DISCLAIMER: I skipped lots and lots of pages
I didn't like this book, I kept hoping it would improve and I really hate not finishing books so I just skipped some pages here. The writing was not very good, the characters were whiny and the concept had sounded alright but was portrayed rather cheesy in this book.
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A quick, enjoyable YA fantasy. I found the characters to be likeable and interesting, especially Ivy. The only thing I wish was that the world building had been a little more developed. But overall a good read. It's a little on the younger side of YA so I can see a lot of 13-15 year olds enjoying this. ( )

Princess Ivy is the purest of Royal blood and the magic in her kisses is very strong. Still, she has now lost her fifth partner due to the Forces of Darkness. Losing a partner is hard enough as it is, but to know that her magic did not work was too much to handle. Ivy did not want to be cast aside and moved to the countryside to produce heirs if a new partner could not be found. She wants to help her people and beat the Forces of Darkness so her people and all of the other kingdoms could finally find peace. Unfortunately for Ivy, there was really no one left in her kingdom that could match her level of magic.

With the Forces of Darkness growing closer and a threat to her people looming in the background, Saevall’s Kingdom steps in to help. There is a new prince nicknamed The Swordsman’s Prince that is said to be able to defeat hordes of trolls and monsters all on his own without the kiss of a princess. When Ivy first meets Zachariah, The Swordsman’s Prince, she can’t believe for one moment that he is the answer they have been in search of. Zach is like no other prince she knows. He tells jokes, looks like a commoner, is clumsy, doesn’t believe in partnerships, and worst of all *gasp* He is half Romantica.

Ivy is a Royal by blood. She leads by logic and reason, much unlike the heretic Romantica who lead by love and emotion. Ivy can not even grasp the concept of love and does not believe in it. She thinks most people confuse lust for love and she is having none of that nonsense, but yet as much as she tries to deny it, she can’t help but to feel attracted to Zach in a way that scares her. They have a chemistry together that she never had with any of her other partners and it brings out a side to her no one has ever seen before. He tests everything Ivy has grown up believing in.

Zach does not believe in kissing for magic. He can fight monsters and trolls quite well on his own, thank you. He believes kissing is between people who love each other. He does not believe that kisses should be used as weapons. His refusal to kiss Ivy is a shock to the kingdom, but yet his fighting skills are epic and rumors swirl about in the kingdoms of his latest victories. Zach, like Ivy, feels the same connection, but he sets out to show Ivy that there is another world out there that is not just based on logic and reasoning, that magical kisses could do more harm than good and that love is the strongest weapon of all.

OMG! I freakin LOVE this story. Ivy and Zach compliment each other in so many ways and yet, it takes them a while to figure out what truly matters in a world filled with dark forces threatening them at every turn. When they are sent on a mission for the kingdoms, they finally get to know one another. There is a lot of push and pull mostly on Ivy’s part as she grew up believing one thing and Zach slowly chips away at her defenses and beliefs. I sooooo love Zach! He is definitely a force to be reckoned with, strong in his own rights, passionate about his beliefs, and truly wants Ivy to see the other side. I was really, really looking forward to their first kiss, flipping through the pages like “Where is it, oh come on stop teasing me already!” I don’t think I ever screamed at a book like I did this one. Lindsey Duga really knows how to draw you right in and keep you hooked and desperate for that very first kiss.

The world-building in Kiss of the Royal is simply amazing. A world filled with goblins, monsters, and Griffins that all come to life and make you feel as if you can actually see them and feel them. You can see yourself in the forest taking everything in. Kiss of the Royal really brings to life the mythology, lure and magic of the kingdoms in such a way that you actually wish you were apart of it. Duga has a way with words that just draws you right into the scene and it is both magical and fascinating all at the same time. The fighting scenes were absolutely phenomenal and I could feel my heart racing as Ivy and Zach faced danger after danger. I found myself rooting for them over and over again. Ivy and Zach are by far my favorite book couple of the year.

Kiss of the Royal blends magic and mythology with a sprinkle of romanticism and turns it into a fantasy filled with characters you will fall in love with, a story you can’t help getting immersed into, and a blossoming romance you will be rooting for up until the very end. Duga has created a world I wish to live in. I am truly heartbroken that this is a standalone story as I would have loved to see and read more. Lindsey Duga, thank you for being an amazing writer. You have won me over and have taken me into a glorious ride into your fantasy world. I can not recommend this book enough and five stars is definitely NOT enough to express how much I loved this book. A definite add on to my keeper shelf. If Fantasy is your jam, you NEED to be adding Kiss of the Royal to your reading list. ( )

Going into KISS OF THE ROYAL I thought it was going to be a little cheesy, but wanted to give it a shot anyways. It started out a little iffy, but it didn't take me long to get into the story.

Princess Ivy was likable. I enjoyed being in her head as she battled her own thoughts and *gasp* feelings. Prince Zach was mysterious and a bit guarded at first. I didn't always know what he was thinking, but I quickly started to trust that he did everything with his whole heart. It was interesting to watch both Zach and Ivy navigate their situation with their different beliefs raging against each other.

Even though I enjoyed it, I was a tad bit disappointed when I finished reading KISS OF THE ROYAL. I would have loved to see some more depth involved in the big battle. There was a lot of lead-up to it, but I thought it went way too fast. On top of that, I kinda wanted to know more. I wanted to see the struggles that Ivy and Zach went through once the battle was over and before the end. I want to see what their future looks like, I want to see it all.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )

A kiss gains an entirely new meaning in this exciting, packed with magic and action, read for fantasy fans.

Princess Ivy is a full blooded royal and because of that, has the most powerful kiss. With this kiss, she gives her 'prince' a boost of magic with the intent to help him on the battlefield. Ivy's people have been fighting the evil forces for several hundred years and the kiss of royals is their greatest weapon. Due to the loss of her 5th (or 6th?) prince, Ivy is forced to take on a new prince. This one, however, is more than she bargained for. He believes in true love, something the Royals have denied for hundreds of years. Despite her hate for his beliefs, he's her and her people's only chance to survive the biggest threat the evil side has ever brought against them.

This is a very refreshing idea—kisses with the sheer purpose to defeat an enemy. Never in love because love doesn't exist. The author manages to build masterfully on this idea, creating a believable realm with a princess worthy of cheering for. Most of the details behind this theory are well laid out, and there are so many unexpected twists and turns to the entire thing as the story continues.

Ivy is an interesting character. On the one hand, she's a grand princess who is determined to fulfill her position and save her people no matter what it takes. She's head-strong and yet, has a more insecure side which molds with the strength nicely. Her ability to listen to reason makes her very likable. On the other side, her determination not to believe everything she hears and question the values she holds dear, also makes her a princess to adore. It's a lovely balance.

There is tons of action in this book as well as magic. Every step of the journey holds a new danger, and each of these is brought across with excitement and tension. But the main element is the developing romance between Ivy and Zach, her prince. It's not a love at first sight but a battle the entire way through. Both Ivy and Zach are intriguing to follow.

The ending wraps up all knots nicely and is satisfying, despite a maybe too easily won end battle with the evil queen. But then, the tale is fairly predictable in most respects (the reason for 4 stars instead of 5). Still, it's exactly this which makes the ending sweet and satisfying. In other words, it's the perfect read for those who want action, magic and a wonderful, tension filled romance.

I received a complimentary copy through Netgally and enjoyed it enough to want to leave my honest thoughts. ( )