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The Queen's Chair #1
The Queen's Chair
Stasia has known her entire life that she was not destined for the lives that her friends and her sisters were expected to lead. Her father, Minstrel Fielding, has a mercantile empire that would make the queen drool, but with two older daughters married off and ready to carry on the legacy of his empire, splitting it a third time adds no value to anyone. So while everyone else is off learning to run a household staff and navigate the politics of high society, Stasia Fielding-Horne learned to fight with a knife. She learned to climb a building. She took long rides across the countryside on her own, and she picked up any new skill she found interesting. Verida, where they're battling elves and the annual flood to keep from being pushed into the sea. Where magic flows in the water and everything is new and different.
This would have been the opportunity of a lifetime, but for the expectations she conform herself to high society. Verida doesn't know what a spare daughter is any more than Stasia knows how to behave in the presence of a queen. So Stasia is breaking out. She doesn't care what anyone thinks of her, doesn't care how she's expected to behave, and she's about to find that those attitudes are going to throw her in with some very interesting people. People who see her outsider status as an asset. How interesting is too interesting? Will her love of breaking the rules in a city overrun by magic and politics prove to be more dangerous than she can handle?
This would have been the opportunity of a lifetime, but for the expectations she conform herself to high society. Verida doesn't know what a spare daughter is any more than Stasia knows how to behave in the presence of a queen. So Stasia is breaking out. She doesn't care what anyone thinks of her, doesn't care how she's expected to behave, and she's about to find that those attitudes are going to throw her in with some very interesting people. People who see her outsider status as an asset. How interesting is too interesting? Will her love of breaking the rules in a city overrun by magic and politics prove to be more dangerous than she can handle?
404 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2022
1235 people are currently reading
842 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 18, 2023
So much to like, but…
While I like the protagonist, the people she meets, and the tone of the story, I’m giving up reading this book due to problems with the story development, pacing, punctuation errors, and very frustrating syntax.
If the author eliminated at least ten words from every page, it would help. There is an excess of awkward wordiness, and there are long rambling sentences that change subject, verb tense, or pronouns along the way, causing the reader to stumble and reread for clarity.
In addition to incorrect sentence constructions that need fixing, the plot needs developmental editing. I’m at the 40% point, and nothing significant has happened. The story is just rambling along with a few interesting scenes along the way, but there are no stakes, no inciting event, no motives for the protagonist to do what she does other than she’s bored.
Another frustration I have with the book is that the characters’ physical descriptions are randomly included and placed. The protagonist is 23? Has bushy hair? Dark skin? The reader doesn’t learn these details until much later. The secondary characters also need more physical descriptions along the way so the reader can hold their image in mind. One brief list of attributes when there are numerous people in a scene is inadequate. One character smiles a great deal. Is he a potential romantic interest? Who knows?
I’m giving up on this book as it has too many problems for me to turn off my editor brain to enjoy the story.
While I like the protagonist, the people she meets, and the tone of the story, I’m giving up reading this book due to problems with the story development, pacing, punctuation errors, and very frustrating syntax.
If the author eliminated at least ten words from every page, it would help. There is an excess of awkward wordiness, and there are long rambling sentences that change subject, verb tense, or pronouns along the way, causing the reader to stumble and reread for clarity.
In addition to incorrect sentence constructions that need fixing, the plot needs developmental editing. I’m at the 40% point, and nothing significant has happened. The story is just rambling along with a few interesting scenes along the way, but there are no stakes, no inciting event, no motives for the protagonist to do what she does other than she’s bored.
Another frustration I have with the book is that the characters’ physical descriptions are randomly included and placed. The protagonist is 23? Has bushy hair? Dark skin? The reader doesn’t learn these details until much later. The secondary characters also need more physical descriptions along the way so the reader can hold their image in mind. One brief list of attributes when there are numerous people in a scene is inadequate. One character smiles a great deal. Is he a potential romantic interest? Who knows?
I’m giving up on this book as it has too many problems for me to turn off my editor brain to enjoy the story.
December 26, 2022
Oh, this was such a great read, loved the world, and I can't wait to read more!
February 8, 2022
Not for me
Although I liked the Tell series by this author, there are some stylistic quirks that detract from the overall product. I had a hard time connecting with either the characters or the story. There is quite a lot of dialogue and minimal world-building. It generally gave me a feeling of being disoriented and more than a little sense of “what’s the point?”.
Although I liked the Tell series by this author, there are some stylistic quirks that detract from the overall product. I had a hard time connecting with either the characters or the story. There is quite a lot of dialogue and minimal world-building. It generally gave me a feeling of being disoriented and more than a little sense of “what’s the point?”.
September 28, 2024
I have just finished book 3. Good series. I liked the world-building. Who doesn't like a heroine into trade and supply chain?
I have now read this three times. Still excellent.
I have now read this three times. Still excellent.
October 22, 2024
fun read
September 5, 2024
Not bad!
July 7, 2025
Great tale, well-paced, superb world-building
Our heroine, the “spare” daughter, is a woman with six first names. Daddy calls her Anastasia, or Stasia for short. With no need to find a husband, she is indulged by her very wealthy father, and rather than become a spoiled socialite, she elects to fill her time with things that she finds interesting.
She speaks six languages, knows how to mountain climb, use daggers, pickpocket, ride stallions and make her way about her world without much fuss. Then her father moves her to Verida, where she knows no one, and her sister is determined to find her a husband and keep the family respectable.
Stasia’s response is to sneak out of the house at night to go wandering, discovering her new city. She makes a new batch of friends one night in a pub where bar fights are regular. One thing leads to another, one of them being her name mistaken as Stacy, and she casually mentions she could scale the castle wall. Wagers are made, and minimal preparations allowed. Once she proves capable, they all laugh and go their ways.
Except, this group of friends are King’s Guards, and their stunt has been brought to the attention of the queen, who interviews Stacy and offers her a clandestine job procuring various living arrangements “in case” she ever needs to house someone clandestinely. She accepts, and the course of her humdrum days changes. It gives her a purpose. What that might be? Whatever the Queen wants.
See, in Veridia, the Queen is the hereditary monarch and the King is the person she selects to warm that seat. He is not her husband. The king takes care of the governance, and she takes care of the politics. Except he’s overstepped and now she’s in need of a place to stash what the king believes is an enemy of the people. Yes, this is where Stacy’s work plays a role.
This book had a sequence of foot chases that were every bit as riveting as those high-adrenalin car chases movies. The author is a master of pacing; I stand in awe. There were a couple of moments where I chose to believe a weak plot point, simply having to do with the freedom that would be allowed a woman in that society. The author worked hard to make it all settle believably though, and in the end, I agree with her choices. The world-building has been spectacular.
I’m standing on the threshold of a 21-book series, and knowing the waters are deep, I’m going to be jumping into the deep end.
Our heroine, the “spare” daughter, is a woman with six first names. Daddy calls her Anastasia, or Stasia for short. With no need to find a husband, she is indulged by her very wealthy father, and rather than become a spoiled socialite, she elects to fill her time with things that she finds interesting.
She speaks six languages, knows how to mountain climb, use daggers, pickpocket, ride stallions and make her way about her world without much fuss. Then her father moves her to Verida, where she knows no one, and her sister is determined to find her a husband and keep the family respectable.
Stasia’s response is to sneak out of the house at night to go wandering, discovering her new city. She makes a new batch of friends one night in a pub where bar fights are regular. One thing leads to another, one of them being her name mistaken as Stacy, and she casually mentions she could scale the castle wall. Wagers are made, and minimal preparations allowed. Once she proves capable, they all laugh and go their ways.
Except, this group of friends are King’s Guards, and their stunt has been brought to the attention of the queen, who interviews Stacy and offers her a clandestine job procuring various living arrangements “in case” she ever needs to house someone clandestinely. She accepts, and the course of her humdrum days changes. It gives her a purpose. What that might be? Whatever the Queen wants.
See, in Veridia, the Queen is the hereditary monarch and the King is the person she selects to warm that seat. He is not her husband. The king takes care of the governance, and she takes care of the politics. Except he’s overstepped and now she’s in need of a place to stash what the king believes is an enemy of the people. Yes, this is where Stacy’s work plays a role.
This book had a sequence of foot chases that were every bit as riveting as those high-adrenalin car chases movies. The author is a master of pacing; I stand in awe. There were a couple of moments where I chose to believe a weak plot point, simply having to do with the freedom that would be allowed a woman in that society. The author worked hard to make it all settle believably though, and in the end, I agree with her choices. The world-building has been spectacular.
I’m standing on the threshold of a 21-book series, and knowing the waters are deep, I’m going to be jumping into the deep end.
July 29, 2025
This book had interesting world-building and good dialogue. I liked the idea right from the first page. I wanted to give this five stars because I really did enjoy it, but oh man, was there a lot of chatty dialogue without any plot. Much of it repetitive in the first 35–40%, but nothing a good editor couldn't fix. And let's talk plot for a bit without spoilers if we can. A plot is when a character wants something and then something they do causes them to get farther from their goal not closer. Not in this book. It reads fast until about the 40% mark when you realize nothing is happening. When a character who feels insecure, then learns to fight, then worries she won't be good enough in a fight, then has to fight but makes it out okay, is not a character arc. It's not even character growth. Change, yes, but not growth. If I were playing this as an RPG, it might be fun, but it would be like, fight a monster, level up, fight a monster, fight some more, wander around, look for something to do, fight some more, gain more XP. Again, not really a fiction novel. And yet, somehow, I kept reading and kept hoping for some tension or rising action. There is action—and more cozy exchanges of dialogue, and some cool new characters—but there's never really any tension or upward slopes, or turning points. There is a lot—a LOT—of info-dumping about character backstories and world history and detailed economics, all done through dialogue which was nice at first but slowed the pacing by the halfway mark. At about 63% some things start to happen. At about 80% there start to be some rising action and stakes. There is some resolution as well as some open-endedness for series sake. I would read the next book i the series as I hope there would be more high and low points. I do feel like I care about the characters and that I want to see how the plot pieces resolve like warring factions, warring races, and rival gangs. I'd like to see some actual high-stakes espionage, because the potential is there. I'd really like to see this ensemble cast thrown into trouble where their plans actually fail and their mettle is truly tested.
January 26, 2025
Stasia, the female protagonist, comes from a wealthy family but since she is the spare child she was left to grow up as she liked, getting teachers for all sorts of odd, interesting, but not proper skills that translate into an unique skill set that a group of the king's guard decide to take advantage of when they meet in country of Verida. She soon finds herself as a sort of independent agent of the Queen to go places, meet people, hear things and maybe do things that can't be done in formal channels. Who else would be ideal to try to track down magic used with thieves. That couldn't be dangerous at all...
Stasia is a decent character who likes to buck staid rules but also has a close relationship with her father. She works for her skills but is a little overpower even if she has no magic. She has some flaws but also relatable. A few of the side characters have some depth but also a lot of mystery to them that seems clear that it is meant to be discovered as the series continues. Some of the others I wish were a little bit more fleshed out.
This is part of a bigger world with a few other series going on in it. While there are broad strokes of decent world-building this book doesn't going into great depth. It maybe necessary to read some of the other series to get a better feeling for the complexity.
I enjoyed the book. There was action and a storyline. I'm glad that Stasia had to do a lot of training before they just threw her on a mission and she was great at it. In fact, she did need help. But some parts did seem slow paced.
Stasia is a decent character who likes to buck staid rules but also has a close relationship with her father. She works for her skills but is a little overpower even if she has no magic. She has some flaws but also relatable. A few of the side characters have some depth but also a lot of mystery to them that seems clear that it is meant to be discovered as the series continues. Some of the others I wish were a little bit more fleshed out.
This is part of a bigger world with a few other series going on in it. While there are broad strokes of decent world-building this book doesn't going into great depth. It maybe necessary to read some of the other series to get a better feeling for the complexity.
I enjoyed the book. There was action and a storyline. I'm glad that Stasia had to do a lot of training before they just threw her on a mission and she was great at it. In fact, she did need help. But some parts did seem slow paced.
April 4, 2023
freakin awesome!!!!
And honestly I’m not just saying that. The main character freakin amazing, enough said. She’s fleshed out well with character flaws but also with her strengths helping her throughout the book. Her friends are a beautiful group of different backgrounds but they all came together and know each other well. The author makes these characters feel very much real and that’s what I really freakin loved. Also, I have to point out that things are just getting started. You can tell not to discredit other authors but that this author has rlly imagined a unique setting. As far I can tell I never read anything like the city literally having a spring day like to that extent or the tension in the air(no not the romantic, thank god book one didn’t have it b/c I feel it takes away from developing the MC well). But, the political tension it’s breathing down everyone’s neck in this city. And this city has life to it that makes it 3D instead of 2D that stays within the pages of the book through the side characters live for it. And last of all, I LOVE babe and stasia’s relationship. And I rlly like that arguments are handled in a mature way. So yeah, I rlly recommend reading this book. It’s how sly a breath of fresh air and just what I needed honestly. Thank you, author!
And honestly I’m not just saying that. The main character freakin amazing, enough said. She’s fleshed out well with character flaws but also with her strengths helping her throughout the book. Her friends are a beautiful group of different backgrounds but they all came together and know each other well. The author makes these characters feel very much real and that’s what I really freakin loved. Also, I have to point out that things are just getting started. You can tell not to discredit other authors but that this author has rlly imagined a unique setting. As far I can tell I never read anything like the city literally having a spring day like to that extent or the tension in the air(no not the romantic, thank god book one didn’t have it b/c I feel it takes away from developing the MC well). But, the political tension it’s breathing down everyone’s neck in this city. And this city has life to it that makes it 3D instead of 2D that stays within the pages of the book through the side characters live for it. And last of all, I LOVE babe and stasia’s relationship. And I rlly like that arguments are handled in a mature way. So yeah, I rlly recommend reading this book. It’s how sly a breath of fresh air and just what I needed honestly. Thank you, author!
April 19, 2023
3.5 stars - A fun adventure story. Just be sure to read it fast so you don't notice the gaping holes and inconsistencies in plot, worldbuilding, backstory, and so on. The plot was definitely the strong point in this book - lots of interesting things happen, as long as you don't question too closely why everything seems to work out just the right way for Stasia without her having to put in too much effort. There was enough action to keep things moving, although many of the in-between scenes seemed odd to me, as they did nothing to develop plot or worldbuilding, generally just focusing on Stasia's character.
The writing was quite good on a technical level. Enough descriptions, nice variety of word choice, grammar, punctuation was okay (although editing could have used some work - I caught several times where pronouns and proper nouns were inconsistent in the sentence, so what actually was happening was unclear.) And on the other hand, everything seemed super shallow. Everything worked out. There were many hints at Deeper Meanings that never amounted to anything. The plot actually was really simple, and the action didn't begin to happen until nearly halfway into the book. The characters were more or less what they appeared to be.
Fun read, just don't think about it too much.
The writing was quite good on a technical level. Enough descriptions, nice variety of word choice, grammar, punctuation was okay (although editing could have used some work - I caught several times where pronouns and proper nouns were inconsistent in the sentence, so what actually was happening was unclear.) And on the other hand, everything seemed super shallow. Everything worked out. There were many hints at Deeper Meanings that never amounted to anything. The plot actually was really simple, and the action didn't begin to happen until nearly halfway into the book. The characters were more or less what they appeared to be.
Fun read, just don't think about it too much.
September 12, 2025
I will not tell a lie, although this book got on my TBR in the first place because a friend of mine recommended it but even before I’d finished reading the recommendation I’d looked up the book on Amazon and fell deeply in love with the cover. I was pretty much always going to read this book.
Turns out this was a good choice. I mean, following the recommendations of your friends is generally a good choice, maybe not so much the cover. Pretty sure not judging a book by its cover is almost an Aesop’s fable moral at this point. Garner, right from the first paragraph introduced a main character that I instantly loved. Stasia is the typical smart loner character that so many of us are destined to fall in love with. Capable, curious, intelligent, witty, independent. So many things were good about her.
The setting for this story is very unique. Garner’s ability to set the stage of this environment is almost masterful. You feel like you’re right there. It’s fantastical and yet so real feeling. I really love feeling like I’m there with Stasia through all of the scenes. The story is also so well put together. It takes a while to figure out where it’s going but the world building and character introductions and development are so fascinating and engaging that I would have waited twice as long.
I really loved this book. I will enjoy the others in the series, for sure.
Turns out this was a good choice. I mean, following the recommendations of your friends is generally a good choice, maybe not so much the cover. Pretty sure not judging a book by its cover is almost an Aesop’s fable moral at this point. Garner, right from the first paragraph introduced a main character that I instantly loved. Stasia is the typical smart loner character that so many of us are destined to fall in love with. Capable, curious, intelligent, witty, independent. So many things were good about her.
The setting for this story is very unique. Garner’s ability to set the stage of this environment is almost masterful. You feel like you’re right there. It’s fantastical and yet so real feeling. I really love feeling like I’m there with Stasia through all of the scenes. The story is also so well put together. It takes a while to figure out where it’s going but the world building and character introductions and development are so fascinating and engaging that I would have waited twice as long.
I really loved this book. I will enjoy the others in the series, for sure.
March 9, 2022
Really enjoyed this fantasy story, the start of a new series. It's set in the same world and weaves in some of the characters from her very cute Marriage of the White Princess novella, which you can read for free if you subscribe to her newsletter at https://sendfox.com/lp/m2r2d1
Stacia has been involuntarily transplanted to the port-side city of Verida when her father decided to move his merchant interests there, along with his third daughter.
At the age of 23, it's generally accepted that she's going to be a spinster. She likes learning things and doing things, which doesn't fit the married-at-16, running-a-household narrative.
Even though she thought she would hate the city, she finds herself discovering a new sense of adventure and purpose, and a chance to use her acquired hodge-podge of skills for a greater cause. Because the Queen is not just a figurehead in Verida, and she will use any tools at her disposal to keep her city running, including young women who like to climb high walls.
A fun book that mingles action and economics and magic, it's a great start to the series and I'm looking forward to reading more of them.
Stacia has been involuntarily transplanted to the port-side city of Verida when her father decided to move his merchant interests there, along with his third daughter.
At the age of 23, it's generally accepted that she's going to be a spinster. She likes learning things and doing things, which doesn't fit the married-at-16, running-a-household narrative.
Even though she thought she would hate the city, she finds herself discovering a new sense of adventure and purpose, and a chance to use her acquired hodge-podge of skills for a greater cause. Because the Queen is not just a figurehead in Verida, and she will use any tools at her disposal to keep her city running, including young women who like to climb high walls.
A fun book that mingles action and economics and magic, it's a great start to the series and I'm looking forward to reading more of them.
June 30, 2025
4 and a half stars. What would it take to get to 5? A map and a backstory (why are the relations between humans and pixies and elves the way they are, etc).
I really like the main character. She's a compelling figure who plays by her own rules as she navigates her way through a foreign culture and a political system she doesn't understand.
Plot moves quickly and makes sense. Good amount of plot twists while maintaining continuity.
Author demonstrates an understanding of economics I have not seen in a fantasy/sci-fi author before. As someone who has been offered a position teaching college economics, this is refreshing.
Author shows excellent knowledge of what a monsoon would be like in a medieval setting. She also demonstrates a knowledge of something akin to the Callao Painter in Peru, where a lack of ocean upwelling eventually results in dead fish (from lack of Oxygen) and ship hulls and docks getting covered in a black substance as a result.
I am already reading the second book and excited for the series.
I really like the main character. She's a compelling figure who plays by her own rules as she navigates her way through a foreign culture and a political system she doesn't understand.
Plot moves quickly and makes sense. Good amount of plot twists while maintaining continuity.
Author demonstrates an understanding of economics I have not seen in a fantasy/sci-fi author before. As someone who has been offered a position teaching college economics, this is refreshing.
Author shows excellent knowledge of what a monsoon would be like in a medieval setting. She also demonstrates a knowledge of something akin to the Callao Painter in Peru, where a lack of ocean upwelling eventually results in dead fish (from lack of Oxygen) and ship hulls and docks getting covered in a black substance as a result.
I am already reading the second book and excited for the series.
Read
October 7, 2025The author had a lot of "world-building" to do. I got tired of all of that, waiting for something to happen. I stopped at 22%,
Amazon synopsis:
Stasia Fielding-Horne has always loved trying new things, but Verida may be a bridge too far. Magic courses through the city, the whole place is run by a queen, of all things, and the creature out digging up the front yard is apparently not a gopher but a low elf. When she falls in with the king's guard at a bar one night, she's going to find out that magic isn't the only thing that makes this city complicated.
Now in the employ of the queen, give or take, Stasia is going to go up against thieves and magic and the natural forces of the city itself. She may not be bored anymore, but she's got a lot of work to do to figure out how to not only survive Verida, but make this her new home.
Amazon synopsis:
Stasia Fielding-Horne has always loved trying new things, but Verida may be a bridge too far. Magic courses through the city, the whole place is run by a queen, of all things, and the creature out digging up the front yard is apparently not a gopher but a low elf. When she falls in with the king's guard at a bar one night, she's going to find out that magic isn't the only thing that makes this city complicated.
Now in the employ of the queen, give or take, Stasia is going to go up against thieves and magic and the natural forces of the city itself. She may not be bored anymore, but she's got a lot of work to do to figure out how to not only survive Verida, but make this her new home.
January 17, 2022
A city overrun by magic and politics. A merchant's spare daughter with a love of breaking the rules and seeking out where she fits. A wonderful story with magic and adventure. Yes, Chloe Garner I’d already a favorite author of mine, and it’s books like The Queen's Chair (first in the series of the same name) that explain why. Wonderful, perfect written storytelling with fantastic characters and world building. I adore Stasia, the heroine in this book, and have no doubt that other readers will too. As for this book, no surprise that it’s highly recommended.
January 24, 2022
What a great start to a brand new series.
I don’t know why I’m surprised. Every single one of Chloe’s books, IMHO, have been fantastic.
No spoilers, but simply such wonderful characters and storyline. Hand on my heart, I could not put this book down or read it quick enough. But like most of us, I get to the end and want more.
There is more in the pipeline but you simply have to read this first. Be part of Stasia’s awesome journey.
I can’t praise this book enough. I loved it and I’m sure you will too.
I don’t know why I’m surprised. Every single one of Chloe’s books, IMHO, have been fantastic.
No spoilers, but simply such wonderful characters and storyline. Hand on my heart, I could not put this book down or read it quick enough. But like most of us, I get to the end and want more.
There is more in the pipeline but you simply have to read this first. Be part of Stasia’s awesome journey.
I can’t praise this book enough. I loved it and I’m sure you will too.
March 28, 2022
Chaotic good
This is a great story but it is actually really difficult to read. It's written in a very jarring, stilted tone that leaves you feeling lost, more than understanding. The conversations are written in such a way that makes me think the author was trying to write a film script, rather than a novel. I enjoyed it, but not so much that I will read the next one. Too much in unexplained and not in "whodunit" sort of way, more in a "meh, let's just glaze over that" sort of way and I find that incredibly frustrating.
This is a great story but it is actually really difficult to read. It's written in a very jarring, stilted tone that leaves you feeling lost, more than understanding. The conversations are written in such a way that makes me think the author was trying to write a film script, rather than a novel. I enjoyed it, but not so much that I will read the next one. Too much in unexplained and not in "whodunit" sort of way, more in a "meh, let's just glaze over that" sort of way and I find that incredibly frustrating.
May 23, 2022
A worthwhile read if you love kickass heroines
The motley cast is a group of people you wish you could hang out with when you move to a new land with a different set of rules, magic, and where your enemy isn't who you'd expect.
Stacia has multiple personalities but is completely unaware of this fact. Now, I doubt mean she's crazy, but rather on one heck of an adventure as a 23-year old wealthy spinster with a penchant for staying one step ahead of scandal in pursuit of testing her limits and assuaging her curiosities.
The motley cast is a group of people you wish you could hang out with when you move to a new land with a different set of rules, magic, and where your enemy isn't who you'd expect.
Stacia has multiple personalities but is completely unaware of this fact. Now, I doubt mean she's crazy, but rather on one heck of an adventure as a 23-year old wealthy spinster with a penchant for staying one step ahead of scandal in pursuit of testing her limits and assuaging her curiosities.
September 23, 2022
It's longer than it needs
I was enjoying it , I got to about 40% it's not a bad story just a bit long winded, and I got bored, up to this point there has been a lot of exploring the city, meeting new people ( who all seem to score her instantly) and training, and quite a bit of talk about politics and trading, the action should have come in a lot earlier. It had a very 3 musketeers feel to it as well, I probably won't be finishing the book of reading the rest of the series.
I was enjoying it , I got to about 40% it's not a bad story just a bit long winded, and I got bored, up to this point there has been a lot of exploring the city, meeting new people ( who all seem to score her instantly) and training, and quite a bit of talk about politics and trading, the action should have come in a lot earlier. It had a very 3 musketeers feel to it as well, I probably won't be finishing the book of reading the rest of the series.
March 12, 2023
Action-filled, exciting, and really good!
This is a great story. Frenetic action through the entire book accompanies you as you meet the cast of characters. Our female lead is unique, and I love her character! She has a varied skill-set that would be questioned by most readers as not fitting, except the author has provided the background and continues in this book to show how she became who she is. And she meets some men who will change her life forever. She's no longer just "the spare", but someone who believes she's doing good and honest work. But is she?
🐝✋🐺
This is a great story. Frenetic action through the entire book accompanies you as you meet the cast of characters. Our female lead is unique, and I love her character! She has a varied skill-set that would be questioned by most readers as not fitting, except the author has provided the background and continues in this book to show how she became who she is. And she meets some men who will change her life forever. She's no longer just "the spare", but someone who believes she's doing good and honest work. But is she?
🐝✋🐺
June 15, 2023
The Queen’s Chair is an independently published fantasy with a strong female lead. Stacia is the daughter of a merchant new to a city of warring elves and annual floods that put the bridges underwater. She is not content to hang around business meetings as an ornament. She explores the city and soon finds herself working undercover with the city guard and serving a powerful queen. Chloe Garner writes with a comfortable transparent style that keeps an overcrowded plot moving. The series currently stands at four volumes, all published in 2022.
July 21, 2024
I absolutely loved this book!
Stasia is a merchant’s spare daughter and allowed the freedom to live life on her own terms, without being forced to marry. She is very adventurous and always looking to learn new things from anyone she observes performing an action she has no knowledge of. This quest for freedom, knowledge and skills will put her on a path with new friends and into the Queen’s employment and having to learn how to survive in Verida, her new home.
Stasia is a merchant’s spare daughter and allowed the freedom to live life on her own terms, without being forced to marry. She is very adventurous and always looking to learn new things from anyone she observes performing an action she has no knowledge of. This quest for freedom, knowledge and skills will put her on a path with new friends and into the Queen’s employment and having to learn how to survive in Verida, her new home.
January 20, 2025
Not for me - I was already skipping pages of silly stuff and could not really grasp the motivation behind the plot - characters were hardly defined and some of the dialogues and important situations were really difficult to follow due to writing style and weird sentences construct. 40% and you still have to get to any action or plot - half book and all you know is that she is bored and needs something to do to occupy her time. Yawn!
June 30, 2025
DNF. I like the characters, but all they are doing is chit chatting. Nothing is happening and I’m bored out of mind.
There is something about the writing. I can’t get lost in it. “Jasper closed his eyes with quiet humor”
Sentences like this are continually in the conversations and somehow they just don’t fit. I don’t know what it is, but these pull me right out of the story and my mind goes, What!?
I really do like the characters. I was hoping they would do something extraordinary.
There is something about the writing. I can’t get lost in it. “Jasper closed his eyes with quiet humor”
Sentences like this are continually in the conversations and somehow they just don’t fit. I don’t know what it is, but these pull me right out of the story and my mind goes, What!?
I really do like the characters. I was hoping they would do something extraordinary.
September 28, 2025
DNF at 25% - it's not bad, but nothing much actually happens in the first quarter of the book except the protagonist overanalyzing literally everything in a way that feels like the author is attempting to be clever but without being quite insightful enough to back it up. This wouldn't have been a dealbreaker, but the main romance of the series being M/F on top of an oddly insubstantive narrative meant I'm not inclined to read further.
April 8, 2022
Fantastic book
Stasia is a great character! I loved how independent she is in a world that tends to stifle women. She has learned some interesting skills. When she falls in with Jasper and his crowd the adventure really starts. No romance but some interesting friendships. Looking forward to reading the next book.
Stasia is a great character! I loved how independent she is in a world that tends to stifle women. She has learned some interesting skills. When she falls in with Jasper and his crowd the adventure really starts. No romance but some interesting friendships. Looking forward to reading the next book.
April 18, 2022
The Queen's Chair, the first book of the series of the same name, is an ebook I borrowed through Kindle Unlimited (KU). For some reason, this story and these characters felt perfect. Stasia (Stacy) has such a wonderful relationship with her father who encourages her freedom. I loved this one from the very first chapter. I'll definitely continue to the next book.
July 3, 2023
It was fine. I enjoyed the world building and I want her outfit but it wasn’t a book I was desperate to get back to whenever I put it down. I liked Stacia all right. The most interesting characters never really came into their own except at the very end, and I felt like just as things were getting interesting, the book ended.
July 16, 2025
Eclectic surprise
Well, this certainly came as a surprise...in a good way! Kind of a period set tale...with magic, elves, war and an independent spinster (who is 23) lol...action, mystery, gangs... Think this series has a lot of potential for some kicking adventures....definitely one to add to my TBR list!!
Well, this certainly came as a surprise...in a good way! Kind of a period set tale...with magic, elves, war and an independent spinster (who is 23) lol...action, mystery, gangs... Think this series has a lot of potential for some kicking adventures....definitely one to add to my TBR list!!
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