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A Knight for a Queen #1
A Knight for a Queen
Chara is Mittelan’s princess and last living heir.
Her war-ravaged country is just weeks away from surrendering control to Norrfalt through Chara’s arranged marriage to the enemy prince—unless she can somehow get to the borderlands and expose the treacherous plot forcing her down the aisle…
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Elliot is a peasant boy and a formidable fighter.
His abusive stepfather has taken everything from him, but he’s got a plan to use his skills with a blade to earn back what is rightfully his…
•
Seeking a capable champion to guide her to the border, Chara disguises herself and enters the Woodland Games, a clandestine tournament where peasants fight for honor and glory—and hefty payouts. There, she discovers Elliot and persuades him to join her.
But as Chara’s deception spirals out of control, she and Elliot both must decide how far they are willing to go—and who they are willing to betray—in their intertwined quests for freedom.
•
In Hannah B. Olsen’s dazzling, gender-swapped take on Cinderella, Chara must navigate an intricate web of duty, deceit, survival, and sacrifice to save those she loves and the country she’s fated to protect.
Her war-ravaged country is just weeks away from surrendering control to Norrfalt through Chara’s arranged marriage to the enemy prince—unless she can somehow get to the borderlands and expose the treacherous plot forcing her down the aisle…
•
Elliot is a peasant boy and a formidable fighter.
His abusive stepfather has taken everything from him, but he’s got a plan to use his skills with a blade to earn back what is rightfully his…
•
Seeking a capable champion to guide her to the border, Chara disguises herself and enters the Woodland Games, a clandestine tournament where peasants fight for honor and glory—and hefty payouts. There, she discovers Elliot and persuades him to join her.
But as Chara’s deception spirals out of control, she and Elliot both must decide how far they are willing to go—and who they are willing to betray—in their intertwined quests for freedom.
•
In Hannah B. Olsen’s dazzling, gender-swapped take on Cinderella, Chara must navigate an intricate web of duty, deceit, survival, and sacrifice to save those she loves and the country she’s fated to protect.
360 pages, Hardcover
Published March 2, 2021
3 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Hannah B. Olsen
3 books11 followersA Colorado native, Hannah B. Olsen has swapped the Rockies for the Appalachians where she now resides with her husband and two children in Eastern Tennessee. After studying Creative Writing at Valparaiso University, she went on to write for magazines, websites, and blogs, taking pretty much any writing gig she could get her hands on. But her true love of writing has always been that of telling stories. As a fiction writer and full-time mother, Hannah rarely manages to find time that she isn’t reading, writing, or kid-wrangling; however, when she does, Hannah enjoys photography, graphic design, traveling, and doing pretty much anything in the kitchen besides cleaning it.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 29, 2020
Just finished reading this! What a refreshing retelling of a classic fairytale - a princess on the verge of womanhood who doesn’t need saving (AND KNOWS IT) but her quest to rescue herself has unintended consequences for all involved. I wasn’t sure what to expect in this story but was happily surprised by several twists and turns I didn’t see coming that led to a bloody adventure that kept me turning the pages. Betrayal, intrigue, murder, this story has it all. Olsen’s writing is full of detail that make the characters and their surroundings come to life. Definitely looking forward to seeing what comes next!
April 26, 2021
This was just straight up good fantasy. Something I found appealing about this story is that while there are the typical miscommunications and deceptions that lead characters to make uninformed decisions, the characters rectify the situations instead of being stubborn and refusing to talk to each other. I see that too often in other stories and it gets annoying and tedious. Characters being too stubborn to listen to each other and allow themselves to be open to other ideas when presented with good arguments is overdone, and this book is a refreshing relief from that trope. There were some twists I could see coming, but mostly because I wanted them to happen, and there were a few that I didn’t see coming, so it was a nice balance. It was satisfying and hard to put down as the pace picked up toward the end, and it definitely left me wanting a sequel. You can’t ask for much more than that when it comes to good fantasy.
April 20, 2021
*One very small spoiler in this review. It's barely even a spoiler lol*
I really enjoyed this book! It is a fast paced, well thought out, enjoyable retelling of Cinderella. I always love an independent heroine, and boy is our heroine in this book independent! The number one thing I loved about this book (aside from the characters) was how well executed most of the plot twists were. There were a few things that were typical and that's fine! But quite a few plot twists had me like, "omg!" and "I never saw that coming!" I can't wait for the next installment and I definitely suggest giving this book a shot :)
There are just 2 slightly negative things about the book that I would like to respectfully give my thoughts on. First, I didn't like the fact that Chara slaps/hits Elliot here and there during the book. I just personally don't agree with any kind of physical things like that, however I did see and respect that the point of it was for it to be an endearing and a part of Chara's personality sort of thing. Secondly, there were a few moments (not often) in the book that felt like the story was intended for different age groups. Sometimes it felt like it could be geared towards a younger audience and sometimes an older audience. Most importantly though, neither of these negative things took away from my reading experience in the slightest!
I really enjoyed this book! It is a fast paced, well thought out, enjoyable retelling of Cinderella. I always love an independent heroine, and boy is our heroine in this book independent! The number one thing I loved about this book (aside from the characters) was how well executed most of the plot twists were. There were a few things that were typical and that's fine! But quite a few plot twists had me like, "omg!" and "I never saw that coming!" I can't wait for the next installment and I definitely suggest giving this book a shot :)
There are just 2 slightly negative things about the book that I would like to respectfully give my thoughts on. First, I didn't like the fact that Chara slaps/hits Elliot here and there during the book. I just personally don't agree with any kind of physical things like that, however I did see and respect that the point of it was for it to be an endearing and a part of Chara's personality sort of thing. Secondly, there were a few moments (not often) in the book that felt like the story was intended for different age groups. Sometimes it felt like it could be geared towards a younger audience and sometimes an older audience. Most importantly though, neither of these negative things took away from my reading experience in the slightest!
June 10, 2025
As a fantasy loving Mum of 3 under 6, I rarely get the chance to read and when I do, I often fall asleep a few pages in. This book, however, is a page turner, I read it in one sitting from 8pm-2am. You know it’s good when I sacrifice my sleep!
What an impressive debut. I thought I knew where the story was going but I was totally wrong and loved every minute. Can’t wait for the sequel and anything else written by this promising author!
Highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, YA, fantasy etc. Definitely has something for everyone.
What an impressive debut. I thought I knew where the story was going but I was totally wrong and loved every minute. Can’t wait for the sequel and anything else written by this promising author!
Highly recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, YA, fantasy etc. Definitely has something for everyone.
December 14, 2020
I was on the edge of my seat until the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
A strong female protagonist... An ending that isn't exactly what you would expect... A handsome hero... and the promise of more adventures to come.
💗
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
A strong female protagonist... An ending that isn't exactly what you would expect... A handsome hero... and the promise of more adventures to come.
💗
April 25, 2021
I had a lot of fun reading this one! It’s really fast-paced and kept me engaged in the story the whole time. I also really enjoyed the main characters and wish I got to spend more time with them.
Overall, I recommend this one to fans of gender-bent retellings and YA fantasy!
Thank you Wise Valley Press for a free copy in exchange for a review!
Overall, I recommend this one to fans of gender-bent retellings and YA fantasy!
Thank you Wise Valley Press for a free copy in exchange for a review!
April 16, 2021
Such beautiful imagery and characters in a well crafted universe. Hannah Olsen knocked it out of the park.
March 29, 2021
I love the retelling of an old story in a new way and this was really much more than that. Instead of relying on magic and fairy godmothers, our heroin and hero are able to overcome obstacles with their own strength and ability. The writing and imagery are lovely. There are twists and turns which the author uses to keep the reader in suspense and turning the next page to see each scene resolved. As she expands the world of Mittelan, Norrfalt and Almora, we’re left wanting to learn more about these places and what lies ahead for Queen Chara, Sir Elliot, Emily and Prince Christopher.
March 25, 2021
I loved this book!
A fun twist on a classic tale. Maybe at times a little predictable which you would expect from a fairytale retelling. I appreciated the gender swap aspect and how much that added to the story. Women should feel very empowered reading this!
It was written so well and had some fun twists! Can’t wait to pass it along and read a sequel!!
A fun twist on a classic tale. Maybe at times a little predictable which you would expect from a fairytale retelling. I appreciated the gender swap aspect and how much that added to the story. Women should feel very empowered reading this!
It was written so well and had some fun twists! Can’t wait to pass it along and read a sequel!!
January 28, 2021
Hannah B. Olsen’s book, A Knight for a Queen, certainly makes you question everything you know about traditional princess stories. The book opens in a familiar modern fashion where the princess is most definitely not prim and proper. You settle in and feel comfortable in the standard adventure story line, some chapters are from Princess Chara’s point of view and some from Elliot’s giving you a good understanding of each character and the world around them. Suddenly, Olsen throws a curve ball and you are whisked away on a journey neither you or Princess Chara thought you would be on. You start to question everything you know. The main characters, Chara and Elliot, start to question everything they know, and as you read the last page Olsen leaves you wanting to rush out to buy the next book to be sure the characters you just fell in love with are safe from plots and schemes. Once you realize you can’t get the second book yet you start to think back on what you just read. I realized that it wasn’t just a fun princess adventure story but also a lesson on gender stereotypes, how everyone can make mistakes, and that the male lead doesn’t have to be infallibly strong, brave, and perfect. What a great lesson to learn from such a well written story.
I truly enjoyed reading every word and will gladly admit that Olsen is the first author to get me to stick with a book that alternates between two character’s point of view every chapter. If you are not into that style, you should give it a try. I expect you will be pleasantly surprised at how skillfully Olsen uses this method of storytelling. The book is a pretty easy read and would be great for both adults and young adults though some themes may need parental guidance with younger readers under the age of 14. This book definitely ranks up there with some of the most influential books in my young adult life like “The Song of the Lioness” series by Tamora Pierce. The writing is wonderful, the story is enthralling, and the characters are relatable. A great book all around.
I truly enjoyed reading every word and will gladly admit that Olsen is the first author to get me to stick with a book that alternates between two character’s point of view every chapter. If you are not into that style, you should give it a try. I expect you will be pleasantly surprised at how skillfully Olsen uses this method of storytelling. The book is a pretty easy read and would be great for both adults and young adults though some themes may need parental guidance with younger readers under the age of 14. This book definitely ranks up there with some of the most influential books in my young adult life like “The Song of the Lioness” series by Tamora Pierce. The writing is wonderful, the story is enthralling, and the characters are relatable. A great book all around.
March 20, 2021
This book was a great escape from every day life. The exciting plot twists kept me coming back for more. I am looking forward to reading it again to see what I might have missed the first time around. Highly recommend
September 28, 2020
I love this gender swapped take on Cinderella! This is no typical “princess needs to be rescued” story! I love that Chara is strong, intelligent and self sufficient! She is looking for someone who is equally matched to her to help in her quest.
Elliot is humble, determined and loyal to a fault. He also happens to be an excellent fighter. Their own goals become intertwined in an exciting story that grabs you immediately. It is full of rich characters, side plots and suspense! The details and descriptions are beautiful and makes it easy to picture the scene before you. Once I got to the ending I found myself wanting this story to go on...hopefully it will!
Elliot is humble, determined and loyal to a fault. He also happens to be an excellent fighter. Their own goals become intertwined in an exciting story that grabs you immediately. It is full of rich characters, side plots and suspense! The details and descriptions are beautiful and makes it easy to picture the scene before you. Once I got to the ending I found myself wanting this story to go on...hopefully it will!
March 6, 2021
I don’t think I’ve binge-read a book in almost a decade. An incredible page-turner, refreshing retelling, so much emotion, a boy who is to die for, and a truly dangerous woman.
IF YOU ARE A HUMAN WHO LIKES STORIES I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO YOU!
IF YOU ARE A HUMAN WHO LIKES STORIES I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO YOU!
March 18, 2021
A well-crafted fantasy tale that left me wanting to read more about the adventures of Chara and Elliot. The plot is full of twists and suspense, and the author's foreshadowing gives just enough breadcrumbs to help the reader without giving everything away. The character development and imagery are superb, as are the fun parallels between the story and the fairy tale "Cinderella." Though some fantasy-adventure stories with a strong heroine make her male partner seem weak by comparison, Chara and Elliot are shown in equal lights, making the characters relatable to a wide audience.
April 3, 2022
IMPECCABLE EVER AFTER AND A KNIGHT'S TALE VIBES! GENDER-FLIPPED CINDERELLA! LOVED THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ELLIOT AND CHARA AND THERE WERE SEVERAL MOMENTS THAT TOOK ME BY COMPLETE SURPRISE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY
April 29, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The exciting, action-packed story kept me not wanting to put it down. Looking forward to more from this very talented young author.
July 23, 2021
A great blend of adventure, suspense, chivalry, and romance. I couldn’t put it down.
March 23, 2024
Soft DNF for now😀
September 3, 2024
Amazing slow burn young adult book perfect for a stand-alone
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews