Thank you Random House Children’s for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

If it’s a royal romance, I’m gonna read it. I was a huge fan of McGee’s AMERICA ROYALS series so when I saw this pop up, I immediately added it to my TBR. And thank goodness I did because I think this might be the most well written of all her books. I found that the story structure, character arcs, peeks into history, and modern elements of romance all worked so well together. I kept running to my internet browser to Google the real lives of these characters. I also immediately wanted to watch Anastasia after I finished.

Synopsis:

“In the last glittering decade of European empires, courts, and kings, three young women are on a collision course with history—and with each other. Alix of Hesse is Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter, so she can expect to end up with a prince . . . except that the prince she’s falling for is not the one she’s supposed to marry.Hélène d’Orléans, daughter of the exiled King of France, doesn’t mind being a former princess; it gives her more opportunity to break the rules. Like running around with the handsome, charming, and very much off-limits heir to the British throne, Prince Eddy.Then there’s May of Teck. After spending her entire life on the fringes of the royal world, May is determined to marry a prince—and not just any prince, but the future king.In a story that sweeps from the glittering ballrooms of Saint Petersburg to the wilds of Scotland, A Queen’s Game recounts a pivotal moment in real history as only Katharine McGee can tell it: through the eyes of the young women whose lives, and loves, changed it forever.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Pacing—This was unputdownable for me in a time when I really had a hard time focusing. Everything moved very well and the tension pulsed through the pages. This is the kind of book that makes me excited about writing.

The Passion—Katharine McGee’s characters are always going to find stolen moments amidst forbidden romances. And there’s always going to be that sneaky character you aren’t sure if you should trust. She did her typical tropes SO well.

The History—I think this is a fascinating time in history, especially as Americans because the role of monarchies feels so distant and foreign. I don’t know all of this history by heart, but I did know bits and pieces of it and I loved having the chance to get to understand it better. Also, I’m glad to know we’ve come farther in terms of mental health, but it seems that there will always be a stigma surrounding it and I felt for Alix.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

Nothing—I really, truly loved this book. It was escapist but not unrealistic, since it is all based in history!

Character Authenticity: 5/5 Overall Rating: 5/5

Content Warnings:

grief, death, misogyny, blackmail

I flew through this book. I love this author’s books, especially the subject matter. Looking forward to the sequel!

I loved this book and really gave me bridgerton vibes and def gave me american royals vibes!! I loved the massive differences between the main characters and how complicated the dynamics were. I felt like i had some small issues telling the characters apaart at the start but i grew to love them and am excited to see more in this world!!

Thank you @randomhouse @prhaudio for a copy of this book.

I really enjoy this McGee's American Royals series so I was excited for a new series. This one is set in the 1900s with 3 women who is trying to win the love of the Prince. I enjoyed that the 3 women's story was unique and how what they want in the heart may not be what their parents want.

The story sort of lost me in the middle and dragged a bit. I liked that mix of actual historical figures with her imagination.

Imogen Wilde did a good job with the narration.

👑 A Queen’s Game 👑

Another delightful Royals meet gossip girl adventure from Katharine McGee! In a change from the American Royals, we turn instead to the royals of Europe. Specifically, the players vying for the throne of the Queen of England.

There’s May of Teck - a mildly disgraced lesser second cousin of the crown who is ambitious like the best of them.

Alix, the quiet, beautiful and seemingly perfect German Princess partner to Prince Eddy, the future king.

And finally, Helene, a disgraced French Princess, who is not fit for the throne, and Catholic to boot, but the heart wants what it what’s.

In a delightful scheming adventure, McGee sets the stage for a world where it is truly A Queen’s Game, understanding the unwritten rules of society, following the demands of social niceties and the true struggle to abide that the heart wants want it what’s.

Check this one out if you’re looking for:
👑 YA Gossip Girl style scheming with royals
👑 Delightful, whirlwind romances
👑 The power of female persuasion
👑 An ode of women who go after what they want.

Thank you to Random House for the ARC! My opinions are my own.

Katharine McGee a bringing us a new royal romance series. She brings us back to the Victorian era where three young women are looking for love under the watchful eye of the Queen. Two of the girls are the Queen’s granddaughters while the other is the exiled princess of France. The story is fiction but it has historical components that have you fact checking Google when you’re finished reading.

Katharine McGee does it again with A Queen's Game, a historical fiction romance that brings the Victorian era to life. The story centers on three young women—Alix, Hélène, and May—all of whom are in the market for a husband. As their lives intertwine over the course of a year, secrets and passions are revealed alongside tons of royal drama!

Fans of McGee's American Royals series will love this book! The mix of real historical figures with fictional drama makes the story feel vibrant and authentic. While I found myself wishing for a family tree to navigate the cast of characters (especially at the beginning), it did not diminish the book's overall charm.

It is worth noting that this book is slightly spicier compared to the American Royals series, but it's still totally appropriate for YA readers. A Queen's Game is a delightful mix of history, romance, and drama that earns a solid 4 stars. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the sequel! Fans of royal romances won't want to miss this one!

Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a highly anticipated read for me because I love love love the American Royals series and the Thousandth Floor series. And this did not disappoint. It is the historical romance of 3 women, all different levels of royalty, living in a time where their sole purpose is to marry someone of a similar or higher level of royalty. We had British, French, even Russian royalty and a brash American trying to crash into it all. And everyone seemed to be cousins. It was a little detail heavy as the whole cast of characters had to be introduced and the fake world created but it had all of the intricate details, drama, and snark as her other books. I want a look inside her brain because she has an uncanny ability to create entire fictional worlds that feel so real. This one ends on a cliffhanger so we know there will be more. I already can’t wait.

Katharine McGee dazzles again in A Queen's Game! This book swept me into the glamorous world of 19th-century Europe, where love, power, and courtly intrigue collide. The three princesses—Alix, Hélène, and May—are relatable, each bringing their unique charm (and drama!) to the story. 😍
McGee’s knack for weaving historical details into a page-turning plot is spot on. I found myself rooting for these women as they navigated romance and rivalry. 💃👑, Keeping track of all of the characters was a bit tricky at times, though. A family tree in the back would’ve been awesome. 🗺️
If you loved the American Royals series like I did, you’ll adore this book. It’s a perfect mix of historical fiction and fun. Can’t wait to see what McGee writes next!

I'm not a historical fiction reader but when Katharine McGee announced she was writing a book based on true events in Victorian-era England I knew I was going to read it anyway! That being said, I think all of you ladies who love historical fiction should pick this up! But I'm a prime example of someone who loved the book even though it's not my genre.

I'm so impressed by the care and research it must have taken to take these true events and create this story. I really enjoyed the story and how the narrator Imogen Wilde brought it to life with so many different accents.

Honestly, don't read the Goodreads blurb because I think it gives away too much of the story. And Katharine herself says don't Google the characters unless you want to spoil the ending.

Here's what you need to know: "A Queen’s Game recounts a pivotal moment in real history through the eyes of three young women whose lives, and loves, changed it forever."

The author's note was really fun to read and I think you should read it before starting the book.

I'm such a Katharine McGee fan and I read both of her other series when I first got into reading in 2021. I recommend all of them as four-star, young adult series.

Thanks to NetGalley and PRH Audio for the arc/alc.

I chose this book because I enjoyed the American Royals series by Katharine McGee. With that being said, while I enjoyed this book, I don't think this book was as enjoyable as the American Royals series. It should also be noted that this book is loosely based on real European royal families as opposed to fictional royal families like in Katharine McGee's other books.

With that being said, I don't think this was a bad book in any way, I just think I prefer the American Royals series compared to this book.

The Viscount and the Thief is a delightful Regency romance packed with intrigue, secrets, and a touch of revenge that keeps you turning pages late into the night. Emma Orchard has masterfully crafted a story where tension and romance intertwine against the backdrop of the mysterious Wyverne Hall.

Sophie Delavallois is a compelling heroine. Her determination and sense of justice are admirable, but it’s her vulnerability and the way she navigates her complex feelings for Lord Drake that truly make her relatable. Lord Drake himself is the perfect mix of brooding hero and compassionate man, and their chemistry is undeniable.

The setting of Wyverne Hall adds a gothic flair to the story, with its haunting secrets and familial undercurrents. The narrative moves at a brisk pace, especially as Sophie’s true motives begin to unfold and collide with her growing affection for Drake. The twist surrounding the family’s hidden truths was cleverly done, keeping the suspense alive without overshadowing the romance.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed the book, some secondary characters felt underdeveloped, and I would have loved a deeper exploration of the Dowager Marchioness, whose presence hinted at untold stories.

Overall, The Viscount and the Thief is a captivating tale of love, betrayal, and redemption that will appeal to fans of Regency romances with a dark edge. Emma Orchard has delivered a memorable story that left me eager to read more of her work.

I have to admit, I was really excited about this book when I first picked it up. I love historical fiction and this one promised a glimpse into the lives of three fascinating royal women—Alix of Hesse, Hélène d’Orléans, and May of Teck—each on their own quest for love and power in the last glittering years of European empires. I didn’t realize these characters were based on real people at first, but once I did, I appreciated how McGee balanced historical accuracy with creative fiction, bringing these women’s stories to life.

The setting and plot were definitely engaging, with lush descriptions of everything from royal ballrooms to Scottish landscapes. Alix’s forbidden love, Hélène’s rebellious nature, and May’s struggle to marry into royalty kept me hooked. I loved the historical drama and the way McGee weaved these women’s fates together.

That said, I found the portrayal of the women a bit frustrating at times. They often came across as manipulative and overly focused on their romantic pursuits, which felt a little one-dimensional. I was hoping for more depth in their personalities and motivations. Instead of feeling empowered or complex, they seemed defined by their relationships with men, which left me wanting more.

Despite these issues, I’m still curious about the sequel, especially with the real-life connections to George and Mary of Teck. Overall, it was fun and dramatic read, but I’m hoping the next book will offer a bit more character depth and emotional complexity.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Despite having some very strong negative feelings about certain aspects of this, I don’t feel like I completely wasted my time. It was a page turner and right up my alley.

My biggest gripe was character development and with one character in particular- May. May was the least compelling protagonist I’ve ever met. Agnes would have been a more interesting POV because May radiated side character energy. I had hoped to see more character development from May- she had the potential for it!- but it wasn’t until the very end that a shift occurred. I’m sure McGee’s plan is to expand on May’s character in the sequel but the hook to read the sequel isn’t there with what we have.

Which brings me to my second gripe- this is a series! Nothing in the description or on Goodreads led me to believe that this wasn’t a standalone. I read the American Royals series and loved the first, but it went downhill in all the continuations. I was interested in this book because I thought I could escape the McGee sequel curse.

All in all, I didn’t hate it but I wish some things were different.

I really enjoyed this book. The authors writing reminded me of her American Royals series. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars was due to ending. I was hoping for more of a wrap up to the story. It felt like going up a roller coaster and never coming down. I’m hopefully the next books give the characters more direction.

I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I enjoyed the American Royals series, but perhaps because the plot and characters here are rooted in real events, everything felt pretty flat, and I didn't feel any tension to the plot. I didn't get any real sense of time and place from the writing, so it didn't *feel* like historical fiction to me.

I had high expectations for this one. A Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee is a YA historical romance written in the same style as the author’s American Royals series. Following three famous women in European history, the story unfolds as they all have the chance to be the next Queen of England. The author took several liberties with history, shifting the timeline slightly to get them all together. However, a lot of what occurs in the book is documented in journals, letters, and the history books. I won’t cover the history in this review as it is a quick Google search away, instead I’ll focus on what occurs in the book.

Alix of Hesse is Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter and her pick for the wife of the future king. However, Alix is hesitant. She has an “ailment,” as she calls it, that causes her to have panic attacks. These started after the death of her younger brother who had the “bleeding disease.” Alix believes that no one would want her, not as a wife and certainly not as Queen, and she wants what her grandparents shared: a marriage of love. Love is not what she shares with Eddy, that’s more like sisterly affection.

Hélène d’Orléans is the daughter of the exiled King of France and the one who holds Prince Eddy’s heart. She’s bold, unlike the proper English women of the day. Hélène doesn’t care what others think of her. She stays true to herself.

May of Teck is yet another granddaughter of Queen Victoria, but she isn’t a favorite. Instead she lives on the fringes of their world, always vying for attention, but never receiving it. Her family is near destitute having blown her mother’s dowry, and her father is borderline abusive. May’s only chance to prove her worth is to marry a prince, and not just any prince but the future king.

All three women in this story revolve around Prince Eddy, but only one truly cares for him. I liked how the story unfolds over the course of a year and follows the different perspectives of Alix, Hélène, and May. However, this book fell flat for me. It didn’t hold my attention like American Royals, and I found myself skimming more than truly reading. The author does a flawless job of blending history and fiction, only those well versed in European history would note the differences. Despite that, the political intrigue surrounding the future king and the romances weren’t enough to carry the book.

Overall, A Queen’s Game was an ok read for me. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. It was more a lukewarm read for me, like I could take it or leave it. If you are a fan of historical fictions or love McGee’s writing, I suggest you check it out for yourself.

Audiobook Note: I opted to listen to an advanced listening copy after attempting to read my ARC, and I’m glad I did for several reasons, the main one being Imogen Wilde. She is a fantastic narrator. Her subtle voice changes make it easy to figure out whose perspective the chapter is from. She breathed life into the story. Highly recommend it for audiobook lovers!

I absolutely adored Katharine McGee's previous YA revisionist history series, so I was super excited to dip into A QUEEN'S GAME. Needless to say, we have another hit! This is a great introduction for people looking to get into historical fiction.

I loved Katharine McGee's American Royals series, and this book has her signature writing style. I enjoyed the different, historical setting compared to present day America. I didn't realize until the end that these are all historical women. I appreciate that she stayed true-ish to their story and timeline while putting it in more of a current writing style.

The main thing keeping me from giving it a 5-star review is that it ended very abruptly. I wish she would have said this was a series or closed the book on more of an ending point.

A Queen's Game by Katharine McGee sucked me in right away.
This was such a fun book.
I’ve enjoyed her previous titles and her newest one is no different.
I love the world building and character development, and I love love love devouring her writing.