Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I DNFed this book and for that I am sorry. I just felt as if I couldn't get into the story, it was clearly not for me. Amarande and Luca's romance felt a bit forced and it wasn't that warm and sweet type of romance. I did like the female friendships, it was amazing! Amarande was such a strong female character, I loved her a lot! I will try to read the rest of the story someday.

I love Sarah Henning’s books so much and this sequel did not disappoint! I absolutely love this world and its characters.

Sarah Henning was a featured author on FreshFiction.com's blog, with a 20 questions author feature. You can see the interview here: https://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=11370

Sarah Henning did an INCREDIBLE job with this sequel. It was just as captivating, the world just as lush and I couldn't put it down.

Seriously thought this was a duology. Didn’t expect the ending to feel like this. Dang. But I guess I don’t mind it, since we get more.

This was a very exciting addition to the series though. Also a few more Princess Bride bits tossed in there. I am curious how things will all work out. Hoping for HEAs for everyone!

The queen will betray you is the second installment in the sand and sky trilogy and I'm dying for book three!
So this is hard to discuss what I like about this one because it is a sequel and I don't want to spoil u guys of what happened in the first book. But, we pick up right where we left off in book 1 and it was such a crazy and wild right from page one to the end. I stayed up till 1am finishing this book and it was truly amazing.. I gave it 5 stars.

I thought the cover couldn't get any better than the first book, but BAMM!!! This book's cover is even more gorgeous. I-could-just-stare-at-it-all-day, drop-dead, breathtaking gorgeous. Charlie Bowater has done an amazing job (AGAIN!!!) and I just can't wait for the next book's cover! In fact, it's kinda killing me that Tor Teen has not revealed the next book's cover yet.

The story takes on just shortly after the end of the first book where Luca and Amarande barely manage to escape from Pyrenee. Luca and Amarande part ways to build a world were they can live together in peace. Amarande journeys back to Ardenia to reclaim her throne, her title and ask for help to rally against Pyrenee . Luca heads back to Torrent to help the rebels spark a rebellion which will help him reclaim his rightful throne and fulfill his destiny. But things do not seem to be so simple when the Runaway Queen returns with a heir to the throne in toe and Dowager Queen schemes to take over the realm. Will Ama and Luca succeed? Or is the future of the Kingdoms of Sand & Sky doomed for once and for all?

I loved this book even more than the first one. It answers so many questions that I had while reading the previous book. This book offers a much more wider perspective of the Kingdoms of Sand and Sky. There are more action, political scheming, plot twists and badass characters in this book. Even though I felt a lack of realtionship development in the previous book, I absolutely adored Luca and Amarande (in spite of the cheesy dialogues) in this one. The character development was great too. Luca transforms into a leader. Ama goes through a lot in this book too. And I honestly did not think the I would come to forgive Taillefer, let alone like him, for what he did to Luca. But the redemption was just unbelievable. The side characters were great too.

I highly recommend this book for all High Fantasy fans. I thank NetGalley and TorTeen for giving me this oppurtunity to read one of my most anticipated book of the year almost two months before its release date. And, of course, I thank Sarah Hennings for writing such a wonderful book. I am sooo looking forward to read the next book, but 2022 seems to be a long time away!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Potential spoilers for The Princess Will Save You below.

The Queen Will Betray You jumps straight back into the Kingdom of Sand and Sky, right where The Princess Will Save You left off. We see Amarande and Luca coming back to Ardenia with a plan to defeat the Dowager Queen Ines who plans to take over the realm and the disowned prince Taillefer who would do anything for the crown. To complicate things even more, Amarande's mother, "the Runaway Queen" Geneva has reappeared. Her ambitions and loyalties? unknown. Especially with the person she brought back to the castle.

That was where the story really began.

With the stakes higher, we immediately begin on a journey along with Luca and Amarande on a political quest to bring both rulers to their rightful thrones. The book starts off quickly before slowing in pace, even during parts when a lot of things were happening. I wished the pacing was a little bit faster at times however, I must admit with a book like this, so focused on politics, corruption and the manipulation of powers, it probably would've been difficult to do. We needed to see the inner workings of Ines' mind and we needed to see how she would reign dominance over those around her. I loved seeing how those three themes: politics, corruption and manipulation of power worked in this world and I also liked how they were written.

One of my favourite things about this book apart from the way it dealt with those aforementioned themes, were the characters. I already mentioned this in my review of The Princess Will Save You but I think Sarah Henning does a fantastic job at writing characters who all feel so different from one another without making them feel bland or boring to read about. Each of them had their own backstories and their own personalities. My favourite had to be Luca because of his sweet and kind nature and Amarande who was badass and fierce without seeming too annoying or fiesty without reason. The Queen Will Betray You did introduce a new character that I didn't expect (that I think took everyone by surprise with the ending of The Princess Will Save You), Ferdinand. I guess this is another testament to Sarah Henning's writing here, but I genuinely did not know where his loyalties were. Was it to his sister? Was it to his mother? Was it to his real mother? I was left constantly guessing and I was certain he was going to betray one of them. That belief in potential betrayal kept me at the edge of my seat.

My one big criticism with this book (and The Princess Will Save You) was its dialogue and conversation about true love. Everybody seemed to have an opinion about how Luca and Amarande were so in love with each other that they'd do anything (and everything) for each other. Which, yes, was sweet. I cannot deny that, but it did seem a bit over the top at times.

The book left on an open ended ending and I really want to find out what happened to Geneva and to Taillefer even though it was somewhat resolved. I felt like the last times we saw him in this book was a little bit rushed which makes me believes there's more to the story than we believe. I would absolutely love to read the final book in this series. 2022 can't come soon enough!

ACTUAL RATING: 3.45 STARS

I received this and as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Forge, Tor Teen for giving me access.

While reading, I enjoyed this book. Now as I write this review weeks later, I honestly cannot remember what happened at all. Only when I really the synopsis and some reviews did it click as to what this was about. That being said, it was a great extension to The Princess will Save You. but that is all I can say about it. There wasn't a lasting impression for me.

So book 1 was okay but I felt it was too much of a role swap and relied on it heavily. This book was the same as much as I loved it and it was great to have a role swap book, it still felt like if you swapped the pronouns it would have been a prince saving a princess

This book is so much better than the first one on so many levels that I'm not even sure I can talk about it without spoilers but I'll try.
The author here manages to take the politics of this world to another level that she had just begun to show us in the first book.
For me this book was one surprise after another, I didn't know what was going to happen at any point in the story, and everything that was happening left me with my heart in my hand because the whole book is just things going wrong after things going wrong it seemed like our protagonists were never going to win, which I really liked, even though it was distressing to read because it made it clear that anything could happen.
The only thing that makes me feel like this is not a totally perfect book is that if this book had 100 pages more the series could finish here, and knowing that it was supposed to be a duology that the author decided to turn it into a trilogy after I can really see her trying to extend the plot of the story unnecessarily.
But as I really loved the created world and its politics I know I'm going to read the third book but I'm apprehensive about it.
Since for me what matters most is how the politics of the world will be resolved and not the romance (yes shocking right) actually I'm not even a fan of the main romance of this story, I'm with high expectations for the third book I hope that until the release I put them down so I don't get disappointed with the conclusion of this story.

True Rating: 3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this sequel, though not quite as much as the first. It does give you a lot of action all the way through, and I think that is part of why I didn't enjoy it as much. It didn't have any room to breathe. It did suffer from the dreaded "second book syndrome" where it felt like the bridge to the third book. This series may have done better as a duology, which I rarely say. There are so many twists and turns throughout to try to keep you guessing. The first book was inspired by The Princess Bride, and that is hard to follow up in this book enjoyment wise for me. I found that it was an easy read like the first, but even with the amount of action that happened in this one, I felt that it was a lot of filler to get to the third book.

The Queen will Betray You is a solid sequel to The Princess Will Save You. Where the first book fell flat in some parts, this one really picked up the pace and was exactly what you want in a sequel, fast-paced, expanded world and character building, and a satisfying ending that leaves the reader wanting more (and anticipating The King Will Kill You!). I love the strong women in this book who are all set on destroying the patriarchy. I will definitely be adding this series to my school library.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Great conclusion! This was better than the first book! I’m a big Sarah Henning fan, so this was right up my alley!

Amarande and Luca barely managed to make it out of Pyrenee; however, their journey sees them at a crossroads once again as they split up to help the Kingdoms of the Sand and Sky succeed against the tyranny they have uncovered. As Luca heads back to the Torrent to assist the rebels with their cause, Amarande returns to Ardenia with no knowledge of what has transpired in her absence, including who has come forward to take her throne. Once again, Amarande and Luca find themselves on an epic adventure, trying to do what is necessary to keep others safe so that they can get back to nurturing their newfound love.

This novel was a whopper. To start, don’t expect the status quo to remain the same in this book. In other words, don’t get too attached to some of the side characters. Sarah Henning moves some of the female characters across the board, allowing them to exert a great deal of power. These are women that have been plotting and playing a role within the strictures of the patriarchal system and finally decide to take action. This one was all about the queens.

In terms of the central characters, they’re still likeable and they all grow further into various roles. Amarande and Luca take on leadership roles and begin to shift their trusted players to try and mitigate corruption and greed. Ula and Urtzi remain loyal and fierce. The reader does learn some truths about Osana, but instead of diminishing her character, these truths humanize her and offer some reasons for her loyalty changes and secrecy. Koldo also gains more space in this novel, partly because she faces a crisis that she has to resolve. And, of course, Taillefer in all his sadistic and sarcastic glory also features heavily.

The plot was somewhat convoluted, but the world does expand, particularly as the reader receives more information about the Torrent and the Warlord. And even with some of the confusing twists and turns, I still found this to be an incredibly fun read, having blown through almost the entire novel in a day. The Queen Will Betray You is certainly full of adventure and I look forward to the next and final installment since I am invested in Amarande and Luca’s story.

I was excited to read this after finishing the twisty start to this series in The Princess Will Save You. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this wild adventure, and really enjoyed getting to see more of these characters as we learn more about the intrigue between the courts and the mysteries surrounding the kingdoms and their ruling families, each with some pretty impressive secrets of their own!
I was surprised, but not entirely displeased, to find that there are hints of a possible third book to the series. I'll be interested to see what is in store for these characters and where the plot goes if that happens to be the case! I'll keep my eyes open for any updates!

Loved this one as much if not more than the first!!! I always tend to get a little annoyed with romance in the second books in a series because it just always falls flat or the characters get complacent now that there’s nothing in the way of them being together but this was a perfect sequel to the first book!!!

I loved that it picks up exactly where book one left off so we aren’t left guessing what happened in the interim. And can I also express how much I really enjoyed Tallifer in this book?! He was one of my most hated characters from the first book but in this one he really grew on me. We get that dark and twisted but loveable vibe from him here and I’m all for it. Give me all the morally grey characters please!!!

This was such a fun read I’m so happy I was able to snag an arc and jump back into this amazing parallel world to The Princess Bride which is one of my all time favorite movies since I was a child. I knew which VHS had it on there before I could even read the title!! (My dad might have drawn an tiara on it so I would know but shhhh don’t tell!) still, that nostalgia really drew me into these books initially but I’ve stayed because I’ve fallen in love wirh this new story as well!!

"The tiger has fled, the mountain lion is dead, the wolf has found his head..."
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The much awaited sequel to The Princess Will Save You sees Amarande and Luca having to part ways - Amarande to Ardenia where she must try to reclaim her throne and title and Luca to the Torrent to spark a rebellion that will help him fulfil his destiny. But they are stuck in the middle of power hungry players who wish to claim the entire Kingdom of Sand and Sky for themselves. Amarande finds help in the most unlikely of places but with enemies hidden in the shadows, betrayal is guaranteed and victory seems far away. Can the power of true love save the day?
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"The past week has taught me that no one will listen to me anyway because I am not a man. It’s enough to drive a woman mad..."
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I said it after finishing The Princess Will Save You and I'm saying it again - this is hands down one of the best YA Fantasy series I've read in a while! This book seriously keeps you on your toes and just when you think you know what's happening something else gets thrown in to the mix. I got very strong Game of Thrones vibes and absolutely loved it! One of my favourite parts of this book was Taillefer and his character ARC. His sarcasm knows no limits and I laughed out loud a few times at his actions and reactions. After how it ended, I will be patiently counting down the months until the third installment is released, The King Will Kill You. Can we also take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous cover too.
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"Even the best of us are willing to lie for those we love..."
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Thank you, to NetGalley and Macmillan Tor Teen for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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“I am proud to say you have yet to successfully stab me...”

It’s finally here – the much anticipated sequel to The Princess Will Save You! Y’all might remember last year when I was fawning over The Princess Will Save You. It’s a re-imagination of one of my favorite books EVER – The Princess Bride, AND it’s writing by Sarah Henning, who wrote the haunting and beautiful The Sea Witch books.

How is it possible that so much happens in such a seemingly short book? Amarande and Luca are off on their own adventures, trying to create a world where they might finally be together. In order to do so, they have to form unlikely partnerships and face even more danger and betrayal than one could imagine.

This book has more twists and turns than the bendy straw my husband thought could go in the dishwasher (spoiler – it melted). It will keep you on your toes and make it impossible to know who you can trust. While the story branches far past the original The Princess Bride Retelling, there are still so many nods to the classic I love so much, and there were several moments that brought a huge smile to my face.

Amarande undergoes so much change in The Queen Will Betray You and Luca grows into a strong, young leader. They are both still whole-heartedly in love with each other (almost to the point of being annoying) ad their love is the driving force behind each of their quests. The true gem of this story is the side characters. We get to learn so much about so many (new and old) and I even found a new favorite!

With the way The Queen Will Betray You ends, I’m going to need the third book immediately. Right this second. It’s going to be torture to wait!

The Queen Will Betray You is the sequel to The Princess Will Save You, which I loved a lot last summer. Luca is trying to claim his birth right and needs to bring down the Warlord. Him and Amarande have a plan. Amarande makes it back to her homeland, she is taken by her mother, the Runaway Queen and is imprisoned in a tower. Her bastard brother is to be King. Will she be able to escape? Will Luca be able to take back his birth right? Will Queen Ines bring war with her?
This book has a lot of action at the end like The Princess Will Save You. I love how badass Amarande is and how she always has a plan and takes action. Ferdinand was a nice addition to the cast and I loved how honest he was when you thought maybe he could be a villain. I loved the villainy of The Runaway Queen and her schemes. The escape was nicely done and I sympathized for Tallifer. I was thinking to myself most of this book I don’t think this series is over, there is no way this can all be done in this book. This book was supposed to be a two book series, but I just looked on Amazon and it says there will be a third book and I felt like there would be with how this book ended. So, yay. You all have to pick this series up!