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To Court a Queen
He doesn't want to get married, but he wants to be a frog even less.Knight errant, Devin, takes a shortcut through the woods, only to be captured by fairy forces. The fairy queen has run out of breathing males to fight for her hand, and Devin, while not ideal fairy stock, is breathing--for now. Telling a vain fairy queen you'd rather not be her one true love is a ticket to life on a lilypad, so the knight agrees to face three challenges to win Queen Agalea's hand. When a clever servant girl offers to help him navigate the trials in order to stop the constant bloodshed of the courtship ritual, Devin jumps at the chance. However, as he balances "flirting" with his "beloved" and overcoming tasks specifically designed to kill him, he finds his heart drawn to his new partner in survival.
161 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2019
92 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Burke
94 books566 followersBorn in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Dragon and the Scholar," the Award Winning (2016 Realm Award for Young Adult Fiction) Nyssa Glass Steampunk series, and MG/Fantasy "Cora and the Nurse Dragon," among others .
Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com
http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B...
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
She is the author of a four part fantasy/romance series entitled "The Dragon and the Scholar," the Award Winning (2016 Realm Award for Young Adult Fiction) Nyssa Glass Steampunk series, and MG/Fantasy "Cora and the Nurse Dragon," among others .
Sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.hlburkeauthor.com
http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Burke/e/B...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
February 20, 2019
This is a short, funny novella with a surprising amount of heart packed in it. I knew as soon as I saw the tagline for this book that I was going to have to pick it up and it didn't disappoint.
Dev and Sev made a cute couple and the romance felt like it developed very naturally, even if it was packed in to only a few days.
It took me a minute to get used to the idea that in this story world, Christianity exists in the same realm as fairy kingdoms. It works in the story and is well done.
Such a romping good, hilarious packed in this novella. Reminded me all over again why I love stories about the intrigue in fairy courts.
Dev and Sev made a cute couple and the romance felt like it developed very naturally, even if it was packed in to only a few days.
It took me a minute to get used to the idea that in this story world, Christianity exists in the same realm as fairy kingdoms. It works in the story and is well done.
Such a romping good, hilarious packed in this novella. Reminded me all over again why I love stories about the intrigue in fairy courts.
Read
January 21, 2019I'm not doing a "real" review or rating yet because this was a beta read and I fully intend to read the finished version. However, I'm totally counting it towards my 2019 reading challenge, because I can.
(The beta version of this story was awesome and cute and fun and made me laugh at times and gasp in terror for my favorite characters at others and d'awwwwwww cute romance thread).
(The beta version of this story was awesome and cute and fun and made me laugh at times and gasp in terror for my favorite characters at others and d'awwwwwww cute romance thread).
February 28, 2019
Really cute, fun adventure tale with a perfectly roguish knight with a heart of gold, and a sassy cat-elf (which is an amazing mashup), and an obnoxious fairy queen. Loved the concept and the challenges that Devin has to undergo. Plus an adorable romance, per HL Burke's norm. :)
Definitely recommend this one! It's a quick, fun read!
Definitely recommend this one! It's a quick, fun read!
March 9, 2019
So much fun
This sounded like a fun, cute, lighthearted adventure, and I'm trying to start reading more indie books, so I thought--why not? And I'm so glad I did.
It was just as fun and cute as I'd hoped, with more heart than I'd expected. A thoroughly enjoyable romance adventure (or maybe misadventure) with nice surprises and a satisfying ending. It was exactly what I wanted it to be, and in fact I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Content: Flirting, some very mild innuendo, some fairly descriptive kissing.
This sounded like a fun, cute, lighthearted adventure, and I'm trying to start reading more indie books, so I thought--why not? And I'm so glad I did.
It was just as fun and cute as I'd hoped, with more heart than I'd expected. A thoroughly enjoyable romance adventure (or maybe misadventure) with nice surprises and a satisfying ending. It was exactly what I wanted it to be, and in fact I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Content: Flirting, some very mild innuendo, some fairly descriptive kissing.
April 11, 2019
This was a fun, well-crafted read. A failed knight dares to cross into fairyland and gets captured by female fairies desperate to find a mate for their powerful harpy of a queen. Devin doesn’t want to marry her but since his other choices are death or transformation, he agrees to compete in the trials for her hand. Since every other male has died competing, his chances look grim but a sweet and resourceful cat-elf (such a cute idea!) slave called Servaine is determined to help him survive.
I loved the cat-elf idea, the banter and the way this story unfolded.
I didn’t love how Devin’s ability to lie was one of strengths (and how he prayed for help to lie). There is the acknowledgment within the text that God doesn’t much approve of lying, yet lying is shown to really help Devin in his time of need and having the ability to lie as being something useful.
Otherwise, this was a really enjoyable read.
I loved the cat-elf idea, the banter and the way this story unfolded.
I didn’t love how Devin’s ability to lie was one of strengths (and how he prayed for help to lie). There is the acknowledgment within the text that God doesn’t much approve of lying, yet lying is shown to really help Devin in his time of need and having the ability to lie as being something useful.
Otherwise, this was a really enjoyable read.
July 21, 2022
lovely, lovely tale
Clean, with some innuendo and mild violence.
A human is trapped and forced to complete dangerous tasks for the honor of marrying the queen of the fairies.
A lovely little love story fairy tale.
Clean, with some innuendo and mild violence.
A human is trapped and forced to complete dangerous tasks for the honor of marrying the queen of the fairies.
A lovely little love story fairy tale.
April 11, 2019
I honestly don't know what to say. Wow? Amazing? Slightly disappointing? Forgettable? Memorable? Dramatic? Serene? Fazed? Bright? Eerie? 😯? 😐?
Anyway . . . I found the book in itself to be exhilarating, with a dash of danger, and loads of insta-romance, including some deadly obstacles. That should describe what the book's about, however, my feels are way more complicated.
Description ~ Wonderful. She did a marvelous job in the "painting scenes" area. I found the fae world to be magical in both a marvelous and dangerous way. It was an interesting mix, one I've never experienced before on such good levels.
Romance ~ It was like insta love. . . I'm not completely sure how I feel about it??? The love I found more fairytalish then anything, not real love. Yes, there were feelings, and giving of self.. .. sometimes, but the main aspects were missing, a lot.
Content ~ I wasn't prepared for the depth of scenes in this area. A lot of reviews seemed to brush it off I guess? Also, the author - from the little I know - didn't seem like that kind of person?? But the details in the kissing and the touching went overboard in my opinion. I mean Marissa Meyer does a better job at making the scene full of romance, but not over the top in the content. :P So there was Kissing, inappropriate touching from unmarried couples, an unmarried woman and man staying in the same room together, overnight. Also a couple bed, near sex scenes. Nakedness was implied a couple times.
Characters ~ For a novella I found the people very well thought out and displayed. I won't go into depth on them personally, but they all had unique traits and abilities to themselves and I found all of Burke's MC's were extremely real and refreshing.
Overall ~ I'm not certain about my feels yet, and the rating may change continually, depending on me. When Devin brought up his cross and talked about praying to God or God blessing him I found it to be repulsive more than anything. You either are all in or all out, but with Devin, he seemed to be "sitting on the fence" and taking God when he needed God. ( sounds like America . . . 😒 ) Those people / characters make me scowl and moan, rather then be happy at the fact that the author is including God. I don't believe I will be reading more from her and I cannot recommend this to anyone, currently.
*taps fingers* I really haven't stated much in this review . . . I don't think, and being that the rating may change Idk how to give a GOOD review. Those are my feels as best as I can explain . . .
Anyway . . . I found the book in itself to be exhilarating, with a dash of danger, and loads of insta-romance, including some deadly obstacles. That should describe what the book's about, however, my feels are way more complicated.
Description ~ Wonderful. She did a marvelous job in the "painting scenes" area. I found the fae world to be magical in both a marvelous and dangerous way. It was an interesting mix, one I've never experienced before on such good levels.
Romance ~ It was like insta love. . . I'm not completely sure how I feel about it??? The love I found more fairytalish then anything, not real love. Yes, there were feelings, and giving of self.. .. sometimes, but the main aspects were missing, a lot.
Content ~ I wasn't prepared for the depth of scenes in this area. A lot of reviews seemed to brush it off I guess? Also, the author - from the little I know - didn't seem like that kind of person?? But the details in the kissing and the touching went overboard in my opinion. I mean Marissa Meyer does a better job at making the scene full of romance, but not over the top in the content. :P So there was Kissing, inappropriate touching from unmarried couples, an unmarried woman and man staying in the same room together, overnight. Also a couple bed, near sex scenes. Nakedness was implied a couple times.
Characters ~ For a novella I found the people very well thought out and displayed. I won't go into depth on them personally, but they all had unique traits and abilities to themselves and I found all of Burke's MC's were extremely real and refreshing.
Overall ~ I'm not certain about my feels yet, and the rating may change continually, depending on me. When Devin brought up his cross and talked about praying to God or God blessing him I found it to be repulsive more than anything. You either are all in or all out, but with Devin, he seemed to be "sitting on the fence" and taking God when he needed God. ( sounds like America . . . 😒 ) Those people / characters make me scowl and moan, rather then be happy at the fact that the author is including God. I don't believe I will be reading more from her and I cannot recommend this to anyone, currently.
*taps fingers* I really haven't stated much in this review . . . I don't think, and being that the rating may change Idk how to give a GOOD review. Those are my feels as best as I can explain . . .
February 3, 2019
To Court a Queen By H.L. Burke
A dive in review:
To Court a Queen is a new snark filled romp from author H.L. Burke. Her trade mark style of sarcasm filled fantasy is always a delight to read.
In this adventure a knight on errant leave, stumbles into fairy territory and into one twisted version of a love test. Devin does not want to marry the fairy queen, but he wants to die even less.
The best part of this story was the human fairy dynamic. Fairies can not lie and therefore do not understand snark. Sir Devin speaks in a steady stream of sarcasm. So nearly every exchange is a humorous miscomunication.
Devin is a very good looking rouge and he doesn’t care about the odds, like a certain sci-fi character. You will laugh out loud when you see who this story is actually dedicated to. It totally fits. Devin is everything I want in a man, funny, smooth, able to take direction, and he can think on his feet too.
The next best character is Savine, she is a fae from a race of cat like elves. Do not call her a cat elf! She is the most adorable fantasy character I think I’ve ever read. It is through her intelligence and persistence that Devin is able to survive the night let alone even consider facing the evil queen’s trials. And I ship them so hard.
If you are looking for a fast light hearted read with a modern take on classic fairy tale tropes then look no farther. To Court a Queen has just the right amount of everything.
* I was given an advanced copy of this book in order to disseminate my honest opinion of it to the masses. Mission accomplished.*
A dive in review:
To Court a Queen is a new snark filled romp from author H.L. Burke. Her trade mark style of sarcasm filled fantasy is always a delight to read.
In this adventure a knight on errant leave, stumbles into fairy territory and into one twisted version of a love test. Devin does not want to marry the fairy queen, but he wants to die even less.
The best part of this story was the human fairy dynamic. Fairies can not lie and therefore do not understand snark. Sir Devin speaks in a steady stream of sarcasm. So nearly every exchange is a humorous miscomunication.
Devin is a very good looking rouge and he doesn’t care about the odds, like a certain sci-fi character. You will laugh out loud when you see who this story is actually dedicated to. It totally fits. Devin is everything I want in a man, funny, smooth, able to take direction, and he can think on his feet too.
The next best character is Savine, she is a fae from a race of cat like elves. Do not call her a cat elf! She is the most adorable fantasy character I think I’ve ever read. It is through her intelligence and persistence that Devin is able to survive the night let alone even consider facing the evil queen’s trials. And I ship them so hard.
If you are looking for a fast light hearted read with a modern take on classic fairy tale tropes then look no farther. To Court a Queen has just the right amount of everything.
* I was given an advanced copy of this book in order to disseminate my honest opinion of it to the masses. Mission accomplished.*
February 21, 2019
Short but sweet
June 10, 2020
REREAD NOTE: I did not reread this book, but I am using it as a placeholder for a beta read I recently finished. A 171-page (at the time of reading it) fairy tale retelling. I'm using To Court a Queen so I can count it for my reading challenge. When/if the book is published, I will replace this instance of rereading TCaQ with the book I beta read.
To Court a Queen by H.L. Burke is a novella that I was expecting to be a five-star read but had some disappointing aspects to it.
Author love
Burke is one of my favorite authors, and a very prolific one at that. She releases a new book something like every six months to a year. Though this works in her favor in terms of the Amazon algorithm and whatnot, I feel like this book especially was rushed.
Devin doesn't want to marry the fairy queen... but he wants to be a frog even less.
For those who are fans of Moreci's The Savior's Champion or Collins' The Hunger Games, this might be an interesting book for you to pick up. Our main character Devin gets kidnapped by the fairy queen and has to go through three trials to win her hand or else lose his life or be turned into a frog, depending on her whims. All the while he's got a forbidden romance going on with a servant girl and would much rather marry her, instead.
Religious undertones
As is typical of Burke's writing, and of many other indie authors I've read, our main character prays to God at more than one point in the story. I am neither condoning nor praising this decision by the author--this was entirely her prerogative and she had every right to give the character whatever religious beliefs she would like. However, as an atheist, these moments were a bit distracting for me because I couldn't connect with Devin's faith.
Editor brain
Because I am also an author, I have a hard time turning off my "editor brain" when reading a book. Of course, there are many books out there that keep me engaged from the first to the last page and never once do I stop to think about "How would I tell this story instead?" Alas, after the first few chapters, my editor brain kept butting into my reading experience.
For example, the writing. The prose in this book isn't necessarily the strongest; her other books definitely have prettier prose. Devin continues to remark on Sevaine's "rarified accent," but his dialogue and Sevaine's read exactly the same to one another, which reads exactly the same as all the other fae characters' dialogue in the story. A reader should be able to tell, without context or dialogue tags, who is speaking at any one point in the story, and that unfortunately didn't happen for me.
Worldbuilding
Some solid worldbuilding again from Burke. Like her other fantasy novels, this one has an immersive world that draws you in, though there were some jumps in internal logic.
One that really bothered me was on page 34 when Sevaine asks Devin about the cross hanging around his neck. Of course, this was to set up the idea later that the iron chain on the cross could be used to aid him later, which I think was brilliant, but on page 35, Sevaine remarks, "You'd save God knows how many lives," when the entire exchange with Devin implies that she doesn't have the same concept of the Christian God that Devin does. I kept wishing that Burke would take this one step further and explore whether or not the fae have a god of some sort, especially after another fae makes a remark similar to hoping that the Creator would help Devin. Without any context, this just feels like repurposing modern-day Christian-esque language rather than a prayer that originates within the fae's culture.
Another example is that Sevaine mentions that she is a felyn, which is a species of fae, according to her. She also explains that the fae are unable to comprehend sarcasm, which I thought was a really cool concept. Then, a few pages later, she points out that Devin keeps using sarcasm and he needs to change his sarcastic tone. If she's also a species of fae, wouldn't she be unable to recognize that he's using sarcasm? In addition, here and there she makes a few remarks that could be taken as sarcasm--aren't fae unable to use or understand sarcasm, according to her? The lines between fae and felyn weren't clear, leading to my confusion on this issue.
The romance
Despite all my problems with this book, it might have still been able to earn a five-star rating. But the romance was just so cringeworthy. Devin keeps calling Sevaine a cat-elf and making references to cats, even when she keeps asking him to stop. She's a tropey damsel-in-distress who has to be rescued several times by him, and she likes him, why? Because he keeps rescuing her? It felt more along the lines of they were attracted to each other because the plot called for it, not because of any sort of organic romantic connection. All the way through I was just not rooting for the romance, especially considering that other books I've read by Burke have left me squeeing over the romantic relationship that was developed over the course of the story. I wanted to finish this story squeeing over Devin and Sevaine's happy ending and I just couldn't bring myself to ship it.
In conclusion
Despite all my problems with it, this novella still earns a four-star rating from me. It's a fun read for the price and I could see myself rereading it sometime in the future.
This book has
💜 An interesting fantasy world and unusual take on the "average person takes place in three trials to win some sort of glory while having a forbidden romance"
💜 Some interesting side characters (eg. Olysa)
💜 Bonus points for the gorgeous cover and interesting take on the fae culture
👎 Some issues with logic (eg. whether or not Sevaine was properly a fae)
👎 The romantic relationship feeling more like it was serving the plot rather than originating from any character motivation
👎 In this case, I think being such a short read works against it; some aspects of the story felt rushed and it could have used a bit more development in places
To Court a Queen by H.L. Burke is a novella that I was expecting to be a five-star read but had some disappointing aspects to it.
Author love
Burke is one of my favorite authors, and a very prolific one at that. She releases a new book something like every six months to a year. Though this works in her favor in terms of the Amazon algorithm and whatnot, I feel like this book especially was rushed.
Devin doesn't want to marry the fairy queen... but he wants to be a frog even less.
For those who are fans of Moreci's The Savior's Champion or Collins' The Hunger Games, this might be an interesting book for you to pick up. Our main character Devin gets kidnapped by the fairy queen and has to go through three trials to win her hand or else lose his life or be turned into a frog, depending on her whims. All the while he's got a forbidden romance going on with a servant girl and would much rather marry her, instead.
Religious undertones
As is typical of Burke's writing, and of many other indie authors I've read, our main character prays to God at more than one point in the story. I am neither condoning nor praising this decision by the author--this was entirely her prerogative and she had every right to give the character whatever religious beliefs she would like. However, as an atheist, these moments were a bit distracting for me because I couldn't connect with Devin's faith.
Editor brain
Because I am also an author, I have a hard time turning off my "editor brain" when reading a book. Of course, there are many books out there that keep me engaged from the first to the last page and never once do I stop to think about "How would I tell this story instead?" Alas, after the first few chapters, my editor brain kept butting into my reading experience.
For example, the writing. The prose in this book isn't necessarily the strongest; her other books definitely have prettier prose. Devin continues to remark on Sevaine's "rarified accent," but his dialogue and Sevaine's read exactly the same to one another, which reads exactly the same as all the other fae characters' dialogue in the story. A reader should be able to tell, without context or dialogue tags, who is speaking at any one point in the story, and that unfortunately didn't happen for me.
Worldbuilding
Some solid worldbuilding again from Burke. Like her other fantasy novels, this one has an immersive world that draws you in, though there were some jumps in internal logic.
One that really bothered me was on page 34 when Sevaine asks Devin about the cross hanging around his neck. Of course, this was to set up the idea later that the iron chain on the cross could be used to aid him later, which I think was brilliant, but on page 35, Sevaine remarks, "You'd save God knows how many lives," when the entire exchange with Devin implies that she doesn't have the same concept of the Christian God that Devin does. I kept wishing that Burke would take this one step further and explore whether or not the fae have a god of some sort, especially after another fae makes a remark similar to hoping that the Creator would help Devin. Without any context, this just feels like repurposing modern-day Christian-esque language rather than a prayer that originates within the fae's culture.
Another example is that Sevaine mentions that she is a felyn, which is a species of fae, according to her. She also explains that the fae are unable to comprehend sarcasm, which I thought was a really cool concept. Then, a few pages later, she points out that Devin keeps using sarcasm and he needs to change his sarcastic tone. If she's also a species of fae, wouldn't she be unable to recognize that he's using sarcasm? In addition, here and there she makes a few remarks that could be taken as sarcasm--aren't fae unable to use or understand sarcasm, according to her? The lines between fae and felyn weren't clear, leading to my confusion on this issue.
The romance
Despite all my problems with this book, it might have still been able to earn a five-star rating. But the romance was just so cringeworthy. Devin keeps calling Sevaine a cat-elf and making references to cats, even when she keeps asking him to stop. She's a tropey damsel-in-distress who has to be rescued several times by him, and she likes him, why? Because he keeps rescuing her? It felt more along the lines of they were attracted to each other because the plot called for it, not because of any sort of organic romantic connection. All the way through I was just not rooting for the romance, especially considering that other books I've read by Burke have left me squeeing over the romantic relationship that was developed over the course of the story. I wanted to finish this story squeeing over Devin and Sevaine's happy ending and I just couldn't bring myself to ship it.
In conclusion
Despite all my problems with it, this novella still earns a four-star rating from me. It's a fun read for the price and I could see myself rereading it sometime in the future.
This book has
💜 An interesting fantasy world and unusual take on the "average person takes place in three trials to win some sort of glory while having a forbidden romance"
💜 Some interesting side characters (eg. Olysa)
💜 Bonus points for the gorgeous cover and interesting take on the fae culture
👎 Some issues with logic (eg. whether or not Sevaine was properly a fae)
👎 The romantic relationship feeling more like it was serving the plot rather than originating from any character motivation
👎 In this case, I think being such a short read works against it; some aspects of the story felt rushed and it could have used a bit more development in places
June 22, 2025
I enjoyed this unique fae romance. It was different to have a rogueish male as the main narrator, especially with so much wit. He was fun and makes you smile. His love interest, contrary to the title, is not the queen. So if you were looking for a royal romance, this isn't it. However, the queen does play a role as an antagonist, making this a very different type of romance. Also, the trials for courting her were so unique and dangerous that I was rooting for our MC the whole time. His love interest was so sweet and sassy, I enjoyed their interactions together. In terms of content, this one was spicier than the others. Like, I'm not sure if they were making out or making love. It was a fade to black, however, and I appreciate that. They also aren't married when this happens, but there are circumstances that make that understandable, and it ends with that in mind, so I can overlook it. Other than a bit more spicy romance, it is clean in terms of language and even the violence wasn't too bad, though our poor MC does suffer. So I would still say it's clean. Overall, enjoyable and fun.
May 19, 2021
Super fun romp that gave me Barbie: A Fairy Secret vibes. No complaints here 🤣
March 3, 2019
A quick, sweet read that hits all the right notes. Devin and Sevaine are adorable, and I loved their quirky interactions. In short, To Court a Queen is everything I've come to expect from an H. L. Burke book. Highly recommend!
**I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
January 31, 2019
I recieved an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What a fun journey into a fantastical realm. The main character, Devin, was funny and interesting. While there were times I did not like him, I think that increased my investment in the story. This story is told in true fairytale fashion, with romance, heroics, and tasks, but with unique twists on the culture of the fae, the characters themselves, and typical fairytale plot lines. While the twists weren't unpredictable, they were fun. There may have been just a hair more kissing than I wanted to read, but overall this book held my attention and was a lovable story about a man full of wanderlust who finally finds something worth fighting for.
What a fun journey into a fantastical realm. The main character, Devin, was funny and interesting. While there were times I did not like him, I think that increased my investment in the story. This story is told in true fairytale fashion, with romance, heroics, and tasks, but with unique twists on the culture of the fae, the characters themselves, and typical fairytale plot lines. While the twists weren't unpredictable, they were fun. There may have been just a hair more kissing than I wanted to read, but overall this book held my attention and was a lovable story about a man full of wanderlust who finally finds something worth fighting for.
January 30, 2019
A Crowning Achievement!!!!
This story was marketed to me as:
" Princess Bride meets Ella Enchanted with a LOT of snark, a cat-elf, and a knight who is way too Han Solo for his own good."
As a huge fan of all the above, I entered into reading the exemplum with extremely high expectations.
The author fully delivered on every promise! This whimsical, humorous and riveting tale, captivated and delighted me from beginning to end.
It is so fantastic I stayed up all night reading it and have plans already to read it again!
TO COURT A QUEEN is my new favorite fairytale!
An absolute Must OWN!!!
*I received an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.*
February 9, 2019
What fun read! Just the right length for a novella, not too long, and not too short. I laughed so many times while reading this book. The banter between the two love interests is superb. I loved Devin and Sevaine's clever solutions to the trials. The character development of Devin felt natural and I enjoyed the ending.
September 21, 2022
A magical fantasy
Loved this cute, funny story about a knight whose armor isn't exactly shiny. When a shortcut through the fairy woods brings Devin to the attention of the fairy queen, she gives him two options. Compete in a challenge to win her hand, or be turned into a frog. He'll have to use all his training-and a dash of ingenuity-to survive.
Loved this cute, funny story about a knight whose armor isn't exactly shiny. When a shortcut through the fairy woods brings Devin to the attention of the fairy queen, she gives him two options. Compete in a challenge to win her hand, or be turned into a frog. He'll have to use all his training-and a dash of ingenuity-to survive.
February 13, 2019
Great, fun story that takes several different fairytale elements and blends them together to produce something fresh and new. The story is lighthearted and the main characters are wonderfully sarcastic.
February 16, 2019
A roving knight gets grabbed by the fairies and has to pass the tests of a sadistic queen. Who'd have thought his chief asset would be the ability to lie? Lots of tension, action, and a little true love. If you can put the book down you have more will power than I do.
February 13, 2019
Adorable
Cat elf! I loved this. Super cute and sassy. Well done! From cynical adventurer to happily alive... this story was adorable.
Cat elf! I loved this. Super cute and sassy. Well done! From cynical adventurer to happily alive... this story was adorable.
July 6, 2019
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.
Here, human being Devin, who is a knight, takes a short cut home and is captured by the fairies for their Queen. Devin must now pass three tests - under penalty of death - and if he passes, he will be able to marry the Queen. Bad news - no man has ever passed all three of the tests and so many have tried [both voluntarily and forced] that they have run out of men. However, Devin has a secret weapon in a servant girl named Sevaine - as long as he listens to her, he might make it out alive.
This is a charming and very enjoyable fairytale. It's perfect for the entire family - there's action, a lot of heart, suspense and good humor. It's engaging from the beginning to the end! I absolutely loved it!
I listened to this book - the narrator was perfect for this story - she had various voices for the different characters. She was able to capture the wit and, at times, the tension of the story.
Here, human being Devin, who is a knight, takes a short cut home and is captured by the fairies for their Queen. Devin must now pass three tests - under penalty of death - and if he passes, he will be able to marry the Queen. Bad news - no man has ever passed all three of the tests and so many have tried [both voluntarily and forced] that they have run out of men. However, Devin has a secret weapon in a servant girl named Sevaine - as long as he listens to her, he might make it out alive.
This is a charming and very enjoyable fairytale. It's perfect for the entire family - there's action, a lot of heart, suspense and good humor. It's engaging from the beginning to the end! I absolutely loved it!
I listened to this book - the narrator was perfect for this story - she had various voices for the different characters. She was able to capture the wit and, at times, the tension of the story.
August 6, 2021
Such a delightful story! The plot was executed beautifully. The writing style was simple but engaging. I finished it in one sitting and then craved for more.
The characters are well-written and relatable. I loved Sevaine's wit and strength. Even though she was treated badly, she tried to help others despite the dangers. Devin was arrogant and cocky at first, but I liked the way he was respectful towards Sevaine.
Their interactions were entertaining and funny. I laughed at times due to his sarcastic comments and Sevaine's comebacks. I couldn't help but feel that I was a part of the story. This was a short read, around 150 pages, but it was enough to suck me in. The descriptions helped fuel my already over-active imagination.
The trials that Devin had to face were interesting as well and I enjoyed watching him tackle each one with Sevaine's help.
Overall, this was an amazing book. I recommend it to readers who enjoy sweet fairytales with happily ever afters.
The characters are well-written and relatable. I loved Sevaine's wit and strength. Even though she was treated badly, she tried to help others despite the dangers. Devin was arrogant and cocky at first, but I liked the way he was respectful towards Sevaine.
Their interactions were entertaining and funny. I laughed at times due to his sarcastic comments and Sevaine's comebacks. I couldn't help but feel that I was a part of the story. This was a short read, around 150 pages, but it was enough to suck me in. The descriptions helped fuel my already over-active imagination.
The trials that Devin had to face were interesting as well and I enjoyed watching him tackle each one with Sevaine's help.
Overall, this was an amazing book. I recommend it to readers who enjoy sweet fairytales with happily ever afters.
April 11, 2019
Fun new fairy tale
I love the characters and the character arc. The human trying to survive in te fae realms has a unique twist as well.
I love the characters and the character arc. The human trying to survive in te fae realms has a unique twist as well.
February 14, 2019
Our protagonist, bad-boy Devin, finds himself apprehended on an ill-advised short cut through the forest after a lengthy adventure. His captors are a group of fairies – all female – whose objective is to present him to their Queen as a potential consort. Devin realizes that although he has absolutely no interest in marriage, wedding the Queen will probably be less objectionable than being executed or turned into a frog.
He meets the Queen. He learns that he will need to pass three trials in order to be considered as a candidate. This is not a competition; all of the previous candidates failed and earned the death penalty or escaped the fairy kingdom rather than face the trials.
Although Devin’s prospects seem bleak, he finds himself falling in love. How will he pass the three trials and win the hand of his love?
This story was well-written with the feel of a Norse fairy tale out of Absjornsen and Moe. I found myself fighting the urge to skim ahead to ease the suspense in some parts. A few plot twists added to the excitement as Devin met his challenges with courage and wit. The “romancy” parts were clean (yay!) and the insight into Devin’s mind was brilliant. It was a quick read, but maybe that’s because it drew me in so effectively!
He meets the Queen. He learns that he will need to pass three trials in order to be considered as a candidate. This is not a competition; all of the previous candidates failed and earned the death penalty or escaped the fairy kingdom rather than face the trials.
Although Devin’s prospects seem bleak, he finds himself falling in love. How will he pass the three trials and win the hand of his love?
This story was well-written with the feel of a Norse fairy tale out of Absjornsen and Moe. I found myself fighting the urge to skim ahead to ease the suspense in some parts. A few plot twists added to the excitement as Devin met his challenges with courage and wit. The “romancy” parts were clean (yay!) and the insight into Devin’s mind was brilliant. It was a quick read, but maybe that’s because it drew me in so effectively!
March 24, 2022
My first foray into H.L. Burke's books!
PROS:
-Devin-Very sarcastic, filled with wander-lust, and no desire to marry a vainglorious fairy queen. I approve.
-Sevaine-Resourceful, sweet, also sarcastic, and a felys. (Totally a cat-elf)
-Olysa-As much as I enjoyed Dev and Sev, Olysa was actually my favorite character. Her stoicism, her desire for the bloodshed to end. A really cool character and I want more about her.
-The insert of Christianity/Catholicism(I'm not sure which it was. It mentioned crucifixes, though so...?) into a fantasy world was interesting to see and pretty unique, too.
-The fairy world-Great description.
CONS:
-There were some kissing scenes that made me uncomfortable due to their… thoroughness.
-There was a bit of language, which surprised me a bit. One "d" and one "h"
-There was a sort of instalove. It wasn't love at first sight, which would've knocked my rating down a lot more, but it was after the events of a few days. But then again, this is a novella and that must be taken into consideration. *shrugs*
Overall, a great first experience with H.L Burke's books!
PROS:
-Devin-Very sarcastic, filled with wander-lust, and no desire to marry a vainglorious fairy queen. I approve.
-Sevaine-Resourceful, sweet, also sarcastic, and a felys. (Totally a cat-elf)
-Olysa-As much as I enjoyed Dev and Sev, Olysa was actually my favorite character. Her stoicism, her desire for the bloodshed to end. A really cool character and I want more about her.
-The insert of Christianity/Catholicism(I'm not sure which it was. It mentioned crucifixes, though so...?) into a fantasy world was interesting to see and pretty unique, too.
-The fairy world-Great description.
CONS:
-There were some kissing scenes that made me uncomfortable due to their… thoroughness.
-There was a bit of language, which surprised me a bit. One "d" and one "h"
-There was a sort of instalove. It wasn't love at first sight, which would've knocked my rating down a lot more, but it was after the events of a few days. But then again, this is a novella and that must be taken into consideration. *shrugs*
Overall, a great first experience with H.L Burke's books!
January 24, 2019
To Court a Queen by H.L. Burke is a romantic fantasy about an imperfect knight who stumbles into a deadly game that he can't refuse. He's given the choice to be turned into a frog and get eaten by a predator or face three deadly trials to win the fairy queen's hand. He doesn't even like the queen, but his survival instincts kick in and he chooses the trials. Only one male has made it past round one. With an elf slave's help, he might just survive the first and second, but no one knows what the third will be.
H.L. Burke has created an adventure packed story with witty banter and a bit of romance. This is a quick read and appropriate for young adults and up. I was one of the beta readers and this is my honest and voluntary review.
H.L. Burke has created an adventure packed story with witty banter and a bit of romance. This is a quick read and appropriate for young adults and up. I was one of the beta readers and this is my honest and voluntary review.
April 15, 2019
The thing about an H.L. Burke book is that you can always tell she enjoyed writing it, which makes it all the more enjoyable to read. The fun factor is particularly strong with this book. Don't get me wrong, it's not a complete comedy--there are plenty of dire moments--but even those are fun. The romantic banter between the leads kept me smiling, and the high stakes of the plot kept me glued to the page. Fans of feel-good fantasy adventures won't be able to put this one down.
July 22, 2021
Good times
A short, well balanced book that has all the good stuff,like-Fairies, Elves, humor, heroics, romance, and-my personal favorite-ironic sarcasm!
This was the first book I've read by H.L. Burke and let me tell ya it won't be my last.😁👏
Clean Rating 5/5
A few mildly descriptive kisses
A short, well balanced book that has all the good stuff,like-Fairies, Elves, humor, heroics, romance, and-my personal favorite-ironic sarcasm!
This was the first book I've read by H.L. Burke and let me tell ya it won't be my last.😁👏
Clean Rating 5/5
A few mildly descriptive kisses
September 24, 2022
Sweet Fairytale Romance
Overall I enjoyed this quick fairytale read. There were a few fun twists, intimate scenes that had a bit of heat without getting erotic, and a nice bit of character growth. I think the female character fell for Devin a little too easily; Devin was quite a playboy and I would have liked to see Sevaine put up a little more resistance until he had his character growth opportunities. Still, he did get his act together and the story has a sweet and satisfying ending.
Overall I enjoyed this quick fairytale read. There were a few fun twists, intimate scenes that had a bit of heat without getting erotic, and a nice bit of character growth. I think the female character fell for Devin a little too easily; Devin was quite a playboy and I would have liked to see Sevaine put up a little more resistance until he had his character growth opportunities. Still, he did get his act together and the story has a sweet and satisfying ending.
February 25, 2022
To Court a Queen’s focused narrative, quirky take on trope characters, and surprising emotion makes it a gem of a novel. Author H. L. Burke’s knowledge of fantasies, writing skill, and ability to build believable and endearing characters serve the story well. The humor here is also a lot of fun.
To Court a Queen is a fantasy with a fairy tale vibe worthy of a spot on any reader’s list. This novel makes me excited about what author H.L. Burke will do next in the high fantasy genre.
To Court a Queen is a fantasy with a fairy tale vibe worthy of a spot on any reader’s list. This novel makes me excited about what author H.L. Burke will do next in the high fantasy genre.
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