A strong beginning with the fmc’s love and the mmc’s brother dying. It really open up for a lot to happened and I was very excited to see where the storyline were going! Like the aspect of the mmc being in a wheelchair and having a cruse on him!

The beginning and the ending where the stinger parts of the book. Stuff happened in the middle but felt there could have been more burning in this ”slow burn”, more tension and more overall connection.

I miss some depth with the characters to truly connect with them. The mmc had a truly hard time with his curse and I wish the book had brought that up more in-depth to really connect with him. Same with the fmc’s hardships.

Overall a good book with an interesting curse and a strong beginning!

But the strong could fall... Even kings

ˋ° *⁀➷ Rating: 3/5 ✰

Queen of Shifting Sands is a rich and vibrant desert romance with absolutely gorgeous flowery writing; unfortunately, the character dynamics were a bit on the weak side, making this a bit difficult to get fully invested in. I'm not a fan of miscommunication/lack of communication in books, so my opinion is heavily based on having that particular issue with this. I think both main characters were pretty decent on their own though, and the world/magic system (especially the curse) were all so incredibly fascinating. Even though it's been a little while since I read this, I can still vividly picture some of the scenes and creatures in my mind, which is definitely due to the author's incredible writing and planning.

This definitely wasn't bad, I just didn't enjoy certain dynamics and wish there was a little more to the book in general.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own and not sponsored in any way

I thought the book was interesting and a brand new topic. It is rare to see fantasy books that are different than the rest and this one was truly different and was a fresh take on fantasy.

The premise honestly had a lot of potential and the title really drew me in, but the story just didn’t pull me deep enough to stay hooked. The pacing felt too dragged out for my taste, and the characters didn’t leave much of an impression. I struggled to connect with them. After a while, I found my interest fading and couldn’t bring myself to finish it. Maybe it’ll hit differently another time, but right now, it just didn’t work for me. That said, it might still resonate better with readers who enjoy a slower, more subtle build-up.

the ideas were great, but the execution just wasn't it. I don't think I'm a fan of the way Carter Brown writes, but this story had a lot of promise.

Full of twists and turns that kept me completely hooked! The worldbuilding is so great and I felt fully immersed. The characters are distinct and well fleshed out. I'll have to go read the prequel novella because I can't wait for the next book!

This is the first book from a series.from the very beginning, the characters and the plot has captured my attention. I read this in one sitting. Easy read.
There is romance and it wasn’t a slow burn. While they both shared grief, but felt out of place. I wished the author wrote made it more of an actual slow burn. I needed both MMC and fmc’s understanding for each other and a bonding that is not based on romance. I enjoyed the fact that there is a disabled hero(please don’t think this the wrong way). I meant that, whenever I read about a MMC, the authors always him with a strong physique.
Anyways, there were times the timeline in the plot was confusing and inconsistent. I am definitely going to pick up the second book. Especially with the cursed.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I absolutely loved the unique concept and world building. There was a lot going on, but none of it was too much or confusing. The story does end on a cliffhanger and absolutely nothing was resolved, so the next book will be one to look forward to!

Queen of Shifting Sands is an enchanting blend of romance, intrigue, and desert adventure. Lystra’s strength and Elerek’s vulnerability make for a captivating slow-burn romance as they fight to save their kingdom. With vivid world-building and high-stakes tension, this story is perfect for fans of heartfelt fantasy with strong characters. Highly recommend!

This was my first book by this author and im happy to report it will not be my last! I loved the characters and the world building. I really enjoyed the vibes and the atmosphere that everything was set up. Im excited to read more from Ms Kaitlyn!

I was incredibly invested through the first 2/3 of this book. The characters are engaging, the worldbuilding was fabulous. Unfortunately, the last third was a bit clunky. So much happened so quickly and none of the arcs were completed. I understand the need for cliffhangers in stories but you need to have some resolution. The pacing also changed a lot in the last third, going significantly faster. Which is neither bad nor good by itself, but in this, it felt like some of the reveals weren't fully explained. Overall, it was a fun read if you like desert fantasy, but not my favorite.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the digital copy of in exchange for an honest review!

There's something about middle-eastern fantasy books set in vast desert feels magical to me, and this book just completed the list. It has complex plot heavy with magical element, political intrigue, and emotional aspects such as grief, revenge, and betrayal that succeeded in tearing my heart apart throughout the book. Even so, there's way too much misunderstanding between the characters and sometimes i find they behaved kinda ridiculous. Maybe it's part of the character development (i hope so) but still it's too much to my liking.

With a flowery writing, it's a suitable magical romantasy you would want to add to your next read. I'm excited for the sequel!

This books was so good. It was such a unique concept. The characters are larger than life. I can't wait to read more from this author

This book is fantastical and delivers incredible worldbuilding. Aside from that, this book has some strong characters that have a strong desire to safe their kingdom. There was some great disability rep. The love was a bit too instant-y, especially as it is stated that the FMC really loved her deceased husband but overall, solid book.

So sorry for the late review! Apparently my original feedback never was sent in!
I really enjoyed this book full of magic, action, political intrigue and romance! The characters were well written and likeable. I love dessert/ Middle Eastern inspired fantasies and this one was great! I can't wait to continue the series when the next book comes out!

Book review 📚
Queen of Shifting Sands by Kaitlyn Carter Brown
⭐⭐⭐


Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. I gave it a good go and got to 60% hoping if I gave it a chance then the book would come to life. It was just too slow for me to get into and had some strong predictability to it. Had I of been left wondering I would have been able to finish.

This one was not my cup of tea. Too much fantasy for me to really enjoy. Great for anyone who likes historical fantasy.

I was pleasantly surprised by this story. When I found out that it was only the first book and I would have to find the next book to see what happens, I was a little disappointed.

The story begins as if the reader is already acclimatized to the world we are about to enter. The scene is set with war in the offing. There are a lot of politics in play and the biggest one comes with the death of the King. The title was given to a man set to unite the different houses under a benevolent rule. With him dead, the hidden brother takes centre stage.

The sands and the kingdom itself are heavily described. This feels like a positive thing, given the magic that is present within. There’s a curse that flows behind the story, one that moves by touch. There are secrets that seem a little more obvious to us as readers than the people in the story, but some of them are revealed during the course of this book.

The ending is a sort of cliff hanger, so I would actually recommend picking this up only if the next is nearby or if you don’t mind a wait.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

The desert area was such a refreshing world to be a part of! It was quite slow in places but the banter and slow burn romance got me hooked by the end