Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this book! (Even though they sent it to me after it was released. Not exactly an ARC anymore, but still thank you!)

I thought this book was pretty average, falling pretty exactly into the 3 star category. There was nothing I specifically disliked about it, but it didn’t stand out.

It read a lot like most YA fantasies out there. A normal girl suddenly finds out she’s “special” and has to change a corrupt system of ruling. She has special powers and is especially good at them without much training. The one thing it was missing was a love triangle.

Actually, that’s one of my positives about this book. Not only was there no love triangle (something SO overdone in YA), there was no love interest AT ALL. That was very different than most YA books out there and I think it’s a positive thing for being different. Also, another plus and something quite different was that this is a standalone. There are so many books out there being trilogies and beyond, and I love that when I really love a story, but it’s also so overdone. It’s nice to be able to enjoy a full story in one book.

There were some things about the world I didn’t quite get. Like it was almost TOO simple for someone to not have a name and so to not be a part of society and not be affected by the monarch’s powers. Like there should have been some other factor. The name thing just didn’t sit quite right with me for some reason, like some explanation was missing. Also, the whole “not having rights” thing was an issue when it was convenient and not an issue when it was convenient for the author. Like “you can’t pardon that person for the crime they committed because they are nameless and don’t have citizenship.” But then, they are accountable for the crime they committed and are about to be executed. It wasn’t consistent.

But that were my main negative aspects about it. And although I did find the story overall to be pretty unoriginal and mostly predictable, there was something in the end that took me by surprise, and I ended up really liking the way the ending played out. So all in all I’m glad I read this. I think it was a pretty descent debut and if she keeps at it, Rebecca McLaughlin can only get better from here.

Every once in awhile, you come across a book that sounds decent and then it completely takes your breath away. Such an intriguing world and story, all I know is I want more.

I thought I wouls like this book based on the synopsis because I could see a lot of well-loved tropes and cliches ahead - hidden royal, rising to power, chosen one element in a political setting. And all of those things were true - and I did enjoy them, unfortunately, the story didn't really give a unique or surprising spin so the story isn't very engaging. Don't get me wrong, it's a good story, but I do think it will be forgettable for me.

The Nameless Queen is one of those books that has such an interesting premise but unfortunately falls flat on execution. Coin, one of the many unfortunate Nameless, becomes the new Queen after a magical tattoo appears on her skin. Battling generations of classism and societal expectations, Coin uses her new magical powers to try and help the Nameless break free of their lower class bonds.
I ended the book with more questions about the worldbuilding than were answered but perhaps future books in the series could provide more information. The relationship between Coin and Hat was the most interesting and complex part of the story and their loyalty to each other was touching. While there was plenty of action in the story, many of Coin's powers solved all her problems without a whole lot of thought or study on her part which detracted from the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

The Nameless Queen is a wonderful story about a girl born with no name who is destined to be someone. To be born without a name means you are not a citizen. The Nameless have no claim to anything and no one cares if they live die or go missing. As the story unfolds we find a protagonist who grew up as a thief, but turns out to be someone special in the end. The world is built around classism and a rigid social structure. Although I did not completely love this story I did like it enough to give it 3 out of 5 stars.
In the city of Seriden, there are three different types of citizens: the Royals which is the highest class, that is made mostly of rulers and legislators, the Legals, which is the working class, and the Nameless, which are the poor illegitimate citizens of Seriden. There are two ways to be made ruler of Seriden. The most ideal way is for the ruler when they die to speak the name of the next ruler and the tattoo is then transferred to that person. Yes, you read that correctly we have ourselves a magical crown tattoo. The other way to become a ruler is more barbaric and can result in bloodshed. So, our protagonist is surprised when she wakes up to see a tattoo burned onto her arm. This is a surprise because our protagonist named Coin is part of the “Nameless” which again is part of the lower class society. With this magical crown tattoo the ruler with the tattoo gets magical powers.
Coin who had no intentions of claiming the throne but is forced to make a quick decision when her friend Hat was arrested for no good reason other than being a Nameless thief. Once Coin gets to the palace she quickly realizes that taking the throne is not an actual guarantee of power. The counsel is not happy that a Nameless person is trying to claim the throne and they decide to put her on probation. While on probation Coin learns who she can really trust. Coin learns how to rule even when the odds are against you.
I really appreciate how there is no typical YA love romance. Although one could argue that the love factor was there but not explored. This book focuses more on different types of family the one you’re born into and the one you chose. The Nameless don’t have families but there are deep rooted friendships and alliances among them especially between Coin and Hat. I appreciate how Coin is not a girly girl who likes wearing dresses, she is independent and has a caring heart but is afraid to show it. She is willing to take on any challenge like when she finds out she has powers, she masters them almost instantly, and she becomes a total pro at fighting in no time.
I would have like to see more from the other characters in the story, like Glenquartz, Esther, and Hat. For instance, how did Hat become part of Marcher’s group? Also, I did not really care for the antagonists in the story either. The antagonists were bland at best. Marcher, was a gang leader of the Nameless but was driven by opportunities so he was morally gray. The general Belrosa was just a typical bad guy. The reader was not given a clear understanding of motives for either character.
All in all I did enjoy the story despite the minor issues with the characters. The writing was well done and I would consider reading a next book if there is one in the works. I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance and give my honest opinion.

Things I Liked:
I really enjoyed the relationships that were established in this book. There wasn’t an overarching romance, which was a nice change of pace. Rather, the relationships we see are familial and fierce friendships. I thought the concept of having a whole class of citizens who don’t have a name, and therefore have no power, is super cool. Not that they don’t have power… but just the concept in general. Stick with me here. The whole point of this story is about changing the situation for the Nameless and our main character, Coin, has quite the journey in trying to bring about that change. We get to see her explore her magic, establish friendships in the court, and act like a total badass the entire time.
Things I Didn’t Like:
Though I did have one tiny qualm that I can’t really discuss without ruining the story, there wasn’t anything specific that stuck out to me in a negative way. I loved this one and can’t wait to see where the story takes us next.
Overall Impression:
I loved this book! I thought it was absolutely fabulous and would highly recommend it to all.

This was originally on my list of anticipated reads of 2020. And as quickly as I added it, I unfortunately also decided to remove it. Normally I would not do this.

I was able to advance-read this due to Netgalley and Publishers so generously approving me for this, thank you.

Upon first reading the synopsis for this book, it sounded like it would be right up my alley. I generally like the classic "underdog story", then add in magic and I'm all in. NOT THIS TIME...

The story tells of 3 Social classes, typical, which was fine. Royals, middle class and The Nameless (which no one cares about). Our MC was obviously coming from the Nameless class when suddenly, she gets the crown tattoo, which means she is now the queen. That part was pretty neat at first, then...

Out of nowhere our MC can do ANYTHING. She's suddenly good at EVERYTHING and can do magic she has never been taught, INSTANTLY. None of this is ever explained and here is where I start to not enjoy the story. 

Cool, you got magic and can do things you could never do before, but why not show her learning these things and struggling to be this new Queen instead of being instantly ALL MIGHTY... No Thanks...

I feel like instead of making up new swear words, it could have focused more on the magic system and world building. You get nil to none. It's practically non-existent, like the struggle of our MC. You have to have struggle and world building to creat a well rounded story. 

The premise of the book was a good thought, but I just feel it was poorly executed. I wanted to love this book, it wasn't on my anticipated list for nothing. Or at least that's what I thought...

"I wake up the same way I fell asleep: knife in hand, boots for a pillow, and Nameless."

This is not the typical “a young woman from the dredges of society becomes a royal/ruler” story, although it there are times where the cliché seems to indicate it. For one thing, there is no romance to be found. Coin’s development of sisterly bonds with both Hat and Esther help her to overcome her own trust issues and allow her to feel a familial bond with Glenquartz as well. I think, in addition to the lack of a romantic interest, the presence of a competent (and female) villain serves as an excellent foil for our main character in a fight for the survival of the kingdom.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I tried really hard to love this book. While the premise of it was unique, it just didn't do it for me. I would have liked a little more back story on the characters and just a little more understanding about the whole world the book was based in.

Coin, our heroine, lives to pickpocket and swindle, like most of her class – the Nameless. The Nameless cannot hold property and aren’t subject to the laws like the upper classes, the Legals and Royals. Nearly all of them are homeless and jobless, and all are looked down on by the rest of society. Their kingdom follows a ritual that as the previous monarch takes their last breath, they say the name of their successor. It doesn’t have to be their relative or anyone special, but the unwritten rule is that generally their offspring is chosen. When the king dies, Coin is somehow named the king’s heir and the new queen. Naturally, this throws the entire kingdom in a frenzy. How could this happen, when Coin doesn’t even have a real name to be said? Or does she? What is it?
I was seriously curious as to how this strange arrangement worked, and what everyone would do. Would the people accept this strange, nameless teen as their ruler? Would Coin decide to keep the crown? How did this even happen? I was frustrated, because I could not fully grasp the class system and the concept of magic as it was presented in this book. McLaughlin would give small clues here and there but didn’t go into more detail until well into the story. How clever – here I was, furiously reading as fast as I can to figure all this out, and next thing I know, the book was finished.
Even though Nameless Queen sits heavily on the trifecta of themes so popular in YA right now, it somehow carves out a unique and enjoyable story. I really do think McLaughlin misses the opportunity to flesh out the ideas that make the book stand out. It was interesting to see how magic and society were so tightly interlaced, and I think she could have really built on that.

The world-building and characters in Nameless Queen was what not only what drew me deeper into the story but also what kept me going the whole way through. Rebecca McLaughlin created this world and told it well.

There is a severe lack of worldbuilding in this book, and I had absolutely no sense of place no matter where the characters went. I also had no idea what *anyone* looked like. BUT, despite those things (which are usually a big factor in whether I like a book or not), I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit. I saw the "twist" coming a mile away, so it wasn't a surprise to be told why Coin was named queen. But I enjoyed seeing her building relationships with the people around her, learning about her powers, and figuring out who she really was and how she could help heal her country.

Overall, a good read and recommended for fantasy readers even though it was more action than place.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

"seeing the city but wishing for starlight"

Title: The Nameless Queen

Author: Rebecca McLaughlin

Genre/Themes : Monarchy, Dystopia, Family, Magic

An adventure filled with magic and the sense of family, Nameless Queen is perfect for fans of The Red Queen, Three Dark Crowns, and all those twisted dystopias that have mixed magic in so well.

Rebecca delivers a fast paced novel and narrates through the voice of Coin. A nameless citizen who has been given the honor (or dishonor) of becoming the queen and heir of the throne. However, her kingdom is like no other. Where having a name makes you a citizen and where not having one makes you poor and unwanted. Her being crowned is an anomaly, a mistake, she doesn't have a name she is supposed to be worthless. But the glistering crown tattoo says otherwise. As she is escorted to her new home and throne she discovers apart from the magic she has at her fingertips she has also gained many enemies among these halls. It is up to her to discover where her real friends are and what the line of being nameless and being queen really means.

The magical dystopia is very unique and interesting. The world building allows for the readers to understand the class difference and this difference to be due to having or not having a name was incredibly one of a kind. However, the world building is faulty in the way that we really cannot imagine much of what the world Coin lives in looks like or feels like. We get descriptions here and there but overall it felt more of a book that told and not explained. Things happened just because and there was no depth to the actions or behaviors. For example, I was thoroughly confused with Marcher and his whole purpose on the book. He was hated by Coin but in reality he was a good person and at the end of the book he just disappears and overall his complex character (or his backstory) was not explained or described enough for us to really grasp on and see his motives or purpose.

What was the most lacking part of this story in my opinion was the characters. There is absolutely no romance, which is not a bad thing however I do think it would have added a layer to the story that did not exist. The guard Glens --- (his name is very difficult to remember) was one of my favorite characters, yet our author and our narrator really didn't get into enough details to break him as a character. Same goes for Hat or even Esther which were such promising sub characters but not enough of them was said or shown for us to really care.

"My entire life is just a single sentence in someone else's story"

Overall, not a bad read if you love dystopias like I do. They entertain me and usually make my days but this one was faulty and didn't completely deliver the complexity I enjoy in monarchy books and dystopias.

* I received this ebook through Net Galley in exchange for an honest book review *



--- 3 stars ---

A fun and engaging fantasy, if it doesn't set itself apart from its peers in the genre. This page-turner will be enjoyed by all fans of YA fiction, fantasy, and action.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this

This started like almost YA fantasy I have ever read. The only thing is, I couldn't focus on it. There was nothing to keep me invested and I couldn't believe that a character like Coin who is perfect, exsisted ya know.

I may have been too old for this book but it was a miss for me.

3.5 stars.

I liked this one, but it lacked a little luster. The premise was good and interesting, but the plot and the narrative just didn't pack the punch I was looking for. Similarly, Coin was a decent character who certainly wasn't a flat construction, but she could have used a little more depth and complexity. The overall story was good and I enjoyed the moments of conflict created throughout the narrative--there was obvious creativity to the plot and some good entertainment factor. It would have likely been a more compelling story with more fleshing out of the characters and more detailed world-building. I certainly could have used a bit more backstory to the world, including a better explanation and understanding of the caste system. This would have enhanced the experience and made me a bit more invested in the plot. Regardless, this was a good read and a respectable freshman novel.

Nopety-Nope-Nope-Nope ‘cuz Tropety-Trope-Trope-Trope!

If you’ve never, ever read a YA dystopia before, you may find yourself entertained by this. Confused, frustrated, and entertained.

If you’ve EVER read a YA dystopia before…run!

Your main characters are:

Coin (terrible, terrible name – there’s a reason for it, but it’s never made really clear what that reason is) – Coin is the most Mary Sue of Mary Sues. She can do EVERYTHING. She is THE ONE.

Hat (terrible, terrible name) – Hat is a maybe-12-year-old who acts like a 35-year-old puppy. Her entire existence in the book is so that Mary Sue (I mean, Coin) can look brave and loving.

Glenquartz (terrible, terrible name – he’s at times called GlenBeard) – He has no personality, but has an excellent beard.

Esther – mostly notable because she has the only normal name in the book.

The book contains almost every YA trope out there. If you think it’s going to happen, it will. There are no surprises – except maybe the excellent beard. Token diversity where you find out two completely unimportant (in the book for about 2 seconds flat) are a gay married couple.

A grudging two stars because I finished it.

This book is definitely not what I thought it would be.
It was very detail oriented and I understood what was going on at all times but the way that it ended was not what I thought based off of the synopsis.

The characters fell flat because in the end, how necessary were they really?
You have a friendship between Coin and Hat that Coin herself doesn't even call a friendship.
You have a guard, Glenquartz, who was a legit good guy but tell me how he could be oblivious to the goings on when he is in that kind of position.
Esther, the Heir Apparent, doesn't even have much going on for her.

This book had promise but it didn't deliver for me.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In The Names Queen, the magic of the land is bound to the person who rules it. When the sovereign dies, they must name their heir. In doing so, they pass on the magical tattoo that marks the ruler along with all the magic it entails to the person chosen next to carry the crown. The King of Seriden has passed, and there is a mad hunt to find the next king or queen so they can take their rightful place. No one could have predicted who would be named…or how.

Coin is Nameless, a member of the lowest class in a city called Seriden, a class despised by both the Royal and Legal classes that run the city. They are called Nameless because they are just that, nameless, and because they have no legal name, they are not deemed as a part of the fabric of the city itself. They have no legal standing. They have no rights. They live on the edges of society in Seriden off its scraps and what they can scrounge and steal. So when she finds the tattoo on her arm marking her as the next heir to the throne, she fears that she has been marked for death. She doesn’t have a name, how could the King have named her as the next heir?

After the only person she cares for in the city, Hat, is taken to prison, Coin has no choice but to reveal herself as the next ruler of Seriden, much to the disbelief of the citizens of the city, Legal and Royal alike. She doesn’t even want the responsibility…but she’s not the only one who doesn’t want her to have it. However, until she can save Hat, she has no choice but to play their game. Maybe in doing so, she can try to make life slightly better for the Nameless as well, but it won’t be easy.

Between dodging assassination plots, stuffy etiquette lessons, and side eyed looks from the heir apparent, who may have secrets of her own, she certainly has her work cut out for her.

I liked the idea of the Nameless Queen, and it was honestly pretty good. I tend to be fascinated by worlds that are built on caste systems; it makes me root all the harder for the underdog to triumph! Coin was all rough edges, a fact that is unsurprising given where and how she grew up, which was easy to follow. Although not a character I can sympathize with, I could still empathize with what she was experiencing and it helped me keep up my pace. I found the plot twists to be somewhat unexpected, which is a rare occurrence in most YA books. However, there were other things that kind of fell flat.

Also, if you’re looking for romance, you won’t find it here. It’s nonetheless a great book featuring a strong female lead who has been thrust into a situation that she has to fight her way out of using her wits, strength, and street smarts. Sometimes you have to pick up a book where the only romantic piece is between the main character and them self.

This fantasy novel describes the inequality between groups when one group determines themselves to be superior for no true reason.

When a king dies, he says a name and magically a tattoo forms on the person named to become the new king or queen. Coin, as she calls herself, is nameless. The nameless have ways to reference themselves, picking something that defines them. Hat is Coin's friend. The nameless have no rights. They barely survive. The Legals and Royals are above them and do nothing to help the Nameless. Coin has left the man who "manages" many of the nameless and tries to help Hat. After a difficult night, Coin notices that she's injured herself. It's only when she looks that she realizes she now has a tattoo of the crown. She is the new Queen. How? She's nameless--you can't name someone nameless! It's only when Hat's in trouble that she announces she is queen. Needless to say, the Royals are not happy.

Entering the castle requires survival skills as life outside the castle. Coin meets the daughter of the king, Esther, who was assumed to be queen. Obviously, this nameless runs a con. As Coin meets a few more open-minded people, she begins to see what's been happening and who wants to rule. Coin has a short time before the Assassin's Festival to decide who she trusts and what she should do to help the nameless who have never been helped. At the festival, anyone can challenge her for the title. She agrees to give up being Queen during that festival. A lot can happen before then.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel. If you like fantasy and will read all fantasy, this novel will be a pleasant distraction. I didn't completely buy into the world building and the evil character had little depth. Basically, I would call it a satisfactory reading experience!