Review: Lost Princess by Dani-Lyn Alexander

Kingdom of Cymmera #2

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Publication Date: October 13, 2015

Rating: 3 Stars

Source: eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Summary (from Goodreads):

Ryleigh Donnovan’s life changed forever the day she met Jackson Maynard, a Death Dealer, and followed him home to the kingdom of Cymmera. Now she is trying to care for her sister while saving a realm she knows nothing about…

Jackson has reluctantly accepted the throne of Cymmera, in place of his father. But his world is in turmoil, the kingdom under constant threat of attack. Worse still, Jackson suspects there is a traitor among his court. A powerful prophet has suggested a way to protect the realm, but that solution may drive Jackson and Ryleigh apart forever…

When a magic relic goes missing, Ryleigh has no choice but to journey in search of it. When Jackson discovers Ryleigh is missing, he must make a choice that will either claim their destiny, or bring an end to the only home he’s ever known.

Cymmera is in chaos. There is a traitor loose in the kingdom and Jackson doesn't know what to do with his newfound title as King. Ryleigh and Mia are back in Cymmera after an unwelcome intruder disturbed the peace in their new home in the human realm. Jackson is trying to hold his kingdom, and himself, together. He wants to claim Ryleigh, but she isn't ready. Things just aren't going smoothly for anyone in this book. When the same unwelcome intruder makes his way into Ryleigh's chambers, taking her Divination Stone and leaving behind the bat that they took from her house, she is sent by Elijah on a journey to get back the stone. Which, naturally, doesn't go smoothly for anyone because no one will just listen to the prophet and seer and take his visions at face value.

As in the last book, I do not know how I feel about the characters. I think they're okay, but at the same time I don't feel anything strongly for them. Ryleigh knows her destiny is in Cymmera, but can't help feeling like she wants to take Mia and just forget about everything. But she overcomes a LOT in this book and she is pretty fierce and strong and still annoyingly overprotective of her younger sister, which isn't a bad thing, but still annoying. She accepts her role as queen and she pretty much OWNS IT.

Jackson... I don't know if I think that he's kinda creepy because he just decides that he is going to claim Ryleigh, that it's best for everyone in the kingdom, but he knows it's not what she's ready for yet, or if I think he's awesome because he's really protective of Ryleigh and Mia and he would do basically anything for them or for his kingdom. And he does go out of his way to do anything for them. The lack of care the rulers in this kingdom have for themselves and their kingdom when they go rushing into battles for each other is kind of astounding.

I appreciated Mia a lot more as a character in this book. I thought she seemed to act more her age in this book. She wasn't constantly crying and clinging to Ryleigh in this book. She wasn't constantly babied by everyone anymore. She really stepped up in some situations in this book and I just liked her a lot more.

There is still the romance between Ryleigh and Jackson, but it's kind of on a back burner because they're pretty much separated or fighting or acting completely unnecessarily jealous about something dumb for this whole book. But they really seem to work well together and I do like their romance.

The plot of this book is pretty much what has kept me reading. Not that it's really a great plot, but there is always something happening and it keeps you interested and engaged and wanting to know what happens next. The action is pretty much constant in this book and that is what I loved about this book. I can't say that I was ever bored while reading this.

Once again, I did not care for the writing of this book. It didn't feel like it was original to me. Throughout this book and the first book, phrases are repeated entirely too much. Ryleigh constantly has her bottom lip caught in her teeth. It was to the point that I was just hoping that she would bite it off so I didn't have to read about it anymore. People are seemingly always 'ruthlessly' or 'brutally' pushing feelings or tears or something else aside. Always with those words. Also, people always seemed to be resisting the urge to throw up over every little thing. The repetitive-ness of phrases really put me off.

The one thing that bugged me the most about this book was the villain. He seems to be so smart and has his wits about him to betray a whole kingdom so well, but then when Ryleigh or Jackson finally get around to facing him, he acts like a spoiled brat who doesn't get his way and it just didn't even feel like the same character to me.

Overall, I think that this was an alright book. I would probably not recommend it unless you're looking for something with lots of action. I will probably read a third book in this series because I am really enjoying the plot and really want to know what happens next.