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nicolewhopickedthisbook's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.0
TW/CW: Death of a Parent, Kidnapping, Torture, Violence, Gore, Animal Death
Another amazing shifter paranormal romance. Even though shifters are as old as time itself, this was so fresh and original and when Asha got revenge?!?! Ohhhh it was so sweet!
Another amazing shifter paranormal romance. Even though shifters are as old as time itself, this was so fresh and original and when Asha got revenge?!?! Ohhhh it was so sweet!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Animal death, Violence, Blood, and Gore
michellehogmire's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Thanks to BookSirens for a finished copy of this title in exchange for an honest review (pub date: June 26, 2020)--
N.D. Jones' A Queen's Pride (Feline Nation #1) is a timely fast-paced fantasy novel about the consequences of human greed and the stakes of enacting revenge.
In the book, the world has been divided into two regions: the Republic of Vumaris, occupied by humans, and the Kingdom of Shona, where felidae--feline shifters--reside. Felidae are the world's default beings, while humans are genetic anomalies without the ability to shift.
Bambara and Zarina Leothos, the leaders of Shona, and their daughter Asha meet with the new ruling human political party to renegotiate an old land treaty, but the humans unfairly want to take land away from the felidae. When the Leothos family refuses to agree, Asha becomes a political pawn in a dangerous and bloody battle for the future of Shona. Asha must then decide how to deal with the betrayal: should she show mercy toward the humans who caused her harm, or should she take vengeance?
Complicating this story of political intrigue is a romance between Asha and one of her guards, Ekon. Asha's been through so much trauma that she might not be able to continue their relationship--or at least, she's not as carefree and trusting as she used to be. As Asha makes complicated decisions about the fate of the kingdom, Ekon will have to choose whether to stand by her side or not.
Jones nails the corruption characteristic of human politics in A Queen's Pride, especially the compromises people are sometimes willing to make to get ahead. Chief Silas Royster, the main political party leader, decides to align himself with a more conservative and racist party in order to maintain power--a decision that eventually comes back to bite him. Literally.
Luckily for readers, the cliffhanger ending of this first book is a perfect lead-in to a sequel, next time focusing on one of the novel's other important characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture and Violence
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