Book Shelf: The Pageant (Vampire Royals #1) by Leigh Walker

Who's the fairest of them all?
Young women from every settlement in the land are being handpicked to enter The Pageant, a beauty contest reminiscent of Miss Universe from the old days. Gwyneth West's social-climbing mother wants her to compete, by Gwyn isn't so sure...
The Pageant is government-sponsored. If you're lucky enough to be chosen, participation is mandatory. Aggressive competition is allowed, even encouraged.

And then there's the prize...
The winner of The Pageant gets a marriage proposal from Dallas Black, otherwise known as The Dark Prince. Dallas is the son of King Black, who won the last world war and now governs the new settlements. The Royal Family is mysterious. Rumor has it they don't sleep. Rumor has it they eschew the sun.
Rumor has it they're immortal.
When Gwyn is thrust into The Pageant, she fights to survive the competitive nature of the other contestants.

But even if wins...can she survive a vampire fiancé? 

More info on Goodreads.....


Review: 

The Pageant by Leigh Walker is is a fun, fast paced and highly enjoyable novel with a wonderful blend of romantic possibility, sass and action that is The Selection meets The Hunger Games....with vampires!

After the most recent world war, control over the world eighteen year old Gwyneth West lives was seized by a mysterious family who rule over their new subjects in the shadows. Rumours of this new Royal Family run rampant in the various settlements that make up the kingdom; they don't sleep, they don't eat, and they don't go out in sunlight. They're also rumoured to be immortal, something Gwyn isn't so sure about. Then a pageant is announced where girls from each settlement will journey to the palace to enter a competition where the winner will receive a marriage proposal from the infamous Dark Prince, Dallas Black. Gwyn dreads the idea of being chosen for the pageant, but also knows that there isn't an option of saying no. Arriving at the palace marks the beginning of a dangerous new journey and as Gwyn begins to discover some startling truths and secrets about the world she lives is, will a vampire fiance be the worst thing she faces? Or are there bigger horrors out there?

From beginning to end, I thoroughly enjoyed The Pageant. Weaving together various elements that make for a wonderful paranormal novel with a dystopian vibe, The Pageant was very The Bachlor-esq in a fun way with many of the interactions and dates between the prince and the contestants filmed and televised for the public to witness as well as various rounds and "cuts" that saw contestants eliminated.

Leigh Walker offers readers only a taste of her world in The Pageant. Hinting at more to come and various secrets about the settlements, I'm quite keen to learn more about the ruling Royal Family and the world heroine Gwyn inhabits. I feel like we haven't discovered enough about the world in The Pageant, instead jumping straight into the competition as Gwyn is whisked off to the palace. I'm hopeful we'll discover more with the next book as I just haven't had enough to leave me satisfied where the back story is concerned.

I'm very much a fan of main character Gwyn so far. We learn quickly that she came from wealth before the settlements were conquered but she's in no was uptight or snobby and instead quite likeable with just enough sass and attitude to keep us on our toes. She's smart enough to keep many of her opinions to herself but is also opinionated and clear in how she sees the world. Something I think will change as she learns more about The Dark Prince.

At its base The Pageant is a love story and Leigh Walker writes this aspect oh so well. The Prince and love interest Dallas is actually very kind while also being mysterious, well spoken and even quite cheeky where Gwyn is concerned. I loved that Dallas and Gwyn quickly become quite comfortable with each other and drop most of the presences. It makes for some spirited and occasionally sweet interactions with their chemistry evident throughout the whole novel. Gwyn doesn't want to fall for Dallas because he is a vampire---something she routinely reminds herself and the reader but ultimately can't deny what her heart is beginning to feel.

Fresh and delectable, The Pageant is such a promising start to the Vampire Royals series and with the novel ending right when things were starting to get even more addictive, I'm eager to dive straight into the next novel as soon as possible! Highly recommended this one!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher and Netgalley (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: CMG Publishing
Format: Kindle ebook via Netgalley
Release Date: February 23rd 2018
Purchase: Amazon
Final Thoughts: This book was so much fun with fabulous chemistry between the love interests. Can't wait to begin the next one!