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Hidden Earth #1
Queen
Nobody leaves Queen. On the tidally locked, women-only planet, a vulva and an authority problem are the only immigration requirements. Emigration is banned.
Ember spends her days cruising Queen’s endless sand dunes, hunting sand pirates and wallowing in memories of her dead wife. After an ambush, Ember is dragged to the pirate camp and learns her wife’s biggest secret—before her death, she’d joined the pirates, built an illegal spaceship, and plotted to leave the planet.
Ember’s sister, Nadia, hatches a desperate rescue that leads her to the very edge of the habitable zone. There, Nadia stumbles across other secrets kept—a flourishing, impossible ecosystem and a New Earth mining installation. Queen’s hidden resource, highly sought after and limited, should have made its inhabitants rich. Instead, Queen’s scientists live in decaying houses, battle the elements, and struggle to eke out a living.
Ember, Nadia, and the sand pirates must take back the planet and expose the corrupt New Earth mining. Taming giant beetles, wrestling stinkhorn fungi, and enlisting Queen’s rabbit population in a high-stakes aerial battle are just part of the hijinks that will determine Queen’s fate as a galactic player, as well as the futures of all its conscripted inhabitants.
The newly minted outlaws must also grapple with Queen’s narrow concept of “womanhood” and where trans and intersex people belong in its future.
Ember spends her days cruising Queen’s endless sand dunes, hunting sand pirates and wallowing in memories of her dead wife. After an ambush, Ember is dragged to the pirate camp and learns her wife’s biggest secret—before her death, she’d joined the pirates, built an illegal spaceship, and plotted to leave the planet.
Ember’s sister, Nadia, hatches a desperate rescue that leads her to the very edge of the habitable zone. There, Nadia stumbles across other secrets kept—a flourishing, impossible ecosystem and a New Earth mining installation. Queen’s hidden resource, highly sought after and limited, should have made its inhabitants rich. Instead, Queen’s scientists live in decaying houses, battle the elements, and struggle to eke out a living.
Ember, Nadia, and the sand pirates must take back the planet and expose the corrupt New Earth mining. Taming giant beetles, wrestling stinkhorn fungi, and enlisting Queen’s rabbit population in a high-stakes aerial battle are just part of the hijinks that will determine Queen’s fate as a galactic player, as well as the futures of all its conscripted inhabitants.
The newly minted outlaws must also grapple with Queen’s narrow concept of “womanhood” and where trans and intersex people belong in its future.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2022
4 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 25, 2022
I’m never going to look at rabbits the same way. Nor beetles but I don’t look at beetles much, I’m squeamish that way.
I love Fields’ Ardulum books but I’m not going to lie, I didn’t enjoy Foxfire in the Snow as much, and I was hoping I’d love this other non-Ardulum book, especially as it’s the first in a new series. The good news is that yes, I did. A whole lot.
Queen has everything I’ve come to expect from this author. It’s smart, it’s complex, it’s hilarious, unhinged, emotional. I didn’t expect beetle-riding rabbits, however.
Queen is the name of the planetoid Ember and her formerly-younger now-older sister Nadia moved to when humans had to leave Earth after it failed. The only planet that would take Ember, an intersex botanist, “Queen was an all-women planet, by Old Earth definition, where woman meant you had a vulva. The end. Like a turn of the nineteenth-century white feminist utopia book.” Years later, Ember is mourning her wife Taraniel’s death when she finds out in a pretty dramatic manner that before she died, Taraniel had made plans for Ember, impossible and dangerous plans with the colony defectors Ember has been taught to hate.
The story is told from Ember’s point of view and from Nadia’s, who left her husband and parents to be with her and will never stop fighting for her. As far as I can remember, this is the first time I read about an intersex character, and I’m glad it’s by an author who knows what they’re talking about. I also love that it’s very important to who Ember is yet not what the story is about. It has consequences on the story, it isn’t the story.
While romance isn’t at the forefront, there’s one brewing, an enemy-to-lovers / only-one-ship arc I want a lot more of. I’m very impatient to read more about Ember and Nadia, as well as their colleague Varun, a trans man, and pirates Asher, Nok, Pui and Kate. As this is the first book in a series, it ends on some sort of cliffhanger that only makes me crave more. And yes, I’ve used the word “more” a lot in this paragraph, which should give you an idea of how much I loved this story and these people.
This is the kind of book about which I’d have a lot more to say but won’t, as getting into details would risk robbing readers of some of the pleasure. The worldbuilding, the complexity and diversity of the characters, the twists… It all has to be experienced in itself.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
I love Fields’ Ardulum books but I’m not going to lie, I didn’t enjoy Foxfire in the Snow as much, and I was hoping I’d love this other non-Ardulum book, especially as it’s the first in a new series. The good news is that yes, I did. A whole lot.
Queen has everything I’ve come to expect from this author. It’s smart, it’s complex, it’s hilarious, unhinged, emotional. I didn’t expect beetle-riding rabbits, however.
Queen is the name of the planetoid Ember and her formerly-younger now-older sister Nadia moved to when humans had to leave Earth after it failed. The only planet that would take Ember, an intersex botanist, “Queen was an all-women planet, by Old Earth definition, where woman meant you had a vulva. The end. Like a turn of the nineteenth-century white feminist utopia book.” Years later, Ember is mourning her wife Taraniel’s death when she finds out in a pretty dramatic manner that before she died, Taraniel had made plans for Ember, impossible and dangerous plans with the colony defectors Ember has been taught to hate.
The story is told from Ember’s point of view and from Nadia’s, who left her husband and parents to be with her and will never stop fighting for her. As far as I can remember, this is the first time I read about an intersex character, and I’m glad it’s by an author who knows what they’re talking about. I also love that it’s very important to who Ember is yet not what the story is about. It has consequences on the story, it isn’t the story.
While romance isn’t at the forefront, there’s one brewing, an enemy-to-lovers / only-one-ship arc I want a lot more of. I’m very impatient to read more about Ember and Nadia, as well as their colleague Varun, a trans man, and pirates Asher, Nok, Pui and Kate. As this is the first book in a series, it ends on some sort of cliffhanger that only makes me crave more. And yes, I’ve used the word “more” a lot in this paragraph, which should give you an idea of how much I loved this story and these people.
This is the kind of book about which I’d have a lot more to say but won’t, as getting into details would risk robbing readers of some of the pleasure. The worldbuilding, the complexity and diversity of the characters, the twists… It all has to be experienced in itself.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
November 26, 2022
I’m a bit obsessed with this book. There, I finally said it. I first read Queen back in June hoping it would be as good as the Ardulum books which I love. Imagine my surprise when it surpassed everything I hoped for in a new SciFi story from this author. It broke my brain enough that I could not summon the words for a review. Thought I would wait but then you all know how that goes if you wait too long. Second time around, I read with intention.
Ember and Nadia are scientists on a desolate planet far from earth which has finally decayed from millennia of human abuse of its natural resources. Both sisters are different versions of rocket fuel and try to make decent lives out of nothing much. Ember is also grieving the death of her wife.
The story has edge of your seat crazy action which includes ferocious bunny rabbits and flying giant beetles. Corrupt governments and fighter spaceships. Great stuff but what stays with me is Ember and her fight to keep a joy in her life in spite of a nightmarish stasis travel to the new planet, in spite of losing her partner, in spite of the acceptance of never seeing the green earth of her childhood memories. The character does not suffer quietly but instead does it by throwing hands at the bureaucracy and bad guys of the world. As the book goes along, Ember discovers that her wife, Taraniel, planted a seed of hope for her. A group of rebels await Ember’s find who will change everything in her life and for everyone else on the planet of Queen. As usual, much humor and wit are wrapped up in science and Nerdom. Also, an assortment of secondary characters who each are worthy of arcs themselves. Looking forward to the next stories.
Lynn Norris is always phenomenal in her narrations.
Ember and Nadia are scientists on a desolate planet far from earth which has finally decayed from millennia of human abuse of its natural resources. Both sisters are different versions of rocket fuel and try to make decent lives out of nothing much. Ember is also grieving the death of her wife.
The story has edge of your seat crazy action which includes ferocious bunny rabbits and flying giant beetles. Corrupt governments and fighter spaceships. Great stuff but what stays with me is Ember and her fight to keep a joy in her life in spite of a nightmarish stasis travel to the new planet, in spite of losing her partner, in spite of the acceptance of never seeing the green earth of her childhood memories. The character does not suffer quietly but instead does it by throwing hands at the bureaucracy and bad guys of the world. As the book goes along, Ember discovers that her wife, Taraniel, planted a seed of hope for her. A group of rebels await Ember’s find who will change everything in her life and for everyone else on the planet of Queen. As usual, much humor and wit are wrapped up in science and Nerdom. Also, an assortment of secondary characters who each are worthy of arcs themselves. Looking forward to the next stories.
Lynn Norris is always phenomenal in her narrations.
August 9, 2022
An interesting sci-fi story with beetles, bunnies, and so much more. The premise was enjoyable with the suspense and action throughout the story.
August 5, 2022
Queen is the planet that once you are on it you don't get off . Ember is living on the women only plant where she hunts space pirates and mourns her wife's death . Until the day she is ambushed and dragged to the pirate camp . Where she finds out her wife's last project an illegal ship to get them off the planet . In the mean time Ember's sister Nadia is a scientist and she stumbles upon a secret flourishing ecosystem and a mining project that is making someone on New Earth very rich . But the scientists live in decaying housing , eking out a living in the cold . Ember ,Nadia and the sand pirates band together and take back the planet .With the help of the rabbits and beetles yes I said rabbits and beetles ( you have to read to find out more ) To determine the galactic placement of Queen and her inhabitants. The group must also grapple with Queen's narrow ideas of womanhood and where do the trans and intersex people belong
There are so many interesting characters in this novel . Ember well she is just surviving on this planet . She is stronger then she lets on but she is heartbroken over loosing her wife . She does come out a real fighter . Nadia well she is also a fighter , she left her husband to be with her sister and man she is smart and wants to figure out what is going on . I felt she is like the other side of Ember . Nadia wanted to keep Ember safe . There are also a whole cast of characters that are part of Ember and Nadia's life . The characters are very well written and complex . I think my favourite have to be the rabbits and the beetles not going to look at those animals the same way ever again .
This is one of those books where you get dropped into the story and it goes off from there . The characters are well written and the story is one of winning back your freedom . You are transported to a place where you can come but you can't ever leave . This is the first story that I have read with a intersex character and the author did a great job of keeping the character real . The author also writes on where do the trans people fit in cause the planet was for women with vulva's . Its like real life in some chapters like where do people fit in and what happens when they don't . There is a romance in the book but it is lightly touched on . There is humor , rabbits and beetles . You have to read to find out but I will never looks at rabbits the same way again. So if you want a book that will make you think check it out.
There are so many interesting characters in this novel . Ember well she is just surviving on this planet . She is stronger then she lets on but she is heartbroken over loosing her wife . She does come out a real fighter . Nadia well she is also a fighter , she left her husband to be with her sister and man she is smart and wants to figure out what is going on . I felt she is like the other side of Ember . Nadia wanted to keep Ember safe . There are also a whole cast of characters that are part of Ember and Nadia's life . The characters are very well written and complex . I think my favourite have to be the rabbits and the beetles not going to look at those animals the same way ever again .
This is one of those books where you get dropped into the story and it goes off from there . The characters are well written and the story is one of winning back your freedom . You are transported to a place where you can come but you can't ever leave . This is the first story that I have read with a intersex character and the author did a great job of keeping the character real . The author also writes on where do the trans people fit in cause the planet was for women with vulva's . Its like real life in some chapters like where do people fit in and what happens when they don't . There is a romance in the book but it is lightly touched on . There is humor , rabbits and beetles . You have to read to find out but I will never looks at rabbits the same way again. So if you want a book that will make you think check it out.
August 10, 2022
I liked the idea and the concept behind this book.
Earth is no longer a habitable planet.
At least this is what all the colonists on Queen are lead to believe.
Ember soon learns that everything they were told on Queen isn't all true. Her sister Nadia learns more when she goes out to the 'mella' compound to try and find her sister. When captured by pirates Ember learns about her deceased wife's last months, the secrets she kept, and the goals that she hoped to help Ember and the pirates achieve.
While I liked the concept of the story, I felt it was bogged down with so much science and technical jargon. There was a lot in there that (and I'm sure I'm not the only reader) I honestly just didn't understand. Reading through yeah you kind of get the gist of it, but after a while of things just kind of going over your head it gets rather annoying and starts to feel as if you're reading gibberish and wondering if it is actually adding anything of substance to the overall story.
I'm usually a pretty fast reader, but this one took me what feels like forever to get through it. Usually if I'm into a book I can't put it down. Or if I have to put it down, I can't wait to pick it back up and dive back in the story. However, with this one, I purposely put it down plenty of times and even had to read another book while reading this one because I couldn't stay 'IN' the story.
Earth is no longer a habitable planet.
At least this is what all the colonists on Queen are lead to believe.
Ember soon learns that everything they were told on Queen isn't all true. Her sister Nadia learns more when she goes out to the 'mella' compound to try and find her sister. When captured by pirates Ember learns about her deceased wife's last months, the secrets she kept, and the goals that she hoped to help Ember and the pirates achieve.
While I liked the concept of the story, I felt it was bogged down with so much science and technical jargon. There was a lot in there that (and I'm sure I'm not the only reader) I honestly just didn't understand. Reading through yeah you kind of get the gist of it, but after a while of things just kind of going over your head it gets rather annoying and starts to feel as if you're reading gibberish and wondering if it is actually adding anything of substance to the overall story.
I'm usually a pretty fast reader, but this one took me what feels like forever to get through it. Usually if I'm into a book I can't put it down. Or if I have to put it down, I can't wait to pick it back up and dive back in the story. However, with this one, I purposely put it down plenty of times and even had to read another book while reading this one because I couldn't stay 'IN' the story.
July 5, 2022
I love this new series by JS Field.
It is always a commitment for me to venture into a new Sci fi series. This book by JS Field makes the effort worth it. Their humorous take make it more comfortable reading about serious issues of misogyny, climate change, gender.
In this book about a desert climate with women and Trans man and Ember hounded by pirates, Fields takes on these issues and delivers a believable universe, great characters. The heroes are not perfect and it is difficult to figure out the villians.
I love the science backdrop to the book and the nerdy jokes.
As in her last book Foxfire in the Snow, I am impatiently reading her diverse characters, and wanting to learn more about nonbinary and intersex characters. Fields writes these characters well, describing the struggle to discover and explore these identities, rather than presenting the ideal exposition on a fully formed identity at the first chance. I hate waiting.
The narration by Lynn Norris is excellent, as usual. I like that Ember sounds a bit like Nicolas.
A great read. I can't wait for the next book.
It is always a commitment for me to venture into a new Sci fi series. This book by JS Field makes the effort worth it. Their humorous take make it more comfortable reading about serious issues of misogyny, climate change, gender.
In this book about a desert climate with women and Trans man and Ember hounded by pirates, Fields takes on these issues and delivers a believable universe, great characters. The heroes are not perfect and it is difficult to figure out the villians.
I love the science backdrop to the book and the nerdy jokes.
As in her last book Foxfire in the Snow, I am impatiently reading her diverse characters, and wanting to learn more about nonbinary and intersex characters. Fields writes these characters well, describing the struggle to discover and explore these identities, rather than presenting the ideal exposition on a fully formed identity at the first chance. I hate waiting.
The narration by Lynn Norris is excellent, as usual. I like that Ember sounds a bit like Nicolas.
A great read. I can't wait for the next book.
June 20, 2022
Queen is the nearly all female planet Ember lives on after moving there after Earth was no longer habitable. Ember is mourning the death of her wife when she learns that she didn't really know her wife at all. She had joined a group or pirates in and was plotting to leave Queen, something that is banned. Now she's been taken by pirates and her sister Nadia is hell-bent on finding her. But the pair will unconver secrets and resources from their planet that they weren't suppose to, and it will change the way they view everything.
This was a very interesting story to read and definitely held my interest a good majority of the book. There were some parts that lagged quite a bit, and while it did cause some skimming, there weren't many parts like that. The story was reminiscent of mid-20th century dystopian sci-fi novels, but was written a little better and with fewer clichés.
The characters were interesting and I actually liked the pirates more than some of the main characters. I felt like their story was more interesting and led to more action than anything else.
This was a very interesting story to read and definitely held my interest a good majority of the book. There were some parts that lagged quite a bit, and while it did cause some skimming, there weren't many parts like that. The story was reminiscent of mid-20th century dystopian sci-fi novels, but was written a little better and with fewer clichés.
The characters were interesting and I actually liked the pirates more than some of the main characters. I felt like their story was more interesting and led to more action than anything else.
January 15, 2024
I have picked up quite a few self-published books by local authors at the Oregon Science Fiction Convention. This is one of them. I’ve shied away from this author in the past because she mostly writes space opera, touted as “pew-pew” action (hold your fingers like laser guns and go pew-pew). But I’ve always enjoyed them on panels at the convention and thought I’d give one of their books a try. Sure enough, there’s a lot of pew-pew, but after warming up to it, I found myself caught up in the action of the unique, crazy world that Fields created. There’s giant lightning bug-like creatures, a massive bunny population, and lots of special sand that big business wants to exploit, all on a Dune-like planet. It’s an all-woman planet where all you need to immigrate to it is a vulva. However, emigration is not permitted. Lots to think about, lots of fun, and decent character development as well. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
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Come visit my blog for the full review…
https://itstartedwiththehugos.blogspo...
November 7, 2023
Picked it up in the hopes of good intersex representation. It does have an intersex character with an actual intersex variation.
The world-building felt very incomplete and implausible in ways that kept interrupting my suspension of disbelief (e.g. it opens with "humans can survive without vegetation"... no we can't). I found the pace to be plodding and the main character to be just too unlikeable for me to want to know what would happen to her.
From the book descripton, I'd expected it would be an intersex take on the "woman-only society" subgenre, but it didn't really go there in a meaningful way. It instead tried to be a space colonization story, but it lacked the worldbuilding to pull it off. This book had potential - there could have been a great horror story here - but seemed to suffer from poor quality editing.
Would rate 1.5 /5 if I could. Couldn't bring myself to finish the book.
The world-building felt very incomplete and implausible in ways that kept interrupting my suspension of disbelief (e.g. it opens with "humans can survive without vegetation"... no we can't). I found the pace to be plodding and the main character to be just too unlikeable for me to want to know what would happen to her.
From the book descripton, I'd expected it would be an intersex take on the "woman-only society" subgenre, but it didn't really go there in a meaningful way. It instead tried to be a space colonization story, but it lacked the worldbuilding to pull it off. This book had potential - there could have been a great horror story here - but seemed to suffer from poor quality editing.
Would rate 1.5 /5 if I could. Couldn't bring myself to finish the book.
August 10, 2022
Life on the planet Queen is almost always the same. Sand , and wind are a constant thing. Those that were originally allowed on the planet must have a vulva, and have a problem with authority, except for a few exceptions. Ember is trying to find reasons for her wife to walk out into the sands to die but while going to a different part of the compound she is captured by rebels called Mella. But when her sister Nadia and friend come to find here, they also discover deceit by those that suppose to be in charge of happenings on the planet. What will happen when 2 of them are captured, how will they save them/? What about the planet and those living there. This story may be a little confusing at times but I have to admit that it wasn't boring, there was plenty of action
October 28, 2023
This one was another "almost worked for me" read that I picked up because of my book club. On the pros, the own-voice intersex inclusion that wasn't focused on genitalia was pretty cool to read, and it did have a reasonably interesting/gripping premise.
However, there's a lot of good ideas in this one that just feel like they don't quite get investigated fully? Like the way the main character copes with her wife's death, the way the pirates work, the whole conspiracy angle - I don't mind the science being off, but it felt like there was a whole horror vibe that could have gone into the book that was just missing. Those bunnies could have been a lot scarier.
All in all, it wasn't too bad, but I was left a bit disappointed, and struggled to finish.
However, there's a lot of good ideas in this one that just feel like they don't quite get investigated fully? Like the way the main character copes with her wife's death, the way the pirates work, the whole conspiracy angle - I don't mind the science being off, but it felt like there was a whole horror vibe that could have gone into the book that was just missing. Those bunnies could have been a lot scarier.
All in all, it wasn't too bad, but I was left a bit disappointed, and struggled to finish.
August 16, 2023
I know another reviewer has already said this, but, since it bears repeating, after reading this book you'll never look at rabbits the same way again. It was totally worth it though for all the crazy academics and their crazier ideas. Especially Ember; there were a few chapters that were quite insane but also wildly entertaining. And her relationship with Nadia was perfect.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
April 5, 2025
I picked up this book because I found the premise and setting fascinating. I did quite enjoy that, and I found the general plot interesting as well, but I lost interest about halfway through because the book was just too long for me. I wanted more detailed explanation of the world and how things worked, less detail and length of the action scenes, and absolutely none of the romance with the main character. I came around to the romance a bit, but I wanted the focus to stay on Ember's grief over her wife. I would consider reading more from this author if they publish something new with an exciting premise.
December 29, 2025
When the earth fell apart, mankind was tossed out into the stars. To address historical problems, groups were allocated plans, their culture and social interest drviving how they were groups.
Women who wanted a man-free world were allocated Queen, a desolate world that offered research and not a lot more (though there were lots of beetles).
But is there more to this situation? This is a voyage of discovery - what is their world's role in mankind's realignment, and what happened to earth? (as an aside - why are there are so many bunnies?!)
Characters are rich and complex. The action is continuous, and plot raises many interesting philosophical and cultural points.
Women who wanted a man-free world were allocated Queen, a desolate world that offered research and not a lot more (though there were lots of beetles).
But is there more to this situation? This is a voyage of discovery - what is their world's role in mankind's realignment, and what happened to earth? (as an aside - why are there are so many bunnies?!)
Characters are rich and complex. The action is continuous, and plot raises many interesting philosophical and cultural points.
June 13, 2022
Queen is a dystopian planet inhabited primarily by females. Earth’s resources depleted and people were sent to other planets. Scientists on these different planets research ways to make their planet hospitable. Unbeknownst to the populous of Queen, their efforts have been sent to rejuvenate Earth. Our heroines learn the truth and work to expose the plot.
Queen is an entertaining, well-crafted novel. The author deftly brings the planet and people to life. I could imagine riding a flying beetle and dodging crazed rabbits! An exciting read.
Queen is an entertaining, well-crafted novel. The author deftly brings the planet and people to life. I could imagine riding a flying beetle and dodging crazed rabbits! An exciting read.
September 3, 2025
4 stars. This book was a lot of fun to read. Queen is a colonized (women only) planet a long way from dying Earth, and it doesn't take long for some of the colonists to stumble on to some nefarious doings in erstwhile planetary no-go zones. There's plenty of action and some very weird alien life forms. Oh, and rabbits. There's humor and a little romance along with the action, and the characters are an interesting mix. The story as a whole may be a little over the top on stretching my suspension of disbelief (mostly during the thickest of the action scenes), but it kept me reading regardless.
August 6, 2022
“So this story wasn’t for me. I couldn’t continue past half. I don’t mind sci-fi plots but I couldn’t connect with one. Queen had potential and the first chapters were kind of interesting but at some point I got lost and couldn’t connect back.”
August 7, 2022
This book is very well written, great world building, superb characters, a theme that is hard to write and is made easy to understand. What has surprise me more (and many other ppl ) Beetles and rabbits, lol. But you have to read it to find out what I'm talking about!
August 8, 2022
Ember lives on Queen, a female-only planet. While thinking of her dead wife, she is captured by pirates. At their camp, she discovers that her wife had secrets that she took to the grave. Her sister, Nadia, plans a rescue but discovers more secrets. Will they save their home?
August 20, 2022
Earth died, humans immigrated to terraform other planets, Ember lost her spouse, then discovers her spouse's other life. This is a suspenseful story of meeting the rebels, learning some truths, and joining ranks. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be looking for its sequel.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews