Reviews

Queen & Conqueror by Isabelle Olmo

Only show reviews with written explanations

hailstorm4's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

lostinworlds's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

sarahjoycebird's review

Go to review page

4.0

If I could give 4.5 stars, I would! I am not sure why more people aren't reading this book! If you liked Game of Thrones (show, not the book) or House of Dragons, you'll love this. The female characters are badass and they totally lead the story. I was both wildly entertained and taken by the feminist undertones. I can't wait to read the second book.

mspilesofpaper's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Highly political fantasy with a dash of romance (and a bit spice if that’s important for you) but the political aspect is by far the most important of it. High stakes for the majority of the book. Lots of plot points that lay the foundation for the second book.

Pacing felt a bit odd as the first 30% feel fast but read very slow but the pace picks up afterwards until the story reaches its high point at ~80%. Partly where intense scenes where I was close to jump out of my armchair to read while pacing. 😂

Very believable characters with fears, wishes, dreams. The majority of them are black or POC but well written in my opinion. I’m not always happy with Almira's behaviour - especially when she confronted her father because it was hot-headed and not thought through. I think she could’ve handled it better.

Good world building. I wish there would have been a better map and family trees for the eBook version because the ones included are useful if you read on an actual eReader since you can’t zoom in. One of the few fantasy releases of the last years that doesn’t do info dumping for world building. Instead the reader gets fed information in a very natural way and the world builds up with each piece. It might be the reason why the first 30% felt slow to me because the reader just gets thrown into the world and it takes time to get its bearings.

A large theme of the book is women and their anger. They’re often abused and pushed into positions where they hold no power and are supposed to be quiet, spread their legs for men and bear children. Almira and her guards challenge it and the anger that all of them carry felt very familiar.

If you want to read the book: please heed the trigger warnings! There are a couple of things mentioned in the book that made me extremely angry (aside from the overall misogyny). {Though that twincest ... ugh, gross.}

katzinom's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

crumbofcare's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

madsjustneedsausesrname's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

meaghanashley3's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

tiff_unni_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. This was one of the best feminist political fantasies that I have ever read. I loved all the side characters as well. I love Isabelle's writing style. I would call the main trope rivals to lovers. I highly recommend reading this book.

ashliebysmashliereads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

More...