Review by Booklist Review
Prince Nicholas "Coal" Claus is a mess. Despite his good intentions, he nearly caused the collapse of a small island nation when he decided to grant all of their lingering Christmas wishes. While drinking away his self-pity, he has a steamy, emotionally intense encounter with a stranger behind the bar that leaves him reeling. Two years later, he's still trying to behave, but his father, the current Santa and King of Christmas, has arranged a marriage for him to Iris, one of the Easter princesses, with whom, Coal is pretty sure, his brother Kris is in love. Then interholiday politics intervene, and Santa decides Coal must compete for Iris' hand with Hex, the Prince of Halloween, who turns out to be the stranger from the bar. To whom Coal is still very, very attracted. Raasch's adult debut (after the Witch and Hunter series, with Beth Revis) is an irreverent holiday fantasy that involves court politics, young adult growing pains, and holiday cheer that ends with both an HEA and a cliffhanger and is equal parts silly and romantic.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Raasch (The Fate of Magic) opens the Royals and Romance series with a fantastical love story that's equal parts playful and earnest. Nicholas "Coal" Claus, Prince of Christmas, is a well-intentioned screwup and perpetual disappointment to his father, the reigning Santa. While Coal's home from college on Christmas break, King Claus announces Coal's betrothal to his best friend Iris, Princess of Easter, as a way to cement the two Holiday Kingdoms' alliance, even though neither Coal nor Iris wants this union. Complicating matters, Prince Hex of Halloween arrives to compete for Iris's hand. Coal is surprised to recognize Hex as the guy he kissed on the worst day of his life and soon finds himself crushing hard. As the three royals navigate a tangled web of deceit, duty, and desire, they also contend with King Claus's ruthless political gambit to make Christmas the most powerful Holiday of all. Can Coal win the heart of Halloween while saving the soul of Christmas? Raasch touches on the cultural and religious significance of the holidays she's playing with only lightly, somewhat shortchanging the worldbuilding to instead keep the focus largely on Coal and Hex's turbulent and steamy relationship. The result is a delightful paranormal rom-com that sets up the series for good things to come. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Prince Nicholas "Coal" Claus, son of the current Santa, is the outcast of the family. His mistakes and misadventures constantly hit the front pages of the newspapers, but his latest mishap is the worst, and he's been drinking for hours in an effort to drown his shame. That night, he meets--and makes out with--a hot stranger in the alley behind the bar. A few years later, Coal is called upon to do his duty and marry Iris, his friend and the princess of Easter. Santa will use the union to solidify his power base by increasing Christmas's joy. The only problem? Neither Coal nor Iris wants the marriage. When Hex, the prince of Halloween, shows up to challenge Santa's power play, he turns out to be the stranger Coal kissed in the alley. This romance takes place in an intricately created kingdom, where holidays are real and joy is a commodity. Hex and Coal are well-developed characters whose emotional needs and traumas influence the course of their relationship. VERDICT While perfect for any time of year, Raasch's (These Divided Shores) adult debut is definitely a book to put on display for the Christmas season.--Heather Miller Cover
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