3.5 ⭐️ with a prediction for book two to be 4/5 ⭐️
I loved the FMC in this book - she may have lost her memories but she is still a force to be reckoned with. Her memory loss is intriguing and gives the story that mystery element that keeps you wanting to know more.
There are two main men, one being very morally grey!
‘Do you not like handsome powerful men who change the fate of kingdoms for you?’ My answer is yes 🙌
There’s one bed trope for those who like that.
The book did feel like two books in a way as things changed a lot for our FMC. I felt the second half of the book was the better half. The characters could have been more developed early on as I was left wondering how they looked - this does come later on but this lead to me not connecting to them at first.
I’m left wanting answers and need book two in the series. 💯 continuing this series.
Also to add there are good fight scenes and lots of bloodshed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Columbia River Publishing for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Wow this was so good!!

It started off a bit slow and I almost wanted to DNF at 30% but the story took a turn and I loved every page after!

There were some aspects that I wasn’t too happy about but the plot and the MC’s strong personality were too good to let it drop my rating. I want the next two books right away, buuut I guess I will wait until they are out in a few months….

I recommend this if you are a fan of:
Strong MC
Somewhat a love triangle
Enemies to lovers
Morally grey love interest (although he is more on the dark side)
Character growth

This was a great book. It had a few moments that felt a bit slow but honestly I LOVED how this all played out. This is a book that will keep you guessing on who the romantic interest really is. Is it the king she is engaged to that she doesn't remember? Is it the handsome man who saved her in the wilds that she can't remember? Is it maybe someone else that she...can't...remember? Did I mention that she lost all of her memory? I should probably have started with that.

The worldbuilding was great. I will admit that I was so happy with who she ended up with and at first was a smidge worried that I might be hoping for something to happen that wasn't going to. War, drama, romance, a bada$$ FMC who is too stubborn to bow down to anyone. Really, if you are looking for a book that will keep you on your toes the entire time this book is for you.

4.5 stars for me and I would say 3/5 chili peppers for spice with a very slow burn.

<i>*Huge thanks to the author and Netgalley for an opportunity to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*</i>

What a polarizing book this was for me. I have some stuff to say but before that, let's talk about things that did work for me (with one rule: ignore the first 25% of the book).

I appreciated the barest hint of magic in this one. For once, you know, I think a hint of magic in a book is exactly what I need (especially when I was tandem reading this book with a heavy magic/fantasy book). Also, court drama? I'm always into the internal turbulence of any type of institution. The messy, the better. Also, I didn't expect the marriage of convenience plot there. I was expecting the pining for the childhood best friend type of love but nope. Nice job by the author there.

Nevertheless, what the author did right, she also went completely off the track in another way. Well, at least in my humble opinion. Because listen, that first 25%, was utter shit. I swear, I've never read something so useless to the plot it was infuriating. I probably would've dnfed it so fast if it wasn't an ARC. Everything in that first quarter is cringy, hard to read, and nonsensical. I wanted to reach my hands into the story and pushed the characters in the right direction, repositioning them right, smacking their heads some. It was that frustrating.

<u>With that said, as this was this author's debut work, I get it. </u>

It felt lost. Yup, the plot seems to be lost. It doesn't know what it was supposed to be, so it was kinda wandering in the dark, trying to find its pacing and direction. You can condense the first 25% in a few pages and you wouldn't lose anything from the story, it was that redundant. In this case, since I don't know anything about publishing, editing or writing, I wish someone could point this author in the right direction because, beneath all these issues, this book has its better moment. Or as I like to call it, this book has some good meat. The bones need to be restructured a bit but the meat is there.

The characters sure need some better characterizations, it sent shivers down my spine whenever I remember how bad it was in that first 100 pages. The motives were there, it was pretty decently established. The worldbuilding could need some help, especially during the first half *brrr shivers* but it was pretty good.

To make it easier to imagine what I went through with this book, here were my feelings. The first 25%, shit. The next 50%, average. The final 25%, amazing.

So, where did that leave me? This book was NOT bad though, despite my frustrations. Just because it took me almost a month to get through the shitty part, it's not that unreadable. It left me wanting to continue the series. There's this also complicated fond feeling I have for this book because this was a debut work from the author and the book did find its pacing and rhythm in the end.

No matter what, I believe that this author is just going to get better from now on. And also, hey, maybe it was just me that found the whole initial establishment of the story unbearable.

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book! i was a bit skeptical that it was going to be like blood and ash which i found to be meh in my opinion, but i really connected with Norah. she is a ruler but she has empathy and mercy for the people around her. sometimes she’s a bit stubborn but she is passionate about her beliefs. she is a good asset in the story and i truly like the ending and how it will lead into the next one! giving 4.5/5 stars!

I received a digital ARC of North Queen via NetGalley to read and review.

Norah wakes in the Wild with no memories. Her childhood friend, Alexander finds her and brings her home where she finds out she’s been missing for three years. Her grandmother is Queen Regent and I honestly don’t know if I completely trust her. She seems to care for Norah but also seems set on her own agenda, the main one crowning Norah queen and making her marry for an alliance.

Things do not go to Catherine’s (Norah’s grandmother) plans and Norah ends up in the Shadowlands with the enemy and Norah can see that not everything is what it seems.

There are seers who have painted fate but all through the story I can tell that what’s painted isn’t the final story or even the whole story. A lot can happen and with that ending I’m now anxiously waiting for Shadow Queen to come out for the continuation.

It's like this is two different books (they even have different fonts). Anyway, a decent start to a trilogy that definitely picks up in the second half. Get through some of the slog for that; the premise is interesting and the cliffhanger at the end will have you wanting the second installment.
3 stars

North Queen by Nicola Tyche is such a good fantasy romance story!! The main character, Norah, is a bit of a mischievous soul. I love how relatable she was. This story throws so many punches her way and *gasp* she is NOT always okay. Which is honestly just so refreshing. Nicola writes the story, so you really don't know who to trust. I was so nervous to fall for anyone, even with multiple povs. I also stayed up until 4am on a work night because I NEEDED to know how the book ended. 😬💖💖💖🫣

It is perfect for anyone who loves:

❄️ Forbidden Romance
❄️ High Fantasy
❄️ Political Intrigue
❄️ Lost Royalty
❄️ Fierce Female Protagonists
❄️ Multiple POVs
❄️ Arranged Marriage
❄️ Romantasy 💖

Thank you for letting me receive this arc! This book had me hooked at the beginning with Norah having no memory of who she is or where she's at. A great fantasy read with a twist at the end!

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc. North Queen was truly an unexpected delight, and I’m on the edge of my seat for book #2.

As someone who has read plenty of fantasy/romances, I went into this thinking it would be similar to other books with similar tropes (queen with amnesia, political marriage, love triangle, etc), but this book hooked me from the start and didn’t let me stop reading until the end. The writing is so well-done, and the characters are *chef’s kiss.*

Instead of being predictable, it was a perfect balance of favorite tropes in a new and creative way, with no main character being 100% good or 100% evil. Not only that, I have no idea who I am rooting for to be end game and seriously cannot wait to see how this story turns out. I loved this and would highly recommend!

An intriguing fantasy read. I loved the amnesia plot and Norah's growth from an insecure girl to a self-assured, feisty heroine. But... and I didn't think I would ever say this, I could have done without the romantic love triangle because I couldn't care less about the two MMC's. Alexander was a bit boring and tried too hard, and while I understand there are cultural differences between Mikael and Norah, he was just unlikeable to me. Maybe they will surprise me in the second book, but if Norah doesn't end up with either of them, that would be perfectly fine. That being said, overall it was an entertaining read, and I am looking forward to what comes next.

I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: July 4, 2023

North Queen is the first book in a fantasy/romance trilogy by Nicola Tyche. This is my first book. By this author and I absolutely loved it!

Princess Norah Andell is discovered alive after three years missing. The only problem is she has lost all her memories. As she integrates back into her kingdom and prepares to be crowned Queen she struggles to understand the feelings her has for her Lord Justice Alexander.

Norah needs to come to terms with her betrothal to a neighbouring King to secure the alliance her country needs so desperately to defend against the Shadow King. With her memories still out of reach and a pending war, Norah is captured by the Shadow King and offers her an alliance she can’t refuse.

Will marrying the Shadow King bring the peace her people had been desperately seeking for many years? Is marrying one unknown King any better than the other? What happens when the one you were supposed to hate, becomes the one you love?

This is a superbly written story with complex characters and relationships. I was so desperately rooting for Norah & Alexander until the relationship between Norah & Mikael (The Shadow King) really started to develop. This enemy to lovers, romance fantasy series is a must read! I can’t wait to see what’s next! This is a 4.5 star read for me and highly recommended!

#NetGalley #northqueen #nicolatyche
#crownstrilogy

This book was an interesting read and I loved the world building, I'm definitely interested to read the rest of the series - however, I do feel like I was misled into reading this blurb from the back of the book.

I found a lot of the characters were unlikable. Norah (who I thought was the MC) was a push over and acted more like a child than a Queen. I get that she had memory loss but she really didn't rise to the occasion.

I did not understand the romance aspect of this book at all. From reading the blurb I thought it would be Norah and Alex, however it turned out to be Norah and Mikael - which was hard to wrap my head around after I had read so much about Alex and Norah. The author really set us up to fall but not in a good way.

It was a interesting read and I'm looking forward to see where the story goes, however I was a bit disappointed.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in response to my honest review.

Overall thought, the first few chapters did not have me as hooked as I had hoped. However, diving into this book a second time, I was pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed the book. Norah's journey from memory loss to her being crowned Queen and having an arranged marriage to the ally King in the war against the Shadowlands.

I can't say I am to big of a fan of the love square dynamic that has seemed to form, but I did enjoy the relationship between Norah and Alexander.

Thank you Netgalley and Columbia River Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book enough it was interesting but the love triangle was not needed I hate love triangles very much. So nothing against the author or the book itself she actually did it pretty well. I just always root for the first introduced and I have a hard time switching. I feel like I would’ve liked it better without the whole love triangle. Otherwise I really enjoyed the story and I’ll definitely finish the rest of the series to see what happens.

3.75 stars thanks NetGalley for the ARC for review!

The first few chapter of this book, I almost put it down, thinking it wouldn’t like it. However I’m very glad I pushed through because it got so interesting after Norah leaves the castle of Mercia. The politics of this world are realistic, as well as the differences between cultures and expectations. I liked watching Norah just start to make her own decisions and come into her own, I’m hoping we will see more of that in the sequel and throughout the expected trilogy.

This multiple love triangle ebook was one that I could not put down. It was engaging and made me want to read until I was done and at 500+ pages I had a great time trying to see who should end up with whom and man was that fun! I can not wait for book two and I so want this one in print.

Wow what a book! I completely love it. At the beginning I wasn't 100% sure into the book but I decided to give it a chance and I don't regret it.

It's an easy read, and honestly, after you pass the first few chapters there's nothing stopping you. Norah's journal was emotional and I think she grew a lot as a character, everything related to her being the crowned queen was good.

And trying to avoid spoilers I'll just say; I still don't know how I feel about the love square, but leaving aside that, I think the book was just mind-blowing!

This is my first book by this author but not my last !!

Fantastic character and world building. The characters feel real and relatable. Loved the confidence and like ability of the FMC Norah. The books is a fun ride of lots of twists and turns. Keeps you guessing for sure. And I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I read this book in one day because I could not put it down.

What a debut!

ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ʜᴇɪʀ …

ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇʀᴄɪᴀ ʜᴀꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀᴛ ᴡᴀʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴋɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪꜱ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴀʀᴍʏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛᴇɴ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ. ᴛᴏ ᴇꜱᴄᴀᴘᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇᴇʀ’ꜱ ᴠɪꜱɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇ, ᴍᴇʀᴄɪᴀ’ꜱ ʜᴇɪʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏɴᴇ, ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇꜱꜱ ɴᴏʀᴀʜ ᴀɴᴅᴇʟʟ, ɪꜱ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ ꜰᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʜᴇʀ ꜱᴀꜰᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴇꜱ ɪɴ ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇ, ꜱᴏ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴅɪᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ. ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ—ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴏ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ ᴏꜰ ᴡʜᴏ ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴏᴡ ʀᴇꜱᴛꜱ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅᴇʀꜱ.

ᴀ ᴄᴏɴꜰʟɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴅᴜᴛʏ …

ʟᴏʏᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴇᴀʀʟᴇꜱꜱ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴀɴᴅᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇʀᴄɪᴀɴ ᴀʀᴍʏ, ᴀʟᴇxᴀɴᴅᴇʀ ʀʜᴇᴍᴜꜱ, ʜᴀꜱ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟᴍ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴋɪɴɢ, ᴀᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ɴᴏʀᴀʜ’ꜱ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴅᴏᴇꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴀᴛᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟꜱᴏ ʜɪꜱ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ. ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ, ʜᴇ ᴅɪꜱᴄᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ɴᴏ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀʏ ᴏꜰ ʜɪᴍ, ᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡᴀʀ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ʟᴏᴏᴍɪɴɢ, ɴᴏʀᴀʜ ɪꜱ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇᴄᴜʀᴇ ᴀɴ ᴀʟʟɪᴀɴᴄᴇ—ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴇʀᴄɪᴀ ᴅᴇꜱᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴋɪɴɢ. ɴᴏᴡ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇʀᴄɪᴀ’ꜱ ꜰᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴀᴛ ꜱᴛᴀᴋᴇ, ᴀʟᴇxᴀɴᴅᴇʀ ꜰɪɴᴅꜱ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴛᴏʀɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ʜɪꜱ ᴅᴜᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪꜱ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ.

ᴀ ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ ꜰᴀᴛᴇ …

ɴᴏʀᴀʜ ɪꜱ ᴛʜʀᴜꜱᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ꜱʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇꜱɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ, ɪɴ ᴀ ʀᴏʟᴇ ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴜɴᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀ, ᴛᴏ ꜱᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ꜱʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇꜱɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ. ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀʀᴅꜱʜɪᴘ ᴏꜰ ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴇɴᴇᴍʏ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ᴍᴇʀᴄɪᴀ ɪꜱ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ. ᴀꜱ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴜɴʀᴀᴠᴇʟ, ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ᴋɪɴɢ ᴅʀᴀᴡꜱ ɴᴏʀᴀʜ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴀ ᴘᴀᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ ꜰᴀᴛᴇ—ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴏꜱᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ.


ɴᴏʀᴛʜ Qᴜᴇᴇɴ is the first book of the Crowns trilogy and debut novel by Nicola Tyche.
The author's writing is extremely fluent, compelling, engaging with a pressing rhythm and full of twists. I didn't find worldbuilding particularly complex. Indeed, it is quite simple and explained really very well, in detail. And the characters... They are the highlight of this book.

Norah is a true force of nature. Despite having lost her memory, she is more courageous and determined than ever to take back what awaits her by right.

Do we want to talk about the Shadow King? Oh my god, Shadow King is... I think I accidentally developed a Crush, a huge Crush, for Shadow King. In short... Bad and ruthless above all limits BUT with a very tender side? Exaggeratedly tender? As a lover of enemies-to-lovers, how could I not love him?

I really enjoyed the love triangle between Norah, Alexander and the Shadow King and the interactions between all the characters.

I have to be honest though: the first 80 pages or so bored me to death. The temptation to put it away was very high. However, I held on and continued reading. Well, the best decision made in my life hahah.
I loved it. I loved the setting, the characters, every single dialogue... I loved it.

An incredible fantasy. To be recovered as soon as possible!

I can't wait to have his follow-up in my hands.

I thank Netgalley, Nicola Tyche, and Columbia River Publishing for sending me the ARC copy of this amazing volume in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.