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Izabella
Love, betrayal, and the fate of a kingdom hang in the balance.
Queen Izabella must put aside her heart and marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom to secure an army for her people. But fate has other plans when a past love, James Inglewood, resurfaces in her life.
As a dark enemy threatens her beloved kingdom, Izabella must navigate treacherous politics and a potential traitor in her midst. With fear and doubt clouding her heart, she clings to her faith in God to see her through. But will her kingdom survive the darkness, and can she trust the man she has chosen to be her husband?
Fans of historical fantasy and political intrigue will be captivated by this thrilling tale of love and duty.
⚠Content Warnings⚠
none
none
war/violence, SA, drinking/drunkenness, death of parents, miscarriage, racial tension, sexism, depression [none of these are graphic or glorifying what is happening, but they are present and part of the plot].
Queen Izabella must put aside her heart and marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom to secure an army for her people. But fate has other plans when a past love, James Inglewood, resurfaces in her life.
As a dark enemy threatens her beloved kingdom, Izabella must navigate treacherous politics and a potential traitor in her midst. With fear and doubt clouding her heart, she clings to her faith in God to see her through. But will her kingdom survive the darkness, and can she trust the man she has chosen to be her husband?
Fans of historical fantasy and political intrigue will be captivated by this thrilling tale of love and duty.
⚠Content Warnings⚠
none
none
war/violence, SA, drinking/drunkenness, death of parents, miscarriage, racial tension, sexism, depression [none of these are graphic or glorifying what is happening, but they are present and part of the plot].
373 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2024
7 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 13, 2024
O MY GOODNESS!! Ladies and gentleman… may I introduce you to this beautiful masterpiece ”Izabella”.
I could literally feel the aesthetic oozing out of the book
*chef kiss👌🏽
For this first book of the soon-to-be trilogy the writing was full of suspense and cuteness. One of my favorite parts were all the little Spanish words. Because this book was set in medieval Spain. It was just beautiful.
👑🗡️☕️Starting off the main character, Izabella. My favorite part about her was her devotion to God through all the trials and difficulties in her life. I love her personality. She is a tomboy through and through, but also a proper lady. ☺️🤭
⚔️🐎💗 Wow James, where do I start! He is the definition of a ruggedly handsome gentleman. James’s personality and his status are amazing. He might even be my favorite character. I can’t choose!! His backstory ,well… Your in for a treat. 🥺
The amount of moral lessons you learn in this book are astounding. Faith to God, even when your life is turned upside down. Being loyal to your friends and the ones you love. And overall the importance of friendship.
💙I wholeheartedly recommended this book. 💙
I could literally feel the aesthetic oozing out of the book
*chef kiss👌🏽
For this first book of the soon-to-be trilogy the writing was full of suspense and cuteness. One of my favorite parts were all the little Spanish words. Because this book was set in medieval Spain. It was just beautiful.
👑🗡️☕️Starting off the main character, Izabella. My favorite part about her was her devotion to God through all the trials and difficulties in her life. I love her personality. She is a tomboy through and through, but also a proper lady. ☺️🤭
⚔️🐎💗 Wow James, where do I start! He is the definition of a ruggedly handsome gentleman. James’s personality and his status are amazing. He might even be my favorite character. I can’t choose!! His backstory ,well… Your in for a treat. 🥺
The amount of moral lessons you learn in this book are astounding. Faith to God, even when your life is turned upside down. Being loyal to your friends and the ones you love. And overall the importance of friendship.
💙I wholeheartedly recommended this book. 💙
July 31, 2025
Izabella is a story of a queen whose first love ran away after her father was killed. He appears a few years later and she falls in love with him again.
I really enjoyed the faith aspects of this story-the characters attempt to follow God and seek his will in their decisions. They pray and ask for peace in their lives. I found the world building to be a little lacking. This is a historical fantasy, but there weren’t many historical or fantasy elements or descriptions. I also didn’t like the rape as part of the plot at the end.
I really enjoyed the faith aspects of this story-the characters attempt to follow God and seek his will in their decisions. They pray and ask for peace in their lives. I found the world building to be a little lacking. This is a historical fantasy, but there weren’t many historical or fantasy elements or descriptions. I also didn’t like the rape as part of the plot at the end.
October 2, 2024
Thank you to the author for this #gifted book!*
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: Izabella
Author: Melissa Miyoko Scott
Genre: Christian Fantasy Historical
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “We are either all human beings, crafted by the hand of God, or we are as the dust of the earth, not worth anyone’s time!” Izabella, the reina of Aragon, is betrothed to the prince of Catalan in a political marriage that will be advantageous for both kingdoms. But when she is called to meet the king of Catalan, a man whom she thought was long gone reappears as Catalan’s renowned general. General James Inglewood has been living a secret for many years—his past remains unknown to his king. But he’s not the only one with secrets. As Izabella and James are faced with their history, both are faced with the choice to overcome the darkness of their pasts and their presents. Secrets are uncovered, and the future is threatened—not just for their kingdoms but also for their lives.
Analysis: Have you ever picked up a YA book and realized quickly that it actually isn’t YA friendly? Well, I have wonderful news for you! This book is NOT that! Melissa fills a much needed space for teens with this beautiful, intriguing story of hardship, resilience, and the faithfulness of God. In Izabella, you’ll find a fantasy world with beautiful imagery and historical inspiration. As far as characters go, you get a wonderful multicultural group! You have a strong female lead and a heroic manly love interest. The supporting characters are some of my favorites! Looking at you Xavier 👀 The battles are intense, and the struggles are real. But Melissa handles all of these with grace and an open door for discussion from a biblical worldview. I loved that while it is a teen-appropriate read, it’s still fun for adults too 😉 If you’re looking for your next fantasy novel, be sure to pick this one up! I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my shelves!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: Izabella
Author: Melissa Miyoko Scott
Genre: Christian Fantasy Historical
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “We are either all human beings, crafted by the hand of God, or we are as the dust of the earth, not worth anyone’s time!” Izabella, the reina of Aragon, is betrothed to the prince of Catalan in a political marriage that will be advantageous for both kingdoms. But when she is called to meet the king of Catalan, a man whom she thought was long gone reappears as Catalan’s renowned general. General James Inglewood has been living a secret for many years—his past remains unknown to his king. But he’s not the only one with secrets. As Izabella and James are faced with their history, both are faced with the choice to overcome the darkness of their pasts and their presents. Secrets are uncovered, and the future is threatened—not just for their kingdoms but also for their lives.
Analysis: Have you ever picked up a YA book and realized quickly that it actually isn’t YA friendly? Well, I have wonderful news for you! This book is NOT that! Melissa fills a much needed space for teens with this beautiful, intriguing story of hardship, resilience, and the faithfulness of God. In Izabella, you’ll find a fantasy world with beautiful imagery and historical inspiration. As far as characters go, you get a wonderful multicultural group! You have a strong female lead and a heroic manly love interest. The supporting characters are some of my favorites! Looking at you Xavier 👀 The battles are intense, and the struggles are real. But Melissa handles all of these with grace and an open door for discussion from a biblical worldview. I loved that while it is a teen-appropriate read, it’s still fun for adults too 😉 If you’re looking for your next fantasy novel, be sure to pick this one up! I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my shelves!
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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June 9, 2025I've chosen to skip a star rating for this book because while I LOVED 80% of it, the last 20% left me with some concerns... But before we get into that I've got to rave about all the GOOD things this story has going for it.
(NOTE: There will be spoilers at the bottom of this review).
|| The first 80% ||
The author repeatedly subverted my expectations in the best way possible! "Ugh, is this argument gonna be a miscommunication that lasts the whole story?" Nope! resolved with honest, meaningful conversations. "Oh boy, this prince guy she's engaged to is probably just a jerk so we don't feel bad about her loving someone else." Psych again! 👀 He's a complex character who gets treated as multidimensional and capable of change! These are just a couple examples, but the story was so refreshing, genuine, and heartfelt, and I was pleasantly surprised by all these little twists.
I loved all the characters, but Izabella has my whole heart. Melissa managed to write a girl boss character who isn't the least but stereotyped or overpowered. I felt her struggles and triumphs, her fears and her faith equally. She is passionate and fierce, but kind and wise too. The way she faces her fears head on, clings to her God and her friends, and overcomes one challenge after another is inspiring and endearing.
The second chance romance was complex, but sweet. James is such a green flag man and I loved the way they navigated their high stakes relationship with respect and patience. I ship it 🥰 Also, battle couple trope anyone??? 😍
The faith elements are subtle and beautifully incorporated, touching on such deep themes as keeping our faith through pain and hardship, and loving and forgiving our enemies. And the battle scenes are vivid and action packed without being overly gruesome.
With all this to love, I really hate to add any negatives, but I think it's important to note because it blindsided and upset me...
|| The last 20% and SPOILERS AHEAD ||
The inclusion of an off-page sexual assault deeply upset me (as, of course, these kids of things should), but I do believe such tragedies have their place in Christian fiction. These things really happen and can't be buried or considered off limits to writers of faith because this only creates more stigma and shame.
That being said, I was completely taken off guard by its presence in this story, and felt the characters surrounding the assaulted character responded poorly, trying to manipulate the assaulted's choices rather than offer her as much space to heal as she needed. The aftermath felt somewhat rushed, as if the assault was a plot point rather than a life-changing tragedy.
But After seeing how much care and heart the author has put into the rest of the story, I'm sure she didn't include this lightly or without thorough thought. Though the initial attack is described, the rest is off-page and alluded to only in the most tactful ways...
Truly, what frustrated me most was how little time she was given to recover and how badly her supposed friends handled the situation. I would have appreciated a trigger warning somewhere too.
With all this being said, the story was still a very enjoyable read and the characters will live in my heart for many months to come.
(NOTE: There will be spoilers at the bottom of this review).
|| The first 80% ||
The author repeatedly subverted my expectations in the best way possible! "Ugh, is this argument gonna be a miscommunication that lasts the whole story?" Nope! resolved with honest, meaningful conversations. "Oh boy, this prince guy she's engaged to is probably just a jerk so we don't feel bad about her loving someone else." Psych again! 👀 He's a complex character who gets treated as multidimensional and capable of change! These are just a couple examples, but the story was so refreshing, genuine, and heartfelt, and I was pleasantly surprised by all these little twists.
I loved all the characters, but Izabella has my whole heart. Melissa managed to write a girl boss character who isn't the least but stereotyped or overpowered. I felt her struggles and triumphs, her fears and her faith equally. She is passionate and fierce, but kind and wise too. The way she faces her fears head on, clings to her God and her friends, and overcomes one challenge after another is inspiring and endearing.
The second chance romance was complex, but sweet. James is such a green flag man and I loved the way they navigated their high stakes relationship with respect and patience. I ship it 🥰 Also, battle couple trope anyone??? 😍
The faith elements are subtle and beautifully incorporated, touching on such deep themes as keeping our faith through pain and hardship, and loving and forgiving our enemies. And the battle scenes are vivid and action packed without being overly gruesome.
With all this to love, I really hate to add any negatives, but I think it's important to note because it blindsided and upset me...
|| The last 20% and SPOILERS AHEAD ||
The inclusion of an off-page sexual assault deeply upset me (as, of course, these kids of things should), but I do believe such tragedies have their place in Christian fiction. These things really happen and can't be buried or considered off limits to writers of faith because this only creates more stigma and shame.
That being said, I was completely taken off guard by its presence in this story, and felt the characters surrounding the assaulted character responded poorly, trying to manipulate the assaulted's choices rather than offer her as much space to heal as she needed. The aftermath felt somewhat rushed, as if the assault was a plot point rather than a life-changing tragedy.
But After seeing how much care and heart the author has put into the rest of the story, I'm sure she didn't include this lightly or without thorough thought. Though the initial attack is described, the rest is off-page and alluded to only in the most tactful ways...
Truly, what frustrated me most was how little time she was given to recover and how badly her supposed friends handled the situation. I would have appreciated a trigger warning somewhere too.
With all this being said, the story was still a very enjoyable read and the characters will live in my heart for many months to come.
November 26, 2024
“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘴? 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳.”
Absolutely fell in love with this debut novel and the first in a Trilogy of books! Clean and wholesome yet gripping, it kept me wanting to keep reading till the end!
Loved how the author weaves her faith throughout the story. Her theme of always turning our hearts back to our Heavenly Father is seen on every page.
What really kept me intrigued were the beautiful words and descriptions used to introduce the setting and time period. I could smell the flowers, feel the softness or roughness of the clothes, taste the food and pastries, see the mountains, and feel the pain and sorrow of the different characters.
This is what makes or breaks a good reading experience for me. I don’t want to be told what to feel or experience, I want to experience and feel it myself.
I’m excited to continue on this journey and see what happens to each character and meet new ones! What is in store of Queen Izabella and her kingdom?
“𝘐𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.“
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴.“
💬*𝙈𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.*
💬𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
Absolutely fell in love with this debut novel and the first in a Trilogy of books! Clean and wholesome yet gripping, it kept me wanting to keep reading till the end!
Loved how the author weaves her faith throughout the story. Her theme of always turning our hearts back to our Heavenly Father is seen on every page.
What really kept me intrigued were the beautiful words and descriptions used to introduce the setting and time period. I could smell the flowers, feel the softness or roughness of the clothes, taste the food and pastries, see the mountains, and feel the pain and sorrow of the different characters.
This is what makes or breaks a good reading experience for me. I don’t want to be told what to feel or experience, I want to experience and feel it myself.
I’m excited to continue on this journey and see what happens to each character and meet new ones! What is in store of Queen Izabella and her kingdom?
“𝘐𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.“
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴.“
💬*𝙈𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.*
💬𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵:𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴/
November 25, 2024
Melissa Miyoko Scott introduces a nonmagic historical fantasy world in Izabella, inspired by an Aragon of days gone by during a time in which many peoples coexisted to some degree. The first few chapters of Izabella drew me right in. I grasped the personalities and relationship dynamics immediately. And yet, I kept guessing whose character shines true and who may be crossing the line. This was one of my favorite aspects of the story!
Another highlight was the prominence of a young married couple who is close friends with the main characters. I loved the glimpses into their relationship as well as their steadfast love and counsel. Izabella herself is a beautiful example of a strong woman willing to sacrifice her own desires for her people while not always getting things right or coming out on top (read: not unrealistically powerful). Her growth and journey are far from over at the end of this tale, and I can't wait to see her continue to heal and strengthen herself and her people.
There were a few times where I struggled to follow the progression of a conversation or scene, unsure if I missed something or was supposed to find out later. Admittedly, I would probably have scrunched my forehead for a second and moved on if I had been reading through audio as I usually do, but it's easy to stop and flip back when reading an ebook! Speaking of audio, I hope this series has an audiobook one day, because I would love to hear the different accents of the blended cultures featured in Scott's world.
Faith, friendship, and facing hardship are at the forefront of this debut tale of battles, politics, and finding justice. Yes, there is romance, but it falls more in the margins of the grander picture of nations at the brink of war. With an abundance of loveable side characters, there is so much to speculate as we await the next book in this series!
*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.*
Another highlight was the prominence of a young married couple who is close friends with the main characters. I loved the glimpses into their relationship as well as their steadfast love and counsel. Izabella herself is a beautiful example of a strong woman willing to sacrifice her own desires for her people while not always getting things right or coming out on top (read: not unrealistically powerful). Her growth and journey are far from over at the end of this tale, and I can't wait to see her continue to heal and strengthen herself and her people.
There were a few times where I struggled to follow the progression of a conversation or scene, unsure if I missed something or was supposed to find out later. Admittedly, I would probably have scrunched my forehead for a second and moved on if I had been reading through audio as I usually do, but it's easy to stop and flip back when reading an ebook! Speaking of audio, I hope this series has an audiobook one day, because I would love to hear the different accents of the blended cultures featured in Scott's world.
Faith, friendship, and facing hardship are at the forefront of this debut tale of battles, politics, and finding justice. Yes, there is romance, but it falls more in the margins of the grander picture of nations at the brink of war. With an abundance of loveable side characters, there is so much to speculate as we await the next book in this series!
*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.*
November 21, 2024
I love Izabella for so many reasons:
- the author is a real-life friend and I know that what she writes is coming from a beautiful soul!
- this story is clean, but that doesn't mean it shies away from HARD topics. Izabella discusses rocky parent-child relationships, miscarriages/infertility, and more
- The mix of languages and cultures!! Melissa said in an author talk that she wanted to show the blend of peoples like how it is in Hawai'i and I love that!!
- I'm so proud that this is Melissa's self-published debut! She did an amazing job on the formatting, design, and her daughter's cover and chapter heading artwork is beautiful
- the author is a real-life friend and I know that what she writes is coming from a beautiful soul!
- this story is clean, but that doesn't mean it shies away from HARD topics. Izabella discusses rocky parent-child relationships, miscarriages/infertility, and more
- The mix of languages and cultures!! Melissa said in an author talk that she wanted to show the blend of peoples like how it is in Hawai'i and I love that!!
- I'm so proud that this is Melissa's self-published debut! She did an amazing job on the formatting, design, and her daughter's cover and chapter heading artwork is beautiful
September 22, 2024
I just turned off my Kindle after finishing Melissa’s Izabella. It was a beautiful, gripping story. From the moment Izabella picked up her sword, I was hooked.
Melissa’s book has a mix of action and romance, but it also touches on some of the darker aspects of life. Through it all, she weaves in the power of God’s grace.
One of my favorite things about her narrative is her ability to stir both doubt and hope in the reader. It drives you to keep turning pages, desperate to see if the characters you think are heroes are truly the good guys.
Here is a quote I loved:
“I have no guarantees that everyone I love will be happy and healthy. God does not promise us that. But I must rely on His word, for that is the only thing that has not changed throughout the centuries. His Word stands secure. God does not lie. He promises us good.”
Such a fun, exciting, and powerful read! I definitely recommend.
Melissa’s book has a mix of action and romance, but it also touches on some of the darker aspects of life. Through it all, she weaves in the power of God’s grace.
One of my favorite things about her narrative is her ability to stir both doubt and hope in the reader. It drives you to keep turning pages, desperate to see if the characters you think are heroes are truly the good guys.
Here is a quote I loved:
“I have no guarantees that everyone I love will be happy and healthy. God does not promise us that. But I must rely on His word, for that is the only thing that has not changed throughout the centuries. His Word stands secure. God does not lie. He promises us good.”
Such a fun, exciting, and powerful read! I definitely recommend.
May 10, 2026
The country of Aragon is at war and Queen Izabella must lead her people well, and that means she must marry a prince to secure Aragon’s peace. It’s a very inconvenient time for the lost love of her life to make a return! We live in a materialistic world of entitlement and idleness, but this author created a world where queens have integrity and fight bravely in battles of war and of love.
The setting of Izabella and the descriptions of the food and clothes were all rich in detail, but the characters were what makes this a memorable book me. Izabella is feminine yet fierce. She has godliness and grit! Nathan and Hanna are also favorites of mine, and of course James.
I felt like I knew where the story was going, but I didn’t and I love an unpredictable tale! As far as mature content goes, this is a young adult book you can actually allow your young adults to read— but beware that it’s not sterilized of mature difficulties. Reading about how a heroine overcomes insurmountable odds helps us visualize how we can do it too.
The Queen overcomes some sad things indeed, but her love for God buoys her and makes this an inspiring tale for teens as well as adults.
The setting of Izabella and the descriptions of the food and clothes were all rich in detail, but the characters were what makes this a memorable book me. Izabella is feminine yet fierce. She has godliness and grit! Nathan and Hanna are also favorites of mine, and of course James.
I felt like I knew where the story was going, but I didn’t and I love an unpredictable tale! As far as mature content goes, this is a young adult book you can actually allow your young adults to read— but beware that it’s not sterilized of mature difficulties. Reading about how a heroine overcomes insurmountable odds helps us visualize how we can do it too.
The Queen overcomes some sad things indeed, but her love for God buoys her and makes this an inspiring tale for teens as well as adults.
October 22, 2024
I hesitated as to whether or not to post a review as I think the author is a lovely person and the intention behind this book is beautiful. However, I also know that I personally want honest reviews when looking up information about a book, and that compelled me to write a few words. Yes, I know that ARCs tend to be riddled with errors and things that might still be changed before final publication. However, this was very hard to get through. There were no transitions. There was no diversity of phrasing. I personally did not love the Spanglish- there were multiple languages used in this book and there were many mistakes with the phrasing. There were a lot of meandering conversations/dialogue and the overall plotline is somewhat vague/underdeveloped (notice I did not include a plot synopsis). I see that others have posted rave reviews, so make sure to take a look at those. This is a Christian fantasy, so if you are looking for a story with Christian references then you might enjoy this. Again, for me, it was not the intent of the book that I struggled with, it was the phrasing/writing.
Age: mature 16+
Content: war, rape (fade to black/not graphic/off page- but repeated references and situations), violence, kissing, racial epithets, Christian references/undertones
Age: mature 16+
Content: war, rape (fade to black/not graphic/off page- but repeated references and situations), violence, kissing, racial epithets, Christian references/undertones
March 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this! I found myself wishing it had been two separate books for part 1 and 2… the story kept me engaged but I would have loved more backstory and world building and to dive deeper into the story. I would have been happy to spend even more time in this world! Overall a strong debut and I will read more from this author.
*This is YA and absolutely appropriate for teens. Content warnings are listed in book description, but everything is carefully handled and nothing is graphic
*This is YA and absolutely appropriate for teens. Content warnings are listed in book description, but everything is carefully handled and nothing is graphic
May 15, 2025
Such a good read!
I loved reading this new book Melissa Miyoko Scott: a diverse cast of characters, humor, action, romance,best of all, a book that incorporates bible verses, prayer, and seeking God's wisdom. I loved seeing James and Isabella develop this confidence. (It were made into a movie,I want Dallas Jenkins to cast and direct it! He's so good at that!) TW: RACISM,DESCRIPTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXISM, GASLIGHTING AND MANIPULATION BY A MAN.
I loved reading this new book Melissa Miyoko Scott: a diverse cast of characters, humor, action, romance,best of all, a book that incorporates bible verses, prayer, and seeking God's wisdom. I loved seeing James and Isabella develop this confidence. (It were made into a movie,I want Dallas Jenkins to cast and direct it! He's so good at that!) TW: RACISM,DESCRIPTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXISM, GASLIGHTING AND MANIPULATION BY A MAN.
August 17, 2025
Izabella is full of political intrigue and vibrant settings! The lies and mistrust throughout the plotline kept me on the edge of my seat, and I really enjoyed rooting for the main characters.
Izabella touches on themes of mercy, justice, and the value of diversity. I am very curious to see where the rest of the series takes us!
Content Note: This book deals with SA (closed door), and I found this relevant to the plot and well-handled.
Izabella touches on themes of mercy, justice, and the value of diversity. I am very curious to see where the rest of the series takes us!
Content Note: This book deals with SA (closed door), and I found this relevant to the plot and well-handled.
August 20, 2025
The book took a few chapters to pull me in, but then I found myself lost in the story!!
December 8, 2025
Well, I certainly enjoyed writing this book, but I'll leave the reading to the readers!
What I would like to add is a guide for content. Though I write always with teens in mind, everyone is at different places in their emotional maturity and experiences so what may be fine for one, may be devastating for another.
With that in mind, here is my content guide for Izabella.
much love and happy adventures,
melissa
Content Guide:
Spice: brief, non-descriptive kisses
Language: one use of fantasy/medieval curse
SPOILERS to consider:
.
.
.
.
.
Considerations:
war/violence, sexual assault spoken of in past tense, brief non-graphic sexual assault scene that fades to black,
drinking/drunkenness, death of parents, miscarriage, racial tension, sexism, depression [none of these are graphic or glorifying what is happening, but they are present and part of the plot].
What I would like to add is a guide for content. Though I write always with teens in mind, everyone is at different places in their emotional maturity and experiences so what may be fine for one, may be devastating for another.
With that in mind, here is my content guide for Izabella.
much love and happy adventures,
melissa
Content Guide:
Spice: brief, non-descriptive kisses
Language: one use of fantasy/medieval curse
SPOILERS to consider:
.
.
.
.
.
Considerations:
war/violence, sexual assault spoken of in past tense, brief non-graphic sexual assault scene that fades to black,
drinking/drunkenness, death of parents, miscarriage, racial tension, sexism, depression [none of these are graphic or glorifying what is happening, but they are present and part of the plot].
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