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kmartbooks 's review for:
The Lost Queen
by Aimee Phan
mysterious
slow-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The Lost Queen opens with a moment of genuine unease: body horror, swimming pools, and surreal visions. It had a “Chlorine" by Jade Song vibe right off the bat, and I was in. That stopped pretty quickly, but it was an easy and compelling hook into the story. Jolie is immediately compelling: an isolated girl with a strange past, an equally strange family, and no idea how deeply her grandfather's stories will change her life.
This book is such a unique blend. It has Vietnamese folklore layered over a very modern high school setting. It balances the grandeur of the Trung Sisters and ancient prophecy with friendship drama, family secrets, and awkward teenage tension. That contrast really worked for me. I loved how the folklore was lived-in and personal.
I genuinely enjoyed the mystery of this one and I was surprised at the twists. There’s also no central romance here, and I really appreciated that! It’s rare to find a YA fantasy that centers on friendship and family, and this story sticks to that focus. Jolie’s bond with her grandfather and the larger threads of ancestral memory gave it emotional depth, even when the pacing wobbled.
That said—there is a bit of a lull in the middle, and the ending rushes through revelations that I wish had more time to breathe. Jolie, too, sometimes fades into the background of her own story. She’s reactive more than active, especially when the stakes heighten. This feels like a younger YA book—less intensity, more of a gentle unfolding—and while I was hoping for something with a bit more bite, it was still a satisfying, easy read.
If you like reincarnation stories, hidden histories, or books that blend cultural heritage with supernatural twists, this is a great way to spend an afternoon. Quietly magical and a fresh spin on stories of legacy and power.
Thanks so much to Colored Pages Book Tours, Penguin Teen, and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
This book is such a unique blend. It has Vietnamese folklore layered over a very modern high school setting. It balances the grandeur of the Trung Sisters and ancient prophecy with friendship drama, family secrets, and awkward teenage tension. That contrast really worked for me. I loved how the folklore was lived-in and personal.
I genuinely enjoyed the mystery of this one and I was surprised at the twists. There’s also no central romance here, and I really appreciated that! It’s rare to find a YA fantasy that centers on friendship and family, and this story sticks to that focus. Jolie’s bond with her grandfather and the larger threads of ancestral memory gave it emotional depth, even when the pacing wobbled.
That said—there is a bit of a lull in the middle, and the ending rushes through revelations that I wish had more time to breathe. Jolie, too, sometimes fades into the background of her own story. She’s reactive more than active, especially when the stakes heighten. This feels like a younger YA book—less intensity, more of a gentle unfolding—and while I was hoping for something with a bit more bite, it was still a satisfying, easy read.
If you like reincarnation stories, hidden histories, or books that blend cultural heritage with supernatural twists, this is a great way to spend an afternoon. Quietly magical and a fresh spin on stories of legacy and power.
Thanks so much to Colored Pages Book Tours, Penguin Teen, and the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.