Review: House of Royals by Keary Taylor, audio book

This is a Review for the audio version of House of Royals by Keary Taylor

4 Stars

I picked this audiobook after it popped a few times in my Facebook newsfeed. I wasn’t really in the mood for vampires, but something about the blurb struck a chord with me and so I took the plunge.

The first thing I have to say is that I’ll ignore the fact that I listened to the audio book and instead I’ll concentrate on the story and Ms. Taylor’s great world building. Otherwise I would have given this book 3 stars. 

I don’t know if you have audio book samples through Audible, if you do, I encourage you to listen to the people narrating the books before you buy copies. I wish I could have done so before buying the audiobook for House of Royals. That said... let's get on with the review.

House of Royals is the story of Alivia Ryan. After a man who claims to be her father dies, she inherits Conrath Plantation. The plantation is in a town called Silent Bend, Mississippi. The town has its history and skeletons, and the locals know not to go out after dark and  the police never looks into crimes involving blood. 

Once she arrives at Silent Bend, a man called Ian Ward tries to kill her, but later, after getting to know her, he insists that she must learn to defend herself so he trains her. Why should she learn to defend herself? Because the House might try to manipulate her for their own political reasons and she could be hurt in the process.

I really liked Ms. Taylor world building. A powerful vampire called Jasmin is in charge of the House; however, it should be Liv, since her father was at one point the man in charge. Liv is after all a born vampire Princess. However, she’s reluctant to get involved. 

Part of the world building is the different kinds of vampires, born versus bitten. These were a welcomed addition in a genre where it seems that we go for only bitten vampires or born and hardly mix the two. I liked that there were clear differences between both species, and that those differences were never in conflict during the story.

The relationship between Liv and Ian progressed slowly. It felt as if the characters were taking their time and trying to assess their feelings before actually jumping in the whole can’t live without you plot, that so many books seem to have nowadays. I quite liked that Liv doesn’t label Ian as her boyfriend straight away, and instead wonders what to call him. 

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series, which are out now, especially after that cliffhanger. J