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Queen Immortal
IMMORTALITY, LOVE, AND A THRONE AT STAKE.
Queen Beza is a woman untouched by those around her. Immortal as she might be, she hasn’t yet learned the art of loving anything other than her crown. For over three-hundred years, she has kept herself in isolation from everyone around her.
After an attempt is made on her life, she begins to understand that her immortality is more fragile than she thought. While searching for the suspect, she is led down a path of darkness, deceit, and betrayal, uncovering secrets along the way that were never meant to be uncovered. With her lead guardsman attempting to break through the ice surrounding her heart, and a peasant woman who reveals the likelihood that Beza may not be the sole heir to the throne, she delves deeper into suspicion, isolating herself further.
Now she must search for a brother she never knew, convinced that he is after her throne. In her quest to find the truth and defend her nation against forces both seen and unseen, Beza’s greatest ally may be a change of heart. But can she learn to trust those closest to her before she loses her crown, her chance to love again, and most devastatingly, her life?
____________________
What have people say about Queen Immortal?
“I loved this book! I finished it in 2 days because I could not put it down. The storyline was intriguing and kept me reading. I fell in love with the characters and can’t wait for the other books!” – Montana H.
“This kept me swiping up on my kindle app all night. I hope the series continues. Guys don’t be afraid reading a book about a queen.” – Nathan E.
“Enjoyed this book immensely! It was refreshing to find a book that was not peppered with profanity. Hats off to an author that can write a story and use language I would not be afraid to let my grandchildren read. Can’t wait for the next book to find out what happens next!” – Tammy M.
____________________
Also by Kaci Morgan
The Queen Immortal Series
Book 1: The The Queen Immortal
Book 2: The Queen Forsaken (coming soon!)
Book 3: Coming soon!
Look out for more books! Join the Future House Publishing newsletter for updates on the latest sci-fi/fantasy releases.
Queen Beza is a woman untouched by those around her. Immortal as she might be, she hasn’t yet learned the art of loving anything other than her crown. For over three-hundred years, she has kept herself in isolation from everyone around her.
After an attempt is made on her life, she begins to understand that her immortality is more fragile than she thought. While searching for the suspect, she is led down a path of darkness, deceit, and betrayal, uncovering secrets along the way that were never meant to be uncovered. With her lead guardsman attempting to break through the ice surrounding her heart, and a peasant woman who reveals the likelihood that Beza may not be the sole heir to the throne, she delves deeper into suspicion, isolating herself further.
Now she must search for a brother she never knew, convinced that he is after her throne. In her quest to find the truth and defend her nation against forces both seen and unseen, Beza’s greatest ally may be a change of heart. But can she learn to trust those closest to her before she loses her crown, her chance to love again, and most devastatingly, her life?
____________________
What have people say about Queen Immortal?
“I loved this book! I finished it in 2 days because I could not put it down. The storyline was intriguing and kept me reading. I fell in love with the characters and can’t wait for the other books!” – Montana H.
“This kept me swiping up on my kindle app all night. I hope the series continues. Guys don’t be afraid reading a book about a queen.” – Nathan E.
“Enjoyed this book immensely! It was refreshing to find a book that was not peppered with profanity. Hats off to an author that can write a story and use language I would not be afraid to let my grandchildren read. Can’t wait for the next book to find out what happens next!” – Tammy M.
____________________
Also by Kaci Morgan
The Queen Immortal Series
Book 1: The The Queen Immortal
Book 2: The Queen Forsaken (coming soon!)
Book 3: Coming soon!
Look out for more books! Join the Future House Publishing newsletter for updates on the latest sci-fi/fantasy releases.
- GenresFantasy
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2023
12 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 19, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy and became very engrossed in the drama that surrounded Queen Beza as she works to solve several intertwined mysteries. The writing is wonderfully descriptive and I love that even the immortal queen herself is flawed and human. I think this works as a stand-alone novel, but I can’t wait to see what more is in store for Beza and the people of Marmos!
May 14, 2021
I loved the book. I was a beta reader for Kaci and the book surprises me at times and kept me guessing! Writing style was great and lively. Definitely looking forward to part 2 (And 3)
September 22, 2018
Queen Immortal was one of those books that suck you in from the very beginning. I honestly couldn't put it down! I kept sneaking in a page or two whenever I had a free moment, haha!
I love how real and human the characters are. Even though Queen Beza has been alive for hundreds of years, she isn't perfect or infallible, she's just trying to be the best queen she can be.
I love how the plot kept me guessing too. Little twist and unexpected turns! It was quite a ride and I cannot wait for the next book!!
I love how real and human the characters are. Even though Queen Beza has been alive for hundreds of years, she isn't perfect or infallible, she's just trying to be the best queen she can be.
I love how the plot kept me guessing too. Little twist and unexpected turns! It was quite a ride and I cannot wait for the next book!!
September 4, 2018
Entretaining story. I enjoyed the mystery of the story. The author created a whole new, interesting world and well developed characters that came to life for me.
September 4, 2018
I’m not a big fantasy reader, but I loved this! It was a great story and kept me entertained the whole time.
December 23, 2023
The story centers on Beza, a queen from a line of immortal women who have ruled Marmos since time immemorial. Beza's mother left her prematurely when Beza was only a young girl, and since then Beza has mostly forgone any deep human connection, preferring to dedicate herself to her rule. She's a refreshingly bad-ass queen. The world is thoughtfully crafted and the history of Marmos shines through the narrative in organic ways. The plot's mystery is satisfying to watch unfold and I found Beza to be a protagonist to root for, despite (or maybe because of) her initial prickliness.
I had some issues with the immortality aspect. Beza is over 300 years old, which makes for really interesting character dynamics that I don't think were played up as much as they could have been. For one thing, people seem to forget that she is immortal and spend too much time worrying about her safety (they don't know that she is afraid that someone will try to exploit the secret way to kill her). I also think the narrative could have drawn more attention to the fundamental differences in the way Beza sees the world as a centuries-old woman versus how her mere decades-old subjects and retainers do. There's not enough of Beza reckoning with the fact that every single person she knows will likely die way before she does, as I'd expect from a tale about immortality. There is also the fact that most of Beza's backstory comes from her childhood and we get very little information about her hundreds of years of adulthood. In the end the immortality feels a bit too much like a gimmick that's not developed to the extent it could have been. Having a line of immortal queens (and ONLY immortal queens) is a really interesting idea for a world but I didn't understand fully where it comes from or why it's necessary in the world.
Beza's main character arc focuses on her realizing that she's been too callous towards her subjects, and she learns that showing care makes her a stronger queen. It's satisfying and logical, but her realization and shift in attitude felt a tad too sudden. It feels forced and a little fake, and her loyal servants are so quick to accept her apologies that Beza gets to avoid most of the consequences of her centuries of coldness.
I had a couple other issues with the book as well. The pacing is mostly good, but the passage of time isn't formatted well. Time skips happen occasionally within a paragraph and aren't given the attention they deserve. There's an incident where two characters are caught in a plot more easily than they should have been. The narrator is often repetitive, reiterating details that were mentioned just a page or two earlier. Finally, the villain's motives feel underdeveloped and there's a little too much back-and-forth before the true bad guy is finally revealed
But for the final cool things, there's a deaf character who communicates effectively with an interpreter which I thought was really neat (although I myself am not deaf so I can't speak to how well deafness is represented) and there's a sport called GOODBALL. What's not to love?
I had some issues with the immortality aspect. Beza is over 300 years old, which makes for really interesting character dynamics that I don't think were played up as much as they could have been. For one thing, people seem to forget that she is immortal and spend too much time worrying about her safety (they don't know that she is afraid that someone will try to exploit the secret way to kill her). I also think the narrative could have drawn more attention to the fundamental differences in the way Beza sees the world as a centuries-old woman versus how her mere decades-old subjects and retainers do. There's not enough of Beza reckoning with the fact that every single person she knows will likely die way before she does, as I'd expect from a tale about immortality. There is also the fact that most of Beza's backstory comes from her childhood and we get very little information about her hundreds of years of adulthood. In the end the immortality feels a bit too much like a gimmick that's not developed to the extent it could have been. Having a line of immortal queens (and ONLY immortal queens) is a really interesting idea for a world but I didn't understand fully where it comes from or why it's necessary in the world.
Beza's main character arc focuses on her realizing that she's been too callous towards her subjects, and she learns that showing care makes her a stronger queen. It's satisfying and logical, but her realization and shift in attitude felt a tad too sudden. It feels forced and a little fake, and her loyal servants are so quick to accept her apologies that Beza gets to avoid most of the consequences of her centuries of coldness.
I had a couple other issues with the book as well. The pacing is mostly good, but the passage of time isn't formatted well. Time skips happen occasionally within a paragraph and aren't given the attention they deserve. There's an incident where two characters are caught in a plot more easily than they should have been. The narrator is often repetitive, reiterating details that were mentioned just a page or two earlier. Finally, the villain's motives feel underdeveloped and there's a little too much back-and-forth before the true bad guy is finally revealed
But for the final cool things, there's a deaf character who communicates effectively with an interpreter which I thought was really neat (although I myself am not deaf so I can't speak to how well deafness is represented) and there's a sport called GOODBALL. What's not to love?
January 19, 2024
If you're a fan of Samantha Shannon's "Priory of the Orange Tree" and female leads, this book might be up your alley. It's a high fantasy centered around a queen trying to hold her kingdom together while unraveling secrets surrounding her throne and searching for those trying to take her life. In the same way the Queen Sabran from "Priory" has unique expectations and lore surrounding her title, Queen Beza in this book does as well.
Because this is the author's first novel, it has some room to grow as all first novels do.
The world it is set in is not as intricately detailed or easy to picture as a reader might expect of a high fantasy. It seems like there is some deep lore and history to the place where the novel happens, but that lore isn't explained as satisfactorily as we might like. That means it can be hard to get invested in the setting or picture where the characters are, what they're doing, and where they've come from. However, readers who feel bogged down or overwhelmed by the prospect of getting oriented in an unfamiliar setting might appreciate the world's simplicity. It could help keep their focus on the primary plot and characters.
The main character can be hard to root for or enjoy reading. She's pretty cold and arrogant except in rare, out-of-character moments where she demonstrates compassion, which can be jarring and confusing as her character is not consistent. Her internal dialogue is typically dismissive of those around her and justifies her own decisions with selfish reasoning. However, this does seem to be an intentional choice by the author to allow her to grow. She does start to recognize these flaws in herself and desire change, though that change happens rather abruptly and without much cause. It does allow the characters around her to be depicted in certain lights, specifically her love interest. He is to Queen Beza what Mr. Knightley is to Emma Woodhouse. He is able to be honest with her, pointing out her flaws while still standing by her because he knows her potential. Another character it highlights is a little girl training to serve in court. It also makes the queen a different sort of main character than is typically written about.
The prose and plot have their ups and downs. All in all, the author is asking an interesting and creative question: what happens to a person when they have both power and immortality? I think this question has been asked in literature before but always comes to the conclusion that power and immortality corrupt leaders absolutely. This novel wonders if that can be different.
Anybody wanting a high fantasy romance/adventure and to support a new author should think about Queen Immortal.
Because this is the author's first novel, it has some room to grow as all first novels do.
The world it is set in is not as intricately detailed or easy to picture as a reader might expect of a high fantasy. It seems like there is some deep lore and history to the place where the novel happens, but that lore isn't explained as satisfactorily as we might like. That means it can be hard to get invested in the setting or picture where the characters are, what they're doing, and where they've come from. However, readers who feel bogged down or overwhelmed by the prospect of getting oriented in an unfamiliar setting might appreciate the world's simplicity. It could help keep their focus on the primary plot and characters.
The main character can be hard to root for or enjoy reading. She's pretty cold and arrogant except in rare, out-of-character moments where she demonstrates compassion, which can be jarring and confusing as her character is not consistent. Her internal dialogue is typically dismissive of those around her and justifies her own decisions with selfish reasoning. However, this does seem to be an intentional choice by the author to allow her to grow. She does start to recognize these flaws in herself and desire change, though that change happens rather abruptly and without much cause. It does allow the characters around her to be depicted in certain lights, specifically her love interest. He is to Queen Beza what Mr. Knightley is to Emma Woodhouse. He is able to be honest with her, pointing out her flaws while still standing by her because he knows her potential. Another character it highlights is a little girl training to serve in court. It also makes the queen a different sort of main character than is typically written about.
The prose and plot have their ups and downs. All in all, the author is asking an interesting and creative question: what happens to a person when they have both power and immortality? I think this question has been asked in literature before but always comes to the conclusion that power and immortality corrupt leaders absolutely. This novel wonders if that can be different.
Anybody wanting a high fantasy romance/adventure and to support a new author should think about Queen Immortal.
January 21, 2024
From the engaging opening to the very end, this book had me hooked. I thought the prologue was amazing, and then I read the first line—amazing. Every chapter is eventful, so you want to keep reading. This book is also a very easy read. There was a very solid plot line with interesting and realistic characters. I would definitely recommend this book. It included everything I wanted to see: fantasy, romance, mystery.
SPOILER:
Beza is a very interesting character. As I continued to read, she seemed almost tyrannical to me. I think some of the rebellions are justified, and reading her story feels like I’m reading the opposite side of the hero. I wouldn’t say she’s a villain, but she is far from a hero. It’s an interesting viewpoint. I like that we can see the side of someone who is not inherently good in everything that they do. However, her character development was so satisfying to watch.
Beza is not a likeable character. She is afraid, but hides it behind a front of calculated coldness. She wants to hurt others when she is hurting. She feels like she does not deserve what she wants most of all. I think these “unlikable” characteristics make her so much more human. Many times I could relate with her, even if it made me angry that she did certain things (like making Vohar leave after their kiss). I really like how flawed she is, how human she is. Her sarcasm is also hilarious.
One thing I didn’t really like about Beza is that she apparently knew how to fight, but then she never used it? I mean, I like that she never used her skills, but I wish she had never been able to fight at all. She is definitely a strong character, and originally I loved how the novel didn’t equate strong with being able to fight, but then later it seemed to. I would have prefer if she couldn’t fight.
The relationship between Beza and Vohar was so satisfying to watch grow. I love how she kept trying to deny herself feelings for him, but as we read it became very evident that she cannot. We see Beza softest when with Vohar. I believes he brings out the best in her. Their relationship brings me such joy. He’s such a lovely guy.
I’m also really glad that Beza could never have children at the end of the book. I thought Samia would be able to “cure” her, but I’m really glad that didn’t happen. I feel like it would relay inconsiderate messages to people who are infertile.
SPOILER:
Beza is a very interesting character. As I continued to read, she seemed almost tyrannical to me. I think some of the rebellions are justified, and reading her story feels like I’m reading the opposite side of the hero. I wouldn’t say she’s a villain, but she is far from a hero. It’s an interesting viewpoint. I like that we can see the side of someone who is not inherently good in everything that they do. However, her character development was so satisfying to watch.
Beza is not a likeable character. She is afraid, but hides it behind a front of calculated coldness. She wants to hurt others when she is hurting. She feels like she does not deserve what she wants most of all. I think these “unlikable” characteristics make her so much more human. Many times I could relate with her, even if it made me angry that she did certain things (like making Vohar leave after their kiss). I really like how flawed she is, how human she is. Her sarcasm is also hilarious.
One thing I didn’t really like about Beza is that she apparently knew how to fight, but then she never used it? I mean, I like that she never used her skills, but I wish she had never been able to fight at all. She is definitely a strong character, and originally I loved how the novel didn’t equate strong with being able to fight, but then later it seemed to. I would have prefer if she couldn’t fight.
The relationship between Beza and Vohar was so satisfying to watch grow. I love how she kept trying to deny herself feelings for him, but as we read it became very evident that she cannot. We see Beza softest when with Vohar. I believes he brings out the best in her. Their relationship brings me such joy. He’s such a lovely guy.
I’m also really glad that Beza could never have children at the end of the book. I thought Samia would be able to “cure” her, but I’m really glad that didn’t happen. I feel like it would relay inconsiderate messages to people who are infertile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2024
Queen Immortal is about a monarch who has grown to be cold and detached from others due to her long life and her mother's abandonment in her childhood. After an assassination attempt, she is determined to find out who tried to kill her. In this journey, she discovers a deeper plot to overthrow her and unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with her bodyguard.
This story has great potential. I liked the premises and the world created around it. I think it was really interesting the concept of immortal queens and bird shapeshifters. But I didn't like the execution. Firstly, I think the writing style was lacking. I felt like there was a lot of telling, not showing, which frustrated me and it did not help me to connect with the characters. There were times that even the theme of the story was told to me through dialogue and it felt clunky to me. In fact, several dialogues felt unnatural to me and not like what a person would say.
Secondly, the romance was not written well. I didn't feel a build up to Bede and Vohren getting together. It felt a little forced to me because the plot demanded for them to be together, so she can learn her lesson and love again. It didn't feel natural to me. It felt sudden. In addition to that, the fact that he fell for her when he was 7, made their romance feel a little ick. It's such a great gap in years. Maybe if I had bought their romance, I could overlook it... But... as it is, it didn't sit well to me.
Thirdly, Bede's characterization felt a little contradictory. She talks all the time how she's cold and detached from everyone, but from the beginning she seems to be kind to everyone. I didn't really see such a big change from the beginning to the end.
Lastly, even through there were lots of elements I didn't like, I still enjoy the story at times and I'm content that the book had a happy ending.
This story has great potential. I liked the premises and the world created around it. I think it was really interesting the concept of immortal queens and bird shapeshifters. But I didn't like the execution. Firstly, I think the writing style was lacking. I felt like there was a lot of telling, not showing, which frustrated me and it did not help me to connect with the characters. There were times that even the theme of the story was told to me through dialogue and it felt clunky to me. In fact, several dialogues felt unnatural to me and not like what a person would say.
Secondly, the romance was not written well. I didn't feel a build up to Bede and Vohren getting together. It felt a little forced to me because the plot demanded for them to be together, so she can learn her lesson and love again. It didn't feel natural to me. It felt sudden. In addition to that, the fact that he fell for her when he was 7, made their romance feel a little ick. It's such a great gap in years. Maybe if I had bought their romance, I could overlook it... But... as it is, it didn't sit well to me.
Thirdly, Bede's characterization felt a little contradictory. She talks all the time how she's cold and detached from everyone, but from the beginning she seems to be kind to everyone. I didn't really see such a big change from the beginning to the end.
Lastly, even through there were lots of elements I didn't like, I still enjoy the story at times and I'm content that the book had a happy ending.
January 24, 2024
Kaci Morgan’s "Queen Immortal" explores the journey of Beza, the immortal Queen of Mormos, who goes to great lengths to secure her power and status while everything she ever cared for is at stake. I loved the presence of the found family trope that portrayed how the characters from different strata of life come together as a team and look out for each other. Beza’s character was genuine. Though she was immortal, she was flawed. It was easy to hate her at first, but you cannot help but support her when she starts changing for the better. But Change is not a linear process. One could make progress and regress in the same process. The unrealistic part was it was too easy for Beza to change her habits and behaviors after 300 years. It would have been realistic to see some setbacks. Quick transitions in her character and emotions make it difficult for the reader to emote with Beza. Kaci Morgan succeeded in keeping me guessing the whole way throughout the story. Though the genres aren’t related, the mystery element kept reminding me of a classic whodunnit crime novel. I would love to see more of the personal lives of the other characters and why they are in the place where they are. The characters I cannot relate to or understand in any way are Blentif and Gau. How could some people be so vile? It would be solace to know their story, to understand why they turned out this way. What I disliked was the cliffhanger at the end. Don’t
we all deserve some peace after such an adventurous journey? It would have been more helpful if a map was present in the book to picture the setting better. I would rate this book a 3.5/5. I would suggest this book to all fantasy genre fans who love it when their fantasy novel has a touch of Mystery, Magic, and Adventure. Now, all we can do is wait for the future installments of this series.
we all deserve some peace after such an adventurous journey? It would have been more helpful if a map was present in the book to picture the setting better. I would rate this book a 3.5/5. I would suggest this book to all fantasy genre fans who love it when their fantasy novel has a touch of Mystery, Magic, and Adventure. Now, all we can do is wait for the future installments of this series.
January 23, 2024
The main character, Queen Beza, is the strongest point of this novel to me. Kaci Morgan does a great job of writing her as deeply flawed yet still easy to root for; her journey from cold and and disconnected to friendly and more open is really natural and well done. It doesn't happen too quickly, and its believable how and why she begins to change over the course of this first book. In service of this point, Beza's romance subplot is doing important work for her character arc and is also well written.
I also really like how the Book of Queens, an in-world object, ties together worldbuilding, character, and plot. As a device to drive the narrative forward, it is very effective. I'm always really compelled when stories are able to blend together worldbuilding, character, and plot so that you can barely untangle them from each other. So while these 3 pillars aren't so tied that they're un-tangle-able, its the Book of Queens that I see that merges them together the most, which I like.
My one criticism of the book would have to be its pacing. The story starts out slow and simple, without a whole lot happening, and it takes a while for the plot to get rolling. Once it does, however, things happen incredibly fast. I think it works, but it's still a little uneven; if you're interested in the world or characters, then a little bit of patience is in order while the plot builds itself up as well.
Overall, the story isn't anything perspective altering, but it's a solid story for someone looking to read a simple story about immortality and the struggles of balancing a monarch's duty with their personal lives of family and romance. I'll be looking forward to book 2!
I also really like how the Book of Queens, an in-world object, ties together worldbuilding, character, and plot. As a device to drive the narrative forward, it is very effective. I'm always really compelled when stories are able to blend together worldbuilding, character, and plot so that you can barely untangle them from each other. So while these 3 pillars aren't so tied that they're un-tangle-able, its the Book of Queens that I see that merges them together the most, which I like.
My one criticism of the book would have to be its pacing. The story starts out slow and simple, without a whole lot happening, and it takes a while for the plot to get rolling. Once it does, however, things happen incredibly fast. I think it works, but it's still a little uneven; if you're interested in the world or characters, then a little bit of patience is in order while the plot builds itself up as well.
Overall, the story isn't anything perspective altering, but it's a solid story for someone looking to read a simple story about immortality and the struggles of balancing a monarch's duty with their personal lives of family and romance. I'll be looking forward to book 2!
January 28, 2020
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I was very unimpressed with it. The sweet author, for whom I wish nothing but the best, has great amounts of potential. This book, however, does not. The characters felt shallow and inconsistent. Queen Beza seems naturally kind and good-natured, however, she insists she is "cold, hard, and relentless." Rather than this adding depth to her character it added confusion. The storyline was in great need of excitement, more originality, or just something to set it apart from other fantasies. While the descriptions in this book are beautiful, they are included too frequently. The book would have benefited from more details that are unimportant to the storyline being left up to the reader's imagination. These shortcomings, and others, left me feeling detached from the characters and their stories. While I personally felt that this book was in need of complete revision, the writing did occasionally display the author's talent. The content did not come together to create the impressive story I hoped, but individual sentences and paragraphs stood out as eloquently written. The author displayed her beautiful imagination in this story and I hope she intends to keep writing. I feel that, through practice, she could become a very accomplished fantasy writer. I commend her for getting this far in the harsh world of writing and publishing and I will be following her to see where her talent takes her.
December 8, 2024
Plot Development: The plot of Queen Immortal is quite engaging, with an earlier gathering of attempted assassinations against her. Then, later, this event becomes the very platform upon which her immortality goes against her sometimes. During events, she is revealed to possibly have a brother named Zec. Beza has to prepare for war with King Blentif of the Lower Five. With events like these happening, the reader remains in suspense. The appearance of its magical birds of Immlica brings a versatile aspect to the storyline and raises even more questions concerning its angle.
Character Development: Beza just happens to be a lot of different things as a character, from the relatively cold, isolated ruler one moment to completely succumbing to a point where a weird murder-related attempt will be made on her life and throws open serious questions. Then she will undergo emotional upheaval, needing to develop trust with a few new friends, Nila, Zola, and even Vohar. And that's how Beza starts to find her life more like everyone else: learning that people can be more than just employees or subjects, slowly adding a few friends to her collection.
General Story: Queen Immortal captivates the reader with its rendering. Tension-filled, beautifully crafted plot twists, with interesting and intricate characters. The intriguing world of Marmos merges several fantasy and political intrigues. The final paragraph leaves the reader wanting more.
Character Development: Beza just happens to be a lot of different things as a character, from the relatively cold, isolated ruler one moment to completely succumbing to a point where a weird murder-related attempt will be made on her life and throws open serious questions. Then she will undergo emotional upheaval, needing to develop trust with a few new friends, Nila, Zola, and even Vohar. And that's how Beza starts to find her life more like everyone else: learning that people can be more than just employees or subjects, slowly adding a few friends to her collection.
General Story: Queen Immortal captivates the reader with its rendering. Tension-filled, beautifully crafted plot twists, with interesting and intricate characters. The intriguing world of Marmos merges several fantasy and political intrigues. The final paragraph leaves the reader wanting more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2024
This book was intriguing, but it did not hold my attention very well. I enjoyed the world building and the aspects surrounding immortality. I also appreciated the character development of the main character, Beza. The romance between Beza and Vohar, while straightforward, was still very sweet.
With all that said, the story was difficult to get into, and I struggled connecting with the characters. It definitely felt like a one woman show at times as most of the secondary characters felt flat, probably because Beza only had surface level relationships with them.
As for Beza herself: while she had a unique narrative voice, her judgmental attitude towards others, the bluntness of her words, her cynical view of the world, and general arrogance made it extremely difficult to like her for most of the novel. Toward the end when she opened up and chose kindness, I started to enjoy reading from her perspective, but I don’t like how long I had to wait. I usually love flawed characters, but I could not get past many of Beza’s flaws.
Finally, there were some small inconsistencies throughout the novel where I found myself suspending disbelief. Characters actions didn’t always feel realistic to the situation.
Overall, I didn’t hate this book. It was still interesting enough for me to read all the way through. However, I ended up not enjoying it as much as I hoped and probably won’t read it again.
With all that said, the story was difficult to get into, and I struggled connecting with the characters. It definitely felt like a one woman show at times as most of the secondary characters felt flat, probably because Beza only had surface level relationships with them.
As for Beza herself: while she had a unique narrative voice, her judgmental attitude towards others, the bluntness of her words, her cynical view of the world, and general arrogance made it extremely difficult to like her for most of the novel. Toward the end when she opened up and chose kindness, I started to enjoy reading from her perspective, but I don’t like how long I had to wait. I usually love flawed characters, but I could not get past many of Beza’s flaws.
Finally, there were some small inconsistencies throughout the novel where I found myself suspending disbelief. Characters actions didn’t always feel realistic to the situation.
Overall, I didn’t hate this book. It was still interesting enough for me to read all the way through. However, I ended up not enjoying it as much as I hoped and probably won’t read it again.
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January 22, 2024I usually enjoy books narrated in the first person but, when it comes to this type of fantasy, a third-person narrator worked perfectly. The descriptions of places and people were better because of it. More than this, I believe that this choice contributed to the fact that the characters are well developed and the fantasy world itself is well constructed.
As for the plot, it is quite interesting how the book already begins with vivid imagery, from the very first scene you can understand the pace of the narrative. Each chapter starts in a very engaging way. However, there are some paragraphs in the middle where the storyline slows down a bit. But, it is compensated by quite an eventful ending.
My favorite part of the fantasy is the fact that it is centered around a word puzzle – “Nights are dark, and days are long, but the hawk sees all when he sings his song.” It makes room for imagination and, at different points during the book, you get to discover a bit more of what it truly means.
Of course, I also enjoyed the whole relationship dynamic of Vohar with Beza, it is definitely a slow burn but the reader can sense that something will eventually happen. Clean and smooth chemistry at its finest.
Lastly, the cliffhanger at the end was ideal and does a nice job on keeping the reader on edge for the next book. Quite excited to read the next one!
As for the plot, it is quite interesting how the book already begins with vivid imagery, from the very first scene you can understand the pace of the narrative. Each chapter starts in a very engaging way. However, there are some paragraphs in the middle where the storyline slows down a bit. But, it is compensated by quite an eventful ending.
My favorite part of the fantasy is the fact that it is centered around a word puzzle – “Nights are dark, and days are long, but the hawk sees all when he sings his song.” It makes room for imagination and, at different points during the book, you get to discover a bit more of what it truly means.
Of course, I also enjoyed the whole relationship dynamic of Vohar with Beza, it is definitely a slow burn but the reader can sense that something will eventually happen. Clean and smooth chemistry at its finest.
Lastly, the cliffhanger at the end was ideal and does a nice job on keeping the reader on edge for the next book. Quite excited to read the next one!
December 9, 2024
Queen Immortal, a new adult fantasy read following Queen Beza as she uncovers the plans to thwart her reign, has its good and bad qualities. The plot is interesting enough to keep readers engaged, and Queen Beza does experience some significant character growth, evolving from a cold-hearted ruler into a loving wife, aunt, sister, and queen. The story is action-packed, and the mystery involved as the queen attempts to learn who tried to assassinate her - and who he is working for - keeps readers on their toes. Unfortunately, the queen is just too unlikable to follow through the first 50-75% of the novel. She’s cold, manipulative, and prideful, pushing away the one person who truly loves her in order to keep a centuries-old secret. She does learn to love her citizens and servants by the end of the novel, but it’s difficult to get there.
Once you do reach the novel, the plot twists are unending. While I can appreciate a good plot twist here and there, it felt too much like the author was trying to give Queen Beza the perfect happy ending with her entire family and manipulated the plot to do so. I would have found it more interesting had a few of these twists not happened and the “perfect” happy ending had also involved some form of tragic loss to get there.
Once you do reach the novel, the plot twists are unending. While I can appreciate a good plot twist here and there, it felt too much like the author was trying to give Queen Beza the perfect happy ending with her entire family and manipulated the plot to do so. I would have found it more interesting had a few of these twists not happened and the “perfect” happy ending had also involved some form of tragic loss to get there.
August 5, 2024
This book will definitely go in the favorites pile! I love reading about anti-heroes like Beza. This book somewhat reminded me of The Young Elites series by Marie Lu - where the main character Adelina went through so much pain and suffering it shaped her into who she was [but is also an anti-hero I loved to read about!] These types of characters who are morally gray are always my favorite; not quite a villain, but not quite a hero. There is always something to learn from these types of characters. One lesson Beza reminded me of is that we are all flawed - it makes us human - but we are always changing as well as capable of change. We all deserve to be loved, including Beza.
The story was a bit slow to start at the beginning, but once it found its rhythm, I found myself turning page after page wanting more. I usually hate cliffhangers at the end of a book when it is part of a series, especially if the next book is not out yet, but Queen Immortal had me rooting for Queen Beza so much that I don't mind it at all. I look forward to the sequel and give this book a 3.5 star rating (rounded up to 4 because, well, goodreads).
The story was a bit slow to start at the beginning, but once it found its rhythm, I found myself turning page after page wanting more. I usually hate cliffhangers at the end of a book when it is part of a series, especially if the next book is not out yet, but Queen Immortal had me rooting for Queen Beza so much that I don't mind it at all. I look forward to the sequel and give this book a 3.5 star rating (rounded up to 4 because, well, goodreads).
December 7, 2024
Queen Immortal by Traci E. Hall is an evocative journey through history and imagination. As someone deeply connected to creative storytelling and language, I found this book to be an immersive exploration of power, identity, and the ever-changing roles of women in history.
Hall's writing vividly paints a world where myth intertwines with the struggles of mortality and divinity. The protagonist's strength and resilience resonated with me, especially as a woman navigating her own ambitions and challenges. The pacing was steady, though some parts felt slightly drawn out; however, the rich characterisation and poetic prose more than made up for it.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy historical fantasy with a touch of feminist undertones. As an English and Creative Writing enthusiast, I especially appreciated Hall's ability to weave narrative threads that felt both mythical and deeply human. It reminded me that stories—whether historical or fantastical—have the power to shape perspectives and connect us across time.
Would recommend this to anyone looking for a reflective yet enthralling read!
Hall's writing vividly paints a world where myth intertwines with the struggles of mortality and divinity. The protagonist's strength and resilience resonated with me, especially as a woman navigating her own ambitions and challenges. The pacing was steady, though some parts felt slightly drawn out; however, the rich characterisation and poetic prose more than made up for it.
This book is perfect for readers who enjoy historical fantasy with a touch of feminist undertones. As an English and Creative Writing enthusiast, I especially appreciated Hall's ability to weave narrative threads that felt both mythical and deeply human. It reminded me that stories—whether historical or fantastical—have the power to shape perspectives and connect us across time.
Would recommend this to anyone looking for a reflective yet enthralling read!
January 21, 2024
I had no expectations when I picked up this book, but soon found myself intrigued by the story of the immortal Queen Beza. She is not just good, nor bad - she's human. She often puts her duty before herself/her feelings and is always trying to do right by her citizens. After she becomes a victim of an intended assassination, she needs to determine who tried to kill her and, of course, who she can trust.
I liked the idea of a rule of immortal queens. The world is nicely built and the plot moves with a good pace, so that the readers don’t get bored. The mystery (with multiple suspects) and drama that surrounds the main character easily draw the reader deeper into the story.
The only reason that the review is not 5 stars is that certain shifts in Beza’s attitude felt a bit too sudden. At the same time, other characters accepted those changes without question, with no consequences for the Queen.
Overall, I enjoyed the book very much! I’ll be definitely checking the next part of Queen Beza’s story. I recommend “Queen Immortal” to anyone looking for something new and interesting!
I liked the idea of a rule of immortal queens. The world is nicely built and the plot moves with a good pace, so that the readers don’t get bored. The mystery (with multiple suspects) and drama that surrounds the main character easily draw the reader deeper into the story.
The only reason that the review is not 5 stars is that certain shifts in Beza’s attitude felt a bit too sudden. At the same time, other characters accepted those changes without question, with no consequences for the Queen.
Overall, I enjoyed the book very much! I’ll be definitely checking the next part of Queen Beza’s story. I recommend “Queen Immortal” to anyone looking for something new and interesting!
August 4, 2024
Queen Immortal is a fascinating read with a very unique plotline. Morgan is able to blend several different genres into one successfully and without force. Overall Queen Immortal is an easy read, however, at points, it felt like the writing itself was causing issues with the plot and characterizations. Reading characters through their actions is a lot more convincing than through direct explanation. I did enjoy Beza's character and her growth throughout the novel, however I had a hard time with the romance. The romance itself was well written and it was integral to her character growth, however, I feel like an even more unique approach for a YA novel that would have been more hard-hitting would be a greater emphasis on friendship or the close bonds of female friendships (which were present but I felt were lacking). Overall I find this novel worth the read, and genuinely did enjoy the ending. Definitely would recommend it if you're looking for something not too intimidating in size or content. Overall, really enjoyed this novel.
April 26, 2024
Queen Immortal is a spellbinding fantasy that takes us on a journey into the mysterious world of Queen Beza. A formidable and unyielding immortal whose life takes a shocking twist after secrets long buried resurface, challenging Beza’s reality and changing her perception about her own identity. The battle between one’s want and need is explored through Beza, making Beza a complex yet relatable character. The plot is layered with complexities that lend themselves to characterization of Beza and those around her. Additionally, Beza’s character explores the lengths a woman has to go to secure status and power, which parallels the struggle of woman in the real world, making her a character readers could empathize with. Having said that, I personally would have loved if the world was established more as it fell short compared to the other elements. I would definitely recommend this book to beginners who wish to get lost in the world of fantasy and romance.
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July 31, 2024This book blends genres of fantasy, adventure, romance, and mystery together in its' action-fueled plot. Beza is a monarch sitting on countless secrets, her character is established as cold and difficult to like but she undergoes notable character development. Morgan created a variety of complex characters and each new character furthered the plot or other characters in an intentional way. As Beza's rule is threatened, she must lean on the few that she trusts to help her discern who is delivering the threats and how to proceed. She realizes that her harsh persona that she presents to others may not have achieved what she had hoped for, and ultimately decides to lean into the softer side of her personality as she begins to realize that there are other ways to rule. Themes of duty, family, trust, and the value in a community are present throughout this book. Morgan wrote a fantastical adventure/ mystery that focused on both the physical and personal journey of Beza.
December 8, 2024
Overall, I enjoyed this book—a sort of cookie-cutter fantasy kept engaging by little twists here and there in the back half. I found it a bit difficult in the first third or so of Queen Immortal to maintain interest, and I think that was because it was missing some introductory world-building. It opens in compelling action, but there were questions built up from beginning to end that were not answered, and would have made the story richer if context were given (i.e., the land of Galentha, the Book of Queens). I enjoyed the progression of Vohar & Beza's romance; it was sweet and situated with just the right amount of restraint. And the use of dynamics between Beza and her hand maids to show Beza's character arc to opening her heart was well done. Besides the little things that built up, I enjoyed reading this book and found the plot and its twists compelling!
December 10, 2024
This book has an interesting premise that is poorly executed. The protagonist, Beza, is not particularly interesting. Certain elements of character and plot development are easily predictable from the first few pages. Additionally, the author does not do a good job of explaining the context behind Beza’s current circumstances. We don’t get to learn that much about the rules of this world or the history leading up to the present timeline. I didn’t really feel much sympathy for Beza because she seemed extremely privileged. Her behavior would make more sense if her backstory contained something more traumatic than her mother leaving for what seems like a ritual that has taken place for a very long time and that should have been explained to her long before it happened. Overall, this story is not bad, but poorly thought-out and a bit boring.
February 6, 2019
I simply did not like this book. Fantasy is one of my least favorite genres. So I went into it with low expectations.... I enjoy reading and learning about things that did or could really happen. Things I can relate to. Having said that, I have read some fantasy that I really actually liked and learned some things. So I gave it a chance. I'm glad it was a good ending but I definitely will not be reading the 2nd in the series.
I finished the audio book because it's Madeline's bookclub choice and the local author will be attending. I'm confident I will like her more than I do her heroine. :) And it's always interesting to listen to authors.
I finished the audio book because it's Madeline's bookclub choice and the local author will be attending. I'm confident I will like her more than I do her heroine. :) And it's always interesting to listen to authors.
August 6, 2024
3.5 stars!
Queen Immortal is a solid fantasy surrounding an immortal queen and her struggles of being in charge. My biggest complaint is that this novel felt slow-starting for me, and it took a good 75 pages before I found myself genuinely immersed in the plot. I expected more front-loaded world-building with interesting aspects like immortality and shapeshifting, but once it was established, I did enjoy Beza's reality.
Overall, I just wanted a little more from a piece with so much fantasy potential!
I had no issues with the plot itself--given my 3.5 stars--and I felt satisfied with the ending. I would definitely read more about Queen Beza!
Queen Immortal is a solid fantasy surrounding an immortal queen and her struggles of being in charge. My biggest complaint is that this novel felt slow-starting for me, and it took a good 75 pages before I found myself genuinely immersed in the plot. I expected more front-loaded world-building with interesting aspects like immortality and shapeshifting, but once it was established, I did enjoy Beza's reality.
Overall, I just wanted a little more from a piece with so much fantasy potential!
I had no issues with the plot itself--given my 3.5 stars--and I felt satisfied with the ending. I would definitely read more about Queen Beza!
December 8, 2024
This book didn’t quite resonate with me as much as I had hoped. Though there is undeniable potential.
I found the protagonist a bit underwhelming, and the world-building didn’t feel as developed as I would have liked. Additionally, the writing style didn’t quite match my expectations. The dialogue often felt unnatural, with characters speaking in ways that didn’t always align with their age or personality, making it harder for me to connect with them and the narrative.
While this story may appeal to some, and although I found some elements interesting enough to read to the end, it wasn’t quite the experience I was hoping for.
I found the protagonist a bit underwhelming, and the world-building didn’t feel as developed as I would have liked. Additionally, the writing style didn’t quite match my expectations. The dialogue often felt unnatural, with characters speaking in ways that didn’t always align with their age or personality, making it harder for me to connect with them and the narrative.
While this story may appeal to some, and although I found some elements interesting enough to read to the end, it wasn’t quite the experience I was hoping for.
August 4, 2024
This book was so good! It had me hooked from the very beginning! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, wanting to know what would happen next! The beginning was so strong and got me hooked from the very first sentence! The characters were so well developed and were gradually changing throughout the book. I also love the mystery elements that stayed consistent throughout the story and the surprise plot twists that started happening near the end! Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It’s so well written and it’s definitely a must-read!
December 8, 2024
I very much enjoyed my time with Queen Immortal and the characters that Kaci Morgan was able to craft. There are often characters in fantasy that have lived for an unfathomable amount of time with their characterization being reflected by that fact. However, Morgan does an exceptional job of putting the reader in the headspace of one of those types of characters with Queen Beza who is equally mysterious as she is fun to follow. I highly recommend Queen Immortal for fans of fantasy, romance, as well as all around good character work. A very fun read from start to finish!
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December 9, 2024Queen Immortal follows Beza, an immortal Queen who suddenly discovers a mysterious plot against her life and a brother she never knew existed. I really enjoyed the idea of immortal royalty, it is such a unique concept. I do wish that there was more action in the story, as it was a little slow for a fantasy book. The world building was also a little lacking, and I wish the political aspect of the story had been more exciting. I did like the romance between Beza and her love interest, and I liked how she struggled between focusing on her duties as Queen, and her feelings for Vohar.
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