Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet Series: Kingmaker Chronicles #4
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on October 4, 2022
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 496
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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The queen has been cursed, and no one knows who’s behind the plot to threaten the realm’s fragile peace. Desperate to help, Jocasta hatches a plan to find Circe’s Garden, a fabled island where she hopes to discover an antidote. But she can’t do it alone. She needs the strong arm and unflinching bravery of the warrior she’s loved since childhood—her brother’s right-hand-man and captain of the guard, Flynn of Sinta.
Together they can do the impossible. Yet with treachery brewing on Mount Olympus, one thing is clear: Thalyria and its new royals are still pawns in an epic game of power—one that might end in a War of Gods.
I read the trilogy which started the Kingmaker Chronicles series. Cat and Griffin were the main characters there. Now we are getting stories from the rest of Team Alpha. I enjoyed the mythology, gods and creatures. I wanted to see what happened with the characters. In the novella, Of Fate & Fire, we learn about what happens with Piers. Now in A Curse of Queens, we get the story of Jocasta and Flynn.
The underlying problem here is the gods messing with Cat & Griffin for their own purposes. The problem solver is Jocasta. She is a healer and while she has no magic, she does have skills. She is smart and brave. I liked her a lot. We get both her point of view and Flynn’s, in alternating chapters. Jocasta has lived the life of a princess of one of the three kingdoms and now overall with Cat & Griffin. She cares deeply about people and helping them. She has wanted a life with Flynn as long as she can remember.
Flynn is an olive farmer who lived near the royal family in Sinta, and has suffered much loss until he is the only one left in his family. He became part of Team Alpha and has been a soldier ever since with Griffin, heading the army. He is enamoured of Jocasta and protective of her, but refuses to love anyone since he might lose them. But he champions Jocasta and this quest she has to solve Cat’s problem.
They need to contact another God, Circe, who is a master gardener. Jocasta has studied the scrolls to determine all the trials necessary to get what she needs. The team headed out on the adventure is Jocasta, Flynn, Carver, Bel and Prometheus. Each has their strengths and they are devoted to the cause. It is a wild and dangerous adventure but their intelligence, courage and skill helps them. They also have some help from the gods.
The romance is along with the adventure and I was rooting for them. Flynn and Jocasta are well suited and it was lovely to see them navigate a life together.
I wonder if there will be more in the series. I think Kira is the only family member still unmatched into a relationship. She is the youngest sister. It was fascinating to learn in the novella that this world is connected to that of the Endeavor series, which is set in space.
About Amanda Bouchet
Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.
A French master’s graduate and former English teacher, Amanda lives in Paris, France. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
I liked it too. I hope there are more.
yes I hope for more also. The POV change took a minute for me to adjust but I really like these characters.
I have this one audio and look forward to diving in after Fraterfest.
yes somehow I decided to do the ebook even though I’ve read the rest of the series on audio. I’m sure I would have enjoyed the audio as well. It’s my usual choice for fantasy
I didn’t realize that this book featured a different couple. I want to read it even more than I did before. I’ll have to pick this one up soon.
I didn’t know it initially but I just planned to continue the series.
This is one series that a lot seem to love, but I tried the first book and didn’t connect with the female lead. Glad you’re enjoying the series, Anne!
Thanks Rachel. I’m not sure it’s for everyone.
I’m not familiar with this series but it does sound like a good one!
Well I enjoyed it. The original trilogy came out maybe 2015? I got the audio on actual CDs. Thus was the early days of audio reviewing.
Great review Anne! I love Cat and Griffin. I’ve only read the first two books of this series so I need to get the lead out! And what did you say?!?!?!!? The novella in the book is connected to Amanda’s Endeavor series?!?!!?!? OMG!!! I absolutely LOVE her Endeavor series!
Thank you Elizabeth. Yes, it’s in the author’s note I think but there is a small connection. I also LOVE the Endeavor series.
I confess that I have the first book but I still need to read it
Well it’s worth a try. Many people have loved it.
Hopefully you get another one!
yes I’d like to see what Kaia does with her life.
The publisher sent me this one along with the first one in this series. I hadn’t read any yet, so I gave this one away in a trade, but still have the first one on my shelf to read at some point. Glad to hear it was good. And that you liked the rest of the series. Now to find time to read them! Great review!
Thank you Lisa. It’s an odd mix of mythology / fantasy / romance and YA or NA. I guess I enjoy it because it is unusual.