Kill the Queen Published by HarperCollins on October 2, 2018 Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Action & Adventure, Fiction / Fantasy / Epic, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Pages: 480
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Goodreads
Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.
In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.
But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.
Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.
But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.
Review:
To Kill The Queen is the first book I read from this author, but the blurb on the back drew me in to pick this up and devour it. I am so glad I choose to do just that; from what I can tell from her list of other books, this is classic writing for this author. You have a central female solid character that you know will take off and conquer. Those events come to pass our main character Evie is the shadow of her cousin who wants to rule the world. When the massacre occurs, she is thought to have been killed; instead, she survives.
The story has a fantastic ensemble of characters who play true to who they right up tell their bloody deaths. The central plot is all about playing your hand close to your chest so you can win in the end. That is why our main character Evie holds what is uniquely hers close to the vest, and then at the very bitter end, she can draw it out and use it to her full advantage. I am excited to see how her extraordinary power develops over the following few books.
Ultimately, you think all will be well since the main evil character is disposed of, but no two more vultures are in the mist. I am sure there are more that we have not met yet. As Evie starts her place in this new world, who will she have to defend herself against, and what other political intrigue is out there for her to discover? She got a good troop of gladiators to add to her defense, and I think she can take down whoever stands in her way. Excited to read the rest of this bloody tale, and always remember someone always wants to kill the queen.
About Jennifer Estep
Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
Jennifer is the author of the Elemental Assassin, Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 40 books, along with numerous novellas and stories.
In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.
