There’s something about royalty that intrigues me, deeply. Whether it’s in TV shows or books, I feel like it’s a trope I’m often drawn to. I don’t know if it’s about the people, their way of life, their messed-up politics and schemes or all of the above, but… there’s something so FUN about reading YA books with royalty, really.
I wanted to compile a little book recommendations list with these kind of reads for you today. Whether they have main characters that actually ARE royalty, or are set in a world with royalty, these YA books were all really good and I definitely recommend them all!
Also surprising: I have more YA fantasy here than contemporary… who am I, really, I do not know. If you have any recommendations for me, please let me know in comments?
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10 YA Fantasy Books With Royalty
Crier’s War, Nina Varela
Are you tired of me screaming about this book, because I am not. Ayla, an human servant in a world ruled by Automae, infiltrates the palace in order to avenge her family’s death… Gripping, with a stunning world-building and so many feelings, this book is a must-read for me.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Sisters of the Snake, Sarena & Sasha Nanua
Princess Rani dreams to escape her gilded cage. Ria’s on the streets, stealing to keep herself alive. When the two cross path and realize they’re identical, they make a deal to switch places… I loved seeing the sisters switching lives, learning to know the world they really live in. It was such an exciting read!
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The Wrath and The Dawn, Renée Ahdieh
One of my favorite reads! The Wrath and the Dawn is about Khalid, a young king taking a bride each evening… only to have her killed in the morning. To avenge her friend, Shahrzad volunteers to become his wife… A beautifully written, mezmerizing tale with great characters. I loved it!
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Descendant of the Crane, Joan He
When her father, the king, is killed, Hesina suddenly becomes queen. Determined to find her father’s killer, she will turn to people she shouldn’t… An exciting tale with a rich world-building, filled with twists and turns that will have you gasping out loud!
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To Kill A Kingdom, Alexandra Christo
Forced to kill one of her own, Princess Lira, a siren, is banished by her mother the Sea Queen. Turned into an human, she has to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to her mother before it’s too late. This was such a roller-coaster, with such a good world-building (sirens!) and characters you’ll love rooting for.
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Mirage, Somaiya Daud
In a star-system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, Amani’s kidnapped by the regime and taken to the royal palace, where she finds out that she’s nearly identical to the cruel princess Maram… A unique story with a stunning, Morrocan-inspired fantasy/sci-fi world-building and compelling characters!
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Grace and Fury, Tracy Banghart
Set in a world where women has no rights, Serina’s been groomed her whole life to end up in the palace… until she takes the fall for her sister, Nomi. While Serina ends up prisoner, Nomi has to pretend in the palace until she can find a way to save her sister… This was such a rollercoaster, filled with so many twists and turns !
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The Belles, Dhonielle Clayton
In the opulent world of Orléans, Camellia dreams of being the chosen Belle: to be able to live in the royal palace, to be recognized as the most beautiful and talented in the land. Yet, behind the palace’s walls are darker secrets than she’d ever imagined it to be… An exciting read with a fantastic plot (beauty ruling everything?!!) and twists you won’t expect. At all.
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The Star-Touched Queen, Roshani Chokshi
Cursed by the promise of a destructive marriage, Maya is only seen as someone to fear in her father’s kingdom. When her father arrangees a marriage of political convenience with the king of Akaran, Maya finds out about desire, compassion… and about so many mysteries and dangers, as well. With a very imaginative, lush writing and unique world-building, The Star-Touched Queen is a book that certainly leaves a mark.
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Cinderella is Dead, Kalynn Bayron
200 years after Cinderella found her prince, teen girls are now required to go to the Annual Ball, where men of the kingdom will choose their future wife. Fleeing to escape this fate, Sophia meets Constance and together, they vow to take down the king and this messed-up tradition… An engaging twist on the real Cinderella story, with fierce characters taking down the patriarchy!
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6 YA Books About Royalty: Royal Romances & Contemporary Reads
American Royals, Katharine McGee
American Royals is about Beatrice, heir to the throne, close to becoming the first Queen of America. It’s about her sister, Samantha, always breaking the rules because it’s the only way she’ll get noticed… It’s an exciting YA book about royalty, scandal, a whole lot of drama, love, siblings relationships and more. I loved it!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Romancing the Throne, Nadine Jolie Courtney
Sisters and best friends, Charlotte and Libby finds themselves, finally, at the same boarding school… the one where Prince Edward, heir to the British trone, just happens to study. This was a fun, entertaining YA romance with its share of drama!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Tokyo Ever After, Emiko Jean
Raised by her single mother, Izumi discovers one day that her father is no other than… the Crown Prince of Japan. Meeting her father is nothing like she thought it would be, though: between the press looking for a scandal, the bodyguard she likes a little too much and so much she doesn’t know, can she really fit into this new world? I loved loved loved this one, about fitting in, finding yourself, with a soft romance and friendships and ahh loved it.
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The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
A classic I could just not not include in this list! The Princess Diaries is about Mia Thermopolis, who suddenly discovers her father is the crown prince of Genovia. It’s such a fun, entertaining read that I adored when I was younger!
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Her Royal Highness, Rachel Hawkins
Okay this one is on my TBR and it sounds SO good. It’s about Millie, accepted into one of the world’s most prestigious boarding schools in Scotland… where she ends up with an actual princess as a roommate. This sounds like SO! much! fun! and I’m so here for it okay.
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
Truly, Madly, Royally, Debbie Rigaud
Another book on my TBR that sounds GREAT. It’s about Zora, on a prestigious summer program when she meets Owen, an actual prince. As she gets closer to him and to his family’s spotlight, she slowly realizes that she might not be able to handle it… This sounds like such a light-hearted, fun read!
Find on Goodreads ☂️ Buy on: Amazon – Book Depository – Bookshop – Blackwell’s
For more YA book recommendations, check out these blog posts:
- 20 YA Books About Sisters I Recommend (And Some I’m Excited To Read!)
- 10 YA Books I Can’t Stop Thinking About
- 10 Exciting YA Books About Celebrities: Boys Bands, Country Stars, Influencers & Hollywood Stars
📌 Pin 16 YA Books About Royalty on Pinterest!
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What are some of your favorite YA books about sisters? Give me your recommendations so I can add them to my TBR please?
Did you read any of these books? I’d LOVE to hear from you in comments!!
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I remember reading and loving Truly, Madly, Royally! I hope you enjoy it when you get the chance to read it. And I agree with The Star-Touched Queen, the world-building was really beautiful!
Ooh yay! I hope I’ll love it just as well! Thank you for stopping by, Inah! 🙂
You know I’ve been craving a good book about royalty, especially ones in the fantasy genre. After reading the The Cruel Prince series, I’m just craving more from that genre! Great recommendations, I think I’m going to read To Kill a Kingdom next xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Ohh yay! I hope you will enjoy it, can’t wait to hear what you think of it! x
I liked star touched queen and I plan to read to kill kingdom soon. Great list!
Thank you so much!! I hope you will love it 🙂
For someone who says they love royalty, I have to read basically all these books 😅 thank you for all the recs… I really want to read The Belles and Mirage (I’ve heard amazing things) soon!! 💕 I don’t think I’ve read many, if any, contemporary royalty so it was really fascinating to hear those recs! 💕
😂 well, you have a whole lot of books to read now! 😂 I hope you’ll love The Belles especially, I really enjoyed that one!!
I really liked American Royals but I haven’t continued the series.
Ah I hope you will give the sequel a try. I liked the first book better, but the second one was still fun! 🙂
I’ve been reading so many things about Crier’s War I need to pick it up! 😀 Thank you for this list, Marie!
Ahhh yes you need to! I hope you’ll love it! 😀
Great Post! ❤️ I loved The Wrath and the Dawn and The Star-Touched Queen as well 🥰 I really want to read Tokyo Ever After, it sounds like so much fun 😊
Oh thank you so much, Caro! You’d LOVE Tokyo Ever After! 🥰
There’s always something fascinating about royalty, right? Thanks for this list!
Agree, I’m always fascinated by these kind of books! Thank you, Nicole 🙂
What a great list. I want to read American Royals. I’ve been putting it off for too long
Oh thank you so much! I hope you’ll give it a try, it’s such a fun read! 🙂
I’m such a sucker for royalty in all genres that I read. SOMETHING ABOUT COURT AND INTRIGUE that just speaks to me. Also also, Her Royal Highness is so cute, I think you’ll love it!
Yes, me too, I’m such a fan of this trope! I need to read it soon, it sounds like such a cute read, yes 🙂