A King's Command: The Unchosen Queen

by Andrew West, Michael West (Editor), Hayley Toft (Editor)

She wasn't raised to lead. She was raised to be invisible.

Sheltered behind palace walls, Princess Leyora's entire existence was controlled by a system of strict tradition. She was never meant to be anything more than a compliant trinket of the monarchy. But one night, destiny changed everything.

As her worth is brutally challenged by her brothers, Leyora is in a desperate fight for her future when Ardenia is suddenly attacked.

With the kingdom's existence in peril, Leyora is thrust into a role she's not prepared for in a world she barely understand. To save her people, she must find her voice and master her magic. But her journey is complicated by family, romance, and how much she's willing to sacrifice.

Leyora must live with the consequences of her actions. She is forced to choose between the people she loves and the person she's becoming.

Saving Ardenia may cost her more than she bargained for.

It may cost her both who she is and everyone she loves.

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2026

Reviews

[Bree Carlson]

The Unchosen Queen is a super promising debut and an intriguing start to the King’s Command series.

I especially enjoyed the relationship developments throughout the story--from Leyora’s complicated relationship with her family, to her growing friendship with Kalixx, and the uncertain, teetering romance with Kael. The romance in the book felt well balanced and never overpowered the larger story, which I appreciated.

I also enjoyed the themes of self-discovery, self doubt, and Leyora's slow burn of gradually coming into her own power.

Exploring the different kingdoms was another highlight for me, particularly Prystol and Sylvareth. The writing is fluid, creative and descriptive--and the villainous creatures...so wonderfully creepy and grotesque.

As someone who tends to gravitate toward more detailed, worldbuilding-heavy fantasy, I could have soaked up a lot more history and context surrounding the kingdoms, and a more clearly defined magic system. That said, there’s plenty of groundwork to build on as the series continues, and not everyone likes as much world building as I do. I want to be flash-danced with details cause I tire of birdwatching and playing with my seashell collection and I need fantasy to make me feel ALIVE.

I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for an approachable romantasy filled with adventure, whimsy, drama, romance, and just the right amount of spice. The ending left me curious about where the story will go next, and I think this would be a great read for romantasy fans or anyone wanting to dip their toes into fantasy without committing to a long, drawn out series or 1,000-page tome.

[Marie Rouse]

Loved this book! It’s hard to believe this is Andrew West’s debut fantasy novel—the author truly did not disappoint. I was drawn in by the immersive world-building, high-stakes drama, and unexpected twists.

Leyora is a relatable princess who gradually learns that people and places are not always what they appear to be on the surface. Having grown up sheltered, she is given the chance to explore the wider lands and see how other territories live and govern themselves. Along the way, she learns what it takes to become a leader, discovers her own strength, and grows into an even more formidable character.

With a compelling mix of romance, magic-wielding, trials, training, battles, and heartbreak, A King’s Command: The Unchosen Queen has so much of what readers want from the opening book in a romantasy series. The pacing made it a quick read for me because I stayed engaged and constantly wanted to know what would happen next.

I can’t wait to see where the series goes in the next book—hopefully the wait will not be too long!

[Jenna Reigh]

Fantasy can be hit or miss for me, but I truly enjoyed A King's Command. It grabbed my attention right from the start with interesting characters, beautiful cities and landscapes described in great detail, and a protagonist underdog having to learn the sacrifices leadership often brings. Cheers to Andrew West and his debut novel!

[Nicole Selle]

Fantasy is not usually a genre I read, but I ended up really enjoying this book!

The first chapter immediately pulled me in and made me want to keep reading. I especially loved getting to explore the world Andrew created. His imagination and creativity really shine throughout the book, and his writing is beautifully descriptive without making the world feel difficult to follow.

I had a lot of fun getting immersed in this story! It’s always exciting when a book outside of your usual genre ends up surprising you, and this definitely did that for me.

[Allison Orvis]

I’ve read many fantasy books over the years, and A King’s Command: The Unchosen Queen truly stood out to me. The writing is incredibly vivid, not only in the way it conveys Leyora’s emotions, but also in how it brings the story to life. I usually “hear” a story in my head when I read, but with this book, I felt as though I could actually “see” it. The descriptions were so engaging that I became completely immersed in the story.

I especially loved Leyora’s journey of self-discovery. She makes mistakes, misjudges situations, learns from them, and continues to work hard. I found myself rooting for her and experiencing her disappointments, successes, and betrayals right alongside her. The magic is fascinating, and the romance complements her growth without ever taking over the story.

I didn’t want to put this book down, but I also didn’t want it to end. My first thought when I finished was that I wanted the next book immediately. The world-building creates wonderful foundation for the next books in the series. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys immersive fantasy, strong character development, captivating magic, and the tension of navigating difficult choices.

[Mirandalikestoread]

A coronation is set to take place to pick a new king. In a move that shocks everyone, the only daughter of the King, Leyora is chosen instead of one of her four brothers. She is the first queen of her Kingdom and is completely unprepared for the role. Immediately upon being chosen for the throne, a threat to her kingdom and her family presents itself. Her family is frozen and she is left alone to travel to other kingdoms to ask for their aid in fighting the threat. This fantasy novel was engaging from the beginning and was extremely well written for a debut novel. The author tells such a brilliantly captivating story and the audiobook is absolutely amazing.

[Reader Sandy]

I was immediately pulled into the story and completely invested. It had the perfect mix of magic, battles, romance, and heartbreak. This book held my interest from beginning to end and kept me engaged with all the unexpected twists and turns. I was desperately wanting to know what was going to happen next!
I’m already excited for Book 2 and hopefully it won’t have to wait too long!

[Kathryn Hoppert]

This book is descriptive deliciousness!!!

Hard to believe this is this authors debut novel! I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind as everything was described so wonderfully. Can’t wait to follow Leyora on her next adventure, when is the next book coming out because that ending left me wanting so much more!! I’ll be waiting…

[Marie Beimert]

This book took me a long time to get into. It had moments that were exciting and moments I was bored. The ending was a surprise. I’m curious to see what happens next if Andrew decides to write a sequel.