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The Queen Effect
Neva Bloodbreaker, warrior and princess, is exiled from the palace in Tercia. Her stepmother wants her dead, and everyone who gets in the way is fair game.
Griffith, prince and heart-throb, must make a deal with the Queen of Tercia for his father, the King of Humberland, but Neva has other ideas. She wants Humberland on her side. Griffith vows to help her, but it isn't that easy when you're fighting your feelings for the wanted and exiled princess.
Reluctant to start a war, Neva holds fast to an alliance, or the people will die in her name, and that's not a battle cry she's willing to make. But her stepmother's ruthless ambitions may leave her with no choice.
Griffith, prince and heart-throb, must make a deal with the Queen of Tercia for his father, the King of Humberland, but Neva has other ideas. She wants Humberland on her side. Griffith vows to help her, but it isn't that easy when you're fighting your feelings for the wanted and exiled princess.
Reluctant to start a war, Neva holds fast to an alliance, or the people will die in her name, and that's not a battle cry she's willing to make. But her stepmother's ruthless ambitions may leave her with no choice.
- GenresFantasy
272 pages, Paperback
Published April 8, 2026
About the author
Mae Thorn
15 books12 followersMae Thorn enjoys being romanced and terrified- a combination not normally found in books so she writes them. Her favorite stories include kickass women and the men they fall for. She writes historical romance, fantasy, and gothic romance.
When she isn’t writing she battles for equal access for those with hearing loss, discovers hidden records as a volunteer archivist, geeks out about Legos, torments her feline minions, and watches bad movies.
Mae holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University.
She lives near Salt Lake City, Utah with her cats; Church, Shadow Moon, and Sabrina.
When she isn’t writing she battles for equal access for those with hearing loss, discovers hidden records as a volunteer archivist, geeks out about Legos, torments her feline minions, and watches bad movies.
Mae holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University.
She lives near Salt Lake City, Utah with her cats; Church, Shadow Moon, and Sabrina.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 23, 2026
This was an ARC read for me.
Overall I enjoyed the book. I do love a fairytale retelling. I also enjoyed that the FMC was strong and a bad a$$. I feel like the MMC left a little to be desired. I wish the story was just a little longer to give a little more story about what happens to the step mother in the end. Again I did enjoy this book and I will recommend it.
Overall I enjoyed the book. I do love a fairytale retelling. I also enjoyed that the FMC was strong and a bad a$$. I feel like the MMC left a little to be desired. I wish the story was just a little longer to give a little more story about what happens to the step mother in the end. Again I did enjoy this book and I will recommend it.
March 4, 2026
ARC Review – The Queen Effect
Stepping into this Snow White reimagining, I was immediately drawn to the shift in focus — this isn’t a damsel waiting to be saved. This is a warrior queen in the making.
The strongest element for me was the FMC. She’s fierce, capable, and very much in control of her own narrative. The story leans into her strength rather than her innocence, and that made the retelling feel fresh and empowered rather than delicate.
While it’s marketed with enemies-to-lovers undertones, I’d say it leans more toward instant connection with tension. There isn’t a deep-rooted hatred between them — the chemistry sparks quickly, and the emotional shift happens fast. I personally would have loved a little more bite before the softening.
As a Snow White retelling, it takes inspiration rather than sticking closely to the original tale. If you’re expecting a strict retelling, this isn’t that — it builds its own path while borrowing familiar shadows from the classic.
Now let’s talk about the queen… I wanted more darkness. More cruelty. More layered villainy. I craved that chilling presence to really heighten the stakes.
And the spice? I wouldn’t have complained about more… but the scenes we did get?
Absolute chef’s kiss. Well-written, intentional, and worth the wait.
Overall, this is a strong, warrior-forward fantasy with romantic tension and a reimagined fairytale core. If you love powerful heroines, morally complex dynamics, and a Snow White vibe with sharper edges, this one will absolutely find its readers.
Obsidian Library rating:
🖤🖤🖤🖤 (4/5 – just needed a touch more darkness and a little more heat)
Stepping into this Snow White reimagining, I was immediately drawn to the shift in focus — this isn’t a damsel waiting to be saved. This is a warrior queen in the making.
The strongest element for me was the FMC. She’s fierce, capable, and very much in control of her own narrative. The story leans into her strength rather than her innocence, and that made the retelling feel fresh and empowered rather than delicate.
While it’s marketed with enemies-to-lovers undertones, I’d say it leans more toward instant connection with tension. There isn’t a deep-rooted hatred between them — the chemistry sparks quickly, and the emotional shift happens fast. I personally would have loved a little more bite before the softening.
As a Snow White retelling, it takes inspiration rather than sticking closely to the original tale. If you’re expecting a strict retelling, this isn’t that — it builds its own path while borrowing familiar shadows from the classic.
Now let’s talk about the queen… I wanted more darkness. More cruelty. More layered villainy. I craved that chilling presence to really heighten the stakes.
And the spice? I wouldn’t have complained about more… but the scenes we did get?
Absolute chef’s kiss. Well-written, intentional, and worth the wait.
Overall, this is a strong, warrior-forward fantasy with romantic tension and a reimagined fairytale core. If you love powerful heroines, morally complex dynamics, and a Snow White vibe with sharper edges, this one will absolutely find its readers.
Obsidian Library rating:
🖤🖤🖤🖤 (4/5 – just needed a touch more darkness and a little more heat)
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.75/5 - rounded up as Goodreads doesn't let you do half stars!:)
“They kissed until they were no longer a prince and princess, and the world was no longer a battlefield…”
First I would like to thank the author for writing this book and for the ARC. This book was a retelling of Snow White - and I am a big sucker for fairytale retellings. That being said, I definitely enjoyed this book as a whole. Neva Bloodbreaker is in fact a badass, not the damsel in distress Snow White that we know from the original fairytale. She’s a known fighter, trying to better herself, and is someone who will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. I loved that she was her own person and wasn’t acting for the MMC but for herself. She had her own goals - with or without the prince.
While this book was enjoyable, I felt there were some parts that were a little confusing. For example, it felt that the story was a little rushed at times, the beginning especially. The pacing felt a little bit off in these areas but I think it did improve as the book went along. The biggest thing I would say, though, would be the details. In particular, I wanted more of them. The plot and the characters were there, I just wanted to know more about them. In this regard, it felt a little too tell but less show at times. It just needed more details. Tell us more about the step mom and the MMC. Show us more action. Give us more development between Neva and the prince; the chemistry was definitely there throughout the book, but give us a bit more bite. Raise the stakes a little bit higher. All the ingredients were there, the writing was good. This book needed to be a bit longer in my opinion (and I would read a longer version for sure!) But, in this regard, it left a bit to be desired.
That being said, the book is still gripping - dreamy, imaginative, and immersive and I did definitely enjoy it. This book has a unique plot, one that I’ve not seen before - and it was a fresh take on the Snow White fairytale. My biggest takeaway is that I wanted more of it! If you enjoy fairytale retellings like I do, badass female characters, and dark twists and turns, then this book is for you! (And with the way it ended, a book two would be cool to read as well!)
“They kissed until they were no longer a prince and princess, and the world was no longer a battlefield…”
First I would like to thank the author for writing this book and for the ARC. This book was a retelling of Snow White - and I am a big sucker for fairytale retellings. That being said, I definitely enjoyed this book as a whole. Neva Bloodbreaker is in fact a badass, not the damsel in distress Snow White that we know from the original fairytale. She’s a known fighter, trying to better herself, and is someone who will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. I loved that she was her own person and wasn’t acting for the MMC but for herself. She had her own goals - with or without the prince.
While this book was enjoyable, I felt there were some parts that were a little confusing. For example, it felt that the story was a little rushed at times, the beginning especially. The pacing felt a little bit off in these areas but I think it did improve as the book went along. The biggest thing I would say, though, would be the details. In particular, I wanted more of them. The plot and the characters were there, I just wanted to know more about them. In this regard, it felt a little too tell but less show at times. It just needed more details. Tell us more about the step mom and the MMC. Show us more action. Give us more development between Neva and the prince; the chemistry was definitely there throughout the book, but give us a bit more bite. Raise the stakes a little bit higher. All the ingredients were there, the writing was good. This book needed to be a bit longer in my opinion (and I would read a longer version for sure!) But, in this regard, it left a bit to be desired.
That being said, the book is still gripping - dreamy, imaginative, and immersive and I did definitely enjoy it. This book has a unique plot, one that I’ve not seen before - and it was a fresh take on the Snow White fairytale. My biggest takeaway is that I wanted more of it! If you enjoy fairytale retellings like I do, badass female characters, and dark twists and turns, then this book is for you! (And with the way it ended, a book two would be cool to read as well!)
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.75/5 rating. I was gave this book to read as an arc and asked to leave an honest review.
If it wasnt for the errors within the book & one sentence that doesn't make sense, this book would have been a 4/5 star. Its a hard one to rate because of that issue so its a 3.75 star as it stands at the moment.
The Queen Effect by Mae Thorn, is a Romantasy Snow White retelling, the story is enjoyable & similar to Snow White in some ways but also completely different, Featuring Enemies to Lovers, a FMC (Neva) who is a warrior and contains Adult themes and situations throughout the story! Aside from errors in the book, the story was a good story and set at a good pace. 100% the errors will all need rectified before release though.
You enter straight into chaos mode from page 2 and omg it already had me right there!! My heart ached by page 5 and I was holding back tears. Also the first time we meet Griffith, I was very wary of him! But I grow to liking him knowing at the beginning they had more in common than they thought! I wasnt keen on Van Fleet..he seemed like a uber creep.
Griffith finally started to grow on me around half way through the book.
The twists and turns in the story was good. I do wonder with how it ended if there will be a book 2 tho, as to end it that way after everything. damn.
If it wasnt for the errors within the book & one sentence that doesn't make sense, this book would have been a 4/5 star. Its a hard one to rate because of that issue so its a 3.75 star as it stands at the moment.
The Queen Effect by Mae Thorn, is a Romantasy Snow White retelling, the story is enjoyable & similar to Snow White in some ways but also completely different, Featuring Enemies to Lovers, a FMC (Neva) who is a warrior and contains Adult themes and situations throughout the story! Aside from errors in the book, the story was a good story and set at a good pace. 100% the errors will all need rectified before release though.
You enter straight into chaos mode from page 2 and omg it already had me right there!! My heart ached by page 5 and I was holding back tears. Also the first time we meet Griffith, I was very wary of him! But I grow to liking him knowing at the beginning they had more in common than they thought! I wasnt keen on Van Fleet..he seemed like a uber creep.
Griffith finally started to grow on me around half way through the book.
The twists and turns in the story was good. I do wonder with how it ended if there will be a book 2 tho, as to end it that way after everything. damn.
April 8, 2026
✨ ARC Review ✨
I had the chance to read The Queen’s Effect by Mae Thorn as an ARC reader, and I’m so excited it’s officially out today!
This book completely pulled me in from the start. The Snow White elements woven throughout the story added such a fun, slightly dark fairytale twist that made it feel both familiar and fresh at the same time. It gave that nostalgic fairytale vibe, but with a sharper, more captivating edge.
The main female character especially stood out to me — she gave strong Celaena Sardothien energy, and I loved every second of it. She was clever, layered, and carried that quiet intensity that makes you want to keep turning pages just to see what she’ll do next.
The pacing kept me hooked the entire time. It’s one of those reads where you sit down for “just a few chapters” and suddenly realize you’ve flown halfway through the book. I genuinely had a hard time putting it down.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable read with a great blend of fantasy, intrigue, and strong character work. If you love fairytale-inspired stories with powerful heroines and addictive storytelling, this one is definitely worth picking up!
I had the chance to read The Queen’s Effect by Mae Thorn as an ARC reader, and I’m so excited it’s officially out today!
This book completely pulled me in from the start. The Snow White elements woven throughout the story added such a fun, slightly dark fairytale twist that made it feel both familiar and fresh at the same time. It gave that nostalgic fairytale vibe, but with a sharper, more captivating edge.
The main female character especially stood out to me — she gave strong Celaena Sardothien energy, and I loved every second of it. She was clever, layered, and carried that quiet intensity that makes you want to keep turning pages just to see what she’ll do next.
The pacing kept me hooked the entire time. It’s one of those reads where you sit down for “just a few chapters” and suddenly realize you’ve flown halfway through the book. I genuinely had a hard time putting it down.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable read with a great blend of fantasy, intrigue, and strong character work. If you love fairytale-inspired stories with powerful heroines and addictive storytelling, this one is definitely worth picking up!
June 4, 2026
I really enjoyed The Queen Effect by Mae Thorne. It was a fun, fast-paced read with a lot of humor, and the characters were very relatable. The story is a clever spin on Snow White, except this time snow (Princess Neva) is a total badass who fights for her kingdom rather than waiting to be rescued. I loved how her character grew, especially in contrast with Griffith, a prince from another land who becomes a key part of her journey. And the addition of characters like Van Fleet and Diana really help give you an idea of character history but also provide some fun comedic relief. The dynamic kept me hooked and the world-building was really well done. I’d love to see a sequel! There’s so much potential for more story, and I can’t wait to see where Thorne takes us next.
April 19, 2026
3.5 stars. I love a good fairy tale retelling. This was a closely based on and it was neat to see what the author did with it. At first, I was duly intrigued. But as the story went on, even though it was pretty fast paced, I lost interest at one point. Overall I enjoyed this though and would like to try this author again.
April 19, 2026
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️
This loose Snow White retelling is a fast-paced, engaging read.
Neva, banished by her stepmother the Queen, is living a quiet life among miners, until Griffith arrives to form an alliance and gets pulled into the growing danger.
With plenty of action, twists, and shifting alliances, the story keeps you hooked as the characters fight to protect the people and the mines.
This loose Snow White retelling is a fast-paced, engaging read.
Neva, banished by her stepmother the Queen, is living a quiet life among miners, until Griffith arrives to form an alliance and gets pulled into the growing danger.
With plenty of action, twists, and shifting alliances, the story keeps you hooked as the characters fight to protect the people and the mines.
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 1, 2026Hey! I thoroughly enjoyed writing this. I love fairytale retellings! I hope you enjoyed reading it.
March 22, 2026
This Snow White retelling hooked me right away—Neva Bloodbreaker is an absolute baddie and fierce warrior. I loved her strength, but her constant “stay or go?” indecision (especially with Griffith and fighting for her role as queen) got a bit repetitive and made her feel less confident than expected.
That said, the story is beautifully written—dreamy, immersive, and a fresh take on a classic. The action and battle scenes kept things exciting, and I really enjoyed characters like Diana (a fave!), while Van Fleet gave major creepy vibes.
There was one confusing line that pulled me out for a second, but overall the spice was well-balanced and the story kept me engaged.
⭐️ 3.75 stars — a beautifully written retelling with strong potential, even if the character consistency didn’t always land for me.
That said, the story is beautifully written—dreamy, immersive, and a fresh take on a classic. The action and battle scenes kept things exciting, and I really enjoyed characters like Diana (a fave!), while Van Fleet gave major creepy vibes.
There was one confusing line that pulled me out for a second, but overall the spice was well-balanced and the story kept me engaged.
⭐️ 3.75 stars — a beautifully written retelling with strong potential, even if the character consistency didn’t always land for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an arc.
It’s a familiar fairytale idea and flips it into something much more intense.A Snow White retelling but so much more and from a different perspective then we are used to.
It grabbed my attention almost instantly and didn’t really let go. The main character stands out in the best way—she’s strong, capable, and drives the story instead of being carried by it, which made this feel fresh compared to typical retellings.
The relationship dynamics have tension, though it develops pretty quickly rather than being a slow burn rivalry.
There are some editing issues that need to be cleaned up, but the overall story and pacing kept me invested.
If you enjoy fantasy with a strong female lead and a darker twist on a classic tale, this is one to keep an eye on. Love, bravery, and family all found in this fairy tale story. I enjoyed reading this ARC.
It’s a familiar fairytale idea and flips it into something much more intense.A Snow White retelling but so much more and from a different perspective then we are used to.
It grabbed my attention almost instantly and didn’t really let go. The main character stands out in the best way—she’s strong, capable, and drives the story instead of being carried by it, which made this feel fresh compared to typical retellings.
The relationship dynamics have tension, though it develops pretty quickly rather than being a slow burn rivalry.
There are some editing issues that need to be cleaned up, but the overall story and pacing kept me invested.
If you enjoy fantasy with a strong female lead and a darker twist on a classic tale, this is one to keep an eye on. Love, bravery, and family all found in this fairy tale story. I enjoyed reading this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews