Title: Nameless Queen
Author: Rebecca McLaughlin
Release date: 01.07.2020
Review date: 12.22.2019

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

Everyone expected the throne and the magic to rule would pass on to the princess once the king died. Not some Nameless peasant girl who calls herself Coin. How could the king even pass on his power by speaking the name of someone who doesn't even have one. And yet here she is with the tattoo marking her the next monarch of the city. Chaos ensues.

Well this one came out of nowhere and made itself at home on my Top Ten Favorites of the year list. It kind of felt like a more old-school 2013 YA fantasy but without a problematic relationship and stupid tropes of the era. There was in fact no relationship at all and that was a bit refreshing. Outside of wholesome friendships that is.
The fantasy world within this book was fascinating. The way the monarchy was passed on by the saying of someone's name was a new one. For me anyway. There were some things that I saw coming but I did really enjoy this one and look forward to reading more by this author.

This book was given to me by Random House Children’s Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I first heard about it on NetGalley and the title intrigued me.

I could not put the book down. Once I started reading, I immediately thought of Red Queen. I was worried that this was a knock off novel, but was pleasantly surprised to find it was not. Yes, it is about a low class member of caste system society who becomes queen. She does have special powers. But that is where the similarities end. I enjoyed this book much better than Red Queen.

Nameless Queen
by Rebecca McLaughlin
Release Date: Jan 7, 2020

Coin is a Nameless. The Nameless are born without a name, without family, without money, without food, and without rights. They can’t get jobs and if they are caught stealing, they get jailed or more likely, executed. It is a tough way to live, but Coin is good at surviving and taking care of herself.

That is, until one morning when she wakes up with a tattoo. The tattoo means that she is the new queen, but that is impossible because she doesn’t even have a name.

This is certain to be a death sentence for her.

To make matters worse, someone she feels responsible for is in terrible danger of being executed. So she has to figure out how to save not only herself, but her friend Hat as well. Perhaps in the process, she can do something that might help the Nameless.

It’s a story about survival, justice, and family.

The Writing
I thought Nameless Queen was well written. I love the author’s tone. Here is one example from the book:

I try not to be impressed. I try really, really hard.

Nameless Queen, Rebecca McLaughlin
I found the main character to be very relatable and she has a wry humor. The book had me in near stitches when Coin was arrested.

“I’m assuming my cell doesn’t have pillows?”… “I mean, that’s all right. I’d prefer having some, and proper blankets wouldn’t hurt either–but I’m not going to complain when you’re being so hospitable and giving me a place to sleep tonight.”

Nameless Queen , Rebecca McLaughlin
I found Coin to be a highly competent character, which I enjoy immensely. Coin was one of many highly competent female characters in this book, which was refreshing.

Coin has an excellent character arc. A few other characters in this story go through their own arc as well. One arc was a little abrupt in its about-face, but I forgave that because it kept the pace of the book quick. Plus it seemed minor, since this story is not really about them. I would have liked a little more about that character though to help the reader understand the change in position. (I want to say more here about it but…. read to the bottom of this post for an exciting announcement.)

Who will like this book?
If you liked Red Queen you are likely to enjoy this book. Unless you like Red Queen for the romance plotline. If that is the case, you’ll be disappointed. This book does not have a romance plotline, which suits me just fine.

Some books are very harsh… as in Game of Thrones, where every other page has a character killed off. Some are soft and fluffy. I prefer the more fluffy kind of story. I’m not saying that this story is all fluffy, but it leans a little softer than I could have, given the topics and themes in this book. If you like GOT or Young Elites (by Marie Lu) because of it’s darkness, you might find this book a bit on the soft side. Living on the streets, dealing with courtly politics, and assassins is very risky. Coin does suffer and loses much, but I kept fearing it would take a terribly dark turn and it never did go really dark. I like that about it.

If you like books about power struggles, politics, magic, strong women, survival, and daring plots, then you’ll love Nameless Queen.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Something NEW!

This book release date is January 7, 2020. I want to try something new by having a Book Club Discussion. So, a week or so after the release date, I’m going to post some discussion questions. I’ll include my own responses to the questions, but feel free to take the questions to your own group and see what your friends say. I would also LOVE to hear your opinions as well. Comment or email me!

These book club posts will contain spoilers if you haven’t read it, so I’ll put a BIG image at the top with a spoiler warning.

Once I post the Book Club Discussion post for this story, I’ll add a link here. Or sign up for emails, so you won’t miss it!

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Happy Reading

Bravo to this young adult fantasy novel! The world building was so beautifully done that I had no problem slipping into this slightly dystopian fantasy setting. I especially enjoyed the contrast and inclusion of both royalty and the lowest class of street dwellers, the Nameless.

It was creative and engaging to have a world of magic where classes were divided into a structure where some literally did not have a name. I also loved the humanly flawed yet strong and courageous female protagonist. There were also wonderful secondary friendships and characters. This story kept my interest and I was emotionally vested. I recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I didn't really start to enjoy this book until about half way in. I'm glad I stuck with it until the end though.

Coin is a survivalist and sort of a bad ass with a snarky sarcastic attitude. She is likable and so are a couple of the other main characters.

I'm not sure if I would recommend this as a highly must read book though. There are definitely more enjoyable books in the same genre that I've read and would die for.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Children’s books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of NAMELESS QUEEN by Rebecca McLaughlin in exchange for an honest review.

NAMELESS QUEEN takes place in a kingdom where the poor, orphaned, or otherwise lowest of castes folk are known as Nameless. They come into the world without names, per their sovereign’s rules. Only those of Legal or Royal birth/lineage may possess a name. But when a Nameless thief wakes one day with the crown tattoo circling her arm—a magical tattoo that can only be passed to the next heir by speaking their name—all rules are thrown out the window. Not only must Coin learn to trade the security of the streets for the deceptive halls of the palace, but she must also learn to effectively master the magic bestowed upon her when named heir. Then there’s the whole matter of her name, if she truly has one…

Following Coin on her journey was immensely enjoyable. She is the kind of character you instantly love. She’s tough, smart, witty, self-reliant to a fault, and doesn’t put up with anyone’s anything. There is a very Lou a la Serpent and Dove quality to her that really stuck with me. But she’s far from perfect. There are enough flaws stuffed up her sleeves or smooshed into her sock with a lock pick to make her relatable.

She’s also a seasoned con artist who spent most of her rough and short life under the tutelage of a bigger con artist. It stands to reason she doesn’t develop deep relationships easily. This definitely shows with her relationship with Hat, a younger Nameless who Coin takes under her wing at times. Though Hat personifies everything Coin thinks she wants out of life, Coin isn’t sure she can trust that want. There is a wonderfully genuine push-and-pull to their “friendship” that was equal parts endearing and difficult to watch.

Other amazing characters who had some great page time were Glenquartz (aka: Glenbeard – all the LOLs), the queen’s loyal guard and touching father figure. Although, at times I felt this character may have started out as a potential love interest. Some of Glen and Coin’s interaction was a tad…awkward…for a teen girl and a seasoned guard old enough to be her father.

Anyway, the supposed heir-apparent, Esther, Royal Princess, was another treasure. I loved, loved, LOVED how McLaughlin didn’t take us down the typical trope roadways with Esther. She could, as the would-be queen had her name been spoken, been a huge obstacle for Coin. Instead, Esther takes on another ole that I adored.

From the shadowy and dangerous streets of the city to the glittering palace walls, McLaughlin painted a wonderful setting. You could almost feel the grit under your fingernails as you wandered the street market with Coin as she searched for her next mark. And while in the palace, delectable sweets taunted your taste buds while fine fabrics whispered along your skin.

The magic of NAMELESS QUEEN was also something that really stuck with me. The transference of magic and power to an heir by saying a name is quite powerful. It gives so much weight to something we don’t typically think much about. Our names are just that: names. But in this world, they hold power, magic, and control. Without getting to close to spoiler territory, I’ll just say that I don’t think I’ve come across a magic system quite like this. The only thing I wished I had more of was some more detail into the history of the magic in the world and why it was there in the first place. That’s really the only place where I felt NAMELESS QUEEN lacked anything. At times I was torn between loving the unique quality of the magic system and wondering at its purpose.

All in all, NAMELESS QUEEN by Rebecca McLaughlin was an enjoyable read perfect for fantasy readers who love feisty, yet honorable heroines such as those from SERPENT AND DOVE or any of THE RAVENSPIRE SERIES from CJ Redwine. There are laughs, tears, fist pumps of joy and even well-earned retribution. It will leave you thinking about the impact a name has on a person, and how the absence of one could be just as, if not more, impactful.

NAMELESS QUEEN fell in the middle for me. I enjoyed the overall storyline and the characters, but it was lacking the depth that I was looking for.

I enjoyed the characters. There was a wide array of characters in NAMELESS QUEEN. I liked that they found stuff in common even with their varied backgrounds and were able to work together to achieve their overall goals. The pacing was good, I never found myself bored.

The world building is very basic. We get small tidbits of things, but no real details. Nothing really shocked me in NAMELESS QUEEN. There was a bit of mystery as how Coin got to be in her new position, but I guessed it before it was revealed.

I don't regret reading NAMELESS QUEEN and would probably read more in this world if the author ever decided to delve further in.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A fun adventure of found family, class disparity, and magic. I was thoroughly entertained throughout!

*An eARC was provided for me by NetGalley, all of my opinions are my own.*

This was such a fun novel to read. I can't wait to see how everyone reacts to it.

I loved all the books this was compared to, so I was very intrigued to give it a go. I loved that it was a standalone and that you get all the answers you need to feel satisfied.

I'm not a huge fan of fake swearing. I was just having a conversation with my friends about how it is an annoying troupe.

4 stars

This was a good, quick read. The society of Seriden was comprised of Royals, Legals, and the Nameless—who have no basic rights to speak of. Any crossover of the classes could result in the worst offense. Coin, our protagonist, is named heir when the king dies. From there, it is all about survival against the vicious royals threatening her new position. Coin tries to figure out why the Nameless are also disappearing whilst holding on to her position. I did like that Coin wanted to immediately help the society and her fellow Nameless. I enjoyed the friendships, and the adventure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5

The story itself was intriguing but over time there were certain parts that just dragged on. I love the dynamic of the class system and I thought that was an interesting detail to dive into. I love a good royals story all about an underdog standing up for the world around them.

I really, really loved this book! I thought it was extremely good. The world building was impeccable, the characters were fantastic. The story took zero time at all to get interesting, and the entire book held my attention - I finished it in one sitting! The book follows Coin, a girl from the lowest caste of her world, the Nameless. She's a grifter, a girl just trying to survive when her kingdom's king dies - and the tattoo that marks his successor appears on her arm. Thus she's introduced to a whole new world and has to keep her head high...or lose it. If you like fantasy with strong female characters and an incredibly well written storyline, look no further. You can thank me later.

I loved, loved, looooved this book!! Seriously this is the kind of story I live for. Fantasy is probably my favorite genre and I find it can be hit and miss. This story of Coin the nameless queen was a hit, because she was a heroine to root for! She is strong, flawed, and has immense growth throughout the story. Also how much do I love that this had ZERO romantic plot devices. Seriously it has a bunch of bad ass women, one really awful woman, and one best of the best of men. Don’t get me wrong I adore a good romance, but sometimes it’s just not needed. In this story there is magic, class disparity, fighting, thieving, intrigue, family, and hope all wrapped up into a fun/fast read. I can’t recommend it enough if you’re looking for something purely entertaining!!

In a place called Seriden, there are three classes of people, the Royals, the Legals and the Nameless. The Nameless live on the streets, have no rights and no status. They survive by stealing and pilfering and it’s every man or woman for themselves. Coin is a nameless who has broken from a controlling dealer, Marcher, that manages other street kids for a cut of their earnings. As she tries to survive on the streets on her own, she discovers that some how she has some new magic and has been chosen to rule as Queen. No one accepts her as a leader or the fact that she should be the new queen. In six weeks time, there will be a duel that will decide who will be the next sovereign. She must train in etiquette, combat and magic in order to survive that day, Along her journey she learns to make friends and rely upon others for help. This was an interesting approach to a fantasy world and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The world building was not great but the characters and their relationships were well developed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nameless Queen is a story about a young woman belonging to the Nameless caste, a group that is without rights in their kingdom. After the reigning king dies, the woman receives magical tattoo that designates the next ruler, given after the current monarch speaks the name of the person that they decide to make their successor. But, this lady doesn't have a name! A lot of political scheming ensues, as the royal court is torn apart trying to decide how to reconcile this unexpected, and unpleasant, turn of events.

Nameless Queen starts out pretty slow, and the world building is never anything exceptional. The action does begin to develop and become more complex towards the end of the story, which keeps the reader engaged. The class divide focus was an interesting perspective but ultimately I think it's been done before, and probably better. Everything about this world felt a little fuzzy and half-formed, and I would have liked to see deeper development into most of the characters but I did grow to love a few of the supporting characters and want to know more about them.
Overall, a solid YA fantasy read about a surprise queen and the toppling of the current political order.

1.5 stars.

The concept of this book is so intriguing! The poor people aren't even worthy enough to have a name and the next leader of the kingdom is given their status by being named on the last breath of the former leader. Sounds awesome!

But the book didn't catch me on fire. All the events are resolved so positively and easily for the main characters that there was a startling lack of tension in the plot. I never doubted the outcomes and thus I didn't care. Coin also becomes so very good at whatever talents she's been gifted or ones that she already had too that I could never be surprised by anything.

Even the world building and social commentary was very superficial. We only got an idea of the castle and that there are ideas of Legals, Royals, and the Nameless residing in this kingdom but not so much on their interactions, or why they are designated as such, how they came to be, and what their feelings are in regards to one another. I never got a clear idea how this kingdom functions itself as well as with its neighbors.

For me, it was quite lackluster. I almost DNF-ed but persevered because I was near the end.

I stated it in one of my reading updates that the writing style seems like it would be better suited for a younger audience - middle grade perhaps. I think the idea of an extraordinary main character changing the world around them is a lot more accepted and prevalent there. Also, for those of you who are tired of all the grim dark, gory, and violent fantasies this one is very light in comparison. There's very little blood and brutal violence in here.

Sorry, this one didn't do it for me.

A Nameless low caste girl finds herself a queen due to a crown image on her arm. A unique world filled with royalty and nobodies, where children with no identities are forced to steal in order to survive.

I honestly couldn't identify with Coin. There was no bonding for me and I found myself flipping past points in the book. There was definite potential, but I feel that the author needs to rework sections to make the story click more.

I would like to thank the author/ publisher/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book really had me from the beginning. It's a wonderful story about class differences with an underdog heroine in the main character. You really got to see the main character grow through out the book and really debate over things that she might not have any control over. Gave 5/5 since this book captured my attention from the start.

Fantastic read!! Pulled me in from the get go! Villains you can hate Heroines you can love. There is something for everyone. Even in the backstory it was entertaining and fast paced. Just one of those that if you pick it up you do not want to put it down. This is written as a standalone but I want more!!! Rebecca McLaughlin puts together a brilliantly endearing read.

3.5, rounded to 4

This is a fast-paced street-urchin-to queen wish fulfillment fantasy that should really please the teen audience it's intended for. First person present tense has become the new fashion in YA, but McLaughlin handles it more naturally than many, with verve, grace and sheer fun.

It's the voice that carries this story. Here's the opening line: I wake up the same way I fell asleep, knife in hand, boots for a pillow, and Nameless.

The Nameless thing is somewhat confusing as actually everyone has a name, it's just that the Nameless (the poor downtrodden peasants or commons) don't have family names. (Which is, if you look at human history, a fairly modern concept in many cultures.) There's a lot about law concerning names, in which magic is bound, and sumptuary laws, that adds to the confusion.

The worldbuilding is pretty much fairy-tale kingdom with a dose of Hollywood backdrop, but that's going to be just fine for the audience the book is aimed at, because it keeps the focus on the action, with lots of daring escapades and duels.

Coin is smart, and it's fun to watch her get All The Powers, but at the heart this book is about family, which I found a refreshing contrast to some of the "angry girls gotta kill" dystopias out there.

McLaughlin is definitely a talent to watch.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I really liked this story. I was intrigued by the concept of someone gaining a crown and powers via a tattoo.

Our main character is Coin; she is a nameless that has to thieve in order to survive. Then one day she receives a tattoo marking her as the new sovereign. Living life out on the streets has taught her to con her way in and out of scuffles but will it be enough for ruling a kingdom that doesn’t even acknowledge her kind as people.

The beginning was enthralling I read the first half fairly quickly. Near the end it feels a bit rushed to tie up some things and it disrupts the flow. I know it’s because it isn’t a planned series so it needs to stand on its own.

This can stand as a standalone but it is also written were a sequel could happen. And I hope it does because I would really love to see these characters and the world grow more. I really like political fantasies and this has that and could become more so if another book was made.

If you are someone who has to have romance in their stories this is not for you. There is none and it was so refreshing. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that didn’t feature a romance. This features found families and learning to lean on others instead.