Long May She Reign

RHIANNON THOMAS

Age Range: 13+

Reading level: Middle School & High School

SUMMARY:

Freya never could quite fit in with the king and his court and would rather be in her lab making scientific discoveries than going to balls and parties, but when a mass murder occurs and hundreds die, Freya suddenly finds herself, Queen. Being 23rd in line to the throne, Freya never imagined that she could one day rule, and it doesn't matter if she didn't want to be Queen or that no one respects her, because she does it have a choice and must now rule a nation. After the death of hundreds of Nobles and Royals, the ones left must find the murderer before they too are killed. Freya feels like everyone around her is either using, controlling, or against her, and the only way for Freya to survive is to find the person who killed the court, no matter the cost.

REVIEW:

I'm not usually a big fantasy reader, but Long May She Reign surprised me! This clean standalone fantasy/mystery novel is about a girl who never wanted to be queen but suddenly finds herself ruling a kingdom after the king and almost his entire court are poisoned. The story was a little slow at times, but I was so curious about who committed the murders that I had to keep reading! I also liked that there wasn't any actual magic or complicated world-building. If you love mysteries but aren't a huge fantasy fan, this might be the book for you!

One of my favorite things about this book was Freya. She wasn't the typical beautiful, popular heroine who everyone seems to love. Instead, she was rather plain, had only one close friend, and would MUCH rather be doing science experiments than ruling a kingdom. I found that so refreshing! I also liked that Freya was a genuinely good person who tried to do the right thing, even when the people around her didn't. And even though she becomes queen, the book doesn't push feminist views, which I appreciated.

Now, the romance was a bit disappointing. I honestly didn't see why the characters liked each other, and their relationship felt a little forced. Thankfully, romance wasn't the main focus of the book, because the mystery was MUCH more interesting!

Overall, I really enjoyed Long May She Reign and would definitely read it again! It wasn't perfect, but the story was original, the mystery kept me guessing, and I loved that Freya wasn't your typical heroine. Plus, I think the cover is really intriguing!

WHO I'D RECOMMEND TO:

Readers ages 13+ who love a good mystery, royal intrigue, and a little romance! I especially recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy but doesn't want a lot of magic or complicated world-building. Even if you're not usually a fantasy fan (like me!), I think you might really enjoy this one!

THINGS TO MENTION:

There is no actual magic, although some characters believe in higher beings called The Forgotten.

There is some violence, including a mass poisoning that kills hundreds of people and some fighting, but none of it is graphic. There is also a minor panic attack. The word "bastard" is used in reference to someone born out of wedlock.

The romance includes a couple of brief kisses and some thoughts about kissing, but nothing inappropriate. Overall, the book is very clean.

Click here to buy!

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Hey there! 📚 Have you had the chance to dive into Long May She Reign? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts! And hey, if you have any book recommendations for me to review, please do share. Your visit means a lot to me - thanks for stopping by! 🌟