Human droids' Princesses to Make Wishes Come True | Book Review : The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication Date: July 11th, 2019 (First published: May 28th, 2019)
Genre: YA Fantasy, Sci- Fi
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Buy Links: Kinokuniya Malaysia | MPH Online
Source: Huge thanks to Pansing for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐

Blurbs

Welcome to the Kingdom… where ‘Happily Ever After’ isn’t just a promise, but a rule.

Glimmering like a jewel behind its gateway, The Kingdom™ is an immersive fantasy theme park where guests soar on virtual dragons, castles loom like giants, and bioengineered species―formerly extinct―roam free.

Ana is one of seven Fantasists, beautiful “princesses” engineered to make dreams come true. When she meets park employee Owen, Ana begins to experience emotions beyond her programming including, for the first time… love.

But the fairytale becomes a nightmare when Ana is accused of murdering Owen, igniting the trial of the century. Through courtroom testimony, interviews, and Ana’s memories of Owen, emerges a tale of love, lies, and cruelty―and what it truly means to be human.

We are talking about a half-human, half-android hence, human droid princesses. Wuuu, I definitely looking forward to what it is about. 

I really want to read a sci-fi book because the last sci-fi I read was back in 2016 and I haven't found one until The Kingdom. I was so excited to jump into the story to know, to imagine how it is and I must say that the author has written an amazing story and creating a terrific world-building set in the future where people comes to the Kingdom to enjoy their day at a fantastic theme park in which they will find seven beautiful Fantasists.

Another thing I like about this book, it is written between transcript and normal story format which I think was cool.

Through reading the Kingdom makes me think a lot about how women been treated in the real world. Seeing how these seven Fantasists that been created by the scientists that want these princesses to be perfect, beautiful, and obedient also the downside of it they can never follow their mind or what their heart desire to do. Remember I said, they are half-human, half-droid meaning they have their own feelings to feel or their heart desire and mind to think. Little did everyone know, there is dark side in that fantasy world. In which, these girls start to develop something that is far from what it has been created for.

"As rain begins to fall, I feel it in a whole new way - its dampness against my skin, water on flesh, a kind of touch. I've never thought about it that way before." The Kingdom, Jess Rothenberg.

I love the story however the romance, the chemistry between Ana and Owen is off. Like I couldn't feel the love between them. It felt downright empty. Kinda like their own way creating a code between them so no one knows what they do but that is that. Also, Owen's character is pretty much like just happen to be there and somehow caught interest with Ana. That's all. It's like what is Owen's actual identity?

I honestly do not like the ending. Very rushing and it makes me kind of, 'errr, that's it?'. I don't know but the ending to me is disappointing. I'm not sure if there's a sequel to the story which I'm hoping for it so it can answers things from the Kingdom. 

Overall, it wasn't dislikable at all, okay? Don't get me wrong. I don't feel satisfied with the story especially the ending and some of the characters kind of just meh. I like the beginning of the story, the writing format, the setting but not so much of the characters and the ending. 

p/s: I make a resolution this year to be a critical reviewer. Hopefully, it is okay. I guess and I try my best. Anyway, enjoy my first review in 2020.