Stephanie
Written on Jun 13, 2017
Cons: This low-key romance.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Also, the ending got preeeeetty cheesy.
Freya was never meant to be queen. Twenty third in line to the throne, she never dreamed of a life in the palace, and would much rather research in her laboratory than participate in the intrigues of court. However, when an extravagant banquet turns deadly, and the king and his courtiers are poisoned, Freya suddenly finds herself on the throne.
Freya may have survived the massacre, but she is far from safe. The nobles don’t respect her, her councillors want to control her, and with the mystery of who killed the king still unsolved, Freya knows that a single mistake could cost her the kingdom – and her life.
Freya is determined to survive, and that means uncovering the murderers herself. Until then, she can’t trust anyone. Not her advisors. Not the king’s dashing and enigmatic illegitimate son. Not even her own father, who always wanted the best for her, but also wanted more power for himself.
As Freya’s enemies close in and her loyalties are tested, she must decide if she is ready to rule… and, if so, how far she is willing to go to keep the crown.
- ISBN10 0062418688
- ISBN13 9780062418685
- Publish Date 21 February 2017
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint Collins
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 432
- Language English
Reviews
Cons: This low-key romance.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Also, the ending got preeeeetty cheesy.
tweetybugshouse
Written on May 12, 2017
This is not your normal Ya Fantasy historical novel i would say this will appeal really well to those who want to solve a mystery and who love a heroine who is not exactly who she should be. In this novel our main character Freya by stroke of unbelievable luck being the 23rd person in line to become Queen in one night becomes the Queen. Here were the mystery comes in, it happens cause she slipped way the night the entire court is murdered, now i not giving anything away the blurb does not all ready tell you.
The uniqueness of Freya moves right along from there as she a budding Scientist who is a princess now turned Queen. Who is only trying to discover a new way to bring around portable heat and with that discovery she can leave behind any ideal s of being a princess or queen. Little does she know that her experiments will be an intricate part of what unfolds from their as she finds out "Who done it". This opportunity of now being Queen gives her the chance to shape the Court in her liking. Here eyes are opened to the realities that being so far down line she had not really payed mind to what was going on in the everyday lives of the rest of society.
What i most liked about Freya is when she does find out the murder is how it all handled and what is learned from the reason s of why he/she murdered an entire court. This book is filled with lessons to be learned, intrigue and plots twists that are slowly peeled away. I enjoyed this History fantasy murder mystery much more then i thought i was going to and it was a delightful story that their more to tell or if the author is going to leave it as a stand alone time will tell.
Briana @ Pages Unbound
Written on Mar 28, 2017
"Strong female character" has been a buzz phrase probably since readers were introduced to Katniss Everdeen, but the term fits Freya like a glove--all the more because Freya herself probably would not think so. As twenty-third in line to inherit the throne, Freya never considered herself important. She never paid attention to the rules of etiquette and the gossip of the course; she focused on her friendship and pursuing her passion of scientific research. So when she's thrust upon the throne without warning, she's uncertain. But watching her rise to the occasion and figure out how to use her personal strengths to succeed, instead of trying to emulate other people, is a great pleasure.
The plot is well-placed, and it wonderfully combines mystery with intrigue and looming war. There is also a dash of romance, though it's not the focus of the story, and Freya's personal growth arc. Something is always happening, but not too much, and I felt events were only rushed with one of the scenes near the end. And while I had some guesses who was responsible for the massacre that opens the novel, I was pleased that Thomas kept me unsure and altering my hunch.
Additionally, the book is smart, and not just because Freya is an accomplished scientist. Thomas delves into the intricacies of managing a kingdom, from taxes to people management to battle strategies. It felt as though a lot of research went into the book but it all came out naturally on the page. I like books where I feel like I have learned new things or where I can tell that the author knows a lot about their own genre and topic; this is one them.
At some point while reading, I considered giving the novel five stars but decided not to because there are a couple well-worn YA cliches thrown in that I could have done without. Yet for the most part, the plot kept me on my toes and a much of it was unique. This may end up being one of my favorite reads of the year.
*I know some readers have been disappointed because it's not necessarily flashy high fantasy with hand waving powers and magical creatures. The fantasy element is that it happens in an invented world that, like much fantasy, is set in some time that's somewhere between medieval and Regency in inspiration. Personally, I don't think "fantasy" necessitates magic, so as long as you're not expecting any, you should be fine on that count.
shannonmiz
Written on Jan 23, 2017
3.5*
I liked this book. This is another case of it not necessarily being mind-blowing, but still being entertaining and a solid read. Let's talk about the good stuff, yes?
- This was very female-positive. The MC, Freya, was a scientist, and the best one around. In fact, she was quite brilliant. And she had a best friend who was supportive and kind and it was so refreshing.
- Freya has a bit of anxiety, which I enjoyed seeing in a fantasy book. I do wish it had been fleshed out a bit more, but the parts that were there were portrayed quite accurately.
- I enjoyed the romance, and watching it unfurl from hate to love. One of my favorite kinds.
- Watching Freya blossom was nice. She had started out so unsure of herself, and while she always held onto those feelings a bit (which I thought was pretty realistic), she grew so much. She began to realize her worth, even though she had never wanted to be (or ever thought she would end up as) the queen.
What didn't as much:
- I wasn't particularly surprised by many things that happened. I still enjoyed the story, but I was fairly sure I knew where most of it was headed.
- The setup was.... too quick, and too unbelievable. I mean... the chances are just so astronomically slim that this group of people were unscathed? I had a hard time in the beginning adjusting to the swiftness in which Freya becomes queen. It was like: Freya leaves dinner. Five minutes later, the kingdom is all dead, except for all the people who matter in Freya's life. And I just had trouble with that. But after the plot started moving on, I was able to overcome it and enjoy the story.
Bottom Line: It was almost a mystery book rather than a fantasy situation. I loved the infusion of science, and the fact that Freya was more into experiments in her lab than being queen was pretty refreshing. Overall, a fun read.
*Copy provided for review
bookishzelda
Written on Jan 9, 2017
Freya loves Science and logic and so the court has zero appeal to her. If she can avoid any interaction, much to her father's dismay, she will. When the Royal Court is eliminated by mass poisoning, it pushes Freya from low on the Totem pole of succession to Queen. Taking on this role is much more than Freya bargained for but with her sharp mind and skills she is determined to solve the murders. Not only for justice but to protect her life as well. I loved Freya as a character. She ends up changing and developing so much because her new responsibilities demand it of her. She has to find a way to be the Queen she wants to be and the one the people need. Her whole journey is quite interesting.
I enjoyed the side characters as well. Naomi is Freya’s best friend and I love that they don’t lose that when she becomes Queen. It’s nice to have someone that you aren’t suspecting of murder on your side. There is also Madeleine and Fritzroy as well as the advisors of the council. There are few suspects but that doesn’t mean they are not deadly.
The plot was really interesting because of the murder mystery. I felt the romance was light and so it worked for the book. Freya ascent to the throne and the murders take center stage. The tone is really dark and sad. So many people have lost so much so it’s not like people are dancing around. I liked that it wasn’t just ignored and pushed in the background.
I found that the book was a quick and enjoyable read for me. There was no lag in the plot and nothing was particularly drawn out. Definitely one I would recommend.
Ashley
Written on Aug 5, 2016
- It's not really a romance. There are a few bits and pieces, but it's ultimately sooo not the focus of the story, which is kind of appropriate.
- It seemed like it would be a fantasy book, but it's not really. I mean, it is, because it's about some imaginary land/kingdom. But I guess it didn't feel like a fantasy since it's so rooted in science and there's no magic.
WHAT I LIKED:
- I really liked the overall story. This girl who never in a million years expected to be queen is suddenly queen.
- I liked the main character a lot. She was super down to earth and probably ended up being the best possible person who could become queen.
- It has a good mystery. The whole book is really a murder mystery. The MC is trying to figure out who killed everyone. I enjoyed her investigation!
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- The ending felt anti-climactic to me. We went through so much to get to the end, then it just fell a bit flat. I think because the murderer ended up being a nice (but misguided) person so it was hard to really truly hate her, and the MC clearly felt the same way so she let her off easy. I think this just made the whole thing feel unsatisfying. I wanted to be able to truly hate someone and see them punished, but I didn't get that.
- The book was missing a little X factor that would have made me truly love it. It wasn't a soul shattering, all-consuming type book. More like a fun, enjoyable read that may fade from my memory pretty quickly. I enjoyed it, but I don't see it lasting with me forever, if you know what I mean.