Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is a good YA dark academia book that pits four teenagers against each other to become the heir to the King’s throne. Three of them are the royal grandchildren of the King who were sent away & raised by guardians out of the public eye. The fourth is a teenager that won a scholarship to the elite academy they are all sent to that is infamous for breeding the world’s next generation of leaders – and liars.

Titus has always known his heritage & is suffering under the enormous pressure of ruthless parents who will do anything to put him on the throne. He comes off as arrogant & cunning but also hides a boy that just wants his parent’s love & acceptance. Alaric grew up in foster care & basically raised himself. He is a hardened & brutal “man of the streets” but has a softer side for anyone bullied & those less fortunate. Emmeline grew up rich, but alone & neglected. She just wants love & attention from her family. Sadie doesn’t know why she was chosen, but she’s intent on taking advantage of the opportunity.

The four interact with each other much as you’d expect, with suspicion & wariness. Some try to form an alliance, others try a fake romance, yet others use revenge & spite to get what they want. Each heir is both likeable & unlikeable on their journey to the throne, fitting nicely into their stereotypes. The book is fast paced with interesting side characters that provide levity & a respite from the competition. However, the author doesn’t go far enough below the surface of the heirs’ development as I’d like, & some plot points were not fully fleshed out. Those are my hangups, tho. You should check this one out yourself.

Thank you @NetGalley @christyottavianobooks & @linzduga for the complimentary e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.