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exclusivepalmbeachliving's review
5.0
Currently reading for my Bookclub on Fable ✨Discover Latinx Literature✨
This was an incredible read for me! It’s exactly what I LOVE in a Adult Feminist Fantasy novel filled with Politics and a group of bad ass women sticking it up bigotry’s ass.
Queen and Conqueror FMC Almira and her red guard ( all women) had me intrigued and wanting more in each page. I truly didn’t want this book to end and it won’t, Book 2 “Lady of Istok” is out and pardon me, but I am On my way To pick that one up!
This was an incredible read for me! It’s exactly what I LOVE in a Adult Feminist Fantasy novel filled with Politics and a group of bad ass women sticking it up bigotry’s ass.
Queen and Conqueror FMC Almira and her red guard ( all women) had me intrigued and wanting more in each page. I truly didn’t want this book to end and it won’t, Book 2 “Lady of Istok” is out and pardon me, but I am On my way To pick that one up!
annotatewithsara's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
Gripping.
So quotable.
High-stakes political fantasy, with great romance element, but not a romantasy.
Multiple POVs.
Third person omniscient narrator.
Full of symbolism, foreshadowing, and aha moments.
A very fun series to annotate because of all the easter eggs.
Compelling slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance with melt-your-heart revelations.
Has Spice. This is not a closed-door romance.
Feminist world building. Definitely read if you like Game of Thrones, but hated the misogyny in that series.
You’ll want to join the author’s discord channel to react and commiserate with other readers!
Let’s talk about magic. The setup is lovely world-building. Magic exists, but it is waning. Not in an alarming way. It's as if the world is on the tail end of a natural magical cycle. Like ice age ending, but the fading epoch is magic. This left lots of room for magical fun in the plot, which I love in a fantasy. (Re: old scrolls, magical weapons, prophecies, and witches!) But, it keeps the characters focused on a trifecta of mortal powers: the intelligence, community, culture they cultivate. I love that the strongest magic available to an average persons seems to be in oaths. There’s an omnipresent, personified, and deified energy of death, the Favia, that humans can bargain with.
yadira315's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
I don't have words for how much I loved this book! This book has such great pacing and character development. Every character introduced held value to the story and played an important role. Isabelle had such complexity with her beautiful prose and dialogue. We had flawed characters that as a reader we grow to love throughout the book and rooted for them to overcome their trauma. Not only were the relationships written extremely well but also the political intrigue and all the intricacies it takes to be a queen and rule a kingdom. There was a surprising amount of action with gruesome details that helped balance out the story. My one critique is that there was too much information in regards to the different kingdoms and their rulers, along with their histories that was at times hard to keep track of. The book had great representation throughout with a diverse cast of characters with queer representation and a found family aspect. The book contains spicy with explicit language. Overall a 5 ~ read for me!
**Please check content warnings. TW are included in the physical book, ebook and authors website.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Death, Pedophilia, and Incest
Moderate: Blood, Homophobia, Racism, and Physical abuse
lorj's review against another edition
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
3.0
I enjoyed the writing style, on the whole, and enjoyed the early romance. But I got bored about 75% of the way through and my interest never really returned. I don't think the POVs worked - it was 99% the two main characters and occasional alternative POVs to move the story on. It felt like a device rather than an organic character development tool.
kindlemecozy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
The women in this book!!! They are fckin DRAGONS!!! Good Lawd! The entire time I found myself inspired by their tenacity. The loyalty of the Red Guard had me awestruck — I loved how each of the women knew their part in the guard and worked together. They played to their strengths, there wasn’t any cattiness amongst the women. Instead they understood one another, they loved one another and worked together.
This is the first epic feminist fantasy I’ve read in which the women don’t need a man to save them. The women save themselves and each other. I loved this book so much.
This is the first epic feminist fantasy I’ve read in which the women don’t need a man to save them. The women save themselves and each other. I loved this book so much.
kittykolektor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
5.0
Long live Queen Almira and Lady Hira Balik
I cried. I gasped. I laughed. I fell in love with the King and Queen of New Verden and their family, chosen and blood.
Long live the Dragon
I cried. I gasped. I laughed. I fell in love with the King and Queen of New Verden and their family, chosen and blood.
Long live the Dragon
valntino's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
I wish I could do this book justice with my review. I was pleasantly pleased and many times could not put it down! This was a book club read and a perfect selection for anyone in a slump as I was.
Our main character is Lady Almira. She is powerful and smart and vicious with her sharp tongue. She is darker skinned and “not handsome” as many say but no matter. Her father raised her to be a strong ruler and a lady. When her husband dies she sets off to bring world peace by marrying the king from whom her former husband died in war!
Their meeting and tense fighting and banter was humorous and you wanted them to just give in to their heat for one another. While they were figuring out their new marriage and deciding if they liked each other at all, there was plotting to take the crown from other lands and from within the castle. The king and queen join their forces and wills to prevail in the end.
What this book has is AMAZING and FIERCE female leads. Queen Almira has a tongue that will hurt you. Don’t think she won’t. She is guarded by WOMEN warriors who can best the BEST of the kings guard. They’re fiercely loyal and deadly.
The love story was great between the king and queen.
There is LGBTQIA+ representation and love as well.
Can’t wait for the next in the series.
Our main character is Lady Almira. She is powerful and smart and vicious with her sharp tongue. She is darker skinned and “not handsome” as many say but no matter. Her father raised her to be a strong ruler and a lady. When her husband dies she sets off to bring world peace by marrying the king from whom her former husband died in war!
Their meeting and tense fighting and banter was humorous and you wanted them to just give in to their heat for one another. While they were figuring out their new marriage and deciding if they liked each other at all, there was plotting to take the crown from other lands and from within the castle. The king and queen join their forces and wills to prevail in the end.
What this book has is AMAZING and FIERCE female leads. Queen Almira has a tongue that will hurt you. Don’t think she won’t. She is guarded by WOMEN warriors who can best the BEST of the kings guard. They’re fiercely loyal and deadly.
The love story was great between the king and queen.
There is LGBTQIA+ representation and love as well.
Can’t wait for the next in the series.
literary_valkyrie's review
5.0
Queen and Conquer by Isabelle Olmo
“Men will never be ready for women like us, and it is not our job to ready them.”
~~~
I was given the eARC for this even though it’s been out for a while. Which thank you -And wow..this is why I love reading Indie books more. This is a female dominated/medieval jewel. The slow burn/enemies to lovers is amazing. But also throw in very strong independent women, oh I devoured this.
It is dark too in some parts, obviously, it's an adult fantasy, and it’s got the spice. Spice isn’t too crazy but it’s impactful, it’s just enough and perfect for this plot.
I’m counting down when book 2 will be out this summer.
“Men will never be ready for women like us, and it is not our job to ready them.”
~~~
I was given the eARC for this even though it’s been out for a while. Which thank you -And wow..this is why I love reading Indie books more. This is a female dominated/medieval jewel. The slow burn/enemies to lovers is amazing. But also throw in very strong independent women, oh I devoured this.
It is dark too in some parts, obviously, it's an adult fantasy, and it’s got the spice. Spice isn’t too crazy but it’s impactful, it’s just enough and perfect for this plot.
I’m counting down when book 2 will be out this summer.
a_collection_of_my_loves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
darklaix's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
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
3.5