“Princesses were born to be pawns in their parent’s political ambitions. They didn’t get to marry according to their own desires.”

Katherine McGee creates a fictional interpretation of the historical royal personalities; May of Teck, Alix of Hesse, and Hélène d’Orléans. As these young royal blooded woman come of age they are forced to navigate the world of political machinations they were born into. A system that is based not on the desires of the heart but on the political positioning that a marriage can achieve. To navigate it all they would have to be cunning… “To listen at keyholes and bribe servants and hide her intentions behind a demure smile.” A Queen’s Game is the fictional retelling of events during the glittering Victorian Era, leading to the marriage of the future King George."
Alix of Hesse

“How was anyone supposed to know the truth about another person when society forbade you from revealing your true self?”

Told from the point of view of each of the three women, A Queen’s Game is a fascinating look inside a world where women were held to a strict code of behavior and decorum. A time where the thoughts, feelings, and desires of women were disregarded for the power and political status that could be obtained through a marriage alliance. Mary, Alix and Hélène each have different forces and circumstances that are motivating their choices and different personalities to carry them out. I was pleased with how Katharine gave us such depth with each character which allowed me to think differently about each, than I otherwise would have, had I only judged them based on their actions. While I know the outcome of their lives based on history, I still found it fascinating the backstory Katharine chose to create for each young woman.

I found A Queen’s Game to be a richly created and well written story that all ages will enjoy. It is so much more than a history retelling with its personal insights, palace intrigue, and interpersonal drama. Katharine’s writing transports you to a time and place of opulence and wealth, where the fashion and etiquette were over the top, with a story that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. But, A Queen’s Game does not conclude Mary, Alix and Hélène’s story as Katharine leaves us with the ending to their relationships still to come. I’m looking forward to reading it when it comes out.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

This author has delivered another wonderful royal themed story. It was a little slow at first but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. If you enjoyed the American Royals series you will definitely enjoy this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The tone of the novel kept it modern and easy to read, even though its setting is historic and formal. And all the drama. I kind of felt like I was watching a season of gossip girl.

Didn’t understand the character of Helene, if we’re going with the gossip girl comparison, she would be Serena. First she’s in love with the stable guy then jk she’s in love with Eddy. She also seems to be a bit of a man hater while also wanting to prove how she’s better than all other women. She doesn’t seem to have any motivations and is just floating through life. whereas the other characters I understand. Alix is conflicted because she’s shy and introverted and isn’t sure how she feels about Eddy. Plus she starts having feelings for someone else. May’s actions stem from her desperation. Helene just kind of seems to be there. Agnes is a side character but I totally love her. She really fits the gossip girl feeling of the story and helps to fuel the drama, the way she searches out everyone’s secrets to manipulate them.

As someone who is interested in the history of the Romanovs, I did appreciate the comments that hinted at the coming Russian revolution.

Because it’s based on history, do I know what happens next? Yes. Am I also desperate for the sequel? Also yes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book, which was historical fiction at its best! I loved seeing all these real figures from history and how their stories could have played out together. While we'll never know exactly what happened and what the conversations and relationships exactly were at that time, it was such a great story and it kept me enthralled. I can't wait for the sequel!

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.

It will be a wonderful conclusion to see how the author sees history playing out through their stories!

NO NOTES. Katharine McGee has done it again. I absolutely loved every second of this royal family filled drama. I can't wait for the next book!

Katharine McGee takes an exciting and fun twist on her usual royals' romance, but with a competitive twist this time. Loved it!

This felt really slow for a long time - but when it picked up I was hooked and was doing all kinds of research about the real characters. It definitely felt like reading American Royals, just the historical version!

Katherine McGee certainly has found her niche - and my students are all for it. The girls, especially, love the romance but the added bonus of characters being of a monarchy gives everything that fairy tale vibe that they adore and is very nostalgic for them. I’ll certainly add this book to my classroom bookshelf!

I absolutely love Katharine McGee’s books. This one had realistic plot roots and so I enjoyed learning more about a history I wasn’t aware of. This wasn’t my favorite of her’s but still enjoyed it.

I just realized I forgot to post my review here even though I read this wonderful book at the end of 2024.

So, this is a historical romance with some enticing fictional details blended in that made for a fun and entertaining read that kept me clicking the pages on my kindle until late at night. I really did enjoy the way the author took true historical personalities and introduced some fictitious embellishments to make the story a bit more dramatic and readable.

Due to the little thing called a cliffhanger at the end of this book, I'm eagerly awaiting the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy.

I loved American Royals so I was so excited when I heard about this book! I ended up really enjoying it. It was dramatic and engaging. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC!

Cute story. I love this author and her royal stories always entertain. Once this released I had to get a hard copy to put on my shelf the rest of her books.

From the author of American Royals, this book follows three young Victorian-era society women vying for the attention of two future kings. They all have so much to overcome (status, religion, society, expectations, etc.) and it’s a story of romance, intrigue, and scheming as all of the girls’ plans fall apart. This quick little YA historical fiction is a fun, fast read, and I enjoyed it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for my copy! ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️
This was an interesting historical fiction book about some of Queen Victoria’s grandchildren, who were real historical figures. According to the afterword by the author, lots of the characters and situations were real, and I enjoyed the glimpse into the late Victorian era court life. It did lean a little YA though, with the 3 princesses only concerned with manipulating the men around them and the insta live that they all seemed to experience. But it was a good blend of historical and fiction, and if you enjoy reading about royals, you’ll enjoy this one.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Katharine McGee and am over the moon to have a new series— with more royals!— to swoon over! The plot was fun and had the perfect amount of romantic angst! Love!!!

A Queen's Game by Katharine McGee is a captivating historical romance that transports readers to the opulent courts of Victorian Europe. The story follows three young princesses—Alix of Hesse, Hélène d’Orléans, and May of Teck—as they navigate love, duty, and ambition against the backdrop of royal politics. McGee's rich characterization and atmospheric storytelling create an immersive reading experience, blending real historical events with fictional elements seamlessly. The pacing is excellent, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. While some political machinations might feel overwhelming, the complex, flawed characters and vivid historical detail make this book a delightful read. Overall, it's a well-crafted tale that fans of royal romances will thoroughly enjoy.

McGee's A Queen's Game? More like A Queen's GRIP on my attention! Royal intrigue, scandalous secrets, and enough twists to make your tiara spin. I devoured it and now I'm desperately refreshing the page for the next installment. Consider me royally obsessed. Five out of five crowns! 👑👑👑👑👑

I really wanted to like this one. But at 22% in I could not keep the characters straight and just could not care less what was happening. I loved the American Royals series so I had high hopes for this but it’s a DNF for me. There wasn’t anything bad, per se, I was just bored.

I haven’t read a historical fiction in a minute, and this was a great one to end the slump with! I had read some of the American Royal’s series and was really interested in the slight change in genre. I think it really did deliver. I finished this book within a couple of days, and immediately looked to see when the sequel would be published. I had some historical context to Alix of Hesse but not of Helene and May, so it was interesting reading about all of them. I couldn’t tell you how historically close it is, but I’m not a stickler when it comes to fiction. I would say it is a little mature for young adult, because it has some closed door scenes. My favorite storyline was Helene’s, she and Eddy are star-crossed lovers that cannot marry due to their families religious and political status. It of course leaves off a cliffhanger, but I’m excited to read the next one! I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.