Blast it all. I was sure this book wasn’t going to suck me in, but the next thing I knew, I was googling these princesses and telling my family that I needed just a few more minutes. Katharine McGee has penned a tale that thoughtfully weaves together history with high fiction & I know I have some students who will read this cover to cover in a matter of hours. Some of the invented moments are a bit over-the-top, but what’s the point of reading something like this if not to follow a whimsical narrative? As always, McGee leaves me wanting more & wondering what’s next from her!

For some reason, I missed that this wasn’t a part of the American Royals series, so as I started reading, I kept waiting for it to connect to my favorite American characters. Eventually I figured out that it is it’s own series, and it is another good one! This book set in the Victorian era follows three female characters as they are all setting out to find their husband. Princess Alix is the granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and has been matched with the up and coming King Eddy, but she really is in love with a Russian prince. Princess Helene of France has been exiled to England and has had an affair with the stable boy, but when he leaves to return to France, she falls in love with Eddy. May of Teck is somewhat related to the queen, but her family has so much debt that they have fallen out of the graces of society. However she has been yearning to make a match that will catapult her back into high society with the royal family and is desiring none other than Eddy. McGee has set this up for a second (and possibly third?) book, so don’t expect many resolutions in this volume. If you enjoyed American Royals as much as I did, you’ll want to read this one too.

This one was...okay. If you liked the American Royals series, I think this one's a prequel series that may lead into it? I dunno. It was fine, but didn't scratch that itch that I thought it would.

McGee transports readers to the time of ballgowns, the looming reign of Queen Victoria, and the ever competitive marriage market. I always admire how McGee weave the historical with fiction to create a story brimming with Bridgeton worthy vibes. However, I felt some character development was missing and too much time passed between certain chapters to be as smooth as read as it could have been.

I loved how this historical fiction reads like a modern romance. If you love American Royals, this new series will keep you on your toes. McGee captures historical drama as if it were a reality show. When you finish the book, you are sure to do some research to see just which girl wins A Queen's Game.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a temporary copy of A Queen’s Game to read and review.

I enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing how closely this fiction will follow the real history of George and Mary of Teck. The story has 3 different women trying to navigate the rules of the monarchy and the nobles on a quest to find love or security and freedom from their current situations. It’s tough to maintain your values and friendships when you are trying to become Queen.

Like The American Royals series, nothing is wrapped up in the end and I’m assuming I’ll have to wait for the next book to find out what happens. Although I like a cliff hanger and the continuation of a story in a series, I feel like there is not enough of the story in this and absolutely nothing is resolved. You have to be invested in wanting to read multiple books if you read this one.

A Queen's Game starts a new prequel series to American Royals. It is a fun alternative history of the European royal families. It is from the view of three different women connected to different royal families. While it is a fun read, I found myself distracted by the fact that many characters are based on real figures, and, knowing history, it can be hard to root for them. Still, I look forward to discovering where the series goes from here.

I LOVED this author’s other works but this one didn’t do it for me. The 3 main characters were pretty boring and I had to really pay attention to whose POV it was because I wasn’t totally bought into the book. Just meh overall.

As a fan of the American Royals series, I was not disappointed by the start of this new series. The author did a great job of building an exciting new world full of characters that readers will certainly come to love.

I’ve read and enjoyed the American Royals series by Katharine McGee, so when I saw this new title available on NetGalley based on historical events with similar themes, I quickly requested it to read. If you enjoy McGee’s writing style and novel themes, you will most likely enjoy this first in a new series. This book is based on real people and real events, though it is obvious that the author took some liberties with it. I’m sure even a well-researched historical fiction novel has some room for speculation, and so I felt like I learned about some aspects of history I was not familiar with, yet I reminded myself to keep an open mind just because it’s hard to know if all the events actually transpired as written. It was engaging enough for me, though, that I ended up doing some research on the characters afterward. This being a pre-published copy, there is no author’s note at the end to explain what is factual and what is conjecture, so that would be a good thing to keep in mind as you are reading it. I did find it interesting, though, to look at photos of the characters after reading this book. It really helped make it come to life a little more.

The story is based on the lives of three young women in the Victorian era of England. Each are connected to Queen Victoria of England in different ways, and her personality is the strongest in this book. She definitely has favorites, and she definitely has made up her mind who she wants to marry into the royal family. From the very beginning, you can see that Alix of Hesse is her favorite granddaughter, and she has plans for her to marry her grandson, Prince Eddy, who will be the future king. The problem is, there are two other female characters who would also like to be engaged to the prince. For Hélène d’Orléans , it would be away for her to secure her future, as she is a former princess of France living in exile with her family in England. For May of Teck, who has spent her whole life wishing she was included in the world of her distant relatives, the Royals. it would mean safety. It would be a way to get out of the household of her father, who is extremely domineering and critical. It would also be a relief to leave her parents, who fight constantly. She is made to feel like she is less all the time, and she will do whatever she can to escape.

Even though this book is a fictionalized account of royalty, I think many readers will be able to identify with one of these three characters. It is also an interesting look at the lack of ability for Victorian females to make any choices of their own about marriage and their futures. While each of these women goes about their romantic relationships in different ways, you can find sympathy for each of the three. I am curious after having read this to see how these women’s futures play out. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this eGalley.

This was very similar to the American Royals series expect set in England during the reign of Queen Victoria.

A Queen's Game offers a captivating journey into a world of political intrigue and royal drama. McGee's storytelling prowess shines through in her richly crafted characters and intricate plot twists. While the pacing occasionally falters, the overall experience is engaging and immersive, making it a worthwhile read for fans of royalty and power struggles.

While I have not read American Royals by Katharine McGee, they are on my to read this now. A Queen's Game was such a fun and intriguing story that I'm now hooked on Katharine's writing.

Thank you netgalley for A Queen's Game by Katharine McGee

I loved the American Royals series and was excited to see a new series from McGee. I had a little trouble getting into this one and was just getting connected to the characters and sorting out their alliances when it suddenly ended on a cliffhanger. I wasn't surprised - this is sort of McGee's schtick - but it was a little annoying to have to wait for the next in the series, so I went and googled to confirm what I remembered from world history. Now, with the next installment, I'll have a better understanding of the characters and know how the story ends, so it will be easier to enjoy the journey. I love how this takes several characters from this era of world history, all over Europe, and tells what "could have been" their side of the story, bringing history to life for a new generation.

Although it took me a while to get into this book, by the end I was hooked on A Queen's Game. This book is a great read for Katharine McGee fans.

Three girls duke it out on the marriage mart in Victorian England. Alix, Helene, and May don't have much in common accept for Eddy, the heir to the throne. Alix is the queen's favorite granddaughter, and thought to already be engaged to Eddy, much to her dismay. May is a distant relative, who's parent's low status leaves her hoping to marry well above her station. Helene, an exiled French princess, wants only to have a home and to escape the banality of her situation. The season is turned upside down when Eddy falls in love with the wrong royal.

A fun historical novel. McGee's writing style is easily recognizable and she does a fantastic job of adapting it to a historical novel. The women's stories were easily recognizable. Even though I knew the outcome of the women's lives I still felt trepidation and excitement as they unfolded. I will be recommending to all my teen patrons looking for something reminiscent of Bridgerton but more age appropriate.

I received a temporary digital copy of A Queen's Game by Katharine McGee from NetGalley, Rondom House and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Like so many who came before them, Alix of Hesse, Hélène d’Orléans, and May of Teck are looking for their happily ever after. Alix of Hesse and Hélène d’Orléans find love, but politics and tradition hold them back from pursuing their love interests. May of Teck wants to be rid of her unsupportive mother and verbally abusive father and is willing to hurt those around her to gain status. Will Alix and Hélène get their loves or will May ruin it for them?

Well, you don't find out in A Queen's Game, you have to wait until the next book of McGee's. McGee loves to end her books on major cliff hangers, and she does that in A Queen's Game, but I don't think enough of the story was told this time. I felt the beginning and middle of the book inched by and right as I finally began to appreciate the characters and care about their stories, the book was over. I wish there was more of this book and truly believe I will enjoy the second installment much more.

LOVED THIS!!
The American Royals series is one of my favorites, so I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this. Historical fiction focusing on the grandchildren of Queen Victoria. 5 amazing stars. I can't wait to read the next one.
Thank you so much for the advanced copy.

Wow - another fun novel by Katharine McGee! A romance novel set in the Victorian Era... I was pleasantly surprised to find that the novel was historically accurate and can only imagine the deep dives that patrons may get into after reading this book! This will definitely be purchased and highlighted on our shelves.