The Snow Queen's Heir

by Keilah Jude

A 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.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2026

About the author

Keilah 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

Reviews

[Rosariosbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid read for me, even if it leaned more YA than I personally gravitate toward.

The concept immediately pulled me in. A Snow Queen inspired romantasy with enemies-to-lovers tension, a deadly Heirling Duel, forbidden feelings, and a mysterious magical necklace? That’s a strong setup. The plot itself was engaging, and I genuinely wanted to see how everything would unfold.

Noelle is easy to root for. She’s determined, compassionate, and clearly trying to navigate a world where trust is fragile and loyalty comes at a cost. I especially enjoyed the found family elements and the underlying mystery surrounding the necklace and the Snow Queen. The atmosphere felt wintry and cinematic, and the gown descriptions and court details were beautifully done.

Where it lost me slightly was in the execution and tone. The story skews firmly YA, and at times the character dynamics and pacing felt younger than my personal preference. Some of the bigger plot moments especially toward the end it moved faster than I expected, and I would have loved more space for the relationships and stakes to fully breathe.

That said, the bones of this story are strong. The premise is compelling, the world has potential, and readers who love high-stakes YA romantasy with enemies-to-lovers tension and royal drama will likely really enjoy this.

For me, it was a good story it just was a bit too YA in tone for my tastes.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

“The Snow Queen’s Heir” by Keilah Jude was a very sweet YA romantasy that blends magic, romance, and self-discovery.

The story follows Noelle, a young woman living and studying in Chicago. Her life begins to change when she meets a girl named Lumi, who is also the Snow Queen, and they bond over a shared interest in a magical necklace. As Noelle learns more about the necklace and her quest to find it, she meets a young man named Eli. Unknown to her, Eli has plans involving Noelle and quickly develops feelings for her. As more about the magical world is revealed, Noelle finds herself caught between her old friends and the new relationships forming around her.

I really enjoyed the Chicago setting in this story. Having grown up in the area, it felt incredibly nostalgic. The character development was also very well done. Noelle, Lumi, and Eli all grow throughout the book, and as Noelle and Eli’s relationship develops, it feels fitting for a YA romantasy. As for the Snow Queen, she was written with just the right amount of mystery and emotional distance.

The pacing started a bit slow for me, but once I reached the 60% mark it really took off, and the momentum carried me through the rest of the book.

My main critique would be the repetition of some words and the occasional overuse of some adjectives, which sometimes pulled me out of the story. With a little tightening in those areas, the prose would read even smoother.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable YA romantasy with an ending that leaves room for more. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance, fantasy and YA stories. I’m definitely curious to see what happens in book two!

Thank you to Keilah and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Bridgitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!!!!

[Margaret Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Aroha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Snow Queens Heir By Keilah Jude


I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN

Noelle thinks shes on a hunt for a necklace, but shes finding so much more.
The found family, is beautiful, tugging at your heart strings through every page.


Sitting there in suspense, you'll realise the Keilah Jude wrote, felt, and bled throught the thorns of suspense.

A must read for 2026!!

[✧ Nargiz ✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

⸻

❄️⚔️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!

[Courtney|the.bookcourt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for my review. All opinions that follow are honest and my own.

I have been following Keilah on Booktok since I started my account and seeing her put this book together and market it and deal with all the obstacles she did was truly amazing. She is such a sweet human and I have the honour of being mentioned in the book for helping with a characters name and I am so grateful to be able to early read this story as well.

This is a YA romantasy following Noelle who is on the hunt for a mysterious necklace. Teaming up with the Snow Queen, together they hunt for clues until Noelle falls for a trick laid by Prince Eli that lands her in prison. It’s not long after that Noelle discovers she is the heir to the snowy throne and she must compete in a duel against Prince Eli, with whom she has begun to develop feelings for. Only time will tell if Noelle will make the right decision between her people, her friends, or love.

Right off the bat I want to mention that I do not read much YA fantasy anymore so I tried to keep that bias from my overly enjoyment of the book. Overall this was entertaining! It felt like stepping into the show Once Upon a Time with its cozy urban fantasy vibes and if you’re looking for a lighthearted modern fantasy this is definitely one for you.
Now because it is YA, the writing and prose are quite simple but considering the potential demographic that would be reaching for this novel, it works. However, I did struggle a bit with the dialogue and how it sometimes made the characters seem younger than they were.
This is a very low stakes story so if that’s your vibe, you’re in the right place. There were some parts that I think could’ve used a bit more oomph to stand out but overall kept me intrigued.
If you’re someone looking for a low stress fairy tale retelling this is the one for you!

[KanisBookCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, congratulations to the author Keilah, because she did amazing with her debut and I am excited for what is to come next with this series.

Starting with a quick summary, we follow Noelle as she is in search of a magical necklace, that will bring someone back to life that she yearns to see again. With the help of her two best friends Luis and Marko, and Lumi, a stranger that has arrived and has now joined them, they follow clues that leads them to the necklace, it also leads them to a world that they did not expect to find.

Beginning of the book wasn’t my favorite. I wish there would have been a more in depth introduction for our characters, as well as to the world she created. Instead you had Noelle immediately befriending a stranger in an awkward way. The love interest, Eli, was also just thrown into the book at a random time and it was like they were instantly connected and in “love.” As for Luis, I am still wondering what difference his character will do. 😅 He was a fun one though. Once we passed about 30% in, things started to make more sence and Noelle and Eli we’re finally getting to know each other. Also loved Noelle’s growth through the story.

Now the best part has to be once our heirling dual began. The setting description for the games was very well executed. We had so much betrayal and plot twist that were mindblowning.

I do recommend this book because again I feel like she had such a great story to tell and the cliffhanger was chefs kiss!! 😘 👌🏽

Thank you to Netgally and Keilah Jude for this ARC.

[Priscilla Stalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I finished it in one day, which says a lot because I could not put it down.

This YA romantasy follows Noelle, whose life completely changes when she begins receiving mysterious letters about a powerful necklace everyone seems to be searching for. During her journey, she unknowingly befriends the infamous Snow Queen—who many believe is a morally gray villain—and together they begin uncovering the secrets behind the necklace.

Then things get even more complicated when Noelle meets Prince Eli. What starts as deception quickly turns into a full enemies-to-lovers dynamic, especially after Eli tricks her into spying on the Snow Queen and lands her in prison in his realm. Despite everything, the chemistry between them is undeniable.

One of my favorite parts of this book was the worldbuilding. We get to see multiple realms, each with their own magical powers, which made the story feel expansive and exciting. I also really loved the relationships—especially Noelle’s connection with the Snow Queen and, of course, the tension-filled romance between Noelle and Eli.

The story is full of plot twists and betrayals that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. And the stakes get even higher when Noelle learns she is the heir to the Snow Queen’s throne and must compete in the Heirling Duel, a deadly battle where only one heir can survive.

That ending? Absolutely insane. The cliffhanger left me needing book two immediately because I am rooting so hard for Noelle and Eli.

[Laura The Book Bunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

YA romantasy with elemental magic and fairy tale vibes!

The Snow Queen’s Heir is a fast paced story of Noelle’s journey to find a missing necklace her grandmother her, but she quickly realizes there are several unsavory characters also searching for it, including the dreaded Snow Queen. With both friends and strangers trying to help her, who can she trust and who is trying to take her legacy away?

The plot itself is unique and interesting. I love a good treasure hunt quest, and enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes in a romantasy. Naturei realm was so lush and beautiful that I could probably live there.

While I know this is a young adult book, I do think that the book was too fast paced, and there needed to be more character development and relationship building for me to more engaged with the characters, especially with Lumi and Marko. Most of their relationship was off page, and that hurt the impact of one of the reveals.

Overall, a solid debut ya book, and I am interested to see how that ending plays out in book 2.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own..

[rawan🧸🦢 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 this book was such a good adventure and I loved every second of it.

The beginning was fast paced which had me hooked from chapter 1. I was so invested with the storyline and plot. At first I was a bit skeptical considering its 3rd pov but I ended up loving it even more because of that, I love how we got to read about the characters thoughts.

The found family in this book made me want to cry it was so wholesome🥹 Noelle’s character was written so beautifully as well as the other characters. the ending made me want to scream ughhh how do you end a book like that. I highly recommend you reading this and I can’t wait for another book!!

- One other thing I absolutely loved was each chapter containing a title, I feel like we don’t see that in books as often as we used to. bring chapter titles back🙏

-Again thank you so much to Keilah Jude for the opportunity to receive an ark of this book!

[💕📚Cassie📚💕 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I loved it! There’s so much adventure taking place in a world of what I like to call modern-day fantasy with a few twists. I loved every minute of it.

You get to experience and explore all types of relationships and friendships. I love the found family vibe in this one. It takes you on a journey you don’t expect and has you cheering for people you didn’t expect to lol. Trust me when I say it’s a fun read.

The author did a great job of making a world, giving us amazing characters and some fun world-building. In my opinion, it’s very easy to follow. The author explains the story very well from start to end, giving each character a voice, but most of all giving us a strong FMC. She’s very well written. The MMC doesn’t overshadow her in any type of way. In my opinion, it’s very balanced.

You get to see and meet all the characters and learn to love them, especially the MMC & the FMC.

I highly recommend this to anyone who’s into fantasy. It might feel like a different type of fantasy at times, but it’s for a reason.

It’s one of the best modern-day fantasy stories I’ve read this year.

What to expect:

• Adventures
• Romance
• Found family
• Strong FMC
• Enemies to lovers
• Character development
• Challenges
• Magic and more!

I mean, the list goes on and on. I don’t wanna ruin it for anyone, so just add it to your TBR and read it!

Thank you for allowing me to be on your ARC team, Keilah.

As always, these are my honest thoughts for my review.

[Hannah Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️

Great for fans of YA fantasy with a no-spice romance subplot and strong found family vibes. Set in modern-day Chicago, it follows two female POVs (plus a few bonus ones as you get to know the squad 👀), with a scavenger hunt-style heirloom quest and a high-stakes trial at the end.

I binged this in 2 days and the last half had me hooked! I thought I had all the twists figured out… I did not, one genuinely shocked me!

Eager to see where this series goes, especially with that sneak peek of book 2 ❄️👑

Available on KU. Thank you to Keilah Jude & NetGalley for the chance to read and review! Congrats on your debut novel!

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The snow Queen's Heir
By @keilahjude

Publication date 1st March 2026
Genre-Romantasy YA

Enemies to lovers - forbidden love & found family.

Firstly I'd like to say thank you to @netgalley & @keilahjude for giving me the opportunity to read this fabulous story I absolutely loved it a real page turner kept me interested all the way....Bring on book number 2 I cannot wait.

Noelle is searching for a mysterious, powerful necklace to bring her grandmother back. Her grandmother has left letters with clues as to the whereabouts of the necklace. But noelle isn't the only one searching for it.

Lumi the Snow Queen also wants to get her hands on the necklace to bring her daughter back & her people that got killed.

Noelle & Lumi become friends & embark on the journey together.

Eli then turns up on the scene & turns noelle's life upside down & into his world. They have to fight against time to save the people they love.

They have to compete in a heirling Dual against each other & it won't end until someone dies....

Please 🙏 I need book 2......👌🫶🫶

#netgalley
#keilahjude
#thesnowqueensheir #arcreview #romantasy

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took a minute for me to get into it but once it got started, hell yes!
This could be a trilogy and I'd still put all my energy into reading it!
Cutesy romances, tense adventure, no-one seems to be who they seem to be!
I love each of the characters, (even the almost traitorish ones!).
The story had me gripped though! Each little twist had me guessing for the next and still found myself excited with each one!
Brilliant, cannot wait for book 2, because how could you leave it to end that way! 😭

[Tiffany Goldman]

“What a cruel, twisted fate—it was by human hands that she lost everything and everyone, and now it’s by human hands that everything might be restored.”

This book was not what I expected! Plot twists came and went, some I predicted, some pleasantly surprised me, and some felt like they came out of left field.

I really enjoyed the worldbuilding! The portal fantasy aspect was so fun and I loved seeing a modern Chicago in a fantasy.

The third of book is when I really started flipping pages like crazy and that ending was just cruel! I need to know what happens next!

I do kind of wish we spent more time with the characters so they and their connections (and some plot events) felt more fleshed out but this is a debut and I still plan to check out the sequel, one day.

Readers who enjoy super fast-paced stories with fun worldbuilding, a family-friendly writing style, and some popular fantasy tropes like forbidden romance, there can be only one survivor, plot twists, and political intrigue should give this one a try!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC! The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about plot twists!

So many things happened in this book that I am still trying to wrap my head around. The magic. The secrets. I need book 2 now, you can’t just leave me on a cliff hanger Keilah!

Anyways, calming down now, I loved this book! It had triwizard tournament/hunger games vibes. I also loved the visual descriptions of Noelle’s dresses, absolutely gorgeous!

I received this as an ARC.

[Courtney Mullings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly STRUGGLED reading this book. Maybe if it wasn’t written in 3rd person it could have been better? I felt like I was reading a story told/written by a middle schooler. Which I hate to say, but truthfully I couldn’t get into anything because the writing was just so distracting.

The story line itself was good and I enjoyed how it all came together - but again the writing itself was so distracting to me

[Celeste Case · Rating 2 out of 5]

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!

[Brittany Rolph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok this was so good! I was hooked so quickly. It was a fast paced plot, and you couldn’t help but connect with the characters and root for them. There were so many plot twists too! Some I somewhat guessed, but it didn’t make it any less exciting. And that ending?! I need book two immediately. My heart is hurting and I need answers!!!

What a great debut!

[What_Ash_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.25 stars) Frozen meets Hunger Gamers with a Metal Slinger level plot twist. Yes, I realize that’s a weird and unexpected combination, but here we are.

Noelle, is (sort of) in possession of a mysterious necklace. At least, she has a clue, left to her by her deceased grandmother, as to where to find it. When a death in another realm starts pointing dangerous fingers at her, suddenly powerful beings are showing up left and right, looking for Noelle and demanding the necklace. One clue leads to another, and, along the way, Noelle unknowingly befriends Lumi, the Snow Queen. Noelle has been taught that the Snow Queen is evil and murderous, so Lumi keeps her true identity a secret, instead choosing to ingratiate herself with Noelle and her friends, to join them on their search for the necklace. Lumi desperately wants the necklace in order to bring back her people, who were slaughtered. The leaders of the other realms will do anything to stop her from getting her hands on it and doing just that. Amongst Noelle’s visitors is charming Prince Eli, heir to the Naturei realm. After a prophecy given to him by his most trusted educator names Noelle, he feels compelled to meet her and can’t seem to stay away from her once he does, despite the fact that means disobeying the king, who wants Noelle nowhere near his people, especially Eli. With everyone claiming to be the good guy who wants to help her and pointing fingers at each other, Noelle isn’t sure who to trust, but she can’t deny feeling a special connection with the Snow Queen, or her growing feelings for Eli. Things grow more tense and an heirling duel is called. As a way to avoid wars, the realms settle disputes by sacrificing their heirs to a duel. The duel consists of an arena of deadly obstacles and does not end until at least one of the three heirs dies. When it is discovered that Noelle is, in fact, the Snow Queen’s Heir, she will have to choose between love, friendship, and her people as she prepares to face death in the heirling duel.

I was really up and down with this book. I do have a bit to say here that I’d put in the negative column, but I’d actually like to first say…maybe don’t let it keep you from reading the book.

This was written by a first time author and it shows. The writing is flat, there’s no just personal moments to the book, so every sentence drives the plot, giving us pretty much no understandable dynamic to this friend group or depth to the characters themselves. It’s very “tell” and very little “show.” It’s also written in third-person, which just isn’t a preference of mine. The first part of the book is HARD to get through. As an ARC reader, I do not DNF because the author has trusted me with their work, expecting that I read it all to provide feedback, but it was difficult with this one. I’m not sure how many books the author is planning this series to be, but in my opinion, it should have been one more. I think the quest to find the necklace should have been its own book. The author could have used the page space to really dive deeper into the characters and their worlds. It would have given the story more breathing room. A lot actually happens in this book, it’s more than enough material for two, but the big things seem to happen in the blink of an eye, making the book rushed but feel slow.

Once it’s discovered that Noelle is the heir, so much changes. The writing still likes to tell instead of show. Major events are still over way too quickly. The story though really picks up. You can also see clearly that once she got into the meat of the story, the author stopped struggling so much with how to get us there and gets much more comfortable in the writing and it improves. Once I got to that point, no longer was I struggling to get through it. I genuinely couldn’t put it down and wanted to see what was going to happen. There were several big twists, including a coupe major ones at the end, which I was only partially able to predict and left me going “WHAT?!!!!” And dying for the next book.

That’s the thing…the story is GOOD. The right pieces are there. Keilah Jude is really on to something here. If she can settle her nerves and continue to focus on the characters and their stories instead of “ok, how can I use this sentence to get us to the next thing?” with every line, I think she could really hit it out of the park with book two. I do also think this book may be being marketed to the wrong audience. Again, I’m still going to read book two, but while marketed as YA is definitely heavy on the YOUNG part of that. I actually think this would do better marketed to middle grades. I have a 12 year old daughter and I think her friends would eat this up. My daughter is still anti all romance or I’d hand it over to her immediately. I still might have her read it and I’ll update my review with her opinion as well if I do.

In conclusion:
Read the book. Just go in with managed expectations. Obvious first time writer, but you don’t even have to make it to book two before you will start to feel the change. The story is worth it and I do believe it will continue to improve as the author settles into her writing style. There’s soooo much promise here. Thank you to Keilah Jude and Netgalley for my advanced copy of The Snow Queen’s Heir.

Tropes:
* Enemies to lovers
* Forbidden romance
* Found family
* Elemental magic
* Forced proximity
* Trials
* Political intrigue and mystery
* Abilities
* Hidden identities
* “Treasure” hunt

[kellylikestoread · Rating 1 out of 5]

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. She is given her initiation as soon as possible, it takes about 3 seconds (as an aside, none of the royalty acts anything like royalty and none of the sanctioned events or speeches carry any sort of royal air but back to the point), and then she's super powerful. Not to mention that her power is a TikTok skit meme thing. The whole countdown to death power could've been dealt with another way, like maybe the characters get all sorts of desaturated.

There's also my most favorite plot hole: Markos. He's the fire prince but has been living alongside another fire family who had their memories wiped in order to keep an eye on Noelle since the King apparently knew. But the thing is, they stop aging when they take their vow. Noelle has been living with them for YEARS. How wouldn't she have noticed that NO ONE in her adoptive/foster family was aging? (except for any possible minors).

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.

[Leydi · Rating 3 out of 5]

FROZEN MEETS THRONE OF GLASS- Really strong story, and SO READY for the next book BUT-

PROS:
*Beautiful cover.
*Frozen meets Throne of Glass.
*Really REALLY strong story and foundation. The second half is a ROLLER COASTER and I could not put the book down.
*Loved Eli and Marko. Especially Eli’s charm…phew, he made me swoon.
*The plot twists were wild and satisfying.
*Loved that it took place in Chicago during the first half- my favorite city.
*THE ENDING HAS ME IN A CHOKEHOLD. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW.

CONS:
*I definitely think ALL the characters need more depth and development. Especially the FMC and the Snow Queen. I want MORE from them. More personality. More stakes, more motivation, more flaws. They feel very one dimensional.
*Not enough world-building for a fantasy book. There are so many things (like the characters) that need to be fleshed out more. More details/history of the Naturei, Leizei, Merklei because it was fascinating to read about these kingdoms but there isn’t enough to work with. Plus, the situation and details between the Snow Queen and the Natueri King lacked a bit. There’s a lot of gaps, that kind of had me really confused on how we got there or what was going on.
*Lots of parts felt like quick cuts. It felt like I may have accidentally skipped or missed over some parts. There’s lots of gaps, for lack of better words. (again we need more world development, I am YEARING FOR IT KEILAH bc this story off to a very strong start.)
*The book doesn’t feel like we are following college kids/young adults. The first half feels more middle-school and then the second half feels more high school. I think it’s a combination of the writing along with the characters' thought process as well.
*It’s marketed as an enemies-to-lovers, but to me it felt more or so like a forbidden romance.
*I don’t care about grammar errors as long as it’s a good story. But if you are, there is a bit of it. A lot of ! is used.

Overall, this is a 3 out of 5 stars for me. But, will I read the second book? OF COURSE. When I tell you that I truly did enjoy the second part of the book and the last 100 pages....it had me on the edge of my seat. And for the most part, the plot twists were wild. However, there was one plot twist that I actually saw coming very early on when the Snow Queen was introduced. But then we get to later in the book, regarding the heirs and I truly could not wrap my head around it. I know this is the author’s debut book and overall, it is a very, very solid start. I think with a bit more world-building and character dept/development that could be written– I definitely think this can become the next Throne of Glass or Hunger Games. But as I said earlier…I AM SAT for the next book and I know it’s only going to get better from here.

[b cozy book lounge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book , and once I got into it, I didn’t want to put it down.

Noelle’s grandmother leaves her a series of letters filled with clues leading to a necklace with special powers, one Noelle must find. Determined to uncover the truth, she sets out on the quest with her two college friends, Marko and Luis.

Things take a dangerous turn when a scarred man grabs Noelle and tells her a body has been found with her name written beside it. He wants the necklace,? and he’s not asking nicely. When he drags her into an alley, they stumble upon the Snow Queen interrogating a man. To protect herself, the Snow Queen erases Noelle’s memory of the encounter, including the fact that they’ve ever met.

On a train journey, Noelle meets Eli, handsome, mysterious, and impossible to ignore. Their banter starts subtly but develops beautifully as the story progresses, adding tension and intrigue. And the fact that he keeps reappearing along their journey definitely had me questioning his true role in everything.

Meanwhile, the Snow Queen re-enters their lives as “Lumi,” befriending Noelle, Marko, and Luis. They have no idea who she truly is, and I loved that layered deception. As readers, we know more than the characters do, which adds so much tension. When Lumi joins them on the hunt for the necklace, the stakes feel even higher.

Scarface continues to pop up, his presence creating a constant undercurrent of danger.

The treasure hunt element is so much fun, the clues, the travel, and the unraveling mystery kept me fully invested. The world-building unfolds naturally, growing richer with every chapter. And the twists? Absolutely jaw-dropping.

The banter between Noelle, Marko, and Luis adds warmth and humor, balancing the darker elements beautifully.

It’s well worth the read.

And that ending… there’s definitely a cliffhanger and a reveal that will have you chomping at the bit for the next book!

✨ A magical, suspenseful adventure filled with secrets, shifting identities, friendship, danger, and just the right touch of intrigue.

[hungrybookworm.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍. 𝑯𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒘 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑳𝒖𝒎𝒊’𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕.”

Noelle learns about a powerful and mysterious necklace through letters from her late grandmother, a necklace that holds more meaning than she first realized. She soon discovers that others are searching for it as well and the race to find and protect it pulls her into the Snow Queen’s world. What starts as following clues turns into navigating magic, shifting loyalties and unexpected alliances as the stakes rise.

The Snow Queen's Heir is a debut YA romantasy novel by Keilah Jude, and I think it works well as an entry point for readers who enjoy fantasy that isn’t overly complicated. The story is easy to follow while still giving readers magic, romance tension and strong relationship dynamics. What stood out most to me was the found family aspect. I really enjoyed seeing the characters build connections and support one another, it added warmth to the colder fantasy setting and made the story feel grounded.

It was also such a weird and funny experience reading a book where the character nearly shares my name. I kept doing double takes while reading and we even had a few traits that felt similar😂 And yes… it ended in a cliffhanger. It clearly sets up bigger things for the next book and I’m curious to see how everything expands from here.

Overall, I enjoyed the concept, the friendships and where the story is headed. As a debut, it lays a solid foundation and I’m excited to see how the world and characters develop in the next book.

Thank you so much to Keilah Jude and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The book releases on March 1 and If you enjoy fantasy with found family, romance tension, and an ending that leaves you thinking about what comes next, this is definitely one to keep on your radar.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 that Noelle has to enter the Heirling Duel in book two. However it was jammed into one book resulting in neither plotline being given the space it deserved. I also struggled with Noelle instantly changing to Lorelei in the end when she was still missing her memories with her past name. A personal caveat was that I found Noelle a name that better suited the protagonist especially if she is the Snow Queen’s heir…

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.

[Hazel Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Snow Queen’s Heir by Keilah Jude is a beautifully imagined tale that feels both magical and heartfelt. With its wintery atmosphere and gentle undercurrent of hope, this story captures the quiet strength of its heroine and the warmth that can bloom even in the coldest of worlds.

Jude’s writing has a soft, almost fairytale-like quality that makes the setting come alive. The snowy landscapes, icy castles, and shimmering magic are described with care and charm, creating a world that feels immersive without overwhelming the reader. There’s a lovely balance between enchantment and emotional depth, giving the story substance beyond its fantasy elements.

The characters are endearing and easy to root for, especially the heir at the center of the story. Her journey of self-discovery, courage, and acceptance is both touching and inspiring. Watching her navigate expectations, legacy, and her own heart adds a meaningful layer to the narrative. The relationships—whether familial or romantic—are written with tenderness and sincerity.

At times, the pacing slows slightly in the middle, but the quieter moments allow the emotional themes to fully blossom. By the end, the story leaves you with a sense of warmth and gentle satisfaction, much like the first hint of spring after a long winter.

Overall, The Snow Queen’s Heir is a charming and sweet fantasy that will delight readers who love magical settings paired with heartfelt character growth. A lovely four-star read that feels cozy, hopeful, and full of heart.

[Mackenzie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Snow Queen’s Heir is an ambitious debut YA romantasy and the first installment in a planned trilogy. The story follows Noelle, a resident of modern-day Chicago, as the city is gripped by a supernatural winter storm. Following a trail of clues left by her late grandmother, Noelle sets out to find a long-lost magical necklace.

She doesn’t travel alone; a group of close friends and a mysterious new ally, who turns out to be the Snow Queen herself, join her to decipher her grandmother’s letters. Along the way, Noelle encounters Prince Eli, a charming but questionable stranger tied to the magical world. The stakes skyrocket when Noelle leaves Chicago for a magical realm, finding herself trapped by ancient laws and caught in the crosshairs of a royal rivalry she never knew existed.

This debut is packed with cool ideas and successfully lays the groundwork for a larger series. This is a perfect entry-level fantasy for younger readers or those who prioritize a fast-moving plot over deep character studies. If you prefer "spice" or complex character arcs, this may not be the right fit for you.

While a lot of action happens, the narrative would benefit from more time spent grounding the reader in the world, developing the magic system, and deepening the character motivations. It’s an impressive start for a new author, and I’m curious to see how the world expands in the future books!

Huge thank you to the author for providing an early copy for review! All opinions are my own.