This book was a slow start for me at first. It seemed a bit disjointed and I couldn't really tell where it was going. Around the 15% mark it started to become clear to me and I got really into how all three of their lives, Alix, May, and Helene were intertwined. And since they're all real people in a fictional story, I did look them up on Wikipedia. Mostly because I was worried Alix wouldn't end up with Nicholas, which in real like she did, so fingers crossed she does in Book 2.

I also liked watching the influence Agnes started to have on May, from May feeling like an outcast, finding someone who preyed on that and lavished her with attention and gifts, and see her break her morals once, and then try to go back. But Agnes then sent that horrific letter to Helene and just obliterated Helene's life.

The character development was 10/10, I was really invested in all characters and the fact that all the cousins marry each other, which would not happen today. I could tell Katharine McGee did her research and really immersed herself in the world to write a really compelling and great fictional book.

Can't wait to read more!!

I chose this book because I have enjoyed McGee's other books. Good character building, believable events, enough twists to keep you guessing. However I was really annoyed at the cliff hanger, I don't usually like them anyway but this one was pretty irritating. There was also a scene with two characters sharing a saddle and unless English saddles are really different that is just not possible for two adults. Overall good book.

Twice now, Katherine McGee’s books have found me and helped me while I was struggling with a deep depression; first, I read and loved the American Royals series during a difficult time last year. Then, while struggling with my mental health this past week, I was thrilled to receive an e-ARC of A Queen’s Game. It could not have come at a better time and I am so grateful to NetGalley and Random House for an opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review!

This book is an easy five stars for me. I loved the clearly well-researched look at royal life and McGee’s pivot to historical fiction. These are historical figures about whom I know nothing so I was and am excited to learn their stories!

I am most impressed by how each of the main characters has her own unique voice. Even if the chapters weren’t labeled, I’d be able to tell whose point-of-view we were following. All three women are strong, intelligent, and vulnerable, but they all embody these characteristics in their own way.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given what I’ve just written about my own struggles with mental health, I really appreciated the way Alix’s “condition” (what seems to be what we now call panic attacks) was handled with care, if not by all of the characters in the book (but by some!), than by the author herself.

Finally (and caution: this may be a spoiler!) I didn’t realize this was going to be a series! I thought it was a standalone. To say I’m excited that this is going to be a series is an understatement!

Thank you to Random House Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In Victorian England, three teenage princesses and granddaughters of Queen Victoria, are on the marriage market (think the ball season on Bridgerton) for a prince. Alix of Hesse is Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter and wants her to marry Prince Eddy, heir to the throne but Alix desires someone else. May of Teck is desperate to leave her abusive parents’ home and sees Eddy as her way out. The there’s Hélène d’Orléans, daughter of the exiled king of France, who unexpectedly falls for Eddy but there are complications.
I have not read the American Royals series so I cannot compare it to that. However, I did enjoy it right up to the last few pages when I realized this was going to be book 1 in a series. I give this YA entry 4 stars.
#AQueensGame #NetGalley

This was a cute book, however it felt incomplete. I love the idea of the book and the characters, but I was looking for more. I would read a second book.

I was a reluctant reader of McGee's American Royals series when it started. The alternate history of a Washington monarchy was just silly to me. Boy, did she win me over! After finishing that series, I was super excited to see McGee visiting real historical figures and their intrigues. I liked it enough to continue the series if there are more installments. I don't think it's fair to compare this to AR, so I will just say that they have a similar vibe and I hope to grow to love this series as much as I love that one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

As a fan of McGee's American Royals series, I was so excited to read this! It is an engaging, historical fiction romance with plenty of appeal for teen readers who enjoy the fanciness and drama of Bridgerton. Based on the ending, I"m guessing this is book #1 in a series and I can only hope that all the princesses wind up with the ones they love. While I did not love this quite as much as American Royals, I do think it will appeal to teen readers who enjoy the genre!

If half-stars were possible, I'd rate this 3.5.

Nobody does royal stories like Katharine McGee! I loved this just as much as the American Royals series. I love historical fiction, especially when the characters are this well-written!

Didn't love this as much as the American Royals books, but fun to enter another period and continent with Katharine McGee. A Queen's Game appears to be setting the stage for another series, so there is a decent amount of time spent introducing the large cast of characters and world-building. Will probably read future novels in the series.

As a huge fan of the American Royals series, I immediately knew I'd want to read A Queen's Game. The book was good, but isn't quite up to American Royals status. There were times when I was a bit lost with the characters and the whole cousins courting thing was a bit strange to me and had me wondering if I were already lost right at the beginning!

I loved McGee’s American Royals series, but this one just wasn’t for me. Her writing is always top notch and this book is perfect for a teen if they are into the royal families of the 1800s, I just kept comparing it to AR and I got lost more than once… maybe once the next two books are out this one will be better? Give me a family tree somewhere and this instantly goes up to a 4 star.

Katharine McGee could write a grocery list and I would read it. Seriously. I love her work, I love the world building and character development, and I love love love devouring her writing.

Bravo, bravo, bravo!! Katharine McGee has done it again and I for one can not wait until this comes out in print. I absolutely loved the Royals series (as did my students) and I know this series will be a hit as well. I loved the three princesses perspectives and hearing their story. This is Bridgerton meets YA readers in the best possible way. I did not know this book was a series until later on as I was reading and I for one can not wait until book 2 comes out. I found myself rooting for some princesses more than others and I can not wait to see where this series goes next. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy. I know my students will love this!! I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Incredibly fun read and based on historical events! The switches between three POVs kept things fresh and gave insight into all the characters. I didn’t appreciate the ways women were presented as quite so manipulative and conniving. Ultimately, I didn’t find any of the main characters sympathetic at the end. Perhaps if there is more to come they’ll redeem themselves?

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of A Queen's Game. Though I am a fan of the American Royals series and Bridgerton, and though I did enjoy most of A Queen's Game, historical romance just isn't a category that my students check out often enough to make this an automatic purchase for me, and it wasn't great enough to make me want to try to hand sell it.

A Queen's Game also has multiple perspectives, which my more casual readers tend to avoid. I can get by with recommending some in this vein, but I didn't feel there was enough balance between the perspectives. There was one perspective I found myself skimming in order to get to the one I was more interested in.

Overall, I didn't dislike A Queen's Game. As an adult, I enjoyed most of it. I don't think my teen readers will be searching for it, which makes me reluctant to purchase right away. On the other hand, if a student came to me asking for historical romance, I wouldn't hesitate to suggest this one in partnership with our public library!

It's been a LONG time since I've been so upset/angry/emotional at the end of a book.

By itself, totally fine ending. BUT, I had no idea this was the start of the series. So, not only am I hanging off the ledge of a giant cliffhanger, I was also stressed at the 95% mark because everything was falling apart. I should've known...

What I'm really upset about, though, is history. I think most people will Google these characters that are based on real-life royals, but in case you don't... Eddy dies in real life! Young! Of pneumonia! Will that happen in the books, too? I hope not! But yes, here I am, upset about something that happened 130+ years ago. Such is the life of a historical fiction reader...

Thought the book started out a bit slowly, but by about 30% I was invested and into it. Such cute little love stories wrapped up into a historical setting. But c'mon, PLEASE EDDY!

If you were a fan of American Royals know that this is, of course, quite different and yet, McGee is excellent at building court intrigue and her characters are wonderful! I love that this is rooted in true historical events/characters. It makes for an exciting premise! I'm very excited for this series.

I adored this book. I love this whole premise and royalty book tropes are my fav. I thought the character development was good. This book was the perfect escape for me to read during a busy time of my life and I am so grateful I got to!

You won’t want to wait until November to pre-order this one!

I just dove into A Queen’s Game, the latest series from Katharine McGee, and I’m thrilled to say she’s done it again. If you loved American Royals, get ready to be swept off your feet—this time with a royal twist set in merry old England.

Three princesses, all under pressure to find the perfect husband, but each with their own game to play. A must-read for anyone who loves a good royal romance. This series is going to have your pre-teen and teen readers absolutely swooning!

loved this mystery and keeping secrets and the different point of views. Also loved trying to figure out who did it . I enjoyed the mystery behind it. loved the romance