I read the above three books depicted in the Royal Diaries series: Cleopatra VII, Daughter of the Nile; Eleanor, Crown Jewel of Aquitaine; and Sondok, Princess of the Moon and Stars. The Royal Diaries was Scholastic’s spin-off of the Dear America series, but wasn’t as successful, and was cancelled sooner than its predecessor. I would recommend these books to young readers interested in historical fiction, while perhaps not looking for entirely character-driven novels. I think the downfall of this series is that each book tries to document or invent a childhood for these remarkable women of history, when these women’s greatest or most famous accomplishments happened later in their lives. The Sondok story in particular was mostly fiction, since so little is known about her to begin with. If considering a title in this series, I’d suggest Anastasia or Marie Antoinette.
Series Spotlight: The Royal Diaries
Published by C.K. Brooke
C.K. Brooke is a multi-award-winning author of over 20 novels and novellas. She is best known for her Mythic Maidens Series, Jordinia Saga, and American Pirate Romances. Her books have been published by 48fourteen and Limitless, as well as indie published, garnering accolades from the 2020 Best Indie Book Award in YA Fiction to the Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion Award. She’s been a guest speaker and panelist for the Detroit Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America, and Barnes & Noble Teen Book Fest. In 2020, she founded Called by the Heart Publications, releasing numerous e-books, paperbacks, and audio books annually. Her latest historical romance, THE POET BRIDE, is available for free on the Readict app. She lives in Michigan with her family. Follow her on Amazon for new release updates. View all posts by C.K. Brooke