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The Snow Queen's Heir
Not yet published
Expected 1 Mar 26A new high-stakes YA romantasy series that is perfect for readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers, forbidden love, and found family. When Noelle befriends the Snow Queen and becomes the heir to the snowy throne, she must battle the guy she can’t help falling for in the Heirling Duel, where she is forced to choose between love or her people.
Noelle's life turns upside down when the whereabouts of a mysterious, powerful necklace are revealed to her through letters. But she isn't the only one searching for it, and her quest to find it attracts a lot of perilous attention, including the Snow Queen, who is rumored to be a morally gray villain. Unknowingly to Noelle, she befriends the Snow Queen and they unravel clues about the necklace together.
When a handsome stranger, Prince Eli, tricks Noelle into spying on the Snow Queen, the pair become instant enemies. Eli's trickery lands Noelle a prison sentence in his realm, deepening the wedge between them. Yet despite it all, the two can't seem to fight off the forbidden feelings they develop for one another.
When Noelle learns that she is the heir to the snowy throne, she is forced to compete in the Heirling Duel—a deadly duel that exists in lieu of wars. Unfortunately for Noelle, the Heirling Duel won't end until one heir dies, and Eli is her opponent. Noelle must choose between her budding romance, friends, or the obligation of her realm to survive the Heirling Duel, and save her people.
THE SNOW QUEEN'S HEIR is ideal for readers who love Holly Black's The Cruel Prince, Lauren's Robert's Powerless, and Stephanie's Garber's Once Upon a Broken Heart.
Noelle's life turns upside down when the whereabouts of a mysterious, powerful necklace are revealed to her through letters. But she isn't the only one searching for it, and her quest to find it attracts a lot of perilous attention, including the Snow Queen, who is rumored to be a morally gray villain. Unknowingly to Noelle, she befriends the Snow Queen and they unravel clues about the necklace together.
When a handsome stranger, Prince Eli, tricks Noelle into spying on the Snow Queen, the pair become instant enemies. Eli's trickery lands Noelle a prison sentence in his realm, deepening the wedge between them. Yet despite it all, the two can't seem to fight off the forbidden feelings they develop for one another.
When Noelle learns that she is the heir to the snowy throne, she is forced to compete in the Heirling Duel—a deadly duel that exists in lieu of wars. Unfortunately for Noelle, the Heirling Duel won't end until one heir dies, and Eli is her opponent. Noelle must choose between her budding romance, friends, or the obligation of her realm to survive the Heirling Duel, and save her people.
THE SNOW QUEEN'S HEIR is ideal for readers who love Holly Black's The Cruel Prince, Lauren's Robert's Powerless, and Stephanie's Garber's Once Upon a Broken Heart.
- GenresFantasy
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 1, 2026
15 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Keilah Jude
1 book7 followersKeilah Jude graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in English literature and a minor in creative writing. She received a master’s degree in her favorite book, which is the Bible, from Wheaton College. She is an actress and you can find some of her films on Amazon Prime and she has done commercials for brands like ALDI, Harvest Snaps Snacks, and other exciting brands. She enjoys making book content online where she rants (and sometimes cries!) over books. When she isn’t writing, she is on a never ending quest to find Dunkaroos. If you know of their whereabouts, please contact her. She would love to connect with you on social media and hear about what you're reading lately!
KeilahJude is on Tiktok, Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook as @KeilahJude
KeilahJude is on Tiktok, Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook as @KeilahJude
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 31, 2026
This was such a fun adventure with so many twists and turns that I did not see coming!
Noelle and her friends are thrown into a mission retrieving the snow queens necklace based on causes that her grandmother left her but everyone seems to have their own agenda for the prize.
Despite the secrets between them, the heart of the story is about love, friendship and found family. I loved the individual and overall bond between all the characters!
I loved the world building, the magic system and the trials! That ending was insane! I need book 2 asap! I highly recommend picking this one up! Thank you NetGalley and the Keilah for the arc copy!
Noelle and her friends are thrown into a mission retrieving the snow queens necklace based on causes that her grandmother left her but everyone seems to have their own agenda for the prize.
Despite the secrets between them, the heart of the story is about love, friendship and found family. I loved the individual and overall bond between all the characters!
I loved the world building, the magic system and the trials! That ending was insane! I need book 2 asap! I highly recommend picking this one up! Thank you NetGalley and the Keilah for the arc copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⸻
❄️⚔️𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
𝘌𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘛𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴
𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺
𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺
𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳
𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱
⸻
𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0SW...
("The Show Queen's Heir")
⸻
For a debut author, this wasn’t a bad book. The plot was promising, It was the kind of story that could easily be developed over many, many books.
Unfortunately, everything else was rather mediocre. The writing style was flat, very flat. I didn’t feel any emotional connection to the characters, let alone care about what happened to them. At times, it felt like I was reading a Wattpad fanfiction. Too many words were repeated within a single sentence, and the characters were acting like npc. “He stood up. He walked. He sat down. He said.”
There were also many plot holes. These weren’t the kind of issues that could be fixed in a second book, they were actual plot holes. They seriously disturbed reading experience, and I often had to go back and reread parts just to avoid confusion.
Characters’ actions were illogical. Snow Queen, who had huge potential to become a strong antagonist, acted like a 16-year-old teenager. Her words constantly contradicted her actions.
The other characters are not much better. They rarely ask questions or think about what is happening??? Where is logic, or, i don't know, any mistrust?? Where??
Relationship between the FMC and MMC was also rather weak. Everything happened too quickly and gave off strong insta-love vibes. I don’t see this as the main issue, since this book was more focused on adventure than romance.
Overall, there is a lot to work on, like improving writing style and spending more time developing the plot. The book wasn’t terrible, it was just weak. If I were 11-12 years old, I probably would've enjoyed it.
P.S. The cover was absolutely beautiful!!
⸻
Thank to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank to the author for all the hard work!
❄️⚔️𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
𝘌𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘛𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴
𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺
𝘏𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘐𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺
𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳
𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱
⸻
𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0SW...
("The Show Queen's Heir")
⸻
For a debut author, this wasn’t a bad book. The plot was promising, It was the kind of story that could easily be developed over many, many books.
Unfortunately, everything else was rather mediocre. The writing style was flat, very flat. I didn’t feel any emotional connection to the characters, let alone care about what happened to them. At times, it felt like I was reading a Wattpad fanfiction. Too many words were repeated within a single sentence, and the characters were acting like npc. “He stood up. He walked. He sat down. He said.”
There were also many plot holes. These weren’t the kind of issues that could be fixed in a second book, they were actual plot holes. They seriously disturbed reading experience, and I often had to go back and reread parts just to avoid confusion.
Characters’ actions were illogical. Snow Queen, who had huge potential to become a strong antagonist, acted like a 16-year-old teenager. Her words constantly contradicted her actions.
The other characters are not much better. They rarely ask questions or think about what is happening??? Where is logic, or, i don't know, any mistrust?? Where??
Relationship between the FMC and MMC was also rather weak. Everything happened too quickly and gave off strong insta-love vibes. I don’t see this as the main issue, since this book was more focused on adventure than romance.
Overall, there is a lot to work on, like improving writing style and spending more time developing the plot. The book wasn’t terrible, it was just weak. If I were 11-12 years old, I probably would've enjoyed it.
P.S. The cover was absolutely beautiful!!
⸻
Thank to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank to the author for all the hard work!
January 29, 2026
The Snow Queen’s Heir by Keilah Jude has successfully cemented itself as one of my favorite fantasy worlds. The story starts in modern day Chicago, and you’re following a group of friends who are obsessed with a woman in a myth that revolves around the snowy winter storm they are having. The main character, Noelle, is extremely likable as an FMC and you will be thrilled to know she very realistically approaches fantasy situations with a dash of realism instead of being magically perfect at everything. Noelle soon finds out that in her reality, not everything may be as it seems. There is a group of core characters but the main people you’ll be following are Noelle (our FMC), Lumi (our snow queen) and Eli (the brooding, sarcastic and charming brunette, dimpled… okay okay he’s perfect. I love him as an MMC)
The plot twists on this were so brilliantly done, that I found myself constantly gasping. It was very well paced, and brought new elements of magic into fantasy.. when the romantasy genre as a whole was starting to feel pretty rinse wash repeat. Keilah made romantasy come alive again. I was explaining this book to a friend who also had an arc of it, and she mentioned that it sounded very much tone wise like Once Upon a Time (the tv show). And I agree! It was the perfect balance of relatability with modern age problems, conversations and characters, mixed with the fantasy genre. It was somehow both cozy AND engaging at the same time.
Keilah did a fantastic job at creating likeable characters, and painting a world so vividly that you can’t help but feel immersed in it while you are reading.
I absolutely cannot wait for the next book because THAT CLIFFHANGER!!!!!
The plot twists on this were so brilliantly done, that I found myself constantly gasping. It was very well paced, and brought new elements of magic into fantasy.. when the romantasy genre as a whole was starting to feel pretty rinse wash repeat. Keilah made romantasy come alive again. I was explaining this book to a friend who also had an arc of it, and she mentioned that it sounded very much tone wise like Once Upon a Time (the tv show). And I agree! It was the perfect balance of relatability with modern age problems, conversations and characters, mixed with the fantasy genre. It was somehow both cozy AND engaging at the same time.
Keilah did a fantastic job at creating likeable characters, and painting a world so vividly that you can’t help but feel immersed in it while you are reading.
I absolutely cannot wait for the next book because THAT CLIFFHANGER!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Keilah Jude did an amazing job with this snow queen retelling. I absolutely love The Snow Queens Heir. I was hooked from the beginning and the plot twists kept me wanting to read more. Chicago is plunged into a brutal winter and everyone believes it is the snow queen. Noelle the fmc is trying to find a necklace that her grandma owned and hid. She has clues to solve and her friends agree to help find it. Along comes Lumi into the friend group, however what secrets does Lumi have? Next Noelle meets Eli and he tells her, you can't trust Lumi she is not who you think she is. Noelle soon learns that Eli is not who he said he was. Can Noelle trust anyone?
The book ends on a cliffhanger and oh, that bonus scene was amazing. I am eagerly awaiting the next book. 10 out of 10 recommend.
The book ends on a cliffhanger and oh, that bonus scene was amazing. I am eagerly awaiting the next book. 10 out of 10 recommend.
February 2, 2026
I truly wanted to love this book but I had such a hard time getting through! I had to force myself through this book. It had so much promise but didn’t meet my expectations. Lumi and Noelle both acted 12 at times but then 25 at others. The writing was hard to follow. Parts seemed to he over explained while also not being clear. The world building was very “let me tell you” instead of “let me show you”. The relationships felt weak. Events that occurred in the synopsis of the book didn’t happen until 35-45%. Typically, I expect everything in the synopsis to happen by the 20-25%.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this!
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Inky Wanderlust for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Unfortunately, it is with a heavy heart that I must give it a 1 star rating. I struggled to finish it, and I'll do my best to explain why.
I believe the biggest issue was the perfection of it, and not in a positive sense. The plot was perfectly spaced and the events happened just as perfectly as Noelle needed them to. This means that the pacing was very steady with no downtime or no real moments of tension (I'll get back to this in a minute).
Because we get little to know downtime, we don't truly get the opportunity to get to know the characters. I know more about dead grandma than I actually know about Noelle, and that's not saying much. Everything we learn about the characters deals directly to the plot. Every conversation is about the plot. Every action is to forward the plot. There are no side quests or quiet moments. It's just gung ho, straight through to the finish line.
And that affects the tension. There are no slow moments so when the action does happen, it's not really contrasted by anything. The "duel" was one of the least exciting fight scenes, which each section taking up like two or three pages (probably. I was reading this on my phone). There is also little in the way of emotional language in these moments which leads to...
The writing was very flat. It also showed and told at the same time. "There was a knock on the door which alerted [A] to [B]'s presence." Quick fix could be "There was a knock on the door. It was heavy and authoritative. [A] walked over hesitantly and hesitantly turned the golden knob. Once they were able to peer through a small crack, [A] saw that [B] was standing there with a distance grimace upon their face." It's not perfect but it gives more details about the room and the sounds and the general atmosphere.
Side note: "ghost of a smile" was also used way too many times.
Plus, Noelle is incredibly Mary-Sue-ish.
There's also my most favorite plot hole:
Another issue I've got with the plot is that Noelle doesn't learn she's an ice heir until 40%. And no, that's not a spoiler, since it's literally listed in the synopsis. Not like it really matters; even if you don't read the synopsis, you can figure it out ASAP thanks to all the "why am I so okay with this person" from both Lumi's and Noelle's POV's. It's so obvious.
I will say that one thing that wasn't obvious were the twists, especially the one related to the plot hole. However, the twists involved didn't feel properly fleshed out. It felt more like the author decided a plot twist was needed at that moment of writing and threw one in. The reasoning for the twist and the in-world logic was very flimsy and none of them truly hold up. They're twists for the sake of the twists and not for the sake of the grand plot.
The last critique I'll say is that everyone is so incredibly trusting and naive, yet brilliant and powerful at the same time. These ancient other-realmers are surprisingly stupid for their age. Like I understand cognitive decline is a thing but come on.
Overall, this book reads exactly like my first novel in 2009 when I was a junior in high school. Everything was too perfect, themes were nonexistent, characterization was hollow, etc.
I'm frustrated by how frustrated I am. I had to read the other ARC reviews, and even looked up the author on TikTok and read her comments to see if it was just me. Apparently, it's just me. Everyone else seems so positive! I'm sorry, I just don't think this is it.
And the comps seem like a reach. If it weren't for the ages of the characters, I'd be more on the side of middle grade to low teens, not actual YA. If you've got a kid who is graduating from chapter books and wants to read more like their older sibling/parents, this is a great place to start. I think that's the nicest thing I can say. I'm so sorry. I wish you the best of luck.
Unfortunately, it is with a heavy heart that I must give it a 1 star rating. I struggled to finish it, and I'll do my best to explain why.
I believe the biggest issue was the perfection of it, and not in a positive sense. The plot was perfectly spaced and the events happened just as perfectly as Noelle needed them to. This means that the pacing was very steady with no downtime or no real moments of tension (I'll get back to this in a minute).
Because we get little to know downtime, we don't truly get the opportunity to get to know the characters. I know more about dead grandma than I actually know about Noelle, and that's not saying much. Everything we learn about the characters deals directly to the plot. Every conversation is about the plot. Every action is to forward the plot. There are no side quests or quiet moments. It's just gung ho, straight through to the finish line.
And that affects the tension. There are no slow moments so when the action does happen, it's not really contrasted by anything. The "duel" was one of the least exciting fight scenes, which each section taking up like two or three pages (probably. I was reading this on my phone). There is also little in the way of emotional language in these moments which leads to...
The writing was very flat. It also showed and told at the same time. "There was a knock on the door which alerted [A] to [B]'s presence." Quick fix could be "There was a knock on the door. It was heavy and authoritative. [A] walked over hesitantly and hesitantly turned the golden knob. Once they were able to peer through a small crack, [A] saw that [B] was standing there with a distance grimace upon their face." It's not perfect but it gives more details about the room and the sounds and the general atmosphere.
Side note: "ghost of a smile" was also used way too many times.
Plus, Noelle is incredibly Mary-Sue-ish.
There's also my most favorite plot hole:
Another issue I've got with the plot is that Noelle doesn't learn she's an ice heir until 40%. And no, that's not a spoiler, since it's literally listed in the synopsis. Not like it really matters; even if you don't read the synopsis, you can figure it out ASAP thanks to all the "why am I so okay with this person" from both Lumi's and Noelle's POV's. It's so obvious.
I will say that one thing that wasn't obvious were the twists, especially the one related to the plot hole. However, the twists involved didn't feel properly fleshed out. It felt more like the author decided a plot twist was needed at that moment of writing and threw one in. The reasoning for the twist and the in-world logic was very flimsy and none of them truly hold up. They're twists for the sake of the twists and not for the sake of the grand plot.
The last critique I'll say is that everyone is so incredibly trusting and naive, yet brilliant and powerful at the same time. These ancient other-realmers are surprisingly stupid for their age. Like I understand cognitive decline is a thing but come on.
Overall, this book reads exactly like my first novel in 2009 when I was a junior in high school. Everything was too perfect, themes were nonexistent, characterization was hollow, etc.
I'm frustrated by how frustrated I am. I had to read the other ARC reviews, and even looked up the author on TikTok and read her comments to see if it was just me. Apparently, it's just me. Everyone else seems so positive! I'm sorry, I just don't think this is it.
And the comps seem like a reach. If it weren't for the ages of the characters, I'd be more on the side of middle grade to low teens, not actual YA. If you've got a kid who is graduating from chapter books and wants to read more like their older sibling/parents, this is a great place to start. I think that's the nicest thing I can say. I'm so sorry. I wish you the best of luck.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The cover? Stunning.
The Snow Queen? Chilling.
The concept? Timeless.
This book hooked me instantly with the gorgeous cover and synopsis. I loved the idea of the three faerie courts, and the background on the Snow Queen was a compelling twist. I truly wanted to love this book (I did devour it in two sittings).
The characters felt flat with a lot of telling instead of showing, most interactions between characters were just checking off the boxes to shove the plot along. The mystery of the Snow Queen’s necklace was a great hook but in my opinion it was resolved far too quickly. We were then shoved into the Heirling Duel AND the grand reveal which felt very rushed.
Personally I’d rather have had the entire first book consist of the necklace mystery with the reveal at the end However it was jammed into one book resulting in neither plotline being given the space it deserved.
Overall this book had bones, it had great ideas and the layout to be something remarkable but instead fell flat with a jumbled conglomerate of plot. I’m unsure if I would continue and read book two. My biggest suggestion is to let the characters breathe in future.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with eARC access for review.
The Snow Queen? Chilling.
The concept? Timeless.
This book hooked me instantly with the gorgeous cover and synopsis. I loved the idea of the three faerie courts, and the background on the Snow Queen was a compelling twist. I truly wanted to love this book (I did devour it in two sittings).
The characters felt flat with a lot of telling instead of showing, most interactions between characters were just checking off the boxes to shove the plot along. The mystery of the Snow Queen’s necklace was a great hook but in my opinion it was resolved far too quickly. We were then shoved into the Heirling Duel AND the grand reveal which felt very rushed.
Personally I’d rather have had the entire first book consist of the necklace mystery with the reveal at the end However it was jammed into one book resulting in neither plotline being given the space it deserved.
Overall this book had bones, it had great ideas and the layout to be something remarkable but instead fell flat with a jumbled conglomerate of plot. I’m unsure if I would continue and read book two. My biggest suggestion is to let the characters breathe in future.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with eARC access for review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I do want to say I know Keilah Jude. But I am obsessed with this story and I would be even if I didn't know her! The story follows Noelle, a college freshman, in Chicago who receives letters from her grandma about a powerful necklace. She goes around Chicago trying to hunt it down, and she becomes friends with Lumi (the Snow Queen). I loved Lumi and the way her character changed over the book. Her relationship with Noelle really warmed my heart! It had a found family trope that really made me smile.
Personally, one of my favorite characters was Luis! Even though he was a minor character, I loved everything that came out of his mouth. My favorite parts of this story were the plot, the twists and the ending was so good!! I think you should put this on your TBR and enjoy it! Jude has put so much work into this book and I think it has paid off. Excellent book!! I am eager for book 2!
Personally, one of my favorite characters was Luis! Even though he was a minor character, I loved everything that came out of his mouth. My favorite parts of this story were the plot, the twists and the ending was so good!! I think you should put this on your TBR and enjoy it! Jude has put so much work into this book and I think it has paid off. Excellent book!! I am eager for book 2!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love this book! The Snow Queen’s Heir is for YA romance fantasy readers who pick a book for plot. This story follows Noelle and her friends who go on an adventure during Christmas break. They trace hints left behind by her grandma and race against time, because a creepy man is stalking her and also trying to get the necklace. The entire story is shrouded in suspense because very quickly in to the book, we learn somebody murdered the King’s adviser and wrote Noelle’s name next to the dead body.
Noelle is a likable character, although she is flawed. Who doesn’t love an enemies to lovers fantasy book? A classic, with all the fun of being a young adult adventure.
This is a story for readers who like thick plots, twists they didn’t see coming, and an overall story centered on love and friendship.
Noelle is a likable character, although she is flawed. Who doesn’t love an enemies to lovers fantasy book? A classic, with all the fun of being a young adult adventure.
This is a story for readers who like thick plots, twists they didn’t see coming, and an overall story centered on love and friendship.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Omg, I truly was hypnotized by this book. It was hard to put down.
This story was amazing. The characters were heartfelt in everything they did. Their journey and quest to find the truth about their lives, the secrets from the past and what the future may hold was riveting!
This story has magic from different realms all while combining it with the human world in modern time. It will have powers, royalty, found family, friendships, lies, secrets and love along the way.
I didn’t see the twist coming at the end and now I need book two as soon as possible.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone. This was a chef’s kiss!!!!
This story was amazing. The characters were heartfelt in everything they did. Their journey and quest to find the truth about their lives, the secrets from the past and what the future may hold was riveting!
This story has magic from different realms all while combining it with the human world in modern time. It will have powers, royalty, found family, friendships, lies, secrets and love along the way.
I didn’t see the twist coming at the end and now I need book two as soon as possible.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone. This was a chef’s kiss!!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews