2.5⭐ This had sooo much potential but fell short, in my opinion. It dragged on for too long, and the love triangle was weak. There was also a character death that I felt was unnecessary and a little glossed over. I feel as though I skimmed through a good chunk of the middle and didn't get invested in the story and most of the characters until the end of the book. It's an interesting concept/story, but execution was lacking for me.

“Princess of Air” is a captivating romantasy book by Natalie Cammaratta and the first in her Elements of Royalty series.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Suspense: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Romance/spice: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

What you’ll find in this book:
⭐️Royalty with magic
⭐️Steamy desire
⭐️Forbidden Romance
⭐️Strong Female main character
⭐️Trials between siblings
⭐️Amazing scenery & world-building

My Review:
This book was A M A Z I N G !!!! I read it sooooo quickly! I couldn’t put it down and I couldn’t concentrate at work 🥰 . I loved the flashbacks to the past that gave a more intimate and clear view of the current situation. A powerful sibling relationship story with a strong female main character who gets what she deserves for her unconditional love! I highly recommend it to all fantasy and romance lovers.

Description:
Kingdom. Family. Love.
Which will shatter? Which can she save?
Air may not pummel, scorch, and drown like the other elemental magics, but with Arabella wielding it, it might be the strongest power.
When the Queen reveals the heir to her throne will be determined by a competition rather than birthright, the first born Prince of Earth’s rage quakes the palace, and Arabella feels the shock to her bones.
Trials between four siblings—four elements—are bound to be quite the show. Enough to distract from escalating problems throughout the continent.
Arabella will already have a new title soon, but her betrothal does not change the fact that she must compete. If the crown would let her have more moments that ignite her skin and send her heart racing with Tomas, this would be the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s his dark hair and blue eyes that pool heat in her belly.
Alas, if she wins, she’ll spend the rest of her life facing everything she can’t have.

Writing style:
Amazing! So flawless! Very good scenery and world-building!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my early copy. All opinions are mine and sincere.

#PrincessofAir #NetGalley

This book started off excellently. I really clicked with the characters and felt that I could relate to them all. The pace was really good and this book was set up to be a fun light read. Unfortunately, some of the book just felt a little forced. I'm not sure if it was setting things up for future books in the series. For example, there was one death that felt a little too convenient and the death was not at all investigated. It just didn't feel right. I did really like the elemental aspect and the villain was very intriguing. I would have liked a little more world building but the character development was fantastic. This is still a good 4 stars. I think there is a lot more fun to be had with the rest of the series.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Bees and Honey, and Natalie Cammaratta for this early release copy in exchange for my honest review.

I honestly can't wait to continue this series. Even though this first book was slow in certain parts and I had a hard time staying in the story in parts, overall I was intrigued with the forbidden love and the magical elements of the magical system. With sibling rivalry looming at every corner, it kept me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book. It was such a fun Romantasy read with an arranged marriage and forbidden love. This book follows Arabella, the princess of air in her kingdom. We also get to know her 3 siblings, who also possess powers (earth, water and fire). Through the book we follow Ara, who is betrothed to another prince… but in love with someone else. Further, there’s also some action when weird things start happening in neighboring areas and the 4 siblings have to compete in trials to determine who will be heir to the kingdom. Definitely recommend this one!!

The premise of "Princess of Air" had so much potential - a series of trials between siblings with elemental powers to determine who will sit on the throne. Unfortunately, this premise ended up being only a tiny sliver of the story. This book is mainly a romance, with FMC Arabella torn between her lover Tomas and her arranged betrothed, Jamys.

I love a good romance, I was just expecting more fantasy on the side. Arabella's constant waffling between Tomas and Jamys (the latter being her obligation to her kingdom) gets annoying after a time, though I did love that Jamys was portrayed as a genuinely decent guy. The sibling side characters are entertaining but they are also demonstrably entitled and a little spoiled. That doesn't mean I won't read Rylan's story, though.

In terms of spice, there was very little true spice. I would categorize this book not as NA/Adult but more in the YA category, While this book did not really work for me, I would definitely pick up another book by Cammaratta. 3 stars. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own.

I loved this book! “Princess of Air” is a fun, entertaining fantasy read that's a great start to a new series!

The start to a fantasy series can get bogged down by all the world building but that is not the case here. The world building is presented in a way that didn't interrupt the flow of the story and it never felt like you were just getting information dumped on you to get it out of the way. The overall pacing of the novel was excellent as well, with relationships moving at a believable pace.

The FMC is like-able and while she does have the typical fantasy trope of unexpectedly being the most powerful and lovable, the author didn't shove it down our throats and she also filled out the character with relatable flaws and worries that created a balance that I appreciate.

The book does wrap up the main story of the Princess of Air but there are still enough questions and mysteries left unanswered that I am looking forward to continuing the series and reuniting with the secondary characters as they take their turns at center stage.

I definitely recommend this book to fans of fantasy romance who enjoy a little bit of spice with their magic.

*I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK: PRINCESS OF AIR
AUTHOR: NATALIE CAMMARATTA @nataliewritesthebooks
PUB DATE: 11 JUNE 2024
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REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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The favorite part of this book was the royal family of Alchos. I liked how different the siblings were, and they still loved each other and were there for each other. It was warming and refreshing to read. I also liked that there was no hint of enmity and hatred in the book amongst the siblings even with the trials. It was a wonderful book in the fantasy genre. I can't wait to read the rest of the series from the other siblings' point of view.
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Our FMC, Arabella, Princess of Air, was an amazing character. She was brave, compassionate, caring, and lovable. Her indecisiveness about the bethrotal was thrilling to read. I just kept turning the pages so I would know what her decision would be; would she marry him and do her duty, or will she follow her heart? I liked the decision she made and how she was honest with Jamys.
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I also liked the pace of the trial. The author did a very good job in including lots of elements in this book without any collision. There was also the 'Penam troubles'. This made the book end in a cliffhanger because I'm still curious as to the new magic and the King. I guess the rest will be uncovered in the next books.
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This book was amazing, and I liked that Arabella and Tomas got the ending they deserved. I can't wait to read about the rest of the siblings' story
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#princessofair #nataliecammaratta #netgalleyarc #netgalley #fantasy #romance #bookstagramnigeria #bookstagramafrica #nigerianbookstagrammer #

If you like your fantasy with a heavy dose of soap opera drama— then this book is for you. While there is magic, mystery, and excitement here, the relationship entanglements are the stars of the show..

Arabella, the Princess of Air, is entirely happy with her lot in life. The second born of four magical siblings with elemental magic (air, water, fire and earth) she is not meant to take the throne, and she is perfectly content not to. Her purpose is to marry Prince Jamys, form a political alliance, and birth a magical royal heir— though she remains deeply entangle with her lover, Tomas, Then her parents decide the crown is no longer guaranteed to the eldest, the Prince of Earth, but instead all four siblings must compete for it. May the best elemental royal win.

Arabella is a complex, morally grey character. She is not a perfect little princess, she has flaws, and she owns up to them. The relationships between the siblings was interesting and portrayed well. No one is boring or “flat”. Even the love triangle between Ara, Jamys & Tomas was well done— presented authentically and with emotional intelligence.

As to formatting, it will be gorgeous (my digital e-readerI chewed it up badly). I look forward to seeing a printed copy of this book.

The first half of the book was very slow.

After the trials begin all the emotions get crazy! I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster with the main character Arabella. At first she acts like an entitled brat, only caring about herself. The way she hurts Jamys kills me.

As Arabella grows and learns to fight for what she wants, her character really grew on me. She becomes selfless and shows compassion even for the enemy.

I really look forward to reading Prince of Water!

I absolutely loved this fantasy. It isn’t overly complex, so it was very easy to get wrapped up into this world. The elements of magic were so fun, and I truly haven’t read anything like this plot before. I loved the banter between the siblings, and the intricacies of the politics in the plot were enjoyable but not too difficult to where I had to truly put my brain to work while reading, which in my opinion is the best combination. Also, the twist in the middle/endish? I was aghast. I am honestly distraught over that I’m not even going to lie. I do wish we had maybe a few more flashbacks to the beginning of Arabella and her love interest’s relationship, since that was already taking place when we start the book. I absolutely LOVED the creative ways the author showcased the siblings usage of their powers. I’ve never seen anything like it. Overall a fantastic read and I highly recommend it! While there are some mild spicey scenes, I think this book is easily enjoyable for a variety of ages, whether that be high school or more adult!

I don't give out good reviews just because a book was given to me as an ARC. This book is five stars and it earned every single one of them.

A lush fantasy world, elemental magic, and a love triangle are just some of the promises this book holds. Being the first in the series, there was a wonderful amount of character development. Going on this journey with these characters felt a little like being on a ferris wheel- first you're up, then you're down. Somehow characters that I originally hated, I fell in love with and vise versa.

Something else I appreciated was that while the world was descriptive, I wasn't being drowned in descriptions to the point of boredom, which is a common problem among fantasy novels.

Now let's talk spice- I'd give this book one, maybe one and a half chilis for spice. Some of it is fade-to-black, some is a little more descriptive. If you're looking for a smutty book, this isn't it, but it's not clean either.

Let's end with my favorite quote from the book, shall we?

"Formal titles are reserved for sarcasm and foreplay."

A promising fantasy that delivers on entertainment but falls short on execution in some areas. I'm looking forward to potential improvements in future installments.

- Engaging Start: I was hooked from the beginning with a well-crafted magic system and a charming FMC.

- Family Dynamics: I enjoyed the family interactions and sibling rivalry during the trials. There's a hint of deeper issues that could have been explored more, adding depth to the sibling relationships.

- Love Interests: The romantic subplot started strong but lost momentum. The dual potential love interests lacked depth, making it hard to root for either. The resolution for one was particularly anticlimactic, leaving a bit of disappointment.

- Magic System & World Building: The depiction of air powers was imaginative and mostly well- executed. The world has potential for further exploration, especially regarding the gods and magic.

- Plot and Pacing: The mix of trials, romance, and kingdom politics was engaging but felt rushed towards the end, with the final battle feeling lackluster. Some plot elements felt disjointed, as if belonging to a different story.

I wanted to enjoy this book, and the premise initially excited me as I am a romantasy addict!

However, I couldn't navigate the story right from the beginning and found it difficult to tell whether I was reading the present or a flashback. The characters didn't grip me as they should, and I only made it to 20% before I gave up.
I also found the initial romantic interests underwhelming and I was not drawn to the attraction between the main characters.

With a bit more development, as well as more defined timelines, this could hold some promise,

I really enjoyed this book. The princess willing to give up everything for her kingdom, and another's. The trials were set up well. Pacing was excellent. Plot was fun and interesting. Love the dressing for spite moments. Wanted to punch Jamys's dad across country borders. I'm excited to see what will happen in the next book.

Princess of Air by Natalie Cammaratta 4⭐️

“ I could have, and you’d have died with the absurd belief that you aren’t everything I want in this entire world”

Princess of Air follows Arabella and her siblings as they compete for the first time for the title of heir. Meanwhile Arabella is stuck between her childhood friend turned lover and her betrothed. I appreciated how the author made both love interests compelling. I could see Arabella with either Tomas or Jamys and because she was truly conflicted between her heart and her duty I also felt conflicted. I did not see the plot twist coming and I’m intrigued to see how certain mysteries are solved in the next novel. In this book, the magic is passed down from parent to child of the royal family. Throughout the trials we see Arabella begin to believe in herself and truly commit to being the leader that Alchos needs. I think the ending tied everything up nicely for the most part but still paves the way for the next book in the series. Princess of Air will be available 6/11!


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

"I always thought my element and I were the least destructive of my family and our powers. How wrong I was. He offered me a perfectly good heart, and I crushed it."

♡ Arranged Marriage
♡ Forbidden Love
♡ Love Triangle

Princess of Air is the first book in the Elements of Royalty series. A fantasy romance with Bridgerton meets magic vibes.

During what was scheduled to be the Prince of Earth's coronation, the Queen of Alchos announced that each of her children would have the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of her throne in a set of trials. The Prince of Earth, Rylan is not pleased about having to compete for his birthright, and quite frankly, neither is Arabella, Princess of Air. Arabella is betrothed to Prince Jamys, heir of Ceraun, but there is no denying her growing feelings to her childhood friend, Tomas. Winning the trails means two crowns and the constant reminder of the one thing she wants but can't have.

I love a strong-willed, snarky female lead; that is Arabella. Her duty to Alchos outweighed her personal desires. The chemistry between Arabella and Tomas was undeniable. The butterflies this book gave me towards the ending were a pleasant surprise, especially after leaving my jaw to the floor. The beginning was a bit slow for me, but I hit a point in the book where I did not want to put it down! It was such a great read.

I love a snarky FMC when she can back up her attitude with actions and this heroine delivered. The story dragged at times but the character development and world building were necessary to set the tone for the series. The author was creative with the elect powers and the magic was described well. A great book about sibling rivalry with some fantasy thrown throughout!

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

I really wanted to like this book as the idea sounded cool and had a lot of potential, but overall it just felt super rushed and a bit of a disappointment.

Firstly, the pacing of the plot was a little all over the place. Some scenes would drag on and I would get so bored but other scenes would just go by so quickly that I had no idea what was going on. The end battle was a little disappointing too and happens so quickly that you hardly realise that it actually is the big end of the book battle. I also wish there was more focus on the trials as this was one of the parts that I liked the most, but instead, they only last for a few chapters and most of the book is just the main character pinning after the two love interests meaning the plot really just gets lost in the weird love triangle.

Speaking of, I really did not connect with the main character or either of the love interests. Arabella (the main character) just felt a little bland and the love interests were never developed enough to root for either of them. Also, one of the romance options is someone she already has all the feelings for before the book begins so we never see their development or banter in their relationship which normally helps the reader connect to the characters and their romance.

I did however really like the magic element and the world-building. I also think the main characters' air powers were described and used really well in a unique way that you don’t often see in fantasy books. I feel like the most common elemental powers you see are fire or water and air is often overlooked, but in this book, its shown to be a lot more powerful than you think it can be which I liked.

A new twist on sibling rivalry with a competition for the throne. I like the idea of four forces of nature against each other.

Princess of Air is an easy read as for the writing style. I could do with less commentary and more of the action. Authors seem to write a lot of monologues that aren’t how mature and strong females would act. In cases where four siblings are fighting for the throne - TO RULE, the interactions and actions were juvenile.

Better classified as YA romantasy.

Thank you Netgalley and Natalie Cammarata for giving me this opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.