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The Shrouded Queen
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26In the first book in this romantasy duology inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology, a slave and a princess switch places during an enemy attack, igniting parallel journeys of love and survival.
As a slave to the Ashoran royals, Samira has always known she was expendable. So when the vicious Kaldfolk attack the palace, she is ready to die as a decoy for her princess. But when she’s captured instead, she’s forced to impersonate the princess and survive through brutal trials designed to awaken her divine powers—all under the watch of her dangerously intriguing, shape-shifting captor.
Amunet Khada—now queen of Ashorah—is on the run following the king’s death. With only her guard-with-benefits, Jasim, by her side, she must evade treacherous allies while racing to contact her father—the god of the underworld—before her long-promised powers slip beyond reach.
While Amunet embarks on a quest through the wastelands, Samira learns the true reason for the attack and unlocks secrets in her past that could change everything. And with threats growing on all sides, Samira and Amunet must decide...who can they trust?
As a slave to the Ashoran royals, Samira has always known she was expendable. So when the vicious Kaldfolk attack the palace, she is ready to die as a decoy for her princess. But when she’s captured instead, she’s forced to impersonate the princess and survive through brutal trials designed to awaken her divine powers—all under the watch of her dangerously intriguing, shape-shifting captor.
Amunet Khada—now queen of Ashorah—is on the run following the king’s death. With only her guard-with-benefits, Jasim, by her side, she must evade treacherous allies while racing to contact her father—the god of the underworld—before her long-promised powers slip beyond reach.
While Amunet embarks on a quest through the wastelands, Samira learns the true reason for the attack and unlocks secrets in her past that could change everything. And with threats growing on all sides, Samira and Amunet must decide...who can they trust?
448 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 16, 2026
9450 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Tropea
4 books83 followersAshley Tropea comes from an Egyptian-Italian family and has been writing since she was 11. She finished her first novel by the age of 14 and published it online for free, where she received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback, earning a combined 1.5 million reads worldwide.
In addition to her (perhaps unhealthy) obsession with books, she is also a huge tv junkie. She studied writing for tv at Loyola Marymount University where she graduated with a BA in Screenwriting. Her scripts have performed just as well as her novels, placing in numerous screenwriting competitions and regularly ranking in the top 10 on Coverfly's Red List.
With a special place in her heart for fantasies and ball gowns, Ashley intends to spread her love of large worlds, adventure, and romance through her novels and films.
In addition to her (perhaps unhealthy) obsession with books, she is also a huge tv junkie. She studied writing for tv at Loyola Marymount University where she graduated with a BA in Screenwriting. Her scripts have performed just as well as her novels, placing in numerous screenwriting competitions and regularly ranking in the top 10 on Coverfly's Red List.
With a special place in her heart for fantasies and ball gowns, Ashley intends to spread her love of large worlds, adventure, and romance through her novels and films.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
December 14, 2025
4.5/5
I was very fortunate to receive an ARC of this book releasing in June 2026.
This is such a unique and well written story, it definitely grabbed me and kept me hooked. When I first read the snippet I thought - oh like a fantasy parent trap - but noooo, so much more than that. We are talking one kingdom that is heavily inspired by a magical Egyptian setting with gods - facing their enemy kingdom which is kind of like Viking inspired with runes, magic and bear shifters.
Princess Amunet is the gods chosen, daughter of the god of the underworld, she is revered and soon due to inherit her powers - see, in times of trouble, the gods send their children to earth to help, giving them pieces of their powers. Samira is a servant to the princess, taken from her home 16 years previous, she has only known servitude. But it was not an easy life, as the princess was quite cruel. One night, an enemy kingdom comes and end up attacking - planning to capture the princess. Amunet, wanting to escape, dresses her maid Samira in her clothing and tells her to impersonate her to give her time to get away. So as Amunet is running away with her trusted guard with benefits Jasim, Samira is captured and brought back to their kingdom. Where she must keep up the ruse, or be found out and “ended”. Amunet on the run, now Queen after the passing of the king in the battle, must find new allies and strength, and how to contact her father who now no longer communicates with her.
Dual POV from Samira and Amunet - I found it a little hard with Amunet cause I just straight out do not like her. But I give the writer props for showing how multidimensional she is and giving her layers.
I was very fortunate to receive an ARC of this book releasing in June 2026.
This is such a unique and well written story, it definitely grabbed me and kept me hooked. When I first read the snippet I thought - oh like a fantasy parent trap - but noooo, so much more than that. We are talking one kingdom that is heavily inspired by a magical Egyptian setting with gods - facing their enemy kingdom which is kind of like Viking inspired with runes, magic and bear shifters.
Princess Amunet is the gods chosen, daughter of the god of the underworld, she is revered and soon due to inherit her powers - see, in times of trouble, the gods send their children to earth to help, giving them pieces of their powers. Samira is a servant to the princess, taken from her home 16 years previous, she has only known servitude. But it was not an easy life, as the princess was quite cruel. One night, an enemy kingdom comes and end up attacking - planning to capture the princess. Amunet, wanting to escape, dresses her maid Samira in her clothing and tells her to impersonate her to give her time to get away. So as Amunet is running away with her trusted guard with benefits Jasim, Samira is captured and brought back to their kingdom. Where she must keep up the ruse, or be found out and “ended”. Amunet on the run, now Queen after the passing of the king in the battle, must find new allies and strength, and how to contact her father who now no longer communicates with her.
Dual POV from Samira and Amunet - I found it a little hard with Amunet cause I just straight out do not like her. But I give the writer props for showing how multidimensional she is and giving her layers.
October 27, 2025
Ashley’s done it again! This book perfectly blends Egyptian and Norse mythology. It has one of bitchiest female main characters I’ve ever read and I feel like we need that kind of representation today. Like hell yeah - be that bitch! That paired with her sweet-as-honey co-lead and BOOM you’ve got something special in your hands.
Read for the girls, stay for the men they meet (hehehehehe). Action-packed, hot, and leaves you wanting the next book ASAP.
Read for the girls, stay for the men they meet (hehehehehe). Action-packed, hot, and leaves you wanting the next book ASAP.
November 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the eArc for this book!
I really enjoyed this! The lore and tie-ins with Egyptian mythology were extremely interesting and compelling. I loved how different Samira and Amunet were from each other, and the character development both went through over the course of the book. There were a few phrases that felt somewhat out of place and modern for the setting - things like "twin-sized bed," Amunet's inner monologue asking "Why the fuck we're still here," someone asking "Where the fuck was I?" but overall, this was a great read and I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment!
I really enjoyed this! The lore and tie-ins with Egyptian mythology were extremely interesting and compelling. I loved how different Samira and Amunet were from each other, and the character development both went through over the course of the book. There were a few phrases that felt somewhat out of place and modern for the setting - things like "twin-sized bed," Amunet's inner monologue asking "Why the fuck we're still here," someone asking "Where the fuck was I?" but overall, this was a great read and I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment!
October 27, 2025
Ahhhhhh!!!! I can’t wait!!!🥳🥳🥳 literally counting the days till it’s released
October 27, 2025
Cannot state how excited I am for this. GET HYPED Y’ALL!!! We will all be frothing at the mouth when this comes out and I don’t think we are ready. Will be purchasing this book the second it’s available and you should too! You won’t regret it 😤
October 27, 2025
What. A. Read.
I’m constantly impressed by Ashley’s storytelling skills, and The Shrouded Queen is no exception. She crafted an incredibly refreshing world with bold and nuanced characters you’ll easily become obsessed with. Cannot wait to see where she takes this story!
I’ll be first in line on June 16th to get my copy, and so should you!
I’m constantly impressed by Ashley’s storytelling skills, and The Shrouded Queen is no exception. She crafted an incredibly refreshing world with bold and nuanced characters you’ll easily become obsessed with. Cannot wait to see where she takes this story!
I’ll be first in line on June 16th to get my copy, and so should you!
January 4, 2026
This turned out to be a genuine five star read and one of the most refreshing entries I have read in the genre in quite a while. I finished it in less than 24 hours.
I received an advance reader copy through NetGalley. This title is currently available as a Read Now option and has an anticipated release date of June 2026.
I went into this book with fairly low expectations. In the past, my experience with Read Now titles has been mixed, and I assumed this would be a pleasant but forgettable romantasy, but that was absolutely not what happened.
The Shrouded Queen feels like a breath of fresh air in a romantasy space that has become saturated with medieval European settings and heavily recycled tropes. While this book does use familiar elements, it isn’t overbearing.
The story follows two parallel journeys. Samira, a slave forced to impersonate a princess after an attack on the royal palace, is captured by an enemy tribe of shifters and humans. Her captor Kier, who is a bear shifter, is the quintessential broody MMC. His character is probably the most formulaic of the story. Meanwhile, Amunet, the newly crowned queen, is on the run, accompanied by her guard and lover Jasim, as she races to claim powers tied to her divine lineage. These dual narratives go throughout the book.
There are two central romances, both open door but light on spice. Romance is clearly present with both FMCs, but it remains secondary to the fantasy plot.
The worldbuilding leans heavily into Egyptian, desert, and Middle Eastern inspired settings, complete with gods, jinn, and mythological elements and monsters.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is its female main characters. Samira and Amunet are imperfect, and their flaws are not smoothed over. They make questionable decisions and they grow in uneven ways. I can see some readers finding them annoying at times, but for me, that imperfection made their arcs feel authentic.
Mystery and secrecy drive much of the tension. I was consistently invested, not just in what would happen next, but in how the different plot threads would eventually intersect.
Overall, The Shrouded Queen is a standout romantasy that proves the genre can still surprise when authors are willing to take risks and go in different directions.
If you are looking for something that feels familiar yet genuinely fresh, this one is absolutely worth your time.
I received an advance reader copy through NetGalley. This title is currently available as a Read Now option and has an anticipated release date of June 2026.
I went into this book with fairly low expectations. In the past, my experience with Read Now titles has been mixed, and I assumed this would be a pleasant but forgettable romantasy, but that was absolutely not what happened.
The Shrouded Queen feels like a breath of fresh air in a romantasy space that has become saturated with medieval European settings and heavily recycled tropes. While this book does use familiar elements, it isn’t overbearing.
The story follows two parallel journeys. Samira, a slave forced to impersonate a princess after an attack on the royal palace, is captured by an enemy tribe of shifters and humans. Her captor Kier, who is a bear shifter, is the quintessential broody MMC. His character is probably the most formulaic of the story. Meanwhile, Amunet, the newly crowned queen, is on the run, accompanied by her guard and lover Jasim, as she races to claim powers tied to her divine lineage. These dual narratives go throughout the book.
There are two central romances, both open door but light on spice. Romance is clearly present with both FMCs, but it remains secondary to the fantasy plot.
The worldbuilding leans heavily into Egyptian, desert, and Middle Eastern inspired settings, complete with gods, jinn, and mythological elements and monsters.
One of the strongest aspects of this book is its female main characters. Samira and Amunet are imperfect, and their flaws are not smoothed over. They make questionable decisions and they grow in uneven ways. I can see some readers finding them annoying at times, but for me, that imperfection made their arcs feel authentic.
Mystery and secrecy drive much of the tension. I was consistently invested, not just in what would happen next, but in how the different plot threads would eventually intersect.
Overall, The Shrouded Queen is a standout romantasy that proves the genre can still surprise when authors are willing to take risks and go in different directions.
If you are looking for something that feels familiar yet genuinely fresh, this one is absolutely worth your time.
January 24, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
This book follows Samira and Amunet after King Zaid is murdered following an invasion of the Kaldfolk.
This was an interesting story and I did enjoy the Egyptian themes, imagery, and mythology. But I did keep getting thrown off as the author tends to use modern sayings/verbiage while trying to convey a setting that is not modern.
The imagery was very bleak, I had a hard time picturing much of this world as I felt the descriptions were very mild and lackluster.
Most of the characters felt a little flat. Like Samira spends the entire book acting like a doormat to everyone only to, in the end, do a complete 180. Amunet is a roller coaster of “I’m a good person, I’m an evil person”. Most of the Kaldfolk feel like they’re merely NPCs: there just to fill in space and really don’t add much to the overall story.
The twist at the end I could see coming from very early in the book as it was obvious what the entire story was building towards. Wish there had either been less buildup, or a twist that wasn’t seen coming.
Overall, it was a good story, unique concept, and original imagery with the Egyptian influences.
This book follows Samira and Amunet after King Zaid is murdered following an invasion of the Kaldfolk.
This was an interesting story and I did enjoy the Egyptian themes, imagery, and mythology. But I did keep getting thrown off as the author tends to use modern sayings/verbiage while trying to convey a setting that is not modern.
The imagery was very bleak, I had a hard time picturing much of this world as I felt the descriptions were very mild and lackluster.
Most of the characters felt a little flat. Like Samira spends the entire book acting like a doormat to everyone only to, in the end, do a complete 180. Amunet is a roller coaster of “I’m a good person, I’m an evil person”. Most of the Kaldfolk feel like they’re merely NPCs: there just to fill in space and really don’t add much to the overall story.
The twist at the end I could see coming from very early in the book as it was obvious what the entire story was building towards. Wish there had either been less buildup, or a twist that wasn’t seen coming.
Overall, it was a good story, unique concept, and original imagery with the Egyptian influences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2025
So excited for this one! Ashley is a force to be reckoned with. A skilled writer who creates a compelling world that merges cultures. I consider myself lucky to have glimpsed at nascent drafts of this and I truly cannot wait to read the final version once it hits shelves!
February 19, 2026
This was absolutely bizarre
January 3, 2026
I requested and received this arc through NetGalley based on the intriguing synopsis. I believe the storyline has tremendous potential. Whenever fantasy stories are based on culturally specific mythology, I’m already so curious of how an author will write their rendition of it. Ashley did will in this area especially taking time to describe bits and pieces of the cultural aspects of her story without overdoing it.
Some of the language used in the story did throw me off and pull me back into modern time (e.g., “He’s actually just a cuddly bear.”) — when I think fantasy, I anticipate verbiage that puts me in an ancient time, different dimension, or something of dystopian relation. I’m hoping that the official published version will have some of those parts re-written.
Overall, 3.5/5 ⭐️ reads, and I am excited to read the official version of this book!
Some of the language used in the story did throw me off and pull me back into modern time (e.g., “He’s actually just a cuddly bear.”) — when I think fantasy, I anticipate verbiage that puts me in an ancient time, different dimension, or something of dystopian relation. I’m hoping that the official published version will have some of those parts re-written.
Overall, 3.5/5 ⭐️ reads, and I am excited to read the official version of this book!
November 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
MS ASHLEEEYYY PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT!!! hi, hello, okay now tell me... WHAT sort of crack did you put in this book?! I read it in like 2 days lol
As someone new to Egyptian mythology this book was so interesting. It was uniquely in its concept and execution.
Okay let's talk about a few people:
Samira- I loved her character growth. She was a kidnapped little girl that was taken and made a slave (or a "maid") in service to the princess/queen who also has the title God's Chosen. When the enemy invades the palace Amunet (the princess) demands that Samira impersonate her as part of Amunets escape plan. Subsequently Samira gets taken into enemy territory-- but her feelings grow conflicted when her life with the "enemy" is better than any life she's known before.
I liked watching as she transformed from maid/servant into her own being, using her voice and forming her own opinion. She became bold and outspoken.
Keir- yes! Hes a shifter (part bear and man) that makes the split decision to capture Gods Chosen (actually Samira) in order to try and save his land. His the second in command behind the King of Kaldfold and lissttteeeennn the tension that builds between him and Samira kept me up reading into the night lol
Amunet- okay now shes an interesting character. She has so many titles, princess/queen, God's Chosen, and daughter of Shaya (god of the underworld) it leaves you wondering who Amunet actually is. She battles with all of these identities and the want to just be loved and accepted for her. She makes questionable choices, some that are selfish and some that are driven from self preservation. Sometimes you love her and sometimes you hate her buuutt at the end I did feel like i understood her and thats the mark of a good character.
Jasim- I will be accepting no Jasim slander, thank you!
So why only 4.5 stars? Genuinely this was a good book and im so thankful its a duology because I HAVE QUESTIONS!! but I did think there was a small part in the middle where things were a little slow. Also there were a few parts where the reader was just made to accept things "because I said so". Now maybe if I knew more about Egyptian mythology prior to reading this book I'd have less gaps? Example: I dont think Samira asked enough questions about the color of her ruines. She just kind of accepted the unexpected and didn't ask enough questions on how that could/would affect her??
All in all I'd recommend this book and I'm very upset I have to wait an unhealthy amount of time to read the next book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
** on netgalley this book was listed with "erotica" as one of its sub genres. To be clear dont pick up this book if you are looking for spice. There's like 1.5 sex scenes. Id give this a 🌶/5. BUT if you're here, stay for the longing and YEARNING. im choosing to believe the pay off in book 2 will be worth it 🤞🏽
MS ASHLEEEYYY PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT!!! hi, hello, okay now tell me... WHAT sort of crack did you put in this book?! I read it in like 2 days lol
As someone new to Egyptian mythology this book was so interesting. It was uniquely in its concept and execution.
Okay let's talk about a few people:
Samira- I loved her character growth. She was a kidnapped little girl that was taken and made a slave (or a "maid") in service to the princess/queen who also has the title God's Chosen. When the enemy invades the palace Amunet (the princess) demands that Samira impersonate her as part of Amunets escape plan. Subsequently Samira gets taken into enemy territory-- but her feelings grow conflicted when her life with the "enemy" is better than any life she's known before.
I liked watching as she transformed from maid/servant into her own being, using her voice and forming her own opinion. She became bold and outspoken.
Keir- yes! Hes a shifter (part bear and man) that makes the split decision to capture Gods Chosen (actually Samira) in order to try and save his land. His the second in command behind the King of Kaldfold and lissttteeeennn the tension that builds between him and Samira kept me up reading into the night lol
Amunet- okay now shes an interesting character. She has so many titles, princess/queen, God's Chosen, and daughter of Shaya (god of the underworld) it leaves you wondering who Amunet actually is. She battles with all of these identities and the want to just be loved and accepted for her. She makes questionable choices, some that are selfish and some that are driven from self preservation. Sometimes you love her and sometimes you hate her buuutt at the end I did feel like i understood her and thats the mark of a good character.
Jasim- I will be accepting no Jasim slander, thank you!
So why only 4.5 stars? Genuinely this was a good book and im so thankful its a duology because I HAVE QUESTIONS!! but I did think there was a small part in the middle where things were a little slow. Also there were a few parts where the reader was just made to accept things "because I said so". Now maybe if I knew more about Egyptian mythology prior to reading this book I'd have less gaps? Example: I dont think Samira asked enough questions about the color of her ruines. She just kind of accepted the unexpected and didn't ask enough questions on how that could/would affect her??
All in all I'd recommend this book and I'm very upset I have to wait an unhealthy amount of time to read the next book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
** on netgalley this book was listed with "erotica" as one of its sub genres. To be clear dont pick up this book if you are looking for spice. There's like 1.5 sex scenes. Id give this a 🌶/5. BUT if you're here, stay for the longing and YEARNING. im choosing to believe the pay off in book 2 will be worth it 🤞🏽
January 25, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for my own opinion.
The problem with stories like this is that they have been done multiple times in different variations. Think A Fate Blooded in Ink for an example. So quite literally, I knew where this story was going and who Samira was by 10% of this book. Now it’s not always a bad thing to know what’s going to happen by the end of the book and it can be enjoyable seeing how the character gets to that point (think the Hobbit) but that only works if the writing and characters are strong. That’s where this book falls flat for me.
Samira and Amunet are the two main characters in this duel point of view book. Samira is personally the more interesting point of view versus Amunet but they both fall so flat to me as they are very one sided: Amunet dancing around if she’s good or bad and Samira being loyal to Amunet. The side characters are NPCs that don’t hold any value and are just there randomly existing. I kept asking myself if this character wasn’t there, would anything change and honestly nothing would have changed in an impactful way. Out of the handful of side characters we meet, only 3 hold any value.
Usually I am very chill when it comes to writing but when the book takes place in a fantasy setting that takes inspiration from Egypt and Scandinavia countries, you can’t use modern words like twin bed or even quoting what the definition of insanity. It’s jarring and pulls the reader out of the world you are building. Secondly, there is a lot of character inconsistency with Samira and some with Amunet (the princess knowing the definition of insanity and what a twin bed is),but mainly with Samira. Samira shouldn’t know how to swim as we are given no inclination to believe that she can, yet she can. How does she know what a whale and shark are when she comes from a desert? I don’t know, but she does. She’s a slave who’s allowed to eat cow yet she comes from a kingdom where water is rare and sacred. Do you know it takes ALOT of water to raise cattle especially in arid biomes so that means cow meat should be a delicacy not something a slave should be eating. The lack of drinking water and how it’s sacred is an important component in this world and you can see that from Amunets point of view when she is dealing the Princes but besides that, there was no follow through and felt forgettable until the author realized that and then just threw something small in to cover that negligence.
The constant inconsistencies is why I am marking this book 2 stars. Everything (the romance, the character, and the world) just felt shallow and not fully thought out.
The problem with stories like this is that they have been done multiple times in different variations. Think A Fate Blooded in Ink for an example. So quite literally, I knew where this story was going and who Samira was by 10% of this book. Now it’s not always a bad thing to know what’s going to happen by the end of the book and it can be enjoyable seeing how the character gets to that point (think the Hobbit) but that only works if the writing and characters are strong. That’s where this book falls flat for me.
Samira and Amunet are the two main characters in this duel point of view book. Samira is personally the more interesting point of view versus Amunet but they both fall so flat to me as they are very one sided: Amunet dancing around if she’s good or bad and Samira being loyal to Amunet. The side characters are NPCs that don’t hold any value and are just there randomly existing. I kept asking myself if this character wasn’t there, would anything change and honestly nothing would have changed in an impactful way. Out of the handful of side characters we meet, only 3 hold any value.
Usually I am very chill when it comes to writing but when the book takes place in a fantasy setting that takes inspiration from Egypt and Scandinavia countries, you can’t use modern words like twin bed or even quoting what the definition of insanity. It’s jarring and pulls the reader out of the world you are building. Secondly, there is a lot of character inconsistency with Samira and some with Amunet (the princess knowing the definition of insanity and what a twin bed is),but mainly with Samira. Samira shouldn’t know how to swim as we are given no inclination to believe that she can, yet she can. How does she know what a whale and shark are when she comes from a desert? I don’t know, but she does. She’s a slave who’s allowed to eat cow yet she comes from a kingdom where water is rare and sacred. Do you know it takes ALOT of water to raise cattle especially in arid biomes so that means cow meat should be a delicacy not something a slave should be eating. The lack of drinking water and how it’s sacred is an important component in this world and you can see that from Amunets point of view when she is dealing the Princes but besides that, there was no follow through and felt forgettable until the author realized that and then just threw something small in to cover that negligence.
The constant inconsistencies is why I am marking this book 2 stars. Everything (the romance, the character, and the world) just felt shallow and not fully thought out.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Shrouded Queen is the first of a duology by Ashley Tropea. This story follows a queen and a slave on intertwining pathways. Queen Amunet Khada is the daughter of the god of the Underworld on a journey to claim her power to save her people, or so she thinks. Samira Makara is Amunet’s slave who is taken by the enemy faction, the Kaldfolk. Samira believes that it is her duty to take on the Queen’s identity to stall time for Amunet to claim her power.
Rating: 3.75/5.0
As a person fascinated with both Egyptian and Nordic folklore and cultures, intertwining the aesthetics of both groups of people creates a unique experience and layout in a fantasy setting. I would love to see a map of what that looks like in this universe as sometimes it is hard to wrap my mind on how geographically close the factions seem to be in the novel but are extremely different culture-wise, even though they have similar religious ideologies.
Overall, this was a captivating read, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I love the aesthetics of the factions involved, and the magic systems are easy to understand and follow. I would recommend this to readers that enjoy fantasy with romantic elements. A huge thank you to Gallery Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3.75/5.0
As a person fascinated with both Egyptian and Nordic folklore and cultures, intertwining the aesthetics of both groups of people creates a unique experience and layout in a fantasy setting. I would love to see a map of what that looks like in this universe as sometimes it is hard to wrap my mind on how geographically close the factions seem to be in the novel but are extremely different culture-wise, even though they have similar religious ideologies.
Overall, this was a captivating read, and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I love the aesthetics of the factions involved, and the magic systems are easy to understand and follow. I would recommend this to readers that enjoy fantasy with romantic elements. A huge thank you to Gallery Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Oh. My. Gods.
If you told me I would fall in love with a romantasy that was the chimeric love child of ancient Egypt and Vikings, I would have laughed in your face.
Oh how wrong I was.
This book was good. Like, REALLY good. I thought I had the major plot twist figured out, but NOPE.
Let me start with the plot.
A palace in an ancient Egypt style kingdom is attacked. The (selfish) princess, who is chosen by the god of the underworld as his daughter, forces her maid to take her place and die while she flees. Only, the maid doesn’t die. She’s kidnapped and brought to a clan of Viking inspired shifters (bears, if you were curious. I’m off to find a bear plushie to name Keir btw) where she’s told she (as the pretend princess, now queen) has to marry the king.
It’s told in two POVs: Samira, the maid turned fake queen, and Amunet, the princess-turned-queen now on the run.
And the characters.
I need to pick Samira up and give her a hug and let her have all the bread and water she wants, because my poor girl went THROUGH IT. There’s a very superficial love triangle with her, Keir (her sort of grumpy guard), and Rade (the king). I say superficial because, well, you’ll see. It’s not a “I love both of these handsome men lusting over me, whoever shall I choose?” sort of thing in the slightest. I love her. I love Keir (and need him, tbh).
I hate Amunet, and I mean that with the highest bit of praise. She is selfish. She is a total bitch. She is wicked. And the author did such a good job of giving her all those qualities without making her some whiny pick me bitch. She has a fling with her guard that is soooooo delicious. The sexual tension between them like hellooooooo I need one hundred fifty more pages of it STAT.
The lore was so good, too. The worldbuilding, the gods, the seamless threading of Egypt and Scandinavia???? How is that even possible?????!!!!!!
My only complaint is that I read it too fast and now I have to deal with that cliffhanger until the next book comes back (what do you mean it ended???? Like that????? And I have to WAIT????).
If you like romantasy, ancient Egypt, Vikings, hot bear shifters, and a sort of enemies to sort of friends to enemies to maybe more (?) dynamic, you need to pick this book up now and thank me later.
Oh. My. Gods.
If you told me I would fall in love with a romantasy that was the chimeric love child of ancient Egypt and Vikings, I would have laughed in your face.
Oh how wrong I was.
This book was good. Like, REALLY good. I thought I had the major plot twist figured out, but NOPE.
Let me start with the plot.
A palace in an ancient Egypt style kingdom is attacked. The (selfish) princess, who is chosen by the god of the underworld as his daughter, forces her maid to take her place and die while she flees. Only, the maid doesn’t die. She’s kidnapped and brought to a clan of Viking inspired shifters (bears, if you were curious. I’m off to find a bear plushie to name Keir btw) where she’s told she (as the pretend princess, now queen) has to marry the king.
It’s told in two POVs: Samira, the maid turned fake queen, and Amunet, the princess-turned-queen now on the run.
And the characters.
I need to pick Samira up and give her a hug and let her have all the bread and water she wants, because my poor girl went THROUGH IT. There’s a very superficial love triangle with her, Keir (her sort of grumpy guard), and Rade (the king). I say superficial because, well, you’ll see. It’s not a “I love both of these handsome men lusting over me, whoever shall I choose?” sort of thing in the slightest. I love her. I love Keir (and need him, tbh).
I hate Amunet, and I mean that with the highest bit of praise. She is selfish. She is a total bitch. She is wicked. And the author did such a good job of giving her all those qualities without making her some whiny pick me bitch. She has a fling with her guard that is soooooo delicious. The sexual tension between them like hellooooooo I need one hundred fifty more pages of it STAT.
The lore was so good, too. The worldbuilding, the gods, the seamless threading of Egypt and Scandinavia???? How is that even possible?????!!!!!!
My only complaint is that I read it too fast and now I have to deal with that cliffhanger until the next book comes back (what do you mean it ended???? Like that????? And I have to WAIT????).
If you like romantasy, ancient Egypt, Vikings, hot bear shifters, and a sort of enemies to sort of friends to enemies to maybe more (?) dynamic, you need to pick this book up now and thank me later.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
thank you netgalley for this arc! mild spoilers ahead :)
the shrouded queen follows princess amunet and her servant, samira, on their separate journeys. the story interestingly pulls from egyptian and norse mythology. i was intrigued by the premise of this book, and enjoyed it for the most part! 3.5⭐️
as someone who doesn’t typically enjoy multiple POVs, i didn’t mind this one as much. however, i definitely favored one over the other. samira’s storyline was more interesting, better romance (GREAT slow-burn), and overall found myself less annoyed with her narration (and choices for that matter). amunet’s story was disappointing. shes not a particularly likable main character. that doesn’t necessarily have to be a negative thing, but i don’t think it was very well done. she felt very flat and i don’t feel like she changed or grew at all. every time i got excited that something was going to happen, i was let down. the romance felt rushed too. and at the end of the day, i found it hard to root for them because jasim deserves better! i understand multiple POVs swapped throughout the book, but i don’t feel like amunet’s story added much. which is disappointing since it had so much potential. in addition to that, i wish the world-building had been a little stronger. again, lots of potential! the little bits about the world that we did get are interesting! but i would’ve liked more. it would’ve been interesting to learn more about previous gods-chosen. or about the government structure and politics of ashora. or more about the gods! i mean the list goes on.
i have to take a minute here to talk about possibly my favorite part of the book. i absolutely LOVED the romance in samira’s storyline. that is how slow burn is done!! the tension was fantastic. no notes. i cannot wait to see where that goes in the second book.
though i have my critiques, i actually enjoyed the book! i don’t think it was particularly ground-breaking fantasy/romantasy, but it was a fun read. i would’ve liked more depth from the world and characters. but it was fast-paced, which i appreciate. i also think it was an appropriate length. i don’t feel like anything was drawn out, nor do i feel like the PLOT was rushed. i think the book is set up well for the second installment. i’ll definitely finish out the duology once the second comes out…. but first, this book will be out june 2026!
the shrouded queen follows princess amunet and her servant, samira, on their separate journeys. the story interestingly pulls from egyptian and norse mythology. i was intrigued by the premise of this book, and enjoyed it for the most part! 3.5⭐️
as someone who doesn’t typically enjoy multiple POVs, i didn’t mind this one as much. however, i definitely favored one over the other. samira’s storyline was more interesting, better romance (GREAT slow-burn), and overall found myself less annoyed with her narration (and choices for that matter). amunet’s story was disappointing. shes not a particularly likable main character. that doesn’t necessarily have to be a negative thing, but i don’t think it was very well done. she felt very flat and i don’t feel like she changed or grew at all. every time i got excited that something was going to happen, i was let down. the romance felt rushed too. and at the end of the day, i found it hard to root for them because jasim deserves better! i understand multiple POVs swapped throughout the book, but i don’t feel like amunet’s story added much. which is disappointing since it had so much potential. in addition to that, i wish the world-building had been a little stronger. again, lots of potential! the little bits about the world that we did get are interesting! but i would’ve liked more. it would’ve been interesting to learn more about previous gods-chosen. or about the government structure and politics of ashora. or more about the gods! i mean the list goes on.
i have to take a minute here to talk about possibly my favorite part of the book. i absolutely LOVED the romance in samira’s storyline. that is how slow burn is done!! the tension was fantastic. no notes. i cannot wait to see where that goes in the second book.
though i have my critiques, i actually enjoyed the book! i don’t think it was particularly ground-breaking fantasy/romantasy, but it was a fun read. i would’ve liked more depth from the world and characters. but it was fast-paced, which i appreciate. i also think it was an appropriate length. i don’t feel like anything was drawn out, nor do i feel like the PLOT was rushed. i think the book is set up well for the second installment. i’ll definitely finish out the duology once the second comes out…. but first, this book will be out june 2026!
December 4, 2025
Book Review: The Shrouded Queen by Ashley Tropea
The Shrouded Queen begins with Samira, a young slave woman whose life has been carved into obedience and invisibility. When the palace collapses into chaos, she steps forward as a decoy queen expecting sacrifice, not survival. Instead, she is mistaken for the real princess and thrust into a labyrinth of political danger. Watching her navigate this world with nothing but instinct, fear, and pure grit becomes one of the most compelling parts of the novel. Her rise is jagged and vulnerable, yet undeniably powerful.
Beyond the palace walls, Amunet Khada, the rightful queen, flees into a wasteland shaped by betrayal and divine shadows. Her kingdom burns behind her. Her destiny feels heavy and unwieldy. In the early chapters she is difficult to root for, her flaws sharp and her remorse minimal. Yet her transformation, once it gathers momentum, is striking. She shifts from brittle entitlement to something far more complex and magnetic.
The dual narrative between Samira and Amunet is where the story finds its fullest depth. One rises from servitude. One rises from ruin. Their arcs twist around themes of identity, power, and survival, creating a rhythm that keeps you turning pages with a tightness in your chest. The mythology woven through their journeys adds atmosphere without overwhelming their emotional stakes.
There are moments when modern language brushes awkwardly against the ancient setting, but they flicker and pass. Tropea’s pacing moves quickly, and the story’s momentum absorbs the missteps. The plot twists arrive with bold, stormlike timing, each one reshaping the landscape the characters must navigate.
The Shrouded Queen is a myth-soaked, character-driven tale of two women forced to remake themselves in the aftermath of catastrophe. It carries the echo of a reverse Padmé scenario layered with magic, danger, and the heavy question of who deserves a crown. A bold and engaging fantasy that lingers after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest and unbiased review.
The Shrouded Queen begins with Samira, a young slave woman whose life has been carved into obedience and invisibility. When the palace collapses into chaos, she steps forward as a decoy queen expecting sacrifice, not survival. Instead, she is mistaken for the real princess and thrust into a labyrinth of political danger. Watching her navigate this world with nothing but instinct, fear, and pure grit becomes one of the most compelling parts of the novel. Her rise is jagged and vulnerable, yet undeniably powerful.
Beyond the palace walls, Amunet Khada, the rightful queen, flees into a wasteland shaped by betrayal and divine shadows. Her kingdom burns behind her. Her destiny feels heavy and unwieldy. In the early chapters she is difficult to root for, her flaws sharp and her remorse minimal. Yet her transformation, once it gathers momentum, is striking. She shifts from brittle entitlement to something far more complex and magnetic.
The dual narrative between Samira and Amunet is where the story finds its fullest depth. One rises from servitude. One rises from ruin. Their arcs twist around themes of identity, power, and survival, creating a rhythm that keeps you turning pages with a tightness in your chest. The mythology woven through their journeys adds atmosphere without overwhelming their emotional stakes.
There are moments when modern language brushes awkwardly against the ancient setting, but they flicker and pass. Tropea’s pacing moves quickly, and the story’s momentum absorbs the missteps. The plot twists arrive with bold, stormlike timing, each one reshaping the landscape the characters must navigate.
The Shrouded Queen is a myth-soaked, character-driven tale of two women forced to remake themselves in the aftermath of catastrophe. It carries the echo of a reverse Padmé scenario layered with magic, danger, and the heavy question of who deserves a crown. A bold and engaging fantasy that lingers after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for this review copy
Review:
The premise of this book hooked me instantly, I was very interested in finding out how Viking and Egyptian inspired mythologies were going to be incorporated.
I did struggle with the characters. One POV was a much more enjoyable reading experience than the other. I had a really hard time caring what Amunet was going through, she's a terrible person. But, Samira is a bit of a wet blanket. That aside, Samira was a much more enjoyable character to follow. I was invested in what she was going through, I cared when things happened to her. I wanted to know more about who she really was and the mystery surrounding her.
Amunet when we meet her is half drowning a different slave for swimming. Shortly after she's offering up Samira to take her place to die for her so she can escape. And then every time we're in her chapters she's doing something cruel to someone because she wants to survive, which is fair, but I also feel that she should've shown more humility for her situation, or at least tried to. Jasim deserved better than her and what that got him. I feel bad for what he went through traveling with her, but I have a really hard time caring and sympathizing what she went through.
Samira eventually did grow as a character, but I just wish she had more faith in herself after something she didn't know about herself was revealed. She should've been honest and asked more questions. But she didn't ask any questions, and she wasn't honest. She had unearned faith in Amunet, faith that wasn't repaid.
The ending has me hooked for the sequel though, I wish I had access to it right now so I can keep reading the rest of the story. I need to know how things pan out, I need to know more about certain characters and I need to know how they are going to resolve everything.
Review:
The premise of this book hooked me instantly, I was very interested in finding out how Viking and Egyptian inspired mythologies were going to be incorporated.
I did struggle with the characters. One POV was a much more enjoyable reading experience than the other. I had a really hard time caring what Amunet was going through, she's a terrible person. But, Samira is a bit of a wet blanket. That aside, Samira was a much more enjoyable character to follow. I was invested in what she was going through, I cared when things happened to her. I wanted to know more about who she really was and the mystery surrounding her.
Amunet when we meet her is half drowning a different slave for swimming. Shortly after she's offering up Samira to take her place to die for her so she can escape. And then every time we're in her chapters she's doing something cruel to someone because she wants to survive, which is fair, but I also feel that she should've shown more humility for her situation, or at least tried to. Jasim deserved better than her and what that got him. I feel bad for what he went through traveling with her, but I have a really hard time caring and sympathizing what she went through.
Samira eventually did grow as a character, but I just wish she had more faith in herself after something she didn't know about herself was revealed. She should've been honest and asked more questions. But she didn't ask any questions, and she wasn't honest. She had unearned faith in Amunet, faith that wasn't repaid.
The ending has me hooked for the sequel though, I wish I had access to it right now so I can keep reading the rest of the story. I need to know how things pan out, I need to know more about certain characters and I need to know how they are going to resolve everything.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
This is a beautifully written story told through two wildly different female POVs. A timid but obedient slave, Samira, swaps places with her dominating and demanding princess, Amunet, during a raid on the palace to protect her from the murderous Kaldfolk. Samira must survive enemy territory after being kidnapped and mistaken for a princess coming into untold power, while Amunet is on the run from assassins and desperate to contact her father, the god of the underworld.
This book emotionally wrecked me in the best way.
I genuinely could not put this down. From the very beginning, each chapter pulled me in and kept me fully engaged. The opening chapters do a fantastic job of establishing tone and character without overexplaining, letting actions and inner thoughts speak for themselves. The prose flows naturally, especially during dialogue, and the inner monologues deepen the world and characters without feeling heavy or overwhelming.
This is a plot-forward romantasy, which I really appreciated. The romance develops organically alongside strong character growth, making it feel believable rather than forced. It also doesn’t rely on excessive spice to hold interest, which allowed the emotional and narrative stakes to really shine. I loved these characters — I felt their anxiety, anger, and determination, and found myself rooting hard for their moments of happiness.
The pacing is excellent throughout, with each chapter leaving me eager for the next. And that ending… the cliffhanger is brutal. If I had known how invested I would be, I might have waited to start this closer to the sequel’s release, because now I need to know what happens next.
This is a beautifully written story told through two wildly different female POVs. A timid but obedient slave, Samira, swaps places with her dominating and demanding princess, Amunet, during a raid on the palace to protect her from the murderous Kaldfolk. Samira must survive enemy territory after being kidnapped and mistaken for a princess coming into untold power, while Amunet is on the run from assassins and desperate to contact her father, the god of the underworld.
This book emotionally wrecked me in the best way.
I genuinely could not put this down. From the very beginning, each chapter pulled me in and kept me fully engaged. The opening chapters do a fantastic job of establishing tone and character without overexplaining, letting actions and inner thoughts speak for themselves. The prose flows naturally, especially during dialogue, and the inner monologues deepen the world and characters without feeling heavy or overwhelming.
This is a plot-forward romantasy, which I really appreciated. The romance develops organically alongside strong character growth, making it feel believable rather than forced. It also doesn’t rely on excessive spice to hold interest, which allowed the emotional and narrative stakes to really shine. I loved these characters — I felt their anxiety, anger, and determination, and found myself rooting hard for their moments of happiness.
The pacing is excellent throughout, with each chapter leaving me eager for the next. And that ending… the cliffhanger is brutal. If I had known how invested I would be, I might have waited to start this closer to the sequel’s release, because now I need to know what happens next.
February 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
This author's writing is truly transportive. I could feel the unrelenting heat of the desert and the deep chill of the frozen North. The world-building is intense and thorough. The characters are deep, revealing their innermost personal thoughts to the reader. I liked the stark contrast between the two protagonists, Samira and Amunet, and the two very different environments they end up in. They are complete opposites of each other; and when they switch places, each experiences what the other once did, leading to each character discovering things about herself she did not know. Though I developed a theory of Samira's identity early on that was later proven true, that does not mean the story was predictable. I was still enthralled when Samira's identity was revealed.
Elements I particularly liked: ancient Egyptian setting, Viking setting, shifters, Samira's compassion, Amunet's strength, the Mirror Realm.
Elements I did not like: sacrifices to the Seven Monarchs, the gods they worship. In particular, I did not like the human sacrifices, whether intentional from the past, unintentional in the present, or planned for the future. The treatment of the slaves is also disturbing, but what is more disturbing is Amunet's lack of care over inflicting pain on another human. She shows no remorse and no value for human life unless the person is going to be a sacrifice or is sworn to serve her. However, much has been inflicted upon her that she has inflicted on others, so it remains to be seen if those experiences will have an effect on her character.
This author's writing is truly transportive. I could feel the unrelenting heat of the desert and the deep chill of the frozen North. The world-building is intense and thorough. The characters are deep, revealing their innermost personal thoughts to the reader. I liked the stark contrast between the two protagonists, Samira and Amunet, and the two very different environments they end up in. They are complete opposites of each other; and when they switch places, each experiences what the other once did, leading to each character discovering things about herself she did not know. Though I developed a theory of Samira's identity early on that was later proven true, that does not mean the story was predictable. I was still enthralled when Samira's identity was revealed.
Elements I particularly liked: ancient Egyptian setting, Viking setting, shifters, Samira's compassion, Amunet's strength, the Mirror Realm.
Elements I did not like: sacrifices to the Seven Monarchs, the gods they worship. In particular, I did not like the human sacrifices, whether intentional from the past, unintentional in the present, or planned for the future. The treatment of the slaves is also disturbing, but what is more disturbing is Amunet's lack of care over inflicting pain on another human. She shows no remorse and no value for human life unless the person is going to be a sacrifice or is sworn to serve her. However, much has been inflicted upon her that she has inflicted on others, so it remains to be seen if those experiences will have an effect on her character.
February 5, 2026
This was a really well-done and almost refreshing romantasy book. What hooked me was the premise - a queen/gods-chosen and a palace slave, switching places, with each now trying to survive the trials they are put through. I love how quickly we got right into it and got to know the two women. The magic and setting was unique and didn't feel like a retread of many other romantasy series I've read.
I immediately was more intrigued in Samira's life and journey, going from palace slave to pretend-queen in foreign land with ruthless shifters and dark forces approaching. She does the best she can and is finally allowed to experience some much needed independence.
Amunet, the gods-chose and is now on the run with her most loyal guard, is a tougher character to connect with. She's been raised to believe she will serve a much higher purpose, and because of this, she is far from being a kind and benevolent ruler. However, her story was still interesting as she grappled with the consequences of her actions.
Not to ignore the romance side of this, but both women have complicated relationships with the men around them. But those big and little moments were well-done.
There's still so much to come. I feel like we still only have parts of necessary information and we got quite the bombshell of an ending. Multiple characters are still in limbo and their fates uncertain or what role they will play in the next book. I love that I've already read this book and hate that it doesn't even public until June. I hope book two won't be too far behind.
I immediately was more intrigued in Samira's life and journey, going from palace slave to pretend-queen in foreign land with ruthless shifters and dark forces approaching. She does the best she can and is finally allowed to experience some much needed independence.
Amunet, the gods-chose and is now on the run with her most loyal guard, is a tougher character to connect with. She's been raised to believe she will serve a much higher purpose, and because of this, she is far from being a kind and benevolent ruler. However, her story was still interesting as she grappled with the consequences of her actions.
Not to ignore the romance side of this, but both women have complicated relationships with the men around them. But those big and little moments were well-done.
There's still so much to come. I feel like we still only have parts of necessary information and we got quite the bombshell of an ending. Multiple characters are still in limbo and their fates uncertain or what role they will play in the next book. I love that I've already read this book and hate that it doesn't even public until June. I hope book two won't be too far behind.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story is incredibly good. It has a large dose of mystery, mysticism, romance and incredibly complex and morally gray characters that are both incredibly easy to hate one second and empathize with the next. While at first each characters motivations seem simple and easy to decipher as the story continues we see the shades of gray the author has imbued in each of them. It is heart wrenching and frustrating but also deeply satisfying as a reader to see such complexities. I loved and hated this story but also wholeheartedly recommend this book because of it.
I loved the realism in the story as well. There are no polished heroes or heroines. When faced with impossible decisions or even death it is dealt with in a very human way that I appreciate. You can see their societies as broken and held together with sticks and paper which is pretty accurate with ancient societies which this story is inspired by. I would normally say a story like this has lots of character growth, which it does as a theme, but I think its up to the viewer/author to decide on that point I think.
Regardless, the book has themes of ancient societies like Egypt and the vikings (If they were a land based society), fate, pantheons and shape-shifter. It's very good if you can deal with morally gray characters with moral dillemas and I would highly recommend it.
I loved the realism in the story as well. There are no polished heroes or heroines. When faced with impossible decisions or even death it is dealt with in a very human way that I appreciate. You can see their societies as broken and held together with sticks and paper which is pretty accurate with ancient societies which this story is inspired by. I would normally say a story like this has lots of character growth, which it does as a theme, but I think its up to the viewer/author to decide on that point I think.
Regardless, the book has themes of ancient societies like Egypt and the vikings (If they were a land based society), fate, pantheons and shape-shifter. It's very good if you can deal with morally gray characters with moral dillemas and I would highly recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4⭐️
This book hooked me right away! The Shrouded Queen is inspired by the mythology of ancient Egypt and follows Queen Amunet and her slave, Samira, who are forced to switch places to ensure Amunet’s survival when the palace is attacked by a rival kingdom.
I loved the role-swap premise and experiencing the world through the perspectives of two very different FMCs. The dual POVs and pacing kept me engaged and eager to keep reading. I especially enjoyed Samira’s perspective; although she is a captive, impersonating the queen gives her a level of agency she never had as a palace slave. Watching her come into her own while living under the constant threat of being discovered added both depth and suspense to her chapters.
At times, some of the word choices felt a bit too modern for the setting and momentarily pulled me out of the story (e.g. phrases like "pity party"). That said, the final part of the book was particularly gripping and I can’t believe I’ll have to wait over a year to see how the story continues. I would definitely recommend this to romantasy readers and think it would resonate especially well with fans of Quicksilver.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC!
This book hooked me right away! The Shrouded Queen is inspired by the mythology of ancient Egypt and follows Queen Amunet and her slave, Samira, who are forced to switch places to ensure Amunet’s survival when the palace is attacked by a rival kingdom.
I loved the role-swap premise and experiencing the world through the perspectives of two very different FMCs. The dual POVs and pacing kept me engaged and eager to keep reading. I especially enjoyed Samira’s perspective; although she is a captive, impersonating the queen gives her a level of agency she never had as a palace slave. Watching her come into her own while living under the constant threat of being discovered added both depth and suspense to her chapters.
At times, some of the word choices felt a bit too modern for the setting and momentarily pulled me out of the story (e.g. phrases like "pity party"). That said, the final part of the book was particularly gripping and I can’t believe I’ll have to wait over a year to see how the story continues. I would definitely recommend this to romantasy readers and think it would resonate especially well with fans of Quicksilver.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall the story is very interesting but I find Samira’s story and perspective a lot more intriguing than Amunet’s. I really felt the tension and build up in the romantic parts of Samira’s story, along with the stakes of her choices, and the overall predicament she’s put in.
Amunet’s perspective I didn’t enjoy as much- partly because I don’t particularly like her character, but also the writing for her uses a lot of swear words that kind of take me out of the world and feels misplaced in this setting to be honest. I understand she’s a flawed character, but I think the writing could’ve been a little different and still achieved that.
Overall, the world, the lore, and the plot were pretty good! Their magic system and backstory/relationship with their Gods is compelling. And the differences between the narratives of the people in power in one kingdom vs another was interesting to read. I was not surprised by the ending though. I will likely read the next novel when it comes out.
Spice level is open book for those wondering.
Amunet’s perspective I didn’t enjoy as much- partly because I don’t particularly like her character, but also the writing for her uses a lot of swear words that kind of take me out of the world and feels misplaced in this setting to be honest. I understand she’s a flawed character, but I think the writing could’ve been a little different and still achieved that.
Overall, the world, the lore, and the plot were pretty good! Their magic system and backstory/relationship with their Gods is compelling. And the differences between the narratives of the people in power in one kingdom vs another was interesting to read. I was not surprised by the ending though. I will likely read the next novel when it comes out.
Spice level is open book for those wondering.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5
Tropes:
- Ancient Egypt and Viking inspired
- Yearning
- Dual narrative
- Princess and the pauper re-imagining
- Slow Burn
I will always read a book that has ancient Egyptian vibes, but throwing in Vikings too? YES PLEASE. When danger looms Amunet and her slave Samira switch places and the book follows both women as they try to navigate their new roles and hide the truth from everyone else. There’s tension, slow-burn romances for both Amunet and Samira, and beautifully described world that is truly immersive.
The middle part of the book got a little slow for me but otherwise the pacing was perfect! I do have a favorite character between the two women but I’ll let you decide for yourself who yours is! Absolutely recommend for anyone who loves a twist on Ancient Egyptian lore and history!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, this is my honest review.
Spice: 🌶️.5
Tropes:
- Ancient Egypt and Viking inspired
- Yearning
- Dual narrative
- Princess and the pauper re-imagining
- Slow Burn
I will always read a book that has ancient Egyptian vibes, but throwing in Vikings too? YES PLEASE. When danger looms Amunet and her slave Samira switch places and the book follows both women as they try to navigate their new roles and hide the truth from everyone else. There’s tension, slow-burn romances for both Amunet and Samira, and beautifully described world that is truly immersive.
The middle part of the book got a little slow for me but otherwise the pacing was perfect! I do have a favorite character between the two women but I’ll let you decide for yourself who yours is! Absolutely recommend for anyone who loves a twist on Ancient Egyptian lore and history!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, this is my honest review.
December 8, 2025
Ashley Tropea’s debut, The Shrouded Queen, is a compelling "princess switch" fantasy that breathes new life into ancient Egyptian mythology. The dual narrative follows Amunet, a queen on the run, and Samira, a slave forced to impersonate her, providing two equally strong and engaging journeys.
The world-building is superb—vibrant, atmospheric, and rich with seamless mythological integration. The slow-burn romance and menacing villains add high stakes and excellent tension, making it a true page-turner.
I docked one star purely for some minor pacing issues in the mid-section, which felt a little slow during lengthy political explanations and journeys.
Overall, it's a fantastic debut for fans of high-stakes, mythological romantasy. I highly recommend it and am eagerly waiting for the sequel!
The world-building is superb—vibrant, atmospheric, and rich with seamless mythological integration. The slow-burn romance and menacing villains add high stakes and excellent tension, making it a true page-turner.
I docked one star purely for some minor pacing issues in the mid-section, which felt a little slow during lengthy political explanations and journeys.
Overall, it's a fantastic debut for fans of high-stakes, mythological romantasy. I highly recommend it and am eagerly waiting for the sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is my first read of 2026 and it will be a tough one to top!
I personally loved reading this book! For a romantasy, we actually get to see more of the fantasy part in the forefront and I really appreciate that as a mainly fantasy reader.
I found myself completely sucked into the story with Samira and Amunet wondering what was going to happen to them next and if they would prevail in the end.
I also really enjoyed the glimpse into Egyptian mythology which was new to me.
My only problem with this book now is that it doesn't actually release until June and the next one even farther out!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for letting me read and review this as an advanced reader!
I personally loved reading this book! For a romantasy, we actually get to see more of the fantasy part in the forefront and I really appreciate that as a mainly fantasy reader.
I found myself completely sucked into the story with Samira and Amunet wondering what was going to happen to them next and if they would prevail in the end.
I also really enjoyed the glimpse into Egyptian mythology which was new to me.
My only problem with this book now is that it doesn't actually release until June and the next one even farther out!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for letting me read and review this as an advanced reader!
January 8, 2026
Egyptian mythology meets Vikings. Our two main characters are vastly different and I enjoyed how their separate journeys often paralleled each other. I thought that made for unique storytelling. Each character felt developed and had their own motivations. I loved how Amunet is not a good person and her thoughts and actions show that. I would love to see more characters like her. Samira struggles with trying to survive, but also learns so much about herself and the world outside the kingdom. The story has a healthy dose of intrigue, mystery, and romance to make it interesting. The pacing was great and I never felt that the story dragged. My one gripe is that certain phrases felt out of place but they didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. I’m looking forward to the sequel! Thank you NetGalley for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Shrouded Queen is totally unputdownable! Blending Egyptian, Middle Eastern, and Norse mythology, this fantasy kept me turning pages from start to finish.
Amunet Khada, a princess, is destined for power. Samira lives the life of a slave. In an unexpected twist, they have to switch places. Now, both must navigate a land full of danger and uncertainty to survive.
I loved the worldbuilding in this novel. Told in dual perspectives, Amunet and Samira, each character is given equal weight and depth. I really enjoyed this story due to the author's narrative of these characters. The multidimensional portrayal of these characters makes this story very interesting in my opinion I truly cannot wait to read the sequel.
Thank you to Gallery Books for the digital galley of this book.
Amunet Khada, a princess, is destined for power. Samira lives the life of a slave. In an unexpected twist, they have to switch places. Now, both must navigate a land full of danger and uncertainty to survive.
I loved the worldbuilding in this novel. Told in dual perspectives, Amunet and Samira, each character is given equal weight and depth. I really enjoyed this story due to the author's narrative of these characters. The multidimensional portrayal of these characters makes this story very interesting in my opinion I truly cannot wait to read the sequel.
Thank you to Gallery Books for the digital galley of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC copy of The Shrouded Queen to review.
I was pleasantly surprised reading this book! I was hooked from page one. The setting was so interesting and beautifully described. I enjoyed both POVs, but truthfully had more fun in Samira’s. I wasn’t a huge fan of Amunet’s character, but I still had fun all the same.
You can expect:
✨Magic from gods
🤴Egyptian and Viking Setting
✨Bodyguard x Princess
🤴Tension with a Shapeshifting Captor
Overall, this book was such a fun read. This book had a nice blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure to keep you hooked. It’s definitely a book worth picking up if you enjoy Egyptian or Norse stories, magic, and fantasy with a side of romance. I highly recommend it!
I was pleasantly surprised reading this book! I was hooked from page one. The setting was so interesting and beautifully described. I enjoyed both POVs, but truthfully had more fun in Samira’s. I wasn’t a huge fan of Amunet’s character, but I still had fun all the same.
You can expect:
✨Magic from gods
🤴Egyptian and Viking Setting
✨Bodyguard x Princess
🤴Tension with a Shapeshifting Captor
Overall, this book was such a fun read. This book had a nice blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure to keep you hooked. It’s definitely a book worth picking up if you enjoy Egyptian or Norse stories, magic, and fantasy with a side of romance. I highly recommend it!
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