Welcome to their kingdom…I never thought I’d step foot in Royal Manor again. But four years later, here I am…back to finish my senior year at Royal Hearts Academy.And forced to face Jace Covington. My first friend. First crush. First kiss. The one I left behind.Only—he isn’t the same boy I gave my heart to.This new Jace is as cruel as he is gorgeous.And he’s determined to make my life a … Jace is as cruel as he is gorgeous.
And he’s determined to make my life a living hell.
Along with the rest of his glorified family and crew of tyrants.
They expect me to worship the ground they walk on like everyone else, but I’d rather eat dirt.
If Jace Covington wants me gone…he’ll have to try harder.
Because I’ve never been the kind of girl to play by the rules.
WARNING: Royal Hearts Academy is a New Adult/High School series of standalones filled with drama, a touch of angst, and boys who are bad to the bone.
This series is recommended for mature readers due to graphic language and sexual content.
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SO MANY emotions! This book bombarded me from all angles, and I felt myself really appreciating this author for being able to write something so gut punching. It wasn’t overdone, but it really did pack a lot of angst in a story that has a bully romance and lots of vengeance.
The hero and heroine were friends from when they were very young-and it was trivial seeing how close they became and how they bonded over tragedies. The flashbacks blended seamlessly into the story, and helped me better understand the depth of their relationship.
I’m actually so excited that we get more books in this series-this author has a way of creating drama with characters to keep you holding onto these background characters. I will absolutely be anticipating more from this author, she delivered a solid story that left me screaming at my kindle several times. Would definitely recommend!
Cruel Prince had me addicted from the very first sentence. Jace has a mind that is on a mission and that is to destroy Dylan. There was so much angst. I could not understand why Jace ticked the way he did. Then it slowly happens. Its like putting a puzzle together piece by piece. It was a high school nightmare. The bullying, the lead cheerleader has what you could only dream of having, the rumors, the lies….
This was intense. I had to see how this played through. Even though Jace was an a*hole…I still loved him just like Dylan. There were a few parts in the story where it leads you to pieces of the past. The hurt, pain, and torture some endured. The lies that come into light and makes a full circle.
This page turner will pull on your heart strings and make you wonder what will happen next. One minute I am excited, the next minute I am cursing like a sailor at these characters. There are some dark sides in this story that made me gasp! I loved Cruel Prince and cannot wait for Ruthless Knight and see what makes Cole tick.
No one in the whole wide world has the power to make me feel both love and hate simultaneously the way Jace Covington does. He’s the yin to my yang. The down to my up. The crazy to my normal. The damaged pieces to all my broken parts
I’ve been wanting to read this book ever since it came out and I’m so glad i finally did. I loved it, it was intriguing, captivating, frustrating, funny, heart breaking and so freaking good. I found once i started reading it I could not stop.
Dylan was such a fiesty, strong yet conflicted character. Not only was she dealing with personal issues in her life but also having to put up with the horrible treatment she was getting at school from her ex best friend turned enemy Jace and she has no idea why. I loved her character so much and her friendship with Sawyer was literal goals.
Jace was down right Cruel, Vindictive, a real Asshole, Lost at times, had a Broken Soul and he made me simultaneously mad at him and had my heart breaking for him. It took me a while to understand where he was coming from but the more you read the more you’ll love him
Yes this story was problematic and has a lot of OW/OM drama but honestly i still enjoyed it a lot. There were quite a few plotlines I predicted along the way but i still enjoyed how the story unfolded and am eager for book 2
This book does deal with some heavy topics so a TW is necessary for suicide
Book Info –
Cruel Prince A. Jade 8/20/19 408 Pages Royal Hearts Academy (can be read alone) Dual POV
Rating out of 5: 5
Book Tags –
#BullyRomance, #NewAdult, #HighSchool, #Drama, #Romance, #EnemyToLovers, #HEA
My Review Title – Damaged pieces fixed with broken parts
My Book Thoughts –
This was the first book I read of Ashley Jade, and I instantly fell in love. Why? Because she wrote about a topic that most will shy away from and gave this book more feels…it made it seem more real. I love a story that you get a full understanding of what lead to the way the charters are. I really dislike books that don’t go into detail and leaves you in the dark about the past. In this book, you see both characters childhood in flashbacks and get to connect with Jace and Dylan in their younger years and current state. I didn’t feel like pieces were left out and questioning why or what caused the strain between the two. You get a complete mental picture of the breakdown of events. You develop that love/hate relationship with pretty much all of the main characters minus Sawyer. (I have a feeling she’s going to be our smart, loveable evil genius in the next book). Do I recommend this book? Heck yeah, I do. Even though this is a bullying romance it’s not too strong on the sexual bullying part, more of a harassment type.
My Book Summary –
The first few chapters we learn about Dylan and Jace’s life and current status, and the awkward encounter between Dylan and Oakley her cousin which sets the stage for their relationship. The first flashback of their childhood sets the stage of their friendship, and what they bonded over. We journey with Dylan and her first horrific day of school at Royal Hearts Academy. The only good part of the day is that Dylan meets her first good friend Sawyer. Dylan and Sawyer bond over their archnemesis Brittney who has gone out of her way to embarrass them both. We soon meet Tommy, and his role is pretty big in the book so I’m not going to go into too much info of him. Dylan attends a few high school parties which led to key parts in the book. Those parties lead to key encounters between Dylan and Jace, and also their 18th birthdays. There are more flashbacks that show us why Jace and his family are the way they are. We see why Jace is having such a hard time, that include some tear-jerking moments. Jace is fighting his brain and heart regarding the past and maybe what he thought he knew was wrong. While Dylan is trying to grasp what is currently happening to her life and how she is to move forward. Can Jace overcome a promise he made to something he shouldn’t have? Can Dylan let go of the pain to see what is right in front of her?
Dylan and Jace have been in love with each other since they first met. Everyone thinks they’ll be together forever until tragedy strikes. Can they fix their relationship?
“The Mariana Trench isn’t deep enough for what I feel for you.”
From the moment Ashley Jade announce her upcoming book, I already know I need to read it. I don’t need to read the blurb for I know how she write, but dangit if Cruel Prince still suprise me.
I’ve been reading the enemy to lovers or bully romance genre before this but I have to say Cruel Prince is way brutal.
Maybe because Jace and Dylan have history.
They were best friend’s once.
He was her first kiss.
He was her first love.
He was her first heartbreak.
But she is his number enemy.
It hurt so much to see how Jace treat Dylan like she’s the biggest sinner in the world. While she doesn’t even know what she did wrong.
So many moments I wanna smack his head from the stupid and just plain nasty things he do to make her suffer. This even before I know exactly what happened to make him hate Dylan so much. And when I finally dk know… Lawwwd do I wanna smack his head some more!
I mean, they were best friend. He was suppose to know her more than anyone else. I understand his grieve but that’s no excuse for the blind hate he hold on to even after years.
I love you Jace but you are a douche canoe!
And Dylan… This girl, love her attidue. She’s strong. Her dad need some head surgery for being idiot. Her aunt need jail time for what she done. And at the end, I think Dylan should make Jace suffer a lot longer before she let him backbut dangit that boy is just too hot, so I can understand her decision.
Oakley… Hope he gonna have his own book. This man is seriously need HEA. His life is a mess. But his funny n loyal.
Cole… Ehmmm this cocky man***Re definitly need reality checkI think I know I certainty girl who will have his behind kick. Can’t wait to read his story.
I really enjoy Cruel Prince. Sensitif issue the author bring out here. Bullying and suicide in teen-age definitly nothing to be step A-side anymore.
Always love Ashley Jade’s characters, plot and how she write her story. Captivating!
In the end…. “The Mariana Trench isn’t deep enough for what I feel for you.”
“And best friends aren’t allowed to break your heart. It’s against the rules.”
“It turns out there is something even worse than unrequited love. Being forced to pretend it doesn’t exist at all.”
Boy, did this book make me cry from all the feels, angst… and ohmygawd, pain, so much pain for Dylan, Jace and Liam. Sure, I’ve read my fair share of bully romances (my fave trope of late) and there may be a few shed tears or two, but not as much as I did with this epic amazing new series from the ever talented author.
The story is told through dual POV, mostly in Dylan’s perspective. The going back and forth between Dylan and Jace is fiery and toxic as hell. You’ll get the feeling from the start that these two needs to hash out what happened in the past, given their shared history and all. But their similar personality of hard headedness and some outside factors came into play. Dylan is a tough chick but a softie for those she cares the most. I loved that she’s no pushover with the school bullies. I’d like to be friends with her if I could, LOL. Jace’s deep loyalty to his family and friends is admirable.
There was enough drama and angst that made this a sure fire hit for me. I also loved the second characters in this story, namely Oakley and Sawyer. I really, really hope the author will make a book or even a short story for Oakley. This guy surprisingly took my heart with his broken and lost persona. I couldn’t believe the situation he was involved with and I’m curious to know more of him. Sawyer is a breath of fresh air. I don’t think you’ll find this kind of girl anymore, which is why I’m dying to read her story soon with Cole.
Overall, I loved it and couldn’t recommend it enough for fans of bully romances. One of my fave and top reads of the year!
Cruel Prince by Ashley Jade is a refreshing take on the bully/lover’s genre that seems to be so hot right now. It takes two intensely strong characters, rips them apart then expects them to be like a jigsaw puzzle and just fit back together. But as we know, real life isn’t like that and oh boy is there trials and tribulations along the way in this story!
Dylan and Jace together are a train wreck. Dylan left Royal Hearts Academy four years ago due to family circumstances thinking that everything was fine, but when she comes back to complete her final year, she bumps into her first love Jace Covington and he is not the boy who she left behind. Trying to get to grips with her own drama and that of her cousin, Oakley, she’s not prepared for the cruelty that Jace is going to inflict on her, especially as she doesn’t know why it is happening.
Jace Covington is full of secrets and hate. Hate for the girl that left behind destruction (unbeknownst to her). One thing is for sure, Jace is going to make her pay for what happened to his family, but feelings and emotions get in the way and what he thought he knew about everything isn’t true and his own secrets and guilt come to light.
This book is a roller-coaster of a ride. You need to keep turning the pages to figure out what is going on and when the bombshells are dropped, you need to take cover! This book is intense! From the cruel things Jace invokes on Dylan to watching Dylan literally break (OMG the feels). The passion, the hate, the drama it all just keeps getting thrown at you in this book. Dylan is just an amazingly written character, she is so strong and has put up with so much, you really do want her to keep punching people as she’s so good at it. Basically, there are a lot of feels in this book and not only for the two main characters! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series! This series is going to be addictive…you have been warned!
ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: https://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
Dylan met Jace when they were kids. He was her best friend. They were the other half of each other. Except when they were at that age where they would tell each other, Jace pushed her away because he knew something she didn’t.
He has hated her ever since that night. The night he found his younger brother dead. The suicide he blames her for.
Dylan is back though. She is attending Royal Hearts with her former best friend and her former classmates because she has been forced by circumstances to live with her aunt. She just wants to get through this year.
Unfortunately for her, it is going to be a far from peaceful year. She is surrounded by drama, bullies, two-faced friends, and the past. Especially her former BFF, and his vindictiveness.
She also manages to make new friends, one of them her new step-cousin. Another, Sawyer.
Dark, twisted, tragic. The tangled web is slowly untangled. Giving us answers. Not everything can be repaired, but oh what a ride. And in the end, these enemies become what they are meant to be.
Wow, what a book! Five amazing stars for Cruel Prince. This is one of the best bully romance I’ve ever read. Ashley took me for an incredible emotional ride. It started from page one and lasted until the end. And I couldn’t put this book down. Her writing style can draw me inside a story and allow me to experience it together with the characters. It wasn’t an easy read but it was worth every tear, anger, lack of breath as much as the love, smile and happiness it brought me. Can’t wait to read the next book in series. Highly recommend it!
Cruel Prince might not be the most fitting title. Is Jace cruel at times? 100% when it comes to his defense mechanisms cruelty is all he knows, but I dare say at RHA he’s the da*n KING and you best not forget it! Jace and Dylan have absolutely explosive chemistry (I’m honestly shocked my Kindle didn’t combust at some points lol) but a huge obstacle lays smack dab in the middle of their road to happiness and there were times even the optimist in me doubted they could see past their issues let alone navigate around them. I loved Dylan’s fire, yes they put her through Hell and wouldn’t tell her why but she would not back down. Steel spine, good for her. Jace is definitely broken (as is Dylan though but Jace more profoundly) but I think he does the most work on himself in this book and I was so glad to see it. He was a mega tool but I think he suffered more than his share in the grand scheme of things. The supporting players really grabbed and kept my attention. I can’t wait to read Cole’s story and I hope it involves more of Sawyer and Oakley!
This book has been on my TBR since it released. I finally decided to pick it up because book 2 is coming out in January and I really wanted to finally start this series. Y’all I am so happy I did finally pick this up. Once I opened this I could not close it. I could not leave this story for even a moment. As soon as I finished I opened my computer and started writing this. I have to get my thoughts written down immediately for this book. I got teary eyed when I was finished it was amazing. It’s so much more than just a high school bully romance. It is intense and achingly deep. My heart was beating so fast and my stomach was in knots over this story. Ryan and Jace are two half’s of the same soul. Tragedy’s have shaped who they have become. The raw feelings in this book are extraordinary. This book will have you feeling all the pain, the love, the hope and the loss. This story will leaves it’s mark on you. I do not want to spoil anything. It is best to go into this book completely blind and let it take you on it’s ride. I loved this so much. It’s dark and angsty and real. It was wonderful. The writing is incredible. You have an asshole hero who will do anything to protect the ones he loves and a kickass heroin who will never back down and always fight for herself. These two are incredible. Read this book please. Just trust me.
Cried like a baby in the end! This story tore my heart right out and put it right back together!
This enemies to lovers book had me hooked from the first page. The little glimpse of what was to come had me trying to come up with all kinds of conclusions, but nothing could have prepared me for the journey of this book.
Dylan is back at RHA, and doesn’t understand or fully know what is waiting for her. The best friends she thought she had now hate her, and she is left with zero explanations.
Jace is a protector by nature, and will stop at nothing to see that Dylan gets what she deserves. His views are so clouded by guilt and hatred that he doesn’t take the time to fully look for the truth in all the lies.
These two together used all their willpower to avoid their attraction to one another. You could feel the chemistry and the struggle coming off the pages. Their heartbreak and bond was so real and genuine.
I also couldn’t get enough of the secondary characters. They each are unique in their own way, and I cannot wait to get my hands on their books.
This is the first book I’ve read from A. Jade, but I guarantee it won’t be my last.
Cruel Prince was such an addicting, Angsty read. I was hooked from the beginning. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew that I had to read it, it was exactly my kind of read. And boy am I glad I did because I wasn’t wrong. I love Bully romance and this one was so good.
The blurb was not wrong, talk about an A-hole main Hero. That’s 100% Jace, but damn you just can’t help but love to hate him. Especially towards the end, gah. He’s everything. I love me an alpha A-hole and Jace is definitely that. I need me an asshole like Jace.
“God you’re such an asshole,” I mutter as he walks us toward his car. His lips curve into a cocky smirk. “Yeah, but I’m your asshole.”
I have no idea why but books where the characters grow up together, but then drift apart or wind up hating each other are like crack to me. This book definitely had that, Dylan and Jace were best friends before Dylan had to move away and everything changed. When these two come back together it is explosive, and not exactly in a good way, for Dylan anyways.
The drama and love hate that ensues when she comes back is epic.
“But that’s life…bad shit happens and the only thing you can do is deal with it.”
Like I said before this book will hook you from the start and there is way more than enough angst, drama, and crazy going on to keep you hooked.
If you’re looking for a hot romance with bad boys, a main female character that doesn’t always play by the rules, and lots of drama with some angst thrown in, look no further than Cruel Prince.
“I’m destroying the kingdom. And just like a game of chess, you have to take down the Queen before conquering the King. Or in this case, the prince.”
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Royal Hearts Academy is a New Adult/High School series of standalones filled with drama, a touch of angst, and boys who are bad to the bone.
Royal Hearts Academy a private rich kid school. Some local kids do get a scholarship to go here.
Jace Covington, is not really the boyfriend type. He’s more of a one night have a good time type of guy. If Jace doesn’t like you, then stay clear of him. He’s one that will make your life horrible.
Dylan, moved away at the end of her 8th grade year. She hasn’t had contact with her old friends since she leaves a few years ago. Now that she’s back living with her aunt she’s back at Royal Hearts Academy, along with all the rich snobby kids who disliked her years ago, and still dislike her even more.
Dylan now lives with her family, and her step-cousin Oakley, seems to be “in” with the popular kids. But, Oakley makes her life just miserable. He doesn’t care about her any more than the other rich kids.
Dylan and Jace had a great friendship before she left. Then afterwards he hated her. Now that she’s back, he can’t seem to ever get away from her. He keeps circling back to her. Jace doesn’t want to give into his feelings, but, he has to. He wants to hate her, but, it’s like his subconscious is telling him NO!
I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving an honest review.
“Jace Covington was blue.”
Cruel Prince is the first book in the Royal Hearts Academy (RHA) and a complete standalone.
It features and follows the long, tumultuous relationship of Jace Covington and Dylan Taylor.
Dylan befriended Jace when they were young – both were different to others but similar to each other and misfits riddled with grief and pain from a tender age. Their friendship – after some resistance from Jace – blooms and as they grow older, it blossoms into more. But secrets and deceit tear them apart.
Jace is a complete assholes for the better portion of the book. This is after all, a bully romance . So that shouldn’t be a surprise. He fights his attraction and feelings for Dylan, tooth and nail both, when they were younger and when she returns. He does things that are out of line and sometimes uncalled for but with the frame of mind he’s in, I guess you can see where he’s coming from. A protective older brother with a lot of responsibility on his shoulders and his own pain and grief to overcome, I kinda loved him. A lot.
“Jace Covington wanted a fight… but he’s going to get a whole lot more than he bargained for.
Because I’m about to give him a motherfucking war.”
Dylan is the epitome of a badass female lead. So strong and resilient and seemingly unfazed by everything Jace puts her though. She ensures she puts up a fierce front, only breaking down behind closed doors. Riddled with her own pain and with hardly any decent family members left, my heart broke for her a time or two.
“Dylan Taylor is stronger than steel and tougher than leather.”
Packed full with fantastic characters that were a joy to read – Sawyer, Cole, Bianca, Oakley and the rest of the crew will have you feeling an array of emotions from joy, humour, anger, confusion and frustration. A phenomenal book that shows how misunderstanding and dishonesty can tear soulmates apart combined with so many other factors. Ashley wrote the perfect blend of angst, heat, tender, sarcasm, humour, aggression, CRUELNESS and action. So. Freaking. Good.
I’m so excited for Cole’s book – Ruthless Knight.
*Reviewed by Ali at Fallen For Books.
Wow what an amazing book filled with so many emotions. Ashley starts ya with the brutal truth right from the first few pages. I didn’t know what to except after that first chapter , but I was indeed in for a journey of heartache, loss, love and so much more. Jace and Dylan used to be best friends but now that Dylan is back it seems Jace hates her but she has no
Idea why. She has no idea why the one boy who she was best friends with and loved now is trying his hardest to break her. “He’s the yin to my yang. The down to my up. The crazy to my normal. The damaged pieces to all my broken parts”
I don’t even know what all to say about this book. Honestly nothing I say will do it justice. I would suggest taking the leap and reading it, you won’t regret it.
In true Ashley Jade fashion, this book is filled with lust, deceit and drama. I was here for ALL. OF. IT!! Bring on book 2!
This is the first book in Ashley Jade’s Royal Hearts Academy Series. This had been on my “books to read” list, along with countless others, but the day it came out it skipped right to the front of that list and I finished it the same day. I absolutely can’t wait for Ruthless Knight, the second book in the trilogy that is about Cole.