Royals (2) - Broken Prince by Erin Watt
And part 2 of the trilogy: Broken Prince (German Rewiew). I read the 380 pages in English. Originally published 2016.
Ella's gone. And it's Reed's fault. Getting her back and to forgive him might be his main priority, but not his main problem. As Brooke spins her intrigues, the whole family is in danger... And in hell breaks loose in school. The only one who could bestow order in school and patch up the household would be its heart... the best thing that happened to the Royals after Mariah's death. And even Ella might not be enough.
Ooookay, first of all, the explanation for the cliff hanger leaves room for improvement. This is just so try-hard. Apart from this, the book was gorgeous. You now have changing perspectives, a few chapters from Reed as well as from Ella.
I love how much Ella has changed the family, how much of an impact she made. It's... well, it's beautiful. And a little surprising, because it wasn't that obvious in Paper Princess.
I like how the family dynamics change. How everyone turns on Reed for what he did to Ella – even the twins, but especially Easton, I love how East accepts her back but can't really trust her any longer, lashes out... until he does manage to forgive her and his brother.
I love how his behaviour actually makes Ella realise how much she cares about this family and how much she wants that they find their peace – each and everyone of them. How she makes the boys unravel their nets of secrets and makes them feel better.
Apropos secrets: I also love how Reed's guilty consciousness nearly drives him mad.
Spoiler:
... and how, in the end, his father knew everything either way.
Brooke's really a joy, isn't she? A more manipulative and destructive being doesn't exist... if you don't count he BF, of course. That woman's a succubus. Poor Gid.
I also like how Ella herself has her differences to accept the Royals back, how Callum has to threaten her and how Reed sleeps on her doorstep every night – a) to make sure that she won't run again and b) so that she'd someday forgive him. I like how she slowly reconsiders her behaviour and, in the end, gives him a second chance. Because no matter what happened before her, Reed has neither betrayed, nor lied to her and that's kind of important.
I also like how she runs the school. Next thing you know it's the Ella decree! I love how she puts Jordan in her place after helping that poor girl, and how her brothers stand behind her, all proud like “yeeeeah, yeeeah, you see, that's my sister/girlfriend. Isn't she adorable?” I also like how the consolation between Ella and the Royals helps Callum to remember his sons. How he takes care no one bothers her and everything. That's really nice.
And to his wife, what happened with Mariah... God, the poor boys! No wonder everyone is so messed up. How could she do this to them?!
By the way, I begin to like Lauren as well... and I guessed that something was up with Valerie's boyfriend. Poor girl.
I'm already excited for part Nr. 3, which will be out on October 17th this year. Yeeeehaw! A little tipp: Get the trilogy in the bundle. You can't go wrong with these books (if you don't hate the genre, that is) and the cliffhangers are killing you.
In brief:
I give this book a star for style, characters, ideas and content. Plus one for the immensly twisted and yet so absolutely strong and loving family ties and changing relationships.
Prequel:
Sequel: