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Queen of Faces #1
Queen of Faces
Not yet published
Expected 3 Feb 26Win a free print copy of this book!
2 days and 10:19:09
10 copies available
U.S. only
This limited deluxe edition is printed with gorgeous stained edges, stunning foil on the case, and striking printed endpapers!
A desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath.
Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. In Caimor, where the magical elite buy and swap designer bodies like clothes, Ana can’t afford to escape her tattered form. When she fails the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy, her last hope of earning a new body implodes. As the clock ticks down to her last breath, she’s forced to use her illusion magic to steal a healthy chassis—before her own kills her.
But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor's smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.
With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters—and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.
A desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath.
Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. In Caimor, where the magical elite buy and swap designer bodies like clothes, Ana can’t afford to escape her tattered form. When she fails the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy, her last hope of earning a new body implodes. As the clock ticks down to her last breath, she’s forced to use her illusion magic to steal a healthy chassis—before her own kills her.
But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor's smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.
With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters—and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.
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Expected publication February 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
September 6, 2025
This book is the kind of dark, glittering fantasy that grabs you by the collar from the very first page and refuses to let go. Anabelle Gage’s story begins in decay—her body rotting from the inside while the wealthy elite of Caimor slip in and out of pristine designer bodies as if changing clothes. That premise alone is chilling, but what makes this book truly extraordinary is how it balances imaginative world-building with raw, intimate emotion. It’s not just a survival story—it’s a meditation on identity, desperation, and the thin line between power and vulnerability.
Ana is no polished heroine. She is jagged, haunted, and beautifully flawed—her hunger to live, to finally inhabit a body that reflects who she is, makes her one of the most compelling YA protagonists I’ve read in recent years. When her last shot at Paragon Academy implodes, she’s thrown into a deal that would terrify anyone: execution for her crimes, or a life as a mercenary under the command of a ruthless headmaster. From there, the novel plunges us into a cutthroat magical academy full of whispers, rivalries, and corridors humming with danger. The setting gives us all the dark academia atmosphere we crave—secrets inked in shadows, knowledge that comes at a terrible price—but it’s Ana’s journey that holds the beating heart of the story.
The world itself is dazzling and grotesque all at once. The concept of “chassis” and body-swapping creates an unsettling metaphor about class, privilege, and disposability. The poor rot away while the powerful literally buy themselves immortality—and Ana’s desperate fight within that system forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the world we live in too. Yet for all its sharp commentary, the novel never loses sight of character. Every choice Ana makes carries emotional weight, and her interactions with her unlikely allies—an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile—turn into a deliciously complicated web of loyalty, danger, and found family.
And then there’s the romance. The sapphic relationship woven through the darkness is tender, electric, and filled with longing—it’s not just there for trope’s sake but grows out of character, reminding us that even in the grimmest worlds, love and vulnerability are acts of defiance. Those quieter moments of intimacy balance beautifully against the blood-soaked battles and betrayals, making the book as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling.
By the end, I was exhilarated, unnerved, and utterly hooked. The story doesn’t shy away from moral ambiguity, forcing Ana—and us—to confront the cost of survival and the gray area between villain and hero. It’s brutal at times, but that’s the brilliance of it: this book makes you feel everything, from dread to hope to aching tenderness. I finished it breathless, already impatient for the next installment.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for sharing this sapphic dark academia YA fantasy novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest review that I deeply appreciated.
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Ana is no polished heroine. She is jagged, haunted, and beautifully flawed—her hunger to live, to finally inhabit a body that reflects who she is, makes her one of the most compelling YA protagonists I’ve read in recent years. When her last shot at Paragon Academy implodes, she’s thrown into a deal that would terrify anyone: execution for her crimes, or a life as a mercenary under the command of a ruthless headmaster. From there, the novel plunges us into a cutthroat magical academy full of whispers, rivalries, and corridors humming with danger. The setting gives us all the dark academia atmosphere we crave—secrets inked in shadows, knowledge that comes at a terrible price—but it’s Ana’s journey that holds the beating heart of the story.
The world itself is dazzling and grotesque all at once. The concept of “chassis” and body-swapping creates an unsettling metaphor about class, privilege, and disposability. The poor rot away while the powerful literally buy themselves immortality—and Ana’s desperate fight within that system forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the world we live in too. Yet for all its sharp commentary, the novel never loses sight of character. Every choice Ana makes carries emotional weight, and her interactions with her unlikely allies—an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile—turn into a deliciously complicated web of loyalty, danger, and found family.
And then there’s the romance. The sapphic relationship woven through the darkness is tender, electric, and filled with longing—it’s not just there for trope’s sake but grows out of character, reminding us that even in the grimmest worlds, love and vulnerability are acts of defiance. Those quieter moments of intimacy balance beautifully against the blood-soaked battles and betrayals, making the book as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling.
By the end, I was exhilarated, unnerved, and utterly hooked. The story doesn’t shy away from moral ambiguity, forcing Ana—and us—to confront the cost of survival and the gray area between villain and hero. It’s brutal at times, but that’s the brilliance of it: this book makes you feel everything, from dread to hope to aching tenderness. I finished it breathless, already impatient for the next installment.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for sharing this sapphic dark academia YA fantasy novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest review that I deeply appreciated.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of Queen of Faces by Petra Lord
Feel free to judge this book by its cover. I can confirm it's just as beautiful on the inside as the outside!
I don't know what is going on but I'm here for it! I have never in my whole reading career had such a strong finish to a reading year. Each book has been better than the next even though I swear that's impossible every single time.. These Authors did NOT come to play and if these ARCs I've been reading are any indication, 2026 is going to be one hell of a year in the book world and I personally can't wait
I started my day listening to this book while doing housework and ended my day listening to the last few hours of this while staring at a wall with my vacuum in my hand
Any Fantasy/ Academia lover is going to want to read this..but, if you've been in a reading rut lately you most definitely NEED to read this! This book will have you out of that rut faster than a NASCAR Pit Crew.
Intoxicating & spellbinding, the Queen of Faces is written to such a beautiful perfection there are lines that would make Robert Frost swoon and Roseanne Barr laugh out loud. The story and characters are truly unforgettable, the magic system is original and refreshing.. Maybe I'm alone on this. But, I feel as if one can tell when an author writes because it's a deep passion or simply because the light bill is due.. This was definitely written with ALL the passion and it's infectious
I will most definitely be adding a hard copy of this golden nugget to my collection !
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
Feel free to judge this book by its cover. I can confirm it's just as beautiful on the inside as the outside!
I don't know what is going on but I'm here for it! I have never in my whole reading career had such a strong finish to a reading year. Each book has been better than the next even though I swear that's impossible every single time.. These Authors did NOT come to play and if these ARCs I've been reading are any indication, 2026 is going to be one hell of a year in the book world and I personally can't wait
I started my day listening to this book while doing housework and ended my day listening to the last few hours of this while staring at a wall with my vacuum in my hand
Any Fantasy/ Academia lover is going to want to read this..but, if you've been in a reading rut lately you most definitely NEED to read this! This book will have you out of that rut faster than a NASCAR Pit Crew.
Intoxicating & spellbinding, the Queen of Faces is written to such a beautiful perfection there are lines that would make Robert Frost swoon and Roseanne Barr laugh out loud. The story and characters are truly unforgettable, the magic system is original and refreshing.. Maybe I'm alone on this. But, I feel as if one can tell when an author writes because it's a deep passion or simply because the light bill is due.. This was definitely written with ALL the passion and it's infectious
I will most definitely be adding a hard copy of this golden nugget to my collection !
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
December 20, 2025
A fascinating magic system and an interesting, queer normative world with body swapping, spectacular insight into the trans experience, mental health rep, and a plot that grabs you instantly and does not let go!
This is a dark fantasy with a richly layered world and a metric ton of social commentary and meaningful themes. It’s smart, poignant, and feels like a book you could read again and again, picking out new elements each time.
It’s also just plain fun to read. The world and magic are so interesting and feel fully fleshed out without ever info dumping. It’s a rich eat the poor world that feels like a mix between dystopian, fantasy, and sci-fi. The plot moves as a medium pace, allowing for meaningful character development in all the right places, but never slowing down enough for plot-driven readers to lose interest. It is well-executed and worthy of a read (or multiple reads). It's YA but feels like a perfect contender to be well loved by adult readers too!
I am not trans so I can’t speak on the rep other than to say this book felt so intentional. It was insightful and I leave this book feeling like I have a bit more understanding of what the trans experience might feel like. <— a mark of a good book is an increase in empathy and this book nailed it.
Gosh, it’s always hard to write a review when a book is so layered like this. How do I possibly do it justice? I’m bound to forget something…
Whats to love…
- dark fantasy/sci-fi/dystopian mash up
- queer normative world with flaws perfectly positioned to detail the trans experience.
- mental health rep
- found family
- morally grey characters
- magical school
- social commentary on a multitude of issues (immigrant experience, trans experience, & classism, to name a few.
- high stakes, edge of your seat action
- romantic subplot
- YA with plenty of appeal for adult readers!
4/5 - Really solid performance! Definitely recommend the audiobook! Each narrator fit their character so well. Pacing, inflection and voice variation were all fantastic across narrators. Pausing (at the end of sentences) was a bit extended at times but not to the extent that it became frustrating. I especially enjoyed Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick’s performance! SO GOOD! I will be seeking out other books narrated by them in the future!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
This is a dark fantasy with a richly layered world and a metric ton of social commentary and meaningful themes. It’s smart, poignant, and feels like a book you could read again and again, picking out new elements each time.
It’s also just plain fun to read. The world and magic are so interesting and feel fully fleshed out without ever info dumping. It’s a rich eat the poor world that feels like a mix between dystopian, fantasy, and sci-fi. The plot moves as a medium pace, allowing for meaningful character development in all the right places, but never slowing down enough for plot-driven readers to lose interest. It is well-executed and worthy of a read (or multiple reads). It's YA but feels like a perfect contender to be well loved by adult readers too!
I am not trans so I can’t speak on the rep other than to say this book felt so intentional. It was insightful and I leave this book feeling like I have a bit more understanding of what the trans experience might feel like. <— a mark of a good book is an increase in empathy and this book nailed it.
Gosh, it’s always hard to write a review when a book is so layered like this. How do I possibly do it justice? I’m bound to forget something…
Whats to love…
- dark fantasy/sci-fi/dystopian mash up
- queer normative world with flaws perfectly positioned to detail the trans experience.
- mental health rep
- found family
- morally grey characters
- magical school
- social commentary on a multitude of issues (immigrant experience, trans experience, & classism, to name a few.
- high stakes, edge of your seat action
- romantic subplot
- YA with plenty of appeal for adult readers!
4/5 - Really solid performance! Definitely recommend the audiobook! Each narrator fit their character so well. Pacing, inflection and voice variation were all fantastic across narrators. Pausing (at the end of sentences) was a bit extended at times but not to the extent that it became frustrating. I especially enjoyed Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick’s performance! SO GOOD! I will be seeking out other books narrated by them in the future!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
Want to read
December 23, 2025January will be an all Fantasy/Romantasy month.
Starting with this ARC first!
BIG thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Children’s publishing group for this ARC!!!
Publication date: February 3, 2026
Starting with this ARC first!
BIG thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Children’s publishing group for this ARC!!!
Publication date: February 3, 2026
not-yet-released
July 29, 2025THIS IS SO TRANS
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5⭐️
"But if you survive, you get to fly. And doesn’t that make it all worth it?”
...
Thank you to Macmillan Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
I can say this is truly one of the most unique YA books I have ever read. YA oftentimes picks and pulls from a pool of tropes and magic systems that can give it all the sense of sameness, but this was so refreshing.
The world itself is very robust, and we are trying to take on a lot of things, from there being a magical school surrounding the dark academia setting, a ragtag group of mercenaries, rising tides, and skies dreched in darkness no longer holding stars, where all who venture there never return. However, I think the main standout was the concept of body-swapping. This really took on a fascinating take froma trans perspective as well as a classism perspective.
Our main character, Ana, encapsulates both as she is forced to live in the only body she could afford - an Edgar "chassi" that is rotting from the inside as she is surrounded by the upper-echelon of those with designer bodies that change them out without thought or care. Ana has a small amount of magic, a scant amount of funds, and is looking for a way to save herself on minimal time, eventually leading her to a dark magic academy that is anything but welcoming. The students are cutthroat, and the stakes are high.
Something the story could have very easily done is make Ana the "chosen one" type character, where everything came easily to them. But she scrapes and claws her way through this school without ease to hone her skills. I enjoyed watching her journey because it felt more realistic. Given the author's lived experience, I felt a lot of their own vulnerability was woven into the words, especially when it came from Ana's perspective. Petra created a rather grim world. However, I felt so captivated throughout the story due to its gripping writing, morally ambigous charachters, and ACTUAL twists that truly took me by surprise.
I also really liked Wes (don't want to spoil too much on their character) and their dynamic with Ana. It was all so nuanced and real, and I couldn't look away anytime they were together. I also enjoyed our little found family mercenary group! This book is primarily dual pov with Ana and Wes, but there are some assistant pov’s mixed throughout the book.
I also loved how unapologetically queer this book is. It explores gender identity, but in a world that is not homophobic. I think it will be a real standout, especially in the trans fantasy genre!
There were just a few things that kept me from bringing this up to five stars, no matter how much I loved it. A lot is going on with this world, from the school to how the planet seems to be crumbling apart. There is some missing lore, but I do hope that will be further explored throughout the series, as I am really itching to know more. I was also a little confused about the timeframe setting. We had cars, but then some limited technology, but then our main character loves reading manga. Just makes it all hard to visualize at times.
In the end, I had an amazing time with this book. I was truly SHOCKED at the end with some of its reveals. It all came together so well, and I truly cannot wait for the next installment!
"But if you survive, you get to fly. And doesn’t that make it all worth it?”
...
Thank you to Macmillan Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
I can say this is truly one of the most unique YA books I have ever read. YA oftentimes picks and pulls from a pool of tropes and magic systems that can give it all the sense of sameness, but this was so refreshing.
The world itself is very robust, and we are trying to take on a lot of things, from there being a magical school surrounding the dark academia setting, a ragtag group of mercenaries, rising tides, and skies dreched in darkness no longer holding stars, where all who venture there never return. However, I think the main standout was the concept of body-swapping. This really took on a fascinating take froma trans perspective as well as a classism perspective.
Our main character, Ana, encapsulates both as she is forced to live in the only body she could afford - an Edgar "chassi" that is rotting from the inside as she is surrounded by the upper-echelon of those with designer bodies that change them out without thought or care. Ana has a small amount of magic, a scant amount of funds, and is looking for a way to save herself on minimal time, eventually leading her to a dark magic academy that is anything but welcoming. The students are cutthroat, and the stakes are high.
Something the story could have very easily done is make Ana the "chosen one" type character, where everything came easily to them. But she scrapes and claws her way through this school without ease to hone her skills. I enjoyed watching her journey because it felt more realistic. Given the author's lived experience, I felt a lot of their own vulnerability was woven into the words, especially when it came from Ana's perspective. Petra created a rather grim world. However, I felt so captivated throughout the story due to its gripping writing, morally ambigous charachters, and ACTUAL twists that truly took me by surprise.
I also really liked Wes (don't want to spoil too much on their character) and their dynamic with Ana. It was all so nuanced and real, and I couldn't look away anytime they were together. I also enjoyed our little found family mercenary group! This book is primarily dual pov with Ana and Wes, but there are some assistant pov’s mixed throughout the book.
I also loved how unapologetically queer this book is. It explores gender identity, but in a world that is not homophobic. I think it will be a real standout, especially in the trans fantasy genre!
There were just a few things that kept me from bringing this up to five stars, no matter how much I loved it. A lot is going on with this world, from the school to how the planet seems to be crumbling apart. There is some missing lore, but I do hope that will be further explored throughout the series, as I am really itching to know more. I was also a little confused about the timeframe setting. We had cars, but then some limited technology, but then our main character loves reading manga. Just makes it all hard to visualize at times.
In the end, I had an amazing time with this book. I was truly SHOCKED at the end with some of its reveals. It all came together so well, and I truly cannot wait for the next installment!
August 30, 2025
⋆｡°✩ 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 ⋆｡°✩
4.5 stars | a thought provoking fantasy about identity and how you view yourself | 1/3 spice, 2.5/3 violence, trigger warnings like su!cide | nice pacing and unique writing style with a slow start, strong finish plot
*:･ﾟ✧♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 *:･ﾟ✧♡
I really loved the characters in this book, especially Wes, whose growth was just amazing to watch. The relationships??? Yes. Just yes. Triangle??? Triangle-ing. Scrappy main character that I sorta relate to making me believe in love again??? Yup.
I’m going to be really honest, I forgot to review this book for over a week after I read it, so I don’t really remember much of what I wanted to say, but I really liked the characters and needed to say that.
Okay also the magic system and the body swapping thing is such a cool idea, it’s really unique and I thought it was so cool to read about.
Also I loved Ori so much. Favorite character easily.
Oh my gosh and that ending!!! I NEVER could have expected any of what happened and it was so awesome.
Also, this book explores identity and expresses it really well, and I thought that was really nice. Presenting it in a fantastical situation is a great way to relate these types of problems to the real world and I think that’s really important, so this book was much appreciated by me for that.
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
The reason this wasn’t five stars was the beginning. Like, up until 50% beginning. It was just really slow for me. Like, I think this book is the definition of slow start, strong finish. I just wasn’t interested you know? But around 50%, stuff started happening and I got really into it. So yeah.
* ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝕨𝕣𝕒𝕡-𝕦𝕡 * ੈ✩‧₊˚
Overall, a very good book, and I really enjoyed! I’d recommend for anyone looking for a unique fantasy or something touching on important matters in fantastical ways!!!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝕢𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
"𝑀𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝒸𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓅𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒹𝒾𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝒸𝑜𝑜𝓃."
"𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒶𝓁𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓃 𝓌𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇."
"𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝓊𝓇𝓋𝒾𝓋𝑒, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝓁𝓎. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝑜𝑒𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒽 𝒾𝓉?"
⋆˚⚡︎˖° 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 ⋆˚⚡︎˖°
Queen of Faces releases February 3, 2026!!!
˙⋆.˚𐙚 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 ˙⋆.˚𐙚
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and to NetGalley for giving me a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
All thoughts are my own <3
4.5 stars | a thought provoking fantasy about identity and how you view yourself | 1/3 spice, 2.5/3 violence, trigger warnings like su!cide | nice pacing and unique writing style with a slow start, strong finish plot
*:･ﾟ✧♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 *:･ﾟ✧♡
I really loved the characters in this book, especially Wes, whose growth was just amazing to watch. The relationships??? Yes. Just yes. Triangle??? Triangle-ing. Scrappy main character that I sorta relate to making me believe in love again??? Yup.
I’m going to be really honest, I forgot to review this book for over a week after I read it, so I don’t really remember much of what I wanted to say, but I really liked the characters and needed to say that.
Okay also the magic system and the body swapping thing is such a cool idea, it’s really unique and I thought it was so cool to read about.
Also I loved Ori so much. Favorite character easily.
Oh my gosh and that ending!!! I NEVER could have expected any of what happened and it was so awesome.
Also, this book explores identity and expresses it really well, and I thought that was really nice. Presenting it in a fantastical situation is a great way to relate these types of problems to the real world and I think that’s really important, so this book was much appreciated by me for that.
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
The reason this wasn’t five stars was the beginning. Like, up until 50% beginning. It was just really slow for me. Like, I think this book is the definition of slow start, strong finish. I just wasn’t interested you know? But around 50%, stuff started happening and I got really into it. So yeah.
* ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝕨𝕣𝕒𝕡-𝕦𝕡 * ੈ✩‧₊˚
Overall, a very good book, and I really enjoyed! I’d recommend for anyone looking for a unique fantasy or something touching on important matters in fantastical ways!!!
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝕢𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖𝕤 ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
"𝑀𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝒸𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓅𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒹𝒾𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝒸𝑜𝑜𝓃."
"𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒶𝓁𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓃 𝓌𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇."
"𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝓊𝓇𝓋𝒾𝓋𝑒, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝓁𝓎. 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝑜𝑒𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒽 𝒾𝓉?"
⋆˚⚡︎˖° 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 ⋆˚⚡︎˖°
Queen of Faces releases February 3, 2026!!!
˙⋆.˚𐙚 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 ˙⋆.˚𐙚
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and to NetGalley for giving me a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
All thoughts are my own <3
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
my rating is 4.25
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC to listen and review. My thoughts are my own.
What a unique and fresh feeling YA novel. We need more of these stories! Trans representation is sorely lacking in publishing and we get it here with a delightful side eye.
The premise of the people being able to switch bodies at will (and affordability) highlights being who you want to be at any given time. I loved that aspect!
The darker aspect of that is finding the 'chassis' or bodies. Definitely speaking to the elite having the ability to essentially live forever in other people's bodies, stolen from others, in perpetuity. All at cost of the poor who supply those chassis. What a snapshot of the world we live in.
The world building here is fulsome and detailed. The characters, Ana in particular, have depth and breadth.
Navigating the dangerous academy world, Ana tries desperately to find her way and break down what she sees happening within the system. This is real emotion!
I flew through this listen, the narrators, EA Castillo, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick and Nicky Endres bring incredible darkness and intensity to the audiobook. Working together, they brought the story to life for me. The production is flawless.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC to listen and review. My thoughts are my own.
What a unique and fresh feeling YA novel. We need more of these stories! Trans representation is sorely lacking in publishing and we get it here with a delightful side eye.
The premise of the people being able to switch bodies at will (and affordability) highlights being who you want to be at any given time. I loved that aspect!
The darker aspect of that is finding the 'chassis' or bodies. Definitely speaking to the elite having the ability to essentially live forever in other people's bodies, stolen from others, in perpetuity. All at cost of the poor who supply those chassis. What a snapshot of the world we live in.
The world building here is fulsome and detailed. The characters, Ana in particular, have depth and breadth.
Navigating the dangerous academy world, Ana tries desperately to find her way and break down what she sees happening within the system. This is real emotion!
I flew through this listen, the narrators, EA Castillo, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick and Nicky Endres bring incredible darkness and intensity to the audiobook. Working together, they brought the story to life for me. The production is flawless.
December 16, 2025
Review of Queen of Faces by Petra Lord
Queen of Faces by Petra Lord is a harrowing, boldly imaginative young adult fantasy about a girl fighting for survival in a world where wealth can buy bodies like fashion, magic is intertwined with identity, and the very essence of who you are is at stake. At its core this story follows Anabelle Gage, a fiercely determined young heroine whose body is literally crumbling, and who must navigate dangerous choices, betrayal, and rebellion in the smog‑choked nation of Caimor as she fights for a chance to live as her true self.
When I first learned about Ana’s situation it struck me how daring and visceral this book feels: trapped in a defective body that is literally killing her, she chases entrance to a prestigious academy in hopes of earning a new form, only to see that dream collapse and be forced into an impossible bargain with the headmaster of Paragon Academy, trading her freedom for survival. The beauty of Petra Lord’s world lies both in its dazzling creativity and in how deeply personal Ana’s journey feels. Her magic, especially her illusion work, becomes an extension of her inner life, and as she is drawn into a covert conflict against powerful forces and tangled alliances with a cast of renegades, I found myself invested not just in the fast‑paced action, but in her longing for autonomy and self‑definition. The oppressive class divides and the haunting concept of body swapping foreground themes of identity, privilege, and bodily autonomy in ways that rattled me long after reading, making Ana more than a fantasy heroine but a deeply affecting voice. Although the worldbuilding feels rich and layered with dark academia intrigue, it is Ana’s resilience, vulnerability, and evolving moral compass that anchored my heart throughout this high‑stakes narrative.
I would rate Queen of Faces 4 out of 5 because it combines breathtaking worldbuilding, emotionally charged stakes, and a protagonist whose fight for selfhood resonates with rare intensity.
Petra Lord awakens both wonder and ache in equal measure, crafting a fantasy that feels cinematic and deeply human, and one that left me eager for the next volume in what promises to be an unforgettable series.
Queen of Faces by Petra Lord is a harrowing, boldly imaginative young adult fantasy about a girl fighting for survival in a world where wealth can buy bodies like fashion, magic is intertwined with identity, and the very essence of who you are is at stake. At its core this story follows Anabelle Gage, a fiercely determined young heroine whose body is literally crumbling, and who must navigate dangerous choices, betrayal, and rebellion in the smog‑choked nation of Caimor as she fights for a chance to live as her true self.
When I first learned about Ana’s situation it struck me how daring and visceral this book feels: trapped in a defective body that is literally killing her, she chases entrance to a prestigious academy in hopes of earning a new form, only to see that dream collapse and be forced into an impossible bargain with the headmaster of Paragon Academy, trading her freedom for survival. The beauty of Petra Lord’s world lies both in its dazzling creativity and in how deeply personal Ana’s journey feels. Her magic, especially her illusion work, becomes an extension of her inner life, and as she is drawn into a covert conflict against powerful forces and tangled alliances with a cast of renegades, I found myself invested not just in the fast‑paced action, but in her longing for autonomy and self‑definition. The oppressive class divides and the haunting concept of body swapping foreground themes of identity, privilege, and bodily autonomy in ways that rattled me long after reading, making Ana more than a fantasy heroine but a deeply affecting voice. Although the worldbuilding feels rich and layered with dark academia intrigue, it is Ana’s resilience, vulnerability, and evolving moral compass that anchored my heart throughout this high‑stakes narrative.
I would rate Queen of Faces 4 out of 5 because it combines breathtaking worldbuilding, emotionally charged stakes, and a protagonist whose fight for selfhood resonates with rare intensity.
Petra Lord awakens both wonder and ache in equal measure, crafting a fantasy that feels cinematic and deeply human, and one that left me eager for the next volume in what promises to be an unforgettable series.
November 15, 2025
Drama, angst, betrayal, intrigue, love! All wrapped up in a story that feels like the good old days of YA fantasy while also feeling totally fresh.
Ana's body is falling apart and her only hope is admittance into the elite Paragon Academy. When her latest attempt fails, Ana is at a loss until she is approached personally by the headmaster, who offers her a chance at life in exchange for her services as a mercenary.
This genuinely felt so nostalgic with all of the classic YA fantasy elements; an elite magic school, an underdog main character, a love triangle, etc. It also doesn't feel super juvenile because it gets pretty dark and Ana is quite mature as far as YA protagonists go. I liked the body-switching magic system a lot as well and it made for some great moments in action scenes. I also liked that this is a story with a lot of genderqueer characters who are queer in a way that makes sense for their world. Ana isn't trans in the way that we think of someone being trans, nor is Wes or Nima (one of my favorite characters btw). It's fun when an author takes queer characters and just sticks them in another world, but it's much more interesting when the circumstances of a world allow for queerness in new ways. I felt this way about She Who Became the Sun too. I don't have much to explicitly critique other than that this maybe ran a little long.
Very much looking forward to book two after this excellent debut!
Thank you to Petra Lord and Henry Holt & Co. for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Ana's body is falling apart and her only hope is admittance into the elite Paragon Academy. When her latest attempt fails, Ana is at a loss until she is approached personally by the headmaster, who offers her a chance at life in exchange for her services as a mercenary.
This genuinely felt so nostalgic with all of the classic YA fantasy elements; an elite magic school, an underdog main character, a love triangle, etc. It also doesn't feel super juvenile because it gets pretty dark and Ana is quite mature as far as YA protagonists go. I liked the body-switching magic system a lot as well and it made for some great moments in action scenes. I also liked that this is a story with a lot of genderqueer characters who are queer in a way that makes sense for their world. Ana isn't trans in the way that we think of someone being trans, nor is Wes or Nima (one of my favorite characters btw). It's fun when an author takes queer characters and just sticks them in another world, but it's much more interesting when the circumstances of a world allow for queerness in new ways. I felt this way about She Who Became the Sun too. I don't have much to explicitly critique other than that this maybe ran a little long.
Very much looking forward to book two after this excellent debut!
Thank you to Petra Lord and Henry Holt & Co. for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
December 22, 2025
I seriously loved this book! We are immersed in a world where swapping bodies is the norm. The elite buy and swap designer bodies, while the poor have to deal with the body they were born in, or whatever form they can manage to get their hands on. This makes gender an interesting concept, because what you are born as, isn't always the body you wear or feel comfortable in. Age is also different, as people wear younger bodies. The whole concept is wildly fascinating! But it also makes for a sort of dark fantasy. Ana is now trapped in a decaying male body. If she can't get a new one, it will kill her. She fails getting into Paragon Academy, the prestigious magic school, and her last hope of getting a new body dies there. She decides she will steal a body, but gets caught by none other than Paragon's headmaster. He gives her an ultimatum: either die in her decaying body, or come work for him as a mercenary at his command. She has proven her skill in the body heist, and he needs capable mercenaries to fight against the Black Wraith and the revolution that is threatening to rise up against the magical elite. There is a lot more to it, other characters and relationships, but oh boy how I love this one so much! The magic and concepts are awesome, the moral ambiguity, the ratio of character development to plot is great. It's high stakes fantasy with romantic subplots. And there is much commentary to glean from it on important issues such as classism and the trans experience. I genuinely loved the experience of reading this book! I hope everyone else will too when it releases 2/3/26. Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for the ARC.
July 7, 2025
Note: This is an ARC.
Very unique premise! YA fantasy tends to have very similar concepts and magic systems, but this book was very original and fresh.
Unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of the meandering plot. A lot of it comes down to personal taste, but the missions Ana and co went on just didn't do anything for me. It was boring, especially at around 60% when it got somewhat repetitive.
I liked Ana, but didn't care much for the other characters. This book was comped to Six of Crows so I was expecting that kind of tight knit ensemble cast, but nope. This book wasn't nearly as exciting or suspenseful.
The world building was confusing too. I was lost as to why Caimor was at war with Shenten and what exactly Khaiove's motivation was. Additionally, the magical academy felt veryyyyy Harry Potter esque. Like Headmaster Carriwith was very clearly a remixed Dumbledore. And Nell was giving me Draco vibes at first. I really wish s/he'd stop bringing up Samuel every few pages.
I liked the theme of gender exploration, but I wish it could have been pushed further. In a world where men and women swap bodies all the time, why does a gender binary exist? I would think there would be more common gender identities. Additionally, I wish we dived a little more into Ana's body dysmorphia. Her problem with being stuck in the chasis she was boiled down to it being sick, not necessarily because it was a boy's body.
The body swapping made me a little bit uncomfortable, I'm not going to lie. It's really gross that an old person can go inside a child's body whenever they want. It's also really uncomfortable that one can be "Ousted" from their body and stuck in a completely separate body that doesn't align with their gender whatsoever while a stranger occupies their original body. It gave me the ick.
Still, that ending was entertaining and I enjoyed Adam Weaver's (what is that name?) plot line. I might pick up the sequel, but we'll see.
Very unique premise! YA fantasy tends to have very similar concepts and magic systems, but this book was very original and fresh.
Unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of the meandering plot. A lot of it comes down to personal taste, but the missions Ana and co went on just didn't do anything for me. It was boring, especially at around 60% when it got somewhat repetitive.
I liked Ana, but didn't care much for the other characters. This book was comped to Six of Crows so I was expecting that kind of tight knit ensemble cast, but nope. This book wasn't nearly as exciting or suspenseful.
The world building was confusing too. I was lost as to why Caimor was at war with Shenten and what exactly Khaiove's motivation was. Additionally, the magical academy felt veryyyyy Harry Potter esque. Like Headmaster Carriwith was very clearly a remixed Dumbledore. And Nell was giving me Draco vibes at first. I really wish s/he'd stop bringing up Samuel every few pages.
I liked the theme of gender exploration, but I wish it could have been pushed further. In a world where men and women swap bodies all the time, why does a gender binary exist? I would think there would be more common gender identities. Additionally, I wish we dived a little more into Ana's body dysmorphia. Her problem with being stuck in the chasis she was boiled down to it being sick, not necessarily because it was a boy's body.
The body swapping made me a little bit uncomfortable, I'm not going to lie. It's really gross that an old person can go inside a child's body whenever they want. It's also really uncomfortable that one can be "Ousted" from their body and stuck in a completely separate body that doesn't align with their gender whatsoever while a stranger occupies their original body. It gave me the ick.
Still, that ending was entertaining and I enjoyed Adam Weaver's (what is that name?) plot line. I might pick up the sequel, but we'll see.
June 15, 2025
Oh, I am utterly in love with this. It is trans fantasy at it's very best, about a world where people can change bodies at will (for the right price). Yet, the world is drowning and cruelty abounds. It's about metamorphosis, about how the shape you've molded yourself into still isn't what the world wants, and how propaganda corrupts and rots everything from the inside out. It's brilliant.
December 23, 2025
I consider this the queer answer/solution to Harry Potter- minus wands plus assassins. It’s dark and complicated, but paints such a unique picture of how one perceives their body. In Queen of Faces, bodies are “chassis,” and your pith is your soul. You’re born into a regular body, but can swap as much as you can afford. Designer bodies are all the rage. Annabelle Gage is stuck in a decaying “Edgar” model chassis after her initial body succumbed to sickness. As struggles to survive as a servant in a literally drowning world, she tries to pass the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy. After failing three times, Anna has the chance to steal a new chassis. She fails at this too, but is invited to be a “grey coat” - essentially a waitlisted student who works at Paragon. Oh, and be an assassin/spy for one of the professors. This is only the very start of the story! There’s other characters with their own POVs. Anna forges new friendships, suffers unimaginable loss, and discovers what is truly means to live up to Paragon’s motto- “Strive to be an exemplar.”
This book was non-stop action. I absolutely love every bit of it. It’s truly an epic fantasy with a plot so thick I can’t even begin to summarize it. The entire book held my attention, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Queen of Faces really delivers on character growth, which is something I really want out of a good story. Don’t even get me started on the world building! The world and magic system truly are unlike anything I’ve ever read. I NEED the next book like I need air.
I listened to the audiobook in two days. Two days for a 16+ hour audiobook. Needless to say, I enjoyed it. I loved all 3 narrators, even if I was confused at first what with all the body/gender swapping.
Thank you x100 to Macmillan for the eARC and ALC.
This book was non-stop action. I absolutely love every bit of it. It’s truly an epic fantasy with a plot so thick I can’t even begin to summarize it. The entire book held my attention, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Queen of Faces really delivers on character growth, which is something I really want out of a good story. Don’t even get me started on the world building! The world and magic system truly are unlike anything I’ve ever read. I NEED the next book like I need air.
I listened to the audiobook in two days. Two days for a 16+ hour audiobook. Needless to say, I enjoyed it. I loved all 3 narrators, even if I was confused at first what with all the body/gender swapping.
Thank you x100 to Macmillan for the eARC and ALC.
December 4, 2025
If I could give this a thousand stars, I would.
Queen of Faces is definitely a contender for best book of the year. It's a mesmerising and exhilarating epic featuring a fantastic and unique magic system, fascinating and grey characters, and some of the best twists I've ever read in a fantasy book.
The magic system is fantastic and really cleverly done; the idea that one can swap and switch up bodies like clothing is a fascinating concept to me. And I think it's cleverly incorporated into a divisive and tiered world; the rich can buy and live in the newest, fashionable, and most beautiful bodies, while the poor have to survive in cheap and decaying models. It's just such an interesting idea for a fantasy book. But that's not all for this magical world. On TOP of that, is a magical school, and magical people who gain and hone one skill (a branch). Ugh, just loved it all in this one.
While I adored the magic system, the characters are truly the stand out in Queen of Faces. Petra has created a fantastic and complicated cast of characters, and leading the pack, is lovely and tragic Ana. I'd say they're all (including Ana) morally grey and complex characters; they're not simple heroes nor villains. They make mistakes, they hurt people to save people (very much utilitarianism on display here). And what I think is best here, is how well developed they all are. None are just one-dimensional, and there to fill spaces on the page. Every character has a backstory and a history, they've all been fleshed out and given proper personalities and reasons for their actions. Petra has very clearly dedicated serious time to unravelling and sketching her characters to get the most out of them.
The relationships are top tier. They're complicated, love-triangle (or is it a square?), enemies-to-lovers, while also friends-to-lovers goodness. Each relationship is very hard to define in this book and honestly, I loved that about it. There’s no right or wrong way to feel about someone in this book. Even the family and friendship relationships are complicated and hard to define. Every relationship just works in tandem with all the others.
Petra and HarperFire, when can I have book two pretty please?
HIGHLY recommend Queen of Faces!
Queen of Faces is definitely a contender for best book of the year. It's a mesmerising and exhilarating epic featuring a fantastic and unique magic system, fascinating and grey characters, and some of the best twists I've ever read in a fantasy book.
The magic system is fantastic and really cleverly done; the idea that one can swap and switch up bodies like clothing is a fascinating concept to me. And I think it's cleverly incorporated into a divisive and tiered world; the rich can buy and live in the newest, fashionable, and most beautiful bodies, while the poor have to survive in cheap and decaying models. It's just such an interesting idea for a fantasy book. But that's not all for this magical world. On TOP of that, is a magical school, and magical people who gain and hone one skill (a branch). Ugh, just loved it all in this one.
While I adored the magic system, the characters are truly the stand out in Queen of Faces. Petra has created a fantastic and complicated cast of characters, and leading the pack, is lovely and tragic Ana. I'd say they're all (including Ana) morally grey and complex characters; they're not simple heroes nor villains. They make mistakes, they hurt people to save people (very much utilitarianism on display here). And what I think is best here, is how well developed they all are. None are just one-dimensional, and there to fill spaces on the page. Every character has a backstory and a history, they've all been fleshed out and given proper personalities and reasons for their actions. Petra has very clearly dedicated serious time to unravelling and sketching her characters to get the most out of them.
The relationships are top tier. They're complicated, love-triangle (or is it a square?), enemies-to-lovers, while also friends-to-lovers goodness. Each relationship is very hard to define in this book and honestly, I loved that about it. There’s no right or wrong way to feel about someone in this book. Even the family and friendship relationships are complicated and hard to define. Every relationship just works in tandem with all the others.
Petra and HarperFire, when can I have book two pretty please?
HIGHLY recommend Queen of Faces!
November 27, 2025
I feel this was a great blend of dystopian and dark academia and was well written and pretty engaging.
Definitely loving the commentary on society, class, and even personal identity that isn’t just about masks (more like full body masks). I liked the cast of characters, even if it is a little on the larger side. Morally gray, queer, flawed characters all with their own motivations, this book has something for everyone.
There was a wee bit of pacing issues, not terrible though. The whole of the book was decently paced but then ending felt break neck and maybe could have done with being just a bit longer. I do wish there was more school involvement too. I liked the magic system and school structure but it seemed more about the students when the school was the setting.
For the audiobook: three different narrators for the POVs told in dual style. I really enjoyed reading this through audiobook, I think each narrator fits the characters well and they all did a great job bringing this to life. I think Ana’s narrator for the role the best due to the need to switch between male and female dialogue.
Definitely be continuing this series and do really recommend if you were into 2010s YA.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher in exchange for an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Definitely loving the commentary on society, class, and even personal identity that isn’t just about masks (more like full body masks). I liked the cast of characters, even if it is a little on the larger side. Morally gray, queer, flawed characters all with their own motivations, this book has something for everyone.
There was a wee bit of pacing issues, not terrible though. The whole of the book was decently paced but then ending felt break neck and maybe could have done with being just a bit longer. I do wish there was more school involvement too. I liked the magic system and school structure but it seemed more about the students when the school was the setting.
For the audiobook: three different narrators for the POVs told in dual style. I really enjoyed reading this through audiobook, I think each narrator fits the characters well and they all did a great job bringing this to life. I think Ana’s narrator for the role the best due to the need to switch between male and female dialogue.
Definitely be continuing this series and do really recommend if you were into 2010s YA.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher in exchange for an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2025
Petra Lord takes us on an epic journey set in a dark acadamia world. I loved this so very much! At times it was confusing as everyone is able to switch bodies throughout the book, but as you keep reading it all makes sense. You get a little of everything in this book, enemies to lovers, found family, new beginnings, and lots of action! But beware, you never know who can trust! I highly recommend giving this one a chance! Releases Feb 2026, and will have a fabulous first special edition release. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for giving the privilege to read this advanced copy!
October 15, 2025
This is a book that I have to review carefully to ensure that I do not spoil it for anyone. The very last thing I would want to do is spoil this spectacular adventure for a fellow reader.
That said… I loved it! From page one, chapter one. Petra Lord had me!
Immediately I was swallowed into the story along with the main character. Their personality, their wants, their drive. All of it sucked me in.
From the first disaster until the end of the book, where my jaw dropped, I was greedily breathing in the words and the individual stories of each character. This was a plot that never stopped giving. I mean we got plot to the very last word of the acknowledgements. Lol! (READ to the very end when you do read this one.)
The world-building is detailed and fascinating without being draggy. You have villains who hide in plain sight. And as with every outstanding book, the villains are as deeply complex as the main characters. There are backstories in here that make your soul scream. The way it all came together in the end… I know I will be fighting a book slump and thinking about this story for a long while.
This is a wild, engrossing ride richly painted with magic, dark academia, elitism, found family, and fallen gods. Giving us some seriously rotten people. Even the ‘good guys’ do some questionable stuff. But boy is it entertaining!
Prepare for a world that is not fair. Where you have to fight for everything, and where at any moment what you believed a page ago is now a lie. Yes, I am being serious. The story is tricky and delicious!
Petra Lord, you are now an autobuy author for me. Thank you for never giving up on this story and for writing it. It is truly a wondrous read.
One thing to note, the book does deal with trans issues. I think it was done in a clever and accessible way. However, I am not trans. Therefore, I cannot speak for how members of the trans community might feel about it. For me, it was a story told of love with no boundaries. It was a story where young people were doing all they could to find their true selves. I felt the issues were handled with kindness, honesty, and compassion. In my opinion, it cracks open your empathy and shows you how human we all are, no matter the skin we are in.
To reemphasize. I loved this book. I enjoyed reading every word in this book. I cannot WAIT for the rest of this trilogy!
My deep, sincere thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Children’s, Harper Fire for this Arc in return for my honest review.
That said… I loved it! From page one, chapter one. Petra Lord had me!
Immediately I was swallowed into the story along with the main character. Their personality, their wants, their drive. All of it sucked me in.
From the first disaster until the end of the book, where my jaw dropped, I was greedily breathing in the words and the individual stories of each character. This was a plot that never stopped giving. I mean we got plot to the very last word of the acknowledgements. Lol! (READ to the very end when you do read this one.)
The world-building is detailed and fascinating without being draggy. You have villains who hide in plain sight. And as with every outstanding book, the villains are as deeply complex as the main characters. There are backstories in here that make your soul scream. The way it all came together in the end… I know I will be fighting a book slump and thinking about this story for a long while.
This is a wild, engrossing ride richly painted with magic, dark academia, elitism, found family, and fallen gods. Giving us some seriously rotten people. Even the ‘good guys’ do some questionable stuff. But boy is it entertaining!
Prepare for a world that is not fair. Where you have to fight for everything, and where at any moment what you believed a page ago is now a lie. Yes, I am being serious. The story is tricky and delicious!
Petra Lord, you are now an autobuy author for me. Thank you for never giving up on this story and for writing it. It is truly a wondrous read.
One thing to note, the book does deal with trans issues. I think it was done in a clever and accessible way. However, I am not trans. Therefore, I cannot speak for how members of the trans community might feel about it. For me, it was a story told of love with no boundaries. It was a story where young people were doing all they could to find their true selves. I felt the issues were handled with kindness, honesty, and compassion. In my opinion, it cracks open your empathy and shows you how human we all are, no matter the skin we are in.
To reemphasize. I loved this book. I enjoyed reading every word in this book. I cannot WAIT for the rest of this trilogy!
My deep, sincere thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Children’s, Harper Fire for this Arc in return for my honest review.
December 15, 2025
“𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧, 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥. 𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥.”
Queen of Faces surprised me in the best way possible. Petra Lord wrote a strong fantasy debut where dark academia was done right! The magic system was so unique & well thought out. The political intrigue? Chef kiss. Petra made me feel so deeply for the main characters as well - I wish I could hug them. The dark academia aspect was actually dark (this has been an issue lately lol, so I’m so glad this was done right). The stakes were high from the very start, never a dull moment and action packed to the brim. The romance aspect was executed well without taking away from the story. I *had* to finish it in a day which made me give it 5 stars, easily. In conclusion: add this to your tbr & thank me later!!
the vibes ™:
- trust no one
- political intrigue
- found family
- unique magic system
- dark academia
- yearning
Queen of Faces surprised me in the best way possible. Petra Lord wrote a strong fantasy debut where dark academia was done right! The magic system was so unique & well thought out. The political intrigue? Chef kiss. Petra made me feel so deeply for the main characters as well - I wish I could hug them. The dark academia aspect was actually dark (this has been an issue lately lol, so I’m so glad this was done right). The stakes were high from the very start, never a dull moment and action packed to the brim. The romance aspect was executed well without taking away from the story. I *had* to finish it in a day which made me give it 5 stars, easily. In conclusion: add this to your tbr & thank me later!!
the vibes ™:
- trust no one
- political intrigue
- found family
- unique magic system
- dark academia
- yearning
April 25, 2025
Wow—Queen of Faces completely pulled me out of my reading slump. I devoured this book and am already eagerly awaiting the next one!
The story follows Annabelle Gage, a 17-year-old who has been fighting for survival in a world where people can transfer their souls into new bodies. After a traumatic childhood event, Annabelle is stuck in a male chassis body, slowly dying, and has failed to gain entry into the prestigious Paragon Runic Academy multiple times. But she’s determined to make it, and her journey takes unexpected and dangerous turns.
In this world, people can develop magic, and Annabelle has her own unique Codex—a magical ability that lets her create illusions so realistic, they blur the line between reality and perception. This power gives her an edge as she navigates a world full of intrigue and dark forces.
The stakes are raised when Annabelle makes a dangerous decision that leads her to work with Carriwitch, the headmaster of Paragon Academy. He offers her a choice: work for him or die. In exchange for her life, Annabelle becomes a mercenary tasked with tracking down a former student turned villain, all while trying to stay one step ahead of her own inner turmoil.
What I loved about this book is how it shifts between different perspectives, including that of the villain. This multiple-POV structure really adds depth to the story and keeps the reader guessing. The twists and turns are relentless, and the worldbuilding is rich and immersive. The magic system is unique, and the complex relationships between the characters kept me hooked from start to finish.
Queen of Faces is a thrilling, dark fantasy that explores themes of identity, betrayal, and survival. It’s full of twists, layered characters, and an intricate plot that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
The story follows Annabelle Gage, a 17-year-old who has been fighting for survival in a world where people can transfer their souls into new bodies. After a traumatic childhood event, Annabelle is stuck in a male chassis body, slowly dying, and has failed to gain entry into the prestigious Paragon Runic Academy multiple times. But she’s determined to make it, and her journey takes unexpected and dangerous turns.
In this world, people can develop magic, and Annabelle has her own unique Codex—a magical ability that lets her create illusions so realistic, they blur the line between reality and perception. This power gives her an edge as she navigates a world full of intrigue and dark forces.
The stakes are raised when Annabelle makes a dangerous decision that leads her to work with Carriwitch, the headmaster of Paragon Academy. He offers her a choice: work for him or die. In exchange for her life, Annabelle becomes a mercenary tasked with tracking down a former student turned villain, all while trying to stay one step ahead of her own inner turmoil.
What I loved about this book is how it shifts between different perspectives, including that of the villain. This multiple-POV structure really adds depth to the story and keeps the reader guessing. The twists and turns are relentless, and the worldbuilding is rich and immersive. The magic system is unique, and the complex relationships between the characters kept me hooked from start to finish.
Queen of Faces is a thrilling, dark fantasy that explores themes of identity, betrayal, and survival. It’s full of twists, layered characters, and an intricate plot that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.
May 7, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
A magical fantasy, dark-academia book with multiple PoV's, enemies-to-lovers, and strong LGBTQ+ themes? If I was a betting man, I'd put $10 that this is going to blow up. What a fascinating concept as well. Being able to physically change your identity by switching bodies keeps readers on their toes and the main character, Anabelle's power (being able to directly alter other character's senses) means you're always thinking "Who is this? Is this real?" In a very literal sense, what you see on the outside does not reflect the real person on the inside. It gives the platform to explore questions of gender identity, loyalty and betrayal.
Queen of Faces is a snappy, exciting, fast paced read that jumps from scene to scene - there isn't a dull moment while reading the story. Anabelle's personality and struggles with her own identity and self worth were the most compelling part of the novel for me. Where it falls somewhat flat was in the characterization of her other companions, namely her rival Wes. I was hoping for a more in-depth exploration of how being Ousted mentally effected him - the inner battle of enjoying his newfound freedom versus his comfortable life was mentioned multiple times, but I never got the feeling that I knew what he was thinking. Really any time the focus wasn't on Ana's PoV, I found myself less interested and waiting to get back to her and her struggles.
Overall, a fresh take on the dark academia genre and a win for trans representation. If the summary appeals to you, you're going to enjoy it!
A magical fantasy, dark-academia book with multiple PoV's, enemies-to-lovers, and strong LGBTQ+ themes? If I was a betting man, I'd put $10 that this is going to blow up. What a fascinating concept as well. Being able to physically change your identity by switching bodies keeps readers on their toes and the main character, Anabelle's power (being able to directly alter other character's senses) means you're always thinking "Who is this? Is this real?" In a very literal sense, what you see on the outside does not reflect the real person on the inside. It gives the platform to explore questions of gender identity, loyalty and betrayal.
Queen of Faces is a snappy, exciting, fast paced read that jumps from scene to scene - there isn't a dull moment while reading the story. Anabelle's personality and struggles with her own identity and self worth were the most compelling part of the novel for me. Where it falls somewhat flat was in the characterization of her other companions, namely her rival Wes. I was hoping for a more in-depth exploration of how being Ousted mentally effected him - the inner battle of enjoying his newfound freedom versus his comfortable life was mentioned multiple times, but I never got the feeling that I knew what he was thinking. Really any time the focus wasn't on Ana's PoV, I found myself less interested and waiting to get back to her and her struggles.
Overall, a fresh take on the dark academia genre and a win for trans representation. If the summary appeals to you, you're going to enjoy it!
Review of advance copy
What a phenomenal book. I received this as an ALC and I am so fortunate because the premise is by far the most unique I have read in a long time. It felt like a sci-fi steam punk fantasy with elements of magic, science fiction and technology all wrapped up into a story that is a full journey of survival and self exploration. I was hooked beginning to end and the plot twists got me every single time! I cant wait for the full release because I know the book community will love this book.
November 28, 2025
boring and confusing as hell, like the story was so messy oml... and the way the author butchered body swapping as a magic system to explore themes of trans identity and gender fluidity properly is just criminal. every day i mourn books with interesting concepts but have a shitty execution
Read
April 24, 2025This book took me over eight years to write. In the process, I was typing so much I gave myself a serious nerve injury in both hands, one I still haven’t fully recovered from, and had to voice type much of the manuscript. This story means a lot to me, and I hope it is worth your time and money. Thank you very much for reading, or considering it.
PS. As a heads up, QUEEN OF FACES contains content that may be disturbing to some readers. Please read with discretion.
PS. As a heads up, QUEEN OF FACES contains content that may be disturbing to some readers. Please read with discretion.
October 6, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 5 stars.
Erm hell yeah to this book. The twists and turns this takes blew my mind, there’s little easter egg clues that hit you like a ton of bricks once everything clicks in your brain. There’s strategy and then there’s masterminds like our main characters, the moving parts that make everything happen are honestly wild.
So much happens in book 1, it’s fast moving with identities so that at times was tricky to keep up with early on, but once you get a feel for the magic and the world then it just flows quite nicely. There’s heartbreak, romance, rivalry and so much danger I actually thought most of our characters would die at various points. The ending is so calculated it blew my mind and to see the paths our main characters are now taking.. I’d sell my soul for book 2 right now.
Erm hell yeah to this book. The twists and turns this takes blew my mind, there’s little easter egg clues that hit you like a ton of bricks once everything clicks in your brain. There’s strategy and then there’s masterminds like our main characters, the moving parts that make everything happen are honestly wild.
So much happens in book 1, it’s fast moving with identities so that at times was tricky to keep up with early on, but once you get a feel for the magic and the world then it just flows quite nicely. There’s heartbreak, romance, rivalry and so much danger I actually thought most of our characters would die at various points. The ending is so calculated it blew my mind and to see the paths our main characters are now taking.. I’d sell my soul for book 2 right now.
November 26, 2025
I’ll admit, when I first started this, I wasn’t entirely convinced. But as the story pressed on bricks of worldbuilding locked into place, new and interesting characters came into play, our original main pair got much much more interesting, we built our found family, and doubt began to fester about the good guys and the bad guys… things got engaging fast.
I think I wanted to understand a bit more about how the different school subjects led to magic. There is a brief explanation about using geometry to walk on water, but it didn’t really dig into any of the other subjects. Especially Anna’s main magic, which never made it past the hand-wavey stage.
Wes is the real shining star of the story though, and I think I would die on that hill. His revenge fantasy ends up turning on its head when he’s inches away from getting everything he wanted.
Not super fond of the love triangle angle, but it’s negligible enough that I could breeze past it.
Can’t wait to see how much bigger the world gets in book two, and what answers our group uncover
{Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
I think I wanted to understand a bit more about how the different school subjects led to magic. There is a brief explanation about using geometry to walk on water, but it didn’t really dig into any of the other subjects. Especially Anna’s main magic, which never made it past the hand-wavey stage.
Wes is the real shining star of the story though, and I think I would die on that hill. His revenge fantasy ends up turning on its head when he’s inches away from getting everything he wanted.
Not super fond of the love triangle angle, but it’s negligible enough that I could breeze past it.
Can’t wait to see how much bigger the world gets in book two, and what answers our group uncover
{Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
June 6, 2025
WOOOOW! This is the MOST unique fantasy world concept I have ever read. The world building is fantastic, the characters are very deep and complex and multidimensional. There is t his one part where this character, Kaplan, is talking about how his depression and...ugh goodness gracious that rocked my world. I need a book two for this as soon as possible.
Ana is stuck with a body that doesn't match her soul. To make matters worse, it's also slowly dying. One night, after her school application gets rejected, she decides enough is enough and decides to steal a new body since she will never be able to afford one, let alone on time. But, when she gets caught she's given a choice: she can either die right there or secretly work for the headmaster of the school as a mercenary.
This was a such a deep and emotional read for me, it's so beautifully written. I highly recommend this book. It's so worth it
(I received this as a arc read)
Ana is stuck with a body that doesn't match her soul. To make matters worse, it's also slowly dying. One night, after her school application gets rejected, she decides enough is enough and decides to steal a new body since she will never be able to afford one, let alone on time. But, when she gets caught she's given a choice: she can either die right there or secretly work for the headmaster of the school as a mercenary.
This was a such a deep and emotional read for me, it's so beautifully written. I highly recommend this book. It's so worth it
(I received this as a arc read)
June 2, 2025
This book is one of my favorite YA novels I have read. It is similar to a very popular series made by a wretched author (not naming names) however it is so much better. I love the focus on a corrupt system that the characters actively dislike. I like how complex all the characters, groups, and countries are. Everyone is capable of doing good or bad . All the characters are very complex, even the antagonists. The plot twists are INSANE and I was genuinely surprised multiple times. The magic system and world building are revealed naturally and I didn't feel like I was constantly missing something. There are also some tender moments in there as well that I really appreciated.
All in all, I am SO EXCITED for any future books set in this world, or any books by Petra Lord in general.
Thanks NetGalley for providing this awesome book!
All in all, I am SO EXCITED for any future books set in this world, or any books by Petra Lord in general.
Thanks NetGalley for providing this awesome book!
June 7, 2025
4.5/5 - Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Synopsis: What would reality be like if the racist and classist attitudes embedded in our current society were accompanied by the ability to change bodies at will...for the right price? The Queen of Faces is a YA novel that centers LGBTQ+ characters, specifically the trans experience, while hitting points on the complexities of war and the prevalence of racist attitudes. The protagonist is Annabelle Gage, a girl who is currently occupying a male body against her wishes. Her original female body suffered a debilitating disease, and due to her family being poor, she was forced into a cheap male body to survive. She wishes to attend Paragon Academy, not only to receive a new body that identifies with her gender, but also to help her country fight against the Shentens and resist the "average" humans who protest the magic hierarchy.
Main Review:
The book's premise is very unique, and I appreciate how Lord uses it to highlight the trans experience while seamlessly incorporating queer characters. The simple idea that someone's gender assigned at birth may not match their current gender expression is a concept that many people struggle with, including the American political system right now. Having a YA novel depict this while simultaneously building a creative magic system and world seems to be very difficult, but Lord is able to achieve this nearly effortlessly. Also, the racism that the other ethnicities face (the Shentens, Kshatrans, and the protagonist's experience as a mixed-race person) is interwoven throughout the narrative.
I also feel like the plot, especially the ending, is very well-executed. However, there were some parts in the beginning where it was a bit clunky. For instance, there was a scenario when the conversation was supposed to take at most three minutes, but it was very clear with the huge chunks dedicated to each character's dialogue that it took a lot more than that. Lord was trying to provide background information on the world, but it was clear it didn't belong in that instance. Furthermore, the fast-paced narrative worked well for the majority of the book, but for the first 15%, I was struggling to get a hold of the scenes and the character.
All in all, I really enjoyed the book. The twists and turns were so shocking, and the characters were amazing and well-developed. I especially enjoyed Wes and reading his perspective. I also wasn't expecting to care for Ori as much as I did, and I am really looking forward to reading the next book! Lord is clearly a talented author, and I believe this book is going to be a bestseller.
Synopsis: What would reality be like if the racist and classist attitudes embedded in our current society were accompanied by the ability to change bodies at will...for the right price? The Queen of Faces is a YA novel that centers LGBTQ+ characters, specifically the trans experience, while hitting points on the complexities of war and the prevalence of racist attitudes. The protagonist is Annabelle Gage, a girl who is currently occupying a male body against her wishes. Her original female body suffered a debilitating disease, and due to her family being poor, she was forced into a cheap male body to survive. She wishes to attend Paragon Academy, not only to receive a new body that identifies with her gender, but also to help her country fight against the Shentens and resist the "average" humans who protest the magic hierarchy.
Main Review:
The book's premise is very unique, and I appreciate how Lord uses it to highlight the trans experience while seamlessly incorporating queer characters. The simple idea that someone's gender assigned at birth may not match their current gender expression is a concept that many people struggle with, including the American political system right now. Having a YA novel depict this while simultaneously building a creative magic system and world seems to be very difficult, but Lord is able to achieve this nearly effortlessly. Also, the racism that the other ethnicities face (the Shentens, Kshatrans, and the protagonist's experience as a mixed-race person) is interwoven throughout the narrative.
I also feel like the plot, especially the ending, is very well-executed. However, there were some parts in the beginning where it was a bit clunky. For instance, there was a scenario when the conversation was supposed to take at most three minutes, but it was very clear with the huge chunks dedicated to each character's dialogue that it took a lot more than that. Lord was trying to provide background information on the world, but it was clear it didn't belong in that instance. Furthermore, the fast-paced narrative worked well for the majority of the book, but for the first 15%, I was struggling to get a hold of the scenes and the character.
All in all, I really enjoyed the book. The twists and turns were so shocking, and the characters were amazing and well-developed. I especially enjoyed Wes and reading his perspective. I also wasn't expecting to care for Ori as much as I did, and I am really looking forward to reading the next book! Lord is clearly a talented author, and I believe this book is going to be a bestseller.
July 6, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This book was intriguing, to say the least. I think it had some good bones, and some really interesting plot points and twists, but overall there was a lot of missed opportunities in my opinion.
What I Liked:
- I am a sucker for a cool, unique magic system, and Queen of Faces did not disappoint! The idea of each mage having their own, unique Codex that they developed through self realization was really interesting.
- There was a great found family element to this book...Ana made some really great friends along the way, and I loved her character development as she learned to trust and rely on her friends.
- It was often hard to tell who to like and who not to like, which kept me guessing at every turn!
- I loved the trans and mental health representation throughout the book.
- The last 15% of the book had some huge plot twists that I didn't see coming, and we're left on a pretty big cliffhanger!
What Wasn't My Favorite:
- In my opinion, the last 15% was the only truly engaging part of the book. The majority of the book was filled with a lot of lead up, but it was all glossed over so quickly that I didn't find myself invested in what happened.
- The world building was...confusing. There were two main elements going on: magical university, and a band of misfits hired as mercenaries. I think that the world development suffered from being split between these two big themes, because there wasn't enough time spent fleshing out either element, in my opinion.
- I think due to too much going on, things aren't developed enough...Ana is described as this big mastermind of the mercenary group, but we don't really get to see that because the missions are glossed over. She also makes such huge progress at Paragon, but again we don't really get to see any of it because there isn't enough time spent developing the plot points. I think the book would have benefited greatly from picking one or the other, and fleshing it out more fully.
- The (romantic?) relationships felt very weak. I know the book is YA, but the two kisses written seemed to happen without much build up, and then weren't really talked about or mentioned again. Were they even necessary? Couldn't they have just stayed friends?
Overall, I think the book has some good ideas, and I think it has huge potential to be a really interesting YA series! Unfortunately, I don't think it's for me, and I likely won't be keeping my eye out for book 2.
This book was intriguing, to say the least. I think it had some good bones, and some really interesting plot points and twists, but overall there was a lot of missed opportunities in my opinion.
What I Liked:
- I am a sucker for a cool, unique magic system, and Queen of Faces did not disappoint! The idea of each mage having their own, unique Codex that they developed through self realization was really interesting.
- There was a great found family element to this book...Ana made some really great friends along the way, and I loved her character development as she learned to trust and rely on her friends.
- It was often hard to tell who to like and who not to like, which kept me guessing at every turn!
- I loved the trans and mental health representation throughout the book.
- The last 15% of the book had some huge plot twists that I didn't see coming, and we're left on a pretty big cliffhanger!
What Wasn't My Favorite:
- In my opinion, the last 15% was the only truly engaging part of the book. The majority of the book was filled with a lot of lead up, but it was all glossed over so quickly that I didn't find myself invested in what happened.
- The world building was...confusing. There were two main elements going on: magical university, and a band of misfits hired as mercenaries. I think that the world development suffered from being split between these two big themes, because there wasn't enough time spent fleshing out either element, in my opinion.
- I think due to too much going on, things aren't developed enough...Ana is described as this big mastermind of the mercenary group, but we don't really get to see that because the missions are glossed over. She also makes such huge progress at Paragon, but again we don't really get to see any of it because there isn't enough time spent developing the plot points. I think the book would have benefited greatly from picking one or the other, and fleshing it out more fully.
- The (romantic?) relationships felt very weak. I know the book is YA, but the two kisses written seemed to happen without much build up, and then weren't really talked about or mentioned again. Were they even necessary? Couldn't they have just stayed friends?
Overall, I think the book has some good ideas, and I think it has huge potential to be a really interesting YA series! Unfortunately, I don't think it's for me, and I likely won't be keeping my eye out for book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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