Audio Review: Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee

I received this book via the publisher Random House Books for Young Readers, Listening Library. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

A Queen's Game by Katherine McGee
Narrator: Imogen Wilde
Series: A Queen's Game #1
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers, Listening Library on 2024-11-12
Age Range: 14+
Length: 362 pages
Length: 10 hours and 43 minutes
Listening Speed: 2x
Reviewing Advanced Listening Copy, eARC from the publisher Random House Books for Young Readers, Listening Library
Rating:
Reading Challenges: #NGEW2024, 2024 Audiobook Challenge, 2024 COYER Unwind

The New York Times bestselling author of the American Royals series invites you to visit 19th-century Europe amid the glamour and intrigue of the Victorian era. In this historical romance inspired by true events, three princesses struggle to find love—and end up vying for the hearts of two future kings.

In the last glittering decade of European empires, courts, and kings, three young women are on a collision course with history—and with each other.

Alix of Hesse is Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter, so she can expect to end up with a prince . . . except that the prince she’s falling for is not the one she’s supposed to marry.

Hélène d’Orléans, daughter of the exiled King of France, doesn’t mind being a former princess; it gives her more opportunity to break the rules. Like running around with the handsome, charming, and very much off-limits heir to the British throne, Prince Eddy.

Then there’s May of Teck. After spending her entire life on the fringes of the royal world, May is determined to marry a prince—and not just any prince, but the future king.

In a story that sweeps from the glittering ballrooms of Saint Petersburg to the wilds of Scotland, A Queen’s Game recounts a pivotal moment in real history as only Katharine McGee can tell it: through the eyes of the young women whose lives, and loves, changed it forever.

I had high expectations for this one. A Queen’s Game by Katherine McGee is a YA historical romance written in the same style as the author’s American Royals series. Following three famous women in European history, the story unfolds as they all have the chance to be the next Queen of England. The author took several liberties with history, shifting the timeline slightly to get them all together. However, a lot of what occurs in the book is documented in journals, letters, and the history books. I won’t cover the history in this review as it is a quick Google search away, instead I’ll focus on what occurs in the book.

Alix of Hesse is Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter and her pick for the wife of the future king. However, Alix is hesitant. She has an “ailment,” as she calls it, that causes her to have panic attacks. These started after the death of her younger brother who had the “bleeding disease.” Alix believes that no one would want her, not as a wife and certainly not as Queen, and she wants what her grandparents shared: a marriage of love. Love is not what she shares with Eddy, that’s more like sisterly affection.

Hélène d’Orléans is the daughter of the exiled King of France and the one who holds Prince Eddy’s heart. She’s bold, unlike the proper English women of the day. Hélène doesn’t care what others think of her. She stays true to herself.

May of Teck is yet another granddaughter of Queen Victoria, but she isn’t a favorite. Instead she lives on the fringes of their world, always vying for attention, but never receiving it. Her family is near destitute having blown her mother’s dowry, and her father is borderline abusive. May’s only chance to prove her worth is to marry a prince, and not just any prince but the future king.

All three women in this story revolve around Prince Eddy, but only one truly cares for him. I liked how the story unfolds over the course of a year and follows the different perspectives of Alix, Hélène, and May. However, this book fell flat for me. It didn’t hold my attention like American Royals, and I found myself skimming more than truly reading. The author does a flawless job of blending history and fiction, only those well versed in European history would note the differences. Despite that, the political intrigue surrounding the future king and the romances weren’t enough to carry the book.

Overall, A Queen’s Game was an ok read for me. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. It was more a lukewarm read for me, like I could take it or leave it. If you are a fan of historical fictions or love McGee’s writing, I suggest you check it out for yourself.

Audiobook Note: I opted to listen to an advanced listening copy after attempting to read my ARC, and I’m glad I did for several reasons, the main one being Imogen Wilde. She is a fantastic narrator. Her subtle voice changes make it easy to figure out whose perspective the chapter is from. She breathed life into the story. Highly recommend it for audiobook lovers!

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