Love in the Maelstrom—A Spicy Romantasy with Elemental Intrigue and Forbidden Hearts

After a temporary hiatus to spend some quality time with my family, I’m back with another review courtesy of NetGalley. Today’s gem won’t be out until June, but you can pre-order it on Amazon if you don’t want to miss out on it. “Princess of Air,” the first installment in Natalie Cammaratta’s “Elements of Royalty” series, throws you into a realm where elemental magic and familial intrigue collide. Arabella, the Princess of Air, and her siblings face a ton of challenges in their quest for the throne, with all the political drama and war going on. Cammaratta’s storytelling is amazing, with a world that feels real and characters that jump off the page.

What I Loved

The best thing about “Princess of Air” is how well it builds the world and the cool magic system. Cammaratta’s world is so vivid and immersive, it’ll make you want to explore every nook and cranny. Arabella and her siblings have pretty cool elemental powers that make their characters so much more entertaining. Also, the clever back-and-forth dialogue adds humor, making the overall conflict feel less heavy. This romantasy has a love triangle, which I love. The romance, fraught with tension and uncertainty, will keep you enraptured, unsure of which path Arabella will ultimately tread. And I won’t spoil it for you, but I’ll just say that it wasn’t what I expected.

Sibling Dynamics and Character Development

One of the novel’s standout features is the portrayal of sibling relationships, a cornerstone of the narrative. Cammaratta does an excellent job of developing the unique personalities of each sibling, enabling readers to form authentic bonds with them. Since I am an only child, I live out these kinds of relationships vicariously through others. The dynamic interplay between the siblings, fueled by both rivalry and camaraderie, adds layers of depth to the story, which I loved. By the end of the book, you totally get why each sibling does what they do.

Areas for Improvement

Although “Princess of Air” is impressive, it has some minor flaws. Sometimes, the dialogue feels a bit stiff and doesn’t flow like the rest of the story. In the book, it is emphasized how comfortable and informal the royals and family friends are with each other, however, the dialogue came across as excessively formal and bordering on stiffness. I still enjoyed the book, but the formality stood out.

Emotional Resonance and Plot Twists

Cammaratta masterfully writes about themes of love, betrayal, and sibling rivalry, imbuing the narrative with emotional depth and resonance. The plot twists are mind-blowing and will keep you hooked. Even I couldn’t see them coming and I’m usually pretty good at sniffing them out.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Princess of Air” is a mix of adventure, romance (and spice), and political intrigue that is sure to hook you. With its vividly imagined world, fully fleshed-out characters, and unexpected twists in the plot, this novel firmly establishes itself as a must-read romantasy lovers. Although it may have some minor imperfections, Cammaratta’s storytelling is undeniably brilliant, capturing readers’ attention and leaving them eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.