If you're a fan of dystopian fantasy novels, this book is for you. It has a lot of action & makes you think about "class" systems so to speak & what it means to be "nameless.' This is a great story about relationships & family as well, which came as a very nice surprise. I highly recommend reading this book, whether you are a young adult or just an adult. You will be entertained & won't be able to put it down.

My Review: I originally was drawn to this book by the cover and the synopsis sounded intriguing but could possibly have ended up like so many other YA fantasies, but I wanted to give it a try. Little did I know that this would end up drawing me in completely. The world building was great, we got a sense of the class system and the setting very quickly and were eased into the magic system and political systems throughout the book, but it was all done very smoothly. I also found an instant love for the characters, flawed and somewhat morally grey but so well rounded. While there wasn't a lot of action in the story, the pages kept turning quickly as Coin fumbled her way through this new role the best way she know how. I love that unlike so many other YA Fantasies, there isn't a love interest, it is all about survival, trust and found families.

My Rating: While I understand the lack of a romance and the little action in this book might be a disappointment for some readers, I found it to be a really intriguing read. There are some twists that are a little predictable but I still really enjoyed every minute of it. I give it a rating of Four Paws!

I was given a copy of this e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
This was a genuinely enjoyable book. I've read several variations of the "girl from lower class finds herself thrust into upper class intrigue and magic" but none quite like this. I think the real strength here lay in the characters and the bonds that are forged throughout the book. Coin's friendships and found family truly warmed my heart. I loved Hat and Esther and Devil but especially Glenquartz. His dad energy and kindness was just lovely. It was a treat to see Coin go on this journey of finding herself and her own tribe. I was also fascinated by the magic system at work and the laws that governed it. As usual when I find a unique and interesting story, I just want to know more. I also enjoyed it as a standalone. It is so hard to find those these days. While I would love to see more of these characters and the world, I'm happy with what I got. A great encapsulated story in my opinion! I'm glad I read it.

I loved the premise of this and the book started out strong for me. I like Coin (the main character) quite a bit. She's witty and strong and doesn't need any guy (seriously, thank you for that!) to help her out. She was not, however, strong enough to carry the book. After the first half the pace slowed and just didn't hold my attention as well. There were quite a few plot points, mainly about the nameless that I felt were not dealt with well enough and I didn't love the way the book ended. All in all though it was a fresh idea and I do look forward to reading more from this author.

A peasant is named the heir of a kingdom that doesn’t even recognize her. Despite her uneasiness with her new status, she must navigate court politics as well as the mystery of how she became the heir in the first place. Old friends and new allies come forward to help her in her cause as she struggles to make a name for herself. Debut author Rebecca McLaughlin gives YA readers a new heroine to cheer for in her terrific novel Nameless Queen.

All her life, Coin has known one fact for sure: she can only count on herself. As part of the class of citizens known as the Nameless, she’s missing a key part of her identity: her actual name. In the city of Seriden, the Nameless are the lowest class. The Legals represent the working middle class. The Royals rule the city and the kingdom.

Coin grew up without her name and also without a family, but she’s done all right for herself. She’s a skilled thief and con artist and has made her way through life by using both traits to her full advantage. Recently, though, another Nameless girl who goes by Hat has taken to following Coin everywhere. Coin doesn’t want the responsibility for anyone else. It’s hard enough to take care of herself. Then the unbelievable happens.

According to the magic that rules Seriden, when the ruling Royal is on his or her death bed that person names the heir to the throne. The announcement of the heir is made known by a crown tattoo that appears on the heir’s arm. In the middle of what seems like an ordinary day, Coin experiences the strangest sensation and discovers the crown tattoo on her skin.

She’s horrified and fascinated all at the same time. How in all the world can she be named the heir? She has no connection to the Royals. She’s a Nameless, after all. Yet no one can deny the appearance of the tattoo, and in the midst of a scuffle in the market Hat gets arrested and whisked away. Coin has no interest in the throne of Seriden for herself, but she won’t let Hat rot in a Royal prison. Add to that the fact that other Nameless have been going missing for months now and no one knows why, Coin makes a decision. Against her better judgment, she reports to the castle.

Coin discovers there are people on the court she can rely on as confidantes, and she needs them. Other factions within the castle are actively bidding for the crown that has been named hers. She figures out soon enough that she’ll need to rely on her new friends if she’s going to get out alive.

Author Rebecca McLaughlin will delight readers with the world she’s presenting: a world based on a caste system that abides by rules of magic. Coin is plucky and resourceful, everything readers expect in a heroine today. Her friend, Hat, will also endear herself to the target audience. Hat is sweet and funny and the perfect model for a younger sister, and Coin’s irritation and affection for her balance Hat’s admiration as only an older sister could.

The book could have used better world building, and Coin seems to settle into her new role in court with a little too much ease. Had her struggle endured further into the novel, she would have become a fully three-dimensional character. Also, at a key moment in the book other Nameless come to Coin and make a request of her. The request seems odd and out of step with the events in the scene in question.

That being said, McLaughlin must be applauded for the variety of ways she’s used the concept and even the word “nameless.” She’s set up the end of the book for a sequel and indicated in her author’s note that one is forthcoming. Given the last few lines of the story, readers will certainly be waiting to find out what happens next with Coin and her bid for the throne.

Those willing to give a new fantasy author and novel a chance will most likely enjoy this novel; I recommend readers Borrow Nameless Queen.

I overall really enjoyed these characters and this world building. I also really enjoyed how this book addressed very current event elements and had such a interesting and compelling story as a read. I adored both the main character in the read and loved the message about making your own family so much. It was fun engaging pace read. I thought the end had some pacing issues but I really did grow to love the characters and this world. I think the highlight of this book was the world building and the group of the characters that came together for this adventure. Some plot elements had predictable elements but overall I enjoyed this read and will def read a book 2!

"How you make people see you isn't necessarily how you really are."

Nameless Queen was not what I was expecting, but in SUCH a good way. Don't get me wrong, I love a good quick paced book, but in the beginning I was left wishing there was a little bit more character building because it all started so incredibly fast. So, from about the second chapter I didn't have super high hopes. But, holy guacamole, everything changed! I was so pleasantly surprised by a lot of the plot twists, and it made this a very entertaining and quick read. I know this is meant to be a standalone but, I will cross my fingers for a sequel, because I think it could also be great! If not, I know the tight friendships made in the book will live on forever in my head.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Other than a few holes in the story line, I really enjoyed this book. I hope we get more so that some things that were left hanging, get explained.

Nameless Queen, by debut author Rebecca McLaughlin, is a stand-alone adventure featuring 17-year old Coin. Coin lives in a place called Seriden where she's one of the Nameless, undervalued, and deprived of basic rights. There are actually three classes: Nameless, Legals, and Royals. Each are defined by the clothes they wear and the fact that Nameless have no rights. Coin lives on the streets where she steals from both Legals and Royals in order to survive. Coin is the name that she’s given herself though it’s not official so she’s not really considered a citizen next to the Legals and Royals in the city of Seriden.

When King Fallow suddenly dies, there is sort of an upheaval of sorts. The next heir is chosen when the King whispers his or her name before he dies. In this world, royalty isn't passed through bloodlines. Royalty has become a game of names not blood. The next heir could be anyone, whoever has the crown tattoo, including one who has a gift for improvisation and has been living on the streets since she was a baby. The King apparently spoke Coin's real name as he died. Coin suddenly becomes the Nameless Queen after a very public revelation after trying to save her friend Hat, another nameless, from execution.

From there, she’s forcibly taken into the palace and presumably has to deal with her new life as queen. But, there are those who don't want a nameless to become Queen. They even claim that she must pass a challenge called the Assassin's Festival where anyone can stop forward and challenge her for the crown. Her only real friend seems to be Lieutenant Glenquartz and after some bitter backstabbing, Esther Fallow the King's daughter. Her enemies are too many to name outside of General Demure and Marcher who apparently raised Coin as he saw fit.

The tattoo gives her the power to see auras, read memories, and create illusions. She sees Demure's desire to kill hundreds of Nameless. She can even tell when food has been poisoned. If Coin is killed before the Assassin's Festival, there is no telling what will happen to the magic in Seriden. Coin's hesitance in remaining Queen and not just passing her tattoo off to the next contender was believable and made her character development all the more worthwhile. I really loved that Hat was involved in this story more than just a tertiary character. She has a tendency of making scenes with Coin better to deal with instead of doom and gloom and hopelessness. She also reminded me of Primm from the Hunger Games.

I could totally understand Esther. She's the King's daughter who should have been named as heir. But, because of a silly action that happened years ago that bound magic to the tattoo, she has to stand by and watch another take her place. When Esther finally reveals her relationship to Coin, it became apparent that Coin and Esther would find a way to work through their discontent while challenging the very revealing villains. There's no secrets as to who the villains of this story are. They are introduced to you right out of the gate.

I would have liked to have the author explain why there is an entire class of citizens called Nameless. Is it because they have no rights, and therefore nobody gives two figs whether or not they have a name or not? Also, the ending was a bit twisted in my humble opinion. I would have liked to learn of Coin's real name, but at this point, I'm not sure it that would have even mattered. She proves herself worthy even with the name she chose for herself. I am also very glad that there wasn't any romance in this book. While I am glad that Coin and Glenquartz were friends, had they coupled, I would have not liked the story as much.

This book intrigued me from the very beginning. It was a story set in Seriden, a make believe land where caste systems are in place. The wealthy and powerful royals, the workers and those who do everything without that much of a raise legals and the lowest of the low who aren’t even considered citizens: the Nameless. Within this world, power and magic passes on with the whisper of a name upon death of the previous ruler which also passes on a tattoo of a crown that immediately grants the throne to whomever has it. In this world, no one believed that a Nameless could be queen, because the no names and all but the unthinkable happens to Coin our main character.
Upon receiving this tattoo, she wants nothing to do with it, wants to hide away where no one could find out but when circumstances force her hand, she is thrust into a court full of deceit and envy. There she meets Esther who was the previous ruler’s daughter and a loyal guard. Throughout this book, there is one twist after another leaving you surprised for its entirety. Not only is this a fantasy book but it’s a book about families that are not only defined by blood and how implicitly wrong it is for a caste system to be in place. I didn’t get the concept of the nameless at the beginning but after finishing it, what I learned is that the nameless are those without a voice, they are the ones forced to do unimaginable things for shelter and food, they are the ones forced to be criminals in order to survive and they are the strongest people in a society ruled by the wealthy. Because the nameless survive, they survive and they rise above despite what others told them what they could and could not do.

I received a complimentary copy of Nameless Queen by Rebecca McLaughlin from Crown Books for Young Readers through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Nameless Queen was released today, January 7th!
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Coin is one of the Nameless, the lowest social class in Seriden. The Nameless don't have any legal rights and they live on the streets, stealing and conning the Legals and Royals to stay alive. When the King of Seriden dies, the city is in an uproar because the crown tattoo that marks the next ruler hasn't been passed to anyone in the Royal caste. Coin is shocked to find the tattoo on her own arm; the tattoo could only have been passed to her if the king spoke her name before he died, but she is Nameless. Coin becomes the impossible Queen of Seriden, but it's not that simple. The tattoo comes with confusing magical powers she must get used to and there is a period during which the tattoo can be passed to another either peacefully or by force. Coin quickly finds a lot of enemies and a couple of allies in the palace, but she must decide if she should pass on the tattoo as the Royal Counsel wants her to or keep the crown and advocate for the Nameless.
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Nameless Queen was a fun adventure in a unique world. I really loved the premise, but there were some characters that felt underdeveloped. Glenquartz was a little too trusting and loyal from the beginning, but I loved him anyway. I wanted to know more about Hat and why she is so special to Coin. I also wanted to better understand Belrosa. Coin is a great heroine who pushes past her fears to do what she thinks is best and I do feel she was well-realized and complex. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a unique magical world and a strong female lead!

Unfortunately I had to DNF'd this book at about 60%. I loved the synopsis for the book but didn't like the main character Coin. She was a bit too moody and complained quite a bit. And I understand because she had a rough life living in the streets but you didn't get a lot of back story as to why she was like this. Just vague references. And that plot twist that came at 55% through was kinda obvious but didn't have a lot of impact, to me at least. Thank you for giving me the chance to review this book!

My favorite part of this book was the main character, Coin. She was cunning, caring, and never gave up. Her adaptability in situations that she had never been in or dreamed of being in, as she was thrust into her role of queen was extremely fun to read about. I loved how she used all her street smarts to learn about the royals and trick/manipulate them to do what she wanted and needed.

The fantasy world created by McLaughlin, excluding the magic, is one that people can relate to. In Sheridan, there are Royals with money and power, and then those beneath them, all the way down to the nameless who have nothing. Reading about how Coin uses her past to help others and try to make the kingdom a better place creates a character you have to root for.

If you’re looking for a quick and entertaining read, The Nameless Queen is a great place to start.

Nameless Queen by Rebecca McLaughlin, 352 pages.
Random House (Crown Books), 2020. $18.
Language: PG13 (15 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
As a Nameless, the most 17-year-old Coin can hope for is to not get caught pickpocketing today. But when the king dies and the tattoo revealing his named heir appears on her shoulder, Coin has to face a new reality: being named as heir means that she has a name and that those of higher rank just gained another reason to dislike her.
All around, McLaughlin has crafted a splendid read. I loved how there was so much adversity to overcome alongside the problems needing to be solved and how McLaughlin brought things together in the end. I loved all the different characters with their varying motivations and how they ended up helping each other. I loved the messages of social classes and the definition of family. I even loved the acknowledgements section at the end of the book, which I don’t normally read. While McLaughlin has set things up to potentially write a sequel, part of me doesn’t want any sequels because I am so content with how great Coin’s story was and how satisfied I am with the ending.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

"You get to pick the people you let into your life and who you keep in your life."

This is an interestingly arresting book. It starts off a bit slow but quickly builds up into a face paced story about the bonds of family and what it truly means to belong.
Some of the action left something to be desired, but seeing how it wasn't really the focus I could get past it.
It was a funny, easy read that left me hopeful.

Nameless Queen is the debut novel of Rebecca McLaughlin, and it has been getting a lot of attention in the last few months. It’s been favorably compared to novels like Red Queen, Everless, and Furyborn. Having read the novel, I can certainly understand why those comparisons were made.
Nameless Queen is set in a world where magic exists but only serves to strengthen the differences between classes. There are the Royals, the Legals, and the Nameless. That’s where Coin comes into play – that’s the name she chose for herself, since she was never given any other.
The Nameless are the lowest class in the city, and are treated worse than dirt. The only good thing they have going for them is that magic doesn’t seem to affect them. A small grace, given the odds of being killed by lack of food, hygiene, or being in the good graces of a guard.
But all of that is set to change on the morning of the King’s death. For Coin herself has inherited that magical and coveted crown tattoo. The one that marks her as the new queen of the city.

“Wearing Legal clothes is enough to get me thrown into prison, or if the patrolling Royal guards are in a bad mood, I’ll get a quick trip to the gallows.”

Nameless Queen was an interesting and emotionally compelling read. This was a tale that wove politics with magic, and it was such an interesting combination. I would gladly read more about this world, given half the chance.
It’s impossible to read this book and not feel sympathy for Coin and her Nameless friends. McLaughlin did an excellent job of portraying all of the hardships that come along with living in squalor and being treated so poorly. Seeing the magical flair was a nice touch, of course.
This was a fast-paced read, one that had us rushing alongside Coin as she struggled with politics, betrayals, and magical battles. To say that there was a lot going on here would be the understatement of the year.
My one regret is that we didn’t get more time to know more of the characters on a personal level. We saw a lot of Coin and what made her tick, but I still felt like there was this barrier to getting to know her. I think that had to do with how frequently she was focused on other dilemmas, but I’m not certain. Likewise, I would have loved to see a stronger connection made with the secondary characters as well.
I did really enjoy this world, and was enthralled by the magical system that McLaughlin created. I’m not sure if her next book will be a standalone, or if it will be a sequel. But if it is a sequel, I look forward to seeing more of this world – and the politics within it.

If you enjoyed the Throne of Glass series, or Three Dark Crowns, or The Hunger Games, then you will most likely enjoy Nameless Queen.
When the king or queen of Seriden is about to die, he or she passes on the crown and the magic that comes with it to their chosen heir. He or she must name the next ruler, and that ruler can be identified by a tattoo which will magically appear on his or her left shoulder. The crown usually goes to another Royal, or sometimes to a Legal, but it has never gone to one of the Nameless. It can't, because the dying ruler must <i>name</i> the next ruler and the Nameless, obviously, don't have names aside from the ones they give themselves. So it is a great shock to the Nameless girl who calls herself Coin to find the royal tattoo on her shoulder one morning. Her first thought is to escape - there is no way having this tattoo can lead to anything good for her - but when a friend and fellow Nameless is arrested by Royal Guards she steps in to stop them from killing the other girl.
The Royal Council doesn't know what to do with her. She's impossible - a Nameless Queen. They don't know what to do. Coin isn't sure either. Her primary goal is what it's always been - survival- but slowly she comes to realize that she can aspire to something more.
The cast of characters are well-drawn and enjoyable. The story hooked me quickly and I liked it a lot. The ending was satisfying. All in all a good read.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nameless Queen by Rebecca McLaughlin focuses on a girl that goes by the name of Coin. She lives in Seriden, a kingdom where the crown is passed down when the current monarch is dying and says a name. The person who the name pertains to is the new ruler. There are three social classes in Seridan: the Royals (rich), the Legals (middle-class), and the Nameless(homeless). Coin is nameless.

There is a lot of drama and confusion when the crown tattoo appears on her arm. The royals are angry, and the rest confused.

Honestly, this book has a lot of potential. The storyline is there and with some editing it could be a master piece. I would have appreciated more detail when she does surprising things, like suddenly knowing how to use her magic, stealing while in shackles and surrounded by guards, learning everything about being rich in 5 seconds.

I think another thing that bothered me is that the word building is kind of missing. We don't really know much about anything. How does the world look? The clothes? How modern is it? There are guns but no blood transfusions or cars. I would have liked more focus on the word itself.

Also, Main character, Coin, is kind of a Mary Sue. Her only flaw is having a temper but it isn't ever truly a flaw.

I liked the idea of the story and how she made the nameless section. I just feel like the story is missing depth.

I recommend this story for anyone that wants a quick YA read or wants to waste some time.

"Everyone expected the king's daughter would inherit the throne. No one expected me.
It shouldn't be possible. I'm Nameless, a class of citizens so disrespected, we don't even get names. Dozens of us have been going missing for months and no one seems to care.
But there's no denying the tattoo emblazoned on my arm. I am to be queen. In a palace where the corridors are more dangerous than the streets, though, how could I possibly rule? And what will become of the Nameless if I don't?"

The premise of Nameless Queen is a very interesting one and what drew me in from the beginning. I liked the way the author explored the economic and social divide in Seriden, and packaged it up in a way that can reach younger readers and maybe brings them some food for thought.
It's also a relatively quick read, it doesn't ever really get boring and one can blaze through it in a day or two if they want. The language is easy to understand and follow.

I highly enjoyed that there wasn't really any focus on romance in this book, even though I'm generally a fan of a good love story in my fantasy, but here it served as a refreshing break for the genre. We're focusing more on family, friendship and strength instead, which is wonderful.

I think this makes a great read for the younger YA demographic, but would probably appeal less to older teens and adults who enjoy YA, because of the overall fairly simple structure of the writing style, story, the characters and the setting. Especially the ending / the big showdown scene and its aftermath seemed a little too on the nose for me to really let it grip me and build much tension. Every explanation is spoonfed to the reader and I don't think that's necessary. I'd even say it's counterproductive in getting the message across and the story would have benefitted from leaving some room for the reader's own imagination and interpretation.

One morning, Coin - our heroine, wakes up with a strange tattoo and nothing in her life is ever the same. The tattoo is something that marks her as the next chosen royal to rule over Sheridan. She lives in a land that has three class which are the Royals, The Legals, and the Nameless. The Nameless is the class that Coin belongs to and they have no rights, no property, and no money. So to have someone from the lowest class rise up to rule from the highest class is quite the shock for everyone, including Coin.

Why was Coin chosen? Will the other Royals eventually accept her? Is someone out to kill her and why? There are mysteries to be solved and this book seems to be open to a series (but can be read on its own).

I would recommend this book for children and young adults. I enjoyed the book and thought it was fun~ perhaps the editing should be tightened up just a bit as far as the plot so that it is more organized.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Rebecca McLaughlin, and Random House Children's Publisher for an advance digital reader copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own!