You loved how Ella refuses to be a decorative princess, sees through a handsome but hollow prince, and ultimately breaks free. In Graceling, Katsa refuses to be her uncle King Randa’s enforcer, questions the role others assign her, and chooses her own mission—protecting a vulnerable child and confronting the monstrous King Leck. Like Ella engineering her escape from the palace after being locked up, Katsa risks everything to defy a royal order and live by her own code.

If Ella’s evolution—from dazzled fiancée to a young woman who sees the palace’s hollowness, survives imprisonment, and makes practical, brave choices—hooked you, you’ll love Princess Ben. Benevolence starts sheltered under a domineering regent but learns statecraft, self-defense, and even a bit of magic, transforming into someone who can rescue herself and her kingdom. It captures that same satisfaction you felt as Ella learned to value competence over courtly frills.

In Just Ella, the closer Ella gets to the throne, the more she sees that court life is a maze of rules and quiet coercion. The Winner’s Curse leans into that realization: Kestrel navigates salons, wagers, and subtle betrayals while discovering that every gesture in high society has consequences. If the moment Ella recognized how appearances—and people—at court could be weaponized grabbed you, Kestrel’s dance through deception and strategy will, too.

Ella’s decision to call off an empty engagement, endure confinement, and plan a daring escape is echoed in Lia’s flight from her arranged marriage in The Kiss of Deception. Hunted by both an assassin and a prince, Lia fights for the right to define her own life—much like Ella choosing freedom and a more meaningful path beyond the ballroom. You’ll appreciate the urgency and resolve that drive Lia forward.

If you were drawn to the genuine connection Ella finds with Jed—the tutor who sees her mind and mettle rather than her title—The Traitor’s Kiss will hit the same notes. Sage’s spirited clashes and growing trust with Captain Alex Quinn unfold against espionage and military stakes, giving you a romance that, like Ella and Jed’s, earns its sweetness through honesty, respect, and shared danger rather than fairy-tale sparkle.