Loved this conclusion to the duology. Such strong characters! I couldn’t tell what was going to happen and I loved that it wasn’t predictable

I really loved this sequel and conclusion. I think this duology doesn't get enough credit out there and I hope so many others will pick up this series because Greta does such a fantastic job at building worlds and giving a great story with fascinating characters.

The Seventh Queen is the sequel to The Frozen Crown. This was an action-packed story that was full of romance and political intrigue! The novel was wrapped up well! Thus, I recommend this fans of Kiera Cass, Laura Sebastian, and C. J. Redwine!

"I'd been proud to display the scar in the Vishiri court. The scar I'd earned the day the Shazir killed my parents. I was proud again to wear it now. It would remind Radovan, and the men and women who propped him up, that I was not a wilting flower, a damsel waiting for rescue. I was a queen. A warrior."

After reading THE FROZEN CROWN, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second/final installment of the Warrior Witch duology. Book one ended on a massive cliffhanger, making THE SEVENTH QUEEN one of my most-anticipated reads of 2021. Of course, life had other plans for me. Long story short, I finally got around to reading the novel, and it did not disappoint. Picking up exactly where book one left off, the story follows Askia as she discovers an unlikely band of allies to aid her in her quest to defeat Emperor Radovan. I absolutely loved the six queens, and I thought that Kelly did a fantastic job bringing them into focus.

I was somewhat torn regarding my rating for THE SEVENTH QUEEN (between 4 and 5 stars), as there were pieces of the story that were not neatly wrapped up. That being said, the last chapter was POWERFUL, and I definitely felt the suspense and tension as the story reached its culmination. Furthermore, I loved the way that the book itself ended, and I could easily picture being in a movie theater and yelling "WHAT?!" when the credits appeared. I hope that Kelly writes a novella or a series of short stories told from other perspectives that touch on the open storylines. Overall, this is one of my favorite fantasy duologies, and it definitely deserves more attention. Thank you to Harper Voyager and Goodreads for the complimentary copies in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Seventh Queen is the conclusion to the Warrior Witch duology. The Frozen Crown ended with a cliffhanger, and The Seventh Queen picks up right where the first book left off. In The Seventh Queen we find Askia in the hands of her enemy, Rodovan who wants her magic and power for his own.

The Seventh Queen was a fast-paced conclusion to a fantasy story filled with elaborate politics and fascinating magic. Without spoilers, I loved how Askia’s magic plays such a big part in the second half of this story. It was unique and smart and I loved all of the characters we got to meet because of Askia’s power. This conclusion also had some really great plot twists!

I think that this was an excellent conclusion. I really enjoy this world and its magic system. I would happily read anything else Greta Kelly writes, especially if any future books are going to be set in this world.

I would recommend this to fantasy readers who like political machinations, witches, and great characters. This duology would also be great for readers who are intimidated by long fantasy books or series with many installments. Both The Frozen Crown and The Seventh Queen are under 400 pages and the two books cover a great story with a satisfying conclusion!!

THE SEVENTH QUUEN picks up right where the cliffhanger ending of THE FROZEN CROWN stops.

Kelly's world building blossoms in the book. The character development and tension were phenomenal! While I loved the story, it does drag at points (second book syndrome), but this was still a good story.

I procrastinated reading the ending to this book because I was not ready for it to end. I didn't want it to end. I remember book one surprising me, and while it took me a minute to remember what had happened, I was hooked quickly. And I was reminded why I loved the first book and this second installment was even better.
Greta Kelly is a master at crafting a story that draws you in and has you on the edge of your seat.
I honestly didn't know what was going to happen, what the outcome was going to be, I couldn't have pegged the ending and I loved every minute of this book.
I highly recommend picking up The Frozen Crown and The Seventh Queen and fall in love with Askia and her incredible journey. You won't regret it.

THE SEVENTH QUEEN was an outstanding and bittersweet conclusion to The Warrior Witch duology. Gretta Kelly's writing and approach to her story and her characters is such a breath of fresh air and super unique to her and she deserves to be commended for putting out not one, but TWO fantastic books. From the outset, the plot gets rolling and plows full steam ahead and never stops. Askia is a fierce and plain old awesome heroine who rolls with the punches and uses every tool at her disposal to put a stop to Radovan and escape in order to save her world from a dark evil. I adored the scenes with Askia and Radovan. Radovan is a really well-developed and multidimensional villain and the way Kelly presents him to the reader keeps him evil but shows that darker humanity beneath him and I love that sort of villain. And my baby Illya. I love him and Askia so much and their love story as they fight to get back to each other is just so good. There is chemistry and steam to make the heart soar real high. I also loved the rapport between all of the women, living and dead, in this book. They may not all be besties or have pure intentions but they support each other against the tyranny of men in ways only other women can. The ending to this book was nearly as explosive as the first book, although we leave things on a vague and bittersweet note that makes me hope to see more from this world. THE SEVENTH QUEEN is a feminist adventure of a book that has so much intrigue, romance and action, and I heartily recommend this duology to everyone who loves a good and feminist fantasy. Definitely one of the more underrated fantasy duologies out there and deserves all of the stars!

The Seventh Queen is the second book in the Warrior Queen duology by Greta Kelly. Here we follow what happens to Askia--a warrior, witch, queen, and empress--as she confronts the man/monster who stole her throne and holds her prisoner in order to steal her magic. She only has thirty days to figure out how to save herself from the fate of Emperor Radovan's previous wives.

I absolutely inhaled the first book in the series, The Frozen Crown, this past May. Though I called some of the twists in the first book, it also zagged a few times when I expected it to zig. Thanks to an amazing cliffhanger, I was very excited to be able to get my hands on an advanced copy of the conclusion from NetGalley. To be honest, I basically stalked the NetGalley site until this book was listed to be requested! Some folks have listed this as YA on Goodreads, but this feels more like Adult Fantasy to me. I could see the series being a good jump from YA for young adult readers.

This is a really strong freshman outing for Greta Kelly. I think she sticks the landing. This book really picks up at about the 60% mark. Kelly does a great job at ratcheting up the tension and just keeping it there for a while, making me nervous for my favs.

I've seen some other reviews that complained that this book was mostly about our queen Askia as a prisoner.t I really appreciated the way this book shows how tactically skilled Askia is on the micro scale, versus how the first book showed her leadership on a macro scale as she travels all around the world.

I greatly enjoyed the growth of Askia's relationship with the ghosts of the previous six queens, and with other people in Radovan's court.

We get a point of view chapter from Ilya in this book! I literally pumped my fist in the air, I was so hype about that. We also got some deep Ilya lore that I appreciated.

Just like the first book, I called some of the twists but there were still quite a few times where the book really zagged when I expected it to zig. I was happily surprised by a few things in the final 10% of the book. I highly recommend this duology for fans of fantasy.

Also like the first book, there's some slight romance and one particularly steamy scene that is fairly short. This duology still feels very adult fantasy and not YA, but I'd still recommend it as a good jump from YA for young adult readers.

The conclusion is fairly open-ended and I really hope the author will write more in this series. Perhaps further interconnected duologies, or maybe start up a trilogy for the next part of the story of the world. Or maybe just novelas. Please, Greta Kelly, I need to know what happens to my favs.

In this second read of the Warrior Witch series by Greta Kelly, Askia has been captured my the Emperor Radovan, who wants to made her his wife only to take her magic which will kill her. Will she find the means to avoid this doom with the help of the Emperor's past wives? This is an exciting conclusion to this story of a warrior, witch, and queen. Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley.

This is the 2nd in the Frozen Crown series as Askia has even more obstacles to overcome now that she is in Roven.

The magic system is so interesting and we learn way more about its structure and source in this one. Though Radovan has tried to cripple Askia's power she is still more powerful than he knows. The addition of the ghosts of wives past was an added The Real Housewives of the Roven Empire vibe, just kidding it was way darker and you know those ladies get dark! There was more intrigue and power grabbing and fear mongering and fantasy magic!

I really enjoyed this new adult fantasy duology. The writing is so good, and Askia is right up there with Aelin for me when it comes to strong female protagonists.

Askia spends a lot of this book as Radovan’s captor, so a lot of the story progresses through planning, plotting, and politicking. Even though there wasn’t much action until the end, I didn’t think the book was slow. I was thoroughly engrossed in this dark fantasy world, and I thought the character development was fantastic. Romance is not a huge part of the story, but the romance followed MY FAVORITE TROPE (I can’t say what it is because spoilers).

This was different from the first book in the series, but I loved them both. My only complaint is that I want more stories in this world! I would love a follow up that takes place 5-10 years later to see how these events play out in the long run.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted eARC.

One Sentence Summary: Askia has been captured by her enemy, Radovan, and is destined for death, but, in the 30 days she has left, she’s determined to make him fall and find a way out.

Overall
The Seventh Queen is the second half of the Warrior Witch Duology, so it follows on the heels of The Frozen Crown. Askia has been taken from Vishir to the cold, Northern court of Radovan, a powerful man intent on draining her magic from her before killing her. But Askia is determined to escape, or at least sow discontent in his court, with the help of the ghosts of his former queens. I couldn’t help feeling a little confused by this duology. The cliffhanger at the end of the first book made me think it was a whole book split in two. But, after reading the second book, it felt more like it was the opposite of the first book and there wasn’t much linking the two except Askia. Overall, though, I think I liked the second one better, especially since Askia felt like she matured, though I also found the court intrigue a little boring.

Extended Thoughts
Askia has been taken from Vishir and imprisoned in Roven by her enemy, Radovan. In thirty days, her magic will have been drained into an Aellium stone she is forced to wear and cannot remove, and then Radovan will kill her to take her magic. With the six queens who came before her on her side, Askia is determined to escape, and will use their spirits in any way she can to turn Radovan’s court on its head. Radovan, though, hasn’t lived an improbable number of years without taking a few precautions and having an understanding of the people he rules and seeks to rule.

The Seventh Queen picks up immediately after the events of The Frozen Crown. I wasn’t a big fan of the first book, but, with the major cliffhanger at the end, I was left feeling like I’d only been given half the story, and I do not like to not finish a story. Fortunately, I did like the change of scenery and Askia wasn’t quite as annoying. The romance was also dialed way back, making it easier to read and making Askia as queen shine in a way she couldn’t before when every man seemed to want her.

Where The Frozen Crown was set in the warm, sun-drenched Vishir Empire, The Seventh Queen is set far to north in snowy, freezing Roven. I really enjoyed how all the snow and cold, especially as winter sweeps across the land, played a big part in the story and how the characters were affected. It felt delightfully chilly and was a great counterpoint in every way to the court of the first book. It did, though, feel too stereotypically European and too much of it recalled the real world to me. Though it was nice to get to know bits and pieces of the conquered kingdoms through the deceased queens.

While both books involved court intrigue, I think The Seventh Queen did it much better. That might have to do with the fact that there was almost no romance in this book to obscure the intrigue. It was front and center since Askia is looking for any way possible out of her situation. The fact that she only has thirty days helps heighten her desperation and makes her more reckless, so she’s more than willing to help sow discontent within the already terrified nobility. I did feel she was overly reliant on the deceased queens, but it was fun to watch her play the game. As much as she claimed to not enjoy it, she carried it off well, and I quite preferred this version of Askia.

In the first book, Askia felt very young and hotheaded. The Seventh Queen sees her cooled off considerably, which made her seem more thoughtful and mature. Her life is on the line and she expects to be executed, but, in the time she has left, she’ll try her hardest to either get away or divide Radovan’s court as much as she can. With so much at stake, she needs to be cold and in control. I did tire of her constantly saying how playing the game made her insides twist and that that wasn’t her, but I felt it really suited her. She was most interesting to me when she played the game and left the hot headed girl behind. Of course, I don’t mean to say she only felt grown up because she was manipulative, but it made her more thoughtful and strategic, which really helped when the last third of the book hit. Mostly, I liked how she wasn’t falling into romance and dealing with so many men who loved her. It helped me to focus on the actual story at hand instead of her constant thoughts of how much she did or didn’t like this man or that.

Despite the growth by leaps and bounds that Askia seems to make, there isn’t actually much happening for most of the book. Since it’s centered around Radovan’s court, it mostly focused on the court intrigue and Askia constantly sending this ghost or that ghost out to obtain information for her to use. The Seventh Queen, though, did have a couple of odd chapters from another character’s perspective and, while it did have some useful information, I still struggle to understand why they were included. They felt longer than necessary and I think a bit of information obtained in one of those chapters would have been better left as a surprise later on. Overall, it wasn’t exactly an entertaining read unless, perhaps, you enjoy a lot of court intrigue. Instead, I wish the story had been expanded as I was dying to know what was going on in Vishir since the first book was set there and the reader had a chance to get comfortable with it. It definitely left me feeling wanting.

I had hoped that the ghosts of Radovan’s previous wives would have been interesting. But they all seemed to have only one personality to call their own. While they were unique and different from each other, they themselves didn’t really vary. I guess that’s to be expected of ghosts, but they seemed less constrained by death than I had expected, so wanted a bit more from them. Radovan, on the other hand, was quite interesting. While he was consistent, he kind of also blew all over the place. It was difficult to tell whether he’d be amused by something or not. I felt he created the most tension and I wanted to keep reading to see what he would do.

The Seventh Queen did and didn’t feel like the second half of a book. In a way it did feel like a continuation of the story instead of a second book in the duology. In another, it felt like the flip side of the first book. The series felt too neatly split between two different countries, climates, and courts. It was annoying to me how it highlighted the differences, but I did like that the second court forced Askia to grow up.

Overall, I found The Seventh Queen to be more interesting than the first book and it managed to feel a little less YA to me, but it was weird in how it felt like the second half of a single book and like the polar opposite of The Frozen Crown. I did like Askia’s growth and how minimal the romance was, but also felt kind of bored by more than half of the story.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a wonderful duology as The Frozen Crown was one of my favorite books this year! I for one really like how this author was able to give us the stories back to back instead of a long wait. It probably could have been one book, but this quick turn-around was so satisfying. The sequel picks up where the first book leaves off. There's no time-lapse or jumps anywhere. It just keeps going from The Frozen Crown's cliffhanger hence why I said it could have been one book. Still, do not skip book 1 thinking that they are separate entry points.

If you like books with political intrigue then this is definitely a book for you. It does have some slower moments (just like in book one) because the focus is on showing the political intricacies and in my opinion, this is especially true at the beginning of this book. However, Askia is still a likable heroine in this book. I think she acts appropriately for the circumstances she is in given her age. She doesn't know everything, but she is doing what she can. She is impulsive, but she learns from her mistakes. This includes exploring aspects of her power. She also learns how to maneuver without the full use of her powers and becomes a bit of a master mind which I personally loved seeing with her character development. Over if you liked book one, I seriously think you will like where this one goes. It is on my list of my favorite duologies. My only complaint would be that the ending did not feel complete. I thought there would be more clarity on what's happened at the end of the story. If Kelly ever decides to do a spin-off of this series, I would love to see her elaborate a bit more on that while also giving us a new story with different characters to read about. She definitely has the room to do so as the world she's created is very elaborate and detailed. I would 100% read a spin-off if she makes one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 Stars
🔥 1/5 Steam Rating

If you haven’t read The Frozen Crown yet, what are you waiting for?! Do it!

The Seventh Queen will not disappoint. We pick right back up with Askia where the previous book left off. While this book doesn’t have quite the level of romance, it has a bit more adventure. Don’t worry, the political espionage is still rampant in this book too.

There is one *small* steamy scene, but it’s easy to skip over, for those that don’t enjoy that kind of thing.

The only thing I craved was an extended epilogue to show what happened after it all shook out.

Thank you to the author & publisher for this gifted copy.

WE HAVE A WINNER!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this duology, The Frozen Crown. I loved this world and the concept this book brought with the various witches and their different specialities(fire, healer, truth, water, wind, & earth), and Askia being a rare death witch and with what all that entailed. It's fun and interesting and it brought something unique for me to enjoy. And with that heart-stopping cliffhanger at the end, I couldn't wait to dive into the second, and I'm so thankful I had it readily available! Second books sometimes don't live up to the build up or our high expectations, but I am thrilled to say that this is not the case with The Seventh Queen!!

I was completely engaged in this book, more so than the first. This was an anxiety-inducing, nail-biting, I've got to find out what happens in this story book!

I loved how the author wrote this book with the dead queens as major players in this storyline. It was never boring! I loved every Queen and every minute of this book. I loved the complex characters this story brought us like Qaden and Zosha.

I could not put it down. I was anxious and excited to see how this story played out, but also reluctant, because I didn't want it to end. How were we going to wrap this up and I be content with that??! I am happy to say the second book is even better than the first and I'm really hoping down the road we can have a continuation of these characters and see how this story evolves!

The plot twists, oh my! At one point, I literally gasped out loud, lying in bed late at night, because I did NOT see that coming, but I loved it! I can't wait for others to get to that point in the story, so I can discuss further with someone else!

I will most definitely be recommending this series to friends and readers who enjoy YA and adult fantasy. I have read alot of fantasy books and it's always been my favorite genre, but it also can be the genre I am worried most about picking up and reading because I do have such high expectations for this category. It takes alot to "wow" me and this book did that!

I love Sanderson, Maas, Bardugo, Wheeler, etc., and I can easily say that Greta Kelly is a major contender with this group! I am thrilled that I have read these books, discovered this author, and I look forward to reading more by Kelly!


**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

If you loved The Frozen Crown like I did, you are going to love the ending to this duology. This picks up where that leaves off. The Frozen Crown left us with quite the cliffhanger, and we pick up where that left us. You really will need to read book 1 to understand what is going on in this book or I feel you will be completely lost. This series is filled with political intrigue and the movements of the players start in the first book. If you picked up with with this book, you will have missed the build up and be confused as to who the players are and what their motivations are. Like book 1 this is a bit on the slower paced side, and I don't mean that as a negative. The pace fits the book and the plot, While there are some action scenes, this fantasy is not filled with magical battles and fight scenes. This is more of a chess match and a battle of wits as Askia not only has to figure out how to save herself but the entire empire before Radovan steals her magic and takes her life. While she is a warrior queen, she is also well equipped in court politics ang the games that nobles play to gain information and use it to gain the upper hand.

We don't get a ton of explanation of the magic system in this book. The magic is pretty straightforward, but the magic system is mostly explained in book 1. We don't get much of a recap of what happened in the first book, which if you are like me you read it almost a year ago. The more I read of this the more I remembered what was happening, but the events and locations of the first book only play a small part in this book. They are connected but most of this book takes place in Radovan's stronghold, where he is keeping Askia captive while he takes her magic. While she can't wield her magic in her captivity, she is still able to use a bit of magic and is aided not only by those who have sworn to serve her in death but the queen who came before her. With the six queens on her side, she is able to gain valuable information not only about Radovan, but his court and the castle. She is able to strategize and maneuver around him while planning her escape and a way to save everyone she cares about. I really enjoyed how this all came together. This has magic, politics, a little romance, some action, and some good discussions about guilt, sacrifice, and doing what is right for the greater good. This is a solid duology and I highly recommend it!

While I enjoyed the ending and felt it was fitting, I do feel that some readers will take issue with the lack of closure. The ending is a big open ended and doesn't give concrete answers to certain plot lines. This is one case that I feel like an epilogue maybe 5 years later would have been a nice touch. Then again it leaves things open for more books or for the reader to imagine what could be.

Do I recommend….absolutely! This is an Adult Fantasy duology but I think YA readers will adore this one too. Askia’s kingdom has been invaded by the ruthless conquer Radovan. She flees to Vishir to plead for aid. The first book ends on a cliffhanger and this one picks up right where it left off. I couldn’t stop turning the page. Askia continues to fight for her country. She is a hero who’s pain you’ll feel and triumphs you’ll cheer. That’s all I’ll say on this one to avoid spoilers

Greta, Please tell me there will be spin offs!?

This book was amazing! This duet is definitely one of my favorite fantasy series now. Picks up right where book one left off. Finally get to meet Radovan. Got to meet new amazing characters and explore more of this creative unique world. It’s full of adventure and magic. I very highly recommend this series. You will regret not reading it.

The Seventh Queen by Greta Kelly is the second book of the Warrior Witch Duology. The first book, The Frozen Crown, was a true cliff-hanger that left me utterly impatient for the this one, which picks up right where the first book ends. You definitely need to read both to enjoy the full story of Askia - warrior, witch, and heir to the Frozen Crown.

When Emperor Radovan burned her cities to the ground, killing her people by the thousands, demanding Askia surrender to become his wife, she fled south seeking an alliance with the southern emperor and his court. She was willing to do anything in exchange for an army to defeat the man threatening to take over the world using stolen magic. Against all odds, Askia rallied the southern continent to her cause. Before she could lead that army, however, Radovan bound her magic and kidnapped her.

Now prisoner in the heart of Radovan’s northern capital, Askia's magic is locked away and being siphoned by a stone around her neck. In thirty days, he will have her death magic and her life would be forfeit, just like his previous six wives. She had until then to find a way to escape, and her only allies are eight ghosts.

Unable to touch the physical world, the spirits of the dead cannot offer more than information. In a castle surrounded by enemies, far from home, information is exactly what Askia needs. Using her eight allies as spies and the information they gather as leverage, Askia searches for blackmail, hoping for some way out of Radovan’s grasp before her time is up.

With magic, sword-fighting, and intrigue, The Seventh Queen is an excellent follow-up to The Frozen Crown and the perfect conclusion to the Warrior Witch Duology.