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bookish_boy_mama 's review for:
The Scorpion Queen
by Mina Fears
slow-paced
The Scorpion Queen by Mina Fears
Narrated by Sandra Okuboyejo
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Set in Timbuktu, suitors wanting Princess Mariana's hand in marriage must first survive Emperor Sulyeman's trials, including finding the bark and wood of a tree that doesn't exist, or surviving a bath of boiling water. Princess Mariana wants an end to the trials. The princess's handmaiden, Amie, is the disinherited daughter of a wealthy merchant who was stripped of everything and forced into serving at the palace. With her help, Amie seeks to put a stop to the trials and slaughter of the empire's young men.
The story is a young adult, dark fantasy, inspired by a Malian fairy tale, and both the premise and cover sucked me in. Fall from grace type stories are always intriguing to me, and in this case it wasn't even Amie's fault that she lost it all. Young love, adventure across the dangerous Sahara, Gods, deadly trials, and hidden truths all made for the base of a captivating story.
Unfortunately I felt like things moved rather slowly and I found my mind drifting often while listening to the audiobook. The narration was very well done, but the aspects of the story I was interested in weren't embellished as much as I would have liked, and some of the pacing felt a bit uncomfortable; some parts dragged on while others felt a bit glossed over. The ending felt rather abrupt and though I understand the cliffhanger ending, I didn't feel hooked enough to continue the series.
It was an easy story to follow, and while it may not have been right for me, I do think there is great potential in the novel.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
All opinions expressed in this review are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.
Narrated by Sandra Okuboyejo
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Set in Timbuktu, suitors wanting Princess Mariana's hand in marriage must first survive Emperor Sulyeman's trials, including finding the bark and wood of a tree that doesn't exist, or surviving a bath of boiling water. Princess Mariana wants an end to the trials. The princess's handmaiden, Amie, is the disinherited daughter of a wealthy merchant who was stripped of everything and forced into serving at the palace. With her help, Amie seeks to put a stop to the trials and slaughter of the empire's young men.
The story is a young adult, dark fantasy, inspired by a Malian fairy tale, and both the premise and cover sucked me in. Fall from grace type stories are always intriguing to me, and in this case it wasn't even Amie's fault that she lost it all. Young love, adventure across the dangerous Sahara, Gods, deadly trials, and hidden truths all made for the base of a captivating story.
Unfortunately I felt like things moved rather slowly and I found my mind drifting often while listening to the audiobook. The narration was very well done, but the aspects of the story I was interested in weren't embellished as much as I would have liked, and some of the pacing felt a bit uncomfortable; some parts dragged on while others felt a bit glossed over. The ending felt rather abrupt and though I understand the cliffhanger ending, I didn't feel hooked enough to continue the series.
It was an easy story to follow, and while it may not have been right for me, I do think there is great potential in the novel.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
All opinions expressed in this review are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.