The Vanished Queen by Lisbeth Campbell

The Vanished Queen

by Lisbeth Campbell

A stunning blend of vivid fantasy and political drama, The Vanished Queen is the timely story of a young resistance fighter working to overthrow a totalitarian ruler’s regime of terror and lies. “[G]ripping…this is the novel the world needs now” (Kate Heartfield, Nebula Award finalist and author of Aurora Award–winning novel Armed in Her Fashion).

Long ago, Queen Mirantha vanished. King Karolje claimed she was assassinated by a neighboring ruler, but her people knew the truth: the king had Disappeared her himself.

Now the queen’s disappearance is hardly a memory—merely one among many horrors the king’s reign has wrought. But when Anza, a young student impassioned by her father’s unjust execution, finds the missing queen’s diary, she is inspired by Mirantha’s words—joins the resistance group to overthrow the king.

Prince Esvar is the second son to an evil king. Trapped under his thumb and desperate for a way out, a chance meeting with Anza gives him the opportunity to join the resistance. Together, they might have the leverage to move against the king—but if they fail, their deaths could mean a total loss of freedom for generations to follow. In this dangerous game of court politics, one misstep could lead to a fate worse than death.

Set in a world where resistance is as dangerous as it is important, The Vanished Queen is a “big, dark, intricate novel” (Lousia Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches) about the courage and sacrifice it requires to take on a tyrant.

Reviewed by Ashley on

5 of 5 stars

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Oh my god! This book completely blew me away. I adored every character, I adored the politics, the rebellion…all of it. It was gripping from start to finish. I actually put off reading the last 75 pages or so because I wasn't ready for it to end!

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Reading updates

  • 2 September, 2020: Started reading
  • 2 September, 2020: on page 0 out of 496 0%
  • 2 September, 2020: on page 22 out of 496 4%
  • 3 September, 2020: on page 58 out of 496 12%
  • 6 September, 2020: on page 176 out of 496 35%
    This is so good!
  • 7 September, 2020: on page 306 out of 496 62%
  • 8 September, 2020: on page 336 out of 496 68%
    Love this twist!
  • 9 September, 2020: Finished reading
  • 9 September, 2020: Reviewed