Blood of Queens

Legacy of the Lost #1

by Maddie Jensen

Carissa Darnell lost almost everything in the Conquest. Left the sole heir and rightful Queen of Basium following the slaughter of her family, she hungers for vengeance against the Warmonger, who took it all from her. A puppet monarch, she hides a dark and dangerous magic, one that her grandmother Miriam believes she can weaponise against the enemy.

Jacen Morrow is the son of the Warmonger, King Cobryn Morrow of Genera. In the wake of the Darnell family massacre, he married Carissa to keep a hold over her country. He returns to Basium after years spent fighting a civil war back home, but not everyone is accepting of his position as King—least of all his powerful uncle Deacon, who held Basium with an iron fist in Jacen’s absence, and whose ambition is near insatiable.

Along with Carissa’s best friends, Jacen’s sister Vida and feisty heiress Bellona Lenore, the unhappily married couple must work together to save Basium. For resistance rises in the north, and if Jacen and Carissa cannot stop it, war will once again engulf the country—and it could mean the destruction of everything they hold dear.

Genres: Fantasy

230 pages, Paperback

Published July 29, 2021

About the author

Maddie is an Australian author who has been reading and writing from a very young age. She is particularly invested in complex characters, healthy relationships, and well-written female protagonists. She’s the oldest of three siblings and the owner of two very cute bunnies called Kenobi and Kylo.

Reviews

[Maddie Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I biased? I mean, probably. But I have a lot of love for this story, and these characters, and I really hope that shows.

[Cass Maren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 Stars
Version: E-ARC

Blood of Queens has been a project by debut author Maddie Jensen, that I've followed for several years. I've had the honor of being an early alpha reader as well as watching Maddie develop her characters throughout the series.

It was my pleasure to receive an E-ARC for BoQ and see how the story has changed over time. BoQ is a political drama set in the fantastical world of Razmara. Our story begins with a conquest, bloodshed and an arranged marriage.

After a few years apart, our two MCs (Carissa and Jacen) are reunited in less than ideal circumstances. Tensions are high and secrets are kept buried as these two navigate their new roles and must find a way to work together in the face of many outside forces who threaten the prosperity of the kingdom they hope to rule.

The story has every political fantasy lover's favorite elements. Scheming and secrets, lost histories and deadly magic, and characters who leave you wondering -- more often than not -- who is on the side of right or wrong (if such sides truly exist).

One of this debut's strongest elements is it's antagonist, a megalomaniac with deadly power. Deacon is well developed throughout the story and tends to steal his scenes despite the constant unsettling feeling he leaves in his wake. I hate him....but I think that's the point.

While it does take a bit to get into the meat of the story, Maddie sets up the world of BoQ with patience and lets the reader live and breath with our protagonists to get to know exactly who we are rooting for. While I prefer a faster-paced story, I do think the story benefits from allowing you to spend time with the characters before throwing them into the action.

Jacen is kind and desperate to prove he is not his father and that in itself made me root for him at every turn, especially as he fights to navigate in a world where nearly everyone wishes him to fail. He is the true underdog of the story and has plenty of opportunities to give in and take the easy route of accepting his history and being like his father. It was great to see a character that had been through so much darkness still have such light and warmth.

Carissa is an interesting character, definitely more of a slow burn protagonist who bides her time. While there were certainly moments where I wanted more from her both in agency and emotion to help me better understand her motivations, it was easy to understand the hesitancy since she is playing a very tricky metaphorical game of chess. I'll be interested to see how her decisions affect her moving forward.

Bellona is another character who really steals the show a lot of times. She has an enjoyable wit that often reminds me of my own. I found her most relatable and a great ride or die friend.

I would have loved more descriptions and world-building -- as these are personally my favorite elements of fantasy -- however this is my personal opinion as a big fantasy world nerd. I almost always am left wanting more. More descriptions may have also strengthened the story as a whole, which felt a bit telling at times. But Maddie's strong imagination still pops on the page.

I look forward to seeing how the story progresses from here and congratulate Maddie on a well-done debut!

[Gee Rothvoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Power, and the idea of more power, seemed to do strange things to men."

Since the Morrow clan killed her family and married her to their heir, Jacen Morrow, at the age of fourteen, Queen Carissa Darnell of Basium has been trying to survive the trauma from her past. Taken for a puppet monarch by the enemy, she's thirsty for revenge, and the dark magic growing inside of her may turn out to be what she needs to face her family's murderers. When Jacen returns from the battlefield after four years spent fighting a civil war, neither Carissa nor the rest of the court are accepting of his position as the King of Basium. Jacen's uncle Deacon, particularly, seems very eager to do whatever it takes to seize the throne. So, along Carissa's friends Bellona and Vida, the King and Queen of Basium will have to figure out a way to save the kingdom from both the Morrow clan's games of power and a rebellion rising in the north.

This book will be perfect for fans of books such as "Graceling", "The Queen's Rising", or "Finnikin of the Rock", full as it is of courtly intrigue, scheming and secrets, dark magic, and royals needing to be smarter than everyone else if they want to stay alive. From the moment we meet Carissa and Jacen, it's quite clear that both of them feel miserable in the situation they've been put in: a loveless arranged marriage at age fourteen so that Jacen's family can seize Basium, just as it's seized other kingdoms. Despite her dire odds, Carissa has found it in herself to stay alive and, rather than sink into sadness, breed her desire to see those who destroyed her family and her country be held accountable for their crimes. Still, she's mostly alone in the court, with the sole exception of her friends Bellona and Vida, and her grandmother Miriam. She has her husband, sure, but how could the son of the enemy be trustworthy at all?

That's what Jacen, too, thinks. Although he sees Carissa for the brave, resilient young woman she is, he knows who he is and what his family has done. As a result, we have two really conflicted main characters who hold their cards close to their chest at all times, and thanks to the alternating points of view, we witness how they work on setting their differences aside to protect Basium from those who want to either destroy it, or dominate it. I was very interested in their relationship, and I found it quite nice how they went from barely standing each other, to being together at nights but little more, to finding genuine respect and admiration for the other.

"Power and destruction too often went hand in hand"

In regards to the plot, I was hooked from almost the first page! Not only do Carissa and Jacen have to worry about their marriage, and Lord Deacon's thirst for power; there's also the matter of the rising rebellion in the north, a stranger in a jackal mask who hints at something big being about to happen, Miriam's magic warning her about the couple's future, the pressure to produce an heir, and how their marriage isn't legitimate just yet, which makes Carissa vulnerable. The stakes are copious as well as high, and when things start going down, the book can't seem to stop making your heart race! Carissa's wit, though, was what captivated the most all along. She grows a lot during the book, and although she has to face really terrible situations and threats, she remains true to her principles and her people. It's safe to say that she's my favourite character, and considering how fond I grew of Jacen, that's quite a big thing to say!

I personally would've liked to see more of the worldbuilding that's been done behind the scenes. Of course, we hear a lot about Basium's domestic problems, and some stuff regarding the other countries in which the Morrow house is causing trouble, but I still missed more information about the different kingdoms, the international politics, the religion, and even day-to-day traditions and customs of the Basiumites. As a fantasy nerd, it's what I enjoy the most in books, so I really do hope we get to see more of it in the next installments.

Although I could predict the major plot-twist way before it arrived, I still really enjoyed how the mystery built, and how all the other subplots progressed. What was best about it all, however, was the way what was happening interacted with the characters, and affected them. In my opinion, Maddie Jensen understood the 'character development arcs' assignment perfectly!

If you enjoyed any of the books I mentioned at the beginning, or just want to read an adventure book with political intrigue, resilient young ladies, brave monarchs, and a lot of action, this should definitely be on your radar!

**
[CWs: Abuse, Blood, Death, Forced marriage, Gore, Graphic injuries, Guilt, Loss of a loved one, Manipulation, Misogyny, Murder, Poisoning, Pressure to get pregnant, Sex, Trauma, Violence, War]

[Sinika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to get to read an arc of this!

This was a really enjoyable read. (Disclaimer: I already I knew I liked Maddie's writing so I wasn't really surprised by that.)

One thing I really liked was the abundance of female characters in the main cast. Carissa, ofc, but also Miriam, Bellona, and Vida. Each of which approached the world differently. There were also some indications maybe that some other secondary or more minor characters might get more prominence in later books which I am here for!

I felt that Carissa and Jacen's marriage and just relationship overall was handled really well and realistically (I mean obviously it's fantasy but) with both caring for each other but understandably Jacen's lack of trauma (or, well societal normative trauma rather) meant he was able to be more open and vulnerable with his feelings compared to Carissa.

It was really neat to see the ways that the Morrows worked together and the ways in which they may later destroy each other.

Also really enjoyed the examination and juxtaposition of the Darnells as a happy family versus their political policies.

Can't wait until I can read Heir of Kings!

Spoiler thoughts below:

Me when Vida spoiler: poisons Sidonia: okay so she's going full Lucrezia Borgia :wig: Then I was like, Vida with poison and Bellona with arrows would be epic seconds/lieutenants to Carissa, too bad Vida decided her feelings were hurt from being excluded.

spoiler: I need more Lilith. Need it.

spoiler: I also wonder if hmmm maybe Vida is Deacon's kid? Obviously people can irl often resemble close relatives more so than their own parents but....

spoiler: Meliora pov? :pleading face:

[Clare Rhoden · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the stunning first scene, we know we've met a horrible villain, and that we're plunging into a fantasy world of violent and power-hungry men. Eeeek! Blood and guts among the feuding royals.

There's a lot to like about this debut novel - first of a planned series - and the main characters stride boldly across the plot, each one well-defined. Puppet-queen Carissa has a lot of promise, but I feel that her grandmother Miriam had a bit more to offer.

Stakes are awfully high, and the twists of the plot leave some wriggle room for more exciting adventures ahead.

This is very clearly the start of a series, with a lot of world-building to come. The settings, the magic system, the historical foundations of the world of Ramzara are still a little sketchy. I would have loved a lot more detail and am looking forward to the next in the series.

[Dakota · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blood of Queens is a novel set in the fantasy world of Razmara. When she loses her family in the Conquest, Carissa Darnell is forced to wed the son of the enemy king and become the puppet queen of her home country of Basium. However, her husband, Jacen Morrow, proves to be different from those in his family who would see her country in ruins. The two protagonists dance between their growing feelings for one another and their obligations while conspiracies begin to unfold around them that threaten to destroy all they hold dear.

The novel itself has an intriguing concept and there are many premises that have potential to unfold into something grander, however, there are glaring issues throughout the work that make the story difficult for the reader to become invested in, and are a detriment to the novel overall.

Editing

This novel would benefit from the addition of another editor or perhaps another draft or two. Throughout the work, there are several contradictory statements that appear, such as:

“…sunlight filtering through the leaves of the oak tree hanging overhead.”
and
“No beauty could be found in winter, when the trees shed their leaves.”

These two statements stand out the most as they are located in successive paragraphs, but there are others across the entirety of the novel. The later chapters in particular have several statements made as character progression when the characters had already been acting out these instances or should have been according to how the world is set up. There is a particular instance in the late stages of the novel where Carissa wonders if she is still looked after by the goddess she worships even after forsaking her. However, earlier in the novel, she is seen praying to the same goddess.

There are also consistent grammatical errors, particularly with commas and word use, and there are instances when the plot seems to jump, as if sentences or whole paragraphs are missing. Also, as a technical error, there are several paragraphs throughout the novel that are not properly indented, but this may be a translation issue from the publisher.

Issues such as these are typically missed by authors, which is why editors are such an important component in the publication process of a novel. This is why it would be beneficial to get a second opinion on the work.

Language

The language of Blood of Queens frequently uses terminology that does not line up with the time period it takes place in. Blood of Queens is a medieval fantasy, yet it uses phrases such as “sexism,” and “mass production,” terms that did not exist until the modern era. While the sentiment is understandable – Carissa does experience the tragic reality of a woman in the medieval period – the issues at hand should be introduced and dealt with in a language suited for the times, elsewise the characters sound like modern young adults dropped into the medieval setting.

Many of the character viewpoints also feel “modern.” Opinions on marriage, politics, and even pregnancy are very progressive. While it’s not uncommon for protagonists to question why these particular things are done, there is, at least, an understanding of them and an acknowledgement of their existence. That is not the case in Blood of Queens, where one nation clearly follows an archaic, but not unexpected, societal formula, while the other is, frankly, so revolutionary in its policies that it defies its medieval setting altogether. This is an issue reconcilable in its world building, but as Basium’s societal policies are not properly introduced, it simply becomes a glaring modern take on a medieval reality. What results is the frustrated tonal shift of an author who appears to hate everything about the time period they have chosen to set their story, yet continues on as if held by gunpoint. There is no love for the world they have portrayed, only an insistence on pointing out the issues of a time period long considered outdated by today’s standards.

Tell, Don’t Show

Blood of Queens suffers from a series of instances where the audience is told what to believe about the world of Razmara rather than being shown, which is ultimately detrimental to the audience’s connection with the world. A particularly glaring spot is the treatment of Basium post-Conquest. Consistently, the reader is told that Deacon Morrow, uncle to protagonist Jacen, is running the country with an iron grip, harsh and cruel in his reign. However, aside from a brief mention of slavery that is, again, told not shown, there is no evidence of this. The reader is meant to believe Basium is poorly off simply because the author has said so, rather than exhibiting it through a thorough description of the state of things in the country, such as through uprisings or rumblings from the citizens.

This treatment of information makes the author an unreliable narrator. Often, I found myself unable to believe the accusations laid out about the characters purely because there was nothing stated in the novel to support these claims, aside from the author flat out saying so. In fact, there is often more proof to the contrary of the author’s statement, which makes the story that much more confusing and difficult to follow.

Magic

Magic in Blood of Queens is another system in the story that suffers from the ‘Tell, Don’t Show’ aspect I touched upon earlier, but to an even greater extent. It is a device so inconsistently used that its appearances in the novel at later stages become almost deus ex. In a world that is supposedly full of those who use magic, it only ever thrives in the story when a plot point needs to be moved along, and as the story doesn’t pick up in pace until nearer to the end, magic often takes a backseat to everything else, to the extent that it feels like an afterthought tacked on rather than a fully fleshed out subplot of its own.

There isn’t an establishment of how much magic exists in Razmara. Though there are several names for magic users across the countries, it is actually difficult to say if magic is rare or common, as it is not fully integrated with society. Healers exist, as Carissa’s grandmother has been mentioned to be one, yet when Jacen is wounded, a healer is not summoned to tend to his wounds. Does this mean healers are rare? It is also mentioned once that magic is rare amongst nobility, so does this mean magic is common amongst the peasants? There is no mention of magic being used in daily life; there is no mention about how life might be for those not of nobility at all, so it is difficult to gauge how fused with the world magic truly is, which, again, makes it feel more like an afterthought.

The morality of magic is also questionable, in both its lesson and its application. Rather than use magic as a means of amplifying a character’s principles, people are either born with what is perceived as “good” or “bad” magic. It is not a conscious decision that a character makes, but is rather one that is thrust upon them, which may have led to more interesting inspections of the definition of morality were magic used to a larger extent. As it is not, it feels like a cheaply tacked on black and white clause to an already confusing system.

This is especially where the “Tell, Don’t Show” aspect comes in as our protagonist consistently tells the audience that she can feel the "evil" of her magic within her, yet Carissa’s “evil” magic has never been used in an application that can be considered evil. In fact, Deacon Morrow, who is considered an Imperium and not a dark magic user, uses his magic more consistently for what the audience would consider evil rather than Carissa. Now, if this is the intention of the author as a sort of expectation subversion, I personally feel that far too little time is focused on it for it to have any real consequence in the novel at large.

Characters

Blood of Queens suffers from a lack of supporting characters. In fact, Razmara feels like a world utterly bereft of people. Servants and guards are nearly non-existent, making the castles feel empty and lifeless in their descriptions. Armies exist, but there are no numbers or anything that the reader can grasp for scale; citizens are rarely touched upon, and the cities they reside in may as well be abandoned. The major characters are consistently put into positions that they otherwise would not be in if there were simply more characters included in the story.

In the absence of servants and guards, major characters are forced to take up their roles. Bellona Lenore, daughter of the Lord of Theron and his heir, is left acting as bodyguard, messenger, and lady’s maid, roles that nobility would never normally contend with, as it would be nearly insulting to have someone of noble blood doing such menial tasks. Jacen Morrow would certainly have been in less danger if he possessed guards as most kings tend to, but there are never more than two knights mentioned throughout the course of the tour that takes up the vast majority of the story, and they simply existed to ask precise questions to move the plot forward. With the major characters taking up such extensive roles, it leaves little to the imagination when it comes to the conspiracies that unfold throughout the course of the story.

A case that sticks out in particular is the attempted assassination of Jacen Morrow in the Gracewood. Rather than hire an unknown entity to murder the young king, Lord Ambrose of Theron orders his own brother to do so. The crime so obviously ties back to the Lord of Theron that he may as well have done the deed himself. The fact that it is treated as if there was potentially any other outcome is an insult to the reader’s intelligence, as the surprise would have been if he hadn’t ordered his brother to do so.

It is a story that desperately wishes to be complex in its politics and morally challenging decisions, but its refusal to include a vast array of characters boils the story down to the bare basics. This results in characters that are supposedly intelligent in their nature doing things that are the opposite simply because they are forced to rely upon the scant list of characters that the author has allowed to exist. Like fish in a barrel, the politics and conspiracies have no room to breathe or grow, and are forced to play the game out in a simple, streamlined fashion that has no time for complication, as it must proceed from point A to point B as swiftly as possible.

As for the major characters themselves, the main two protagonists have issues in their own fashion. Jacen Morrow is a character with no autonomy, allowing the plot to nudge him here and there throughout the course of the novel. Any goal that he possesses in a scene is almost immediately lost upon a few lines of dialogue from his opposition. He consistently bemoans the fact that his uncle, Deacon, still wishes to control Basium, but does nothing to extract him from his position of power, despite being the king; he wishes for things to be improved, yet does nothing as king to do so. In fact, were the reader not consistently reminded he isthe king, one might actually believe that he was not, as he does absolutely nothing.

Carissa has slightly more autonomy, but suffers from her own issues. The author wishes to write her as a strong female character, but does little in exhibiting her strength. Her insistence that several issues are due to the fact that she is a woman when in reality they are points that stand regardless of gender can become infuriating as the story goes on, and Carissa’s inability to understand why she would not be trusted after being more or less held captive for four years and being little more than a puppet for the enemy becomes a liability. In fact, both Carissa and Jacen stumble through the intricate politics with inexperience and ignorance and are only allowed to get as far as they do because the characters they are surrounded by possess even less tact and intelligence.

World-Building

As with the characters, there is a distinct lack of description in Blood of Queens. Locations are given very little detail, and leave the reader with little more to picture than generic blobs decorated by a colorful flag or some other trinket. They are described with opinions (ugly, fair, etc…) without any words to inform the reader as to why they might be so. The gardens of Marinel’s castle, which is one of the more utilized locations, are still so scant in their description that the image conjured is little more than a couple flowers and perhaps a statue. The reader is told things are different without describing how they are different, a familiar note that has been touched upon already. The most description that the reader is ever given is in regards to whatever dress Carissa may be wearing and to her oddly specific eye color of violet-blue.

What few descriptions are given tend to also have a modern feel. When the royal tour first begins, Carissa claims to still be able to see the lights of Marinel from their first camp, which suggests that they either have traveled only a mile or two or that the city itself may simply be on fire since light from torches does not carry that far. This is actually an issue brought up numerous times, which almost implies electricity exists in Razmara. As there is little in the way of description, it very well may.

There also seems to be no sense of location. Basium is simultaneously a large yet small country. This is especially an issue for the Conquest of Basium. As the capital of the country is at the farthest most point away from the Generan border, it’s rather hard to believe that the army crossed the breadth of Basium in order to surprise attack the capital. There is no indication that any other cities were destroyed, nor is there evidence to suggest that they may have attacked by sea. This suggests that the map was created after the story was already written, and little was done to fine tune it to line up with the events at hand.

All in all, Blood of Queens is a novel that suffers from multiple issues that truly damage the reader’s chance to enjoy the work that the author has put in. While I do not wish for the author to be discouraged by this review – it is in hopes that they can improve that I write this – I do hope that they take the time to step back and reexamine their work. Hopefully the remainder of the series takes the opportunity to learn lessons from the first novel and turn itself into something greater.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A debut novel from an amazingly promising writer!
Strong but relatable female characters, male characters trying to break free from toxic relationships and an amazing plot with beautifully written descriptives.
I'm a sucker for a strong female character and this book has plenty! And magic! Did I mention it has magic?!
I cannot wait for book two and to follow the author's works for years to come!

[V F B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 🌟

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review. All the opinions are my own.

Blood of Queens is a good debut novel full of political intrigues and an elaborated worldbuilding. It's easy to read and the writing is beautiful. The story follows Carissa Darnell, one of the last surviving members of House Darnell and Jacen Morrow, her enemy and the boy she is forced to marry. Carissa struggles between being true to herself and her people while navigating her new feelings for Jacen, a kind man she is supposed to hate. Jacen also has struggles of his own and despise the man his family and father wants him to become.

On the other, I had a few issues. Although I loved every character, the relationship between Jacen and Carissa felt too fast. What I mean is that I missed more interaction between the two of them at the beginning of the book, more scenes where we could have seen how they started trusting each other and building their relationship.

Also the beginning of the book seemed a little bit slow compared with the end.

Obviously these opinions very subjective and other readers may feel different, that's why I always recommend reading the book so, do it!

[Beth O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an incredible book! The world building is very well done, it’s a fascinating world and magic system that the reader learns through being immersed in the world, rather than a bunch of exposition. The plot and pacing are great, I couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to see where the series is going next!

[Heidi Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

“She was so beautiful and so brave, and he found himself melting like candle wax over a fire around her.”

“This tour might have been many things, but it had ended with a husband who loved her—and who she had conflicted feelings for in return. Was it love? Was it almost? Or did she just want him?”

Starting off strong with a violent prologue, this book promised a complex story filled with politics, betrayal, uneasy alliances and fragile relationships. It gave me “Reign” vibes IYKYK.
The story is told through the POV of the FMC Carissa, and the MMC Jacen. It really helps the reader understand how tenuous and difficult their relationship is. Jacen is the soft boy to Carissa’s angry girl, and you can’t help but root for them. A true enemies to lovers romance that constantly battles against duty, trust, secrets, court politics, and fear. I sometimes found the character driven plot to be a bit tedious, but the writing kept me engaged and it’s hard not to root for these characters. While it is marketed as an adult book, there are elements of YA, since the main characters are very young. I didn’t mind it as much as I thought I would though. I’m definitely continuing the series to find out what happens!

4/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

[Anjali · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of the book fascinated me, and after reading the book it makes so much sense...
- Carissa is a blood mage
- Mariam is beheaded for treason

The blurb is equally fascinating... A princess left alive, while the rest of her family is butchered... To marry the conqueror's son, so that they can be queen and king...

The story mostly unfolds from Carissa's and Jacen's POVs... And both of them are so real... Struggling to come to terms with what life has dealt to them... I really liked Jacen, he's a breath of fresh air when compared to the rest of his family...

Especially Deacon... The author has created a super villian in Deacon... I hate him so much, so I know the author succeeded...

I liked the pacing of the story, and the subtle world building... I believe there is more coming in terms of Carissa's character arc, and magic...

The ending was interesting... While I kept wondering what it was about the guy in the jackal mask that caught Carissa's attention, I did not see the alliance between the three queens coming...

I'm quite eager to get started on the next book in the series...

[Brinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! It did prove that I shouldn't attempt to knit and read at the same time though... This 200 page book took me almost 6 hours to read. Whoops! But anyway, Blood of Queens was awesome.

I'm a sucker for political fantasies, so this was right down my alley. I loved watching Carissa scheme her way through life, even though her lack of action in some instances bugged me. It was a nice change to have a male MC who took the backseat in this department. Jacen, while still intelligent and driven, wasn't as scheming as Carissa. Partly because he didn't even know what he wanted, but it was still a nice change.

Speaking of Jacen, I really liked him. Honestly, I'm not even sure why. He was just nice. In today's fantasies, you don't see characters who are purely nice. Don't get me wrong, I love my morally gray characters, but Jacen was a great change of pace.

However, I'm less sure about Carissa. For whatever reason, I didn't connect with her. She's an interesting character, and one I want to see more of, but I'm thankful for the dual POV so I'm not always stuck with her.

Despite my few complaints, I'd recommend this one! Its what should've been a quick read with some awesome characters. I'm definitely looking forward to Book 2!


Thanks to Equality Book Tours for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Tracey Loudoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood of Queens is an exciting debut novel, the writing is really captivating and draws you into the story.

My favourite character is Bellona, she is absolutely a badass and I really love that she doesn’t take any shit from anyone. I’m really excited to see where things go with her in the future books, I felt I was more invested in her than Carissa and Jacen. I didn’t mind Jacen, but I do wish he stood up to Deacon more.

I didn’t like Vida because I felt she came across as fake, she didn’t seem genuine in her friendships with Carissa and Bellona. I didn’t connect with her as a character the way I did some of the others throughout the book.

Deacon for me was intriguing, he’s got magic and he’s open about how powerful he is and doesn’t try and pretend that he isn’t a villain. He constantly feels he’s entitled to things he isn’t like the throne and Carissa.

The best moments that stand out to me are more toward the end of the book, including a display of magic from Carissa that was awesome! Overall, I really enjoyed the book and can’t wait for the sequel!

[R.C.Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chilling. Maddie Jensen weaves a chilling story around Carissa's grief after the conquest, her pain serving her country as a puppet queen, and her tense marriage to Jacen, the son of the man who killed her family.

I don't want to spoil anything about his character, but Jacen is deliciously complex and without a doubt, my favorite. I can't wait to read more about him in the next book!

I struggled through the middle of the book because it covered so much time, yet was very dialog heavy. It was necessary, but tedious at times. However, she makes up for it with her compelling characters, incredible foreshadowing, and thrilling twists! And let me tell you, the end gave me WHIPLASH! So very worth it!

[Hanbbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um where do I start with this?

Clarissa is such a strong character, I don't think I would be so strong if I went through all the things she went😅 She wants what's best for her people even if they don't see her trying, she doesn't give up.

Jacen, first I was not a big fan of him because of his family but he proved me wrong! He is totally different and I am so glad that he is!

This book had a lot of politics, secrets and mysteries, although I saw the epilogue coming😅 Some of the plottwist I didn't. Also this book was well written and I know that the next one will break my heart because that ending👀

I really loved reading this book, so if you are looking for a fantasy book with lot of politics, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, arranged marriage, soft boy and angry girl maybe this book is something for you.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping read, found it difficult to put down when I had to do mundane things like going to work. What I liked most about this beginning novel is that for a novel just over 200 pages, it packed so many things in to set the rest of the series. I loved characters, well fleshed out and you really see their growth throughout the novel. I have the feeling that the plot is just going to keep expanding and get more a s quote intricate as the overarching story progresses.

I’m very excited for the next book in the series! Talk about a cliffhanger!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
The plot twists, the fantasy world, the political intrigue, the characters, everything about this book was such a good time. I read this book pretty quickly and it was the perfect fantasy read.

[Julie ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, when I had first heard of Blood of Queens, I was intrigued. After reading the Blurb, I wanted to read more about it! Initially, I did not have much expeditions. I was coming into this book blind and as unbiased as I could given the genre.

When I tell you… I was genuinely surprised and sucked into this story, I’m so glad I read it!

Blood of Queens tells us the story of Carissa— a girl who honestly has gone through a lot ever since she was young. Given a role and expectations that she did not want, she certainly made the best of the cards she was handed.

This book is very interesting. Although it has small hints of romance, this book involves a lot, and I mean a lot, of political play between our main characters and their families. These plays of power honestly kept me hooked and everything was quite clear, nothing about this book was confusing. You had a clear understanding of everyone’s part in this story. If I could compare it to anything that I’ve read in the past.. it’s actually to The Cruel Prince series. Although not similar, I found a similar enjoyment with the politics here as I did in Cruel Prince.

Jaden, although important, did not feel as if he had a major involvement with what was going on. Honestly, I love that. I love how Carissa, who is a female, is given a place of power and also shown as someone who runs the show even if she’s deemed a puppet by Jaden’s family.

The flow of the reading was easy to follow, and the ending and betrayal was something I was not expecting!

This series has now become a hopeful as I cannot wait to see what happens next, especially after that epilogue!

-thank you to Equality Book Tours and the author for allowing me to read this gem!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood of Queens has good bones. I really enjoyed the plot of this book and some of the tropes (love a good arranged marriage trope what can I say😂). The story follows Carissa Darnell, the last surviving royal member of House Darnell after Cobryn of House Morrow murders her whole family in order to conquer her country of Basium. After doing so, Cobryn forces his son Jacen and Carissa to marry, so that Jacen may become King of Basium. This story is filled with political intrigue, romance between rival families, friendship, and betrayal. If I had any critiques I would say that I wish there had been more detail to the story. I would’ve liked more moments with Carissa and Jacen where we could see their relationship progress, more scenes of the characters in the various cities of Basium, more detail about Carissa’s powers and more scenes with one of our quasi villains, Deacon (I love to hate him). All in all, this story has good bones. I hope we’ll get more detail in the sequel, which I’m looking forward to but a great debut from Maddie Jensen.

[Charlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book and highly recommend!

[Aoife · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off I want to say that I really like the premise of this story, and that I do recommend it for people looking for something that has a bit of that YA vibe but with a bit more action in the bedroom before it fades to black.

There are some issues I want to talk about, but I must say that I loved the prologue. It was very well written and actually had me tearing up at the deaths, even though I didn't know the characters the writing made sure I felt the pain of the perspective character. My only issue with that chapter was how on Earth the royal family had no idea there was an attack until the only part of the palace that was not invaded was the Queen and King's bedroom, and the fact that no guards were around at all - something that persists throughout the book.

The writing style is solid and on it's own pleasant to read, but tends to get bogged down by a lot of repetition of information and a tendency to tell us things rather than show them. It is constantly brought up how Carissa witnessed the deaths of her entire family and that it has impacted her, but it is always told to people, often ones who were already thinking about it, and never really shown in her actions and reactions, so after that first chapter I never really /felt/ the sorrow of those deaths again.

Another is Jacen constantly talking about how he is King but never actually doing anything, Deacon is supposedly ruling from the sidelines except he's not, he's doing it out in the open, and Jacen never contradicts him, the only thing he does to show power is telling Deacon to leave the room so he can talk to someone, and never to actually contradict him. *Spoilers* this is most maddening with Jacen feeling he has to give in to Deacon's demands about the execution near the end, but why?

I'm personally not a fan of fantasy series bringing in sexism just because the world is medieval inspired, but it can at least play into a storyline, and I can see it tries to here, but personally felt it was a bit unnecessary and just made me annoyed with no outlet. On that and the repetition issue, Carissa and Jacen both talk about how strong Carissa is for surviving in the court but honestly it doesn't feel like she actually does anything. Jacen is passive, yes, but Carissa tries to be active and then fails at every turn. The story feels like it's happening regardless of the characters, and it doesn't feel like it's supposed to.

Speaking of our main characters, I think they would have benefitted from more time getting to know each other early on, while I do appreciate there being a clear understanding that they haven't fallen in love straight away but that they care for and are clearly sexually attracted to each other, I think that "caring for" part came a bit too quickly. I do think the awkwardness of them trying to have sex early on to consummate the marriage was well done (though the whole thing about lack of consummation making the marriage illegitimate is another thing that was repeated a LOT).

Something that may or may not bother you is that the magic is pretty ill defined, and I don't mean that just because it's a soft system, we just don't really see much of it, and it honestly feels very superfluous to the story, considering how little a part it really plays into it. Like, what kind of magic exists in the world? We barely know.

Lastly, the ending felt a bit empty to me, more like the middle of a story, as again the main characters didn't really achieve anything, only the villains did. It's fine for the villains to have the last word, but we like to see our heroes accomplish something at least, even if they then learn that it was all for naught, but that's not what happened here. I know this is the first in a trilogy, but I think the individual books should still have their own story even if they are parts of a bigger one.

[Jaclyn May · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I received this as an E-ARC and was super pumped to read it! Not normally my type of book, as I tend to steer away from anything that has major political intrigue. Definitely a wonderful debut novel, but I did struggle at times as it’s outside of my traditional genres. Loved the development of the main villain, but the main characters at times did get on my nerves (which is generally normal for me).

Overall it was definitely a good read and I did enjoy it. I will be eagerly awaiting the next and I want to see how the story will continue to grow. Hopefully the characters get less on my nerves as at times as they develop more. Would be better suited for people who love medieval political driven novels! But I still had fun!

[Artemis Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book was certainly an interesting take on the dynamics of arranged marriages, which usually tends to be 'character escapes this' but what if the MC doesn't? There were some themes explored in this book, but they were explored quite deeply, and remained consistent throughout.

My favourite piece of Blood of Queens is the female MC, Carissa Darnell. Her character was fleshed out really well (as are most characters in this book, actually). Carissa is faced with so many conflicts, including a strong antagonistic force that sinks its claws into her life, yet still she adapts to it and continues on with her head held high. She's one example of a 'strong female character' that doesn't need masculinity to be, I believe, universally acknowledged as strong.

The one complaint I have is the plot. Since it's heavily character-based, despite being paced quite quickly, I still felt the plot could've had more substance. The book certainly explores character relationships very deeply, but it sacrifices plot for them.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thoroughly engrossed in this story and I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and the depth of them and I can't wait to see where the author goes with them. Ooo and the twist/cliffhanger was just what the reader needs to want to read the next book in the series.

[Lei · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of game of thrones you'll love this story about love, betrayal and magic.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute masterpiece. A must read for any fan of the genre, this author is going places.

[Kiza Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and even tho i figured out a few things it was still so exciting to read, cant wait to know what comes next

[Z King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review may contain spoilers so please be advised if you have not read this story and do not wish to be spoiled, do NOT read past this point...I will try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible but I'm too sure what I should and should not say🙈
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Let's start with what I liked about it...
One Day, we will bring it all down. We will burn their fucking empire to ash - Miriam Darnell, Former Queen of Basium.

Out of the entire book, this is definitely one of my favorite lines and I am beyond happy to see that it is still in the story. As a beta reader, this line caught my attention and as an Arc reader, I was so thrilled to see it! After witnessing the death of nearly her entire family and having to watch her only surviving grandchild marry the son of the Warmonger, Miriam is filled with rage and hatred towards the Morrow family, understandably so. This line gives you a little foreshadowing and I love it. While we may not get to see through Miriam's eyes throughout the book, getting this chapter was a nice intro to the story. And beautifully written!
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Let's talk about some of the characters!! Warning Spoilers Ahead!!!

My favorite character is definitely my wife, Bellona Lenore. Out of the three girls (Carissa, Bellona, Vida), she definitely made the biggest impression on me. This woman is so much more than meets the eye. She's fierce and independent and handy with a bow. There's so much to like about her.

In saying that I will also say that Carissa is quite the character as well. Being the sole survivor of her family can be quite difficult at times and to add salt to the wound, she had to marry the Warmonger's son. A lot happened for Carissa in only a short amount of time. She's quite timid at first but the further in you get, the more she opens up and her character really does shine bright.

I also want to make a note about Jacen - the main male and Carissa's husband. While at first, I didn't really know how to view him, the further I read the more I realized how caring and compassionate he is. Like this is a man who GENUINELY cares and when you put that next to the rest of his family - ex: his uncle Deacon or even his father Cobryn - it comes as a nice shock.

Vida Morrow - Jacen's sister and the other member of the trio - is a difficult character too. The circumstances that brought Vida to Basium couldn't be further from her mind is seems - she appreciates the beauty of the country and having found friendship amongst enemies while she may have a rather close relationship with her uncle and is quite indifferent to the war, I do believe there is much more to her character and I can't wait to explore it in Book 2 (Heir of Kings)

Deacon Morrow - I have a lot of thoughts on this character...and none of them good, HOWEVER, I will say that his personality is well-written and everything about him just screams *AMBITION* which is a good thing. As I am sure this was Maddie's plan all along. But I will say, he is by far my least favorite character🤣 (It's funny, I keep imagining him much older than the artwork Maddie recently revealed and I'm like, "wow, he's hot. But that's...no. Just no."🙈🤣)
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Some things I did NOT like about it...Honestly, I don't have many of these...but here are the few things that didn't sit well with me (and are NOT supposed to)

The way some of the lords treat Carissa. It's obvious that many of them do not like her or do not wish to get to know her. Some have valid reasons but others basically tell her outright that since she is a *woman* she should be with the women. And that kind of sexism just is not for me. Like "Excuse me, sir. I can be anywhere I wish to be..." Especially if you're the FUCKING QUEEN! I mean, how are you going to tell her *No*. Seriously😐

Deacon pinning after Carissa...Okay, normally, I do not care about age gaps (they don't bother me as much since love is love in my opinion) but this is NOT love. This is an obsession and not even for Carissa. He only wants her for her body - for what she can give him i.e the crown and an heir. Honestly, I was so happy when Cobryn announced that JACEN would be marrying her instead of Deacon. That was one of my favorite moments in the book.
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MY FINAL THOUGHTS
This book is heavy on the violence and has several mentions of rape (never explicitly shown) but overall it is a wonderful book and definitely one of my TOP FAVE INDIE READS. The ending is for sure a delightful surprise😈 If you like enemies to lovers where they HAVE to stay together, corrupt governments, secrets, forced marriage, surprises, and more then this is the story for you!!

Maddie, I would just like to say - I am so beyond proud of you and I am beyond honored to have been a part of your journey. I can't wait to see what's next! (Currently Beta Reading Book Two and loving it!)

[Melissa Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since the Morrow family killed her family and forced her to marry their heir, Jacen Morrow, at the age of just fourteen, Queen Carissa Darnell of Basium has been trying to survive the trauma of her past and her new life. Made to be a puppet by her enemies, she thirsts for revenge. Day by day the dark magic that resides in her blood, gets stronger and it just may be what she needs to free herself and her people from her families murders. When Jacen returns from war, no one, including his wife, are quite accepting of his role as the King of Basium. Deacon, Jacen’s Uncle, seems willing and eager to do whatever it takes to seize the throne from his nephew and take his bride as his own. As the King and Queen of Basium, it’s now up to Jacen and Carissa to save their kingdom from not only the Morrow Clans thirst for power and from a rebellion that’s rising in the north.

This book was not at all what I was expecting as I dove into it but it did not disappoint either! It’s full of scheming, secrets, royal duties, dark magic and survival. From the moment we meet our King and Queen, it’s clear that neither Jacen nor Carissa are thrilled about the unfortunate arrangement they’ve been put in; a forced marriage at the age of fourteen, just so Jacens family can seize Basium, just as they’ve done other kingdoms. Carissa is determined to stay alive though and see to it that the ones who destroyed her life, burned her city, and murdered her family are held accountable. Because of that, she only had 3 people she can truly rely on, her grandmother Miriam and her two best friends, Vida (her husbands cousin) and Bellona (who was supposed to marry Carissa’s brother before he was murdered). Obviously she has her husband, Jacen, too but can he really be trusted? After all, he is the enemies son, but he was also forced into this as much as Carissa.

As it turns out, Jacen has the same thoughts. Though he thinks nothing like his father and uncle and he see’s Carissa as the strong, resilient, and brave young woman she is and not just some damsel, he knows what his family has done. Because of this we see these two young adults, who were thrust into this situation at just fourteen, deal with their own conflicts and how to guard themselves against each other as well as everyone else.

I loved the dual POV for this because we get to see Carissa and Javen’s sides and how they deal with everything, protecting Basium and becoming more comfortable/familiar with each other and gaining respect for one another.

I won’t spoil anything but once this book gets going, boy does it pick up!! I didn’t wanna put it down for a single second. I would like to learn a bit more about how Basium came to be and life before the destruction, but maybe there’s more of that in books 2 and 3. Either way I really enjoyed this book and I’m excited to dive into the next one!

[Quinn Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received an e-book copy as part of an instagram book tour for Blood of Queens in exchange for my honest review.

Let me start out by saying that I LOVE the characters in this novel. They are so well done and so unique. I also really loved the ending of this book and the strong feminist themes throughout! This is a great series for anyone who loves the following tropes: enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, young queen discovering her ruling style, angry girl x soft boy, and dark magic. Protagonist Carissa Darnell had me hooked from the start, and MAN that prologue!! The love interest took a minute for me to like because I have a love for the morally gray, but Jacen Morrow is so incredible and such a genuine character that even those of us who prefer a bad boy will love him!

Beyond the characters, the plot is great too. I wouldn't call this book action-packed, but is more focused on finding oneself and navigating a life where you can't trust anyone. I have a soft spot for books like this, so if you love court politics and being unsure who you can trust in a novel, this is a great pick! I like that even though this is a fantasy novel, Carissa's struggles feel so real and the decisions she has to make are realistic for the life she is living.

While there are spicy scenes, it is majority fade to black. I love the dark magic in this book and how it can be used, and can’t wait to read more about Carissa’s journey with her magic, herself, and her found family!