Didn’t think it was possible to top the 1st book, however it’s been proven it can this book was another great installation in the series

"Royal Scandal" by Aimee Carter is a thrilling and addictive novel that expertly blends the glamour of royalty with the intensity of scandal and intrigue. Carter’s storytelling is fast-paced and engaging, drawing readers into a world of power, privilege, and the complex dynamics of a royal family under siege. The characters are well-drawn, each with their own hidden agendas, secrets, and desires, making the unfolding drama all the more compelling. The novel deftly balances romance, mystery, and political intrigue, creating a plot that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last. "Royal Scandal" is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction who love a mix of royal allure, suspense, and unexpected twists. It’s a captivating escape into a world where the stakes are high and nothing is as it seems.

and I absolutely loved it! What a brilliant follow up!

I loved being back with Evan and Maisie and Kit and everyone else, chaos definitely ensured. Evan Bright is the illegitimate daughter of King Alexander and she is still struggling to fit in, but there is someone out to get her. With assassination attempts and getting mixed up in things she shouldn’t be, Royal Scandal kept me turning the pages, there was so much mystery and things kept happening ans I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next!

Aimee Carter has a way of writing mystery that is also fun but at the same time putting all her characters into danger, which had me worrying for them. With everything that happens in Royal Scandal, I felt like maybe the characters I loved and trusted in Royal Blood, could not be trusted in this book…

The ending was crazy and left it at such high stakes, leaving a perfect opening for book 3, (there will be a book 3 right Usborne!???) which I am really looking forward to, because you can’t just end it on that cliffhanger!

I was really excited to be back in Evan’s world of royal chaos and politics and absolutely loved Royal Scandal! I am giving it 4.5 stars, and I can’t wait for more Royal Chaos 👀 If you enjoyed American Royals, you would definitely enjoy this series!

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So when I requested this book I didn't realise it was the second in a trilogy. I did try to start reading it without reading the first one but felt that I was missing some of the world and character building. So I went off and read the first book Royal Blood and then came back to this one.

I am a sucker for a story involving a reimagined royal family and if you are a fan of American Royals by Katherine McGee then you will really enjoy this series! I was completely hooked on this book and had so much romance and scandal that I was gripped and desperate for more drama, be warned that this has emotionally heavy parts and is more intense than the first book.

The book also ends with a major cliffhanger so now I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series to get some answers!

I expected Royal Scandal to be as good as the first book, Royal Blood, but it’s even better. I don’t know how many times I gasped in surprise or held my breath while I was reading. The twists, the surprises, and that shocking mind-blowing ending that has me already counting down the days until the next book will come out.

In Royal Blood, the entire world found out that seventeen-year-old Evangeline Bright is the illegitimate daughter of the King of England. Now, everyone seems to have accepted Evan’s presence in Buckingham Palace, she has established some kind of relationship with her step-sister Maisie, the future queen, and she’s found love with the queen’s nephew, Kit. She is looking forward to spending Christmas with her new family, but, of course, things will be far from easy. First of all, on their arrival at Sandringham, there is a group of angry protesters outside the gates. And, then, Prince Benedict, who caused her so much trouble and almost got her arrested for murder in the first book, makes his return and Evan is sure he out for revenge. Add a gossip website that seems to know everything that is going on in the royal family, strange voices that make her doubt about her mental health, and the fact that Kit may be hiding something from her, Evan has sure a lot on her plate…

Action-packed, thrilling, and entertaining, I can’t recommend this novel (and this series enough). I love the author’s writing, which keeps me completely immersed, and Evan is a fantastic protagonist: she would do anything to protect the people she loves and often this leads her into dangers that kept me on the edge of my seat. I surely didn’t expect that surprising ending and I cannot wait to see what is coming next!

A huge thank you to Usborne and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Evan continues to be the media's 'hated' member of the royal family. In the midst of a threat about more secrets being revealed, there is an assassination attempt and she gets hurt. Is someone from the palace trying to get rid of her?

The POV has the snark — maybe more sass this time around from the protagonist — we enjoyed in the 1st installment. There is a beautiful intensity to Evan's emotions, depicted with a certain depth, and a cleverness and honesty to the storyline, that give the narrative its thought-provoking glory. Maturity is emerging. Nonetheless, it is always enjoyable watching Evan try to be a proper princess (even if she doesn't have the title). It delves deeper into the waters of what it is to be royal and the awkwardness of familial relationships.

This may be a 1st person POV but all the characters are well-developed, shining in the truth of their personalities. The ones you're supposed to hate, you just love to hate them. And the ones you like... well... a hug would not suffice.

Once again the chapters start with media articles, texts and the whatnot, supplementing the story in their unique way. And I'm there for it. There is a mystery to be solved here too. But instead of being accused as the perpetrator, Evan is the intended victim. Or is she? Then things get really crazy. I think this sequel has a bit more of an ominous feel to it, the danger more prominent. Though also heartfelt with a soft solemnity.

Themes in this book are: the fickleness of public opinion, the toxicity of the media and the possible dangers of celebrity. It also deals with family dynamics and bonds, duty and in my opinion mainly with growing into your own.

Giving us family & royal drama that is practically explosive and in-your-face situations to die for, it is full of secrets from unexpected sources and self-serving machinations. Thrilling, heart-jolting and utterly surprising, I could not put it down. I gasped and cheered and loved every minute of it. Waiting for the next one is going to kill me.

I've never been remotely interested in royalty in books until I came across royal blood last year, and I'm obsessed with these two books! Aimee Carter is writing an amazing story, and I can't wait for the next instalment!

Thank you Usborne, you're honestly the best there is <3

Every bit as tense and addictive as the first book! Royal Scandal was filled with drama, twists and scandal, keeping me glued to the page from beginning to end. I desperately want to know what happens next.

I read Royal Blood last year and really enjoyed it, so I was so excited to get my hands on Royal Scandal. After all the drama of the first book, you'd think Evan would manage to catch a break, but book two packs just as much of a punch, only bringing more mysteries to the table.
I loved seeing Evan continue to navigate her new life in the royal family, and see her relationships progress with various members, such as her sister Maisie, and boyfriend Kit. All of the ins and outs of the family's dynamic was really fleshed out in this book - particularly with both the girl's parents, and their respective relationships.
Carter keeps us guessing right to the end, with a cliffhanger that's left me longing for book three already.

Oh my GOD the intensity of this book compared to Royal Blood! I wasn’t expecting a plot so intricate or such high stakes, but I’m definitely not mad about it.

We follow Evan as she continues to navigate her way through appearances and the inner workings of the Royal Family. However things very quickly take a turn for the worse, and she has to find out who’s behind it all, or her and her family’s lives will all be at stake.

This book made me fall even more in love with Maisie - she’s such a raw and real character!

The ending was wonderfully vague and nOW I NEED BOOK 3 IMMEDIATELY PLEASE AIMÉE THANK YOU

Thank you Usborne and Netgalley for my ARC🫶

I was obsessed with Royal Blood as soon as I picked it up so I was really excited to pick up Royal Scandal, the second in the series, as soon as I could and it did not disappoint. The first thing I have to say is the ending!!! OMG it was one hell of a cliff-hanger. This book is also a lot darker than the first, there is more danger in the scandals such as shootings, protests and mass danger. There was so much drama and chaos in this book; it was such a roller-coaster. I was really rooting for Evan all the way through this; I love how the author makes you love Evan even when she is mixed up with all the scandals.

The only thing I hate about this book is that I have to wait for the next one. Why did you do this to me! 😂

I liked this more than the first book. I think the way the story is woven into the story of the actual royal family, with so many accurate facts, is so clever!
By now, I really like the characters and it was so nice to read about them again. The writing is easy, there is a flow to the story, that makes me keep reading and reading. There is a lot of action in the second part, that I enjoyed as well. Only the relationships (especially the one between Evan and Kit) feel a bit superficial. I do not get those deep feelings, because it mostly stays on a surface level.

Royal Scandal ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book, since I read Royal Blood and heard there was going to be a sequel. It did not disappoint.

Aimée Carter excels at writing characters that you love and characters that you love to hate. Although you wouldn’t expect to relate to a secret daughter of the King of England, she humanises the characters effortlessly.

Royal Scandal was full of twists and turns and I genuinely found it hard to put down. It keeps you guessing until the end; questioning who can be trusted. I didn’t think it could surpass the first book, but it did.

This series has everything: romance, intrigue, high stakes, family drama and murder. My only criticism is that Royal Scandal ends on a cliffhanger! I can’t wait for the next one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

How on earth am I expected to wait around for book three after that??!! Loved it entirely and just cannot wait for more.

Absolutely loved it. The pacing, the danger, the plot twists and most of all the characters - some you love, some you hate, some are tokens, others red herrings, but all of them have a purpose in the story. Once I’d read the first 100 pages it was like being on a rollercoaster and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Cannot wait for the final instalment in this trilogy

Ever since I read ‘Royal Blood’ last year, I have been a huge fan of Aimée Carter, so of course I expected book two in this series to be another addictive banger. But, what I didn't expect was to love it as much as I did book one. I thought there was no way that this book could come close to the action-packed, whirlwind, mystery that was ‘Royal Blood’, but I’m happy to say that I was mistaken. ‘Royal Scandal’ had the addictive dramatic flare that I fell in love with last year. A brand new mystery to follow with the same beloved characters. This book was the perfect mix of mystery, drama, romance and family that we all grew to love when this series first came out, I’m so glad that book two is almost here! The only thing that upsets me about this series is how long I’ll have to wait to get the third instalment and the answers that I’ve been looking for. Reading ‘Royal Scandal’ reminded me just how much I fell in love with these characters in book one, and of my love for YA mysteries! If you’ve read book one, you’re going to love this one. If you haven’t, why not?

Thank you Usborne YA, Netgalley, and Aimée Carter for sending me an E-Arc of this one, because I was struggling to hold on until the release date ;)

Don’t think this series is your thing? Let me convince you otherwise! Read this book if you love:

・❥・Gossip Girl meets The Princess Diaries
・❥・Secrets, lies and scandal
・❥・Mysteries to solve and action-packed drama
・❥・Side plot romance
・❥・Books set in England

This was such a fun and easy to read book, it mixes mystery and teen drama - I really loved it overall.

I don’t know what Aimee Carter put in this book but I couldn’t put it down.

The sequel to Royal Blood, Royal Scandal turns things up a notch for the King’s illegitimate daughter Evan, as she continued to adjust to life as part of the royal family.

There are twists and turns on every page of this book and it is gloriously addictive reading. There’s mystery, romance, suspense, family issues, politics and so much more.

I absolutely inhaled this book and am already on tenterhooks for the next one in this fantastic series.

Thank you so much Usborne YA for the ARC.

The first in the series was a surprise hit for me. Considering this is a second in a series I enjoyed it almost as much as the first. The one issue I have with this book is the heritage of the character (I’m assuming from there name) that is revealed to be behind the terrorist plot has a lot of baggage because of actual British history. I feel it shouldn’t be in the book. I will be continuing with the series and give it one more chance.

I love this series so much, honestly. It's scandalous yet relatable at the same time! It gives me Pretty Little Liars meets Gossip Girl in the best way.