“The Royal Matchmaking Competition: The Fate of the Empire” by Zoiy Galloay

• 10/10/2023
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The Royal Matchmaking Competition: The Fate of the Empire

Zoiy Galloay
Independently Published (2023)
ISBN:  978-1958996072
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for (09/2023)

“The Royal Matchmaking Competition: The Fate of the Empire” by Zoiy Galloay, is what light fantasy romance is all about. Welcome to good clean fun with a sense of humor. If you enjoy dating competition TV shows like “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette,” you will fall in love with this YA fantasy novel, the third offering in The Royal Matchmaking Competition series. Some books in the series are standalone, but this one hinges on book two, so be aware of that before reading.

In this emotional fairytale filled with drama, angst, honor, and heart, we find a single elven prince named Zadkiel who will fight any fight. But what he really wants to do is find his true love, as he is heir to the throne and must have a queen. He has five princesses vying for his hand. Besides the competition aspect, which is a fun, fresh take on the genre, you have a bit of mystery and action to round it out. There is something here for everyone who likes YA fantasy and seeing if a prince can find his perfect princess.

Galloay knows her reading audience, and I think you can tell she has fun with this genre and her characters. This author is skilled at Renaissance, royal world-building, and excitement-building, the combination of which results in pure entertainment. The map, lineage chart, and other additions add another interesting layer and help explain the dynamics. There is a bit of tongue-in-cheek or parody here, and if you like that, you will appreciate the send-up of fairytales and royal romances. I love the line,

The threat that I might not inherit the throne suddenly became real.

You know this prince is in a crunch to find his beloved. Besides whittling down the princesses, there are enemy forces, spies, and rebels to contend with. The Elazian Empire is truly threatened, but is Zadkiel prepared? Will he even survive long enough to have his princess?

One thing I like about this novel, and there are many, is how the author creates characters, especially the princess contestants, that have qualities you don’t always like or appreciate. This makes them feel real, and you can understand why they are ruled out. The first-person point of view invites a personal feel to the story, and the addition of some of the character’s images is a nice touch. I also like the character arcs, especially Zadkiel’s, where we see some closeness, emotion, and growth come into play, which makes this a good coming-of-age story.

The surprises are a nice treat, meaning you can’t always predict what will happen next. You also get a sneak peek at the author’s upcoming works. “The Royal Matchmaking Competition: The Fate of the Empire” by Zoiy Galloay is a clever, fun, and dynamic work of entertainment that you should definitely put at the top of your feel-good rom-com list.