Really wanted to like this book. I love the bad ass heroine that comes from nothing and fights her way to the top. Unfortunately, I did not find that here. The best way to sum this book up is to use the main characters own words, "Everything about me and my life - is impossible. What's one more impossible thing?" There were several too many impossible things for me. Each step of the story there were bigger and more impossible circumstances. The story dragged in places because there was too much that had to be explained with each new nuance of the story. I did finish the book but will admit that, toward the end, I was ready for it to be done.

This was a pretty good book! The writing wasn’t quite natural, the characterizations a little flat, and it was predictable in some parts but I enjoyed the story and I think the author had a lot of potential!

What a forgettable read.

“The Nameless Queen” begins with the death of the king and while the country awaits its new monarch a Nameless their named Coin sets off to work a con only to find her partner in crime arrested and a crown tattoo on her arm making her as the new Queen. With her loyalties to her people but her power to Congress she finds herself torn between two worlds and both wish to see her dead.

This book has an interesting idea but it never lets itself really go there in terms of the plot, instead it plays it rather safe with predictable “twists” scattered along the way that are all components of the fantasy genre that we’ve read time and time again. This was only highlighted with the world building and the questionable way it tried to handle the caste system especially since the rules never managed to make sense especially when it came to the laws and why they were “nameless” when it seems loopholes could be easily made which we learn later.

While I enjoyed Coin I thought she was one of the weakest characters in a story where there already weren’t any standouts and if I had to pick a favorite it would be Devil who sadly only stuck around for a handful of chapters.
The one aspect I did like was that there is no romance in the novel which I think worked well for the book as it spent what time it did grant towards love to that of family and what binds people together.

Overall this book isn’t bad but it also isn’t anything that will make a mark in this genre and if I can remember it in the morning I’ll raise it a star.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

"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."

Coin belongs to the Nameless tier in her society.It is the lowest and no one in it is thought to be worthy enough to even have a name so they make up their own names.She discovers a tattoo on her arm one day and her life changes from that point on.
I absolutely loved this story. It had a big suprise at the end that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Story was fast paced and witty with heart.
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC

This was an interesting read. Coin is a Nameless, the lowest sect of whatever Fantasyland this book takes place in. She ends up, through the means of magic, becoming the next Queen of Fantasyland. Will she survive to claim the throne?

There isn't anything too special with this one, to be honest. It's immensely readable, but there's not anything that sticks out as a "wow" factor (notice that I can't even remember the name of the town that this takes place in). One huge plus is that there was no romance in the book; just a straightforward fantasy adventure.

Not sure if it's worth a buy, but definitely worth a read.

3.75/4 rounding up

This book turned out to be better than I expected it to be, so I'm pretty happy about that! It was a quick read due to the story being easy to swallow. The pacing was a bit everywhere though: the beginning was incredibly fast, about 5 chapters in it becomes a good pace, sloooowwws down a ton once we reach the middle, and gradually build back up to a quick pace the closer we get to the end. I had major issues in the beginning and middle, as the pacing was just off to me. Another factor that went into that was that I was uninterested during a good chunk of these sections. I kept thinking to myself "when is it gonna get good again" even though the story going on in that portion was interesting. Luckily for this book, the characters are really what make this shine. Their individual stories, backgrounds, and characteristics were all wonderful. Some you love, others you love to hate, and there's 1 in particular where you just want to strangle them lol Characters are what made me bring my review up.

While the story was interesting, the pacing does get rocky in numerous sections throughout the book. However, characters really bring this home, and the way this book wraps up makes it all the better. I would be interested in seeing a sequel to this book, maybe not with the same MC but instead a different person. I'd love to know a bit more about this world and the outcomes of the finale.

ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The names were an interesting concept that I had never read before. And the world building was very well done. I hope there will be another book or novella after this so I can see what happens next!

Holy fudge. If wanting to reach into a book and strangle a character for a nasty surprise they pulled on the protag is your idea of a good story, then you'll love Nameless Queen. (Especially since said character got WAY worse before the end!)

Sometimes I think of writing a review and I'm daunted by the idea of putting my delight and joy into words.

And then I realize that I don't have to be any more specific than that. As a fellow novelist, adjectives like "delight" and "joy" are all that I need to hear.

It wasn't a super exciting book (except for wanting kill the previously mentioned character, of course.) But I'm still delighted that it's coming out on my birthday.

And one more thing? Read it for yourself. Don't trust someone who is too spetzing stupid to stay away from fantasy if things like magic tattoos offend them.

Nameless Queen was a fun, quick read with engaging characters and a unique magic system. I really liked the way that the magic was rooted in people's names, as well as the crown tattoo that appeared on the arm of the next ruler. Coin was a really interesting character; she was smart, tough, and resilient, and I really loved her sarcastic sense of humor. Even though she seemed cold sometimes, I liked seeing her form relationships with other characters like Glenquartz and Esther, as well as her existing relationship with Hat.
However, the ending changed my opinion of the book quite a bit. Everything was resolved so quickly, and there were no deaths or anything that would make the ending less than perfect. I also thought that the revelation about Coin's parentage was very convenient to the plot, when there could have been another, more complicated explanation.

I really liked this book! This was one of the books i was the most excited to read this year and it did not disappoint! I was thoroughly engrossed in this book from start to finish. I will be recommending this book to everyone and will be purchasing it for my library.

Nameless Queen is an original and entertaining novel. The main character, "Coin", is of the Nameless class -- an underclass of the society with no right nor names. They have to steal and sleep in alleys. It is interesting to watch Coin deal with her change in status and deal with the Royals who have never had time for her before this. It would be fun to see more of this world.

Coin aka the NAMELESS QUEEN is a whipsmart heroine. She reminded me a lot of Daenerys in GOT, and her guard (who was hands down, my favorite character) reminded me of Ser Jorah.

I almost wished there’d been some romance (I’m a love story junkie), but the book managed to hold my interest even though there wasn’t, which is a feat!

Huge thank you to the author for the ARC.

A great read for fantasy fans hungry for a book about revolutions, found families, and making a better world.

The premise of this book, Nameless Queen, drew me in. The Nameless are the lowest caste of society, treated inhumanely and with cruelty by the two ruling upper classes. I'm always in for rooting for the underdog, but somehow the story never seemed quite tight enough, the writing was too loose and made the story and the characters' actions seemed disjointed and odd at times.

Coin was interesting, smart and living on the edge of society. She was not quite a heroine I could be fully behind; she made odd choices, had a wavering sense of right and wrong (feeling justified stealing for a living, for instance), didn't take advantage of opportunities that would help keep her safe or help her succeed, and didn't quite seem suited for the leadership position of Queen, even as her story (and she) evolved. For instance, why, why, why, did Coin rush back to her quarters after she escaped from being killed by her enemy (and her enemy's assembled army) to hide for 30 minutes in her bedroom? Of course, her enemy came directly to her and threatened her (or could have killed her). How does she move about the castle without being noticed by the other guards, staff and other occupants? It just seemed like the book needed a good, through editing to close up the holes and inconsistencies. How were the Nameless born and by whom were they raised as babies? Why didn't they form nuclear family units of their own? I was a bit confused about this.

All that said, however, it was an interesting story. I stuck with it to the end, which did nicely tie up all the loose ends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Books for the opportunity to read and review an E-arc copy of Nameless Queen.
I found Nameless Queen to be a cheek bitter. It has a little something for all fantasy fans. A group of people that are treated less than others. A wayward or reluctant heroine, great characters, and a fast-paced story line with magic and war. The novel will appeal to so many different readers of fantasy and young adult because it has something for everyone. I will be recommending this to all of the teens at the library!
#MustRead2020YA
#NamelessQueen
#NetGalley

This book was received as an ARC from Random House Children's - Crown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was so entertaining that it reminded me of House of Night and Divergent at the same time which meant that I could not stop reading. The concept of the Nameless reminded me a lot of Red Queen as well and with so much war and triumph embarking the kingdom and Nameless is set to be queen, can she rule or what will happen to the Nameless if she doesn't? I also got a vibe of Stephanie Meyer's The Host while reading this book as well. I really hope this becomes a series because if the sequels are better than this one, this may be my new series that I passionately follow since House of Night. I can't wait to tell our teen book club about this book because I know they will be just as excited about it as I am.

We will consider adding this title to our YFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.