforehand. Considering the book definitely leaves you hanging, I realized that there would be a third book, and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for new information on that.

Overall; City of Bastards was a really interesting sequel to Royal Bastards. The book is full of really great characters, and the storyline has lots of great twists and turns that will keep you guessing as you turn the pages. I will most definitely be keeping my eye out for the third book, which is currently untitled, but set to release sometime in 2019. I can't wait to see what will happen next!

My Thoughts: Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts

Royal Bastards
by Andrew Shvarts
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Publication Date: May 30th 2017
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781484767658
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Review Copy

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Being a bastard blows. Tilla would know. Her father, Lord Kent of the Western Province, loved her as a child, but cast her aside as soon as he had trueborn children.

At sixteen, Tilla spends her days exploring long-forgotten tunnels beneath the castle with her stablehand half brother, Jax, and her nights drinking with the servants, passing out on Jax’s floor while her castle bedroom collects dust. Tilla secretly longs to sit by her father’s side, resplendent in a sparkling gown, enjoying feasts with the rest of the family. Instead, she sits with the other bastards, like Miles of House Hampstedt, an awkward scholar who’s been in love with Tilla since they were children.

Then, at a feast honoring the visiting princess Lyriana, the royal shocks everyone by choosing to sit at the Bastards’ Table. Before she knows it, Tilla is leading the sheltered princess on a late-night escapade. Along with Jax, Miles, and fellow bastard Zell, a Zitochi warrior from the north, they stumble upon a crime they were never meant to witness.

Rebellion is brewing in the west, and a brutal coup leaves Lyriana’s uncle, the Royal Archmagus, dead—with Lyriana next on the list. The group flees for their lives, relentlessly pursued by murderous mercenaries; their own parents have put a price on their heads to prevent the king and his powerful Royal Mages from discovering their treachery.

The bastards band together, realizing they alone have the power to prevent a civil war that will tear their kingdom apart—if they can warn the king in time. And if they can survive the journey . . . (Goodreads)

My Thoughts...
I’ve had a copy of Royal Bastards sitting on my shelf for a while now, and while it’s taking me longer than expected to get to it, I absolutely couldn’t wait to get started on it. Have you read the summary for the book? It sounds completely interesting, right? Well, it was!

The book is full of all kinds of interesting characters, but it was the female heroines in the story that I loved the most. Tilla was awesome, and though she was a royal bastard, she didn’t let that get to her, and proved more than once throughout the story that she could totally hold her own. Same goes for Lyriana, the visiting princess who managed to surprise me more than a few times throughout the story. I love that this story has strong female heroines! Don’t get me wrong, the guys aren’t too bad themselves, but the girls really made the book.

The storyline for the book was definitely fascinating, and I flew through the pages wanting to know what was going to happen next. There were a few pretty brutal parts in the story that made me a little squeamish, but I was too curious to know what was going to happen next to actually put the book down, as I usually would. This book has it all; action, suspense, love, betrayal, and so much more. I assume that there is going to be a second book, as some things were a bit left undone at the end, and I’m really curious to know what is going to happen next.

Overall; Royal Bastards was definitely an interesting read, and I really enjoyed it even more than I expected to. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye out for info on a sequel, and, if there is one, it will definitely be added to my TBR as quickly as possible.