I have so many thoughts about this book! Some of them may be coloured by the fact that this was the first time I have listened to an audiobook, and did spend a little time getting adjusted. I also listen at work, so sometimes do get a little districted and miss things. 

In general, I thought the book was just ok. It didn't leave me with a strong desire to read the next book in the series, but also didn't entirely deter me from reading it. 

The good things: 

- I thought the basic premise of the world and where the people originated from was an interesting idea, with the human race essentially devolving, though this idea could have been expanded on more 

- I enjoyed the side character's POVs (a lot more than Kelsea's) 

- I liked the idea of the mother figure who was so idolised in Kelsea's mind slowly being soured by each discovery about her 

 

The not so good things: 

 

- It was very obvious that the author was an American trying to write about British based things e.g. they used £ as currency, but said 'math' not maths', which got on my nerves at times, and made the novel feel less authentic 

- Specifically about this audio book - the narrator pronounced some words in such an archaic way (I assume in the attempt to keep a ‘regal’ British tone) that it stopped me from feeling completely immersed in the story as they felt out of place 

- Also about the audio book - the Mort were given French accents, and some place names were said with French inflection, but some were not, this got on my NERVES. Mort and Calais were pronounced in very English ways (hard t and s), even by the French accented characters  

- There was very little descriptive writing and world building. Normally when I read, I have very clear pictures of each scene in my head, but I hardly did at all with this one. Again, this may partially be due to me reading as an audiobook, but I have since finished a different audio book, and have clear pictures for those scenes 

- For a fantasy it all seemed quite basic/bog standard, e.g.: 

1. The magic which Kelsea has ZERO trouble using, and straight away fixed every problem she came across without any real effort 

2. The romance which was the (now overdone) dark mysterious stranger you think is an enemy but actually turns out to be a good guy (I swear if he turns out to be immortal somehow in the next book I'll scream) 

- It seemed like most of the book was just filler scenes to pass time until the next (admittedly rather compelling) action scene 

- The inclusion of slavery seemed to be included purely for the shock value, there was no way near enough commentary on it for it to have been included for any other reason. It was also a very white book to be talking about slavery - only one black character was mentioned in the entire book, and they were presented almost as an 'exotic' curiosity, with the only comments about them being about their skin colour 

- The inserts at the start of each chapter talking about Kelsea's rule as Queen took all of the risk factor out of the book, as we knew she was going to survive and stay Queen for years after the book was set 

- The traitor was so obvious 

- Most of the Queen's Guard seemed very flat. They had no defining features unless they were needed in the story 

- Kelsea's morals were all over the place e.g. she killed one traitor, but let another live who had done much worse things 

- It had a really anticlimactic ending, which made it feel like a standalone novel, rather than the start of a series 

 

After writing out this review, I have realised that I actually did not enjoy the book all that much, and the bad things about it heavily outweigh the good. Already mid-way through wiring my star rating went from a 3 to a 2, maybe I should even change it to a 1... 

Still might pick up the sequel though, just to see how much worse it can get...