I absolutely loved this one! It’s got…
Far off places, daring swordfights,
magic spells, a prince in disguise
Okay, did you catch that Beauty and the Beast reference 😉. But this book really has
Far off places, daring trials and tasks
magical creatures, a girl in disguise
This was a fantastic YA fantasy that I did not want to put down! I loved the characters, the development of the story, and the contest!
The Queendom of Frea is a place where women are the rulers and protectors. The queendom has been divided into two realms. The Lower Realm is a downtrodden place where they feel forgotten by the Upper Realm. In the Upper Realm, the royals and high society live a completely different life from the Lower Realm.
When the Queen takes a trip to the Lower Realm and is assassinated, a Contest of Queens is announced to find the next Queen. Jacs, a lower realm resident is sent to the upper realm in disguise to compete!
I really enjoyed Jacs. She’s a strong woman, but she’s compassionate, unsure at times, and overall, quite inspiring. The story follows her as she works her way through the contest. There’s a second perspective that we get to see from the Prince of the Upper Realm. I enjoyed the alternating perspective, and the growing relationship between the two!
I would recommend this for any reader that enjoys YA Fantasy that feels a bit real-world and a bit magical!
Where to Find This Book:
Amazon ~ Goodreads
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When an unsettling event occurs in the Queendom of Frea, Jacs, an inventor’s apprentice from the Lower Realm, participates in the Contest of Queens to prove that a Queendom is strongest when united.
In a Queendom divided, can one girl unite the realms?
Jacs, an inventor’s apprentice from the Lower Realm, has only ever dreamed of what the land among the clouds holds. That is until she finds a letter from Connor, an Upperite boy who sends a wooden boat into the abyss, hoping to learn more about the land below. Little does Jacs know, Connor is actually Prince Cornelius of the Queendom of Frea. With wooden boats and hot air balloons, the two begin a secret correspondence that lasts years. But their friendship is divided by a heavily-guarded bridge and an inescapable prejudice.
The strength of their bond was thought to transcend distance and time, but when the royal family visits Jacs’ town of Bridgeport, the illusion of peace between the Realms dissolves, and the old feud is reignited.
Now, to save her people, Jacs must infiltrate the Upper Realm and earn her place to compete in the Contest of Queens. She must learn how to survive against the contests’ grueling tasks and within a political web she could not have imagined. In a story about friendship, love, bravery, and defying gravity, Jacs will strive to prove that a Queendom is strongest when united.
Just the Facts:
Contest of Queens by Jordan H. Bartlett
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: CamCat Publishing
Pub Date: January 18, 2022
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
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