The Puppet Throne: An Adventure Fantasy Begins

by Jay Roshni

When the puppet breaks her string, the empire begins to burn.

For ten years, Queen Zeren of Izakura has been little more than a puppet on her own throne. Bound by the dark magic of the Tricilium—her shadowy council of three—Zeren’s rule is a carefully curated illusion, her choices stolen, her voice silenced. To the continent beyond the capital, she is a cruel and heartless sovereign, blamed for atrocities she never chose.

When Zeren’s maid uncovers a plot that could cost the queen her life, she makes the choice Zeren cannot—escape. Forced from the palace alongside the reluctant crown prince of Athora, Zeren is thrust into a world she has never been allowed to navigate, where survival depends as much on others’ decisions as her own.

As they travel through lands ravaged in the queen’s name, each must reckon with the consequences of their actions—and with the hatred that awaits Zeren beyond the throne. With the Tricilium hunting them, rebellion stirring in secret, and allies whose motives are anything but clear, staying alive becomes a test of loyalty, judgment, and restraint.

Freedom may demand more than escape. And the queen who was never allowed to rule may yet decide the fate of an empire.

The Puppet Throne is the first book in a fantasy trilogy where escape is only the beginning—and power must be earned before it can be claimed.
Although set in the same world as Shields of Seiflands, this trilogy can be read independently.

Genres: Fantasy

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2025

Reviews

[Ant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Puppet Throne follows a young queen, Zeren, usurped from her throne by a triumvirate of villains as she begins her journey to (presumably) retake her crown and correct the injustice in her kingdom.

The characters here are mostly well drawn - Hena, Anya and Jharile especially so. I initially felt that Zeren was rather insipid and needed more work; but on reflection the character as drawn is quite accurate given Zeren's history, and also gives a huge amount of space for growth.

The magic system too, feels well designed. Characters can't just hand-wave their way out of trouble, and there is a degree of cost associated with wielding. There are also hints at multiple magic systems being available or in use, which again widens the scope for the remaining books.

This book is a good solid start to a planned trilogy; it touches all the points that a good fantasy adventure normally has. There's the chosen one with their trusty sidekick, an assisting hero or two, magic, and villains aplenty. And yet, although I seemed to have difficulty being thoroughly drawn in to the world - I think it's likely that this is just me and I'm a little jaded from reading too much fantasy - I'm looking forward to see where this story goes.

Thanks to the author and BookSirens for the complimentary copy on which this review is based.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Puppet Throne has a promising premise – the kingdom is secretly ruled by 3 advisors while the queen is imprisoned in the castle. But the plot was poorly executed; everything felt too easy.

The queen resigns herself to being a puppet, so a servant girl isn't tortured. We then jump forward 10 years, and the queen is still protecting this servant by submitting to the council. There is no evidence that the queen tried to change their fate. In fact, the servant takes the lead in their escape from the castle, and this is driven by self-preservation rather than a duty to country.

The escape is too easy, and by page 180, there has been no real threat of their recapture. Tension lacks. I'm not worried if any of the characters will survive, and I'm not worried if the queen will retake her rightful place. We're just along for the ride.

And despite the synopsis, the queen isn't an active player in this story. It's narrated through the eyes of the servant and a prince from another kingdom. There's nothing to emotionally connect me to the queen, who should be a principal character. I can't even remember her name.

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I Liked/Didn't Like
The Puppet Throne was an interesting read in its third-person multiple POV storytelling. The reader skipped around in the eyes of the characters, viewing the story from almost all perspectives at various times. I can't quite decide if this is a strength of The Puppet Throne or a weakness. I couldn't quite attach myself to any specific character, and it took almost 50 pages to get a feel for the world and the plot. Hena was a compelling female character, I found Aethan a somewhat empty-headed prince, and Zeren was a puppet in more ways than one as she followed the leads of the Triumvirate and then of Hena as they escaped the palace. The world was interesting once I grasped the feel of it, but it took quite some time. All in all, The Puppet Throne was a fairly casual, light read (though I'll grant that some of the subject matter is dark and violent, however even this felt a little bland), but it could have used tightening up of the narration, POVs, and worldbuilding.

Themes:
- Power
- Abuse of the vulnerable
- Revolution

Content warnings:
Spice: None
Profanity: World-specific, light.
Violence: Moderate - blood, murder

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Patty Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author continues to improve with each book! I really enjoyed getting to know Prince Aethan in this book and seeing him grow a bit more. Romance in this book is only a small subplot, so if you are looking for a book where the romance is the main story....you may be disappointed. However, if you like political intrigue, rebellion, standing up to the bullies, found inner strength and power, with a slice of romance on the side, then you will want to read this book!
Overall, I liked this story a lot and I'm so looking forward to the next book!

*Disclaimer: As a Christian I want other readers to be aware that this book mentions 2 women that seem to be in a same-sex relationship. However, it is near the end of the book, is a very small mention, and there is no description of them being affectionate with each other. Since it was so subtle, I don't have a problem reading it, but others might and I want those readers to be aware.

[Twinkle.butt.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Puppet Throne is an engaging fantasy novel that explores themes of power, responsibility, and the burdens of leadership through the eyes of Queen Zeren, a young ruler thrust into a precarious position after the tragic loss of her family. The narrative is rich with political intrigue, as Zeren navigates the treacherous waters of court politics alongside her council, the Tricilium, who wield significant influence over her reign.

Overall, The Puppet Throne is a thought-provoking read that combines fantasy with relatable themes of courage and resilience. It’s a strong start to what promises to be an exciting series. If you enjoy stories about young leaders facing daunting challenges, this book is definitely worth picking up!
Thank you book siren for the Arc!!!

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, the characters are all fascinating with realistic, diverse, and in some cases absolutely vile personalities. Queen Zeren of Izakua is little more than a figure head, while the Tricilium hold all the power. Zeren's only friend is her maid, Hena. When Hena discovers a deadly plot against her queen, and her only family she puts into motion a plan that will lead to their escape from the palace. There is a lot of violence and bloodshed in this book as well as magic, political corruption, murder and torture. Plenty of twists in the plot kept me engrossed in this book. I highly recommend this fantastic book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Germs.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the cover and description, it uses the genre perfectly and enjoyed the overall element in this opening chapter. The characters felt like they belonged in this world and was invested in what was happening to this. Jay Roshni has a strong writing style and was able to create a strong story and characters that I was hoping for. It was a strong start to the Puppet Throne Trilogy series and left me wanting to read the next book in the series right away. I enjoyed the overall feel and glad it was everything that I was expecting.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kaitlyn Raasveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel so bad for Queen Zeren. She’s lived a life of torture essentially and it’s definitely not getting any easier anytime soon. Her time spent with her companions was super interesting. I loved how they all meshed really well and the story flowed wonderfully. It was really good writing, and I hope I can experience more in this wonderful world.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She may be queen but she is controlled by the council and her maid wants to help her. She goes to a prince and they escaped finding just how the people hate the queen. They want to help her regain full control of her throne. They face a battle to help her so see where they get too
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a thrilling read

[Heather W · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and fun read, the puppet throne jumps right into the story right at the start and never lets go. The characterisation is well done, and the pacing is steady. I had a great time reading this book and look forward to more

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thrilling and enjoyable read, with great characters, fascinating magic, and well-drawn settings. Looking forward to reading the second book in this three-book series.

ARC