The Hundredth Queen series just keeps getting better, more action packed, more romance and more story!

Kalinda is a strong female character who is the master of her own destiny, she stands up for herself and others and does not wait for an OK from her partner. There is elements of a love triangle forming but this progresses as the plot goes on as friendship which makes the book even more enjoyable.

There is action going on right through the book from the first time and you are often left guessing what would be happening next, no character is safe.

I can't wait to see what will happen Kalinda and the empire in the next book. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a small fantasy series to binge.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Ariel

When I first started The Rogue Queen, I did not think I was going to enjoy it. Boy am I glad I stuck with it. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it and how invested I was in the characters by the end of it. I can only hope that there is a fourth to the series, because Emily R King can’t just leave me hanging like that.

Kalinda has been through a lot in life, and she’s only eighteen years old. She was married to the previous raja, who was terrible, she has literally had to fight for her life in tournaments, she is a bhuta who can control fire which is something that a lot of people are not cool with, and now there’s a demon on the loose posing as her dead husband. And yet, she is still here and she is ready to kick some butt and save her people, along with the help of her friends and loved ones.

The book switches perspectives between Kalinda and General Deven Naik. I always really enjoy books that switch perspectives, and this was no different. The two also separate fairly early on in the book, so I liked getting to know what each party was up to and how they were doing in terms of the war that’s happening. I will say, I felt more invested in Deven’s plot than I was with Kalinda’s. The thing that turned me off so early on in the book is that she was having really torn feelings between Deven and Prince Ashwin, the new rajah and son of Kalinda’s dead husband. I don’t mind love triangles when I feel like they’re done right, but this one was really grating on my nerves. There are so many more important things that need to be focused on, like the fact that there’s a demon posing as rajah. Luckily, the triangle resolves itself within the first half of the book, so it was much more enjoyable to me from that point on.

The world building in this novel was excellent. I haven’t read the first two books in the series and I was able to jump in pretty close to effortlessly. Aside from figuring out who was who, I was able to pick up everything else pretty quickly. I kept picturing Avatar (the cartoon, not the blue people) but for adults. There are certain people, called bhutas, who can control different elements. Galers can control air, Aquafiers can control water, Tremblers can control the earth, and Burners can control fire. Bhutas are looked down on by a pretty large chunk of society and therefore, usually try to hide their powers.

This was a wonderful way for me to end 2017. I really enjoyed the story, the characters, and the world that has been created for this series. If not for the fact that the love triangle annoyed me so much, this book would totally have been 5 stars. But since it did, The Rogue Queen gets 4 out of 5 from me. A wonderful YA fantasy that will have readers on the edge of their seats.

I'm obsessed with this series. Emily R. King has written a beautiful series and this was just the tip of the iceburg with well written characters and story.

I have been reading these books for the last year and it was always marketed as a trilogy. As I reached the closing chapters, I quickly realized there was NO WAY this ending could complete the story. Much to my dismay, I learned there had been a fourth book added sometime in the last few months. I understand that life happens and authors are unable to complete a story within the allotted frame. My advice - Don't market it as trilogy!

I have enjoyed each book in the series a little less. I still cling to the magical elements of the first book, which I adored. Kalinda can never seem to make up her mind between love and duty. Devlin is always willing to sacrifice his happiness for Kalinda. The song and dance is getting so old.

I am unsure if I will read the supposed final installment. I am still invested in the characters, but it feels like nothing significant has occurred since the first book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for my advanced review copy.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Rogue Queen is the third addition to The Hundredth Queen Series and it was pretty freaking amazing! I think I'm falling even more with Kalinda and her feisty ass spirit. I really liked her character growth throughout this book too and I found the soul fire even more interesting. At the beginning (ish) she's basically fighting for her life and dying because she was poisoned. Then she goes into battle facing a demon, named Rajah.

Kalinda and Deven definitely go through some challenging trials throughout the book. Some were pretty freaking heart breaking and yes.. I was super sad with the ending and I cried like a freaking baby. I think I will have a very difficult time accepting the ending of this book and I seriously need the fourth book stat! I hope that this is some kind of sick joke and everything will be different in the next one.. but I also have a feeling that everything that happened in this book ... well.. was intentional.

Now I'm sad again. I don't want to think about this ending anymore. I need more. I can't wait until August. I need to know who this book is going to be about.. Kalinda? Ashwin? Someone else? WHO?

Thanks to Netgalley and Skyscape for giving me this book to review.

The Rogue Queen is the third book in the fast paced and girl power Hundredth Queen series. This book had the best world building in the series so far and has action, adventure, and romance. While I really liked the friendships in this book, I am so tired of love triangles and I didn’t feel it needed to happen again between Kali, Deven, and Ashwin.

Kali is reckless as she does not listen to people’s advice or think before she acts but by the end she seems to have some more character growth and considers the consequences of her actions. I wish Deven would grow a backbone, as he just whined and didn’t talk to Kali about anything, but he is brave and very loyal. Ashwin is kind, noble, and naïve but is also trying to reverse the wrongs for the previous book and really wants what is best for his people. My favourite character is Natesa as she is so sassy, has been through so much, and saves everyone so many times.

I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading The Warrior Queen, the next book. I would recommend The Rogue Queen to fans of the rest of The Hundredth Queen series.

Probably my favorite novel in the series!! So amazing and oh my gosh I love it!! It’s jusy like...wow!! This series just gets better and better and there’s always something that makes my jaw drop!! Always!! Kali is so brave and I adore her and her strength and Deven is just the man you want in your life! I love him so much! I need a man like him because feels!

Not sure how this book ended up being requested, I was unable to get through the first books, and I don't plan on reading the rest of the series at this point in time, Thank you for sending it to me regardless, and I hope I get the chance you read more of the books you have in the future, both by this author and others as well.

Just when I thought I could not love and admire Kali and Devin more, Emily R. King proves me wrong! I have to admit the way Kali was acting, in the beginning, irritated me but once I understood what was going on, I forgave her. This book was really good and filled with so much detail and actions. Kali and Devin were apart for most of it just like book 2 but it gave me a chance to see more of Devin and grow to like him even more. The ending left me desiring more. I cannot wait to see how this explosive series comes to an end. I really enjoyed reading this book along with learning more about the world the author is creating. I really cannot wait for the fourth book!

3.5 <b> Ashwin </b> Stars

Confession: I totally didn’t read book 2…and it totally didn’t even matter!! How is it possible to accidentally skip 300 pages and not notice? Shame me!!!
Book 1’s focus was on the tournament of wives/courtesans for the most part
Book 3’s focus is on an all out end of the world war where every choice can alter the course of fate. And yet everyone is dying in the war but nothing is gorey or bloody so its oddly easy to read about it.
The ending of book 3 is sad and depressing and truly I am glad readers will get a fourth book I just don’t want it. I actually think book 3 was more sad and filled with loss then book 1 was and they may have had the same amount of deaths.. I think book 1 it was like some stranger died but book 3 you built a relationship with the character so it was more impacting.
I loved the intense amount of magic and powers that book 3 held it was way better!!
I don’t compare books to other series or try to appropriate them to real cultures because I love to be swept up into it all. I liked the new elements used here and the new choices to make.
I truly was more <spoiler> #TeamAshwin then I will ever be #TeamDeven</spoiler>

I think the more this author writes the better the story will get

Publisher's Summary:
Despite the odds, Kalinda has survived it all: Marriage to a tyrant. Tournaments to the death. The forbidden power to rule fire. The icy touch of a demon.

That same demon now disguises itself as Rajah Tarek, Kalinda’s late husband and a man who has never stopped haunting her. Upon taking control of the palace and the army, the demon brands Kalinda and her companions as traitors to the empire. They flee across the sea, seeking haven in the Southern Isles.

In Lestari, Kalinda’s powers are not condemned, as they are in her land. Now free to use them to protect those she loves, Kalinda soon realizes that the demon has tainted her with a cold poison, rendering her fire uncontrollable. But the lack of control may be just what she needs to send the demon back to the darkest depths of the Void.

To take back the empire, Kalinda will ally with those she distrusts—and risk losing those most loyal to her—to defeat the demon and bring peace to a divided nation.

Thoughts:
The Rogue Queen is an action packed adventure full of peril, uncertainty, betrayals and heartbreak. The novel is another strong addition to the series. King excels at world-building of a fantasy realm with loosely inspired ties to Sumerian and Indian cultures. Kalinda is an admirable female protagonist and readers connect with her readily on her journey for her strength and vulnerability. She is quickly learning that sometimes to right choices are the hardest ones.

King continues to alternate voices by assigning chapters and the parallel story to Deven. He does his fair share of soul searching throughout the book and fans of his and Kali's romance must weather the storm of their relationship once again. Fair warning, have tissues handy near the end. Here's hoping that fairer skies might be on the horizon for these two after more BIG challenges must be faced in book 4, The Warrior Queen, due out in August 2018.

The narrative benefits from its host of well developed secondary characters as well as a really great villain with clear world domination goals and good dialogue with some YA books often lack.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This has been my favorite of the series so far, it breaks from the tournament-based plot that made the first two quite similar and expands into a sweeping worldview of Tarachand and the surrounding kingdoms. With the demon rajah planning to unleash himself on the world, everything is tinged with an appropriate level of desperation, and it's clear that our characters are grasping at straws for a solution. Tension is rife throughout the story, both in the external political/supernatural conflict and within Kalinda, as she wars between her soul-fire and the demon poison weakening her every day, as well as between her duty to the throne and her feelings for Deven. The love triangle between her and the two men was exceptionally done; her feelings for both are distinct and understandable, and it comes across as very believable scenario. The strongest of the series thus far, I'm looking forward to book 4!

In the first book, The Hundredth Queen we follow Kalinda, an orphaned sister warrior who wants to spend the rest of her days with her best friend at the temple where she was raised when all of a sudden shes claimed by the Raja to become his last wife. From there shes ordered to fight in a tournament against any of the Rajas courtesan who wish to take her place. Appalled with the Raja for mistreating his courtesans and turning sister warriors against each other Kalinda tries to find a way out of her marriage.

Kalinda is a strong and honorable character with realistic vulnerabilities. I liked getting to see more of Kalindas friendship with Indah and Natesa. I connected to so many of the side characters that I was rooting for the different romantic couples more than Kalindas. I loved how the secondary characters romance wrapped up at the end. Love triangles seems to be a constant theme for Kalinda and since I still find Deven whiny I wasnt as invested in her relationship with him. I ended up prefering Prince Ashwin despite his faults.

Its wonderful how the plot and the world expands with each book. I enjoyed visiting Kalindas home again and the epic demon fighting. The grief and forgiveness themes added an extra layer of depth to the story. The mythology and setting was beautifully written. The short chapters helped the pace keep moving. I loved how the female friendships and the female empowerment vibe grows with each book. Im looking forward to the fourth and final book coming out in 2018. Id recommend this is you enjoy books like the Wrath and the Dawn.

Title received for an honest review.

I think what catches me the most about this series is the culture. I love that culture is becoming more diverse in YA because stereotypical Caucasian-descent MCs are really played out. The world isn't just that. Anyway, the culture is probably the only thing I could say I consistently liked because it is different, but at the same time Kali you have behaving like almost any other teenager in a YA. I feel like the love interest in this should have been negated completely. That always seems to be the issue with YA is that the female character HAS to have a male love interest, or a love interest at all which I'm not a fan of.

The breakout war is always fun because it's not the typical saves the world type war exactly. There's not the same kind of magical quest/journey trope, but it keeps on moving and the story at the very least keeps enough action that your attention stays to a degree. I don't know if it's just my mood with YA authors and stories, but this title wasn't the best thing since Harry Potter kind of good. It was pleasantly enjoyable. I'd recommend it, and say give it a try, but it's also on a very conservative scale of good. You'd either love it, or really hate it for most, but me it's just on the cusp of above average, so 3-3.25 stars.

I thought this one was definitely better than the first two books. I really liked the action and the characters in the story. There were a couple of things that I wasn't really sure about but i thought it was very good overall. I was a little surprised by how the story ended and am looking forward to seeing how the story continues. I would recommend this one.

Emily R. King never fails to deliver. Action-packed, magical, powerful, and made me proud to be woman.

My review will be divided into two categories, a spoiler free and a spoiler-y one after it. If you haven’t read the previous books then I suggest you don’t read this post. If you don’t know already how much I love this series then now you do!

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

“No one can rule your heart, not even the gods.”

Everything was just wrong! From the Voider’s powers tainting Kalinda’s soul fire, she’s struggling to control her powers. And once again she’s separated from Devin because he’s on his own search making this book a dual POV again.

All I can say is 5 out of 5 stars is not enough, I love this series so much!

There’s a war they’re all just trying to get to, not enough risks are being taken. Pain, suffering and sacrifices everywhere. Deaths of characters I thought would live through the war. Ashwin’s heart’s wish is so much more than just leading Vanhi with his father and I was surprised by the lengths of it. The love triangle between Deven, Kalinda, and Ashwin. The reunions! Minor characters have come to the light and I missed them.

I could never forget to mention those moments where I get to relax because Kalinda is in safe hands and I could chill for a moment but then in the following page is Deven’s POV and sh*t is just waiting to happen for him and his team and I’m on the edge of my seat once again.

It’s like the first two books, but only waaaaay better. Now I’m just sitting in my room waiting for any new information about the fourth book.

SPOILER ALERT!

“As I understand it, souls aren’t bound by wedding vows but by love.”

P L O T
Amazing story line, but it’s too bad we didn’t get to see much of Lestari as I wanted to but I understand with the coming war and all they don’t have the luxury of time. It could have been easily blamed on Ashwin, the Voider was released because of him but he’s a young man who grew up without parents and all he ever wanted was a father.

My time in the world of men has taught me that any man worthy of my admiration would never force me to worship him.

C H A R A C T E R S
I’m glad how no one actually said the words that they blame Prince Ashwin for all their problems and I’m even more impressed by how Ashwin stands his ground and does all that he can to fix things instead of turning into one of those characters who constantly says it’s his fault.

However, Kalinda is reckless as ever, always trying to be the hero and faces danger head on without thinking things through and forgetting to consider the consequences of her actions. When she final realized what she needed to do to get rid of the late Rajah Tarek once and for all brought tears to my eyes. The lines such as, “I forgive you because you brought Deven to me.” It’s never easy to forgive someone with all the horrible things he has done to her and to others but despite those bad memories because of him there were also good ones and her future is brighter since then.

Deven’s kind of the star in this book. I see that he’s the characters with the greatest development here. Literally he’s a General of no army but people still trust him and follow him and continue to call him ‘General’ until later he accepts his role because he has come to realize that it’s in his blood or more like the gods have made sure that he will ALWAYS be serving the throne. Oh and the best idea he had was convincing the ranis and courtesans to fight with him and be the first line of defense to defend their home, reminding them that they are not helpless, they were trained all their lives, and that they are sister warriors. (Thinking about this scene always gives me goosebumps)

Yatin and Natesa are on an adventure too and I am once again reminded that she’s not some damsel in distress not reckless like her new best friend Kalinda. She’s quick witted, smart, and head strong. Even Yatin already gave up trying to change her mind when he thinks her ideas are dangerous and it drives him crazy.

“You came into my life like a star, the answer to all my wishes.”

W R I T I N G
The writing is so colorful despite the war, there wasn’t much mention of blood and gore so my imagination was spared with such disgust and horrifics. Old characters were not forgotten, I was so happy to see Tinley again, happy with a new bird. Kalinda’s friends who she left behind in order to survive from the the bhuta war lord. The action and magical scenes were explained very well that it wasn’t difficult to understand. Even with Deven and Kalinda on the same area it wasn’t confusing nor redundant to read, in fact it was more exciting. I have more quotes from the book that I did not share to this post because they seem to be too spoilery but this series always gave me such inspiring lines and others that make me feel different emotions.

”I am born of the stars, and I will see them shine again.”

O V E R A L L
This was one of my most anticipated read for 2018 and it was worth the wait and worth my hype.

I’m pretty sure the fourth, and final installment to this series will be in dual POV also and I cannot wait to see how The Void looks like, though I think it’s all just darkness almost pitch black but I have my hopes up. I already knew how this book was going to end. Deven will be separated from Kalinda AGAIN because the author shared some information on her Instagram account prior to the release of The Rogue Queen. TRG isn’t going to be the last book and the series won’t be a trilogy because she felt like Kalinda needed one last trial (as if she hasn’t been on enough trials to last her a life time) where she needs to collect Deven from The Void, I just never knew how he got there in the first place until I finished TRQ. I completely agree, this would give Kalinda a chance to show me how she truly loves Deven because I’m not a strong shipper of these two. I’m hoping this final book will change my mind.

After loving the first two books in this series I was super excited for Rogue Queen. I'm so in love with the characters, especially some of the secondary characters who are just as interesting as the main ones. Rogue Queen is very different from the previous two books in this series. While they were all about the tournaments pitting women against each other this book is more Game of Thrones than Gladiator. In this book it's war and all the political dealings that go along with finding allies and gathering an army.

For me the best part was meeting all the new characters and cultures from different lands. The world become much bigger in this one as Kalinda, Devan and their friends flee from the demon and his army. We get to see a bit of the lands outside the Empire. It was pretty well non-stop action and easy to read through in a few nights. Or one really late night! Things are a bit bleak in this one and the ending is a total heart-breaker but not without a ray of hope. I believe that the next book is the conclusion to this series and I'm hopeful that everything will work out in the end, although I'm sure there will be death and destruction on the way!

Thank you to Skyscape and Two Lions for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.

Kalinda has overcome more obstacles than anyone would imagine, including a tournament to the death. Now she is trying to move on with her life and help those around her, yet she has come to the understanding that the demon that had touched her life has now made her magic powers uncontrollable. Are her heightened powers exactly what she needs to vanquish this demon? Who should Kalinda put her trust in in order to protect her empire?

The Rogue Queen is the third book in The Hundredth Queen series. The events from this book pick up shortly after the ending of the second. Kalinda has a whole new series of obstacles to overcome and readers will be riding the thrills alongside her and her friends. Although this is a fun series to read, I found my mind wondering and had trouble staying focused on the larger plot. A good read if you have already read the first two books, but not a book to jump into blind.

I am really loving this series! For some reason I was thinking that this was the last book, but no. Again I am left with my heart hanging because the ending? Ugh!!

Absolutely nothing comes easy for Kalinda. Her whole life has been one struggle after another. It seems like for Kalinda, along with her little band of friends, there is no break, no chance to relax and no time to breathe. Which is equally awesome and exhausting as a reader as well. The pacing is fast, things are always happening and I love that but by the end of the book I feel like I have to suck in big breath and relax myself!

Because this is book three, these characters are like old friends to me. I am invested in them and I care about them. I'm ready to see some conclusion and resolution for them. I hope the next book is the last book. 😊 And I wish I had it right now.

This is a series that must be read in order. It is on Kindle Unlimited if you have that!

Content: violence, kissing, a fade to black bedroom scene with no details other than the couple wakes up naked together.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher at my request via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.