Who’s the fairest of them all?
Young women from every settlement in the land are being handpicked to enter The Pageant, a contest reminiscent of Miss Universe from the old days. Gwyneth West’s social-climbing mother wants her to compete, but Gwyn isn’t so sure…
The Pageant is government-sponsored. If you’re lucky enough to be chosen, participation is mandatory. Aggressive competition is allowed, even encouraged.
And then there’s the prize…
Dallas Black, otherwise known as The Dark Prince, will propose to the winner. Dallas is the son of King Black, who won the last world war and governs the new settlements.
The Royal Family is mysterious. Rumor has it they don’t sleep. Rumor has it they eschew the sun. Rumor has it they’re immortal.
When Gwyn is thrust into The Pageant, she fights to survive the competitive nature of the other contestants.
But even if she wins…can she survive a vampire fiancé?
FOUR WEEKS. TWENTY CONTESTANTS. ONE PRINCE.
The Pageant is almost over, and Gwyneth West knows she can win—except the prince is a vampire, and some of the other contestants are turning out to be quite beastly.
What do you do when the person you love…might want to eat you alive?
Struggling to hold onto her position in the palace, Gwyn knows her vampire prince could slip through her fingers in an instant. And when human rebels threaten to storm the vampire royals once more, Gwyn finds herself caught between two worlds: her people, and the vampire she loves.
A ROYAL WEDDING IS COMING…BUT WHICH CONTESTANT WILL BE THE BRIDE?
Gwyneth West’s a finalist in The Pageant, the dating competition that’s gripping the settlements. Down to the final week, the dashing Prince Dallas Black will choose one young woman as his fiancé.
One small issue: Gwyneth’s a human and the prince is a vampire. What’s worse? Gwyneth’s family are sworn rebels, out to take back the settlements and overthrow the crown. What’s worse than that? Gwyn’s own rebel brother is a prisoner in the castle dungeons, but the king and queen don’t know his true identity.
Gwyneth and Dallas want to show the settlements that vampires and humans can live together in peace. But as their differences threaten to tear them apart, Gwyneth discovers her love puts the prince at risk.
How do you choose between love and duty?
My Review
Gwyn is forced to do what her mother wants and earn points toward being invited to the Pageant, all to keep their family from starving. Her mother believes becoming royalty is the only way to save them, but it is not what Gwyn wants.
She does not like the prince at all, calling him dark and blaming him for the war and the destruction that brought him to power. Gwyn is a new adult who is hoping she is not selected, especially since participation is mandatory. The entire contest goes against everything she stands for, but she cannot ignore her family’s situation, especially after her father and older brother never returned from the war.
There is also uncertainty surrounding the royal family. Gwyn is not even sure if they are fully human. When she meets the other contestants, especially Eve, she is surprised by their sass and bold personalities. There are hints that the royal family may not be human, but nothing is confirmed yet. The story definitely gives Hunger Games vibes with a dystopian feel, especially with the lack of technology.
I really enjoyed the contrast between the royal world and the poor settlements. The integration of royalty into this harsh setting is intriguing, even though what they truly are is still unclear. This book does get spicy, Gwyn to see confirmation of some of her worst fears. The rules of the Pageant are strict, and after the trauma during entry, things only get more intense. Her interactions with the prince bring a lot of emotional whiplash.
The audiobook is mostly from Gwyn’s point of view, with only bits of the prince’s voice through dialogue. Even without his full perspective, the story stays engaging. As it progresses, she begins to refer to him as Dallas, or Prince Dallas, and her reactions to him are everything. Her description of him as “tall, dark, and royal” says it all.
There are moments that feel like her personal version of The Bachelor, with formal dinners, public appearances, and a lot of time spent in her own thoughts. Slowly, her perspective on the royal family begins to shift, and the monsters she believed them to be may not be so simple. At the same time, she is exposed to violence that she cannot fully process.
The coldness of the royal world and their lack of compassion frustrates her, and the pressure of the Pageant continues to wear her down. The final part of the story brings in some great humor, alongside characters you both love and love to hate.
I listened to this on audio, and the single narrator did a great job. Even in the moments where I questioned Gwyn’s decisions, I stayed invested. I am really enjoying this story and cannot wait to see what happens next for Gwyn and Dallas.
We begin this part of the story with Gwyn still in the castle, continuing the competition for the prince’s hand in marriage. I love the way she describes the competition. It has a slightly comical tone even while everything around her feels tense and unsettled.
The mix of show and reality brings out a lot of emotions for Gwyn. There is jealousy, sharp comments from the other contestants, and moments where her frustration with the prince really shows. Even with all of that, she is still in the running and gets another date, which keeps things interesting.
This section leans heavily into those younger, more reactive emotions like jealousy, anger, and awkwardness. The ongoing competition and constant presence of the other contestants make everything more intense. It is surprising at times what she is allowed to do, especially stepping outside of what she is used to in the castle environment.
Dallas and Gwyn share time together that feels genuine and eye opening. There are moments where he begins to understand more about life outside the palace, and their connection grows in a way that feels more grounded. Once they return, though, it is right back into the politics, expectations, and the pressure of the competition. The other contestants definitely notice their connection, which only adds to the tension.
There are lighter moments mixed in, including some petty behavior that actually made me laugh. The tone still leans young adult, but those small moments help balance the heavier themes. Gwyn’s desire for freedom continues to put her in difficult situations, both with the other contestants and within the structure of the competition itself.
Family drama adds another layer, especially with her brother becoming more involved. There are emotional moments that feel sincere, but I found myself more drawn to the drama of the competition and the dynamics within the castle. Gwyn can be strong, honest, and blunt, but she also struggles with self doubt, which makes her feel very real.
Her choices make her position even more complicated, especially with everything happening around her. The tension between loyalty, expectations, and her own feelings continues to build. We mostly stay in Gwyn’s point of view, with glimpses of others, while Dallas remains more of a mystery. Tamara continues to be a character you love to dislike.
As the competition narrows, the stakes feel higher and the suspense builds. I found myself really curious about what would happen next and who would make it through. The ending leaves things in a place that definitely makes me want to continue the series.
This book begins right around where the previous installment left off, with Gwyn and Dallas only getting a little time together. Politics, the rebellion, and of course the pageant continue to stand in the way of their relationship. However, I continue to enjoy the communication between the characters and the atmosphere the narrator creates in the audiobook.
One thing I found interesting is that the roles feel a bit reversed in this relationship. Gwyn is the more uncertain one, while Dallas is far more confident in where they stand. As the competition draws closer to its conclusion, Gwyn struggles with her insecurities and fears that she may not be the right match for the prince. At times she considers stepping aside entirely. Mira and Eve both make good points throughout the story, reminding her that she is only looking at one side of the situation. There is a lot of martyr-like thinking from Gwyn, and while her feelings clearly guide many of her decisions, her thoughts are often a chaotic mess.
The competition continues as Gwyn, Tamara, and the remaining contestants compete to become the prince’s bride. While the pageant is still ongoing, it becomes increasingly clear that the prince is choosing with his heart rather than simply following tradition.
This story gave me some Twilight vibes despite its dystopian setting. Between the vampire royals, the human love interest, and the star-crossed lovers storyline, there are definitely some similarities. There is also an obvious age gap and difference in maturity levels, as Gwyn is just entering adulthood while Dallas has lived far longer. Her family history and current struggles continue to influence her decisions, often pushing her toward choices that others may not agree with. I enjoyed the family storyline, Dallas’s protective instincts, and the overall plot.
Gwyn isn’t quite the sassy, outspoken heroine we came to know in the earlier books. Instead, she feels more subdued and cautious. Of course, all of the drama eventually comes to a head near the end of the book. We experience the angst surrounding her decisions, only for everything to go sideways anyway. By this point, most readers will probably know who the leading contestant is, but the story finally makes it official.
The ending is both political and swoony. This is very much a YA romance, with the focus remaining on emotional connection and kisses rather than anything steamier. I enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Eve and the maids, and I loved the dramatic ending. We also get some strong family moments, though not necessarily in the way readers might expect. Gwyn’s family ends up being even more dramatic than the contestants. And of course, Tamara still manages to make you roll your eyes.
I do wish Gwyn had been a more decisive heroine. She isn’t a damsel in distress, but she often wavers between emotional, chaotic, and strong. At times I missed the confident young woman we saw in the earlier books. However, if you enjoy vampires, royalty, human mates, and star-crossed romance, you’ll likely enjoy this trilogy. Thankfully, there are still more books in the series to continue the story.
If you would like to read or listen to The Vampire Royals by Leigh Walker, the series is available on Amazon. While it is very ya it is still interesting and I loved the not too steamy story. As an Amazon Assocaite I earn on qualifying purchase.
If you like this book you may also any books with Vampires, Human Mate Stories and Young Adult.
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