4 Stars

This was my first book by Chantel Seabrook. I don't listen to this genre as often, so it might appeal more to people who read a lot of fantasy, especially if they like more angst than happy endings. I was hoping for a little more with the story, and it came to an abrupt and (for me) disappointing ending, especially in regards to parent/child relationships. A lot of character's decisions didn't make sense to me, which made it tough to get into the story. The book has a ton of really positive reviews for the print format, so I think there is definitely an audience that would love this story. If the description sounds like what you usually read, then go for it.

I listened to the Audible version. The narrator, Anne Flosnik was also new to me. In some ways I liked that she varied the speaking voices of individual characters based on emotion because it add emotion and it's more realistic, but it was also more confusing because individual character voices changed and it was harder to tell who was speaking.

#AudiobookObsession

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Great characters and world

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The characters and world building were fantastic. I felt like I was in the book with every chapter. I couldn't get enough, I sure hope there is a possiblity of another book. Can't get enough :) #AudiobookObsessionReviewer

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I Just Didn't Get It

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Readers of historical romance novels.

What was most disappointing about Chantel Seabrook’s story?

Character development

Would you be willing to try another one of Anne Flosnik’s performances?

Yes. The narrator was pretty good.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Cara's Twelve?

Pretty much all of the sex scenes. Half of them were pointless and irrelevant.

Any additional comments?

I received a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much potential, but it just didn't achieve it. I have so many issues with this book like:
1. After proving that the Queen is a murderous woman, why do you then leave her on the throne and go off on a two year haunt through the country? Could you not have announced a state of emergency and put off the tour until you solved the issue?
2. You decide to take a woman who has been tortured out in a carriage in the hope that she'll survive. Like what? She's gravely ill and needs medical attention so you take her on a two year tour and hope she survives? And you love this woman? What?? No! That's crazy!
3. The Queen. Does she have an actual reason for doing what she did besides *power*? Like she already has power. I feel like her favorite word is *because* literally because that's synonymous with what she did.
4. I just don't get how in a society that worships a female deity, how women are considered so little in this book. Like the country is supposedly ruled by the Queen, but the King has more power than the Queen, Cara is supposed to become the new Queen, but she still gets harassed by Edmund.
5. It just seemed devoid of logic and clear thinking. Something bad happens (repeatedly) and instead of doing something about it, the characters have sex instead. Like what?? Why?? Do something!!! Stop having sex and sort out all the people who are being brutally murdered!!!
Also, why exactly was Cara shocked to become Queen in the first place? If the Queen only has one living heir, and you're next in live, why is it such a surprise that you are called on as the new Royal?
6. Emotionless characters. The main character's father died early on after her complaining that she hasn't seen him nearly every other line and you're told that he died of a heart attack after she supposedly died. And then she moves on almost immediately. That wasn't the only example. There were so many deaths that are skimmed over and forgotten about that it makes it meaningless. And did Cara even like her own child? I don't remember a single scene with her and her child. Like... half the plot is her trying to conceive a (female, but see point 4) child so that the monarchy could continue and then its like... you don't see them together at all. I get that you're the Queen and everything and you probably have wet maids or nursemaids or whatever, but it would have been nice to see something.
7. Instead of growing as a character, Cara seems to stunt. I just don't get it. She goes from this smart beautiful teenager who seems to have a brain to this woman who is more interested in sex with multiple guys than anything else.

The ending came as a surprise to me as is usual in a YA love triangle, you have the dark and mysterious bloke and the steady but boring bloke and the main character has to choose between them, and surprise surprise, she didn't choose the dark and mysterious bloke who abandoned her like I was expecting from the multiple lapses of logic that Cara displayed, but rather the steady and boring bloke. Nice one Cara, finally showing that you can actually use your brain.

It just wasn't good, and it really had the potential to be so.

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