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The Queen Trials #4

The Forever War

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All Princess Clio has wanted since she joined The Queen Trials was to find a way out of the competition before the killing round began. But when King Ergondy grants her wish, Clio learns more about The Forever War than she bargained for.

With this new knowledge that she shouldn't have, can she live with herself if she leaves The Trials?

Either way, the Rotunda wants her dead.

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2023

436 people are currently reading
178 people want to read

About the author

Penelope Wright

70 books71 followers
Penelope Wright spent a quarter of her life on the east coast and the rest in Washington state. She worked her way through college in restaurants, hospitals, factories, and everything in between, finally graduating summa cum laude from the University of Washington after an absurdly long time. She loves both traditions and new experiences, and will try anything once, except skydiving, which is a hard no. She lives north of Seattle with her husband and two amazing teenagers.

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5 stars
332 (48%)
4 stars
235 (34%)
3 stars
101 (14%)
2 stars
19 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Alyssa.
100 reviews11 followers
November 19, 2023
Cliff hanger

My goodness. I was able to finish this one in only a few hours. It's fast paced and answers some questions that a few of us have had since book 1.

That cliff hanger though.
Profile Image for Christine Cazeneuve.
1,470 reviews42 followers
July 12, 2023
A bit disappointing

I couldn't wait for this fourth book in the series to be released and read it immediately. Sadly it's my least favorite of the group thus far. It took quite awhile to get into it and just didn't have the drama and excitement the previous books did. The relationships between the characters changed but instead of growing deeper (except for the obvious), they seemed to become more distant. I can only hope the next book is better.
82 reviews5 followers
September 12, 2023
My least favorite of the series.
The world Is all over the place. Dystopian, magic, sentient nature, kings and queens, etc...
Details that don't make sense.
The book ends on a cliff hanger, like the last one.
The first half of the book is slow and then all the "action" is mashed together at the end.
The main character hasn't grown at all in four books and in this one she seems a bit dumber in some places, probably to move the story along.
The romance is terrible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for O’rion Risher.
373 reviews6 followers
May 10, 2024
I’m honestly just over this series. It’s very redundant with repeating the same crap that’s happened previously. Like the author just wanted to meet a quota of words or pages and used previous crap to fill it all in.

I’m really confused about the Prince and her relationship. It’s almost like their in secret item but it seems too quick since they don’t really know each other.

Then there’s other things that just don’t add up. She “can’t wrap her mind around” how people think that her people are not fully human… how? Lol she literally knows she has magical abilities…

Idk. There’s just more plot holes the more you read and it’s getting to the point where I’m vaguely interested, but don’t really care what happens next. It’s got so much hunger games tones to it, it almost feels like a fan fiction. Maybe it is… but I think I’m done with this. Pretty positive I know exactly what’s going to happen by the end.
20 reviews
Read
October 10, 2023
I have my qualms

I am living for the story, honestly. Love the cliffhangers and the characters, However there are things I don't quite like. I understand that Clio was taught to read and that's great but this girl uses words that the average person would never know and that completely undermines everything we know about her. Her relationship with Relicant is far to progressed for the, what? Handful of times they've actually spoken to each other?
There's some editing errors in the book, like miswritten sentences and lack of quotation marks when someone is speaking, but overall the series is good, I just thought things like this would have been resolved by the fourth book. I will be very happy to finish the series.
Profile Image for Kari.
110 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. My only disappointment is that it ended far too soon. I mean like the next book is not coming out till like a year…

***Spoilers*** It seems that Prince Relicant was leading Clio along the whole time. Honestly though, I am holding out hope that he is still secretly on her side.

I loved the whole Giant Mall and competition. A few things have me wondering. Is Snow still on Clio’s side? I am sure she is, but that story she told at the slumber party was crazy. And how is it that no one knew snow in 14? This may be a weird theory, but is it possible that Snow is really Clio’s mom that took another form?

Anyway, I can’t wait till the next book. With everyone thinking Clio is dead, I am sure the drama will be turned up to a whole new level.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nole4Life.
986 reviews18 followers
August 16, 2024
2.5. It’s definitely become eye rolling

PROS
- enough happens throughout the story to make me curious about the final outcome
- easy read

CONS
- the relationship between Relicant and Clio is stupid. They love each other eve though they’ve only spoken 3 times
- wish the book would explain why someone just doesn’t kill the king and let Relicant take over
- the writing loose, fast and rambles. It seems like the author didn’t have any type of outline and shut wrote with no direction.
- Clio seems stupid and naive in this book. She actually thinks she can negotiate peace between two countries. Not just negotiate peace, but to do it in one day. Even if this was possible, she goes to the meeting without any preparations.
Profile Image for Lesley Barklay.
Author 9 books17 followers
October 24, 2024
This book deals with Clio getting her wish. We get a little more Clio and Relicant in this book, but I can't help but wishing there was a bit more of a build up to their relationship. Honestly, I'm not sure what she sees in him, except he's young, hot, and not the slimy sleezy King.

As for him, he just seems attracted to her specialness and main character energy. We learn a bit more about Clio's powers, Relicant's powers, and what's going on with the king. I also liked getting a bit more time with Shellor on page.

This book ends with a bit more of a cliff hanger, but since we are heading into a new location, it was a good point to stop. I might come back to the series once it's finished. They are relatively fast-paced and enjoyable popcorn reads.
24 reviews
September 30, 2023
Story continues If you haven't started this series. Start NOW. What does Clio disovers!!!!!!

Clio continues her journey thur the trials , learning as she goes her powers grows along the way. Who can she
Trust . What are the Prince 's true feeling for Clio? So what comes next ? We find out at the end of book 3 .....
Someone she thought dead is alive..... Discover what happens next .....
Profile Image for Dani.
71 reviews2 followers
January 20, 2025
I didn’t think I was going to like this one as much but it still had me excited to pick it up each day and curious what was going to happen. Did not call the plot twist at the end. Very curious where the next book takes us. My one complaint for this series is that the “love plot” is very shallow / insta love. But still dying to see where it goes so clearly I don’t care that much. This has been a fun series so far!
Profile Image for Kate.
1,134 reviews45 followers
October 20, 2025
The series keeps getting better! I really enjoyed this one!! With the way things are coming together, it is becoming more and more obvious that Wright was playing the long game with various characters and scenes from the beginning of the series and that each move is intentional and was well thought out. I enjoy the characters and even find the more unsavory ones rather engaging. I can't wait to find out what happens in book 5!
Profile Image for LK.
Author 6 books15 followers
December 17, 2023
Love this series!!! Another great installment of The Queen Trials series. Full of intrigue and deception this one takes us to the Frontlines and someone Clio never expects to see. She learning about her powers and who her real friends are. The game is getting more deadly, I can't wait for the next one!!!
614 reviews3 followers
January 27, 2024
Closer yet

Really got sucked into this series and wanting to know what happens next. Curious, absolutely! Nice little twist at the end that was totally unexpected. Next book please!
Profile Image for Kairi Clark.
4 reviews4 followers
June 24, 2025
well crafted

This series is everything I wanted the Hunger Games to be. The tension builds and climbs until you are so involved with the characters you simply cannot put the book down. I have read the first four books in two days.
Profile Image for Jocelyn Langlois.
10 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2023
Amazing!

Well written exciting story with an incredible cliff hanger for an ending. Another master story I can't wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Sage.
238 reviews
August 4, 2023
I just read all four of these books and they should’ve been a single book. And now the next one comes out in a year?? They’re certainly entertaining but very bite-sized.
6 reviews
November 15, 2023
shocked!!!

I looovvveee this series! Didn’t expect the twist and I love her cliffhangers! I can’t wait for the final book!
74 reviews
January 29, 2024
things are speeding along

Just like Clio did in her mad dash to save her friends. Hopefully we’ll start to see what’s really going on in the Rotunda
58 reviews
March 8, 2024
Wow what a story!! Am totally hooked, I truly can't get enough!!
Profile Image for Robbi Pfeil.
68 reviews10 followers
December 31, 2024
This series has me hooked! The pacing is relentless, packed with action and unexpected twists—especially the shocking reveal about the Forever War. While I’m loving the ride, I’m not totally sold on the potential relationship with the prince - I'm interested to see how this turns out. Overall, it’s an exciting read that keeps you guessing at every turn. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Profile Image for Astrid Novak.
44 reviews2 followers
January 10, 2025
And another twist!

What more could happen to keep you reading? Well, a twist or 2 that is for sure! Off to download book 5 and see what happens next!
Profile Image for Jule Hayes.
51 reviews
December 24, 2024
5⭐️. The twists keep coming! Book four in the Queen Trials saga continues to document Clio’s journey through the intense Queen trials in her quest to survive - but her initial goals are starting to change as she finds out more about the realities of her world and the secrets the King and government are desperate to keep! This series is extremely addicitve and I simply cannot put these books down! Can’t wait to see what is next for Clio and her crew!!!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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