Item: Royal Decoy (Fate of Eyrinthia, #1)
Rating: 4.5
Author: Gina

Royal Decoy by Heather Frost | Fate of Eyrinthia Book 1 | Book Review | Blog Tour | Author Interview – A wonderful start to a new series from Heather Frost. If book one is any indication, this series is going to be a must-read romantic fantasy set.

Royal Decoy by Heather Frost | Book Review | Blog Tour | Author Interview

Royal Decoy (Fate of Eyrinthia, #1) by Heather Frost
Series: Fate of Eyrinthia #1
Published by Independent on 06/18/2020
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Romantic Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: eBook, Hardcover
Pages: 370

A SERVANT blackmailed into becoming a princess’s decoy.A BODYGUARD determined to keep her alive.
A PRINCE forced to execute his father’s brutal laws.A PRISONER used to keep him compliant.
A WORLD on the brink of war.

In one horrible night, Clare goes from kitchen maid to royal decoy. She has three months to become the princess's perfect double so she can ensure her betrothal to an enemy prince. Desperate to survive, Clare throws herself into self-defense training, taught by her distractingly attractive bodyguard. The danger increases when a ruthless assassin begins stalking her, intent on ending the tenuous peace.

Across the northern mountains, Prince Grayson is his father’s ultimate weapon. He carries out the king’s harsh orders because the one person he cares about is his father’s prisoner. Grayson's silent obedience is tested when his father plans to exploit the marriage alliance between two of their greatest enemies. If Grayson submits, the blood of thousands will spill. If he resists, the girl who means everything to him will die.

The fate of Eyrinthia hangs in the balance. Some want peace. Some want war. All will be thrown into chaos.

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Source: Kindle Unlimited

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Royal Decoy by Heather Frost

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My thoughts on Royal Decoy by Heather Frost:

The characters really stand out in this story. Some are pure evil, some are long-suffering heroes, a few are kind to the core, and many are a mash-up of everything in between. Clare, Bennick, and Grayson were the main characters in my thoughts. However, the many secondary characters would each be worthy of their own story. Since this is book one in the series, perhaps their stories are coming in future editions.

The story takes place in a fantasy world with a medieval feel. Heather Frost built an incredibly vivid world that draws you into the era. For me, the sign of a great story is when it plays out like a movie in my head. I can see the people and settings, feel the tension, and find myself holding my breath while reading. Well done, Heather!

This book is nearly nonstop action. It grabbed my attention in the early pages and held me gripped in its clutches until the end. Even then, I was left wanting more. We aren’t dangling off a cliff at the end, but the book definitely sets up the next in the series. I’ll be anxiously awaiting book two.

I want to point out that I proofread for several authors. Rarely do I come across a novel with no noticeable spelling or grammatical errors. Kudos to the author and her team on a well-edited book.

There is violence and some physical & mental torture in Royal Decoy. There is no way to tell this story without it. I am a rather squeamish reader these days, but it did not affect my enjoyment of this story.

Heather Frost is also the author of The Seers three book series

I read Royal Decoy through the Amazon Kindle Unlimited Program.

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Royal Decoy by Heather Frost | Fate of Eyrinthia Book 1

About Heather Frost

Heather Frost writes mostly YA fiction and has a soft spot for tortured characters, breath-stealing romance, and happy endings.

She is the author of the Seers trilogy and the upcoming Fate of Eyrinithia series.

She has a BS in Creative Writing and a minor in Folklore, which means she got to read fairy tales and ghost stories and call it homework.

When she's not writing, Heather likes to read, travel, and hold Lord of the Rings movie marathons. She owns two typewriters, sings in the car, and dreams of living in a castle someday.

She currently lives in a beautiful valley in Utah, surrounded by towering mountains

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Author Interview:

What inspired you to write in this genre?
I have always loved reading YA fantasy in all its subgenres, so it was natural for me to write what I love! It’s really what got me into writing in the first place. I wrote my first novel because by the time I was 11 I’d already read everything even remotely interesting in my small-town library, and I needed a new book. So I wrote one 

Do you have a set writing schedule?
I try to write every day. I have a day job, so my writing usually happens in the evening, after dinner. Saturdays are my favorite because I try to dedicate most of them to writing, and I feel like I am most productive when I can start writing in the morning. I have goals that keep me on track, and if I hit a snag on a project, I have at least one other that I can go to and still feel productive. I also try and separate my writing time from the social media/business side of writing, to minimize distractions 

Do you need silence to write, or can you work in any environment?
I prefer being in a quiet spot with soft music—generally movie scores. But I grew up with ten siblings, so I can pretty much tune anything out!

What is your favorite type of music?
I kind of bounce all over the place. I love Enya, movie scores, select country music (Luke Bryan and Kane Brown are a couple of my favorites right now), Lissie, Florence and the Machine, Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, Michael Buble, musicals . . . you get the idea 🙂

How do you choose the names of your characters?
It varies. Sometimes while I’m creating the character, a name will drop into my head. Other times, I get a vague sense of what their name should be—a starting letter, or a sound, or even a syllable count. At that point, I will either go to a baby name site, or I have a list I keep with a bunch of names that have caught my eye over the years. Depending on the story/character, I might want the name to mean something, but generally, I care more about the sound and feel of the name.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
The first thing I remember wanting to be was a nurse, which is laughable to me now because I’m quite squeamish.

What is your most unusual writing quirk?
Sometimes, in order to get a grasp on a conversation between characters, I have to act out the parts. So, like, I’m in my office, the car, or the kitchen, and I’m talking with a deep voice, all intense—then I respond with another voice. I get really animated, so I try to do this when I’m alone. But I’ve had family members walk in on me, and they look appropriately concerned, haha!

Do you have a hobby you would like to share with us?
Most of my time is dedicated to reading and writing, but I also like cooking and baking. Trying new recipes is fun!

What do you read for pleasure?
Mostly YA books. Fantasy is my favorite genre. I like reading about worlds and characters that I can only visit through a book.

Do you have a favorite snack or beverage while you are writing?
I’m a water girl, so I definitely like to have that on hand. And chocolate is my go-to for celebrating authorly achievements, as well as when I have writer’s block, or if I’ve just realized that a character I love has to die…Especially in those moments, any type of chocolate will do.

Who has influenced your writing the most?
There are so many people who have helped me with my writing, including teachers, my writing friends, and especially my sister, Kimberly. They’ve all dared me to be better and to take my craft seriously. I’ve also learned so much by reading the works of other authors, including Jennifer L. Armentrout, Mary E. Pearson, and Sarah J. Maas.

Is there anything you would like my readers to know about you and your book?
Thanks for having me here today! It’s been fun to share a little about me, and I’m so excited to share my newest book, Royal Decoy, with the world! Writing about a servant who is forced to become a princess’s decoy was so much fun, and I can’t wait for readers to meet Clare. And her bodyguard, Bennick, because their slow-burn romance is great. 🙂
I love to connect with readers, so be sure to follow me on social media. And thanks for reading!