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The Little Queen
They created her, then stole her reason to live. But when the Little Queen, a mother without a hive, adopts Anthony, a grieving boy, she will sacrifice anything to save what she finds: a new family, strange but wonderful.
From his mother Anthony inherited a bee hive and the power to communicate with bees. When she died, her hive slipped into ruin. Then Anthony discovers the Little Queen, a remarkable bee fleeing her mysterious past. She takes charge of Anthony's hive and resurrects it, with powerful enhancements. But their bond is threatened by pursuers who want ownership of the Little Queen and everything she represents.
* * *
Within a hidden facility, a genetics program bred honeybee queens through ten thousand generations before achieving its goal: a sentient hive. The Little Queen, self aware, realizes she is imprisoned and executes a daring escape, which nearly kills her. Now navigating a vast and dangerous world on her own, she bonds with Anthony, a boy grieving his mother’s death. Mystical forces from the Plain of Crowns tie the Little Queen and Anthony, and they grow more certain of their place in the world. But the lab the Little Queen escaped was home to darker breeding programs than her own, and her monstrous pursuers soon locate her. Then she must do it all; protect Anthony, earn a place on the Plain of Crowns, and save the hive which Anthony and she have both have come to love. To succeed, she may be forced to make the greatest sacrifice a queen can ever make.
From his mother Anthony inherited a bee hive and the power to communicate with bees. When she died, her hive slipped into ruin. Then Anthony discovers the Little Queen, a remarkable bee fleeing her mysterious past. She takes charge of Anthony's hive and resurrects it, with powerful enhancements. But their bond is threatened by pursuers who want ownership of the Little Queen and everything she represents.
* * *
Within a hidden facility, a genetics program bred honeybee queens through ten thousand generations before achieving its goal: a sentient hive. The Little Queen, self aware, realizes she is imprisoned and executes a daring escape, which nearly kills her. Now navigating a vast and dangerous world on her own, she bonds with Anthony, a boy grieving his mother’s death. Mystical forces from the Plain of Crowns tie the Little Queen and Anthony, and they grow more certain of their place in the world. But the lab the Little Queen escaped was home to darker breeding programs than her own, and her monstrous pursuers soon locate her. Then she must do it all; protect Anthony, earn a place on the Plain of Crowns, and save the hive which Anthony and she have both have come to love. To succeed, she may be forced to make the greatest sacrifice a queen can ever make.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
138 people are currently reading
1480 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 14, 2024
This book was fantastic, unlike anything I've ever read before.
This poor kid has lost his mom to cancer. She was a beekeeper, and the hives they took care of together are dying. His dad can't deal with a traumatized teen, his friends are a**hats, his dog is hell-bent on destroying what's left of his mother's bee yard, and then...a tiny golden mother/goddess gives him a reason to go on and then something to fight for. I don't want to spoil it, but seriously, spend the few bucks to buy it.
This poor kid has lost his mom to cancer. She was a beekeeper, and the hives they took care of together are dying. His dad can't deal with a traumatized teen, his friends are a**hats, his dog is hell-bent on destroying what's left of his mother's bee yard, and then...a tiny golden mother/goddess gives him a reason to go on and then something to fight for. I don't want to spoil it, but seriously, spend the few bucks to buy it.
April 29, 2024
Surprisingly good and moving
I read this expecting a quiet, slow book, with few other expectations. I never expected to be so caught up in it, unable to put it down, and so caught up in it emotionally. I actually loved learning so much about bees as well (but then I LOVE learning), but that was really just secondary to the story. Those sections really stayed in the background to me. What was foregrounded, was the struggles, the love, the connection between the bee and the boy. And usually I really avoid books that focus on teens or younger. But this… I loved it.
I would have preferred to have not read chapter 23 (the final one) as that *SPOILER ALERT*
It sets up a sequel. For me, it works best just ending with the end of chapter 22.
I read this expecting a quiet, slow book, with few other expectations. I never expected to be so caught up in it, unable to put it down, and so caught up in it emotionally. I actually loved learning so much about bees as well (but then I LOVE learning), but that was really just secondary to the story. Those sections really stayed in the background to me. What was foregrounded, was the struggles, the love, the connection between the bee and the boy. And usually I really avoid books that focus on teens or younger. But this… I loved it.
I would have preferred to have not read chapter 23 (the final one) as that *SPOILER ALERT*
It sets up a sequel. For me, it works best just ending with the end of chapter 22.
June 1, 2024
I wasn't expecting to have so many emotions about a genetically enhanced queen bee on a weekday but this book did make me feel things.
December 19, 2022
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were well developed and I was drawn into the world of Bee keeping.
Unfortunately, at times I found this more like a documentary on Bee keeping and although interesting ,it did feel at times like you were being preached too.
Overall though this is an easy read about friendship and love.
The characters were well developed and I was drawn into the world of Bee keeping.
Unfortunately, at times I found this more like a documentary on Bee keeping and although interesting ,it did feel at times like you were being preached too.
Overall though this is an easy read about friendship and love.
December 5, 2022
I received an ARC of this book from Reedsy Discover, which you can check out here - [https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the...].
Anthony and his mother share a special bond; they have the ability to communicate with bees. After the death of his mother, Anthony finds himself in a world of hurt and confusion, unable to figure out who he is without her. The hive she left to him is abandoned and when Anthony finally works up the courage to repair it, the damage is too far gone and almost all hope is lost. The Little Queen's days are numbered. She is working to save her hive and formulating a plan to escape from her imminent death, something no queen has managed to do before. Just when the Little Queen appears victorious, a new threat emerges and she is left injured and all alone. But when Anthony and the Little Queen meet, both lost and desperate for a connection, the pair must work together to save each other.
The author combines realism with strong themes of sci-fi and fantasy seamlessly to produce a captivating and creative world. Anthony's story is one of grief, change, learning and discovery. He is flawed; he is growing and adapting to his new reality, yet his character represents hope in a period of destruction. We see this motif reappearing throughout the book as the notion of power dynamics are explored: though his relationship with his father, with the authoritative figures in his life, and through the interactions with the antagonists.
The Little Queen's world is one of great intrigue and mystery. Upon our first encounter with her, we learn she is attempting to escape the cycle of death that comes for every queen bee. In doing so we are introduced to an enchantingly powerful place: the Plain of Crowns. This ancestral plane for all past queen bees is an incredibly well thought out idea to explain intangible concepts that come with a topic such as death and loss. It also serves as a source of information for the Little Queen, and subsequently the reader, allowing us to explore the mindset of a bee. This detail deserves high praise as every thought and every movement has been so carefully designed to create the experience of life as a bee which results in the reader becoming a participant of the hive.
The writing style is simple and to the point, there is no need for any floweriness or extra frills, the content speaks for itself. The imagery is sharp and powerful, and the themes are poignant yet brilliantly knowledgeable. At times it felt like I was reading an information booklet all about bees, the whole experience was utterly fascinating. The book's intelligent design lends itself to being a commentary on current climate issues and the idea of a world without bees. It was truly unlike any other book I have ever read before. The book covers a wide range of genres under the umbrella of literary fiction, including science fiction and fantasy, magical realism and a touch of spirituality. This lends itself to a wide audience of readers to discover this remarkable tale.
Anthony and his mother share a special bond; they have the ability to communicate with bees. After the death of his mother, Anthony finds himself in a world of hurt and confusion, unable to figure out who he is without her. The hive she left to him is abandoned and when Anthony finally works up the courage to repair it, the damage is too far gone and almost all hope is lost. The Little Queen's days are numbered. She is working to save her hive and formulating a plan to escape from her imminent death, something no queen has managed to do before. Just when the Little Queen appears victorious, a new threat emerges and she is left injured and all alone. But when Anthony and the Little Queen meet, both lost and desperate for a connection, the pair must work together to save each other.
The author combines realism with strong themes of sci-fi and fantasy seamlessly to produce a captivating and creative world. Anthony's story is one of grief, change, learning and discovery. He is flawed; he is growing and adapting to his new reality, yet his character represents hope in a period of destruction. We see this motif reappearing throughout the book as the notion of power dynamics are explored: though his relationship with his father, with the authoritative figures in his life, and through the interactions with the antagonists.
The Little Queen's world is one of great intrigue and mystery. Upon our first encounter with her, we learn she is attempting to escape the cycle of death that comes for every queen bee. In doing so we are introduced to an enchantingly powerful place: the Plain of Crowns. This ancestral plane for all past queen bees is an incredibly well thought out idea to explain intangible concepts that come with a topic such as death and loss. It also serves as a source of information for the Little Queen, and subsequently the reader, allowing us to explore the mindset of a bee. This detail deserves high praise as every thought and every movement has been so carefully designed to create the experience of life as a bee which results in the reader becoming a participant of the hive.
The writing style is simple and to the point, there is no need for any floweriness or extra frills, the content speaks for itself. The imagery is sharp and powerful, and the themes are poignant yet brilliantly knowledgeable. At times it felt like I was reading an information booklet all about bees, the whole experience was utterly fascinating. The book's intelligent design lends itself to being a commentary on current climate issues and the idea of a world without bees. It was truly unlike any other book I have ever read before. The book covers a wide range of genres under the umbrella of literary fiction, including science fiction and fantasy, magical realism and a touch of spirituality. This lends itself to a wide audience of readers to discover this remarkable tale.
November 1, 2022
I loved this book so much. It's unique and beautifully crafted, compelling and moving, funny and tender and powerful all at once. If a genetically modified queen bee as one of the main characters sounds a little too sci-fi for you, I implore you to read it anyway! Sounds weird, but is somehow entirely human in the best ways, as is young Anthony, the other (human) protagonist. Unlike anything else I've read!
December 18, 2022
An unusual concept with a sci-fi slant. According to bee lore, a hive of bees is destined to die by green gas before it has a chance to swarm. Little Queen has to escape the hive before this happens.
Anthony used to help his mum to care for her honey bees until she dies. He has become disengaged at school and misses her a lot. When he checks the hive after a while, he finds the bees have lost their Queen and are doomed unless they get a new one.
I was drawn to this book because I am a bee keeper and can see that the author has researched honey bees with many accurate bee facts within the story. However there were enough inaccuracies that spoilt the story. The major one being that while the Queen pheromone means the bees know who belongs in their colony, it is the worker bees, not the Queen, who decide how the hive behaves.
Worth a read. I think that teens would like this as well.
Anthony used to help his mum to care for her honey bees until she dies. He has become disengaged at school and misses her a lot. When he checks the hive after a while, he finds the bees have lost their Queen and are doomed unless they get a new one.
I was drawn to this book because I am a bee keeper and can see that the author has researched honey bees with many accurate bee facts within the story. However there were enough inaccuracies that spoilt the story. The major one being that while the Queen pheromone means the bees know who belongs in their colony, it is the worker bees, not the Queen, who decide how the hive behaves.
Worth a read. I think that teens would like this as well.
May 25, 2024
I wanted to like this story more than I did, and I probably would have IF the ending would have been and actual ending. All in all it was a bit dark of a story, but I sure learned to look at bees much more endearingly because of the description of how a hive and their queen work together. I was truly fascinated by how that all works together. I liked the main character and his friend, Mary, but the connections between his 'bad' friends and him was lost on me. The Dad, brother, neighbor, dog, and possible new mom relationship and how that tied in was so vague to me and not neatly tied up at the end to make the story complete to me. I gave it 3 stars because I found it fascinating about bees and their lives, but was disappointed in the many loose ends at the end of the book. If there is a sequel, then I would like to read that to finally understand how those ends tie together.
June 24, 2024
"But for you, hope remains"
When Anthony's mother died, he inherited her beehive and discovered as he grieved her loss, that her gift sparked understanding in the form of a little queen bee who has also experienced loss.But,both together and separately, they learn from their losses to become greater and more resilient.
I had actually forgotten this book, buried deep with my TBR stash,until a suggested book popped up in social media.Being a bee lover, I went looking and I found it, and for the next few days have been lost in Kevin Hincker's fantasy of love, trust and interspecies understanding. Absolutely wonderful. Highly Recommended 5/5
When Anthony's mother died, he inherited her beehive and discovered as he grieved her loss, that her gift sparked understanding in the form of a little queen bee who has also experienced loss.But,both together and separately, they learn from their losses to become greater and more resilient.
I had actually forgotten this book, buried deep with my TBR stash,until a suggested book popped up in social media.Being a bee lover, I went looking and I found it, and for the next few days have been lost in Kevin Hincker's fantasy of love, trust and interspecies understanding. Absolutely wonderful. Highly Recommended 5/5
December 7, 2022
Different yet fascinating
This is a science fiction, coming of age, nature study, amazing book. Spoiler alert: it leaves you desperate for a sequel. The protagonist, Anthony, is a apiarist. The eponymous Little Queen is a genetically modified queen bee. The story is riveting, a deft mix of absolutely mundane detail and mesmerizing imagery. The underlying struggle between good and evil demands another book, but in no way lessens the impact of this one. It’s not like any other book you’ve read. It’s very worth reading.
This is a science fiction, coming of age, nature study, amazing book. Spoiler alert: it leaves you desperate for a sequel. The protagonist, Anthony, is a apiarist. The eponymous Little Queen is a genetically modified queen bee. The story is riveting, a deft mix of absolutely mundane detail and mesmerizing imagery. The underlying struggle between good and evil demands another book, but in no way lessens the impact of this one. It’s not like any other book you’ve read. It’s very worth reading.
February 16, 2023
Normally I give fantasy a wide berth. Too easy on writers, too hard on readers to stretch credulity, but the Little Queen avoids this. The blending of the human boy's story with the incredible evolutionary history of the bees is so well crafted that readers are hardly required to suspend belief as they arrive at the culminating crisis created by the meeting of their two worlds.
Perfectly drawn human characters and convincingly familiar heroic and villainous insect archetypes!
A "Good Read" indeed!
Perfectly drawn human characters and convincingly familiar heroic and villainous insect archetypes!
A "Good Read" indeed!
December 6, 2022
Fascinating concept
I loved the characters and the plot: The unassuming boy who can communicate with bees, the friend who shares his interest in bees, the bad companions who push him in the wrong direction, the bees' life in the hive. I've never read a book quite like this. It was great!
I loved the characters and the plot: The unassuming boy who can communicate with bees, the friend who shares his interest in bees, the bad companions who push him in the wrong direction, the bees' life in the hive. I've never read a book quite like this. It was great!
June 10, 2024
Possible spoiler!
I loved this book. All the bee info was wonderful. Anthony’s personal story is heartbreaking and his connection with the Little Queen was fascinating and beautiful. I did not like the ending. It would have been better to start the last chapter as a second book than ruin the ending of the first.
I loved this book. All the bee info was wonderful. Anthony’s personal story is heartbreaking and his connection with the Little Queen was fascinating and beautiful. I did not like the ending. It would have been better to start the last chapter as a second book than ruin the ending of the first.
June 30, 2024
There's more than what you see
The trials of honey bees are condensed into one queen and an experimental lab. Fortunately on the outside there are people whose talent is caring for them. One evil person or an experiment gone wrong, all life is connected. And the queen must be protected as she protects her hive.
The trials of honey bees are condensed into one queen and an experimental lab. Fortunately on the outside there are people whose talent is caring for them. One evil person or an experiment gone wrong, all life is connected. And the queen must be protected as she protects her hive.
September 21, 2024
Page Turning Breathkessness
This is an unusual story. Unlike anything you read before. It's sad, it's funny, and it's beautiful. It is also scary if put it in the context of government control and disappearing nature. I highly recommend this book and the story is the kind that will stay with you long after it's finished.
This is an unusual story. Unlike anything you read before. It's sad, it's funny, and it's beautiful. It is also scary if put it in the context of government control and disappearing nature. I highly recommend this book and the story is the kind that will stay with you long after it's finished.
June 27, 2025
The Little Queen by Kevin Hincker was fantasy fiction, Bees 🐝 everything you have ever wondered about bees. And more…. Genetically modified bees. Bees with empathy and compassion. Anthony the main character is a 13 year old boy who definitely has a connection to these bees. He is traumatized/physically, mentally. The bees help him through. Thumbs 👍 up! Abrupt ending, rounded up.
January 15, 2023
The Little Queen
It's a little different, Anthony is still grieving his mother's death. The Little Queen escapes where she was and finds him. She's the real hero of the story. I'd really like to read what comes next!
It's a little different, Anthony is still grieving his mother's death. The Little Queen escapes where she was and finds him. She's the real hero of the story. I'd really like to read what comes next!
May 23, 2023
This was definitely different from books I usually read. I really enjoyed the back and forth perspectives between the characters. The writing is a little difficult to understand sometimes but overall it was such a beautiful story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
June 19, 2023
I LOVED this book! It is very well written, the interactions between the (human) characters are realistic, and the bee information is fantastic (I am a beekeeper :). I almost took off a star for the last sentence in the book - NO! I will keep my eye out for the sequel, if one is written.
September 4, 2023
Don’t add to your DNF pile
It takes awhile to smooth out into a story. Some parts to be glossed over is best but the story is so good. It’s innovative and beautiful. Perfect for kids that can read at this level as well.
It takes awhile to smooth out into a story. Some parts to be glossed over is best but the story is so good. It’s innovative and beautiful. Perfect for kids that can read at this level as well.
June 14, 2024
Unique and different
This was an interesting book. I’ve read several books that were bee themed, but this one was quite unique. It didn’t end on a cliffhanger, but there’s definitely questions that didn’t get answered. I enjoyed my time spent in this book!
This was an interesting book. I’ve read several books that were bee themed, but this one was quite unique. It didn’t end on a cliffhanger, but there’s definitely questions that didn’t get answered. I enjoyed my time spent in this book!
June 27, 2024
Beeutiful writing
The bee and the boy story was spellbinding. I did not know what to expect, and the more I read the more unexpected this story became. I loved it! The prose was awesome. I love a good read by an intelligent writer.
The bee and the boy story was spellbinding. I did not know what to expect, and the more I read the more unexpected this story became. I loved it! The prose was awesome. I love a good read by an intelligent writer.
April 4, 2025
I picked up this book because it was about bees. As I got into it, I kept asking myself if I should continue as the genre really isn’t my thing, but I couldn’t let the story of the little bee go! The author keeps you interested in the outcome. Glad I finished it.
January 1, 2023
This book was fantastic!!! I can’t wait to read the next one!
January 7, 2023
Wow!!
I just picked this book up just because. This is one of the best novels I have read in years. I so hope there areore to come. Just wow!
I just picked this book up just because. This is one of the best novels I have read in years. I so hope there areore to come. Just wow!
June 15, 2023
Amazing book!
Part biology of bees, part science fiction, part coming of age story....this is an amazing book.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
A fast and interesting read.
Part biology of bees, part science fiction, part coming of age story....this is an amazing book.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
A fast and interesting read.
July 10, 2024
Totally went in a different direction than I expected! Hope there is a follow-up book because it kind of leaves you wanting to know more.
July 23, 2024
What a fascinating tale. I found it hard to put this book down.
October 19, 2024
Interesting novel begins with s beekeeper's family tragedy, and becomes a meditation on how honeybees might communicate with each other, and humans. Beautifully realized. a bit on the sci fi side.
December 3, 2024
Science fiction in a cute and thrilling way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews