The Queen Will Betray You is my first book by Sarah Henning and, my immediate thought was, "What in the Game of Thrones is happening here?" This is a fabulously written, fast-paced story featuring explosive characters and epic world-building. Henning is a master at keeping readers at the edge of their seats with her intricately woven plotline and her jaw-dropping revelations that will leave you shocked to your core. I adore her ability to pen morally grey characters that blur the line between good and bad and have you questioning, "Is it really bad if it's for the greater good?"

The only aspect of this book that is more impressive than the harrowing plot has to be the characters. Princess Amarande and Luca are a lesson in forbidden love and I adored that despite having commonalities, they each had individual journies that gave us insight into histories. Princess Amarande is a beacon of shining hope for all the girls out there who don't want a prince to save them but instead want to rescue themselves.

There is a very strong theme of women empowerment and its many nuances that was superbly executed. Women were traditionally oppressed within royal households and used as a tool to secure alliances instead of being allowed to rule. This oppression actually serves as the catalyst for integral scenes within the story and proves the old adage right, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

It would be remiss of me to wax on the perfection of these characters without mentioning the real star- Taillefer. I am honestly not sure what Sarah Henning was thinking when she penned him but I am infinitely glad that she did because he is such a powerfully complex character with many hidden layers that I relished his journey. Many authors struggle with writing villains who can be redeemed after such heinous displays of manipulation, but his cunning and sharp humor only served to endear me. I think we can all agree the true star wasn't the obvious hero, but the one who chose the path of righteousness in the end.

The Queen will betray you is an unexpected but infinitely pleasing tale of the intricate games played in the kingdom of the Sand and Sky for dominance and power.

Thank you to MacMillan- Tor Teen, the author, and NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Recommended for those who enjoy: Young Adult | Fantasy | Paranormal Romance

Title: The Queen Will Betray You
Author: Sarah Henning
Pub. Date: July 6, 2021
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you so much to Book Terminal Tours, the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book – it’s definitely a good conclusion to this duology!

I’ll be honest, I was a little wary going into this. I didn’t wholly love The Princess Will Save You, but I was curious as to how it would all end for Amarande. I do think this book is significantly stronger than the first one. It’s definitely more interesting and a lot of the issues I had with the characters and the world in the first one, were pretty much non-existent in this second one. Some of the things that happened seemed pretty convenient, but overall, it was a good story.

Having Luca actually stand on his own two feet and get this newfound confidence actually made me like his character. Having Amarande actually have to fight and suffer for her crown made me believe that she was actually a warrior princess. Having some insight and backstory into other characters and their motives made them stand out more. The world became clearer and the machinations of various players cleverer and more insidious.

Honestly, I’m a bit shocked at how much more I enjoyed this book. I inhaled it in a matter of hours and didn’t really want to put it down. Unlike the first book which seemed to take me forever to read, I actually cared about what was happening. Having to stop to make dinner was a chore – like, I couldn’t stop thinking about getting back to the book, and I was cursing the fact that I didn’t have the audiobook. Then I could have at least kept reading while cooking.

I love it when second books enrapture you and completely change your mind set about a series.

And mostly, I really liked that this second book wasn’t so much a direct retelling of The Princess Bride in the way the first book was. I don’t think that comparison did the first book any favors, and kind of forgoing that comp made this book stand out so much more. This felt like a purely original high fantasy, and I kind of want more. I would 100% read a third book if it read and felt like this one.

Again, I really didn’t have super high hopes. I wanted to know what happened next, how it all ended, but I wasn’t expecting to fall for the characters. I was freaking invested in Amarande and Luca this time around. Hell, I was invested in Taillefer and his – dare I say – budding friendship with Amarande.

I feel like enough was left open that there could be a third book. But as for this arc, I think it’s wrapped up fairly nicely. I don’t really have any complaints. If you read the first book and enjoyed it, then you’re going to like being back in this world. If you were like me, and the first book was good, but possibly overhyped, give this second one a chance – it might surprise you.

Sarah Henning’s The Queen Will Betray You is a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy book for teens and young adults. The series it’s in, Kingdom of Sand and Sky, is based on The Princess Bride – though I would say it’s less that it’s based on that and more that it has similar tropes. That’s just fine by me – I love those tropes, and will gladly devour anything with similar themes.

The Queen Will Betray You is an action-packed sequel to a somewhat lacklustre first instalment, so if you’ve read that one and it didn’t really rustle your jimmies, definitely give this one a go. Henning’s voice is getting stronger, as are her characters. Luca and Amarande were developed particularly well in this book, which possibly should have happened in the first book? But I digress.

The Kingdom of Sand and Sky series is a classic YA fantasy and is right at home in the genre. In The Queen Will Betray You, the second in the series, the stakes are raised, and Amarande and Luca’s love is once again tested. The book picks up immediately where The Princess Will Save You left off, and Luca and Amarande are separated again almost straight away (this time by choice). Both characters really step into their own in this instalment, and I loved seeing their journeys and the way they were driven both by their love for each other and their own inner strengths.

A great read and an excellent sequel, The Queen Will Betray You is perfect for teenage readers who are wanting to expand their fantasy repertoire.

Thank you to Macmillan – Tor/Forge and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This story picks up where the first part ended. I have to confess that although I liked Amarande a lot in the first book, in this one I would have liked her to be a little harder on those who betrayed and hurt her. She continues to be faithful, loyal and protective of those she loves, especially Luca who in this second part has a more important role.
I love that this books aren’t the typical princess who will stay in her palace waiting for things to happen, here, Amarande fights for those she loves and the rights to reign on lands of men. She’s strong and never give up on the majority of the time, and other ones I was expecting different from her.
In this book we will find more political plot and a lot of matriarchy. The female interaction in this book is much more and with strategies and struggle to reign, sometimes at the cost of anything.
I liked the ending, is not what i particularly would chose and it didn't surprise me because before finishing this book I found out that there will be a third one that I imagine will close this story.
I’m already looking forward to read it and see if the author gives the end they deserve to some characters that in this book have gotten off very easy.
However, this book is a very easy read and if you read and liked The Princess will save you , y’all definitely need to read this one.

Thank you so much to the Author, Macmillan-Tor Teen and NetGalley for the ARC. I'm freely giving my honest opinion on this review.

Until the next one :)

I enjoyed the first book of the series, and with the ending of the last book, I was eager to read this one! In comparison with the first book, this book still has that adventure, journey vibe, but with a lot more political plotline.

There were quite a few twists and everytime I thought I knew what was going to happen, it was a complete surprise. I did struggle a little bit with the writing style, but it was ultimately an enjoyable read!! I continue to love these characters, especially as we see Luca grow into his new role. There's always the concern of a power imbalance between Princess Amarande and Luca, considering their "status" but I think it's handled really well! I don't read a ton of friends-to-lovers but I'm a complete sucker for this one!

This was a good ending to this duology! I didn't anticipate the ending but I think it's extremely suitable and I would definitely read a novella for some fluff because I adore Luca!

I love Princess Bride so I will love this story just for that! I enjoyed this book and I feel it carried on well from where the first one ended. The world-building (so lovingly put together in the first book) is continued here and it it so fascinating!

Thank you for the e-arc, I really enjoyed reading it!

A huge thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a sequel done amazingly! Following up the events of the last book, I have to say that I loved this more!

Along with the intricate plot, there was more world building and heartstopping revelations! I definitely enjoyed the multiple POV and seeing more of the characters’ thought process, their plans and ulterior motives. Those gave them more depth to their characterization and development. Especially for those whom we didn’t get much of from the last book and ended up being a part of the main cast in this sequel.

I loved it when everything and everyone came together and it was just a delight seeing them all interact! (The banter and snarky comments were fun too!)

The light but sweet romance between Luca and Amarande had me swooning! Their love was strong and so real, it was nice seeing them literally lay down their life for each other.

With this, most of aspects I found lacking in the first book and a lot of my questions regarding the characters and the world were answered but I ended up being so invested that I kept thinking of what might happen in the next book.

The last quarter of the book was definitely the most engaging bit. All the twists and events were exciting and they left me intrigued for what happens in the third book.

Overall, this was such a fun series so far filled with political intrigue and badass characters set in an interesting world! I highly recommend it for YA fantasy lovers!

I loved The Princess Will Save You, so I was excited to continue the story with The Queen Will Betray You. This one picks up right where the first book leaves off. It was exactly what I was looking for in a sequel. Full of action, adventure, funny side characters, powerful women and a bit of romance, this series is slowly becoming one of my favorites.

The world that’s been built here is top notch. The writing is descriptive enough to transport you there, but not overdone so that you want to leave. This sequel explores some of the other kingdoms more than the previous one.

There are a lot of different POVs in this sequel but it was done well and didn’t leave me confused. I did feel adding in so many characters caused the pacing in this one to be a bit slower, but not enough to cause me to lose interest.

Overall, I enjoyed this read.

When I finished THE PRINCESS WILL SAVE YOU, I wasn't sure just how Sarah Henning could top it and possibly continue the story in a meaningful way. I am so glad to be writing this now, absolutely admitting with glee that I was so so so wrong! THE QUEEN WILL BETRAY YOU is the perfect sequel, acting as if it is just the next chapter in the KINGDOM AND SKY series - you almost can't tell if it is inherently a sequel. The character development that was seemingly complete in the first book is furthered even more and you grow to love and root for every character (even Taillefer!) If you do one good self-care thing this week, make it grabbing a copy of THE QUEEN WILL SAVE YOU.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book unfortunately was a bit of a let down. While, I was excited to continue the story after that plot twist from the first book, the pacing and development just fell flat. The multiple POVs was a bit hard to follow as well, as there were just too many things happening all at once with different characters.

I will say that the world building was definitely much better in this book, enjoyed getting more details on the other kingdoms. The political aspect and all the monarchs fighting for power was very interesting as well.

The main heroine, Amarande was such a fierce, strong and independent character. Her fighting for the people she loved and her kingdom was truly amazing. Just really enjoyed her journey and development throughout this book. Luca, who was the love interest did have a bit of a journey and more development in this book, which was nice. However, his story wasn’t as big as I thought it was going to be. The romance between Amarande and Luca was really cute and I just loved how devoted and in love they were.

The last few chapters were a bit predictable but nonetheless enjoyable as it was very action packed. I will say that the conclusion and epilogue left me a bit confused as a lot of questions were not answered or explained. Definitely just didn’t feel like the end of the story and as if there’s going to be a third book. So the ending just wasn’t as satisfying as a hoped.

Overall, just a fast and okay read filled with action and adventure.

It’s official, I’m obsessed with Sarah Henning’s books. I adored The Princess Will Save You, it was an exciting and thrilling adventure I couldn’t put down. In its sequel, I was blown away by the swoonworthy romance and political machinations happening by lots of powerful women determined not to be swayed by the whims of the patriarchy. Luca and Ama’s romance continues to make me melt, and of course, lovers of The Princess Bride will continue to recognise some of the iconic moments retold into a new and creative way. I don’t think this is one that readers will forget, and it will leave them aching for the next book.

You might want to navigate away from this review if you haven’t yet read The Princess Will Save You, because there will be spoilers! However, I highly encourage you to add it to your TBR because it’s an amazing read!

After a brief reunion with her love, Amarande must again leave Luca’s side in order for her to reclaim her kingdom from usurpers and Luca must also claim his own birthright. However, key players in this game for the throne have moved into place and are waiting to attack. They’ll both face unspeakable betrayal, enemies in the shadows, and as the odds seem insurmountable, their only hope is the power of their true love.

This story picks up pretty soon after The Princess Will Save You ends, and let me just say that if you’re worried about second book syndrome here, there’s absolutely no need to fear. If anything, Henning creates an even bigger world, where the political machinations of queens are starting to come to light, and everyone has some skeletons in their closet to hide. Amarande and Luca are separated again, and are facing some pretty harsh betrayals. They’re both pushed to their limits, but they’re not going to go down without a fight. These two continue to experience some pretty intense character growth, with Amarande having to learn how to put her faith in the person who least deserves it in her eyes. Luca must move past his own insecurities about leading in order to reclaim his throne.

After the events of the last book, there is definitely some trauma that both Luca and Amarande have to work through. It adds a level of dimension to the book that makes them both incredibly relatable. I’ve always seen Amarande as a very headstrong young woman that will charge headfirst and think about the consequences afterward. Unfortunately those same actions have some pretty significant consequences as she’s learned, and there’s definitely a lot more second guessing in this story. These were some of my favourite moments of the story, because you get to see Amarande’s mind at work.

So we’re introduced to a couple new characters in this story, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what was going to happen with them. We also get a bit of background to a couple of the fierce queens that propels this story into the ultimate battle for control of the kingdom. Objectively, every character feels like they have right on their side, and if you reason with it long enough, you can understand how each thread has become twisted and warped into something more. It’s not always about villainy. Sometimes fighting the patriarchy twists even the best of hearts.

Of course, I can’t continue this review without talking about the love story within it. Truly, there’s something so pure about best friends that become lovers. It’s sweet and the most honest of love stories. There’s no question as to how well they know each other, and it creates a bond and trust that transcends so many other types of romances. Luca and Amarande’s love definitely make my little heart go pitter-pat.

This sequel will make you run the gamut of emotions; bone chilling terror for our two lovebirds, to exhilaration as they battle their enemies and make it through some pretty intense nail-biting situations. You’ll be on the edge of your seat the entire time, and though the ending is pretty solid, the title for the next book will have you feeling that something ominous is coming this way. All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves thrilling fantasy adventures, and you should absolutely add it to your TBR.

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

The Queen Will Betray You builds pretty well on the first book, doing what a good sequel should do: taking the initial setup and raising the stakes.

While I felt book one was a very by-the-numbers story that wore its influences on its sleeve a little too closely (and there’s nothing wrong with that), I appreciate that this book made the attempt to flesh the story out, expanding on the politics and getting the characters into new situations.

I had mixed feelings about Luca and Amarande going their separate ways for a good portion of the book. On the one hand, it resulted in more character growth for them as they found themselves facing these different challenges on their own. And there are some developments, especially involving Luca’s identity, that engaged me, even if it does still play into some familiar tropes. But I also felt it resulted in a tonal shift away from the feels which were more prominent in the first book.

I liked this and it is a lot better developed than the first book. But at the same time, it is fairly standard for the genre, not really standing out in any particular way. However, there is a lot to enjoy here, and if you enjoyed the first book, I think you’ll like how it all plays out.

Definitely a let down from Book One, <i>The Princess Will Save You</i>. Instead of staying with Ama and Luca, now that they're reunited, the two split up and go off to claim their respective kingdoms. Ama runs into some surprising issues, Luca less so. Still, separating them and dividing the action lessened the potential for some really interesting twists and discoveries. They're there, don't get me wrong, but the impact is lower because just as you're thinking "wait, what?" you're moved into the other plotline. One or the other would have been far better.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

The Queen WIill Betray You is an action packed book, the second in the Kingdoms of Sands and Sky series.

From the first page, I was hooked in with the plot. It kinda felt like Game of Thrones in a way, but more suited to a YA audience. The world is expanded, and we get a good storyline. It was a delight to read, and one I'd definitely recommend to those who like the princess bride/princess will save the day types.

I also kinda like the poisons/alchemy aspects in this one, I'm not sure why but it was kind of cool.

Rating: 3.5/5

Review live 7/7 at 12PM AEST

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Queen will Betray You by Sarah Henning mirrors the first book in the duology as Amarande has to escape the castle and journey to Torrence, though this time it's to fight by Luca's side.

Just like in The Princess Will Save You, the female characters are in the spotlight here. We get to explore the motivations behind Koldo's, Ines' and Geneva's actions in depth too, as well as get some chapters from their POVs. I really appreciated the deep dive into these older female characters as that isn't something I usually come across in YA. Despite their flaws, of which there were many, they added a lot of depth to the story.

As for the younger female characters, Ula continues to stand out at every turn, which is something the story heavily emphasises. Even though she's a secondary character, I'd argue that she's as central to the plot as Amarande is. Unfortunately we don't get to see as much of Osana as I would have liked. She often becomes lost in the plot given the amount of players, making her story arc feel rushed.

When it comes to the main characters, I didn't notice much of a change. Amarande remains as headstrong as ever. She takes every chance she can to regain what is rightfully hers despite the obstacles. While I enjoyed her chaarcter, I would have liked to see more out of her in terms of personal growth, especially in regards to her feelings towards Sendoa. Luca's character also avoids significant change. After accepting his role as the lost prince and de facto leader of the rebellion, he still risks it all for Amarande.

Despite the backstage politics, this duology is first and foremost a love story. Henning does her best to reconcile the two, but it does fall short at time, with one obscuring the other. Then there's the feminist aspect of the book. I enjoyed that aspect of it in the first book, but it did get tedious at times in this one. Henning's readers know that Amarande and the other female characters are out to bring out the patriarchy, they don't need to be reminded every other chapter. The monologues about it dragged down the plot at times in a story where a lot of it centers on travelling.

The pacing of the book could have been better. The first part details the journeys of several groups as plot lines converge, but it felt repetitive since this is how 'The Princess will Save You' also began. The action scenes remain excellent, but I feel Henning could have tightened things up here and there.
I also really liked what Henning did with the title of this novel. While it is still Amarande's story, the title reflects the actions of a different female character. Given the abundance of female characters in leading roles, Henning had me guessing which one would be the betrayer until the very end.

Finally a word on Taillefer. A minor character in the first book, he gains centre stage for much of this one. I, like Amarande, was surprised to see him at first but he did grow on me as the murder-prone sidekick. His actions are never justified, though some are explained, and we truly get to see an expansive character arc when it comes to him. All through to the end, he's the character that impressed me the most and the one that kept me on my toes.

Overall I enjoyed The Queen will Betray You by Sarah Henning, as well as the duology as a whole. It was delightful to read despite the darker moments and slight flaws. If you want a book that turns well cemented tropes on their heads, this is the one for you!

In this sequel to The Princess Will Save You, we find a story built on scheming and action. It features shifting motives and unexpected alliances with both twisty, brutal power plays, and also plans coming to fruition that are decades in the making. It's fast-paced with a good ratio of dialogue and plotting to running and fighting. The combination kept me immersed in the characters' political problems and personal concerns. It's also some of the best fight scenes I've personally read in terms of clear description, dramatic buildup, and strategic explanation. The Princess Bride references kept on coming, and I especially liked the nods to Inigo Montoya in this one.

Something that itched at me during this read was how the author verbalized the fight against the patriarchy. On the one hand, by directly bringing it up, she kept it at the forefront of readers' minds, which I think can be valuable. On the other hand, this approach can flatten a complex issue into a girl power type situation rather than a discussion that includes intersectionality and layers of privilege. The biggest indication of this oversimplification is that the patriarchy is presented here as a structure that can be dismantled or challenged by the single-handed badassery of a princess or queen seeking her own fortune rather than a social change for and by everyone. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Overall, this is a fun, action-packed read. The characters are interesting and endearing. The love story is sweet and uncomplicated, unlike most in the genre. Drama is saved for politics and swords. It was a welcome change and an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out next week on 7/6!

This was such an upgrade from the the first book. From page one I enjoyed it so much more and was more interested in the story. In contrast to the first book, I really enjoyed seeing new character perspectives, as it really gave the story more depth.

This book constantly kept me guessing and on my toes. I liked some characters that I thought could never like (Taillefer I'm looking at you) and unfortunately some of my predictions came true (again, Taillefer, looking at you! ).

The questions I had after the first book were (mostly) answered, and some weak plot points were made stronger. I really liked the open ending of this book, and I'm excited to see where the next book will take us!

Regarding Amarande and Luca, their story was much more believeable in this book.

All in all, I wasn't sure until the very last page that I succesfully predicted some of the plot twists and that made this book so good!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to an advance copy!

Unfortunately I felt the potential the first book had did not carry through to this one. As the main cast of characters was split up for much of the book, there was a lot of repetition of information/discoveries as we witnessed these events from multiple perspectives. I found Luca's plotline the least interesting of all of them, though I didn't feel connected to any of our cast. The villains' motivations in particular seemed quite weak - mostly focused on gaining power/revenge - and I didn't think there was much tension as to where we would end up at the end of the book. The cringe dialogue especially for Taillefer unfortunately also was present in this one, and at times the story would grind to a halt for Taillefer and Amarande to have a conversation (presumably referencing The Princess Bride in some way). And as I found in the first book, any reveal that you thought there would be more to sadly did not deliver, and instead attempts to foreshadow or hint at what was to come gave too much away for twists to be exciting.

Maybe if you were a new reader of YA Fantasy/Fantasy Romance you would enjoy this more, but I just found it too predictable and full of scenes that felt like they were just padding out the story. It needed more stakes, more character development for both the villains and the protagonists, and I think it would have benefitted from either being shorter or just being 1 book instead of 2. I found myself skimming from page 200 until the end because I wasn't involved enough to commit to another 170-odd pages. At times modern language like "owned" was used, or "literally" was also repeated often, and I think these writing choices pulled me out of the story, especially as most of the time people spoke quite formally/old-timey. Unsure if it will end up in the final version, but I think something lacking from the first book was a map! I would have loved to see the kingdoms visually especially as so much travelling was happening.

This was a solid sequel to The Princess Will Save You! While I did like the first one better, this was a great continuation. In the first book, I really enjoyed the comparisons I could make to The Princess Bride and while there were some things in this one I could pick out that were from The Princess Bride, it wasn't the actual plot like the first one.
In the first book, there were some things I didn't really like about Amarande, but I thought she really grew in this one and was a much more enjoyable character overall. Luca was still a little bland, but I still liked him. I think my new favorite character was Talleifer. He was so snarky and morally grey and had such great banter with Amarande. You never knew what he was going to do or who's side he was on. Speaking of not knowing who's side people are on, Geneva was a great surprise to me but I won't say why. Her, Ines and Domingu were so conniving and sneaky and smart, they had a great kind of side plot.
There was a lot of political stuff in this book which I don't usually like (completely personal!) and I didn't love in this book, but it was tolerable because what the political stuff revolved around just really had my interest. I really wanted to know how everything was going to turn out. Like I said, I thought the current rulers had a great (very political) side plot that really tied in nicely to what the main characters were doing throughout the book. Both Amarande and Luca had their own separate plots and I was just waiting for them to find their way back to each other, but they were both interesting and different plots and I was excited no matter which plot I was currently reading.
I do believe that there will be another book in this series and I can't wait to read it!

The plot of this duology was really building up, only to have an unsatisfying conclusion. Unfortunately I did not enjoy The Queen Will Betray You as much as the first book, and found it rather lackluster. While I do love plot twists, my biggest criticism was that there were too many in this novel, and the author did not stick with one plot line. Additionally, I wish the characters would have had more time to interact. Overall, the series was fine but nothing extraordinary.
Positives:
- The main characters had some really fierce moments that excellently drew readers into the action.
- While I did criticize the overuse of plot twists, some of the surprises were very good at keeping the story going.
- The world building in the novel was done well, and it was easy to comprehend.
Negatives:
- As I said in the beginning, the plot twists would whiplash readers from one story line to the other. At times it became confusing and frustrating to be bombarded with new information and surprises.
- There is very little insight into what the characters are thinking or feeling. I want to know their thoughts, their reactions, their hurt, but I only felt detached from them.
- The characters spent very little time together, therefore making the romantic connection feel barely existent. The main characters’ love is a driving force in the story, but it was not displayed enough. This made the conclusion feel unsatisfying and left more to be desired.
- The world building was good, but it would have been enhanced by the addition of a map.
Kingdoms of Sand and Sky Duology
Overall rating: 3 stars

Thank you NetGalley and the publishing company for this arc!