McGee's A Queen's Game? More like A Queen's GRIP on my attention! Royal intrigue, scandalous secrets, and enough twists to make your tiara spin. I devoured it and now I'm desperately refreshing the page for the next installment. Consider me royally obsessed. Five out of five crowns! 👑👑👑👑👑

I really wanted to like this one. But at 22% in I could not keep the characters straight and just could not care less what was happening. I loved the American Royals series so I had high hopes for this but it’s a DNF for me. There wasn’t anything bad, per se, I was just bored.

I haven’t read a historical fiction in a minute, and this was a great one to end the slump with! I had read some of the American Royal’s series and was really interested in the slight change in genre. I think it really did deliver. I finished this book within a couple of days, and immediately looked to see when the sequel would be published. I had some historical context to Alix of Hesse but not of Helene and May, so it was interesting reading about all of them. I couldn’t tell you how historically close it is, but I’m not a stickler when it comes to fiction. I would say it is a little mature for young adult, because it has some closed door scenes. My favorite storyline was Helene’s, she and Eddy are star-crossed lovers that cannot marry due to their families religious and political status. It of course leaves off a cliffhanger, but I’m excited to read the next one! I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Katharine McGee's new novel features three young women in 19th century Europe looking to make a royal marriage. It can be a bit confusing because of the many characters and relationships among them, but ultimately I became invested in their stories and look forward to the next installment. Recommended.

I could not get into this book. I really didn’t connect with any of the characters, I had a hard time pinning down the time period at first (considering the alternative timeline of McGee’s other books), and I really struggled with the modern tone of the dialogue. I’m am not the target audience for this book and I will not be reviewing elsewhere.

This is a required author in our high school library- all of our students love her books and we wouldn’t miss one!

The Queens Game is from the point of view of the 3 women all linked to Queen Victorias grandson. This book was full of European royalty and felt Like Bridgerton. So lots of drama and gossip.

Thank you net tally for this arc.

Another royal book, by Katharine McGee- say less! I adored the American Royals series and was excited to see another title by the author, and to see that it was historical fiction/romance. I liked, but didn't love this one, but think part of this was because I adored American Royals so much and such high expectations going into this one. The positives include excellent pacing, a fun trio of new royal women to get to know, their love interests, and seeing their different royal lives across the world. This was definitely a fun read, and I plan to read the next in the series. However, at times, I wish I had a better knowledge of European royalty or explanations of everyone's relations to one another. I was hoping for a little more depth to the main three royals and feel like I don't quite "know" them, but hoping to get more of that in the following books.

This is classic Katharine McGee—low-stakes drama, young ensemble cast, and a hooking cliffhanger. This feels like Bridgerton meets One Tree Hill in the best way. I did find it a bit challenging to keep the characters straight in the first half of the novel, but by the end, it was much easier to follow. Would definitely recommend and looking forward to the next book!

I DNFed this one because of the fatphobia in the beginning. It was so unnecessary and isn't something I want to read or promote.

Ripped from the history textbook this book follows three royal women and their quests for love/marriage. The author did an amazing job making the history feel modern and lived in. Knowing how history ends I cannot wait for the sequel. My only complaint is the pacing felt a bit rushed and not all the relationships felt as explored as I would have preferred.

This story is a historical fiction account of Alix of Hesse, Hélène d’Orléans, and May of Teck. It has to follow the course of history, but fortunately for the reader, McGee added her own spin and thoughts to the women's personal lives.
I loved many things about this story, including getting to know each woman and seeing their *real* lives unfold through a fictional lens. The history seems well-researched. I know McGee's hands were tied when it came to straying from the story... but, admittedly, I felt it slow at times. (I may or may not have Googled what happened to each woman in the end...) The pace was also a little frustrating when the end of the book came with a cliffhanger. I was hoping for a little more resolution at the end. I know book #2 will provide that, but I was miffed nonetheless.
That said, if you don't mind a slower paced historical fiction, you will love and devour this novel about three truly spectacular women.

I loved the American Royals series, so I jumped at the chance to listen to A Queen’s Game from Katharine McGee!

This took me a while to get into, if I am being honest. I am so used to the American Royals series that I walked into this expecting it to be a modern novel, but it wasn’t. It was set with Victoria, Mae, Alix and Helene, in royal ballrooms, Scottish highlands, Russian castles, and the gilded age of the British empire.

Thank you @prhaudio for my gifted audio copy of Katharine McGee’s newest novel, out now.

I am surprised how long it took me to truly realize that this novel is not set in a modern sense, it is truly in history.

These women- they are DRIVEN to marry, as is expected of the time period, and they need to marry well, yet they want to marry for love. It was quite interesting and at times conniving. Again, once I realized it really was set in history, it all made SO MUCH more sense.

In true Katharine McGee form, she makes some “deeply detestable” characters- which is PERFECT for the storyline! Well done!

I also really liked Helene and Alix, and am invested in Eddie and Nicholas.

The author’s note, which I read at the end, is SO WORTH IT. It brings it all together and really helped improve my thoughts on the novel overall.

I am interested in the series and will definitely read the second once it comes out.

A Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee is an absolutely enthralling read that combines political intrigue, royal drama, and deeply complex characters. From the very first page, McGee pulls readers into a world filled with power struggles, alliances, and unexpected twists. The writing is rich and immersive, building a vivid and tense atmosphere that makes it nearly impossible to put the book down.

The characters are multifaceted and fascinating, with motivations that keep you guessing. The main protagonist is both relatable and aspirational, and her journey is filled with emotional depth and compelling choices. McGee masterfully explores themes of power, loyalty, and self-discovery while keeping the stakes high and the tension taut.

The pacing is perfect, with the right balance of action, character development, and political maneuvering. Every chapter leaves you craving more, and the story builds toward a breathtaking conclusion that doesn’t disappoint. A Queen’s Game is a standout in the genre, showcasing McGee’s exceptional talent for world-building and character-driven storytelling.

This is a must-read for fans of royal dramas, political thrillers, and character-driven fiction. McGee delivers a thrilling, emotional, and thought-provoking experience that will linger long after the last page is turned.

I am a huge fan of Katharine McGee's American Royalty series so I was excited to see this released, but it didn't quite hold my attention and captivate me enough. I found the historical context done really well, so if you're a fan of romantic historical fiction this is right up your alley.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Content Warning: This book includes: on-page sexual content: (Insinuations and jokes, lots of tension, and sexual thoughts and scenes (Not very graphic). Lots of familial issues, mentions of betrayal, mental health, domestic and child abuse, and blackmail.

I was so excited to receive this book as an ARC because I absolutely adored the American Royals series! McGee is a genius at blending history with present and creating timeless stories that incorporate ALL the drama. And when I say drama, I mean DRAMA. Don’t get me wrong, I ate it all up. The plot, the suspense, the betrayals… I just found myself wishing that it was either more or less. It felt as if she wanted to put it in the New Adult category, but played it safe in YA. I feel the story could have been improved if it had been a little more intense. Other than that, my only complaint was not having time stamps. Goodness, I was so confused at that first time jump because it was not marked throughout the book. However, I think, ultimately, it was a great read, even if it did have a few quirks. I’m excited to see what McGee does next!

I would recommend A Queen’s Game to anyone who loves Historical Fiction. Recommended reading would be McGee’s other works, like The American Royals series. I would also recommend Bellegarde by Jamie Lilac (Contemporary/YA Historical), An Improbable Season by Rosalyn Eves (Multi-Pov/YA Historical), and The Royal Heir Academy by Lindsey Duga (Contemporary Royal Academy setting)

I really like McGee's YA writing--with the dual perspectives and chapter focuses on different characters, we get a really strong insight into the minds and motivations of the characters. I'm excited for the next installment of this one!

I loved this book! This was another great one from McGee. If you were a fan of the American Royals book you would for sure love this one. I can’t wait for the next book!

"A Queen's Game" by Katharine McGee is a historical romance novel set in 19th-century Europe, weaving the lives of three princesses—Alix of Hesse, Hélène d’Orléans, and May of Teck—as they navigate love and ambition amidst royal expectations. The narrative explores their entanglements with two future kings, offering a blend of historical events and fictional drama.

I loved America Royals and I was nervous about this one, but I really liked it. It gave Anna K vibes. I would love a sequel because I am invested in what comes next. It is packed with political intrigue, high-stakes strategy, and emotional depth. McGee’s storytelling keeps you hooked from start to finish, with unexpected twists and heartwarming moments that make the characters feel more real than ever. If you love royalty, romance, and a touch of scandal, this book is an absolute must-read! 👑✨

This was as soapy and fun as the American Royals novels. It started a little slow and felt like there was some info-dumping in the first few chapters, but once things got established, it was a quick and exciting read. I Googled, and it turns out that the characters were very much based on real members of the aristocracy in Victorian England. It ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, so don’t Google if you don’t want spoilers for Book 2!

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.