This was a highly anticipated read for me because I love love love the American Royals series and the Thousandth Floor series. And this did not disappoint. It is the historical romance of 3 women, all different levels of royalty, living in a time where their sole purpose is to marry someone of a similar or higher level of royalty. We had British, French, even Russian royalty and a brash American trying to crash into it all. And everyone seemed to be cousins. It was a little detail heavy as the whole cast of characters had to be introduced and the fake world created but it had all of the intricate details, drama, and snark as her other books. I want a look inside her brain because she has an uncanny ability to create entire fictional worlds that feel so real. This one ends on a cliffhanger so we know there will be more. I already can’t wait.

Katharine McGee dazzles again in A Queen's Game! This book swept me into the glamorous world of 19th-century Europe, where love, power, and courtly intrigue collide. The three princesses—Alix, Hélène, and May—are relatable, each bringing their unique charm (and drama!) to the story. 😍
McGee’s knack for weaving historical details into a page-turning plot is spot on. I found myself rooting for these women as they navigated romance and rivalry. 💃👑, Keeping track of all of the characters was a bit tricky at times, though. A family tree in the back would’ve been awesome. 🗺️
If you loved the American Royals series like I did, you’ll adore this book. It’s a perfect mix of historical fiction and fun. Can’t wait to see what McGee writes next!

I'm not a historical fiction reader but when Katharine McGee announced she was writing a book based on true events in Victorian-era England I knew I was going to read it anyway! That being said, I think all of you ladies who love historical fiction should pick this up! But I'm a prime example of someone who loved the book even though it's not my genre.

I'm so impressed by the care and research it must have taken to take these true events and create this story. I really enjoyed the story and how the narrator Imogen Wilde brought it to life with so many different accents.

Honestly, don't read the Goodreads blurb because I think it gives away too much of the story. And Katharine herself says don't Google the characters unless you want to spoil the ending.

Here's what you need to know: "A Queen’s Game recounts a pivotal moment in real history through the eyes of three young women whose lives, and loves, changed it forever."

The author's note was really fun to read and I think you should read it before starting the book.

I'm such a Katharine McGee fan and I read both of her other series when I first got into reading in 2021. I recommend all of them as four-star, young adult series.

Thanks to NetGalley and PRH Audio for the arc/alc.

I chose this book because I enjoyed the American Royals series by Katharine McGee. With that being said, while I enjoyed this book, I don't think this book was as enjoyable as the American Royals series. It should also be noted that this book is loosely based on real European royal families as opposed to fictional royal families like in Katharine McGee's other books.

With that being said, I don't think this was a bad book in any way, I just think I prefer the American Royals series compared to this book.

I have to admit, I was really excited about this book when I first picked it up. I love historical fiction and this one promised a glimpse into the lives of three fascinating royal women—Alix of Hesse, Hélène d’Orléans, and May of Teck—each on their own quest for love and power in the last glittering years of European empires. I didn’t realize these characters were based on real people at first, but once I did, I appreciated how McGee balanced historical accuracy with creative fiction, bringing these women’s stories to life.

The setting and plot were definitely engaging, with lush descriptions of everything from royal ballrooms to Scottish landscapes. Alix’s forbidden love, Hélène’s rebellious nature, and May’s struggle to marry into royalty kept me hooked. I loved the historical drama and the way McGee weaved these women’s fates together.

That said, I found the portrayal of the women a bit frustrating at times. They often came across as manipulative and overly focused on their romantic pursuits, which felt a little one-dimensional. I was hoping for more depth in their personalities and motivations. Instead of feeling empowered or complex, they seemed defined by their relationships with men, which left me wanting more.

Despite these issues, I’m still curious about the sequel, especially with the real-life connections to George and Mary of Teck. Overall, it was fun and dramatic read, but I’m hoping the next book will offer a bit more character depth and emotional complexity.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Despite having some very strong negative feelings about certain aspects of this, I don’t feel like I completely wasted my time. It was a page turner and right up my alley.

My biggest gripe was character development and with one character in particular- May. May was the least compelling protagonist I’ve ever met. Agnes would have been a more interesting POV because May radiated side character energy. I had hoped to see more character development from May- she had the potential for it!- but it wasn’t until the very end that a shift occurred. I’m sure McGee’s plan is to expand on May’s character in the sequel but the hook to read the sequel isn’t there with what we have.

Which brings me to my second gripe- this is a series! Nothing in the description or on Goodreads led me to believe that this wasn’t a standalone. I read the American Royals series and loved the first, but it went downhill in all the continuations. I was interested in this book because I thought I could escape the McGee sequel curse.

All in all, I didn’t hate it but I wish some things were different.

I really enjoyed this book. The authors writing reminded me of her American Royals series. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars was due to ending. I was hoping for more of a wrap up to the story. It felt like going up a roller coaster and never coming down. I’m hopefully the next books give the characters more direction.

I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I enjoyed the American Royals series, but perhaps because the plot and characters here are rooted in real events, everything felt pretty flat, and I didn't feel any tension to the plot. I didn't get any real sense of time and place from the writing, so it didn't *feel* like historical fiction to me.

I had high expectations for this one. A Queen’s Game by Katharine McGee is a YA historical romance written in the same style as the author’s American Royals series. Following three famous women in European history, the story unfolds as they all have the chance to be the next Queen of England. The author took several liberties with history, shifting the timeline slightly to get them all together. However, a lot of what occurs in the book is documented in journals, letters, and the history books. I won’t cover the history in this review as it is a quick Google search away, instead I’ll focus on what occurs in the book.

Alix of Hesse is Queen Victoria’s favorite granddaughter and her pick for the wife of the future king. However, Alix is hesitant. She has an “ailment,” as she calls it, that causes her to have panic attacks. These started after the death of her younger brother who had the “bleeding disease.” Alix believes that no one would want her, not as a wife and certainly not as Queen, and she wants what her grandparents shared: a marriage of love. Love is not what she shares with Eddy, that’s more like sisterly affection.

Hélène d’Orléans is the daughter of the exiled King of France and the one who holds Prince Eddy’s heart. She’s bold, unlike the proper English women of the day. Hélène doesn’t care what others think of her. She stays true to herself.

May of Teck is yet another granddaughter of Queen Victoria, but she isn’t a favorite. Instead she lives on the fringes of their world, always vying for attention, but never receiving it. Her family is near destitute having blown her mother’s dowry, and her father is borderline abusive. May’s only chance to prove her worth is to marry a prince, and not just any prince but the future king.

All three women in this story revolve around Prince Eddy, but only one truly cares for him. I liked how the story unfolds over the course of a year and follows the different perspectives of Alix, Hélène, and May. However, this book fell flat for me. It didn’t hold my attention like American Royals, and I found myself skimming more than truly reading. The author does a flawless job of blending history and fiction, only those well versed in European history would note the differences. Despite that, the political intrigue surrounding the future king and the romances weren’t enough to carry the book.

Overall, A Queen’s Game was an ok read for me. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it. It was more a lukewarm read for me, like I could take it or leave it. If you are a fan of historical fictions or love McGee’s writing, I suggest you check it out for yourself.

Audiobook Note: I opted to listen to an advanced listening copy after attempting to read my ARC, and I’m glad I did for several reasons, the main one being Imogen Wilde. She is a fantastic narrator. Her subtle voice changes make it easy to figure out whose perspective the chapter is from. She breathed life into the story. Highly recommend it for audiobook lovers!

I absolutely adored Katharine McGee's previous YA revisionist history series, so I was super excited to dip into A QUEEN'S GAME. Needless to say, we have another hit! This is a great introduction for people looking to get into historical fiction.

I loved Katharine McGee's American Royals series, and this book has her signature writing style. I enjoyed the different, historical setting compared to present day America. I didn't realize until the end that these are all historical women. I appreciate that she stayed true-ish to their story and timeline while putting it in more of a current writing style.

The main thing keeping me from giving it a 5-star review is that it ended very abruptly. I wish she would have said this was a series or closed the book on more of an ending point.

A Queen's Game by Katharine McGee sucked me in right away.
This was such a fun book.
I’ve enjoyed her previous titles and her newest one is no different.
I love the world building and character development, and I love love love devouring her writing.

A Queen's Game is a historical fiction following three women who are in the market for a husband. Queen Victoria is ready for the heir to the throne, Prince Edward, to settle down and find a wife. Alix, her favorite granddaughter, is her choice. But Alix has a secret that she thinks would keep her from being a good queen and dreams of marrying for love. She finds the prince of her dreams but it isn't her cousin. May, another cousin, wants to marry so she can get out of her father's house and away from his hateful personality. They are frequently forgotten during royal/family events as her parents blew their money and May knows she has to be a bit conniving to catch the favor of a higher ranking family, especially as she has to make over old dresses to rewear. Helene's a princess without a throne as her family was exiled from France. She enjoys the freedom of not having to be caught up in all of the pomp and circumstance of having royal obligations.

I loved the American Royals series so I was excited to see that McGee had another book out focusing on royals. This is more spicy than the AR series but not fully open door - door partially open would be a better description. This book took longer for me to get into than AR, but I really enjoyed it once I did. It does end on a cliffhanger, which I was not prepared for but now I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Three young courtiers determined to find their fortune set their sights on the highest royal in the land. As they scheme against one another, work with each other, and try to navigate the challenges of being at court, the women will discover that the best course of action may be the most unexpected. Author Katharine McGee, well known for her American Royals books, comes back with a novel full of historical whimsy but only somewhat compelling in A Queen’s Game.

May of Teck knows one thing: if she can marry up, she can definitely get out of her wretched household. The problem is that May isn’t exactly the most desirable young woman on the fringes of Queen Victoria’s court in 19th-century England. She does have some royal ties, yes, but they’re almost tangential. Add to that the fact that her father is an absolute boor, a drunkard, and known to be loose with coin, and May’s marriage prospects are practically doomed.

She does have experience at court, though, and May knows that if she can catch the eye of the crown prince, Edward, she’ll be set for life. But Edward doesn’t seem to want to settle down for anyone. He’s too busy enjoying all the women at his disposal.

One of these women is Alix of Hesse. Fair and favored by Queen Victoria to marry Edward, Alix is practically squirming under her grandmother’s attention. Everyone assumes Alix and Edward will be the future king and queen, but Alix doesn’t want to marry for convention or even convenience. She wants to marry for love.

Helene d’Orleans loves the idea of love too, but she doesn’t like the confines of her station in life. A princess in exile, Helene’s father was the king of France until France kicked him out. The d’Orleans family returned to their cousins in England where they’ve been given safe harbor, but life in England is stuffy and uncomfortable. Everyone has all these rules about the way a princess should behave, and Helene is determined to break every single one.

May will do what she can to get into Edward’s good graces and, if need be, his heart. Alix wishes with all her might that she could follow where her gaze has recently landed, even if it’s on a foreign royal. Helene finds herself meeting Edward and, at first, being amused by him but then discovering that amusement turning to affection. The question of queen is on the line for all three young women, and so is the question of who will be the one to help Edward go from lover boy to family man.

Author Katharine McGee’s book rings with authenticity. The author has clearly done her research and leaned into it for this novel, which details the life and adventures of three real-life young royals as they maneuvered and manipulated their way onto the throne. McGee’s masterful writing will make it hard for even the most astute readers to distinguish where historical fact leaves off and creative license begins.

It’s unclear, however, how much these three women mingled or interacted in real life, and McGee’s caution in this regard makes for a novel that feels more like three separate stories that happen to intersect on occasion instead of being essential to one another. Readers will, no doubt, choose their favorite of the three and be more interested in her particular story than in that of the others. The result is a book that offers a collection of tales rather than a cohesive novel. McGee orchestrates occasional meetings between the three women, but the sense comes that the book would have proceeded in exactly the same way even without these meetings.

Fans of McGee’s previous work will certainly enjoy this, however, and anyone with any kind of Anglican fascination will certainly want to check it out.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. The American Royals is one of my favorite series, so I was so excited to get my hands on this. And I loved it. It's historical fiction and three real woman. It was an easy read that I loved.

This book was fun...but felt exactly like American Royals. All the characters had different stories and motivations which made it interesting but I have to admit that the characters weren't my favorite :((((

overall, an enjoyable book!!

I was so excited to hear about this book as I adored the American Royals series by Katharine McGee! This was a fantastic historical fiction telling of what I figured out were all real people.

At first, I didn’t realize these were are real historical figures. I love the Romanov family and a few chapters in realized Alix was Alexandra Romanov, which led me to research the others and I was shocked to learn who May was. I hadn’t ever heard of Helene before or heard of Albert referred to as Eddy. This was an adorable story overall, but I do wish some dates had been added in to reference the year that the events took place in, since the book seems to span 1-2 years. I am very much looking forward to reading the 2nd book, even knowing where the characters ended up in history.

Thank you to Random House, Katharine McGee and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was so fun! I really enjoyed this YA historical fiction retelling full of Victorian era royal drama and love. And then imagine my surprise when I learned these characters are based on real historical figures from this time period! Do yourself a favor and don’t Google them like I did…although I’m looking forward to the next book despite knowing how everything turns out!

Pub Date: 11/12/24
Review Published: 11/12/24
eARC received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Katharine McGee has done it again! I absolutely love every single book she has written. This book was amazing! The characters, the history, the setting…it was incredible! I follow Katharine on social media and it was fun to see a post about the real historical men the two kings were based on. This was a great read.

This was an interesting read. To have the historical figures, Alix, Helene, & May, as the lead characters and see their stories intertwined & unfold was intriguing. Knowing what happens to these women also makes it an interesting read as well. I need another book to see where they go from here.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy, & I give my review freely