They say being a teenager is one of the most challenging stages in your life, after all that has happened, I’d have to agree. Adjusting to one new school can be hard, but this is my third school this year, and my classmates aren't exactly the type of people you would expect. High School is full of challenges, new friends, budding romances, and social rivalry. Let's face it, every girl someday dreams of being the Queen Bee, but what do you do when it's not just Prom you're competing for anymore and your life's on the line? Come along for a journey of magic, mayhem, and murder as we delve into worlds hidden in plain sight. Will Adella choose to become the warm breath of summer or a mid-winter's sigh? When your world is shifting, where will your alliances lie?
Where do I even begin with this book! What an amazing read. I loved the characters. Throughout the book we got to see them develop and find out the truth about some of them. It was interesting to read about the characters and how their relationships developed. Adella was a great character who is a strong female lead. As she moved school in the beginning of the book, she made friends quickly and became good friends with a girl named Anna. At this new school, she has to learn quickly about a place she has never heard of. This is where she finds out the she has a protector called Luxor. As we read on in the book, we see a potential love triangle between Luxor, Adella and the Unseelie King, Alaric. The book however wasn’t focused on this relationship, which I liked as it showed that Adella and Anna are strong. I enjoyed Anna’s character and her development, from the beginning of the book she seems so delicate and by the end she was training with hunters.
I did think Adella was a fast learner to this new world but she seemed determined to understand and get to know this new place. I found the terms of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts described well to the reader and it made sense. Some parts were a bit hazy at first but then I got used to them. I think the author done an amazing job at describing these places to us and I could vividly imagine the differences between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Finding out about the natural abilities of Fay and Fata was very exciting to read about, I am excited to read more about them.
This book was a fast paced book, there wasn’t a dull moment when reading it. The plot was well planned by the author and I enjoyed the plot twists and action in this book. It was a good fantasy novel with all the fantasy aspects that everyone loves. From the first chapter I knew I was going to love this book, I wish the book was longer! Especially with the cliffhanger at the end, I am eager to find out what happens afterwards.
I received a free eARC of The Seelie Queen thanks to the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
From reading the synopsis on Amazon, it’s unclear to really get the complete gist of the book. It is not inaccurate: this story is about a teenage girl, Adella, at her third new school in a year having to deal with extraordinary challenges. But it doesn’t let us know that we will be dealing with magical and mythical beings, contrasting and perhaps conflicting kingdoms, and so much more. I think this definitely should have been included, as it’s very important to the story but also so intriguing!
I’ll be honest: stories about Fae and the like typically aren’t what I read. There isn’t necessarily a reason why, I’ve just never really gravitated toward them. After reading this story, however, I’ve started to rethink my choices.
The Seelie Queen: What Did I Think? I really liked that Sizemore-Gallagher centered this on a female character. I love my strong female protagonists and not only did she make Adella her protagonist but she made her “sidekick,” Anna, a strong badass too! Anna was actually my favorite character. She was strong, smart, and her personality felt recognizable.
There were a couple of points in the story that didn’t quite make sense to me or were confusing. Some seemingly important plot points were not mentioned again. At the end when the narrator was switched, it took me a minute to realize this because it wasn’t indicated.
I really liked the worlds that were created in this novel. I thought the concept of people drawing energy from contrasting sources was so unique. Also, the fact that one person could have both qualities or share aspects from both kingdoms was so interesting. I would have liked to have learned more about them both, however. They’re such an important part of the book and how the characters live and interact. I hope that we get more about the magic in the second book, if there is one.
Overall, I enjoyed this story involving seemingly friendly kingdoms with magical beings and teenage drama that became a little too live or die. I hope after that cliffhanger at the end, we get a second book so we can find out the fates of Adella and her friends.
The Seelie Queen is available for purchase, so be sure to pick up your copy!
The author built a magical world with a lot of adventure. I loved learning every aspect of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts as well as the different natural abilities of the Fay and Fata. I would have loved more time in that world.
I did think Adella adapted a little too fast from not knowing about the courts to fitting right in, but she had good character growth. I couldn't get enough of Adella and Anna's friendship. They had such a good bond and their conversations were the best. There was even a budding romance and possibility of a love triangle with Luxor and Alaric. But with both guys it felt a little like “instant love.” It isn’t my favorite romance trope, however I liked the way it developed through the book.
Overall: I loved this fun YA fantasy. It was a fast read and had everything I enjoy in a fantasy, from the magic system to the adventure. I was sucked in from the start and didn't want it to end. With the trials and secrets that are discovered you are kept on the edge of your seat. I am so glad there is going to be a second book because of that cliffhanger!
I Love when a debut author can capture my attention and keep it just as a much as a seasoned author can! The Seelie Queen had me enchanted from the very beginning and gave me all the magical feels a book of this genre has to offer.
The main character Adella is such a baddy! And i love the way she was written. She definitely grew as a person and i was here for every minute of it.
I love me a good strong female lead with string friendship and a cute relationship. Speaking of relationship, I can’t wait to see if there is gonna be some drama with her and the two fellas, and those who know me, know that i live for some relationship drama lol.
I love how the world was described and how the magic system was very throughly explained. I felt like if i closed my eyes i could be there! There are so many Fae books out here and it’s hard to find one that feels unique and allows you to be taken away and want to know more about the world, and this book did that. I’m not sure how many more books will be after this one, BUT I CANNOT WAIT, and IM AM HERE FOR IT! It’s gonna be a long countdown til the next release and i have no idea how I’m going to make it!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who love YA Fantasy! Rather it be Romance or just as long as it’s fantasy! If you want memeroable.
This fresh plunge into the Fae world is chockfull of larger-than-life characters. Adella Shenning stumbles upon her true identity while fighting through her final high school years. Luckily, she has a loving father and Anna to confide in along her journey. Ending on a cliff-hanger, this book teases of a sequel that hopefully readers will get to devour soon.
What an amazing piece of work, I loved this story so much. The story was so well written and the characters were also so amazing! They felt so real and I loved they all grow as characters along the way. The world the author has created is so detailed you can really visualize it. I cannot wait to read more by this lovely author.
A fun dive into a world of the fae. The friendship between the girls is everything. I've loved watching this book evolve and I look forward to seeing where it will go from here.
I am changing my rating on this book. From a 3 "liked it" to a 4 "really liked it". The reason I'm doing this is because since I read it, finished it same day 3/27/21 - the characters and the world they are in have kept coming up in my mind.
The world Kortney created is very VERY enjoyable. If I'm thinking about a book, and the details of the world and the characters then the writer's imagination did get into my memories and stayed there. That is not usual. There aren't many writers with that kind of imagination, or that kind of ability to project the world they see into my imagination. So well done Kortney.
I would recommend a different group to be your editor though. Just a sweet suggestion, nothing negative about it. Your world deserves to be read and placed in folks' imaginations. Spelling or disconnected story lines are not what you deserve.
Keep going Kortney! I'm a fan and would love to snuggle into another book from you and get whisked into your imagination.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.