Big thank you to Random House Children’s and NetGalley for the ARC! I loved McGee’s other royal series, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to dive into her latest! This has Bridgerton vibes but with actual historical royals.

Instead of America, we go back to the royals of England and the surrounding countries. We meet three very different girls: May of Teck, a…distant royal cousin; Alix of Hesse, a German royal and one of Queen Victoria’s favorite grandchildren; and Heléne d’Orleans, an exiled French royal. The three girls navigate over the course of a year, dealing with everything from arranged marriage to parental strife, crossing each other’s paths to bring history to life.

I did not realize at first that these characters are based on real people from history, and I actually like that a lot! I think McGee gives them enough fictionality to make these girls her own, while also keeping true to their histories. Much like her original series, McGee gives us three protagonists, and each one has a distinctive voice. While the story jumps from months to the next year, it doesn’t feel inconsistent; it actually feels fairly natural, as we do learn what has happened in the time missed in snippets.

I think McGee did a great job setting up a compelling story with an ending that heavily hints that there’s more to this story, and it does so without feeling rushed or forced. She offers twists and turns that surprised me, leaving me eager to read on and find out what happens next.

If you are a fan of her previous series, a fan of history, or a Bridgerton fan, this book is very up your alley and I cannot recommend it enough. I’m already hopeful for a sequel, because I’m dying to find out what happens!

i thought this book was SO fun. i’ve loved ever book by katherine that i’ve read so there’s no surprise. and i’ll b posting my review on my instagram @vanessas_bookreport soon!!

4.0

I have to preface (and perhaps temper) this review by saying that I don’t know two things. First, though I don’t think there will be, I do not know if there is supposed to be a sequel to this book (though McGee said there would only be two American Royals books and there were four). I will let you figure out why having a second book might be important.

Second, which could easily solve my first mystery, I read an advanced copy with a blank page for the author’s note. I hate it when historical novels do not have an author’s note telling me what was actually true, what liberties were taken, and what was completely made up. Since you will likely have that, your mind will probably be somewhat more at ease.

Now, given that these three “princesses” were real people, a simple trip to Wikipedia (or at least a short rabbit hole) will tell you what inevitably came of each of them. I wasn’t even trying to find out what the future had in store. I actively despise knowing what’s coming–particularly when something is tragically true and I know there can’t be a happy ever after. I’m not saying that is the case here though.

I searched because I needed to know when the story took place and who was involved. I’m not British and the only Edward and George brothers I knew of by name were the later one who abdicated and his brother, the third son who was never the spare. When I figured out that Edward was the Victorian Duke of Clarence (whose first name was actually Albert), things made some more sense. The princesses just kind of popped up in the entry.

The actual story is well written and would clearly appeal to the YA audience but a little more educational than the made up American Royals. As with that series, there is a fair amount of sex discussed. Not told in detail or during the act though.

Thank you to Katharine McGee, NetGalley, and Random House Children’s for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge fan of Katharine McGee and especially loved the American Royals series, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw this book! It didn't dissapoint, but so far not as good as the AR series. But I don't want to say for sure until I read the entire series.

This is a historical fiction, based on real royals from the late 1800s. Princess Helene, May of Teck, and Princess Alix of Hesse are the three main characters in the book, all who have ties to Prince Eddy, future King of England and grandson to Queen Victoria. I have read the true events of these three women, so I was very interested in this book. Of course, McGee does take some liberty with the facts being a historical fiction.

The three women are all on a mission to find true love. Alix is queen Victoria's favorite and is meant to marry Prince Eddy, but she has given her heart to another prince. Helene's family has been exiled from France, but still considered royalty. She is bold, loud, and does not follow the rules. Then there is May of Teck who wants nothing more than to be rid of her cruel father and marry a prince. Insert the bold American, Agnes, who stirs up all kinds of trouble!

A second book has not been named, but it is left open so a series is assumed. I highly recommend this book for high school libraries.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.

I believe I’ve read all of Katharine McGee’s novels and this might be the best written of them all. The characters are written with more depth and nuance. The motivations for characters’ behavior are clear without being over-the-top or obvious. The sentence level writing is also crisp (excepting a few too many uses of the words blithe or blunt).

This is a great historical fiction YA read! Many other reviewers have gone over the plot so I’ll just say it follows the machinations of real life (Queen) May of Teck and the last Tsarina of Russia (along with other female historical figures).

American Royals was one of my favorite reads, but Katherine McGee, you have completely amazed me! This ones even better! I could not put this darling book down. It was adorable. You have a wonderful gift for writing, and I can not recommend this book enough. It would be a really fun book club read with a cool theme for the get together.

This book was a slow start for me at first. It seemed a bit disjointed and I couldn't really tell where it was going. Around the 15% mark it started to become clear to me and I got really into how all three of their lives, Alix, May, and Helene were intertwined. And since they're all real people in a fictional story, I did look them up on Wikipedia. Mostly because I was worried Alix wouldn't end up with Nicholas, which in real like she did, so fingers crossed she does in Book 2.

I also liked watching the influence Agnes started to have on May, from May feeling like an outcast, finding someone who preyed on that and lavished her with attention and gifts, and see her break her morals once, and then try to go back. But Agnes then sent that horrific letter to Helene and just obliterated Helene's life.

The character development was 10/10, I was really invested in all characters and the fact that all the cousins marry each other, which would not happen today. I could tell Katharine McGee did her research and really immersed herself in the world to write a really compelling and great fictional book.

Can't wait to read more!!

I chose this book because I have enjoyed McGee's other books. Good character building, believable events, enough twists to keep you guessing. However I was really annoyed at the cliff hanger, I don't usually like them anyway but this one was pretty irritating. There was also a scene with two characters sharing a saddle and unless English saddles are really different that is just not possible for two adults. Overall good book.

Twice now, Katherine McGee’s books have found me and helped me while I was struggling with a deep depression; first, I read and loved the American Royals series during a difficult time last year. Then, while struggling with my mental health this past week, I was thrilled to receive an e-ARC of A Queen’s Game. It could not have come at a better time and I am so grateful to NetGalley and Random House for an opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review!

This book is an easy five stars for me. I loved the clearly well-researched look at royal life and McGee’s pivot to historical fiction. These are historical figures about whom I know nothing so I was and am excited to learn their stories!

I am most impressed by how each of the main characters has her own unique voice. Even if the chapters weren’t labeled, I’d be able to tell whose point-of-view we were following. All three women are strong, intelligent, and vulnerable, but they all embody these characteristics in their own way.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given what I’ve just written about my own struggles with mental health, I really appreciated the way Alix’s “condition” (what seems to be what we now call panic attacks) was handled with care, if not by all of the characters in the book (but by some!), than by the author herself.

Finally (and caution: this may be a spoiler!) I didn’t realize this was going to be a series! I thought it was a standalone. To say I’m excited that this is going to be a series is an understatement!

Thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In Victorian England, three teenage princesses and granddaughters of Queen Victoria, are on the marriage market (think the ball season on Bridgerton) for a prince. Alix of Hesse is Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter and wants her to marry Prince Eddy, heir to the throne but Alix desires someone else. May of Teck is desperate to leave her abusive parents’ home and sees Eddy as her way out. The there’s Hélène d’Orléans, daughter of the exiled king of France, who unexpectedly falls for Eddy but there are complications.
I have not read the American Royals series so I cannot compare it to that. However, I did enjoy it right up to the last few pages when I realized this was going to be book 1 in a series. I give this YA entry 4 stars.
#AQueensGame #NetGalley

This was a cute book, however it felt incomplete. I love the idea of the book and the characters, but I was looking for more. I would read a second book.

I was a reluctant reader of McGee's American Royals series when it started. The alternate history of a Washington monarchy was just silly to me. Boy, did she win me over! After finishing that series, I was super excited to see McGee visiting real historical figures and their intrigues. I liked it enough to continue the series if there are more installments. I don't think it's fair to compare this to AR, so I will just say that they have a similar vibe and I hope to grow to love this series as much as I love that one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

As a fan of McGee's American Royals series, I was so excited to read this! It is an engaging, historical fiction romance with plenty of appeal for teen readers who enjoy the fanciness and drama of Bridgerton. Based on the ending, I"m guessing this is book #1 in a series and I can only hope that all the princesses wind up with the ones they love. While I did not love this quite as much as American Royals, I do think it will appeal to teen readers who enjoy the genre!

If half-stars were possible, I'd rate this 3.5.

Nobody does royal stories like Katharine McGee! I loved this just as much as the American Royals series. I love historical fiction, especially when the characters are this well-written!

Didn't love this as much as the American Royals books, but fun to enter another period and continent with Katharine McGee. A Queen's Game appears to be setting the stage for another series, so there is a decent amount of time spent introducing the large cast of characters and world-building. Will probably read future novels in the series.

As a huge fan of the American Royals series, I immediately knew I'd want to read A Queen's Game. The book was good, but isn't quite up to American Royals status. There were times when I was a bit lost with the characters and the whole cousins courting thing was a bit strange to me and had me wondering if I were already lost right at the beginning!

I loved McGee’s American Royals series, but this one just wasn’t for me. Her writing is always top notch and this book is perfect for a teen if they are into the royal families of the 1800s, I just kept comparing it to AR and I got lost more than once… maybe once the next two books are out this one will be better? Give me a family tree somewhere and this instantly goes up to a 4 star.

Katharine McGee could write a grocery list and I would read it. Seriously. I love her work, I love the world building and character development, and I love love love devouring her writing.

Bravo, bravo, bravo!! Katharine McGee has done it again and I for one can not wait until this comes out in print. I absolutely loved the Royals series (as did my students) and I know this series will be a hit as well. I loved the three princesses perspectives and hearing their story. This is Bridgerton meets YA readers in the best possible way. I did not know this book was a series until later on as I was reading and I for one can not wait until book 2 comes out. I found myself rooting for some princesses more than others and I can not wait to see where this series goes next. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy. I know my students will love this!! I give it 5 out of 5 stars.