An arranged marriage leads to unexpected desire, in the first book of Alyssa Cole’s
Runaway Royals series… her as an outsider, and everything she was taught about being the perfect wife goes disastrously wrong.
A king must rule with an iron fist, and newly crowned King Sanyu was born perfectly fitted for the gauntlet, even if he wishes he weren’t. He agrees to take a wife as is required of him, though he doesn’t expect to actually fall in love. Even more vexing? His beguiling new queen seems to have the answers to his country’s problems—except no one will listen to her.
By day, they lead separate lives. By night, she wears the crown, and he bows to her demands in matters of politics and passion. When turmoil erupts in their kingdom and their marriage, Shanti goes on the run, and Sanyu must learn whether he has what it takes both to lead his people and to catch his queen.
more
I read the first few pages of this and couldn’t believe how annoying Prince Sanyu was. All I could think was that this was going to be a poor royal me story. I. Was. So. Wrong. This was a beautiful story about Sanyu, who was raised to be stronger and smarter and show no emotion and carry on every tradition that his father and the advisor created. He never felt good enough or strong enough or smart enough and felt like he was choking his whole life. Since he has to married before his father dies, the advisors use a royal dating site to get him married as quickly as possible. Enter Shanti. She is brilliant and good and strong (physically and emotionally) has spent her life dedicated to being a queen like her role model, a queen who can make the world a better place. She isn’t looking for love and will settle for respect to make this happen. Unfortunately, the revered traditions of Njaza mean that she shouldn’t be seen or heard or have a thought or even meet the eyes of the men of the palace.
Watching Sanyu work through his trauma to figure out who he wants to be (rather than who he is expected to be) was lovely and thoughtful and the amazing author dealt with a lot of hard subjects in a brilliant manner. Also, Shanti is everything and I love her.
Source: ARC generously provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
How to Catch a Queen is the first book in Cole’s new Runaway Royals series and I think it’s one of her best. I liked the entire set up of a reluctant and self-doubting king who has to govern a country built upon the legacy of his father, and at the same time learn how to be a husband to a wife he hardly knows.
Sanyu and Shanti couldn’t be more dissimilar upon their first meeting. He wants to run away from his responsibilities and the overwhelming expectations while she willingly walks into that. He’s unsure how to lead or make decisions whereas she craves opportunities to do so. Shanti is severely disappointed to find out that she’s not allowed to play an integral part of helping her husband to govern their country. Women have been traditionally sidelined in Njaza so Shanti’s opinions do not matter. None of the queens in the past were treated well, either. The queens are simply disposable. Since she can’t help her husband, much less see him, she finds other ways to help her newly adopted country. She attends secret meetings in disguise outside of the palace. People who want to bring positive change in Njaza gather together to discuss how they can do so. Shanti brings her many skills and years of studies to guide her new friends and offer perspective.
Sanyu has no idea what his wife has been up to. He’s ignored her for the first few months of their marriage as he’s been busy trying unsuccessfully to figure out how to rule. He has advisors but he doesn’t have a firm voice. That’s his biggest problem: he hears so many voices that he doubts his own ideas. Who hasn’t been there? One day, after a rare and unexpected display of public defiance from Shati, Sanyu seeks her out realizing that she might actually be someone who could help him. Their relationship is one that grows throughout the story and it’s rather slow burn. Sanyu seems almost lost compared to Shanti’s bold certainty of who she is and what she wants. It’s quite remarkable to read how his perception of her changes form one of suspicion (because, really who would walk into a marriage so blindly?) to one of wonderment. For her turn, Shanti sees Sanyu’s potential. All she wants is to embolden him so he can trust his vision for his country and believe that he can make a proper ruler.
The true standout of this novel is Njaza. Cole has outdone herself with the world-building and she’s seen to every detail from its landscape and geography, to its religion and culture, to its history and customs, to its myths and legends … you get the idea. She’s painted an incredibly vivid picture for readers. This is a country that’s shedding its colonial past and now seeks to build a bright future that integrates its pre-colonial history with a present that all its people – men and women – can be proud of. I was dazzled by all of it!
How to Catch a Queen was such pleasurable reading. I enjoyed the romance but I was taken in by the power play dynamics of running a kingdom that Sanyu was gradually becoming accustomed to. Both he and Shanti are impressive characters, and as I said already, Njaza is absolutely captivating!
~ Bel
Great story. Hard to put down.
I am such a sucker for Marriage in Trouble plots, and I am always a sucker for Alyssa Cole, so OBVIOUSLY this was my fave ever. (Do I say every Alyssa Cole is my fave ever? Sure! But many things can be true!)
Looking forward to all the rest of the Runaway Royals!
A beta man trapped in an alpha body and role (he is king), meets the ultimate alpha heroine. Chemistry, terrific dialogues, and tons of wit.
I absolutely loved Alyssa Cole’s Reluctant Royals series, so I was definitely looking forward to reading this title! I always enjoy seeing “behind the curtain” of side characters who come off as less than ideal in other books… and this story was a perfect example of how great authors can turn what you think you know about a character on its head.
In this, Shanti is a woman who is unapologetically driven and focused on her goals (and how refreshing is that!) but she is also very perceptive and has a lot of empathy. I loved how Ms. Cole kept her strong and capable – but also warm and compassionate. I loved how, now matter what fresh hell life threw at Shanti, she always rose to the challenge with a workable plan. A queen in every sense of the word.
Sanyu, of course, is immediately likeable in the way that every powerful man with hidden vulnerabilities is. Ms. Cole is very adept at showing his struggles to evolve in powerful, but still realistic, ways. I was rooting for him so hard – and never doubted that Shanti would be his perfect partner.
This book had a different feel to it than the Reluctant Royals series for me – maybe a bit less funny and light-hearted, perhaps, but nothing that detracts from the excellent story-telling. Really looking forward to book two!
Sanyu is the newly crowned King of Njaza and he is expected to marry. He doesn’t exactly want to marry, but his father is ill and would like for Sanyu to marry before he dies. He doesn’t expect to stay married for long as the usual marriage term ends in 4 months and then the king is free to choose his next wife if he so chooses.
Shanti was born to be queen. She feels a spark when she first meets Sanyu, but then weeks go by and he doesn’t even try to interact with her. She has many ideas to change the kingdom for the better, but how can she implement them if no one gives her the time to listen – especially her husband, the king?
I liked the marriage of convenience aspect between Sanyu and Shanti. But I do feel like some of the chemistry was lacking. The book had a slower pace in the beginning and it took me a while to get into the story, but that picked up towards the end.
Audiobook
Story: 3.5
Narration: 4
Overall: 3.5
I enjoyed the audiobook of How to Catch a Queen narrated by Karen Chilton. This was my first book by Karen Chilton and I feel like she did a wonderful accent for the voices of Sanyu and Shanti. I was always able to tell the various emotions a character was going through.
Overall I would rate How to Catch a Queen 3.5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
Shanti has achieved her childhood dream of becoming a queen—but there’s a catch: there’s a 4-month trial period. No queen in the country’s history has been invited to stay permanently.
Sanyu II is mourning the death of his father and convinced he has no chance of succeeding as absolute monarch of the kingdom he inherited. He agreed to the arranged marriage because it was his father’s dying wish. Sanyu has no desire to get attached to his bride, when all the queens before her were forced to leave.
But Shanti has different ideas. She doesn’t need love, but she does want to help Sanyu come into his own as monarch, and bring his country into the twenty-first century. But will she get the chance, when the patriarchal system insists on her silence?
Alyssa Cole has created a fascinating world in this fictional African kingdom. She did a brilliant job of depicting a despotic monarch who’s driven by fear of failure—and the wise wife who helps him find his strength and his identity as a compassionate leader.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.
A fun, book of two people trying to see what their roles will be in a new and maturing country. I liked the lead protagonists, but felt the story dragged a little as they both worked out their self esteem issues. The sex scenes were good and the cameos by the characters from the other books in the series added humour and gave the story context with the other countries that made up part of the novels world. I liked this book and would recommend it for anyone looking for a nice contemporary romance.
Captures my heart and imagination. Wonderful new entry in her Royals books.
I was delighted to find How to Catch a Queen is the first in a new Royals series. Every time I dive into an Alyssa Cole I stay submerged until I finish. The shy king who is terrified of disappointing and the goal-obsessed woman determined to help make the world better are a perfect match. There are a lot of surprises in this story and I loved them all. I will be pre-ordering the next book as soon as it’s available. I pre-ordered this book and saved it for Christmas Day. What a marvelous Christmas gift.
Absolutely LOVED this! Karen Chilton’s narration was kick ass. Shanti is a brilliant, fierce heroine, who helps her hero navigate his way through a lifetime bathed in a culture of toxic masculinity. So well done. Can’t WAIT for Book 2!
I really wanted to love this book. The cover is beautiful and the synopsis sounded so good. Unfortunately I never felt the love between Sanyu and Shanti. Their relationship wasn’t just a slow burn it was nonexistent. They never spent time together. Instead I found myself drowning in boring over the top details of royal life, and the politics of being the queen and king. I did like that Shanti wanted to make a difference. She wanted to make things better. That she stood for what she believed in and wanted to be a good queen. Sanyu on the other hand I didn’t like that much. I felt he didn’t have much of a backbone and let his advisor do all his thinking. It also bothered me how little he cared for or thought about Shanti. She could have been a chair for all he took notice.
By the time I warmed up a bit to Sanyu it was too little, too late. The advisor drove me crazy. I hated him so bad. I wanted him to get some real comeuppances for the crap he did but nope. The ended felt rushed, and the advisor issues got glossed over. While there were parts of the book I liked, overall it was just an okay and at times boring read for me. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I felt the love between the main couple or the advisor would have got what was coming to him. This is my first time reading Alyssa Cole and I would try her again but not this series.
I just love Cole’s contemporaries (and her historicals, but that’s not what this one is.) A king who doesn’t want to be a king finds himself hastily married to a foreigner who has always wanted to be a queen — but not for the reason you think. As the end of their “marriage trial” nears and they actually get to know each other, complications ensue. Come for the style & sizzle, stay for wit like “sexy Pikachu.”
I can’t believe it, but this was my first book by this author, and I LOVED it so much! Also, the arranged marriage trope always does it for me.
Shanti Mohapti has always dreamed of being a queen, which as a commoner was quite the farfetched goal. But she never wavered from her course, and her parents helped her all they could, and now all her hard work has paid off. She’s been chosen for an arranged (and QUICK!) marriage to the king of Njaza. But she didn’t imagine her dream would become a nightmare of boredom and monotony, where she gets to contribute nothing, and everyone, including her new husband, basically ignores her existence. She needs to figure out a plan to change things fast, before her 4 month “trial marriage” is over.
King Sanyu II of Njaza has just become king, with the death of his father, and he’s taken a bride, not of his own choosing, in accordance with the traditions of his country, all in the same night. Afterward, he’s in a fog of grief and fear for quite a while, before he realizes that he must step up into the role he’s been born into, regardless of the fact that he’s never actually wanted it. When he discovers that his wife is brilliant, and strategic, and could help him become a better king, he starts visiting her for her counsel. But, he has no interest in getting close to yet another queen who will leave him, just like the countless wives of his father throughout his childhood, including his own mother.
Sanyu and Shanti had HOT chemistry from the first moment of their meeting, but with Sanyu in mourning, nothing came of it for a while after. They each had a lot going on, stepping into their roles, and I loved the way they helped each other. Sanyu had SO MUCH BAGGAGE to unpack from his childhood, and the way he was treated by his father, and the royal advisor, Musoke, who was his father’s best friend. He was really damaged from parts of his upbringing. Shanti tried all she could to help him but ultimately he had to decide the man he would be, and how he would allow his kingdom to be run.
These characters were so well drawn, and I really felt like I knew them, and wanted the best for them. There were a few side characters who were a delight, and I especially loved the group text message exchanges that both Shanti and Sanyu were part of. It added levity in a several great moments, amongst the serious subjects that were also being tackled. Also, the investigator, Beznaria Chetchevaliere, was the BEST, and I am beyond excited that she’s getting her own book next!
This book handled so many hard issues, including childhood emotional abuse and trauma, but it managed to never feel too heavy or serious. I loved the feelings and true care between Shanti and Sanyu, even before they really fell for each other completely. This story was just so lovely and unexpected for me, and I absolutely adored it! Can’t wait for what’s next!
How to Catch a Queen is the first book in a new series, the Runaway Royals. For those of you who’ve read the Reluctant Royals series, they are connected, but can be read as standalones. This is my first book by Alyssa, although I have been wanting to read one of her books for years! I’m glad I took this opportunity to dive into her royal world.
Sanyu is the prince and heir to the Njazan throne. His own ideas and differences have been quelled by his stern father and authoritarian advisor. Sanyu has been left to constantly question is own strength and ability to contribute meaningfully in any situation. It’s obvious from the start that he suffers from anxiety.
Shanti is a commoner from Thesalo, a country that does not see eye-to-eye with Njaza. Unlike Sanyu, who dreads the idea of being king, Shanti has always dreamt of being queen. Not for the title, but for the power. She wants to make change. Unfortunately, the powers that lead Njaza are not receptive to a Queen’s ideas.
I loved Shanti’s character right away. Her dialogue with Sanyu was engaging. These two complement each other in the best ways. The evolution of Sanyu’s character was believable and easy to relate to.
Alyssa Cole crafts the kingdom and government expertly, and I felt that each page was imbued with such wisdom that I could not help but take note of. Unfortunately, I got a little lost in the politics and slow pace of it all. This book focuses less on the romance and more on leadership and the meaning of strength. Thus, my rating relates to no real criticism of the book itself — but rather my level of personal enjoyment. I would still recommend this to fans of realistic royal romance.
I am honored to have received an ARC of this book to read and voluntarily leave an honest review.
I requested an ARC of this book, and these opinions are my own.
I am a huge fan of Alyssa Cole, especially the Reluctant Royals series, and I am in love with the first of the branch off Runaway Royals.
Sanyu is unsure he’s able to be the King his father was, and Shanti only wants the change to be the Queen she knows she was born to be – together they could be unstoppable. Outside influences, and decades old traditions, look to stop them before they even have a chance. Since this is a romance, you know there will be a happily ever after but the roller coaster ride really made you wonder. And the ‘twist’ at the end – very clever.
If you’re a fan of her works, you will definitely enjoy this one and I look forward to the next in the series.