Title: The King’s 100

Author: Karin Biggs

Pub. Date: July 21, 2020

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Sixteen-year-old Piper Parish, princess of the loveless, STEM-only kingdom of Capalon, is a disappointment to her citizens and to her older sister, the queen. When Piper receives an anonymous note stating her mother is still alive and living in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, Piper chooses to risk death in effort to prove once and for all that she’s not just the queen’s defective little sister. With the companionship of Chip, a piece of tech embedded in her wrist, Piper flees Capalon and enters a world where love and emotional expression are unrestricted.

Posing as a singer for the enemy king’s court of performers, the King’s 100, Piper risks death if she is revealed to be the Capalon princess, but discovers that living a life without the freedom to love might actually be the most dangerous risk of all.

The King’s 100 is a glittering sci-fi love story woven among the camaraderie singers, drummers and magicians by debut author, Karin Biggs.

This will be a spoiler free review and thanks NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I hadn’t heard of this book prior to seeing it on NetGalley. I liked the cover, it sounded interesting, so I downloaded it. I stayed up all night reading it and didn’t go to bed until after 6:30AM…time means absolutely nothing anymore and my sleep schedule is royally fucked.

If you like books like, The Jewel Thief by Amy Ewing, Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch, The

Selection Series by Keira Cass, or even The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld, you’re probably going to enjoy this book.

World-wise, I was really reminded of the Uglies world, but plot wise, it felt similar to The Jewel Thief, Perfected and the Selection books. Ultimately, The King’s 100 was just an enjoyable, quick read and once you start it, you don’t want to put it down.

I do think it was a little rushed, and I do hope that there is a book 2, because I have questions and it doesn’t feel like the story is over. It feels like it’s just getting started, and if that’s the case, I want more. I want more Piper, I want more Ari, I want more of all their friends and the court. I want more of the court intrigue, I just want more.

I liked the mash of sci-fi, with fantasy and this sort of modern day feel. It was wholly relatable (on a world level) while still feeling fantastical. Kind of like the kingdoms that are the settings for a lot of the newer Barbie movies – random comparison, I know, and if you’ve seen some of the newer ones, then you know. Don’t, judge, those movies are feel good.

I really loved how Piper and Ari’s relationship progressed. It was cute going from their meet cute to then follow them on their journey. I loved how realistic it felt, while they both tried to navigate their feelings and what they thought. We see a lot of internal struggle from Piper, who, based on where and how she was raised, has to learn to deal with and accept these new feelings. I also really loved, how ‘fish out of water’ Piper felt in Capalon but was just as equally out of place in Mondaria. I really enjoyed watching her navigate and figure things out, and along the way, start to realize who she is, and what she wants in life.

If you’re looking for a quick, enjoyable, cute romance read, with a fantastical sci-fi setting, full of glittering gowns, music and magic, you’re going to want to check this book out when it comes out in July!