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Nameless Queen
One girl must make a name for herself--or die trying --in this royal fantasy where an unknown peasant becomes the ultimate ruler. But how long can she keep the crown if everyone wants her dead? Perfect for fans of Furyborn, Red Queen, and Everless.
Everyone expected the king's daughter would inherit the throne. No one expected me.
It shouldn't even be possible. I'm Nameless, a class of citizens so disrespected, we don't even get names. Heck, dozens of us have been going missing for months and no one seems to care.
But there's no denying the tattoo emblazoned on my arm. I am queen. In a palace where the corridors are more dangerous the streets, though, how could I possibly rule? And what will become of the Nameless if I don't?
Everyone expected the king's daughter would inherit the throne. No one expected me.
It shouldn't even be possible. I'm Nameless, a class of citizens so disrespected, we don't even get names. Heck, dozens of us have been going missing for months and no one seems to care.
But there's no denying the tattoo emblazoned on my arm. I am queen. In a palace where the corridors are more dangerous the streets, though, how could I possibly rule? And what will become of the Nameless if I don't?
342 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2020
184 people are currently reading
12097 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca McLaughlin
2 books198 followersRebecca McLaughlin is the debut author of YA Fantasy, NAMELESS QUEEN (01-07-2020)
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July 9, 2019
ARC received in exchange for an honest review – thank you!
Sigh. You have no idea how disappointed I am to have to say this, but here it is: another much-anticipated YA fantasy of 2020 bites the dust.
The land of Seriden is divided into three categories of people: Royals, who are basically the nobility; Legals, who are middle-class workers; and the Nameless, homeless peasants. The next ruler of Seriden is chosen by the previous ruler, who says the name of their choice as they’re dying. A black crown tattoo appears on the arm of the person selected. This is supposed to stop the crown from being purely an inheritance thing, but it clearly isn’t working very well because rulers usually just pick their children to go next.
When the king dies, a 17-year-old Nameless girl called Coin wakes up to find that she has the crown tattoo. She reveals it to save her best friend Hat from execution. From there, she’s forcibly taken into the palace and presumably has to deal with her new life as queen.
I say presumably because I got up to 32% before calling it a day.
➽ Problem #1: Coin is a Mary Sue almost as bad as the early 2010s years, when Mary Sues were EVERYWHERE in YA.
She basically learns how to do everything INSTANTLY, which is unrealistic and unsatisfying. The tattoo gives her the power to see auras, read memories, and create illusions. Considering she’s NEVER made an illusion before, I found it incredible that she was able to pull off making complex phantasms approximately ten minutes after getting the actual tattoo. It’s referred to like it’s an innate skill, which it definitely isn’t. I’m reminded here of the heroine from Marie Lu’s The Young Elites, who can also create illusions – but Lu showed us how she actually had to work for it, and practise it, before it became a skill. Meanwhile Coin just instinctively manages to do these things.
Despite never being able to read auras before, she also evinces no surprise or excitement at this ability (or at anything else). She’s just like, ‘Oh. I can read auras now. So I can tell that that woman’s lying!’ How does she know that? Is it because the aura has changed colour, or changed size, or what? Again, the author shows Coin being able instinctively to do something she shouldn’t. Can you say Mary Sue? Don’t even get me started on how she, a peasant girl who’s spent her life on the streets, is able to pick up the finer niceties of upper-class social behaviour in about a week.
She’s also such a gifted thief that she’s able to steal things from passing tables while her hands are cuffed and she’s surrounded by guards. Is this feat actually described? No, the author just tells us that Coin was able to do it. Alright then.
This is just going overboard; we’re supposed to believe Coin can do everything, without learning how she actually does anything. It goes without saying I never connected to this heroine.
➽ Problem #2: Very poor worldbuilding.
So there are these three categories of people, the Royals, Legals, and Nameless. It’s said that people care so little about the activities of the Nameless that committing crimes isn’t even illegal for them. Yet at the same time, they’re executed for committing crimes. Paradox?
I got no sense of what Seriden is like as a place . What kind of clothes do people wear? What do they look like? By 32%, these are things I would expect to know. Seriden felt like the thinnest of fantasy worlds, a fancy name to put on top of the real-life USA. Making up your own swear words doesn’t give me a sense of what the land is like.
OVERALL
I struggled through this book for ages because I didn’t want to have to give up on it, but life is way too short.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
Sigh. You have no idea how disappointed I am to have to say this, but here it is: another much-anticipated YA fantasy of 2020 bites the dust.
The land of Seriden is divided into three categories of people: Royals, who are basically the nobility; Legals, who are middle-class workers; and the Nameless, homeless peasants. The next ruler of Seriden is chosen by the previous ruler, who says the name of their choice as they’re dying. A black crown tattoo appears on the arm of the person selected. This is supposed to stop the crown from being purely an inheritance thing, but it clearly isn’t working very well because rulers usually just pick their children to go next.
When the king dies, a 17-year-old Nameless girl called Coin wakes up to find that she has the crown tattoo. She reveals it to save her best friend Hat from execution. From there, she’s forcibly taken into the palace and presumably has to deal with her new life as queen.
I say presumably because I got up to 32% before calling it a day.
➽ Problem #1: Coin is a Mary Sue almost as bad as the early 2010s years, when Mary Sues were EVERYWHERE in YA.
She basically learns how to do everything INSTANTLY, which is unrealistic and unsatisfying. The tattoo gives her the power to see auras, read memories, and create illusions. Considering she’s NEVER made an illusion before, I found it incredible that she was able to pull off making complex phantasms approximately ten minutes after getting the actual tattoo. It’s referred to like it’s an innate skill, which it definitely isn’t. I’m reminded here of the heroine from Marie Lu’s The Young Elites, who can also create illusions – but Lu showed us how she actually had to work for it, and practise it, before it became a skill. Meanwhile Coin just instinctively manages to do these things.
Despite never being able to read auras before, she also evinces no surprise or excitement at this ability (or at anything else). She’s just like, ‘Oh. I can read auras now. So I can tell that that woman’s lying!’ How does she know that? Is it because the aura has changed colour, or changed size, or what? Again, the author shows Coin being able instinctively to do something she shouldn’t. Can you say Mary Sue? Don’t even get me started on how she, a peasant girl who’s spent her life on the streets, is able to pick up the finer niceties of upper-class social behaviour in about a week.
She’s also such a gifted thief that she’s able to steal things from passing tables while her hands are cuffed and she’s surrounded by guards. Is this feat actually described? No, the author just tells us that Coin was able to do it. Alright then.
This is just going overboard; we’re supposed to believe Coin can do everything, without learning how she actually does anything. It goes without saying I never connected to this heroine.
➽ Problem #2: Very poor worldbuilding.
So there are these three categories of people, the Royals, Legals, and Nameless. It’s said that people care so little about the activities of the Nameless that committing crimes isn’t even illegal for them. Yet at the same time, they’re executed for committing crimes. Paradox?
I got no sense of what Seriden is like as a place . What kind of clothes do people wear? What do they look like? By 32%, these are things I would expect to know. Seriden felt like the thinnest of fantasy worlds, a fancy name to put on top of the real-life USA. Making up your own swear words doesn’t give me a sense of what the land is like.
OVERALL
I struggled through this book for ages because I didn’t want to have to give up on it, but life is way too short.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
Read
December 17, 2019This is a fast-paced street-urchin-to queen wish fulfillment fantasy that should really please the teen audience it's intended for. First person present tense has become the new fashion in YA, but McLaughlin handles it more naturally than many, with verve, grace and sheer fun.
It's the voice that carries this story. Here's the opening line: I wake up the same way I fell asleep, knife in hand, boots for a pillow, and Nameless.
The Nameless thing is somewhat confusing as actually everyone has a name, it's just that the Nameless (the poor downtrodden peasants or commons) don't have family names. (Which is, if you look at human history, a fairly modern concept in many cultures.) There's a lot about law concerning names, in which magic is bound, and sumptuary laws, that adds to the confusion.
The worldbuilding is pretty much fairy-tale kingdom with a dose of Hollywood backdrop, but that's going to be just fine for the audience the book is aimed at, because it keeps the focus on the action, with lots of daring escapades and duels.
Coin is smart, and it's fun to watch her get All The Powers, but at the heart this book is about family, which I found a refreshing contrast to some of the "angry girls gotta kill" dystopias out there.
McLaughlin is definitely a talent to watch.
Copy provided by NetGalley
It's the voice that carries this story. Here's the opening line: I wake up the same way I fell asleep, knife in hand, boots for a pillow, and Nameless.
The Nameless thing is somewhat confusing as actually everyone has a name, it's just that the Nameless (the poor downtrodden peasants or commons) don't have family names. (Which is, if you look at human history, a fairly modern concept in many cultures.) There's a lot about law concerning names, in which magic is bound, and sumptuary laws, that adds to the confusion.
The worldbuilding is pretty much fairy-tale kingdom with a dose of Hollywood backdrop, but that's going to be just fine for the audience the book is aimed at, because it keeps the focus on the action, with lots of daring escapades and duels.
Coin is smart, and it's fun to watch her get All The Powers, but at the heart this book is about family, which I found a refreshing contrast to some of the "angry girls gotta kill" dystopias out there.
McLaughlin is definitely a talent to watch.
Copy provided by NetGalley
December 24, 2019
The premise for Nameless Queen was wonderfully intriguing. But, unfortunately, this novel suffers from the impossible-to-ignore plight of the Mary Sue lead. Coin is amusing, resourceful, intelligent—and has an ability to master things that she has had no experience with before so fast and so well, that is quite difficult to believe. So difficult, in fact, that once you notice it, you can't help but notice all the things that happen around her that are conveniently too...well, convenient.
There is Coin, minding her own business, getting ready to perform a new con as the Nameless that she is, and bam—she receives the crown tattoo that signals her as Seriden's next ruler, and all of a sudden magical abilities that she has never even come across before are as easy for her to access and manipulate as breathing.
She can create illusions, she can influence others' senses, she can see auras. She has such a strong connection to auras, as a matter of fact, that she can even feel them as if they were her own.
People that she has never met before take to her with such ease that it's as if they have known her her entire life. Glenquartz takes two looks at her and he becomes her greatest confidant and bodyguard, even though she is the thing that his class seems to look down upon.
She can call out when she comes across poison just like that *fingers snap*—though we are never told that she has training in such a craft.
Coin enters the palace as a Nameless of the streets, but within one meeting she's a skilled tactician and diplomat.
Bursts of anger that partake in a lot of stabbing sharp things into flat surfaces is met with fear, because our lead is clearly one big bad female and we must not overlook her temper.
Two weeks is all it takes for Coin to be able to drop Glenquartz on his back in sparring, despite him being a skilled soldier...
It goes on, and on, to the point where you basically believe anything else that Coin tells you she's capable of, because, why not—up to his point there is no barrier that she can't overcome. Not even when Esther is dying at the end of the novel and at the near snap of a finger manages to transfer her own crown tattoo to Coin. Such ease, despite someone else being in the process of also obtaining that tattoo.
There's no struggle, no work is done to attain the end of a complex situation, and answers seem to come so simple to these characters. Characters, which sometimes are used as props, thrown into a scene for the purpose of spouting a few lines or doing a few actions that will help drive the plot along, until they are shooed along and tucked away again.
I won't say, however, that all of it was bad. There were things, like Hat, for example, that made this story worthwhile. Despite my mistrust of realism in allowing a child to perform any sort of medical care on a critical patient because she just so happens to be in a medical ward alongside an experience doctor, she's a darling of a character. She's loving, warm, sweet, funny, and she endears the reader to many of the moments that she is around Coin. She's one of the reasons that Coin is appealing—she makes her seem more human and more caring, even as she resists that bond with the little girl.
Belrosa's twist to use a Nameless army was a great addition, although, once again, it was not used to its full potential. Aside from them chasing Coin down after she escapes their training ground, they don't do much. I would have loved to see more glimpses of them, direct ones, not just the behind-the-scene peeks of their burning down houses or dragging away Nameless and making them disappear around the city.
And in a book where building relationships are less than realistic in their swiftness, Esther and Coin's was a breath of fresh air. Yes, it should happen just as it does, that the young women do not like each other. Yes, Esther should be suspicious and snappy at Coin considering their backgrounds. Yes, they should resist whatever warmth they feel for each other at the beginning, even once it's revealed that they're sisters. That was excellent, that was real, that was progress.
The end was a two-way street. I thought it ingenious that Coin locks Belrosa into her own mind, essentially, as a way to beat her. But the duels come and go in the blink of an eye. Once more, we have an opportunity for something to go through a process so that it grows and builds, but it gets cut short. And while part of me went a little nuts having Coin's name dangled before me then snatched up again, I can't help but enjoy that we still don't know who she was born to be. She may be the type of character that knows all and can do all, but having her be the person her experiences have shaped her out to be, rather than whoever she was christened as, portrays her as a more likable being.
Not only that, but not showing a romance arc for the lead was fortifying. In a genre where romance—especially love triangles—are so well used for the plot, the fact that the author did not lean on this other than a few very coy and subtle hints that never panned out to be anything else, was commendable.
Regardless of whatever faults were found, due to how the novel ends, I can't help but want to know what is to come. If nothing else, the open-ended story leaves you with enough questions that you continue to seek answers for them. Smart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
reviews-changed-my-mind
May 22, 2020The negative reviews are piling up, but I really wanna read this.
What to do... what to do....
What to do... what to do....
December 7, 2019
In a cold, dystopian world where only the wealthy have an identity, the Nameless wander the streets scrounging to exist. Children become thieves just to survive and their street smarts are all that keep them alive in a dog-eat-dog world. Coin is one of the strongest, but she will soon learn there is more to her than not having a true name. Now she has to do is survive the royal court with its monsters, machinations and deceivers, all while giving the Nameless a voice.
NAMELESS QUEEN by Rebecca McLaughlin is a brilliant tale of finding one’s true identity and how far one will go to protect those who matter while doing the right thing, no matter the personal cost. Politics, family, strength of character and a heart-wrenching discovery are all told in a fascinating and fresh way that will keep readers’ imaginations running at full tilt!
Rebecca McLaughlin is an author to watch for action-packed, emotionally charged, quality young adult fantasy reading!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Random House Children's/Crown Books for Young Readers! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (January 7, 2020)
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 352 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
NAMELESS QUEEN by Rebecca McLaughlin is a brilliant tale of finding one’s true identity and how far one will go to protect those who matter while doing the right thing, no matter the personal cost. Politics, family, strength of character and a heart-wrenching discovery are all told in a fascinating and fresh way that will keep readers’ imaginations running at full tilt!
Rebecca McLaughlin is an author to watch for action-packed, emotionally charged, quality young adult fantasy reading!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Random House Children's/Crown Books for Young Readers! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers (January 7, 2020)
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 352 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
January 3, 2020
Nameless Queen by Rebecca McLaughlin is yet another politically charged young adult fantasy novel. The world within Nameless Queen is made up of three groups of characters, there are the Royals, the Legals and the Nameless. Royals of course rule the land, the Legals are regular citizens and the Nameless are homeless peasants and treated as nothing usually stealing to survive.
“Coin” is a Nameless who like the others around her has given herself a name after being born without one. She does whatever she can to survive taking care of herself and another young nameless girl. When the king in the land dies whoever is supposed to take his place is supposed to become marked with a magical tattoo.
Despite the fact that Nameless should never be eligible to become the next on the thrown since they have no name for the King to choose them Coin finds herself with the magical tattoo. She wants to hide the tattoo from the Royals until her young friend is threatened and she used it as leverage to save her life. Coin is then taken by the Royals to be trained to take part in the trials for the new leader.
Nameless Queen is not really a bad young adult fantasy however it’s not really an overly original one either. The story has a predictable side to it since a lot of young adult books are based on political power struggles with this simply having the Nameless against the upper classes. With a slow to moderate pace and simply an average plot and characters this one rated about 3 1/2 stars to me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
“Coin” is a Nameless who like the others around her has given herself a name after being born without one. She does whatever she can to survive taking care of herself and another young nameless girl. When the king in the land dies whoever is supposed to take his place is supposed to become marked with a magical tattoo.
Despite the fact that Nameless should never be eligible to become the next on the thrown since they have no name for the King to choose them Coin finds herself with the magical tattoo. She wants to hide the tattoo from the Royals until her young friend is threatened and she used it as leverage to save her life. Coin is then taken by the Royals to be trained to take part in the trials for the new leader.
Nameless Queen is not really a bad young adult fantasy however it’s not really an overly original one either. The story has a predictable side to it since a lot of young adult books are based on political power struggles with this simply having the Nameless against the upper classes. With a slow to moderate pace and simply an average plot and characters this one rated about 3 1/2 stars to me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
December 29, 2019
Actual rating: 2.5/5 stars
When broken down to its fundamental components, Nameless Queen has a lot of things that tend to make me automatically love a book: a protagonist who is a thief, hidden royalty, and commentary on classism and rigid social structures. But when taken as a whole, the novel failed to breathe much life or originality into those tropes. The result was a lukewarm story–not bad, but wholly unremarkable.
The premise of the story is pretty straightforward. In the city of Seriden, you have three classes of citizens: Royals (the highest class, mostly rulers and legislators), Legals (the working class, from craftsmen to members of the royal guard), and the Nameless (who literally don’t have names and also have no legal rights, so they typically have to steal to survive). The ruler has a tattoo of a crown on their arm. When they die, they speak a name, and the tattoo transfers to whoever that name belongs to. So imagine the surprise of a Nameless girl called Coin when the king dies and (surprise, surprise) she finds a crown tattoo has appeared on her arm, granting her magical abilities. Taken to the palace, Coin quickly realizes that holding the throne isn’t a guarantee of power; she is on a probationary period, her best friend (a fellow Nameless) has been imprisoned unjustly, and while she has a few allies, most of the Royals despise her on principle. What ensues is a pretty typical “learning to rule and also uncovering a conspiracy” story, with little to make it stand out from all the other similar stories on the market.
So, let’s start with the good. One of the strongest themes in this book was its emphasis on family, both blood and chosen. The Nameless rarely have families; they certainly don’t have family names, at any rate. And yet there are deep-rooted friendships and alliances between some of them that run just as deeply as conventional familial bonds–particularly between Coin and Hat, the aforementioned best friend–though fierce self-reliance makes them reluctant to fully care about anyone else. At the palace, Coin quickly befriends a guard named Glenquartz, a man who lost his daughter years ago and comes to think of twelve-year-old Hat like another daughter. And, without spoiling too much, Coin finds that she does, in fact, also have blood relatives in the palace, and she has to reconcile this with the fact that she spent her entire life alone, believing she had no family. Furthering this, there is absolutely no romance in Coin’s life, which means the focus is completely on family, with none of the teenage angst or random making-out scenes that often fill YA fantasy books.
That said, while she doesn’t have any romantic interests, Coin otherwise reminds me a lot of some Sarah J Maas heroines: she’s sassy, unnaturally self-confident and irreverent, she doesn’t like girly things like wearing dresses, and when she finds out she has powers, she masters them almost instantly, and she becomes a total pro at fighting with only a week of training. Those last points are the worst; heroes need to WORK to get their skills, or it’s just unsatisfying and feels cheap. If you can’t tell, I am not a huge fan of SJM, so this comparison is not a favorable one. Coin is too much “not like other girls” and doesn’t have a lot of growth throughout the book, aside from a slight increase in her willingness to trust others. Basically, she's a Mary Sue.
Some of the other characters, while one-dimensional, were still lovable, especially the fiercely loyal Glenquartz and the clever Esther–but, without any major complexity, they’re not memorable. And Hat? It’s like the author couldn’t decide what age she was meant to be. Sometimes she speaks so eloquently and philosophically, you would swear she was in her twenties, but then other times she is so excitable, you are reminded that she’s just 12. I wanted to like her, and I do think I liked her more than Coin, but overall she was still annoying.
Now, beyond the characters, the biggest hangup for this book was its strange and inconsistent magic system. The abilities imparted by the tattoo are only slightly explained, and nobody details why, exactly, the power was assigned to the tattoo in the first place. It is known that the magic doesn’t affect Nameless, but there isn’t a good reason why, and some very cheesy explanations at the end are used to play fast and loose with the rules. Worldbuilding is important in a fantasy, and a weakly-defined magic system coupled with patchy history and culture makes the larger world feel less believable.
In all other regards, there is nothing particularly good or bad about the book. The plot is a little predictable but not implausible. The pacing is fine. The writing is clean, not anything special, but does what it needs to. There isn’t much profanity, so that’s good if you like your books more PG-rated (though the made-up profanities for this world, primarily featuring the words “gaiza” and “spetz,” are not very convincing or natural-feeling). And the resolution of the book is a solid setup for a sequel, though I am not exactly chomping at the bit for it.
I wish this review could have more strong sentiments in either direction, positive or negative, but my thoughts on this book fall so squarely in the middle that to use any extreme language would be disingenuous. I won’t dissuade you from reading it, but I certainly wouldn’t read it again, and the jury is still out on whether I’ll be picking up book two.
Thank you to Random House for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
When broken down to its fundamental components, Nameless Queen has a lot of things that tend to make me automatically love a book: a protagonist who is a thief, hidden royalty, and commentary on classism and rigid social structures. But when taken as a whole, the novel failed to breathe much life or originality into those tropes. The result was a lukewarm story–not bad, but wholly unremarkable.
The premise of the story is pretty straightforward. In the city of Seriden, you have three classes of citizens: Royals (the highest class, mostly rulers and legislators), Legals (the working class, from craftsmen to members of the royal guard), and the Nameless (who literally don’t have names and also have no legal rights, so they typically have to steal to survive). The ruler has a tattoo of a crown on their arm. When they die, they speak a name, and the tattoo transfers to whoever that name belongs to. So imagine the surprise of a Nameless girl called Coin when the king dies and (surprise, surprise) she finds a crown tattoo has appeared on her arm, granting her magical abilities. Taken to the palace, Coin quickly realizes that holding the throne isn’t a guarantee of power; she is on a probationary period, her best friend (a fellow Nameless) has been imprisoned unjustly, and while she has a few allies, most of the Royals despise her on principle. What ensues is a pretty typical “learning to rule and also uncovering a conspiracy” story, with little to make it stand out from all the other similar stories on the market.
So, let’s start with the good. One of the strongest themes in this book was its emphasis on family, both blood and chosen. The Nameless rarely have families; they certainly don’t have family names, at any rate. And yet there are deep-rooted friendships and alliances between some of them that run just as deeply as conventional familial bonds–particularly between Coin and Hat, the aforementioned best friend–though fierce self-reliance makes them reluctant to fully care about anyone else. At the palace, Coin quickly befriends a guard named Glenquartz, a man who lost his daughter years ago and comes to think of twelve-year-old Hat like another daughter. And, without spoiling too much, Coin finds that she does, in fact, also have blood relatives in the palace, and she has to reconcile this with the fact that she spent her entire life alone, believing she had no family. Furthering this, there is absolutely no romance in Coin’s life, which means the focus is completely on family, with none of the teenage angst or random making-out scenes that often fill YA fantasy books.
That said, while she doesn’t have any romantic interests, Coin otherwise reminds me a lot of some Sarah J Maas heroines: she’s sassy, unnaturally self-confident and irreverent, she doesn’t like girly things like wearing dresses, and when she finds out she has powers, she masters them almost instantly, and she becomes a total pro at fighting with only a week of training. Those last points are the worst; heroes need to WORK to get their skills, or it’s just unsatisfying and feels cheap. If you can’t tell, I am not a huge fan of SJM, so this comparison is not a favorable one. Coin is too much “not like other girls” and doesn’t have a lot of growth throughout the book, aside from a slight increase in her willingness to trust others. Basically, she's a Mary Sue.
Some of the other characters, while one-dimensional, were still lovable, especially the fiercely loyal Glenquartz and the clever Esther–but, without any major complexity, they’re not memorable. And Hat? It’s like the author couldn’t decide what age she was meant to be. Sometimes she speaks so eloquently and philosophically, you would swear she was in her twenties, but then other times she is so excitable, you are reminded that she’s just 12. I wanted to like her, and I do think I liked her more than Coin, but overall she was still annoying.
Now, beyond the characters, the biggest hangup for this book was its strange and inconsistent magic system. The abilities imparted by the tattoo are only slightly explained, and nobody details why, exactly, the power was assigned to the tattoo in the first place. It is known that the magic doesn’t affect Nameless, but there isn’t a good reason why, and some very cheesy explanations at the end are used to play fast and loose with the rules. Worldbuilding is important in a fantasy, and a weakly-defined magic system coupled with patchy history and culture makes the larger world feel less believable.
In all other regards, there is nothing particularly good or bad about the book. The plot is a little predictable but not implausible. The pacing is fine. The writing is clean, not anything special, but does what it needs to. There isn’t much profanity, so that’s good if you like your books more PG-rated (though the made-up profanities for this world, primarily featuring the words “gaiza” and “spetz,” are not very convincing or natural-feeling). And the resolution of the book is a solid setup for a sequel, though I am not exactly chomping at the bit for it.
I wish this review could have more strong sentiments in either direction, positive or negative, but my thoughts on this book fall so squarely in the middle that to use any extreme language would be disingenuous. I won’t dissuade you from reading it, but I certainly wouldn’t read it again, and the jury is still out on whether I’ll be picking up book two.
Thank you to Random House for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
June 9, 2020
3.5 stars
Nameless are those that haven't inherited the blood of the Royals nor carry the mark of the tattoo that signifies otherwise. Not accepted as citizens, those nameless have to fend for their lives on the streets making do with nothing, pickpocketing, stealing and anything to survive. But something strange is happening among the nameless; they are starting to disappear!
One nameless girl, the main character in this politically charged YA novel, has been arrested upon the appearance of the Royal tattoo on her arm. She is marked.
But the Royal council isn't happy to just accept a non-citizen from the street to take place among them. They throw her in the dungeons and after long debates decide her fate.
In a ceremony duel, the girl is to be challenged for her rank by other rightful inheritors among the Royals or anyone who is willing to challenge her. As the girl learns that the tattoo has given her certain abilities she is to be trained in the ways to hold her own in preparations to give her a semi fair shot at the duels.
What she does not know is that when she is at her strongest, she will also be at her most vulnerable.
In this intriguing plot, the magical system isn't unheard of. Magic can be transferred and there always is a price. The protagonist is the ultimate underdog who rises to the challenge. Along the way she weeds out friends from foes and the ultimate secret about how she has come to the tattoo in the first place. What it reveals a greatly composed mystery that makes this read worthwhile.
For fans of a strong female protagonist, an emotionally charged plot, and political intrigue, this will be right up your alley!
Enjoy :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
Nameless are those that haven't inherited the blood of the Royals nor carry the mark of the tattoo that signifies otherwise. Not accepted as citizens, those nameless have to fend for their lives on the streets making do with nothing, pickpocketing, stealing and anything to survive. But something strange is happening among the nameless; they are starting to disappear!
One nameless girl, the main character in this politically charged YA novel, has been arrested upon the appearance of the Royal tattoo on her arm. She is marked.
But the Royal council isn't happy to just accept a non-citizen from the street to take place among them. They throw her in the dungeons and after long debates decide her fate.
In a ceremony duel, the girl is to be challenged for her rank by other rightful inheritors among the Royals or anyone who is willing to challenge her. As the girl learns that the tattoo has given her certain abilities she is to be trained in the ways to hold her own in preparations to give her a semi fair shot at the duels.
What she does not know is that when she is at her strongest, she will also be at her most vulnerable.
In this intriguing plot, the magical system isn't unheard of. Magic can be transferred and there always is a price. The protagonist is the ultimate underdog who rises to the challenge. Along the way she weeds out friends from foes and the ultimate secret about how she has come to the tattoo in the first place. What it reveals a greatly composed mystery that makes this read worthwhile.
For fans of a strong female protagonist, an emotionally charged plot, and political intrigue, this will be right up your alley!
Enjoy :)
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
January 29, 2020
There were so many things wrong with this book, I’m not even sure where to begin. But it’s a classic case of “Great idea, bad delivery.”
The concept was something I was very much interested in and had so much potential, but sadly, it made zero sense. The world building was weak and poorly defined. The characters were monotone, similar in many ways, and there was no chemistry. It felt like it was written by a twelve year old who has a dream of becoming a writer and maybe in a few years after she’s learned a little more on how to construct a story that can actually move someone to feel the characters emotions and believe what the main character is fighting for, then she should rewrite it and publish it then. It was inconsistent and even the timeline was sloppily edited (For example, in the same conversation she state there’s six days until the festival but lasted in the conversation mentions it’s the next day).
Coin, the main character, is very much a “Mary Sue” type and while I’m not always bothered by this, I was more annoyed by her demeanor regarding it. Which I can’t really explain what it was that annoyed me about her. I guess you could say that characteristic is Nameless itself.
I believe there was a pretty good message that the author was trying to share through this manuscript, but unfortunately it was so poorly delivered that I’ll forget with time anything that I may have actually liked about it. It was forgettable and obnoxious and unrelatable. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. You know that feeling when you forget you’re reading because you’re so wrapped up in the story? That wasn’t the case at any point. I was hyper aware that I was reading every single page and honestly, I would’ve quit it within 50-ish pages had I not decided to follow through and treat it as an example of “What Not To Do.”
Whoever said it was “perfect for fans of Red Queen” needs to apologize to Victoria Aveyard and all her fans that picked up this book in hopes to love it with the same tenacity. Clearly whoever said that hasn’t read either book.
Ultimately, I’m glad this is a stand-alone and I urge the author NOT to write a sequel, and perhaps read a little more of books similar to what she’s TRYING to write because this was so poorly executed that it pains me to write such a rude review.
The only reason I’m giving it 2 stars is because there were a few things within the last 100 pages-or-so that actually surprised me and I thought made up for the fact thatthere was absolutely ZERO romance in this story and I really wish there had been. I read because I want a good love story and this was disappointing at best. Maybe a love affair with a cute guard would’ve redeemed it for me, personally. But I think she pretty much lost hope of it being a good book within the first chapter, sadly.
I wish I could get my $18.99+tax back and the hours I wasted reading this. But then again, a lesson of what NOT to do, as an aspiring author.
The concept was something I was very much interested in and had so much potential, but sadly, it made zero sense. The world building was weak and poorly defined. The characters were monotone, similar in many ways, and there was no chemistry. It felt like it was written by a twelve year old who has a dream of becoming a writer and maybe in a few years after she’s learned a little more on how to construct a story that can actually move someone to feel the characters emotions and believe what the main character is fighting for, then she should rewrite it and publish it then. It was inconsistent and even the timeline was sloppily edited (For example, in the same conversation she state there’s six days until the festival but lasted in the conversation mentions it’s the next day).
Coin, the main character, is very much a “Mary Sue” type and while I’m not always bothered by this, I was more annoyed by her demeanor regarding it. Which I can’t really explain what it was that annoyed me about her. I guess you could say that characteristic is Nameless itself.
I believe there was a pretty good message that the author was trying to share through this manuscript, but unfortunately it was so poorly delivered that I’ll forget with time anything that I may have actually liked about it. It was forgettable and obnoxious and unrelatable. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. You know that feeling when you forget you’re reading because you’re so wrapped up in the story? That wasn’t the case at any point. I was hyper aware that I was reading every single page and honestly, I would’ve quit it within 50-ish pages had I not decided to follow through and treat it as an example of “What Not To Do.”
Whoever said it was “perfect for fans of Red Queen” needs to apologize to Victoria Aveyard and all her fans that picked up this book in hopes to love it with the same tenacity. Clearly whoever said that hasn’t read either book.
Ultimately, I’m glad this is a stand-alone and I urge the author NOT to write a sequel, and perhaps read a little more of books similar to what she’s TRYING to write because this was so poorly executed that it pains me to write such a rude review.
The only reason I’m giving it 2 stars is because there were a few things within the last 100 pages-or-so that actually surprised me and I thought made up for the fact thatthere was absolutely ZERO romance in this story and I really wish there had been. I read because I want a good love story and this was disappointing at best. Maybe a love affair with a cute guard would’ve redeemed it for me, personally. But I think she pretty much lost hope of it being a good book within the first chapter, sadly.
I wish I could get my $18.99+tax back and the hours I wasted reading this. But then again, a lesson of what NOT to do, as an aspiring author.
Read
August 23, 2019Hello! I'm the author of this book, and I wanted to take a minute to say THANKS and to share why I'm so excited to be able to share this book!
8/21/2019:
1 - Thanks
This is my debut novel, which means it's my first book that's getting published. We're in the early days still (it's being published in under 5 months, on January 07, 2020), so thank you thank you thank you for checking out this book, adding it to your tbr pile, and/or suggesting it to friends. YOU are why this book is happening, and I can't thank you enough for your interest in my book.
2 - Why I'm Excited
I write for a lot of reasons—to understand, to explore, to satisfy the creative monster living in my head—but most of all, I write to entertain. That's why I wrote this book with a brave and bold leading character like Coin. She is just aching to prove herself, to survive, and to grow as a person. She's witty, unapologetic, and (even if she won't admit it) good. It was a blast to bring her and the city of Seriden to life on the page. I hope that her world and her story are as exciting, fun, and entertaining for you to read as it was for me to write.
3 - Pre-order
PS: You can pre-order the book anytime between now and the publish date. And if you want a chance to win a FREE advanced copy of the book, check out my instagram and twitter, where there *whispers* might be some cool stuff happening in the next couple of months.
Instagram | Twitter
@McRebecky
8/21/2019:
1 - Thanks
This is my debut novel, which means it's my first book that's getting published. We're in the early days still (it's being published in under 5 months, on January 07, 2020), so thank you thank you thank you for checking out this book, adding it to your tbr pile, and/or suggesting it to friends. YOU are why this book is happening, and I can't thank you enough for your interest in my book.
2 - Why I'm Excited
I write for a lot of reasons—to understand, to explore, to satisfy the creative monster living in my head—but most of all, I write to entertain. That's why I wrote this book with a brave and bold leading character like Coin. She is just aching to prove herself, to survive, and to grow as a person. She's witty, unapologetic, and (even if she won't admit it) good. It was a blast to bring her and the city of Seriden to life on the page. I hope that her world and her story are as exciting, fun, and entertaining for you to read as it was for me to write.
3 - Pre-order
PS: You can pre-order the book anytime between now and the publish date. And if you want a chance to win a FREE advanced copy of the book, check out my instagram and twitter, where there *whispers* might be some cool stuff happening in the next couple of months.
Instagram | Twitter
@McRebecky
December 8, 2019
"Be a lady. Well. The general is still clutching a sprained wrist, there's a knife sticking out of the table, and everyone's gaping at me. If I can't show restraint, I'll show strength."
A stunning standalone fantasy that will be the perfect debut kick-off to 2020.
*ARC provided by Crown Publishing for an honest review*
SUMMARY
In the kingdom of Seriden, when the sovereign dies they pass on the crown by speaking the name of who will inherit the magical crown tattoo. When the tattoo manifests on Coin's arm, she is in disbelief. Coin cannot be Queen, she is Nameless.
In Seriden, Nameless aren't even citizens - they have no human rights, and are not even graced with a name. Now Coin is thrust into a world she never expected to be a part of, and people are willing to kill her to prevent the Nameless from having a voice. Coin will have to decide if keeping the crown is worth the fight.
REVIEW
I quickly want to start off by saying that this was a wonderful standalone, and I am so glad it wasn't dragged out into a duology. It truly bewilders me when a debut author manages to create such a vivid world with a well-thought-out political system in such a small amount of time. There was also very little info-dumping, which I very much appreciate. Not only did Rebecca McLaughlin do that, but she also fleshed out her characters and made us care about the connections forged between them.
Let me explain the three classes.
1. Royal - the Royals are the wealthy class. They are allowed to wear bright clothing.
2. Legal - the Legals are middle class, typically mill-workers, who have legal names. They are only allowed to wear drab colour clothing.
3. Nameless - the Nameless aren't even a class because they aren't citizens. This is because they are not given a name at birth. They are essentially homeless.
McLaughlin did an amazing job with her world building and explaining the magic system. I will admit that "a magical tattoo" sounds silly, but the way she wrote about it was beautiful. Classism is the reigning issue of this novel, while found-family is the main theme.
Our protagonist is Coin. She has survived on the streets by pick-pocketing and grifting Royals and wealthier Legals. Yes, Coin is very gifted in her skills and a quick learner. However, that is to be expected of someone who has grown up homeless and an assumed criminal. Over the course of the novel we see Coin eager to improve upon and hone her skills. Which makes it all the more fun when she uses sleight-of-hand or pick-pocketing to fool the Royals around her. My favourite scene was with the pillows in the cell (hilarious!!!!).
Too often we see the MC miscommunicate and try to solve everything on their own. I love that McLaughin instead showed the development of a woman who had to rely on herself for years, learn to trust and lean on those around her. I also loved her passive-aggressive sass towards the Royal Council, and how smart she was in her actions. Furthermore, I am glad that Coin didn't just "go-with-the-flow" once she became Queen. Her hesitancy was believable and made her character development all the more worthwhile.
I absolutely adored our side-characters. Hat was the absolute cutest! She was such a sweet addition and added light to scenes that dark and hopeless. I adore how she never gave up on Coin, and that she pushed Coin to make better choices. Esther, on the hand, was a beautifully built character. As the King's daughter, everyone expected the crown tattoo to be passed to her. I loved learning more about her character and the depth of her nature. I could have easily read an entire story about her.
On the other hand, I do wish that Glenquartz was a little more fleshed out. Out of all the side-characters, his character was more "tell" than "show". However, I do admire what his character stood for and that he was Coin's friend even when she refused such.
OH AND QUICKLY - THERE WAS NO ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK AND I REALLY LOVED THAT. IT WAS SUPER REFRESHING AND ALLOWED ME TO FOCUS MORE ON THE DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTS.
My biggest complaint was that the villains were a bit too predictable. I wish McLaughlin had thrown in a curve-ball somewhere. However, for a debut this was still amazing work.
I highly recommend that everyone keep an eye out on her future work, because I will.
A stunning standalone fantasy that will be the perfect debut kick-off to 2020.
*ARC provided by Crown Publishing for an honest review*
SUMMARY
In the kingdom of Seriden, when the sovereign dies they pass on the crown by speaking the name of who will inherit the magical crown tattoo. When the tattoo manifests on Coin's arm, she is in disbelief. Coin cannot be Queen, she is Nameless.
In Seriden, Nameless aren't even citizens - they have no human rights, and are not even graced with a name. Now Coin is thrust into a world she never expected to be a part of, and people are willing to kill her to prevent the Nameless from having a voice. Coin will have to decide if keeping the crown is worth the fight.
REVIEW
I quickly want to start off by saying that this was a wonderful standalone, and I am so glad it wasn't dragged out into a duology. It truly bewilders me when a debut author manages to create such a vivid world with a well-thought-out political system in such a small amount of time. There was also very little info-dumping, which I very much appreciate. Not only did Rebecca McLaughlin do that, but she also fleshed out her characters and made us care about the connections forged between them.
Let me explain the three classes.
1. Royal - the Royals are the wealthy class. They are allowed to wear bright clothing.
2. Legal - the Legals are middle class, typically mill-workers, who have legal names. They are only allowed to wear drab colour clothing.
3. Nameless - the Nameless aren't even a class because they aren't citizens. This is because they are not given a name at birth. They are essentially homeless.
McLaughlin did an amazing job with her world building and explaining the magic system. I will admit that "a magical tattoo" sounds silly, but the way she wrote about it was beautiful. Classism is the reigning issue of this novel, while found-family is the main theme.
Our protagonist is Coin. She has survived on the streets by pick-pocketing and grifting Royals and wealthier Legals. Yes, Coin is very gifted in her skills and a quick learner. However, that is to be expected of someone who has grown up homeless and an assumed criminal. Over the course of the novel we see Coin eager to improve upon and hone her skills. Which makes it all the more fun when she uses sleight-of-hand or pick-pocketing to fool the Royals around her. My favourite scene was with the pillows in the cell (hilarious!!!!).
Too often we see the MC miscommunicate and try to solve everything on their own. I love that McLaughin instead showed the development of a woman who had to rely on herself for years, learn to trust and lean on those around her. I also loved her passive-aggressive sass towards the Royal Council, and how smart she was in her actions. Furthermore, I am glad that Coin didn't just "go-with-the-flow" once she became Queen. Her hesitancy was believable and made her character development all the more worthwhile.
I absolutely adored our side-characters. Hat was the absolute cutest! She was such a sweet addition and added light to scenes that dark and hopeless. I adore how she never gave up on Coin, and that she pushed Coin to make better choices. Esther, on the hand, was a beautifully built character. As the King's daughter, everyone expected the crown tattoo to be passed to her. I loved learning more about her character and the depth of her nature. I could have easily read an entire story about her.
On the other hand, I do wish that Glenquartz was a little more fleshed out. Out of all the side-characters, his character was more "tell" than "show". However, I do admire what his character stood for and that he was Coin's friend even when she refused such.
OH AND QUICKLY - THERE WAS NO ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK AND I REALLY LOVED THAT. IT WAS SUPER REFRESHING AND ALLOWED ME TO FOCUS MORE ON THE DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTS.
My biggest complaint was that the villains were a bit too predictable. I wish McLaughlin had thrown in a curve-ball somewhere. However, for a debut this was still amazing work.
I highly recommend that everyone keep an eye out on her future work, because I will.
December 18, 2019
1.5 stars.
The concept of this book is so intriguing! The poor people aren't even worthy enough to have a name and the next leader of the kingdom is given their status by being named on the last breath of the former leader. Sounds awesome!
But the book didn't catch me on fire. All the events are resolved so positively and easily for the main characters that there was a startling lack of tension in the plot. I never doubted the outcomes and thus I didn't care. Coin also becomes so very good at whatever talents she's been gifted or ones that she already had too that I could never be surprised by anything.
Even the world building and social commentary was very superficial. We only got an idea of the castle and that there are ideas of Legals, Royals, and the Nameless residing in this kingdom but not so much on their interactions, or why they are designated as such, how they came to be, and what their feelings are in regards to one another. I never got a clear idea how this kingdom functions itself as well as with its neighbors.
For me, it was quite lackluster. I almost DNF-ed but persevered because I was near the end.
I stated it in one of my reading updates that the writing style seems like it would be better suited for a younger audience - middle grade perhaps. I think the idea of an extraordinary main character changing the world around them is a lot more accepted and prevalent there. Also, for those of you who are tired of all the grim dark, gory, and violent fantasies this one is very light in comparison. There's very little blood and brutal violence in here.
Sorry, this one didn't do it for me.
eArc provided by NetGalley.
The concept of this book is so intriguing! The poor people aren't even worthy enough to have a name and the next leader of the kingdom is given their status by being named on the last breath of the former leader. Sounds awesome!
But the book didn't catch me on fire. All the events are resolved so positively and easily for the main characters that there was a startling lack of tension in the plot. I never doubted the outcomes and thus I didn't care. Coin also becomes so very good at whatever talents she's been gifted or ones that she already had too that I could never be surprised by anything.
Even the world building and social commentary was very superficial. We only got an idea of the castle and that there are ideas of Legals, Royals, and the Nameless residing in this kingdom but not so much on their interactions, or why they are designated as such, how they came to be, and what their feelings are in regards to one another. I never got a clear idea how this kingdom functions itself as well as with its neighbors.
For me, it was quite lackluster. I almost DNF-ed but persevered because I was near the end.
I stated it in one of my reading updates that the writing style seems like it would be better suited for a younger audience - middle grade perhaps. I think the idea of an extraordinary main character changing the world around them is a lot more accepted and prevalent there. Also, for those of you who are tired of all the grim dark, gory, and violent fantasies this one is very light in comparison. There's very little blood and brutal violence in here.
Sorry, this one didn't do it for me.
eArc provided by NetGalley.
December 20, 2019
★ I received an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ★
Overall, I thought this book was a good standalone ya fantasy novel. In the beginning it was giving me major Six of Crows vibes because the main character Coin is a part of the "Nameless" lower-class who live on the streets and have to steal to survive. However, this quickly became a royalty-political power struggle novel, with major "chosen one" vibes. The part that stuck out to me the most was that THERE WAS NO ROMANCE in this book! Instead, the book focuses on the power struggle between the societal classes as well as the friendships between the female characters, which was kind of refreshing! There did seem to be a tiny hint of a f/f relationship between the MC and a secondary character, but it was never fleshed out. I wish we had gotten a little more character development from some of the characters, but as a short standalone novel I understand why some descriptions were modest. I really enjoyed Esther and wished we had seen more of her. My biggest beef were the bad guys: Marcher, gang leader (morally gray?) and Belrosa, the general (standard evil villain) -neither were fully fleshed out nor is the reader given a clear understanding of what their goals actually were and the "why" behind them.
Overall, I thought this book was a good standalone ya fantasy novel. In the beginning it was giving me major Six of Crows vibes because the main character Coin is a part of the "Nameless" lower-class who live on the streets and have to steal to survive. However, this quickly became a royalty-political power struggle novel, with major "chosen one" vibes. The part that stuck out to me the most was that THERE WAS NO ROMANCE in this book! Instead, the book focuses on the power struggle between the societal classes as well as the friendships between the female characters, which was kind of refreshing! There did seem to be a tiny hint of a f/f relationship between the MC and a secondary character, but it was never fleshed out. I wish we had gotten a little more character development from some of the characters, but as a short standalone novel I understand why some descriptions were modest. I really enjoyed Esther and wished we had seen more of her. My biggest beef were the bad guys: Marcher, gang leader (morally gray?) and Belrosa, the general (standard evil villain) -neither were fully fleshed out nor is the reader given a clear understanding of what their goals actually were and the "why" behind them.
October 29, 2021
Viele Dinge waren sehr gut und zum Ende haben sich auch fast meine Fragen beantwortet. Obwohl ich immer noch ein Müh daran zweifle, dass es so funktioniert, wie es da steht.
Interessante Figuren, frische Herangehensweisen und ein ungewöhnliches System haben mir viel Freude beim Lesen bereitet!
Interessante Figuren, frische Herangehensweisen und ein ungewöhnliches System haben mir viel Freude beim Lesen bereitet!
February 23, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. Ok so here is the deal. I've had this book for years now. I would try to read it and just quickly put it down and move to something else. Everything I like normally is in this book. But this just didn't work for me at all. Still I read it bit by bit and this week decided to bite the bullet and read it so I could review it. Here is what I determined was my problem. I am prepared for a heroine of a fantasy book to be the "chosen one" but Coin was an over the top Mary Sue character. There was nothing special or unique about her at all. The plot never felt resolved with little plot holes all over the place. As this was the author's first novel, I will give it some leeway with a 2 star review. Others might really enjoy this but I think it would work best for newcomers to the YA Fantasy genre. There are just too many really strong Fantasy novels and this pales next to those.
March 5, 2020
2.5 stars
Nameless Queen has an intriguing premise. However, I must say it is a simple / basic YA fantasy story. So if you're like me and have read your fair share of those, you might not find a new favorite even though the beginning was strong and captivated me immediately. If you haven't read many Ya Fantasy books, then you might enjoy it more than me.
I understand why this book is being compared to Red Queen and Everless even though these are better executed from what I can retell (which is not a lot). They were pretty forgettable. I only remember that in Red Queen, people are divided between Red and Silver blood, I think. And in Everless, blood is the currency.
Now, in Nameless Queen people are divided in three castes: the Royals, the Legals and the Nameless. The last category don't have names and seemed homeless for the most part. And when, out of nowhere, a nameless girl is being "named" as the next Queen in the form of a Crown tattoo appearing on her shoulder, the Royals aren't happy and wants to make her name another heir. Two people are vying for the throne : Belrosa and the late King's daughter, Esther. Coin will try to find an ally in her guard among all the cruel Royals that want her dead.
Things I liked:
-The idea of being named to be Queen or King and the Crown tattoo.
-Quick and easy to go through.
Things I didn't like:
-There was no real world-building, no explanation about the magic system.
-The main character "Coin" learns instantly how to uses hers once the tattoo shows up on her arm. It was very unrealistic and unbelievable when she never created an illusion before or even knew aura existed.
-The weird swearing ("Gaiza") and weird names (Coin, Hat, Glenquartz...)
-Halfway through, I wanted to give up because I wasn't invested enough and I didn't connect to the characters.
-That fight scene at the end and everything Coin was saying in it made me cringe so badly! The ending was also very underwhelming and felt too easy
Overall, this book was too messy and had too many flaws for me to love it. I won't be reading the sequel.
(Thank you for letting me read an arc via Netgalley and give an honest review)
Nameless Queen has an intriguing premise. However, I must say it is a simple / basic YA fantasy story. So if you're like me and have read your fair share of those, you might not find a new favorite even though the beginning was strong and captivated me immediately. If you haven't read many Ya Fantasy books, then you might enjoy it more than me.
I understand why this book is being compared to Red Queen and Everless even though these are better executed from what I can retell (which is not a lot). They were pretty forgettable. I only remember that in Red Queen, people are divided between Red and Silver blood, I think. And in Everless, blood is the currency.
Now, in Nameless Queen people are divided in three castes: the Royals, the Legals and the Nameless. The last category don't have names and seemed homeless for the most part. And when, out of nowhere, a nameless girl is being "named" as the next Queen in the form of a Crown tattoo appearing on her shoulder, the Royals aren't happy and wants to make her name another heir. Two people are vying for the throne : Belrosa and the late King's daughter, Esther. Coin will try to find an ally in her guard among all the cruel Royals that want her dead.
Things I liked:
-The idea of being named to be Queen or King and the Crown tattoo.
-Quick and easy to go through.
Things I didn't like:
-There was no real world-building, no explanation about the magic system.
-The main character "Coin" learns instantly how to uses hers once the tattoo shows up on her arm. It was very unrealistic and unbelievable when she never created an illusion before or even knew aura existed.
-The weird swearing ("Gaiza") and weird names (Coin, Hat, Glenquartz...)
-Halfway through, I wanted to give up because I wasn't invested enough and I didn't connect to the characters.
-That fight scene at the end and everything Coin was saying in it made me cringe so badly! The ending was also very underwhelming and felt too easy
Overall, this book was too messy and had too many flaws for me to love it. I won't be reading the sequel.
(Thank you for letting me read an arc via Netgalley and give an honest review)
November 18, 2019
I received an ARC from the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“You have to let things make you strong instead of damaged. You have to choose how the world shapes you.”
What a fantastic book full of great descriptions and wonderful characters. This takes place in a world where they’re three groups of people: Royals, Legals, and Nameless. The main character in this, Coin, is nameless, which is the lowest group. They are all homeless and steal to stay alive, they don’t even have names. Right from the start this book is full of action, and spectacular characters. I loved the unique name choices, like Coin herself and her nameless friends; Hat and Devil. In the city of Seridan, the current Sovereign dies and whoever he whispers on his last dying breath now becomes the sovereign. To find out who becomes the next ruler a tattoo shows up on that person’s arm. Coin gets that tattoo, but she is also nameless, so how did he know her name to begin with?
“And some of the best things are nameless.”
I can’t get over how great this book was, I loved the world building and how the author McLaughlin shows us a tough world, one where being in a certain “class” makes or breaks you. It was crazy seeing how divided the city was. I loved the magic aspect as well, and thought it was captivating what Coin could do once she had the tattoo on her arm. The friendships are what really made this such a wonderful read. I loved Coin’s nameless friends who she would protect no matter what, and the friends she made becoming the queen. Seeing them all grow and have such incredible character development was amazing.
I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel, it’s just simply amazing. It deals with such real issues and was put together so well. I was shocked with some of the outcomes and plot twists. I highly recommend putting this on your “want to read” shelf for 2020.
“You have to let things make you strong instead of damaged. You have to choose how the world shapes you.”
What a fantastic book full of great descriptions and wonderful characters. This takes place in a world where they’re three groups of people: Royals, Legals, and Nameless. The main character in this, Coin, is nameless, which is the lowest group. They are all homeless and steal to stay alive, they don’t even have names. Right from the start this book is full of action, and spectacular characters. I loved the unique name choices, like Coin herself and her nameless friends; Hat and Devil. In the city of Seridan, the current Sovereign dies and whoever he whispers on his last dying breath now becomes the sovereign. To find out who becomes the next ruler a tattoo shows up on that person’s arm. Coin gets that tattoo, but she is also nameless, so how did he know her name to begin with?
“And some of the best things are nameless.”
I can’t get over how great this book was, I loved the world building and how the author McLaughlin shows us a tough world, one where being in a certain “class” makes or breaks you. It was crazy seeing how divided the city was. I loved the magic aspect as well, and thought it was captivating what Coin could do once she had the tattoo on her arm. The friendships are what really made this such a wonderful read. I loved Coin’s nameless friends who she would protect no matter what, and the friends she made becoming the queen. Seeing them all grow and have such incredible character development was amazing.
I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel, it’s just simply amazing. It deals with such real issues and was put together so well. I was shocked with some of the outcomes and plot twists. I highly recommend putting this on your “want to read” shelf for 2020.
December 31, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book to me felt like I was rereading The Red Queen at times. Especially with the 3 different types of people, Royals, legals and nameless.
I felt like the story was good but it lacked detail. Detail that readers like myself need in order to understand how things work. I’ve read stories where Aura’s were apart of the world but is it the same type of thing in this story? How do they work? What needs to happen in order to read/feel someone’s Aura? The author lacked detail in that area.
I also thought the world descriptions could’ve been a little better. Again, more detail. Although from what the author DID describe, the world sounds pretty amazing.
I found I enjoyed the characters. I was of course annoyed with the main character a few times (like almost every book I read haha) but I liked her.
The story itself was actually good! There were a couple instances where I felt like I was rushing through it just to finish the pages, but it started to pick up and caught my interest about 55% through the book and that’s when I realized I liked it.
I’m not sure if this is going to be a stand alone, only because I felt like there was room to add another book. I would definitely recommend this book.
3.5⭐️’s
This book to me felt like I was rereading The Red Queen at times. Especially with the 3 different types of people, Royals, legals and nameless.
I felt like the story was good but it lacked detail. Detail that readers like myself need in order to understand how things work. I’ve read stories where Aura’s were apart of the world but is it the same type of thing in this story? How do they work? What needs to happen in order to read/feel someone’s Aura? The author lacked detail in that area.
I also thought the world descriptions could’ve been a little better. Again, more detail. Although from what the author DID describe, the world sounds pretty amazing.
I found I enjoyed the characters. I was of course annoyed with the main character a few times (like almost every book I read haha) but I liked her.
The story itself was actually good! There were a couple instances where I felt like I was rushing through it just to finish the pages, but it started to pick up and caught my interest about 55% through the book and that’s when I realized I liked it.
I’m not sure if this is going to be a stand alone, only because I felt like there was room to add another book. I would definitely recommend this book.
3.5⭐️’s
January 8, 2020
Nopety-Nope-Nope-Nope ‘cuz Tropety-Trope-Trope-Trope!
If you’ve never, ever read a YA dystopia before, you may find yourself entertained by this. Confused, frustrated, and entertained.
If you’ve EVER read a YA dystopia before…run!
Your main characters are:
Coin (terrible, terrible name – there’s a reason for it, but it’s never made really clear what that reason is) – Coin is the most Mary Sue of Mary Sues. She can do EVERYTHING. She is THE ONE.
Hat (terrible, terrible name) – Hat is a maybe-12-year-old who acts like a 35-year-old puppy. Her entire existence in the book is so that Mary Sue (I mean, Coin) can look brave and loving.
Glenquartz (terrible, terrible name – he’s at times called GlenBeard) – He has no personality, but has an excellent beard.
Esther – mostly notable because she has the only normal name in the book.
The book contains almost every YA trope out there. If you think it’s going to happen, it will. There are no surprises – except maybe the excellent beard. Token diversity where you find out two completely unimportant (in the book for about 2 seconds flat) are a gay married couple.
A grudging two stars because I finished it.
If you’ve never, ever read a YA dystopia before, you may find yourself entertained by this. Confused, frustrated, and entertained.
If you’ve EVER read a YA dystopia before…run!
Your main characters are:
Coin (terrible, terrible name – there’s a reason for it, but it’s never made really clear what that reason is) – Coin is the most Mary Sue of Mary Sues. She can do EVERYTHING. She is THE ONE.
Hat (terrible, terrible name) – Hat is a maybe-12-year-old who acts like a 35-year-old puppy. Her entire existence in the book is so that Mary Sue (I mean, Coin) can look brave and loving.
Glenquartz (terrible, terrible name – he’s at times called GlenBeard) – He has no personality, but has an excellent beard.
Esther – mostly notable because she has the only normal name in the book.
The book contains almost every YA trope out there. If you think it’s going to happen, it will. There are no surprises – except maybe the excellent beard. Token diversity where you find out two completely unimportant (in the book for about 2 seconds flat) are a gay married couple.
A grudging two stars because I finished it.
lost-interest
March 22, 2020Okay so I usually wait for more information before I add a book but... this sounds really cool
January 10, 2020
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
3.5*
This was a good book. Easy to read, enjoyable characters, and a story that compelled me to keep going. What it wasn't, however, was particularly unique or memorable. And that is really my only negative of note: I found it a tad generic. BUT, like I said, I still enjoyed reading it and am glad I did, so let's talk about why!
• The characters were fabulous. Honestly, that's the bread and butter of this story. The characters are just so completely endearing, so enjoyable, that I would fully recommend reading the book for them alone. It's one of those "we choose our own family" type of stories, which I adore. Coin, who's given herself a name as she's not "worthy" of having one, at first resists pretty much all people. But as the story progresses, she learns that not the whole world is garbage. And the people who care for her are just the best.
• The "nameless" concept in general is clever. It's such a great approach to detail the ridiculous classist ways of the society in a way that readers will find enjoyable and easy to comprehend. There are absolutely relevant societal statements in this book, and I am here for every last one of them.
• Even though there were many dark/bleak moments, the book had enough humor for a good balance. I find that this is incredibly important to me lately. I love a darker book, but I also love when the characters can throw a spark of humor, even in satire or sarcasm, during the book. This one was great at achieving that balance, which made it extra enjoyable to read.
Bottom Line: While it may not be permanently seared in my memory, this book was absolutely enjoyable and full of characters I loved reading about. Definitely one to read if you're a YA fantasy fan!
3.5*
This was a good book. Easy to read, enjoyable characters, and a story that compelled me to keep going. What it wasn't, however, was particularly unique or memorable. And that is really my only negative of note: I found it a tad generic. BUT, like I said, I still enjoyed reading it and am glad I did, so let's talk about why!
• The characters were fabulous. Honestly, that's the bread and butter of this story. The characters are just so completely endearing, so enjoyable, that I would fully recommend reading the book for them alone. It's one of those "we choose our own family" type of stories, which I adore. Coin, who's given herself a name as she's not "worthy" of having one, at first resists pretty much all people. But as the story progresses, she learns that not the whole world is garbage. And the people who care for her are just the best.
• The "nameless" concept in general is clever. It's such a great approach to detail the ridiculous classist ways of the society in a way that readers will find enjoyable and easy to comprehend. There are absolutely relevant societal statements in this book, and I am here for every last one of them.
• Even though there were many dark/bleak moments, the book had enough humor for a good balance. I find that this is incredibly important to me lately. I love a darker book, but I also love when the characters can throw a spark of humor, even in satire or sarcasm, during the book. This one was great at achieving that balance, which made it extra enjoyable to read.
Bottom Line: While it may not be permanently seared in my memory, this book was absolutely enjoyable and full of characters I loved reading about. Definitely one to read if you're a YA fantasy fan!
December 30, 2019
Congratulations on a great debut novel Rebecca McLaughlin! A fun, fantasy read. In the land of Seriden there is a caste system with three levels: The Royals (rule the land - the wealthy); The Legals (the workers - middle class); and The Nameless (scrounge, beg and steal for a living). Coin (what the Nameless main character is called) is a strong and practiced thief who is minding her own business when out of nowhere a crown tattoo appears on her arm. It is the custom in Seriden that power is passed by a dying King by the King speaking the name of his successor and the crown tattoo appearing on that person's arm. But Coin doesn't have a name, so how did the King speak her name? This tattoo is only going to get her killed - the Royals would never have a Nameless for their ruler.
Enjoyed the adventure and I liked Coin's spunk, sarcasm and compassion as a main character. I felt the ending was a little too nice and easy though. Congratulations on a great debut novel Rebecca McLaughlin!
Thanks to Random House Children's through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Enjoyed the adventure and I liked Coin's spunk, sarcasm and compassion as a main character. I felt the ending was a little too nice and easy though. Congratulations on a great debut novel Rebecca McLaughlin!
Thanks to Random House Children's through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2020
This is a series, right?
This has to be a series!
Let me check...
Gasp!!! how is this not a series~??~?~!!! I need more!!!! What happens next?!?!?
"Yes, this is a standalone book. Coin and her clever pals and fierce enemies are in town for one night only! There's always a chance for a sequel, but we'll have to see how the book does before we know whether it's in the cards or not." :((((( I want a sequel!!!!! No, I NEED a sequel!!!!!
Well, as you can probably tell, I LOVED this book! This will definitely to my favorites shelf!!
The main character, the heroine, oh my gosh, Coin, I love her!!! Her personality, character, and sense of humor!!! She is also so caring towards her loved ones!!!
I honestly really liked all of the characters, especially all of the bonds that they built with each other.
Ummm, the ending?!?! WHY WAS THERE NO MORE!?!
If you are looking for a good fantasy book, and/or are looking at reviews of this book to decide if you are going to read it or no, look past the negative reviews!!! here here, read the positive ones!!! Read this book!!!
The first sentence of Nameless Queen: "I wake up the same way I fell asleep: knife in hand, boots for a pillow, and Nameless."
ahhhh soooo good!!!!
and also:
“There’s a reason you haven’t killed me yet,” I say. “Two, actually. One: I’m Nameless, and you have no idea what that means for magic (…) And the second reason you haven’t killed me is that I am Nameless.” I pull the blade from my sleeve and stab it into the table. “Go ahead and try.”
wow, just wow
Like, why haven't you started reading this book again?? haha jk :D
The thing is, I love the fact that all nameless give themselves a name, usually a personal or painful memory. And I just love how it means that everyone's name has meaning, and just because they are Nameless doesn't mean that they don't have meaning.
I wish we could've had some backstories for some Nameless names though.
I took so many screenshots while reading this, most of them are of Coin's humor though...
Overall, this book was so good, you should read it, and while you're at it, make make MAKE sure to read the acknowledgments, it will make you laugh!
I will be recommending this a lot now. Hehe.
5 out of 5 stars!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This has to be a series!
Let me check...
Gasp!!! how is this not a series~??~?~!!! I need more!!!! What happens next?!?!?
"Yes, this is a standalone book. Coin and her clever pals and fierce enemies are in town for one night only! There's always a chance for a sequel, but we'll have to see how the book does before we know whether it's in the cards or not." :((((( I want a sequel!!!!! No, I NEED a sequel!!!!!
Well, as you can probably tell, I LOVED this book! This will definitely to my favorites shelf!!
The main character, the heroine, oh my gosh, Coin, I love her!!! Her personality, character, and sense of humor!!! She is also so caring towards her loved ones!!!
I honestly really liked all of the characters, especially all of the bonds that they built with each other.
Ummm, the ending?!?! WHY WAS THERE NO MORE!?!
If you are looking for a good fantasy book, and/or are looking at reviews of this book to decide if you are going to read it or no, look past the negative reviews!!! here here, read the positive ones!!! Read this book!!!
The first sentence of Nameless Queen: "I wake up the same way I fell asleep: knife in hand, boots for a pillow, and Nameless."
ahhhh soooo good!!!!
and also:
“There’s a reason you haven’t killed me yet,” I say. “Two, actually. One: I’m Nameless, and you have no idea what that means for magic (…) And the second reason you haven’t killed me is that I am Nameless.” I pull the blade from my sleeve and stab it into the table. “Go ahead and try.”
wow, just wow
Like, why haven't you started reading this book again?? haha jk :D
The thing is, I love the fact that all nameless give themselves a name, usually a personal or painful memory. And I just love how it means that everyone's name has meaning, and just because they are Nameless doesn't mean that they don't have meaning.
I wish we could've had some backstories for some Nameless names though.
I took so many screenshots while reading this, most of them are of Coin's humor though...
Overall, this book was so good, you should read it, and while you're at it, make make MAKE sure to read the acknowledgments, it will make you laugh!
I will be recommending this a lot now. Hehe.
5 out of 5 stars!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 30, 2019
#NamelessQueen #NetGalley
Nameless, like Coin, give themselves a name. It is usually personal and sometimes painful thing and you should never ask how they got their name. When the king dies, Coin ends up with the magical tattoo naming her the next heir. Coin gets new abilities and quickly learns, and practices how to benefit from these abilities. Being on the street her whole life has given her a lot of skills to keep herself alive, and she has an amazing read on people, situations, and a great sense of humor.
While this book was kind of a learning as you go book, I felt that you got to wade through learning with Coin. A lot of the details are given to you throughout the book instead of shoved down your throat in the beginning. This gradual education on the rules, class structures and people themselves is so methodical that it is easy to remember. Sometimes when reading the book they give you so much information at the beginning you either have to have a great/ awesome memory, put a bookmark in it so you can refer back to it, or try to muddle your way through until you make since of it all.
All in all I loved the book, and while it ended there were a few things that were up in the air so I am not sure if it is a stand alone novel or not, but it was amazing. I also really loved the acknowledgements I have never read an acknowledgement at the end of a book that made me laugh so hard!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Nameless, like Coin, give themselves a name. It is usually personal and sometimes painful thing and you should never ask how they got their name. When the king dies, Coin ends up with the magical tattoo naming her the next heir. Coin gets new abilities and quickly learns, and practices how to benefit from these abilities. Being on the street her whole life has given her a lot of skills to keep herself alive, and she has an amazing read on people, situations, and a great sense of humor.
While this book was kind of a learning as you go book, I felt that you got to wade through learning with Coin. A lot of the details are given to you throughout the book instead of shoved down your throat in the beginning. This gradual education on the rules, class structures and people themselves is so methodical that it is easy to remember. Sometimes when reading the book they give you so much information at the beginning you either have to have a great/ awesome memory, put a bookmark in it so you can refer back to it, or try to muddle your way through until you make since of it all.
All in all I loved the book, and while it ended there were a few things that were up in the air so I am not sure if it is a stand alone novel or not, but it was amazing. I also really loved the acknowledgements I have never read an acknowledgement at the end of a book that made me laugh so hard!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
November 27, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher to the chance to review this book ahead of its release date.
The Nameless Queen starts as your typical YA fantasy. A low caste girl suddenly finding herself in power...or lat least the semblance of power. Although this world stuck out as something close to unique, as the story progressed I could not see myself caring for what happens next. Coin was a Mary Sue, and nowadays I thought that was done away with, but alas. A lot of what happened to her elicited no real reaction which made the plot feel flat, as though I were on the slowest rollercoaster ever. I saw the potential in the story, but it did not hold up to my expectations.
The Nameless Queen starts as your typical YA fantasy. A low caste girl suddenly finding herself in power...or lat least the semblance of power. Although this world stuck out as something close to unique, as the story progressed I could not see myself caring for what happens next. Coin was a Mary Sue, and nowadays I thought that was done away with, but alas. A lot of what happened to her elicited no real reaction which made the plot feel flat, as though I were on the slowest rollercoaster ever. I saw the potential in the story, but it did not hold up to my expectations.
April 14, 2020
“I calmly and collectedly drive everyone to frustration. Or, if tempers rise, I calmly and collectedly punch someone in the face. It's about context, really.”
3 stars.
Okay this book flew by and I can't say I have a lot of feelings, bad or good, it was decent and I feel mostly neutral. I enjoyed my time with this book and the characters were good enough. The Nameless thing was a little weird since the "names" they get are pretty weird, but it was interesting. I did enjoy the plot twist, though they didn't surprise me and it was predictable. All in all an average enjoyable book.
December 20, 2019
“There’s a reason you haven’t killed me yet,” I say. “Two, actually. One: I’m Nameless, and you have no idea what that means for magic (…) And the second reason you haven’t killed me is that I am Nameless.” I pull the blade from my sleeve and stab it into the table. “Go ahead and try.”
Wow. Guys, I was really impressed. Like, very much so. I don’t know how to explain it, (I say as I write an entire review explaining how much I liked the book), but it was such a good book.
In this world, there are three kinds of people. The Royals, the Legals, and the Nameless. Each of them powerful in that order. For generations, their world has been built in the idea that the Nameless have no power or say in anything. They are considered the worst of them all and all of them never get to acquire jobs or houses or anything really. Most Nameless live alone in the streets, barely getting by while Legals are the ones who control the market. They would be your middle-class blue-collar worker if you will. The Royals, as their name dictates, are the ones in power, in charge of both Legals and Nameless. The thing about the Nameless is that they literally have no names, which is why our main character nicknamed herself Coin. They have no parent to speak of (or at least that wasn’t mentioned throughout the book) and since they are not registered in the judiciary, most laws don’t apply to them because they don’t technically exist. They are treated very poorly and it has been like that for generations.
Coin is a clever Nameless that lives in the streets, she and her friend Hat have been surviving on their own for quite some time. In this world, the way the kingdom works is that whoever is king or queen must speak the name of someone right before they die so that they can transfer a tattoo to them that holds the magic and power of becoming the next heir to the throne. One day, Coin wakes up with the tattoo in her arm which causes unease and restlessness throughout the kingdom because there has never been a Nameless queen.
You know, despite the fact that Coin was nameless and had been on the streets her entire life, she was so fierce and strong. It seemed like she didn’t fear anything and I was extremely impressed by how she handled herself in the situations that they put her through. You know, everybody at court was kind of against her because everyone at court hates the Nameless and it under their recent administration that the Nameless have suffered so much, so to have a Nameless queen caused reason for people wanting to kill her among other things. But, she persevered. She kept pushing. I was extremely impressed with her behavior.
"So stand. Face me."
Something else I surprisingly enjoyed about the book was the lack of romance. If you know me, you know I can’t stand a book that doesn’t have romance in it. For me, it needs to have at least a kiss. However, with this story, that was not the case. There was not even a hint of romance throughout the entire book. Nothing. Nada. So, for those of you who like that, I guess you are lucky. But anyway, it still managed to be a really good book. I’m honestly still a little shocked at how much I enjoyed it without having romance.
The book was also super quick, full of action, there was never a dull moment between these pages. The reason I gave it a 4.5 instead of 5 stars was that it did drag a little bit at times, but other than that, I started this book today and finished it the same day. The world-building was great, we got a great insight into the political part of this world, which I truly enjoyed because I’m a political major in college as well. Moreover, I enjoyed the fact that even though Coin had been raised in the streets she was politically savvy too. She showed them that although she was a Nameless she was part of their country just as much as the royals were and she proved herself at the end.
If you guys liked Crown of Feathers, Warrior of the Wild, The Storm Crow, The Merciless Crow, Circle of Shadows, Bloodleaf, etc., then you’ll surely enjoy this book. Anyone 13 years old and older can read this. And as always, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my post, I truly appreciate it.
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October 28, 2019
First a few tidbits of information about this story:
- In Seriden there are 3 classes: Royals (upper class), Legals (middle class) and Nameless (poor/homeless).
- Magic is controlled by the King or Queen who bears the crown tattoo. This crown is passed on the deathbed of the ruler by speaking the name of the individual the dying ruler deems fit.
- Coin is one of the many Nameless children on the streets who steal to get by and wakes up after the death of the King with the crown tattoo on her arm. But how (she has no birth name; Nameless) and why?
Though the novel centers around this impossible heir and her acclamation into the Royal world their are many underlying themes at play. As characters are introduced we see the different classes and the conflicts of station among the people. Seeing past an individual's upbringing and giving them the ability to become more than what their position allows, or simply giving the sense of 'home' to the forlorn. Coming together no matter your upbringing during a time of tragedy and uniting and volunteering aide. For a young adult novel this took a well laid out look at the separation of class and the hindrance it has on a society. Deep, I know.
Coin comes from the streets where everyday is a new con to survive. Everything Coin has been through and will go through molds her into who she is supposed to be. The author does a great job of the characters learning to 'own their truth' and never being ashamed of that truth. Embracing what they have been through in Life to come out the other side victorious. In a way it has elements of a coming of age novel. My favorite message from this book and one that I personally hold dear centers around family. Family is not what you are born into but what you create and surround yourself with. I applaud the author for this straightforward theme.
I had a great time reading this novel, however there are some areas that needed a little more. Seriden is a city that reminds me of the 1850s on the edge of a seaport but there isn't enough world building to truly get an imaginative idea of this place. We learn there is a treaty but lack information about those other thrones and why exactly Seriden is at odds with them. Magic is contained by the tattoos but exactly how and why magic is even contained at all is a glossed over mystery. Lastly, this is a quick read but I feel it was almost too quick. Coin gains a certain mastery that other's have taken their entire lives to perfect. I understand for a story like this that the unfathomable occurs but I do believe her learning curve should have dragged slightly to be more believable for the readers.
I received this ARC from the author, Random House Childrens and NetGalley for an honest review. I would recommend this book to other's especially if they have vivid enough imaginations. This book has many great themes and it's all done without swoony romance.
- In Seriden there are 3 classes: Royals (upper class), Legals (middle class) and Nameless (poor/homeless).
- Magic is controlled by the King or Queen who bears the crown tattoo. This crown is passed on the deathbed of the ruler by speaking the name of the individual the dying ruler deems fit.
- Coin is one of the many Nameless children on the streets who steal to get by and wakes up after the death of the King with the crown tattoo on her arm. But how (she has no birth name; Nameless) and why?
Though the novel centers around this impossible heir and her acclamation into the Royal world their are many underlying themes at play. As characters are introduced we see the different classes and the conflicts of station among the people. Seeing past an individual's upbringing and giving them the ability to become more than what their position allows, or simply giving the sense of 'home' to the forlorn. Coming together no matter your upbringing during a time of tragedy and uniting and volunteering aide. For a young adult novel this took a well laid out look at the separation of class and the hindrance it has on a society. Deep, I know.
Coin comes from the streets where everyday is a new con to survive. Everything Coin has been through and will go through molds her into who she is supposed to be. The author does a great job of the characters learning to 'own their truth' and never being ashamed of that truth. Embracing what they have been through in Life to come out the other side victorious. In a way it has elements of a coming of age novel. My favorite message from this book and one that I personally hold dear centers around family. Family is not what you are born into but what you create and surround yourself with. I applaud the author for this straightforward theme.
I had a great time reading this novel, however there are some areas that needed a little more. Seriden is a city that reminds me of the 1850s on the edge of a seaport but there isn't enough world building to truly get an imaginative idea of this place. We learn there is a treaty but lack information about those other thrones and why exactly Seriden is at odds with them. Magic is contained by the tattoos but exactly how and why magic is even contained at all is a glossed over mystery. Lastly, this is a quick read but I feel it was almost too quick. Coin gains a certain mastery that other's have taken their entire lives to perfect. I understand for a story like this that the unfathomable occurs but I do believe her learning curve should have dragged slightly to be more believable for the readers.
I received this ARC from the author, Random House Childrens and NetGalley for an honest review. I would recommend this book to other's especially if they have vivid enough imaginations. This book has many great themes and it's all done without swoony romance.
December 8, 2019
If someone where to give a class on a modern day Mary Sue, this book would be required reading. 'Coin' is an accomplished thief with all the moxie of a girl three times her age. She is able to still the gold fillings from a marks mouth while they are chewing on a pail of nuts without anyone the wiser. She can beat up street thugs and demand sanctuary from the grapevine operators, all without breaking a sweat.
She is a Nameless, but by some stroke of luck the dying king names her Queen. Oh and did I mention those come with mysterious powers she is able to master in two pages. Oh and did I mention she is a snarky sarcastic queenling with everyone who she is supposed to be scared of because they hold her life in their hands. But you know who has time for al that when you are being the best heroine the world has ever seen.
I honestly could not finish this book. Sure I love fantasy but this just goes beyond the pail. The author makes a point of repeatedly mentioning the Nameless, the Legals and the Royals but never explains what or who they are, or how they came to be. Its almost as if everything including world building and the story take a back seat just to introduce us to Coin and show us how badass she is.
One minute she can barely feed herself and the next minute she is throwing up complex illusions and swiping pillows in the royal palace.
I guess I wouldn't mind this being a character driven story if the everything else had been well done, but sadly not. The story starts rolling 4 pages in, and its like L.A. traffic, stop and go without nothing but dandelion fluff in-between.
This was such a promising start, but sadly got lost on its way to 'Next Katniss' land.
She is a Nameless, but by some stroke of luck the dying king names her Queen. Oh and did I mention those come with mysterious powers she is able to master in two pages. Oh and did I mention she is a snarky sarcastic queenling with everyone who she is supposed to be scared of because they hold her life in their hands. But you know who has time for al that when you are being the best heroine the world has ever seen.
I honestly could not finish this book. Sure I love fantasy but this just goes beyond the pail. The author makes a point of repeatedly mentioning the Nameless, the Legals and the Royals but never explains what or who they are, or how they came to be. Its almost as if everything including world building and the story take a back seat just to introduce us to Coin and show us how badass she is.
One minute she can barely feed herself and the next minute she is throwing up complex illusions and swiping pillows in the royal palace.
I guess I wouldn't mind this being a character driven story if the everything else had been well done, but sadly not. The story starts rolling 4 pages in, and its like L.A. traffic, stop and go without nothing but dandelion fluff in-between.
This was such a promising start, but sadly got lost on its way to 'Next Katniss' land.
July 3, 2019
Received an ARC for an honest review:
I loved this book. I seriously loved it. The world building was great and had such a fascinating, sassy heroine. One of my favorite things about it was that it managed to be an awesome story without adding an unnecessary romance. It focused on the mystery and all the craziness that went along with it. While it read pretty well as a stand-alone, some of the problems and unknowns that arose from the resolution will sure make for an exciting sequel. I can’t wait for more of Coin’s world!
I loved this book. I seriously loved it. The world building was great and had such a fascinating, sassy heroine. One of my favorite things about it was that it managed to be an awesome story without adding an unnecessary romance. It focused on the mystery and all the craziness that went along with it. While it read pretty well as a stand-alone, some of the problems and unknowns that arose from the resolution will sure make for an exciting sequel. I can’t wait for more of Coin’s world!
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