Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the audio in exchange for an honest review.

The first 60% of this book was very slow for me, the ending of the book was much better and I finally found myself enjoying it. I would've rated it 2 stars but I did enjoy the ending and that's why it's 3 stars.

As for the audio part, I do think had I read the book myself I would have DNF'd it but the narration made me keep listening.

I couldn't get into it. Right after she plans to flee her situation she antagonizes the head of her department by showing she won't be broken instead of hiding? The poor planning just sucked me right out the situation and removed any pity I had for Amie. After that I couldn't find myself caring what happened to her.

Oh boy. Where to begin with this one?

First, it started off great. I was a little lost as to how the book was considered a fantasy for the first quarter, but the court-centred plot held promise. Then the fantasy element crept in and everything went downhill for me.

There are 16-year-old dumb characters, and then there are just dumb characters. Amie falls into the second category, and it ruined much of the story for me. It often felt like she had zero agency because everything had to be explained to her. She'll pretend and make you think she's some badass rising from the ashes (of a downfall that still doesn't make sense), but she was quite useless. For example, she would say "we must do a, b, c, d, e, and f," only for any other character to tell her "Uh, just do a?"

The romance was ridiculous, the side characters tedious, and the logic has more holes in it that Swiss cheese. With an ending that unsatisfactory, I must assume it is a series, but I will not be continuing with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy. You can pick up The Scorpion Queen on January 28, 2025.

After reading the description for this book, I expected a high-stakes, action-packed YA fantasy with a fairytale twist. And it truly felt like I got a watered-down version of that.

Tell me why nothing substantial happened for the first 30-40% of this book. They FINALLY leave for their quest about halfway, and admittedly, things did pick up there. The entire sequence with the god Hausakoy was the most interesting part of this, but I didn't care enough about the characters to care if they escaped. For all the character build-up we see in the first half of the book, I didn't find myself rooting for Amie or her plights. If anything, she taught me that there's NO reason to go through THAT much effort for a man OR a conniving best friend who wants to be more than friends. Everyone betrays her at every turn, and even when we find out that the sister who kicks off the betrayal is actually a good guy, it's too late to form an attachment to her.

All in all, not my favorite YA fantasy, and unfortunately, not a series I'll be continuing.

The Scorpion Queen reminded me that not every book needs to be groundbreaking to be enjoyable. And as I am older than the intended audience, I think younger readers would enjoy this even more!

We follow 16 year old Amie after she has been disinherited and just started working as a servant for Princess Mariama. The book starts at the end of a deadly trial for a suitor of the princess. There is love, betrayal, and some fantasy elements mixed in while Amie tries to plan her escape from the palace in Timbuktu and help Mariama end the trials.

I wish there was a bit more fantasy, and with how it ended, I'm unsure if this is a standalone or the start of a new series. It is definitely set up to lean heavier into fantasy if there is more story to come!

I listened to the audiobook, and I think the narrator, Sandra Okuboyejo, was a perfect match for how I was imagining Amie in my head. She brought a melancholy but determined feeling to the character.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book but it fell a little flat for me. Not a bad debut novel. I look forward to seeing what else she writes in the future. It seemed for awhile that the book was hinting at a women loving women situation and I got all excited for nothing. The book ends on a cliff hanger so I expect a book two!

The narrator was amazing. Her voice got me through the book.

Rarely does a book pull me in so completely that I lose sleep over it, but *The Scorpion Queen* by Mina Fears managed to do just that. This young adult fantasy, steeped in the rich texture of West African mythology, is more than just a tale of magic and intrigue—it’s a masterful exploration of power, betrayal, and the bonds between women.

The story follows Amie, a merchant’s daughter whose life unravels when her family is disgraced by a lie. Banished from her home, she is sent to the royal palace to serve the enigmatic princess alongside two other young women. It’s here that the book truly shines, as the relationships between these three girls unfold with startling complexity. Their dynamic is layered with tension, solidarity, and moments of quiet vulnerability, making them feel heartbreakingly real. These are not the neatly packaged friendships often found in YA novels; instead, they are messy, fragile, and filled with both love and resentment.

The worldbuilding is equally mesmerizing. Fears weaves a setting that feels alive—lush, dangerous, and brimming with history. From the grandeur of the palace to the whispers of rebellion in the streets, every detail immerses you deeper into the story. The mythology at the heart of the narrative is as captivating as it is original, lending an otherworldly yet grounded quality to the magical elements.

But what truly elevates *The Scorpion Queen* is the prose. Fears writes with a lyrical precision that makes even the quietest moments resonate. Her words linger, painting vivid images and evoking emotions that are both raw and beautiful. There’s a rhythm to her storytelling that mirrors the pulse of the world she’s created, drawing you in with every twist and revelation.

This isn’t just a story about Amie’s journey; it’s also about the threads that connect her to others—her conflicted loyalty to her family, the delicate alliances she forms with her fellow servants, and the silent strength of her sister’s rebellion. It’s a story about what women endure, what they sacrifice, and what they fight for.

By the time I reached the final page, I was desperate for more. *The Scorpion Queen* is a striking start to a series that promises to be as complex and captivating as its heroines. If you’re looking for a story that blends sharp political intrigue, nuanced relationships, and a vibrant fantasy world, this one is not to be missed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Scorpion Queen wasn't what I expected. I had only glanced briefly at the summary and grasping the words: suitors, death, curse, princess... and didn't realize the princess with the suitors would be a secondary character!

I did enjoy the story though!! I wish there was more character building especially between our main girl and the princess, as it would have made me more invested in the way this book ended. However, I was still satisfied going on this adventure and see how the story would unfold especially in relation to the curse.

This book has such an interesting premise, but I think it fell a little flat for me. I'm not a fan of a journey in books, but I was interested in Amie's journey that occurs about midway through the book. I enjoyed the twist with Mariama and her deceit.

What didn't work for me was the romance. Both of Amie's romantic relationships didn't feel very developed to me. I thought we would have more time with Mariama to see Amie's feelings for her develop. Her relationship with Kader was about what I expected. The "throwaway" beginning relationships always seem to lack chemistry and only serve as a plot device. This one didn't prove to be any different, so I didn't mind the missing pieces there. I do wish we'd gotten wayyyy more time with Mariama. It was a little weird for her and Amie to spend a limited amount of time together, then all the sudden when Amie comes back, Mariama claims she loves her.

I also didn't enjoy the narrator for this specific title. She sounded older and honestly, too mature to successfully pull of Amie's voice. I'd enjoy listening to her with an adult title.

That said, I did like Amie as a character as well as her friendships and sister.

The beginning was really interesting but it ended up falling flat for me as it progressed. I just didn’t find myself interested in the characters or the story. I did end up having to stop listening before I finished because of this. The narrator for the audiobook was great and easy to listen to, I just think this wasn’t quite for me but I hope it finds its readers!

I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty bored for most of this book. The part that kept me going was the romance but even then it wasn’t a big part of the story. Amie in general gave me annoying vibes and then confirmed it as the story kept going. I felt like the sister wasn’t doing enough for Amie. Amie wasn’t clear about her feelings for the Princess. Kader felt like a typical Hans from Frozen storyline. The whole god being married to the mother of the princess was confusing for me. I ended up regretting not DNFing this book. I truly wanted to like this book but it was just not for me.

Thank you to the author, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for this audiobook.

When her older sister, Haddy frames her for a scandalous crime, Aminata Aqit is disinherited by her family and forced to be a chambermaid for Princess Mariama Keita. The pampered daughter of Timbuktu’s ruler, Emperor Suleyman, the princess is forced to watch as her suitors endure the emperor’s trials. If the suitors fail, they are boiled alive. Struggling to adjust to her new life, Aminata can’t wait until she can escape with her former betrothed in one year. The more time she spends in the princess’s company, however, she begins to realize that she has romantic feelings for the princess. When Amie finds a magical map leading to the god of metalworking, Hausakoy, Amie sees a chance to stop the trials and restore her reputation. Why did Haddy betray Amie? Will she find a way to save herself and the princess?

Narrator, Sandra Okuboyejo’s narrations are unique and help bring the characters to life. The narrative pacing is a little slow, but oddly works well for the novel. The plot is full of magic, mystery, romance, and adventure. The characters are not well developed, but are engaging. Themes of betrayal, trust, and righting wrongs abound throughout the book. Vivid worldbuilding adds depth to the novel and draw the reader into the story. The historically-set background and premise of the novel, however, clash with the novel. There are, however, unresolved plot lines that leave the novel ending somewhat unsatisfyingly. Listeners who like LGBTQ+ themes, fantasy, romance, adventure, and historically-set fantasy will enjoy listening to this book. Recommended for general purchase for library collections where such books are popular.

The narration was really well done, but I could not connect with this book for some reason. I struggled with the pacing and to connect with the characters.

I received an ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a dark and enthralling Timbuktu tale about survival, loyalty, and love against brutal odds. Amie, a disinherited but educated merchant's daughter, has to navigate the harrowing palace court as a new ladies' maid to the princess. From the beginning, the stakes are clear: the emperor's deadly trials for the young men seeking his daughter's hand in marriage leave a trail of boiled corpses. Amie's misfortune of being framed thrust her into servitude. She displays remarkable strength as her own family has betrayed her, and it destroys her soon-to-be marriage to the love of her life, Kader.

The relationship between Amie and Princess Mariama causes tension because Amie's resentment of her circumstances makes her bitter. She begins to understand the struggle of Mariama and develops a connection that grows into friendship. Amie finds a map to the magical hammer of the god that will save the new suitor's life, which happens to be Kader. He promised to run away with her after they got the hammer and took the riches. The dangerous journey to gain possession of the hammer is not one Amie ever bargained for and will put those she loves in peril.

The stark dangers of the ones in power, the desert, and the quest was merciless. The mythological elements did not overshadow the human drama at the story's core. Amie's choices are fraught with moral ambiguity, and the narrative does not shy away from the emotional toll of her decisions. She uses her brilliance to control her fate. The story has predictable elements, but not in a way that ruins the story's development. It is for readers who enjoy dark, fast-paced writing.

The audio narrator created voices that brought the characters to life, but the story's tension and danger lost some of its zeal with a monotone delivery.

This cover is what caught my attention. I loved that this ya fantasy was set in Africa with the desert as a primary setting. It kind of gave cave of wonders from Aladdin vibes. The story starts off with a bang and held my attention throughout. I liked the sibling dynamic and how it was push and pull. This was fast paced and a unique story but I found myself at a diaconnect with the characters. They were just words on a page to me. When anything dire happened I wasn't affected at all. I also wasn't sure if this was going with the lgbt rep or not. The audio narration was pretty monotone as well. A solid 3 stars.

The Scorpion Queen by Mina Fears is an amazing tale! I didn't know what to expect with this Malian inspired fairy tale, but I was blown away! There were many unique twists and unexpected reveals that made this a truly unique tale!

This young adult book follows Amie, a disgraced wealthy girl who now serves the princess. All she desires is to be with her love, but after spending time with the princess, she feels a connection with her as well. Amie is faced with impossible choices and enormous hurdles to do the right thing. I love how good she is, even when faced with adversity.

5/5 would absolutely read again! I'm looking forward to the next book since there is a decent cliffhanger at the end of this book 😅 I'm ready to dive in the next book!

The Scorpion Queen is a dark YA fantasy inspire by a Malian fairytale. I found this to be a very accessible fantasy read in that it wasn’t overly heavy on the world building but did enough to adequately set up the story. I do wish there was a little more exploration to the magic system but it didn’t affect my understanding of the story. The plot pacing was a little off in that the first half of the book felt slow while the second half felt rushed. However, there was plenty of action, suspense, and betrayal in the second half to fully capture my attention. I’m also a sucker for court and political intrigue so that was an easy win in my book. In terms of characters, I felt that Amie had a great character arc with strong development over the course of the story. I read this via audiobook and felt that Okuboyejo did well with narrating the story. The audio narration was the main reason I made it through the first half of the book. Okuboyejo made me want to keep listening to the story. I did enjoy the story overall and would recommend checking it out.

3⭐️

Sadly I'm calling this at 40%. I just want really struggling with your one. It started strong at first but just started to fall flat and I couldn't connect with the characters. I think was an issue of pacing that sometimes it was slow both other mind sets lightening fast. I tried both audio and physical book, it definitely better as audio in the end.

Something that worked really well for me was the overall fairy tale retelling of the Malian Fairy tale. I'm not sure which one it was but I love when books take fairy tales from other cultures and countries rather than the typical Disney retelling. It's refreshing and appreciated.

The narration of this book was really well done and it helped me to retain this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced listener copy. My review is voluntarily my own.