Title: Huntress
Author: Susan Copperfield
Series: Royal States #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

I love that this is a novel about a turkey shapeshifter and the woman who hunted him, literally. They are not the most likely of couples, but definitely one that I loved reading about and made a kind of sense once you thought about it. Also, I just loved that the shapeshifter was a turkey who likes to smack interlopers about with his wings. The level of aggression was kind of hilarious, and the fact that Kelvin’s hunter is a potty-mouthed sassy pants was just brilliant.

I’m not going to lie, Kelvin’s family completely, totally and utterly sucks. I mean, they use him and refuse to respect his choices. But then it does completely justify his abdication. An abdication that causes a lot of shock waves and drives home the point that everyone has their breaking point. There were a few unanswered questions about just how his family was able to justify his lack of medical care and security training. I mean, there’s being ignorant, but seriously? That was more than a little bit concerning…

Mostly what concerned me about Kelvin’s family was how willing his mother was to throw away their relationship because she wanted to be right. I mean, it’s one thing to be incorrect about who will be a good match. But to repeatedly bring that person into your life and ignore your own child’s judgement? It actually made me flinch multiple times whilst reading this. But it did make a great plot line and point of conflict.

The Royal States series is honestly a series that frequently has me laughing. Everyone throughout it is kind of insane and there are so many shenanigans throughout. I love how heavily involved and insane Montana is in this world. Plus, their influence manages to smooth over all of the mistakes of others. I love that Copperfield has placed a couple as the powerhouse of the world who genuinely just want what is best for others. It’s also fantastic that the majority of the couples in this involve an empath creating an unbreakable connection that just cements their bonds and relationship.

As with all of the other stories in the Royal States series, there is a few comments on socio-political issues in the world. In this case, it’s creepy, lecherous older men forcing younger girls to marry them. It was incredibly cringe-worthy and I love how the horrible man got the crap slapped out of him by an angry turkey…

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Title: A Guiding Light
Author: Susan Copperfield
Series: Royal States #4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Adam and Veronica are a seriously cute and lovely couple. One that I was rooting for from the very beginning of the story. And I really like that although they both have a lot of history, they are working towards one another throughout the entire story. Even if they take forever to actually get back to one another, they have managed to grow and change towards each other. Plus, Adam’s total and utter devotion and love is kind of adorable.

The dangers and grossness of childhood marriage contracts is touched upon a little in Null and Void. And I love that although the two instances in this series have happy endings, the story of Adam and Veronica also highlights the beginning of the end of this practice. There is something seriously gross about children being pushed into marriages. The fact that within this series, they are actual legal and binding contracts between kingdoms… incredibly awkward and uncomfortable.

The difficulties that Adam has with his family are really heartbreaking, and as the story unfolds, you realise that they aren’t all evil. I definitely got the impression towards the end of this story that they actually abandoned him to protect him. But, none of his abandonment issues or their motives are really dealt with in this story. I would’ve loved to explore all of this a whole lot more. Particularly once you find out that they were both victims of marriage contracts. And also just generally bad ass individuals. Ones that I kind of immediately fell in love with…

Like all of Copperfield, Blain and Franklin books, this is one that is filled with a wonderful dose of humour and wit. Yet, as with the rest of the Royal States series, there is a whole tone of comments on society as a whole. Other than the childhood marriage grossness, A Guiding Light focuses on the power of money, banks and the stock market. It felt really poignant to read a story about this at the moment – with the cost of living surpassing our wages and the knowledge that everyone is in a whole lot of trouble moneywise.

As a villain, the king in this is an absolute nutter. I mean, he’s probably been one of the worst bad guys in the whole series – mostly because his evil deeds impact on his wife and children. Particularly his youngest son and eldest daughter – they both have suffered a lot at his hands. I kind of love that he ultimately paid the price for murder and manipulation. Now onto the next amazing novel in this series and the social issues that I’m sure I’ll have to think about upon reading it!

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Title: The Captive King
Author: Susan Copperfield
Series: Royal States #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

I’m absolutely adoring the Royal States series. I mean, they’re funny and engaging romances. But they each touch upon some pretty big and serious issues. Thus far we’ve had socio-economic assumptions, racism and now The Captive King highlights sexual assault and sexism within higher education. I mean, these issues might be on steroids in this series, but they’re still pretty damn potent today and it’s a great way to feel slightly uncomfortable in a wonderfully packaged story.

Summer’s introduction to this world is great – an archaeologist who is on her last fuck and has some pretty prickly man issues. I also love that you immediately pick up on when she converses with MacKenzie and there is all of the links to the storyline of Null and Void. One of my favourite things about Copperfield’s writing is that she writes women who are generally completely done with society, or about to completely snap. Summer fits this beautifully, and as the storyline continues, she gets more and more fed up with the nonsense that she has continued to put up with for years. I can completely understand this.

Although I pick up the Royal States / Copperfield novels for the romance and the sass, I got seriously swept away by the archaeology in this. And the mystery of the curse. I love that the ruins and temples and cultures described are either actually existent ones from our past, or very, very similar. I honestly couldn’t wait to discover what new site Summer would discover. And what conclusions she would leap to. I might have said goodbye to the academic life, but man, that passion and love of discovery… it was nice to read about again.

To counterpoint Summer, Landon works really well. I honestly did not guess at what his talent was going to be, and I love that it fits perfectly with Summer’s passions. I also love that when he falls for her, part of his life’s plan is to just sit and watch Summer dig in the dirt. We all need someone in our lives who wants to slot into the life we live, not change it. Landon is also completely stuck in a rut and a non-desirable situation, and I love that its Summer (the woman) who drags him out of it and effectively saves the day.

The Captive King is wonderful and amazing. It’s exactly the kind of book that I love to read. Fun, and cute on the surface with lots of sass. But, the second you pause to think at all, you realise that Copperfield is discussing a number of unpleasant realities that most women face in some way, shape or form. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the Royal States series, A Guiding Light.

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Title: Null and Void
Author: Susan Copperfield
Series: Royal States #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2017

From the very start of this novel, there is a lot of commentary on prejudice and racism. Being a Null, Mackenzie is automatically placed as less than – just for the way that she was born. It highlighted how laws throughout the world have historically (and currently) disadvantaged minorities – Australia very much included. Although it was masked with the joy of this awesome work, it was pretty intense. Particularly when Mackenzie highlights all of the laws that she fights against.

I thought Patrick and Jessica were amazing when I read Storm Called, but then I got to meet Mackenzie. She makes the prejudice against Patrick look like child’s play. But, I love that in spite of that nonsense, Mackenzie doesn’t let that, or anything else, stop her. She fights and claws her way higher up in the food chain, then she has a child. I know that as a mother I’d do anything for my children. I love that Mackenzie takes this and just becomes a terrifying powerhouse willing to destroy the world to keep her child safe and loved.

Dylan was always going to be a far more intense elite than Mackenzie realised – that’s the fun of reading a story like this. But, I definitely guessed as to his hidden identity and his talents before they were revealed. Instead of ruining a secret, it actually made me rush all that quicker to the moment when Mackenzie realises the truth. Which, because this is Copperfield, was a pretty hilarious moment.

As much as I loved this story, I did find the idea of signing a marriage contract for your ten year old daughter to be kind of icky. I mean, it makes sense within the context of this story and magic. But, still, a ten-year-old. To be married at fifteen, definitely a little bit difficult to read. However, I do look forward to seeing how that pans out in the future novels within this story. I’m sure it won’t be anywhere near as straight-forward as implied.

This novel is honestly unforgettable, I’m honestly struggling to find the words to describe how this story made me feel. It’s one of those that had so many layers, that I know, no matter how many times I reread this (of which there will be many), I’ll find a new facet that I previously missed. The characters are fun, the story line is beautiful. And the themes and struggles throughout are universal. A beautiful story that I absolutely adored and look forward to reading again in the future.

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Title: Taken
Author: Susan Copperfield
Series: Royal States #1.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2020

Patrick and Jessica were a very entertaining romance from the very beginning. But, as with all romances, I really like reading about them after they’ve found each other and had to deal with the day to day reality of their new lives. Particularly, I love reading about couples once they have children and how they negotiate that. I love how Patrick and Jessica manage to juggle the responsibilities in their lives. And how their children turn out just as precocious as their parents.

Children and parenting may not have been the focus of this novella, but damn did I relate a whole lot to the challenges that Jessica and Patrick face. I mean, parenting is ridiculously hard. And its always fun to read about how others deal with it, even if they are just characters in a fantasy world. I also loved how Patrick has a stubborn and opinionated Daddy’s Girl. And a clingy and equally stubborn Mummy’s Boy. I loved both the children and look forward to seeing how they grow throughout the Royal States series.

The main conflict and story line of this novella is really about Patrick being kidnapped. It highlights all of the political turmoil and change that he and Jessica have bought about into the world. It also shows just how much people underestimate Patrick. I love how he manages to escape, but then decides to just… calmly fish on the way home. And find himself a new pet to love. Alright, I may not be a huge fan of a snake as a pet. But, it did make for a very entertaining and funny story. Plus, if I wasn’t so damn stupidly petrified of snakes, I would totally decide that any animal that rests on my foot is going to be my new pet…

As with everything written by Copperfield (Blain, Franklin, etc.) this is a story full of light and witty banter. I honestly spent a whole lot of time laughing and waking up my family. It was a funny story that I thoroughly enjoyed and I can’t wait to dive a little deeper into this world again with Null and Void.

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