Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. These are my honest opinions.

This book was so, so good. It definitely deserves a spot on the favorites shelf! Gonna go ahead and say it is one of the best books in 2020.

I love how the author took different classes of people and made each (and their struggles) so relatable. And one of the messages this book sends is clear- no one should ever feel or be invisible. No one is worthless enough to be nameless.

Each character was extremely well done with his/her own mysteries and stories. I want to be more like each of them in certain ways.

The setting of Sheridan is a beautiful backdrop for everything that happens. Extra points for beautiful and realistic descriptions!

Something that was refreshing was that there wasn’t really a romantic relationship in this book. It seems that most YA authors look at that as a HAVE to element and it isn’t. Nice to have a book that stands out in that way and just tells the main character’s story without unnecessary drama getting in the way. But for reference I wouldn’t mind it in a future book. 🙂

I dearly hope McLaughlin realizes how much a sequel to this story is needed. I for one feel that there is much more to tell. Five stars!

I liked the idea of this book and the characters were fun, but it felt a little directionless and I had a difficult time understanding exactly we were working toward. Society is split into three castes, the Royals at the top, the Legals in the middle, and the Nameless at the bottom. The Nameless do not have names given at birth, they are poor, have no rights, and seem to survive by committing crimes. Coin is a Nameless who finds herself named the heir to the throne when the king dies. She faces enemies at every turn and must figure out why she was named queen and what that will mean for her country's future.
As the story went, I could see that we were following Coin as she looked for answers about herself, but the overall plot seemed vague. Are we gearing up for a war? A change in the magic system? Is there a romance? I was also a bit disappointed when we found out why Coin was named the heir, I was hoping it would go in a different direction.
I thought this was an okay read and maybe the sequel will have more action and a better outline. Glenquartz was a great character and I really liked the relationship he formed with Coin and Hat. I hope there are more familial relationships and maybe a romance in the future!

3 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Random Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

In the world Coin lives there are Royals, Legals and the Nameless.. The Royals are well, Royals so I think you know what they are then there are the Legals. Legals can live in the city and have a home. They however cannot get above a certain status and then last but not least there are the Nameless. The Nameless are exactly that, they have no names and since they do not have a name they cannot work or have a home. They wear clothes that have been discarded by the higher classes. Clothes that have black marks on them so everyone will know that they are "worthless". They give themselves names.

When the King dies everyone waits to see who will be the next King or Queen though most assume that Esther, the Kings daughter will be the next Queen. When the King or Queen die they must pick their successor by saying their name. Only someone with an actual name can be picked. Once they say the name and pass away a magical tattoo moves from their arm to the chosen. When the tattoo appears on Coin's arm she tries to hide it until she must reveal herself to save her friend's life.

This has to be one of the most interesting ideas for a fantasy novel that I have read in some time. I love the way the class warfare plays out in the novel and I was really moved by certain parts of this book. I truly did enjoy this book a lot and I would like to see this written as a series. I have to admit that I shed a few tears while reading this. I can tell that Rebecca McLaughlin has a real talent and I look forward to reading more by her.

Meet Coin. She is everything a street-wise grifter ought to be, and nothing a Queen is expected to be. And yet...she's both.



Rebecca McLaughlin introduces the reader to a world where the divide between classes is so stark as to be breathtaking. While every city in our world has the well-known tiers of wealthy, almost-wealthy, surviving, poor, and abject, Seriden takes the class system to the most serious degree. There is magic in Seriden. Once that magic was wild, but it was long ago harnessed and tied to an elite group of rulers - one for each of the 14 kingdoms. Now Seriden has its own set of classes - the Sovereign, who wields the magic. Citizens, who have names and are able to see magic and be seen by it. And the Nameless. A class of outcasts so despised and dismissed they're given literally nothing. No rights, no homes, no jobs, no names.



When the Sovereign reaches the end of their life, they pass on their rule to the last person they name before they die. In this way, the citizens and ruling class of Seriden can ensure the Nameless are never able to rise above their station - until Coin. She wakes up one day in the same alley she fell asleep, but with a sore shoulder. She believes she likely slept on it wrong, but the truth is so much more complicated. During the night, the King passed away. Before he did, he said her name and passed his rule on to her. But how could he do that, when she has no name?



So begins her journey. As Coin goes through the days, she utilizes all of her skills as a grifter to survive in the political world of the palace. She is challenged by others and by herself to learn her strengths and weaknesses, to identify and stand by her beliefs, and to recognize friend and foe.



This is a young adult book. As such, I found it exceedingly easy and enjoyable to read. Sometimes fantasy novels become cumbersome with how complicated they are. Character and city names can be impossible to decipher, plots difficult to follow. Some of them are almost exhausting to read through, and the reader reaches the last page feeling as though they've run a marathon, of sorts. That is not what we have here.



With "Nameless Queen," every single page is easy and enjoyable to read. This is the perfect book for a weekend or a rainy day (or a long flight!).



There is room for growth, of course. There are scenes where greater description of the emotional reactions of characters would have added depth, but it's not strictly necessary. McLaughlin has made it clear what is happening in her characters' minds, and their interactions are well-written. There was only one scene that I wished had had a little more oomph to it - a face-off between Coin and the Heir Apparent. I feel like that scene could have been so much more vivid and powerful.



Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I'm very glad that it's on my shelf and feel comfortable reading it aloud, even, to my young daughter. The principles in this story are exactly the kinds of things I want her growing up thinking about.

As expected with a book involving a strict class system, there are strong themes of oppression, injustice, and inequality. Nameless are overlooked, underestimated, and viewed as little more than trash. They don’t have access to housing, food, jobs, clothing, or any kind of security. When Nameless go missing, there isn’t anyone to investigate, since no one cares other than the Nameless. Royals, and to a lesser extent, Legals, have access to far more opportunities and privileges.

Coin is a street-smart and likable character, who has grown up to be a self-sufficient and resourceful woman. She knows the value of letting people underestimate her, and only shows her hand when it benefits her. Even so, she finds that old habits die hard. I particularly enjoyed her humorous nicknames for other characters, but also her ability to stay loyal to other Nameless, even as she has opportunities handed to her. She doesn’t forget where she comes from, and never loses her sense of humanity and kindness.

There were some aspects of the book that I found contradictory. One of the major issues was how Nameless can legally steal, but can also be imprisoned or executed for stealing. Another issue was one that I can’t quite discuss without giving away a huge plot point, and spoiling the story for you. I suspected something was up, but didn’t exactly see it happening as it did.

While most of the characters were delightfully well-rounded, there were a few who were a bit too one-dimensional for my liking — either all good or all bad. Much like in the real world, the majority of people have good and bad parts to them. I would have liked to see a little more depth in these characters, and see some good qualities in the villains, and maybe even a flaw or two in the good guys. Overall, the book was well-written and I did find it enjoyable.

I love a good story about found family and fierce girls and this one had both in spades. I was immediately drawn in to Coin's world and the everyday problems she faced. I like that the author didn't explain everything about the world up front, but lets us learn the rules as the story unfolds. I also enjoyed the real issues of class woven in to this magical fantasy world. Another refreshing part of this book was the lack of romance. In the beginning I kept waiting for The Love Interest to show up, but by the middle I was so engrossed in the story I forgot to care and that's saying something.
The ending of this book leaves just enough open that there could be a sequel, but I also like that it could exist as a standalone. I can imagine Seriden existing past the pages we read and the characters living on - like the end of a good TV series finale.

The concept of this book really intrigued me, the concept of the “nameless” and the plight of the main character, a nameless who has been somehow named as the new queen. There are a number of twists and conflicts that pulled me into the book and by about halfway through, I wasn’t able to put it down. The eventual antagonist did seem pretty predictable to me, however, and the ending didn’t seem to fit the rest of the story. I was left with a number of questions about how the story was eventually resolved, which didn’t seem to be properly explained, and wish I could have found more closure in the last pages, rather than set-up for a potential sequel.
Despite not having a name, I felt very connected to the main character. She was mysterious but interesting and had developed beautiful throughout the book. She has a number of supporting characters that I enjoyed getting to know as well and all the characters seemed to play an essential role in the plot. As I said before, the person revealed to the antagonist seemed fairly transparent to me, which I’m not sure was intentional or not for the author, but it did not spoil my enjoyment of the other characters and story.
The world and magic system set up in this book was unique. I enjoyed the explanation of the city and the social classes, in addition to seeing how the different classes interacted. As only the king or queen of the city are able to possess magic, the reader has the opportunity to explore the magic system along with the protagonist. The trouble with that, though, is the protagonist does not completely understand the magic she possesses and the rules of how to use it are never fully explained, especially with how the magic that resolves the plot at the end of the book works. I hope this is something the author plans to further explore in any sequels.
I definitely recommend this book for fans of the fantasy genre, especially those who love Furyborn and similar lost-monoarchy stories. The characters are interesting and complex, including the secondary characters. The conflicts in the story really gripped me and I found the book difficult to put down. The ending did leave me wanting, but it seems the author is setting up the story for a sequel. I’m optimistic that any questions I still have will be resolved in the next book of the series. This is a quick read and a great book to start off your 2020 reading list.

A YA Fantasy about Coin a girl with no name that was thrown into a different world to her.
Lots of drama,twists,angst suspense and a mysterious tattoo.
Good characters like Coin,Hat Esther.
a slow moving plot but good.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Nameless Queen sounded exciting from the synopsis, but the book did not deliver the high-stakes fantasy I expected. Nameless Queen was based on a caste system that was interesting but never fleshed out, instead the reader had to do the leg work on what these different castes meant and the magic system. There was never a moment where anything felt high stakes either. Coin, the main character, was named the next royal even though she was from the Nameless class, the lowest of the low. Through her sarcasm and desperation to do good by her friends she was able to get others to join her side and nothing felt dangerous about the situation. Although Nameless Queen is being compared to titles like Furyborn and Everless, I thought Nameless Queen read more like lower YA rather than upper YA. I had higher expectations for this book, but I do think a younger audience would enjoy it more.

I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I started in on this book liking it and I think having higher hopes for it then I was sitting at about 60% of the way through. However the last 40% was good. It almost seemed as if this book was left open enough to continue on. So I wouldn't be surprised to hear this turned into a series or there is an off shoot of the world. Coin, Hat, and Esther were really good characters. They do grow well in the book. My only wish....I knew what was on the slip of paper at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Coin, a Nameless in the city of Seriden, hangs out with other Nameless and is a thief and con at the market place every morning.

As the royals lose their leader, Coin gains a tattoo that makes her the next in line. She doesn’t understand, as she has no name and how could they know her name?

This was an interesting YA dystopian read. No romance involved, but more about family and strength.

Nameless Queen is a new fast-paced YA fantasy set in a fictional city-state of Seriden. Our main character Coin belongs to the Nameless, the lowest of the three casts that exist in the city. As such, she has no name or home, and survives by thieving and running cons. The plot centers around the fact that one day, a crown tattoo mysteriously appears on her arm, which means that the King of Seriden named her his heir with his last breath.

Since Coin is "nameless," she is baffled by how someone could have known her name, and initially determines to keep the tattoo a secret. She is forced to reveal herself when her friend Hat gets captured by some Royal guards and is threatened to be executed. The rest of the book deals largely with resolving the fate of the royal crown and the mystery of Coin's tattoo.

The book focuses heavily on political machinations and revealing of Coin's past. Things move along fairly quickly, and the story stays engaging and interesting throughout. I liked the characters, the pacing and the plot overall. There is no romance in this book at all, which was frankly quite refreshing. Given the relatively short amount of time covered in the story and the complexity of the issues the main characters are faced with, there was no reason to throw romance into the mix.

I am not sure if McLaughlin is planning to write a sequel. The book reads as a standalone. All major plot lines are resolved and there is no need for another book. Overall, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars: a face-paced adventure story with interesting plot lines and enjoyable characters.

An e-ARC was provided by NetGalley.com.

Rule in the kingdom of Sheridan is not transferred by blood but by a magical tattoo that appears on the one named with the king’s last breath. Coin is one of the Nameless who live by theft and con; the people so low they don’t even have names. Yet the magic tattoo burns on her shoulder and is verified by the late king’s daughter. She knows all about surviving in the streets but nothing about living through the politics in the Royal class. She just wants to last long enough to find out why young Nameless are disappearing from the streets and to rescue her best friend from the gallows. She can use her new magic and old swagger to run the ultimate con and perhaps make a difference in the lives of those she loves.

A Thief Becomes Queen

The kingdom of Seriden is a stratified society: Royals at the top. Legals as the workers, and Nameless at the bottom. The Nameless have no standing and live by theft and grifting. Coin is a Nameless. She’s clever and brave, a very good thief.

The new ruler of Seriden is chosen by the dying ruler saying the name of a person. The royal tattoo is magically transferred to that person and he or she becomes the next ruler. Surprisingly, on the death of the old king, the tattoo appears on Coin’s arm. She shows the tattoo to save her friend, Hat, who has been caught by the guards. No one is eager to proclaim her queen, and she is unsure about her desire to rule, but the rules must be followed. Coin will have tests to pass.

This fantasy will appeal to middle grade girls. Coin is crafty and smart. She’s an admirable thief. She also has courage to face the Royals. I liked her best when she was on the streets, showing her crafty side. She seemed less herself when faced with the challenges of the Royals.

The story is a true fantasy. It’s filled with magic and strange characters. I thought the genesis of the magic was hard to follow. Coin seems to require no practice to use it. There is a basic description of how the magic works, but I would have liked to know more.

If you enjoy fantasy, this is an interesting tale that will probably be followed by a sequel.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

Everyone expected the king's daughter would inherit the throne. No one expected me.

It shouldn't even be possible. I'm Nameless, a class of citizens so disrespected, we don't even get names. Heck, 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 queen. In a palace where the corridors are more dangerous the streets, though, how could I possibly rule? And what will become of the Nameless if I don't?- Goodreads

I liked this book. It was a good read. It kept me invested from beginning to end. 

I loved the world building of the novel. But I wanted more of that world. It was very the rich is getting richer and abusing the poor while the poor is getting poorer and abusing each other. The divide was very clear, the picture of peasants and grayness was very visible and greatly appreciated that. 

What caused me to give this book 3 Pickles (spoiler I know), was the Nameless that became Queen. She was good at being Nameless but when her title changed she didn't know how to the play the game. This frustrated me because at several points she realizes that being royal is a game that needs to be played and instead of self-improving and getting hip to the game, she just didn't and did more complaining as if she didn't have the power to change things. It was a frustrating circle to read because she saw it and acknowledged it and then did nothing. 

There was some character development but not enough for me to bump up my rating. 

I wish the author added more about the magic, the history of the city and more history about the Nameless Queen. We find out information but it didn't completely satisfying. Yes, there will always be questions especially if a book is a series. However, it would have been great to have more development on the world. 

Overall, I would recommend this book. I am pretty it is a series, which the way it ended it made sense. But it didn't need to be a series As previously mentioned, 

3 Pickles

Great fantasy read that you will not want to put down. This thrilling story will have you captivated from the very beginning. There is also a twist you will be sure to love! Thank you NetGalley for my copy!

Nameless Queen by Rebecca McLaughlin is yet another politically charged young adult fantasy novel. The world within Nameless Queen is made up of three groups of characters, there are the Royals, the Legals and the Nameless. Royals of course rule the land, the Legals are regular citizens and the Nameless are homeless peasants and treated as nothing usually stealing to survive.

“Coin” is a Nameless who like the others around her has given herself a name after being born without one. She does whatever she can to survive taking care of herself and another young nameless girl. When the king in the land dies whoever is supposed to take his place is supposed to become marked with a magical tattoo.

Despite the fact that Nameless should never be eligible to become the next on the thrown since they have no name for the King to choose them Coin finds herself with the magical tattoo. She wants to hide the tattoo from the Royals until her young friend is threatened and she used it as leverage to save her life. Coin is then taken by the Royals to be trained to take part in the trials for the new leader.

Nameless Queen is not really a bad young adult fantasy however it’s not really an overly original one either. The story has a predictable side to it since a lot of young adult books are based on political power struggles with this simply having the Nameless against the upper classes. With a slow to moderate pace and simply an average plot and characters this one rated about 3 1/2 stars to me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Nameless Queen is a captivating young adult fantasy that will take you away to another world. A world full of mystery and intriguing that will pull you in and hold your attention until the very end. The world-building is intriguing and detailed making it easy to picture every detail. McLaughlin writes with such clarity and detail that you will not want to put this one down!

The idea of this book really excited me. I always enjoy a world with a caste system. Unfortunately, while the idea was good, the execution was lacking. The world seemed interesting, but the explanation was missing. There is magic, but only the rulers of the Kingdoms have it? What are these other Kingdoms? Then there was a Caste system made up of I think 3-4 different groups. The lowest, the nameless, were as the name implies not given names, but how and why. Where did the first nameless come from, how many are there, how do they survive without being allowed to work? Clearly, I had a lot of questions.


The other issue I had was the characters. I didn’t care all that much about Coin. In fact, I much preferred Ester to Coin. She seemed like a much more interesting character. There were some decent twists and turns, but overall I would have liked a little more detail.

Thank you to Crown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for letting me read a copy of Nameless Queen early. I hadn’t heard much about the book before reading it, but the cover looked really promising and I thought the synopsis was cool, so I was intrigued. Unfortunately, the book wasn’t my favorite.

Nameless Queen 3/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads: One girl must make a name for herself--or die trying --in this royal fantasy where an unknown peasant becomes the ultimate ruler. But how long can she keep the crown if everyone wants her dead? Perfect for fans of Furyborn, Red Queen, and Everless.

Everyone expected the king's daughter would inherit the throne. No one expected me.

It shouldn't even be possible. I'm Nameless, a class of citizens so disrespected, we don't even get names. Heck, 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 queen. In a palace where the corridors are more dangerous the streets, though, how could I possibly rule? And what will become of the Nameless if I don't?

So I loved Furyborn, Red Queen, and Everless, so I definitely thought I would really enjoy Nameless Queen. The premise was there and there was a lot of promise in the story, but, unfortunately, for me, the execution was lacking. I couldn’t connect with Coin, our main character, at all. I also was not a fan of how it did not seem as though Coin had to struggle to do anything at all within the book, so there was no growth for her as a character. She was super flat and one-dimensional. I couldn’t even really get into any of the side characters. I think some people could overlook the character issues and like the book because the plot and the premise were interesting, but this definitely wasn’t the book for me.