The Royal Games

A Young Adult Dystopian Romance (A Game of Crowns and Lies, Book 1)

By: Jamie Sanders

Narrated by: Beth Nicholls

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Once in a generation, the young women of the Unified Territories of Palias are given the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to become a princess.

It’s an honor Kaia Luvaryan has no interest in competing for. In the aftermath of the Great War, huge swaths of what was once the United States of America are uninhabitable. Every day is a struggle to survive.

But Kaia doesn’t want to leave her family or her best friend Finn behind - not even for a chance at winning Crown Prince Dominic’s hand in marriage. Life in her home territory of Hilora is hard, but at least it’s hers.

Her life. Her choice.

Until, suddenly, it’s not anymore.

Branded a criminal and sentenced to a punishment that amounts to death, Kaia is given only one way out.

She must compete in the Royal Games...as a spy for the Queen of Palias herself.

Perfect for fans of The Selection and The Hunger Games. Dive into this story of intrigue, danger, romance, and deception!

©2021 Jamie Sanders (P)2021 Jamie Sanders

I enjoyed the story, but the narration was difficult

I decided to give it until Chapter 5 to see if the narration would be tolerable. It does get better, but it was very challenging. But, the story held my attention and I wanted to hear what happened next.

The narrator is horrible

If you don't mind monotone ... Robotic . Hearing every and I seriously mean every sentence have a weird pause before starting the next sentence then good luck. This narrator is just plan horrible and hard to listen to

A sweet book

Very nice sweet book, kept me wanting to listen and don’t get boring. The relationships were good and clean and built through the book. The lead character was strong but wasn’t so egotistical and hard like some lead female characters. She also seemed to stay true to who the author portrayed her to be which was refreshing. No surprise power trips, or going from clean innocent girl to boy crazy bed hopper. Refreshing. That’s not to say there isn’t any romance it’s just that the romance stayed classy. Makes me excited for the next book to come. My only regret is that book two isn’t here yet.

Good, but it could be better.

It was a good book overall. Really like the princess bachelorette battle action story. Really enjoyed it but there are better plot lines in other books similar to this. Didn’t mind the voice. I would read part 2 if it comes out. Wanna know how is it would be for Kaia battle in the official games.

The voice is so robotic

I just spent a credit on this and can't even keep listening. The tone, the random pauses.... it feels like Siri is reading me a story. It's terrible. I should have listened to the preview.

bad narration and generic story

Narrator sounded robotic and paused and the strangest moments mid sentence where there was no comma so there was no flow. I did not want to finish it but I wanted to see if this story stood out from other dystopian novels and unfortunately it did not. The general story was fine, but it was written so literally, there was no room for the reader to infer or come to conclusions or understanding ourselves. It was so literal with the main character's thoughts, it didn't seem like the way people actually think, but how the author wanted to make sure we viewed her. Like a forced hero, which I'm sure if written in a less formulaic fashion, we would come to that conclusion anyway.

great book

this was a great book! I can't wait for the next book in the series

We need book 2!!

I just came across this book a few days ago and I couldn’t stop listening. I love how the story is almost a mix between The Hunger Games and The Selection. But now I’m left with no continuation and no info anywhere as to if there is even going to be a second book.

Jamie Sanders, please release book 2.

The Narrator

Halfway through and I want to stop listening because the Narrator. Her pauses and fluctuations at the wrong parts of sentences is so bad. Hopefully she works on it for the next, if there is one. I gave 3 stars for the story because I'm having a hard time paying attention to the story due to focusing so much on the voice.

Great storyline 

I did not think the narrator was as bad as people say. I love the story, and could not wait to turn the page to the next chapter. I need the second book now!