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An implausible premise met with a lack of thorough word-building results in a bit of a confusing mess. I think this premise was workable, but the book skips from one implausible scenario to another, never setting down any concrete rules, so it’s difficult to know what to take seriously.

This is compounded by the fact that the POV switches between the two twin brothers each chapter — but the twins are identical. And by that, I don’t mean they’re identical twins (though they are), but that their POVs feel identical. Despite their very different upbringings, they frequently feel interchangeable as characters. Both have a hidden artistic talent they aren’t sure if they want to pursue, both have a quirky friend who will flirt with their twin counterpart, and both are exploring what it means to be crown prince of Canada (that lack of world building I mentioned earlier comes into play here, as what that means is never truly defined outside of having to do generic prince stuff). The book feels very repetitive as a result.

Oh, and finally, I get it, the book’s set in Canada. Not every event, or desert, or newspaper needs the word “maple” in it. One might suggest it’s meant to be camp, but the book never feels in on the joke.