What do you think?
Rate this book
The Forbidden Queen #1
Forbidden Queen
Her power is forbidden. But she's next in line for the throne.
When Princess Kalleah is born with a forbidden magic power, her mother takes her into hiding to keep her safe.
Now, at eighteen, she is back to claim her throne.
People with Kalleah's deadly power aren't allowed into the city of Baylore, let alone the palace. If she is to rule, her people will need to overcome centuries of prejudice against the forbidden races.
But the timing for her return could not be worse.
Baylore was once a haven for the magic races that were persecuted and killed in other lands.
Now, a small but dangerous group calling themselves Truthbringers have stirred up public sentiment against all magic--not just the forbidden races.
If Kalleah can't claim her rightful place on the throne, the once-peaceful city of Baylore will fall to chaos. Hatred and bigotry threaten to overthrow everything Baylore once stood for.
But as she seeks support in her bid for the throne, she faces enemies at every turn.
Can Kalleah win the throne and hold Baylore together?
Or have the Truthbringers already sown the seeds of discontent too deep?
Forbidden Queen is the first in a 6-book epic fantasy series filled with intrigue, adventure, and romance. Perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, Sarah J. Maas, and Sabaa Tahir.
When Princess Kalleah is born with a forbidden magic power, her mother takes her into hiding to keep her safe.
Now, at eighteen, she is back to claim her throne.
People with Kalleah's deadly power aren't allowed into the city of Baylore, let alone the palace. If she is to rule, her people will need to overcome centuries of prejudice against the forbidden races.
But the timing for her return could not be worse.
Baylore was once a haven for the magic races that were persecuted and killed in other lands.
Now, a small but dangerous group calling themselves Truthbringers have stirred up public sentiment against all magic--not just the forbidden races.
If Kalleah can't claim her rightful place on the throne, the once-peaceful city of Baylore will fall to chaos. Hatred and bigotry threaten to overthrow everything Baylore once stood for.
But as she seeks support in her bid for the throne, she faces enemies at every turn.
Can Kalleah win the throne and hold Baylore together?
Or have the Truthbringers already sown the seeds of discontent too deep?
Forbidden Queen is the first in a 6-book epic fantasy series filled with intrigue, adventure, and romance. Perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, Sarah J. Maas, and Sabaa Tahir.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2020
291 people are currently reading
554 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Vickers
23 books70 followersR.J. Vickers is the bestselling author of the Natural Order YA fantasy series, the Forbidden Queen epic fantasy series, and several other standalone fantasy novels set in the world of the Kinship Thrones.
Originally from Colorado, Vickers now lives in New Zealand with her husband, where she enjoys hiking to backcountry huts, writing at adorable cafes, crocheting blankets and amigurumi, and baking delicious treats.
She is also an avid traveler, and spent most of 2019 exploring southern Africa and eastern Asia before continuing to Europe.
She loves harvesting landscapes and cultural ephemera from around the globe to enrich her fantasy world--New Zealand, Finland, Alaska, Namibia, Hawaii, Ireland, and South Korea all make cameos in her imaginary lands.
You can learn more about her writing and travels at www.rjvickers.com.
Originally from Colorado, Vickers now lives in New Zealand with her husband, where she enjoys hiking to backcountry huts, writing at adorable cafes, crocheting blankets and amigurumi, and baking delicious treats.
She is also an avid traveler, and spent most of 2019 exploring southern Africa and eastern Asia before continuing to Europe.
She loves harvesting landscapes and cultural ephemera from around the globe to enrich her fantasy world--New Zealand, Finland, Alaska, Namibia, Hawaii, Ireland, and South Korea all make cameos in her imaginary lands.
You can learn more about her writing and travels at www.rjvickers.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 16, 2020
WoW what a way to get a series started . This is a fantastic story that draws you the reader in and you have to keep reading to see where this story is going . R.J. Vickers has herself a winner and once you read this first book you will definitely have to pick up the second one .
Her world building is excellent and the main character is someone you can't help but become vested in her choices and the outcomes from them and the magic is different and very interesting .
So do yourself a favor grab a copy of Forbidden Queen sit back and enjoy a fantastic story that flows off the pages and is almost unputdownable . Then when your finished go and leave a review only takes a few minutes and it might be the reason someone else sits back and enjoys this fantastic story .
Her world building is excellent and the main character is someone you can't help but become vested in her choices and the outcomes from them and the magic is different and very interesting .
So do yourself a favor grab a copy of Forbidden Queen sit back and enjoy a fantastic story that flows off the pages and is almost unputdownable . Then when your finished go and leave a review only takes a few minutes and it might be the reason someone else sits back and enjoys this fantastic story .
January 6, 2020
Most people are quick to make judgments rather than get to know those they fear
Much thanks to the author for providing me an E-arc of this book 🖤
The Forbidden Queen follows Kalleah,a girl born with a forbidden power,as she tries to claim her throne of Itrea.
This book started out quite fast-paced at the point where I had to reread paragraphs because I was lost. But that changed around the 5th chapter where the plot,pacing and characters became better and better. Almost the entire book takes place inside the palace and it focuses on the politics so it lacks fighting scenes etc but you won't lose your interest. I really enjoyed every character in this book whether they were getting on my nerves coughs Leoth coughs or not. My favorite character in this book was probably Cal and I definitely needed more scenes with him and I hope that in the next book (there will be a next book right?) he can see more of him and his relationship with Kalleah!
You should 100% pick this book up! You won't regret it!
EDIT: I just noticed the description says that it's for fans who enjoyed throne of glass: well let me tell you that this book is lightmiles better than anything written by Sarah j maas
Much thanks to the author for providing me an E-arc of this book 🖤
The Forbidden Queen follows Kalleah,a girl born with a forbidden power,as she tries to claim her throne of Itrea.
This book started out quite fast-paced at the point where I had to reread paragraphs because I was lost. But that changed around the 5th chapter where the plot,pacing and characters became better and better. Almost the entire book takes place inside the palace and it focuses on the politics so it lacks fighting scenes etc but you won't lose your interest. I really enjoyed every character in this book whether they were getting on my nerves coughs Leoth coughs or not. My favorite character in this book was probably Cal and I definitely needed more scenes with him and I hope that in the next book (there will be a next book right?) he can see more of him and his relationship with Kalleah!
You should 100% pick this book up! You won't regret it!
EDIT: I just noticed the description says that it's for fans who enjoyed throne of glass: well let me tell you that this book is lightmiles better than anything written by Sarah j maas
February 17, 2020
Wow. What a story. Princess Kalleah was born with a special power. Until she’s ready to rule, she’s been hiding. Now she’s ready to rule. Absolutely fabulous to keep you reading.
June 3, 2020
I received a copy of this book from the author.
This was probably a 3-3.5 stars for me.
The premise of the book was what attracted me to it in the first place. A princess with a deadly power tries to claim her throne while the peace of her country lays in the balance. She must beat her cousin in a popularity vote but he stands for everything she is against; she might even die if he wins the throne.
The storyline in itself was as promised and held some suspense and we really couldn't predict what would happen until the very end.
I mostly had issues with 2 things: the romance, and the writing.
The romance felt very forced for me as well as it didn't start until much later in the book.
The person she falls for has very different political ideas from hers and even while she is contemplating her new feelings for him, she thinks him despicable and evil. The majority of the time that they spend together and would supposedly develop feelings for one another are not actually written in the book. The "I love you" and "I have never fallen for anyone before" came at such an odd time, and I was definitely not expecting them spending the night at the inn.
My issues with the writing kept multiplying as the book continued. The sentences felt very abrupt while others dragged on for much too long. The was a lot of repetition which sometimes made me wonder if I was re-reading the same paragraph. Many chapters contained a multitude of tiny scenes that could have been elaborated or even joined to give us more insight into the story; this gave the story a very stunted pace. I also noticed with sadness that there was no show, just tell.
A few passages surprised me, like this one:
At that point, what had Kalleah seen of friendships? She didn't make any friends or approach many other palace residents that we could gather from the story so far. And her mother didn't even acknowledge her supposed friends until she needed them. So I felt that some passages like this one would make more sense if it matched the story that had been described beforehand.
I also thought I understood that Kalleah and her mother had a loving relationship where the queen would do anything to protect her. And then I read this:
Why would her mom do that, when her relationship with Ellarie was strained at best? There were a few similar passages in the books that really confused me as they didn't match the story I had read.
Quite a few things came up that felt like the storyline had been edited in short bursts instead of as a flowing piece of work. It was way past the middle of the book when the queen mentioned that the king wasn't happy that they had come back. And it was said in such a flippant manner like we all knew this to be true. This had never been brought up before, or even hinted at (again, all tell and no show).
The storyline kept me entertained enough to continue with this series but I do hope that the writing improves. Also, I hope that there is better romance but it doesn't have to be with the same person because...bleh.
This was probably a 3-3.5 stars for me.
The premise of the book was what attracted me to it in the first place. A princess with a deadly power tries to claim her throne while the peace of her country lays in the balance. She must beat her cousin in a popularity vote but he stands for everything she is against; she might even die if he wins the throne.
The storyline in itself was as promised and held some suspense and we really couldn't predict what would happen until the very end.
I mostly had issues with 2 things: the romance, and the writing.
The romance felt very forced for me as well as it didn't start until much later in the book.
The person she falls for has very different political ideas from hers and even while she is contemplating her new feelings for him, she thinks him despicable and evil. The majority of the time that they spend together and would supposedly develop feelings for one another are not actually written in the book. The "I love you" and "I have never fallen for anyone before" came at such an odd time, and I was definitely not expecting them spending the night at the inn.
My issues with the writing kept multiplying as the book continued. The sentences felt very abrupt while others dragged on for much too long. The was a lot of repetition which sometimes made me wonder if I was re-reading the same paragraph. Many chapters contained a multitude of tiny scenes that could have been elaborated or even joined to give us more insight into the story; this gave the story a very stunted pace. I also noticed with sadness that there was no show, just tell.
A few passages surprised me, like this one:
I was beginning to see that most friendships here were illusive, formed out of convenience or a drive to better one's own status.
At that point, what had Kalleah seen of friendships? She didn't make any friends or approach many other palace residents that we could gather from the story so far. And her mother didn't even acknowledge her supposed friends until she needed them. So I felt that some passages like this one would make more sense if it matched the story that had been described beforehand.
I also thought I understood that Kalleah and her mother had a loving relationship where the queen would do anything to protect her. And then I read this:
I wanted to ask Mother, but I didn't want to risk her telling Ellarie that I had sought out the company of her son in secret.
Why would her mom do that, when her relationship with Ellarie was strained at best? There were a few similar passages in the books that really confused me as they didn't match the story I had read.
Quite a few things came up that felt like the storyline had been edited in short bursts instead of as a flowing piece of work. It was way past the middle of the book when the queen mentioned that the king wasn't happy that they had come back. And it was said in such a flippant manner like we all knew this to be true. This had never been brought up before, or even hinted at (again, all tell and no show).
The storyline kept me entertained enough to continue with this series but I do hope that the writing improves. Also, I hope that there is better romance but it doesn't have to be with the same person because...bleh.
December 31, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Final rating: 3.5 stars, but I rounded up because I really enjoyed reading this book!
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed Kalleah, the main character quite a bit. She was born with a forbidden magic that draws energy from those around her. She and her mother lived in self-imposed exile for her safety until she turned 18 and was able to assume her father's throne. I thought Kalleah was a well-written character, and I got some Graceling vibes from her throughout the first half of the book especially, which was lovely.
I thought that it was an interesting magic concept and a world, but this book was set mostly inside the palace with Kalleah trying to garner support, so there wasn't a lot of world-building or an in-depth look at the magic system, but it made sense for the story as it was written. I thought that a lot of the characters and the court intrigues were interesting and fun, but I wanted to learn more about a lot of the things that were discussed, so I'm hoping we see that in the future installments.
I think that for me the main thing that kept this from being 4 stars was that I just didn't like or understand the love interest at all. It was very confusing and nothing was really explained. I really enjoyed the rest of it though, and I am hoping that more is explained in the future books.
Final rating: 3.5 stars, but I rounded up because I really enjoyed reading this book!
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed Kalleah, the main character quite a bit. She was born with a forbidden magic that draws energy from those around her. She and her mother lived in self-imposed exile for her safety until she turned 18 and was able to assume her father's throne. I thought Kalleah was a well-written character, and I got some Graceling vibes from her throughout the first half of the book especially, which was lovely.
I thought that it was an interesting magic concept and a world, but this book was set mostly inside the palace with Kalleah trying to garner support, so there wasn't a lot of world-building or an in-depth look at the magic system, but it made sense for the story as it was written. I thought that a lot of the characters and the court intrigues were interesting and fun, but I wanted to learn more about a lot of the things that were discussed, so I'm hoping we see that in the future installments.
I think that for me the main thing that kept this from being 4 stars was that I just didn't like or understand the love interest at all. It was very confusing and nothing was really explained. I really enjoyed the rest of it though, and I am hoping that more is explained in the future books.
September 25, 2020
Not what I thought...
My typical and favorite genre is sci-fi fantasy. I love it when I can find that genre in a world such as this. A royal setting or simply an old world setting such as the 1500s. But along with the sci-fi and fantasy I like lots of action and or intrigue. A story line that leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat and maybe a few laughs here & there. And yes, no story is complete without some sort of romance thrown in and even some steamy love scenes. Sounds good, right?
Unfortunately this book fell short of all that. There really wasn't any sci-fi or much fantasy... There was talk of magic users but no display of it. Honestly for me it was rather boring.
I wanted to like this book so much! I read all the reviews all of which were 4 or 5 stars with all good things to say.
I'm sure plenty of people would find this book delightful I'm just not one of those people.
I kept reading in hopes that it would get better. More than half way through the book it finally got a little better.. finally some romance was brought to light. But at this point that's just not enough to keep my interest. Especially since the romance is between 2 cousins!! I couldn't believe it! The main character Kalleah ends up falling for her father's brothers son. So the son of her uncle. Meaning her 1st cousin!!! So unfortunately I'm off to try and find another series and will not be reading book 2 of this series.
Good reading to all!!
My typical and favorite genre is sci-fi fantasy. I love it when I can find that genre in a world such as this. A royal setting or simply an old world setting such as the 1500s. But along with the sci-fi and fantasy I like lots of action and or intrigue. A story line that leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat and maybe a few laughs here & there. And yes, no story is complete without some sort of romance thrown in and even some steamy love scenes. Sounds good, right?
Unfortunately this book fell short of all that. There really wasn't any sci-fi or much fantasy... There was talk of magic users but no display of it. Honestly for me it was rather boring.
I wanted to like this book so much! I read all the reviews all of which were 4 or 5 stars with all good things to say.
I'm sure plenty of people would find this book delightful I'm just not one of those people.
I kept reading in hopes that it would get better. More than half way through the book it finally got a little better.. finally some romance was brought to light. But at this point that's just not enough to keep my interest. Especially since the romance is between 2 cousins!! I couldn't believe it! The main character Kalleah ends up falling for her father's brothers son. So the son of her uncle. Meaning her 1st cousin!!! So unfortunately I'm off to try and find another series and will not be reading book 2 of this series.
Good reading to all!!
October 19, 2022
I never got into this book, partly because I never really understood the ‘world’ the author was trying to portray. I know it is a fantasy, but it just seemed illogical to me, especially the ‘magic’ system that didn’t make any sense, I kept going, but by halfway I was just bored, perhaps it was my lack of patience and had I kept going it might have made sense, but I'm afraid I'd had enough.
March 14, 2020
Forbidden Queen by RJ Vickers is the first book in her new Forbidden Queen series. Kalleah, our heroine, lives in hiding in a small village with her mother, as she hides a magical power (she can draw energy from people) all of her life. Now at 18 years old, her mother decides it is now time for her to return to Baylore, where her mother once again becomes Queen and Kalleah will meet her father the King. Her mother left Baylore when Kalleah was a baby for her safety, and now it’s time for her to claim her rightful heir to become Queen of Itrea. But her forbidden magical power is still considered bad, and many fear her powers, especially the Truthbringers, who preach that Kalleah is dangerous and are determined to make sure that she will never be Queen. This includes her father’s brother, who plans on pushing his son, Leoth to be King, even if they have to destroy her. At first Leoth was scheming, but in a short time they became friends, with Kalleah finding herself falling for him. But was his feelings toward her real; can she trust him?
While the story revolves around the upcoming election of either a queen or king, Kalleah was the center of the story. Kalleah, had many enemies, tried to make friends, as she knew she would need them to be able to win the election, in which she needed 20 votes to win. I really loved Kalleah, as she made a terrific heroine, being smart, brave, powerful and she needed to find a way to ensure the people that she wanted peace and they had no reason to fear her. Will Kalleah survive and win the election? To tell too much more would be spoilers and I do not want to ruin the story for you.
Forbidden Queen was captivating and intriguing story and held my attention throughout the book. This is well written by RJ Vickers, as she has created a unique world building. I look forward to the next book in this series, Innocent Queen.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
While the story revolves around the upcoming election of either a queen or king, Kalleah was the center of the story. Kalleah, had many enemies, tried to make friends, as she knew she would need them to be able to win the election, in which she needed 20 votes to win. I really loved Kalleah, as she made a terrific heroine, being smart, brave, powerful and she needed to find a way to ensure the people that she wanted peace and they had no reason to fear her. Will Kalleah survive and win the election? To tell too much more would be spoilers and I do not want to ruin the story for you.
Forbidden Queen was captivating and intriguing story and held my attention throughout the book. This is well written by RJ Vickers, as she has created a unique world building. I look forward to the next book in this series, Innocent Queen.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
January 24, 2020
This is an epic fantasy read and I'm so glad I got to review it!
The main character is brave, strong, and learns the power of being open to others just may prove what wins her the throne.
The atmosphere and story was an amazing backdrop for Kalleah to find her way in the royal setting. I was hooked right from the get go and wanted more even as I read the last page.
Characters were interesting from Cal, to Leioth, to her guard who supports her even if he doesn't have a stake in the race.
I want to see what the Truthbringers have coming for her in the coming books and what about the other scheming royals?
The main character is brave, strong, and learns the power of being open to others just may prove what wins her the throne.
The atmosphere and story was an amazing backdrop for Kalleah to find her way in the royal setting. I was hooked right from the get go and wanted more even as I read the last page.
Characters were interesting from Cal, to Leioth, to her guard who supports her even if he doesn't have a stake in the race.
I want to see what the Truthbringers have coming for her in the coming books and what about the other scheming royals?
February 22, 2020
I always enjoy Rebecca’s books and this first in a trilogy is no exception. The descriptions of both people and places are exceptional and enable the reader to build up solid characters and solid surroundings. The story line is light, with a little bit of dark woven through it. Meeting Kalleah, her mother and the people of Baylore palace was a delight and I am very much looking forward to the next two books!
March 1, 2020
World building was excellent. Characters were well developed. Heat was a 0, violence was mild. This is a high fantasy novel. With a storyline of a young girl who has been separated from her rightful place as a princess soon to become the next ruler. The storyline continues with her adventures and her battles to become the next ruler in line. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy or high fantasy it is an excellent read.
February 27, 2020
Wow this epic fantasy series is just that, epic!!! Well written you are transported to another world , a world full of forbidden magic, action, intrigue, and some strong and amazing characters! The author has done an amazing job with the world building so much so that you can actually visualise it and see it all in your mind! An exciting read and I cannot wait to read more!
March 5, 2020
I enjoyed every bit of this book and could not help but finish it all in a day. It had a lot world building with a lot digging into that world and the characters were all well-developed. I enjoyed the main character a lot and hope there will be more in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 12, 2020
This story is very captivating and it is very easy to forget the time while reading, all of a sudden 8 hours has past by and youve forgoten to do all the chores of the day.
The author writes in a very detailed and interesting way which makes it easy to follow the storyline.
English is my third language and I loved it!
The author writes in a very detailed and interesting way which makes it easy to follow the storyline.
English is my third language and I loved it!
March 6, 2020
This is a first for me by RJ Vickers!! This is well written and the characters are well developed, I think this will be a great sereis!!🥰😍😍
October 2, 2020
Well i did something very strange and i start with the last book and when i realized my mistake and start this one and i was seized totally! Princess Kalleah is amazing strong young woman fighting for her birthright really an amazing role model and about the story it will take u away totally amazing a bit dark story showing a fantasy world wich remind us of the real one so much. U will find everything there a magic, love story adventure... It will keep u all the way till the end and u wont be able to stop read it!
April 25, 2021
Clear your schedule!
I read this entire book in one day and I’m so ready to get into the series! You won’t be disappointed! If you are a fan of any Sarah J Maas books you will definitely love this one, although a little more - PG still an incredible story leaving you ready for the next installment.
I read this entire book in one day and I’m so ready to get into the series! You won’t be disappointed! If you are a fan of any Sarah J Maas books you will definitely love this one, although a little more - PG still an incredible story leaving you ready for the next installment.
March 9, 2021
This was nicely written and believable, for an other-worldly tale. The characters are pretty consistent, except for the person who throws the monkey wrench in at the end. Charming story!
December 30, 2019
I really enjoyed reading The Forbidden Queen. I wasn't able to put it down, even though I have exams waiting for me. I love Kalleah and respect how she always manages to keep going despite everything that happens to her.
I did feel like the second part was a bit rushed. I would have loved a few extra chapters where she was coping
I am glad I was able to read an ARC of this book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
I did feel like the second part was a bit rushed. I would have loved a few extra chapters where she was coping
I am glad I was able to read an ARC of this book, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
March 1, 2020
I enjoy R.J. Vickers's stories. This book is the best one yet. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Her world-building and character development are fantastic. This book is a page-turner. I couldn't put it down.
February 14, 2020
The first book in an exciting new series by the amazing R. J. Vickers! I absolutely loved this book. It has an original magic structure and the characters are realistic and good at manipulating the reader. Princess Kalleah is a very strong and likable but has a streak of naïveté and innocence. I am looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds! I loved reading it!
March 6, 2020
Interesting read. I loved diving into this world. The fmc was a intriguing and the side characters kept the storyline going. Can’t wait for the next book
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 22, 2023
Worth It
It is an excellent book for YA series and definitely much different from the usual reads. I can't wait to delve deeper into the rest of the series.
It is an excellent book for YA series and definitely much different from the usual reads. I can't wait to delve deeper into the rest of the series.
January 2, 2020
The Forbidden Queen series is a high fantasy series set in the wonderfully created land of Itrea, with its diverse landscapes, regions and individuals, that proves that Vickers is no rookie when it comes to intelligent world building that captivates the readers. However, we get to see very little of Itrea in this book, which is a shame, but also supports the plotline that is unfolding.
Vickers has done an incredible job or creating a well-rounded, structured and developed female lead, that has the bonus of also being a likable character, whose journey you actually feel interested in. Kalleah was not only created to be a powerful character but also has the opportunity to showcase this, through her actions and behaviours, throughout the book. Whilst there is also a romance trope, it only plays a minor role in the grand scope of her character.
I have a feeling that this instalment is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Vickers, talents and what we have in store for us in following Kalleah through her journey and the political unrest the kingdom is about to endure. I shall be eagerly awaiting the next instalment and exploring the world building and magic systems in greater detail.
Vickers has done an incredible job or creating a well-rounded, structured and developed female lead, that has the bonus of also being a likable character, whose journey you actually feel interested in. Kalleah was not only created to be a powerful character but also has the opportunity to showcase this, through her actions and behaviours, throughout the book. Whilst there is also a romance trope, it only plays a minor role in the grand scope of her character.
I have a feeling that this instalment is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Vickers, talents and what we have in store for us in following Kalleah through her journey and the political unrest the kingdom is about to endure. I shall be eagerly awaiting the next instalment and exploring the world building and magic systems in greater detail.
February 15, 2020
ONE BLAZING ADVENTURE!!!
Holy crap! Vickers raised the bar on this little fella and stole the markers, seizing the reigns and calling the shots, blasting this baby into a tailspin with a life altering, mind-blowing culmination. A raging tempest chocked-full of inexplicable events and unexpected mishaps, blasts all of your emotions into play perfectly. Blundering through the trials and tribulations, shocking twists and startling turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. Non-stop, action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page flipping bombshell, blasting this bad boy to life beautifully. Toss in drama, tension, intrigue, turmoil, disillusioned, danger and mounting suspense along with a boatload of foes, you have one explosive adventure. The dynamics and presentation in layer upon layer, you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so deeply until you feel everything the characters feel one page at a time. The personalities are well matched and balanced with just enough flaws for diversity. The characters and scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and colorful descriptions so rich and lively, they blend and flow smoothly. Remarkable job Vickers, thanks for sharing this little jewel with us.
Holy crap! Vickers raised the bar on this little fella and stole the markers, seizing the reigns and calling the shots, blasting this baby into a tailspin with a life altering, mind-blowing culmination. A raging tempest chocked-full of inexplicable events and unexpected mishaps, blasts all of your emotions into play perfectly. Blundering through the trials and tribulations, shocking twists and startling turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. Non-stop, action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page flipping bombshell, blasting this bad boy to life beautifully. Toss in drama, tension, intrigue, turmoil, disillusioned, danger and mounting suspense along with a boatload of foes, you have one explosive adventure. The dynamics and presentation in layer upon layer, you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so deeply until you feel everything the characters feel one page at a time. The personalities are well matched and balanced with just enough flaws for diversity. The characters and scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and colorful descriptions so rich and lively, they blend and flow smoothly. Remarkable job Vickers, thanks for sharing this little jewel with us.
June 2, 2020
Forbidden Queen tells the story of princess Kalleah, who is next in line to rule over Itrea. There is just one problem, she has a forbidden magic power. Now it's up to Kalleah to win the throne and hold the city together. The storyline kept me interested the whole time. It was unpredictable and there were many twists and turns. The world building was great and I also loved the characters. I can't wait to read the next books in this series! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes to read fantasy, magic and royalty.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 26, 2019
Captivating story from start to end. Even with a busy holiday schedule I couldn’t resist taking this novel with me. R.J. has written a wonderful strong female role of a future queen with a power forbidden in her world. With a minor love twist and many different levels of emotion I look forward to the next book in the series to see where the story line will go.
December 26, 2019
Wow! I really enjoyed Forbidden Queen. I'm anxiously looking forward to book 2 in The Forbidden Queen series. R.J. Vickers has became a favorite writer of mine in a short period of time.
I received an advanced copy for an honest review. What a privilege it has been!
I received an advanced copy for an honest review. What a privilege it has been!
January 19, 2020
I received a copy of this e-book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for it.
It doesn’t happen often enough that a book has a (female) main character with strong ambitions, a really good motive for her actions and a very interesting, unique, not all bubbly and sunshine and „waiting for love and to be rescued” personality. One that is relatable, likeable and most importantly logical. It was refreshing to read about Kaellah who is exactly like this. Making wrong decisions sometimes but having a mind of her own, having visions for the future and not being naive and helpless.
The world building is solid and interesting. It sucks you right in, although I would love to know more about the different magical abilities some people have, but I hope this will be explained in later books. I also hope the strange magic of Kaellah herself will be more of a gift than a curse on the long term because for now it seems nothing but an irritating burden.
As for the language: reading English books as a non-native is always somehow strange, since there is a fine line between writing in a style that is easy to understand by foreign people but kind of dull and using too many strange or elevated expressions for one to follow. I found this book was perfect from that point of view. It was easy and fun to read but I still learned quite a few new words and nuances and I love the fact that I there wasn’t an overwhelming amount of adjectives in the descriptions – even well-known writers tend to do that and I find that just irritating and unnecessary.
While the story of the election of the queen or king was quite slow paced, the love story seemed a bit rushed for me. Although I appreciated the fact that love sometimes doesn’t solve anything but remains a nice memory of a cozy night to look back while having important issues to deal with.
The ending was in my opinion a perfect balance of „this episode of her life and the books was well wrapped up, and I am happy with the answers I’ve got” and „oh, my God, I have so many questions I hope will be answered in the next books”. It makes you want to continue the series for sure, but it doesn’t leave you with a huge cliffhanger feeling.
I hate the fact that I cannot pick up the next book right away, to continue on reading the journey of Kaellah. But if I learned one thing from her, it’s the virtue of patience.
It doesn’t happen often enough that a book has a (female) main character with strong ambitions, a really good motive for her actions and a very interesting, unique, not all bubbly and sunshine and „waiting for love and to be rescued” personality. One that is relatable, likeable and most importantly logical. It was refreshing to read about Kaellah who is exactly like this. Making wrong decisions sometimes but having a mind of her own, having visions for the future and not being naive and helpless.
The world building is solid and interesting. It sucks you right in, although I would love to know more about the different magical abilities some people have, but I hope this will be explained in later books. I also hope the strange magic of Kaellah herself will be more of a gift than a curse on the long term because for now it seems nothing but an irritating burden.
As for the language: reading English books as a non-native is always somehow strange, since there is a fine line between writing in a style that is easy to understand by foreign people but kind of dull and using too many strange or elevated expressions for one to follow. I found this book was perfect from that point of view. It was easy and fun to read but I still learned quite a few new words and nuances and I love the fact that I there wasn’t an overwhelming amount of adjectives in the descriptions – even well-known writers tend to do that and I find that just irritating and unnecessary.
While the story of the election of the queen or king was quite slow paced, the love story seemed a bit rushed for me. Although I appreciated the fact that love sometimes doesn’t solve anything but remains a nice memory of a cozy night to look back while having important issues to deal with.
The ending was in my opinion a perfect balance of „this episode of her life and the books was well wrapped up, and I am happy with the answers I’ve got” and „oh, my God, I have so many questions I hope will be answered in the next books”. It makes you want to continue the series for sure, but it doesn’t leave you with a huge cliffhanger feeling.
I hate the fact that I cannot pick up the next book right away, to continue on reading the journey of Kaellah. But if I learned one thing from her, it’s the virtue of patience.
January 28, 2025
This was one of those cases where I kept reading hoping it would get better but I probably should have just stopped.
'Forbidden Queen' in book one in a five book series titles the same by R.J. Vickers. Princess Kalleah is born with a forbidden magic, after killing a nursemaid as an infant she and her mother the Queen, flee the castle and take refuge in a same village far from the capital. Eventually the day arrives that they must return to the castle for the appointment of the next successor. When they do return the Queen sees that she has lost all her friends and support in her long absence of 18 years. Kalleah is thrust into a strange world of political intrigue with no idea who to trust and what to believe. Add in a secret society who call oppose all magic and Kalleah finds herself struggling for survival.
spoilers
Nothing made sense to me. I thought they left cause she was there when I little kid fell in the water. But suddenly once she returns the next ruler is being chosen. By the way the system didnt fully make sense. Also I don't get why she's fighting so hard for a throne she's had nothing to do with her entire life. They left before she could remember, she doesn't know her father, she knows nothing about ruling a kingdom and per her father's confession, she doesn't actually have a blood claim on the throne. Everyone is up in arms because they think her mother might have strayed when in reality the current kings mother strayed. So doesn't that make her not royal and make Loeth the rightful heir? This is just one of the minor things that bugged me about the book. She's fearful for her life in the whole thing, thinking she'll be killed if she becomes queen, she'll be killed if her non cousin becomes king, so why does she stay? I was glad this was a quick read
I happened to get a free copy of this ebook off amazon a few years back, no desire to continue the series.
'Forbidden Queen' in book one in a five book series titles the same by R.J. Vickers. Princess Kalleah is born with a forbidden magic, after killing a nursemaid as an infant she and her mother the Queen, flee the castle and take refuge in a same village far from the capital. Eventually the day arrives that they must return to the castle for the appointment of the next successor. When they do return the Queen sees that she has lost all her friends and support in her long absence of 18 years. Kalleah is thrust into a strange world of political intrigue with no idea who to trust and what to believe. Add in a secret society who call oppose all magic and Kalleah finds herself struggling for survival.
spoilers
Nothing made sense to me. I thought they left cause she was there when I little kid fell in the water. But suddenly once she returns the next ruler is being chosen. By the way the system didnt fully make sense. Also I don't get why she's fighting so hard for a throne she's had nothing to do with her entire life. They left before she could remember, she doesn't know her father, she knows nothing about ruling a kingdom and per her father's confession, she doesn't actually have a blood claim on the throne. Everyone is up in arms because they think her mother might have strayed when in reality the current kings mother strayed. So doesn't that make her not royal and make Loeth the rightful heir? This is just one of the minor things that bugged me about the book. She's fearful for her life in the whole thing, thinking she'll be killed if she becomes queen, she'll be killed if her non cousin becomes king, so why does she stay? I was glad this was a quick read
I happened to get a free copy of this ebook off amazon a few years back, no desire to continue the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews