The Hidden Queen

Anghara Kir Hama #1

by Alma Alexander

The great king Red Dynan has been slain in battle, leaving two of his blood to dispute the future of his leaderless realm: a ruthless illegitimate son determined to wear the crown—and Anghara Kir Hama, the rightful queen…a nine-year-old-girl.

The life Anghara knows has ended; everyone she loved is dead or doomed. And now she must flee far from her home or die at the hands of her half-brother Sif. A defenseless child is adrift in an unfamiliar world, pursued by the minions of a false king whose brutality knows no bounds. But Anghara has a great destiny that reaches beyond the borders of the troubled realm she must one day rule—and a miraculous gift to be awakened in secret and fortified in a distant desert land at once beautiful, mysterious, and perilous: an awesome and frightening power called Sight.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Fiction, German Literature, Science Fiction Fantasy

389 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

Alma Alexander is a scientist by education, duchess by historical accident, and an author who has written more than a score of novels, including 'The Secrets of Jin-shei', published in dozens of editions and languages around the world.

Known as the Duchess of Fantasy, she is also a blogger sharing writing tips, and glimpses of both the mundane and magic of a fantasy author's life.

Her latest novels include 'Val Hall', a series about a retirement home for Superheroes, Third Class; 'Embers of Heaven' a Jin-shei follow-up; 'Empress', a love story; and 'Midnight at Spanish Gardens'.

Coming in July is 'The Second Star', a novel about the big eternal questions – about who, or what, God is; about our own immortal souls and their salvation; what it really means to be human; and whether it is possible to go out to where the monsters dwell and expect to come home again unchanged. It is a story of how humans meet the stars, and find themselves there.

Her YA include the four-book Worldweavers series, and 'The Were Chronicles' trilogy.

Her work has been translated into 14 languages worldwide, including Hebrew,Turkish, and Catalan.

She is currently at work on a new series of alternate history novels with roots in Eastern Europe.

She lives in Bellingham, WA, with her husband, two cats, and assorted visiting wildlife.

Visit her website/blog at www.AlmaAlexander.org or AlmaAlexanderAuthor.com , like her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alma-A...

Reviews

[Cera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because Alma Alexander says cool things at Orycon, only to be once again reminded that the ability to say cool things does not mean the ability to write a book I'll like.

I couldn't finish this -- which makes it sound worse than it really was; I can easily imagine people who aren't me enjoying it just fine. The plot was fine; child queen's throne is usurped by bastard half-brother, so she goes into hiding to gather power to retake the throne. But the prose drove me crazy; the author seemed to be attempting free indirect discourse without understanding how to do it, and thus the POV swooped from a very tight third, to sudden statements by the narrator about who the characters were & whether or not they were trustworthy, and every time it happened I got thrown out of my (admittedly tenuous) grasp on the story and started wondering where the editor had been. Plus, many paragraphs were overwritten, with the same piece of information given two or three times, and sentences sometimes suffered from the same problem to the point of grammatical error. Not a book for me.

[Jake · Rating 2 out of 5]

A king dies during a major battle. His forces need leadership. One of the general’s digs up the king’s bastard son from the ranks of the army, and the army rallies around him. Said bastard son promptly turns around with said army, and takes over kingdom, forcing the true heir, a nine-year-old girl, to flee into hiding, until the day when she can return to claim the throne. This is plot of a thousand fantasy novels, The Hidden Queen being one of the most recent, though not really the most inspiring.

This isn’t a bad novel per se, it’s just not great. The plot holds virtually no surprises – the young queen has untapped magic powers that she can only learn to use by going to a foreign country, (because, of course, the people in her native land just don’t have the knowledge that those mysterious foreigners do). And of course, said queen is able to violate all sorts of rules and traditions while learning to use her powers, yet becomes a master quicker and more easily than anyone in memory. And in the end, she sets out for home, because, well, it’s time to go home.

If you feel as though I’ve spoiled the book for you, I haven’t. As I said, none of this is surprising…it doesn’t even FEEL surprising as a reader. Perhaps I’m just jaded, but I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough to even identify with characters surprise at Anghara’s (the child queen in question) abilities. Actually, I had a hard time identifying with most of the characters…they all felt too much like archetypes, rather than people. Sadly, the most interesting character, at least in the beginning, is Sif, Anghara’s half-brother and usurper of the throne. Initially, Sif seems less than thrilled with the idea that the only way he can retain power is to kill Anghara – he knows it needs to be done, but he doesn’t really seem to want to. Which creates an interesting dilemma, which is then left totally unexplored. Of course, halfway through the book, Sif becomes so frustrated that he transforms into a villain from the X-Men “I hate those muta…er…people with Sight (magic). I’m going to wipe out every muta…er…Sighted person, and my kingdom will be ruled by normal humans!” All he needs is some powered armor, and misguided biblical references, and this guy could take on Cyclops, Wolverine, and co. just fine.

In fairness to the novel – the writing itself is good. Alexander has some wonderfully descriptive passages, and the plot moves along at a reasonable pace. The world that she builds, for all of it’s stereotypical plotting, has some fairly interesting ideas...but they’re largely left unexplored. Which is sad, because I think Alexander probably has those ideas in her head, but for some reason, just didn’t put them on paper.

If you’re looking for a light, schlock-fantasy sort of read (hey, everyone is sometimes), this is probably worth the read. If you want something truly interesting and innovative…look somewhere else.

[P. Pherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been a while since I read this.

I do recall my experience as enjoying the tale and being immersed in the young queens plight, and that of her brother, such that, I was eager to see what happened and how it all played out. I remember liking the constant threat the queen was under and the difficulty of moving freely and trusting people in a land that may have turned against her.

Sadly its been to long for much detail, but its one I remember.

[STU · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm halfway through this book, but really enjoying it. I also have Volume 2 and I hope it is only a duology rather than a trilogy or even more. (Been caught with that several times....)

It has a very common and standard plotline for a fantasy novel. ie Throne usurped from young rightful King/Queen who goes into exile and develops their "powers" until the time is right to reclaim their throne.
Probably 2nd most common plot behind dwarf/elf/wizard/warrior/etc go on a quest to retrieve magical item and save the world as we know it.

I'm just finding it really well written, flowing well and easy to read. The usurper has not had a lot of front and centre "screen-time" as of yet, but to me feels more like a MacBeth type who sees his chance and is almost obliged to take it, rather than being a super-evil villain. And like MacBeth, once on the path he will be forced to commit increasingly atrocious acts to protect his position as King. This guy is basically Russell Crowe from the movie Gladiator, if he had actually taken the throne instead of the Emperor's son. Not the rightful heir, but arguably a better choice.

Likewise, another "villain" is a spoilt and stubborn bully. He takes no responsibility for his own actions and gets obsessed with vengeance once he is injured through a conflict that he initiates. Not an attractive character, but hardly super-evil.

So, although a common storyline, I'm finding the characters interesting and hopefully I keep enjoying it and it doesn't get too predictable.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better fantasy novels. Alma Alexander has a writing style that engrosses the reader and gets you caught up in her characters' lives. The novel was fast-paced and I was sad when it was over. Luckily, there was a sequel - Changer of Days. Definitely a goodread!

[Nicci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I own it. I don't like some of the fake god gibberish, but the rest of it is incredible. The story is intense, with strong characters. I cried, laughed and loved...and stayed up all night reading this and the book to it.

[Scott Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alma Alexander has a unique style of fantasy that I haven't found in any other author.

[Foggygirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this duology, they are keepers.

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, I started really getting into this book and then the author decided to bring up the sexual exploits of a 14 year old boy....thanks, but no thanks.

[Patricia Franco rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

la he disfrutado mucho, quizá en su primera parte la narración es algo lenta, por lo que no puedo darle un 5, aunque definitivamente ha sido una gran lectura (4.5/5)

[Tono · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aunque me haya parecido una muy buena historia, con una construcción de la trama y de los personajes muy bien llevada por la autora, que ha sido meticulosa, siento que no ha alcanzado las expectativas que me había propuesto. Siento que ha sido bastante lento y que, como comentaba en algunas actualizaciones de capítulos, me perdía en algunos aspectos que notaba que la autora se sacaba de la manga. Además, el final me ha dejado descolocado. Toda la novela anunciando una guerra épica a la altura de los grandes del género, pero finalmente se resuelve todo en unas meras páginas y te quedas con las ganas de lo qie verdaderamente significa la fantasía épica. Y en cuanto a ciertos personajes, siento que ha faltado un poco más por mostrar: partes de la novela siento que, aunque aporten, podrían haberse jugado las cartas de muchas otras formas y haber dado más chispa a algunas de las relaciones.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend loaned this book to me because she absolutely loved it! Not quite my cup of tea, and not a book I would have chosen, but I slugged my way through it. The first part wasn't too bad, but the author lost me in the second part with all the mumble-jumbo nonsense in the desert and standing stone stuff.
There is a sequel, which my curiosity will not allow me ignore!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about kings who go into exile and come back to claim their rightful throne: *Drake's oh no face*
Books about queens who go into exile and come back to claim their rightful throne: *Drake's oh yeah face*

[Kaisievic · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rather disappointing - too many holes in the plot, rather derivative and I just could not feel sympathy with the heroine.

[Techari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Algunas partes del libro se me han hecho un poco lentas y la verdad es que el final, para mí, ha sido flojo. De todas formas he disfrutado mucho con el libro, sobre todo las partes del desierto.

[Heather Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're in the habit of reviewing the books you read, and if you're friends with a bunch of authors, you'll eventually find yourself in the position of reviewing a book by someone you know and like -- and whose writing you greatly admire -- that simply doesn't do it for you. For me, alas, The Hidden Queen/Changer of Days by Alma Alexander was one of those books. (Sorry Alma.)

It shall be referred to hereinafter as "the book" (singular) because, as I understand it, by intent it's a single book that happened to be split into two physical pieces for marketing purposes. Since I read the two volumes in a single pass, I don't think this affected my reading.

On the positive side, the world-building is intricate and evocative, the several cultures -- although still bearing traces of the serial numbers of their real-world inspirations -- are nicely varied and fractally detailed. What left me hungry at the end of the book was the relentless passivity of the protagonist.

At the beginning of the story, this is hardly surprising. The title character (both titles), Anghara, is hurriedly crowned a child-queen at her father's death in the midst of a war. When her older half-brother Sif seizes the kingdom, she is bustled off to a series of refuges, each of which is devastated in various ways by the usurper's pursuit of her. Complicating the matter, Anghara (my fingers keep automatically completing the name to Angharad -- must do a global search before posting) has inherited an ability known as Sight which combines features of prescience, telepathy, and a close relationship with the gods, among other things. One of the issues standing between Sif and a legitimate claim on the throne is his mother's lack of Sight, which leads him to initiate a pogrom against all those with the ability, for which Anghara assumes personal guilt. It's a continuing theme that just as Anghara's cause and adventures are advanced largely without her deliberate action, her burden of guilts also comes from events that are largely beyond her control.

The need to evade Sif's clutches while she grows to adulthood and learns to better control and use the Sight drives her into the company of a mystic from the desert lands who becomes a spiritual mentor. Years pass, as well as several rites of passage and encounters with gods. When the time comes for Anghara to return home and reclaim her crown, she falls immediately into Sif's clutches, loses her powers of Sight, is rescued, returns to the desert, encounters more gods, is the catalyst in a cosmic paradigm shift, regains her Sight, returns home, and succeeds in reclaiming her throne.

But throughout all this, when it comes down to it, Anghara herself doesn't really do very much. Initially, the political winds buffet her willy-nilly as one might expect for a child in an adult world. Her experience of Sight is initially more of an affliction than a skill. Later she becomes something of a conduit through which various divine forces work, but there's never any clear sense that she is in charge or has any ability to further or prevent the events she precipitates. In some of the most memorable action sequences, she is physically and/or psychically incapacitated. I kept longing for the focus of the story to shift to one of the minor characters -- any of them -- just someone who would take charge of their own destiny.

I think I had a key insight to why Anghara's experiences don't work for me when I realized that the model of sovereignty that she operates within is that of divine right. Sif's crime in usurping the throne is not one of theft but of blasphemy. Anghara retains the superior claim not through personal ability (at the time of their father's battlefield death, Sif was demonstrably the more able leader for the army and nation) or superior statesmanship (it's hard to tell whether Anghara's successes in that field are from ability or the fortunate chance of the right word or action at the right time ... or driven by the subconscious urgings of Sight) but simply because the right to rule is inherent in her. And she succeeds in reclaiming that rule because she's surrounded by extremely able people who believe in that right. Oh, and because the gods are on her side. (Well, it's a trifle more complicated than that, but I'll leave some surprises.)

I may well be overstating the case for her passivity, but it's the overwhelming impression I was left with. If she wants my sympathy, a character has to convince me that she has a hand in creating her own destiny.

[April Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of tales out there of the young prince or princess who must leave home in the face of a dangerous usuper, only to return again to reclaim the throne in a blaze of glory. That is, in very oversimplified terms, the basic premise of The Hidden Queen (by the way, the actual reclaiming must occur in the sequel, Changer of Days, which is on my list). But there are a few refreshing twists. The biggest is Sif, the illegitimate son of the late king, who died in battle. Sif takes the throne after taking command of the army and routing the Tath. The only one who stands between him and the crown is Anghara, the nine-year-old heir apparant. Sif is rather tragic; I get the impression he could have been a good leader, and there was a valid reason for a lot of people to want to see the adult war hero on the throne rather than a child. I know this is fantasy, but anyone who's read any history knows that the reigns of child rulers tend to be short, brutal, contentious and chaotic. But Sif becomes consumed with destroying Anghara and, later, anyone who possesses the mysterious ability of Sight. He reminds me somewhat of Henry VIII (or maybe Shakespeare's Macbeth), an intelligent man who destroys himself through his arrogance and obsessions. You don't often see a "villian" of this role who is somewhat sympathetic (at least at first).

Anghara is forced to flee for her life, and her journey takes her into many places where, by many teachers, she hones her own Sight. It's neat watching her turn from a child who lets others lead her way into someone who begins to blaze her own path. It will be interesting how she deals with her half-brother in the next book. She's very powerful, and very mature. But she's been dealt a lot of pain through the hands of Sif, will her own rage and power threaten to consume her as well?

[Jan jr. Vaněk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Autorka mě už léta zajímala, protože se narodila v Srbsku (jako Hromic[ová]; pak si [k tomu] vzala Deckerta, ale marketingové oddělení zřejmě trvalo na něčem zvučném) a i když žila a vzdělávala se odmala po Africe a jinde po světě, angličtinu má až jako druhý jazyk. Pravda, v dnešní postmoderní multikulturní době už není ve fantasy ani mainstreamu jediná, ale myslím byla první, aspoň pro mě.

A běda, když jsem se k tomuhle dostal v prosinci, četl jsme to donedávna, s dlouhými přestávkami a místy rychloposuvem, ke konci na záchodě. Po jakžtakž slibném začátku na poli po bitvě se rychle vyvine... fantasy tak high, až je unyle ušlechtilá; nebo možná spíš pokus naplnit šablonu této, sice s jistou řemeslnou zručností, ale zcela bez originality a šťávy. Jazyk se snaží o vznosnou knižnost, ne zcela úspěšně; svět je sice opatřen mapkou (a slovníčkem!), ale ne věrohodně zalidněný; kladní hrdinové jsou... ech, vyplácal jsem si adjektiva výše: unyle ušlechtilí, ta titulní od dětství vážná, zodpovědná, předurčená, nadaná nebývalou magií a dokonce vyvolená bohy, s nimiž přímo obcuje; padouši sobečtí až jenom politováníhodně zaslepení... Do tohohle dílu je nacpáno (a told, not shown) až příliš děje, let a po pár kapitolách mizících postav, jak hrdinka prchá uzurpátorovi do pouštní země, jejíž nomádi samozřejmě mluví pseudoarabsky (a poušť se řekne ari'i'd; to má být vtip?!). Návrat, vztyčení vlajky, sebrání věrného lidu a vítězství je v pokračování, které nemám; autorčiny jiné, pseudočínské knížky prý jsou lepší, ale zvlášť se po nich pídit nebudu.

[Chrissy Wissler · Rating 3 out of 5]

There isn't a whole lot a nine year old girl can do when her half-brother makes a bid for the throne at their father's death - even less because he now has the army at his back. Anghara has no choice but to flee, hide, and hope to survive until she's old enough and her Sight mature enough to take back what's rightfully hers.

For a fantasy novel that spans six years with several life-altering moments, the book's pacing is excellent. The story moves seamlessly, giving you brief moments with other characters besides Anghara, never really pinning down to just one point of view character. The author, Alma Alexander, continued to walk a fine line of giving her readers just enough information to tell the story and enough to make us care for her characters. I never felt like I was rushed; I always had the right amount of time to connect with Anghara and the new twists thrown her way.

Overall, the reason this book worked regardless of the time-frame and all the characters who filtered in and out of her life, the goal was the same: keep Anghara hidden. This goal connected the other characters together, connected the years, and connected the different places she lived.

A well written, fun read. I'll be sure to pick up the second and final book to see how she returns to her home and defeats her half-brother.

[Darcey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's usually very difficult for me to find fault with fantasy books, but I struggled with this first in a duology. There is, as many other reviewers have stated, very little ground for Anghara to be the "true queen", unless we're working off of legitimate birth being a genuine requirement; her half-brother's actions pursuant to taking the throne lend some strength to her claim, but far too often does our bonny protagonist seem far too god-touched and blessed and Special Snowflake-like to win hearts and gain followers on her own grounds - on the grounds of external forces, yes (magic and gods and visions), but simply because of her innate qualities and behaviour? Not so much.

I can't decide if I'll pick up the second one to see if it improves, or not.

[Cathleen Ash]

Anghara is left alone: everyone she knows and loved is dead or doomed. She's fleeing from the country her evil brother continues to rule - her country. Her land. Her people. Constantly tortured by the rule of the evil Sif.
She does what she has to do - survive - by leaving her country and everything she holds dear far behind. Her travels take her to a country where she can learn, live, use her Sight and begin to take the power back - power rightfully hers and destiny-called - and if she can, return to take the land that is rightfully hers, stolen by evil.
Alexander is a master at weaving epic sagas into tense, suspenseful and gripping action/adventure sagas with characters who come to life right before your eyes.

[Hacedores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro me llamaba mucho la atención, tanto por el espacio en el que se desarrolla buena parte de la acción, como por las reminiscencias a la literatura épica que leí al principio de mi etapa lectora y que, en el fondo, son los libros que todavía hoy consiguen estar en mi Top 10 permanente. Y no me ha defraudado, si bien no ha llegado al Top, ha conseguido acercarse mucho dada la calidad tanto de las descripciones como de la trama en sí. Eso sí, hay que avisar de que se trata de una bilogía unida en un solo libro, y esto se nota en la historia.

Sigue leyendo

[Jewel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started really well, then half way through the story changes and I just couldn't get into it anymore.
It was really hard work to finish it, and I'm not sure that I will be reading the second one.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, and I want to read the sequel, but it's a bit slow in places as the author has to bring the young girl queen in exile into something like fighting trim to reclaim her kingdom from her usurping half brother.

[Cris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I quit after only 100 pages. While it supposed to be an epic fantasy the characters were not interesting or compelling. The plot was a graceless retelling of England's War of the Roses.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story and writing were very good. I kind of feel that there should have been more to the story and that has left me wondering if there will be another book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Very enjoyable. Review of the two-story under The Changer of Day.

[Elyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, not great

[Amy VanGundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting world, good characters.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent.