It’s a cute series all in all. I did think the characters too immature for their stated ages in the first book but that was corrected in the second two books. It’s very much a light girl power fantasy so it won’t be for everyone but fans of the author and of this type of fantasy will have a good time reading it. If you’re looking for light escapism fantasy aimed to a female audience this author’s a great choice. I’m glad to have gotten to read the ARC of this book. I’ve had fun reading her novels so far!

Content Warnings: Sex scenes, violence, blood/gore, murder, sexism, sexual harassment, grief and PTSD. Mention of: death of a parent, death of a child, torture, child abuse, grief, genocide, and war.

In preparation for this book to release I reread book 1 and 2 and annotating the crap out of them. I almost pushed off reading this longer because I just wasn't ready to let go of the world yet...but I also desperately wanted to know what happened.

Back in "Capture the Crown" we saw Gemma sneak and spy in an attempt to protect her kingdom and try to stop her enemies before they could enact any grand plans. We also got to see her meet and get to know a grown up Leo and battle her feelings for him. The mutual pinning was *chefs kiss* We also got a few flashbacks to her childhood when she first met Leo while fleeing the Seven Spires Massacre. It was so excited getting some of those details that I wondered about while reading "The Crown of Shards" trilogy. [If you haven't read the Crown of Shards series have no worries there's a great 1-2 page refresher of everything that happened back then...though I do recommend reading the first trilogy just to have a deeper understanding of the kingdoms and people]

In "Tear Down the Throne" we get to witness royals, who do not all get along, gather at the annual Summit to cement trade agreements and we get to find out more about Maeven's long game. Although they're enemies and Gemma knows nothing can come of their mutual feelings...Gemma and Leo continue to grow closer even as politics, and their own past feelings, threaten to get in the way. OMG the pining, the growing romance, and the confessions of feelings has me giggling and cheering them on. Not going to lie this book had my feelings about Maeven shifting a lot too...it hurts me that I'm starting to understand her. 😭

Now in "Conquer the Kingdom" there's a big tournament coming to Andvari and Gemma is still hunting down the one person set on destroying them. Even though Gemma now has Leo at her side she still feels it's temporary and that a future will never be possible. I adored the flashbacks we get in this book so much...and trust me you will too! We get to see Gemma blossom even more as she grows in her power, self confidence, and her place in the world. I love this trilogy so much and plan to reread it over and over so I never have to leave this wonderfully crafted world. 🥰

Jennifer Estep writes such satisfying trilogies. The finale of The Gargoyle Queen series, Conquer the Kingdom, is just one more example of that. It is that magical combination of action, suspense, and romance that she blends so well for all her stories, especially for this conclusion of Gemma Ripley's story.

As in the previous two novels, one of my favorite elements of Conquer the Kingdom is Gemma's and Leonidas' burgeoning relationship. I appreciate that Ms. Estep moves the relationship forward in each book. Flirting evolves into kisses that become declarations of love and decidedly more than kisses. It's a natural relationship progression, and it keeps things interesting. The trilogy would be so dull if we were still in the flirting phase after three books and many months together.

In addition, I can't help but love the secondary characters a bit more than Gemma. Yes, she is feisty, determined, brave, intelligent, and attempts to be the antithesis of a stereotypical princess. But she is still a princess and a spoiled one at that. My heart belongs to the secondary characters. Not only do they have some of the best lines, but they also force Gemma to think beyond her privileged lifestyle. The secondary characters remind Gemma that not everyone grows up in palaces or has family members who adore them.

The end of Conquer the Kingdom suggests another trilogy in the works. I am not sad about this possibility. Ms. Estep makes each one different enough to feel fresh and unique while including enough familiar figures and aspects of the world to ensure the reader knows that the stories connect. This means more magic, romance, fierce female characters, and action. After thoroughly enjoying the entire Gargoyle Queen series, including Conquer the Kingdom, I am excited about future books by Ms. Estep!

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We all knew the same unsettling truth—that we needed to figure out what Milo was plotting before he struck again and finally found some way to conquer my kingdom.
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I don't read a lot of high/epic fantasy, but I always give Jennifer Estep's books a shot, no matter the genre, because I know I'll like them. I really enjoyed the Crown of Shards series when I first read it all those years ago, so I was very excited to find out that there would be another series set in the same world. And honestly, I think I liked the Gargoyle Queen series more, which is saying something! So reading this was bittersweet because even though I was excited to see how this series would end, I didn't want it to.

One of my favorite things about this series was the characters, especially the relationship between Gemma and Leo. Leo had been spending time in Glitnir, and the way they treated him made me so sad. All because he's a Morricone and people just presume him to be as awful and ruthless as his mother Maeven or his uncle Maximus. But he's not.

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"No!" I yelled back. "Let me go! Get away! Save yourself!"
His hands tightened around my waist. Never, his voice sounded in my mind. I will never let you go, I will never let you fall. I will never let you fail.
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He's so sweet and kind, and his thoughtfulness at the end when he gave Gemma a gift melted my heart. I love him! And I loved the way Gemma tried to get other nobles to warm up to Leonidas. She was also very thoughtful and kind. And then she also gave him a very sweet gift, and it was just the best!

Moreover, I really admired how much she cared for and genuinely wanted the best for her kingdom.

Another relationship I loved was the one between Gemma and her gargoyle Grimley. I just really love how protective they are of one another and how much affection there is between the two. Even Leo's strix Lyra warmed up to Gemma and Grimley and I loved it! Their banter is the best!

One character I've found intriguing since book one is Leo's sister Delmira. Just like Leo, she is nothing like their brother Milo. She always seems so happy and like a social butterfly, but there's definitely more to her than meets the eye.

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Maeven had once said that Delmira's kindness would get her killed someday, but I thought the Morricone princess was very much like the liladorn in the crystal bowl. Seemingly soft, gentle, and flexible- but with a hard, unbreakable strength and plenty of razor-sharp thorns to rip her enemies to pieces.
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I really like her and how kind she is. And I'm honestly very curious about her magic, too...

Leo and Delmira's mother, Queen Maeven, is another character I'm intrigued by. I mean, she was one of the villains in the Crown of Shards Series that takes place years before this, but in this series... She doesn't seem as awful. And there is a reason why. She and Gemma have a very interesting conversation at the end of the book and I am just—surprised and intrigued and I want more!

One thing I do have to mention is that the beginning of the book felt a little slow to me. I wasn't NOT enjoying the book, but it was just a bit slow. Once we hit the halfway mark though, things got going and I was all in!

One of my favorite things about Jennifer's books is that she always writes amazing action scenes, and this book was no different! The ending was especially good! Milo was so vicious, but Gemma could hold her own! It was great! The amazing fight in the climax, and then the sweet resolution with Leo and Gemma... It made for a perfect ending.

And I really loved this book overall! Yes, I thought the first half was a bit slow, but I really enjoyed the story overall, especially the second half. It had great action, lovable characters, and an end that wrapped things up nicely but also left things open enough for more stories set in the same world. And honestly, that possibility makes me very excited!

Here’s to having my wishes come true 😆

It's a 3.5 for me but I rounded up. Conquor the Kingdom marks the end of this trilogy. Having read them so soon after the first set in this world, it does leave the reader with some world building questions (because the M/C from the first trilogy could have solved some of the issues fairly quickly and that's never acknowledged). It's a solid series for those looking for fantasy with an HEA. The plot moves quickly though some concerns for the heroine drag on a bit too long.

Rounded to 4.5 stars.

CONTENT WARNING: violence, blood, mention of torture, trauma, murder, mention of death of a parent, gore

I’ve been a huge fan of Estep’s writing since I stumbled across the first book in the Crown of Shards series, and I was thrilled to see this spin-off series emerge. I’ve avidly followed Gemma’s story, and the previous two books have been building to this huge finale.

Throughout this series, there has been rising tension with the neighboring kingdom of Morta, and Maeven’s oldest son Milo has been set up as the villain all along. However, he’s eluded Gemma’s best efforts. When the story opens, there’s a bounty on Milo’s head, and Gemma is on the hunt. But she’s also due to play a major role in the Sword and Shield Tournament of gladiators that is being held in the capital city of her country, and her attention is divided. So she’s baited a trap that she’s sure Milo can’t resist. Now the big question is, can she catch him and ensure the safety of the people she cares about at the same time?

We also see a new side of Gemma. She’s slowly letting down her walls, and strengthening not just her friendship with Reiko, but her relationship with Leo. And while things are going well with Reiko, getting close to Leo is coming with some obstacles, namely the fact that he’s Mortan, and there’s a long history of bad blood between their kingdoms. While her family is working hard to accept him, the people of her kingdom haven’t exactly been welcoming to him, and she isn’t sure if their relationship can withstand the external pressures placed on them. In addition, we get to see a new side of Maeven, and get to know more about who she is not just as a queen, but as a mother and as a person. I especially enjoyed getting to know more about Delmira, and would love to see more of her in a future book or series. She’s a really intriguing character, and I’m even more curious about her powers after seeing what she can do in this book.

We finally get to see more of the powers that Gemma has. She’s worked really hard to access her powers, and we’ve known that she’s strong, but there was something holding her back in previous books. But when she’s placed in difficult situations, especially when people she cares about are threatened, she’s often able to do more than expected. But I think what I like best about the action scenes is that Gemma doesn’t always win. She gets beaten, she gets her butt handed to her. She feels guilt when she hurts people, even when they deserve it. And she always does her best to ensure that innocent people are protected, even when it means she can’t get to Milo or Wexel, who are likely to regroup and cause more harm. Her first priority is always to protect the people of her kingdom, and that shows how suited she is as a princess.

I really enjoyed her journey in this series, but especially in this book. She shows a lot of growth, both as a person and as a ruler. While I’m going to be really sad to say goodbye to this series, Estep left the door open for more books. There’s one potential loose thread that can be tied up in future books, so it may not be time to say goodbye to this particular set of characters just yet. I can only hope that’s the case, because I really love this world and the people in it.

I regret that I had to hold this review due to the HarperCollins Strike, however, it seems that they’ve reached a tentative agreement with the union, and I feel badly that the author was caught in the middle of this, so I’m going to go ahead and allow this review to post.

This books is a conclusion to a trilogy, so if you haven’t read the previous two books this review may contain spoilers. [See my reviews of the first and second books in the series.] This series essentially triggered me into reading just about everything Estep has ever written, and I’ve enjoyed all of it. Her Elemental Assassin series is classic urban fantasy, and while I haven’t read it yet, her Mythos Academy series seems to be a nice YA alternative to The-Boy-Wizard-Books-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named (and don’t we need alternatives to that one these days!)

Gemma’s story is immensely enjoyable and this ending is tense and satisfying. I identified more closely with Everleigh from the Crown of Shards series, and I like her better as a protagonist. Gemma’s uncertainty and her girly facade can be irritating in the first couple of books, but it fades as she matures into her power. It’s character growth, I understand that. Gemma starts the series closer to the emotional level of a teenager or new adult, even though if I recall she’s in her late twenties. It was a relief to finally see her letting go of the insecurities that were surely a response to the trauma she endured as a child.

Well? If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re surely late. Hurry up and get started. I’m waiting.

Conquer the Kingdom is exciting and adventurous; a page-turning masterpiece. I love the worldbuilding in the Gargoyle Queen novels. I also love how Gemma develops and grows throughout the series. This is a must-read for fantasy lovers.

A great ending to a series that has been near and dear to my heart. I’ve been sucked into this trilogy since reading the first book and it has continued to get my heart pumping and keep me on my toes until the end.

Estep has created an amazing story throughout the entirety of this series and I truly enjoyed all of the books. Gemma is such a badass main character and I appreciate that unlike so many fantasy books, she isn’t like 17-20. She is older and more relatable!

Leo oh Leo. That man is definitely a forever book boyfriend who will live in my heart. Poor misunderstood Leo. He is a total cinnamon roll and I’ve loved him throughout the entire series as well. I think he was the perfect compliment to this story. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

I hate to be the only one not infatuated with this book, but there you have it. I wasn't. I felt that it was written for a much younger age than adults and just had a couple of sex scenes thrown in to bring the rating from G to R.

I should have re-read my reviews on the last two books before I agreed to tackle this one. Yes, this book does finish off this trilogy, but it does leave room for many more books—at least two more trilogies.


My issue (besides it being childish) is so many characters, so many bad people, and so much repetition, and I mean chapter to chapter, paragraph to paragraph. It became a book that I ended up skimming to get past all of that. So many 'should have been dead' scenes. Ugh.

It was a good conclusion. But to me, an annoying one.

ARC was supplied by the publisher Avon and Harper Voyager/ Harper Voyager, the author, and NetGalley.

Conquer the Kingdom by Jennifer Estep is the 3rd and final book in her Gargoyle Queen trilogy. I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep, and I couldn’t wait for Conquer the Kingdom; I am happy to say I loved this series. I hope there will be more to come from this world.

Gemma and her best friend continue to spy undercover, to search for Milo, her enemy, and find out what his evil plans are to destroy her Kingdom (Andvari). Gemma makes plans for a Sword and Shield tournament, with gladiators from all over attending in Glanzen. She even invited Maeven and those from Morta to participate in the tournament; in hopes of trapping Milo, who is determined destroy everyone and take over all kingdoms, including Morta . Gemma continues to master her mind magier powers, and worrying about keeping everyone safe.

I loved seeing Leo and Gemma together, as they made such a great couple, even if the people in Andvari hated all the Mortans. I also really liked Delmira (Leo’s sister), as she was so great in helping Gemma. It was also fun to see the Gargoyles and Strix, and I love Grimley, who has always been with Gemma since childhood. The baby Strix, Violet was cute, and I did like Lyra. We learn about why Maeven calls her the Gargoyle Queen. We also got to learn more about her mother, as she saw flasdhbacks of the past.

What follows is an exciting, tense, wild last half of the book that had me on the edge of my seat. Gemma was an amazing heroine, and her powers became ultra-powerful, which saved her life a number of times. The wild crazy climax was a thrill a minute, with all their lives in danger and me holding my breath to see if she would survive. At one point near the end, with her life on the line, Gemma rises up with help from her loyal Gargoyles/Strix and friends.

Conquer the Kingdom was a fantastic finale, with so much magic, mystery, suspense, excitement, action, danger, with lives on the line, and a couple we rooted hard for. To say too much more would be spoilers, as you need to read it from start to finish. Conquer the Kingdom was so very well written by Jennifer Estep, which is no surprise, as I love all her books. I do hope Jennifer will come back to this world. If you enjoy fantasy, you need to start reading the Gargoyle Queen series, which you should start with the first book, Capture the Crown.

Conquer the Kingdom is a satisfying conclusion to Gemma's story. It has all of the signature components I've come to expect in a Jennifer Estep book – fast-paced action with great fight scenes, romance, fantastic world-building, and surprise political intrigue. I love the world of Seven Spires and Glitnir and am so glad we got two series set in this fantastic world. I hope Estep goes back – I loved the hint at the very end with the prophecy that leaves a door ajar. I would happily read more of these books.

I highly recommend this series for fans of fantasy romance, like Ilona Andrews, Jeaninene Frost, and Patricia Briggs. Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me an e-arc of this book.

It's the writing, the scenes, the exchange between characters, and the overall feeling of epicness. That's what this series gave me. As much as I loved this series, I am sad that it's over. It's rare to fall in love with the entire ensemble cast but it happened. What Estep has created within the Gargoyle Queen series will be long-standing. I hope we see this on screen in the future. It's just that good. High adrenaline, action, methodical thinking, and a camaraderie that surpasses most in comparable genres.

"Magic always seeks out like magic" and this holds true in so many forms. Thanks for the magic, Jennifer Estep. Your series has a forever placement in my bookcase.
~Tanja

The stories Estep writes are fun and the characters are ones we get to know and then miss when they are gone.
Despite it taking a little bit to get into this book, the was over all a fun, quick read for me. We get to learn the extent of Gemma's powers, and I most appreciated watching how these characters developed over the course of the three books.

Ah this ending of this 2nd series in a trilogy of three was a delightful as ever. The imagery and the descriptions of everything was great. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to the next. It's the same story idea but overall very different on the countries and traditions.

Eagerly wait for the next one.

This was an enjoyable conclusion to the series, wrapping up pretty much everything but leaving the door open for a spin off trilogy. If you liked the first two books, then you’ll enjoy this one. I wouldn’t consider this an amazing series, but it’s a fun light read for fans of fantasy romance.

Conquer the Kingdom is the conclusion to the Gargoyle Queen series. I enjoyed how this all came together. We learn what Gemma can really do with her powers. That was something that she never really knew the extent of in the books leading up to this one.

I like that even though she was a very powerful person, she didn't come out on top in every battle. She had to fight hard every step of the way and it really showed how much she cared about keeping everyone safe from the clutches of Milo. She was always willing to sacrifice herself for the better good. What more can you ask of a future queen?

Leo was a great match for Gemma. He was from the "enemy" family so this made it a bit like Romeo and Juliet. Despite being around such cruelty, he and his sister were very good people and you saw that throughout the series. He was very protective of his family even knowing they didn't always do good things. He loved Gemma and wanted to protect her as well and it was believable.

Now their mother was a different story. Talk about a complex character. She had good and bad in her and I still don't really know how I feel about her. I think I kind of like that. It also showed how two of her three children could grow up to be decent people.

The Gargoyles and the Stryxes were cool and unique touches to the story. I enjoyed the part they played in this fantasy series and made it feel original. Overall a really good series to dive into.

4.25 Stars 🌟

This is the last installment (or at least the final book) in this trilogy. We have been watching as Gemma is trying to prepare to defend her kingdom from the evil Prince Milo Morricone. If you have read the first two books in this series (which you really should have) we have seen Gemma grow in strength and character as she has been pitted against the Morricone family.

This book starts from the ending of the last book and has lots of action, quite a bit of drama and a couple of sexy times with Leo. But... there is still the evil prince trying to kill her. We also get to see why this series is titled "The Gargoyle Queen" series. All in all, it was a really nice ending to this story arc.

I like this world that Ms. Estep has created and the door is left wide open for more shenanigans to occur...(I'm looking at you Delmira...)

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

One of the best books in the entire series! I love seeing more of Gemma and Leonidas's relationship. I'm always so intrigued by the plots Jennifer Estep comes up with. She's a favorite author of mine and for good reason: she makes realistic characters and interesting plots. I know this is a spin-off series, but I don't want it to end! If it does, I hope she invents another one!

I am really bummed to see this come to an end...even if there will be more in this world. Like with all of Estep's works, I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning to the very satisfying conclusion. Loved Leonides and will really miss him...swoon. The whole series was a fantastic roller coaster ride that I will ride again (read again) soon.