If I had to bring the perfect example of too-intense world-building, it would be this book. Don’t think I didn’t love it, when in fact, I did enjoy it a lot, although a physical copy would’ve been better to take notes and go back to previous explanations. Part of me felt as if it was a word-vomit, too much information in too little time, resulting a bit confusing at times. This overwhelming sensation, however, was dimmed by the lore and mythology in the book - although I admit, it was weird to research the god of death and come up with the Egyptian counterpart when it was supposed to be about Celtic mythology.
Anyways, I quite liked the book, especially Neve, the main character, who, even though quite proud and entitled, had a good character development. I'm always torn whenever I encounter such characters, seeing their traits as more fitting for a bully than a heroine, because the fall is greater. In this book, however, she has a reality check, but that doesn't stop her from acting the way she always has, with her kingdom's interests at heart.
Ronan was a cupcake, I'd love to know more about him. He was Neve's counterbalance in so many ways, even the more subtle ones, and a great character on his own, fun, witty and smart, capable of escaping every kind of situation.
As for said situations, I must admit that some felt quite anticlimactic and rushed. The pace of the whole book is pretty slow at first, then it sprints toward the end and there were scenes in which I felt something was amiss, maybe a different POV.
One other thing I actually loved was the meaning behind the title and the final plot twist, both tied together. Honestly, you can sort of guess it, but then that thought gets lost during the read and you're left kinda shocked. This is the type of book I love.

I really enjoyed this book, but there were a few areas I felt the story was hard to grasp. I would say that my first challenge came with the names. I did my best to Google the common ones, but I would have really loved a pronunciation guide, especially since so much seemed to be in Gaelic and that is a really hard language to speak. I did very much appreciate the glossary of what the various things where. That was helpful.

While I feel the story flowed a lot more so towards the end, the beginning was a little bit more challenging. I had to go back several times and reread to figure out what was really going on and what timeline we were in. So it definitely took longer than I would have liked to jump into it.

I loved that it was a Celtic fantasy. That is by far the biggest selling point for me. You don't see a ton of those in the fantasy world and I felt like this was a very interesting story., It definitely makes you feel like you're standing on a moor or in a glen. It has a very gray like haze to it, but I thoroughly enjoyed many moments. I liked Neve's character and I loved the banter between her in Ronan.

Thank you to Zando Projects and Netgalley for an e-Arc of this book for review. This story is a Celtic YA fantasy set in the ancient kingdom of Eire (aka Ireland) following Neve, the young daughter of the King and Ronon, an ex-Druid apprentice. Through a series of meetings, these two individuals fates intertwine as they face together the struggle for power over Eire.

I really enjoyed Lesley Livingston's Wondrous Strange series and I absolutely loved the description of this book and how it was steeped in Celtic fantasy. Growing up I loved Celtic mythology and I got very deep into learning about the Tuatha Dé Danann, which this book incorporates as part of its world.

That being said, while I loved the premise of this book, it fell a bit flat in execution. There is a short section outlining who is who at the start of the book which helps a bit but from the get-go you are thrown right away into the plot with little idea how the mythology and world building work.. Despite immediately diving into the action, I didn’t really understand where the plot of the book was going until almost halfway through and this left the second half feeling rushed.

For our characters, I never really grew to enjoy Neve. She was crafty in some chapters and very naive in others - she didn’t feel fully sketched out as a character and her only consistent trait throughout was being bratty. I also didn’t really understand some of Neve’s logic in the book - like when she assumed that Ronan attacked someone, her assumption sort of came out of nowhere. I actually reread a few pages to make sure I hadn't missed where her logic for making crazy assumptions came from.

I did enjoy Ronan and Sakir as character, though the half-hearted love triangle wasn’t needed unless Livingston was really willing to commit to it more. I do wish Livingston had focused a bit more on the romance, given the description of the book, as it wasn’t really fleshed out much. I would 100% read a book about Sakir though - if there is a sequel and I got promised him as a character I would 100% read it!
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I was expecting a lot more with this one and ultimately think that it needed to be fleshed out more in terms of plot, characters and romance - but I did enjoy the concept.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This wasn’t an instant love for me, I really liked the book, but I didn’t love it. I don’t know exactly why I didn’t like it because this book has enemies to lovers, action, drama, and magic and that is everything love in books. Now with all that being said I do hope that there is a second book because I would like to see where this book will go.

The world building was amazing, from the details that the author described to help you picture the scenes that are playing out, to the introductions to the characters, from the action and drama/heartbreaking scenes. This author really knows how to pull you into a world and keep you wanting to know what else is going to happen.

The pace of the book was a little slow at first, every book gives you details to the world and characters, but I felt at times throughout the book it would slow back down for no reason. Then there were times that I couldn’t put the book down with everything going on with the characters, I just had to know what else would pop up. I thought the character development was done well, we get to see a young Neve and Ronan and then years later they’re thrown back together… Dare I say fate kept those two coming back together even though the both of them would fight it as much as possible. I loved that we get to see those 2 strong headed individuals grow and learn from their mistakes and become some amazing characters. The side characters even had some growth with them. I really like Ronan the most, from his sarcastic side to his sweet/caring side. I loved that once he got something stuck in his mind he would follow through until either he would see that path wouldn’t work or he would figure it out the hard way. Neve, I loved her spitfire personality and how determined she was even though people would tell her she was too young or didn’t know better or even that she would be the death of them all. She still followed her heart and did what she knew would be the best.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love mythology/folklore of any kind and I really love Celtic mythology so much. Livingston did a beautiful job on this Celtic fantasy book; she brought this magical world of lore to the YA readers.

I want to thank NetGalley and Zando Projects for allowing me the opportunity to review this book.

When I read the synopsis for this book, I was instantly intrigued. Celtic mythology has interested me for a while but I've never fully dug into it, so a fantasy inspired by the legend of the first Queen of Ireland seemed like an exciting place to begin.

I really wanted to love this novel, told in dual third-person POVs and brimming with magic but I struggled heavily to get through it. I often found myself thinking it would have benefitted from being told from a single point of view instead because the tension of the "enemies to lovers" aspect of the central romance fizzled when as soon as something was introduced to complicate things, the other point of view immediately clarified why that was simply a miscommunication or wild leap in reasoning. The points of view also are not distinctly grouped into anything like separate chapters, so sometimes I wasn't sure which character was actually driving that portion of the chapter. It is possible that a few more rounds of tightening up this book through editing would have fixed the major issues I had with this book.

I found the romance aspect of this book to be one of its weaker links. I was shocked when the two main characters finally kissed because it felt like it came out of absolutely nowhere. There had been no real demonstration from either point of view that they felt anything but frustration with the other, and then suddenly they were kissing. The romance also went nowhere after that kiss for a significant portion of what was left in the book.

The plot meanders its way into significant events and then meanders its way to any impact of those events. For a significant portion of the book, the main plot and conflict aren't clear. It often feels like a string of events pushed together just to have events occurring between Neve and Ronan's meetings. The plot developments and plot twists feel undeveloped and unearned, with antagonists that don't have demonstrated motivations until over 70% of the way through the book. Once the plot finally found a cohesive direction, it still meandered its way to the final confrontation, easily solved the whole issue the story had been building to, and continued to lower the impact of prior events by rendering no real consequences to Neve's life beyond the impacts she specifically desired. I reached the end of the book and was still somewhat confused as to what the point of most of the material in this book was. 

Overall, I found myself struggling through this book because for a large portion of it, it feels like not much is happening and that even the events taking place don't matter much. The two main characters aren't quite distinct enough due to the third-person dual point of view this book is written in which makes the romance falter, and both characters feel somewhat flat. It isn't a terrible book by any means but my issues with it heavily overshadowed any aspects I enjoyed.

Thank you NetGalley and Zando Projects for my e-ARC of Queen Among the Dead. I was so excited to get into this book because I am massively intrigued by Celtic history and legends!

From the get-go, Queen Among the Dead is all action; Neve is a strong-willed, independent female ready to defend herself and her nation at all costs. She finds her match in Ronan, a thief with loyalty to the end.

The courtly intrigue, magical mayhem, and battle drama never cease throughout the story and I was truly hooked. There were a few things that were hard to follow though, namely, the magic system was a little confusing, especially since the writing style used an immersion technique in which things were named but not explained, so the reader had to figure it out on their own.

One of the antagonist’s plotlines didn’t sit well with me though, it was obviously meant to be a twist, and it was, but upon reflection, <spoiler> if Gofannon wanted to prevent the Scathach from returning, why would he fight against Neve? If he felt like she was being possessed by the Scathach (which she partly was, but she and her friends were doing fine to keep her at bay) that would have made a little more sense, but he literally told Neve that she was his last hope of preventing the Scathach from returning. And, how would going to battle against Neve have gotten Anonn back for Cormac? I don’t think battling her daughter would have endeared Anonn to him. If it had been a little more straightforward without the “twist” of Gofannon being “good” and he had remained the antagonist, there still would have been the question of why return the Scathach after having banished her, but the overarching plot would have been less convoluted. Ultimately, Cormac should have wanted to battle Neve for the throne, not her mom, and Gofannon’s story could have been smoothed out, no plot necessary and just throw in a reason for him to change his mind, fickle people change their minds all the time. </spoiler>

In the end, this book was 4 stars for me for good action, Celtic inspiration, a strong female warrior, and a cute love story thrown in.

DNF at 50% through-

Honestly couldn't tell you where this story was gonna go, the 2 MCs had no plans/goals. The FMC kept reiterating what happened during her birth but other than that, I couldn't get a feel for how or what they may plan to do in the other half of the book.
The world building is there but it's written in a way that's difficult to comprehend. It's like cut and dry, not exciting.
Rating this a 2 because it's possible it gets better in the 2nd half.

4.5 stars

I’m seriously hoping that Queen Among the Dead is the start of a series because I have not gotten enough of this incredible world.

I loved the subtlety of Livingston's writing. As the worldbuilding takes place, you’re introduced to these young characters who quickly win you over. And as things start to come together, you’re not really sure where it’s headed, but you can tell it will be big. I had no idea what to expect or who would survive, and I was hooked on every page.

The sheer amount of worldbuilding that takes place is incredible. Did I understand every word? No. Did I love all of it? Most definitely. The magic system and its potential after years of eradication was breathtaking. As Ronan and Neve discover their powers and are consistently drawn to each other despite usually trying to stay as far away as possible, you’re drawn into their world. I did feel a little bad for Sakir - he spent so much time by Neve’s side, training her and covering for her, and he’s totally blindsided when Ronan comes on the scene. Then, suddenly, there’s magic and betrayals and tough choices to be made. I think Una and Lorcan and a lot of the other side characters (particularly from Ronan’s side of town) were a little underdeveloped, but they did serve their purpose.

I’ve got my fingers crossed for this to turn into a series (as long as no annoying love triangle develops). I’m not ready to leave this world, particularly Neve, behind.

I received an ARC and I’m leaving an honest review.

I was initially thrown off by the pacing. The first chapter in my opinion started a little slow and then it suddenly picked up the pace— with Neve and Ronan meeting for the first time, saying goodbye and then meeting again seven years later all in the same chapter. It continued fast for a couple more chapters then suddenly slowed down again. The pace picked up once more towards the end (like the last 25% or so).

I wasn't bored, and I still read it fairly quickly so it didn’t really bother me that much, but it kind of felt as if nothing happened for like 200-ish pages.

It was a little hard to follow all the names of the creatures and clans, but that was a me problem because I know nothing about Celtic mythology. You get used to it after a while so obviously it becomes easier to remember as you keep on reading.

It felt frustrating to see the constant indecisiveness of Neve and Ronan (mainly in the first half), like they could never decide if they wanted to be allies or not, if they wanted to give in and like each other or not. But in general I really liked Ronan’s character and liked his sarcastic/sassy side, so that makes up for it.

There was potential for a polyamory plotline with Neve, Ronan and Sakir there and I’m a little sad that it didn’t happen!!!!

[ Ronan’s resolve in trying to hurt Neve is exactly like me with studying. He keeps telling himself that he’s going to make her pay for what she did to him and then the next time he sees her he starts doing the exact opposite, trying to save her instead. He just like me fr 😂 ]

Neve is the daughter of the Dagda. He rules the land. Magic has been banned except when used by his trusted advisors, the Druids. A sense of unease can be felt as different groups plot against the Dagda.

Neve can feel it and knows that something is going to happen. She just needs to figure out what's coming and which side she should be on.

The only thing I enjoyed about this book is the Celtic mythology. The characters were okay, but not my favorite. The plot was definitely not seamless. The world building was there, but in an info-dumpy way. I also would have liked a glossary. This was not for me.

inspired by the legend of the first true queen of Ireland, this novel is a beautiful Celtic fantasy adventure. Neve is the youngest princess of a king who has outlawed magic and it is jealously hoarded by his Druid priests. Ronan is a Druid apprentice-turned-theif who makes a living sellingnstolen spells. They should be enemies but their shared hatred of the Druids makes them allies, When the kingdom of Eire is threatened, Neve must seize her chance at the throne with Ronan’s help. There follows a magical journey.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Zander Young Readers for his e-arc.*

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Queen Among the Dead follows Neve, the youngest daughter of the king of Eire, and Ronan, a Druid apprentice who has turned to thievery in a world where magic is outlawed by the king. The two meet as children, and then meet again on the brink of a power struggle that threatens the kingdom and yet also provides an opportunity for Neve to secure her rightful place on the throne, and maybe just save the kingdom along the way.

Richly rooted in Celtic mythology, Queen Among the Dead was a breathtaking adventure that often felt so drenched in detailed worldbuilding that characters and plot were pushed to the wayside. On the one hand, this was incredibly enjoyable, because there is nothing like a well-built world. On the other hand, this book’s four hundred pages felt, at times, like they stretched ahead of me forever. Though the pacing of the action was relatively solid, much of it didn’t feel new or fresh. There’s not necessarily anything wrong about a fantasy that delivers exactly what you’d expect, but for readers who are looking for a totally fresh take on the genre, this book will likely disappoint.

Even so, this was a rather pleasant read, and certainly one I would not shy away from revisiting in the future.

Unfortunately, Queen Among the Dead was not for me. I read what Kindle said was 40% of the book, giving it a more than fair shot, and still could not get into this book. I did not find the characters or plot compelling, and I felt as though nothing happened in the first 30% of the book beyond the main character and a thief boy falling in the river, and an announcement that her sister was getting married. I did like that the book was heavily steeped in lore, but I just couldn't connect with this novel. I would still give this book 3 out of 5 stars, as the writing was good, and I'm sure lots of people would enjoy this story. I was just not one of them.

I received a copy of Queen Among the Dead from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Leslie Livingston for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Queen Among the Dead coming out January 17, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The kingdom of Eire, banshees and water-wights lurk in the dark places. But magic is outlawed by the king and jealousy abounds amidst his Druid priests.
Neve is the youngest daughter of the king. Ronan is a Druid's apprentice who makes a living by selling stolen spells. They should be enemies, but their hatred of the Druids—and a dark magic that has marked them both—makes them allies.
When the kingdom is threatened by a power overtaking, Neve must seize the opportunity to take her rightful place on the throne. With the help of Ronan and Eire’s most dangerous outcasts, Neve has the chance to lead the kingdom. They must journey to the outskirts of Eire, where magic still runs freely. Can an outlaw and a warrior princess find a future together with magic?
Lesley Livingston vividly reimagines Irish legends and fairytales to craft a YA fantasy adventure that will captivate readers of Brigid Kemmerer and Tricia Levenseller.

First of all, I love Leslie Livingston’s writing. I loved her Valiant series. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! However, it felt different than the other series I’ve read. There was a lot of story-building, so I understand there was a lot of set up. It just seemed like there was a lot of description. I just prefer more dialogue and action. I think if there’s a second book, then it would have a tighter story and be more fast-paced. It just felt a little long and it was introducing a lot of characters, so some of them didn’t seem as fleshed out. But there were still a lot of parts I enjoyed. I loved Neve and Ronan’s relationship and would like to see more of them.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Irish legends and fantasies!

I loved the twists and turns in this book. Neve and Ronan have the best banter, and I really enjoyed their interactions as they became friends.

I definitely can’t wait to see what Lesley does next!

This was a really good book. I had a bit of trouble following the story at the beginning, but in the middle and end of the book it was a lot easier to understand the characters and the mythology behind the story. I think because I'm not as familiar with Celtic mythology it was a bit harder to follow along especially with the influence of how this story was affected by the Scathach's (the first queen) own gods versus the Celtic gods and myths that dominate this book.

I liked that the connection between Neve and Ronan is complicated and they don't immediately like each other but are still drawn to each other. Even though being drawn together means that they like each other, it isn't heavily romantic while they're trying to save Eire from being attacked.

I'm so glad that Neve got to see her mom and we as the reader was able to understand why she left Neve and she hadn't been sacrificing Neve.

3.5-4 Stars for me.

I loved the idea of the book and i fell in love with Neve but i had trouble keeping up sometimes, for ya the world felt a little too big but also like not enough at once? some things were over explained and some fell flat. the action kept me entertained, but outside of it, the story felt incomplete. thank you for the chance to read this! i would def read more from this author in the future.

It was different. I think my kindle messed up the first letter in the beginning of every chapter. But other than that it was a good read.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I want to start with that I was excited to read the book, based on the blurb, but then lost a little of that when I saw some early reviews. I was worried I'd be disappointed. But, oh, I was not.

We have Neve, our FMC, the second daughter of the King. While she's a Princess, her older sister, Una, is the one that is the Queen-in-waiting. But that's okay with Neve because she doesn't want to be the Queen. She wants to be the King. And then there is Ronan, our MMC, who is a thief and should be everything Neve is against. But he's not.

I really love the writing style for this story. I was interested in it all from the beginning and finished in less than a day. I do like Neve and Ronan, their banter, and that you get kind of get Dual pov. But this isn't 1st person POV. It's 3rd for anyone who is against that POV.

That is a reason why I've knocked it down a star. Also, there is a bit much of info dumping for this story. I expect some in fantasy books, but there was a lot that I wanted to just skim over. And I did feel the ending was a little rushed. But I would continue if this was a series to continue. I'm invested in Ronan and Neve.

2.25 stars

Listen, I am the target audience for this book. I was born in Ireland and grew up on Irish and Celtic tales and myths. This should have been everything I wanted, and it wasn't.
For a story called QUEEN amount the Dead, the first 1/4 of the book had like 3 chapters from her while we mostly got the male counterpart, which threw me. Also, this story took its time to get interesting; we saw moments of monsters, magic and political elements, but they were spread so thin that I was left bored.

I honestly don't have much to say other than I like that it was Irish and had good potential, but I'm sad it didn't reach any of it.