A review by blueberrydoozy
The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.5

I read a sneak peak of this during my Epic Reads era in middle/high schol when it came out and was intrigued by it but never read it because I wanted to own my own hardcover (it was pretty! blue!) and then read it. I came back to this years later, a Libby ebook of it, available as it is long forgotten now (though it's the same author as Divine Rivals!) and oh my gahhhhh

NO. NOOOOOO. ICK ICK ICK. He knew her since she was 10?!!! When they first met when SHE WAS ONLY 10 I said to myself they better NOT be love interests because wtf. HE was also HER TEACHER. NO WAY. The age gap math isn't mathing. I know it's supposed to be Renaissance France epic fantasy but I just could not throughout the book.  🤨<- Literally my face throughout my whole reading of this book when they had their moments. Because of this, I pictured Dan Stevens as Cartier/Theo/Aodhan (gosh pick an identity would you) cuz he's one actor I see with striking blue eyes and Cartier/Theo Pedo has those creepy pedo blue eyes. And the plot twist I could see a mile away like I went "oh yeah he's def going to be Aodhan" like the family tree is right there and he said he went to Delaroche.

Now this has the potential to make a wonderful (may I say camp and diverse) teen show (if I'm in charge of it duh) but I will be changing that part because we can do better. It is so unnecessary.

may I propose maybe some Saphic revisions

Mad that my library doesn't carry the sequel in my libby. SAD. I just want to know

how my boy Sean is doing. He was a real one. Why didn't Bri defend him and say he wasn't a traitor like c'mon now he's your brother and risked his life for you