Read if: you want to read a zombie book but the zombie are scary fae or you want a book with great lyrical writing that will break your heart

I think this book might take a while to kick in for some people but once it gets you, you wont be able to stop reading. This book was pure heartfelt sci fi/fantasy with a dash of horror and I loved it. The horror parts especially stuck with me throughout the book.

The premise of, and world building in, this book is so interesting. The set up and the academic articles throughout the book gave me just enough information to understand and appreciate the rules and logic of this world but not so much that I got stuck in it.

You sit with the characters and their ordinary life long enough to fall in love with them, and then before you get complacent, the book kicks into action and horror sequences making you wish you were back in the slice of life chapters where everyone was happy and safe.

I do wish there was more of an answer as to why the Harbours were created and more digging in to the conspiracies surrounding their creation - but they may have also felt out of place in a book that was ultimately about one family in this world, and not about the world itself. I'm just nosy, but in this case I'm perfectly happy to sacrifice those answers for the story this book focuses on. I'd also happily read another book set in this world that maybe goes into those aspects a bit more

I care about Cal, Evangeline, Winnie, and their loyal dog Tennyson so much and the ending of this book made me cry. If you love am urban sci fi/fantasy book with horror elements and a cast of characters who would go to the ends of the earth for each other, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A lot about this book is very promising, but ultimately Johnson overexplains to the narrative’s detriment. There’s plenty that could be considered a twist or a surprise if it was embedded— instead, we’re met with a lot of exposition. I would encourage the author and editor to have a little more faith in the reader, and to edit down ALL of that exposition.

I did liked this book
Is a fantasy with a storyline different from the other books out there. The story follows grief and parental devotion combined with it darks plot

Rating 3.5 Rounded up

This was nothing like any Fae novel I have read before. This is more magical realism based in modern times with an elaborate magical system in place to protect humans from evil Fae. This story is so unique and interesting. There is a lot of detail given, a lot. Into the characters and their role but even still sometimes I felt a bit confused on who was vital to the story and why. It felt choppy in some places but after going back and reviewing I was able to figure it out.

I appreciated the world building. Setting up the story so the reader knew how and why the Fencers came to be and their current job. I liked the incorporation of climate change and the political atmosphere round it. The historical imagery into science and political climate of the time was very well done.

What I wish there was more of is info on the religious aspect around the Fae and the Bloodless Queen. I also wish there was more story during and after the equinox event. We spend nearly 70% of the book prepping for this event and boom it’s over. Is there another book? I hope so.

What a fantastic book! The first one I have read by this author but definitely can't wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

I need this book to already be out because I want to talk about it to everyone. Wow is all I can say right now. This was a great book.

This book was an amazing blending of sci-fi and fantasy! I am used to reading about fae being a certain way in most fantasy novels, but this novel depicted them a bit differently, which was a bit refreshing to have a new spin. I loved the story and especially the character development of Cal, Winnie, and Evangeline. The only downside I felt to the book was the pacing, but overall, it was a great read! I may have even shed a few tears while reading! If you like sci-fi and fantasy, this is a great book!

this was a great book! I really enjoyed the combination of fae, greek mythology, and science fiction. It was a fantastic blend of genres and the storytelling by the author was great. I liked the way it flowed, and I would love to read more from this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

As someone who doesn't usually enjoy fae centered stories, I was intrigued by this book because of the totally different take on this subgenre. I love that the fae were seen as these grim gothic creatures in this urban sci-fi/cli-fi world, and I found the prime-number based power system the author created super fascinating (honestly wanted more lore about it). What fell short for me was the pacing, I felt like way too much time was spent in setting the scene for the first half of the book, too much mundane bloat that resulted in the main conflict in the story being presented at the 80% mark. I found that this led to a fairly rushed final act that could have packed more of a punch if given more time to play out. Regardless I still really enjoyed the story because of the really unique concept and I'd be interested in exploring more of this world in a following book.

This is a cool book, I loved the cover and the concept itself. I struggled to get into this one. I know the writing style will not be for everyone, as it is intended to be artistic, but it was not for me. I will likely end up picking this book again in the future and giving it another chance when I am in a bit of a different mood and am ready for the length of this book, but for now this book is not for me.

I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily!

"The bloodless queen" has a very cool and interesting concept. It mixes different genre to create a story you want to read. Magic, sci-fi and fantasy, history and science meet to fuel the narrative, carried by a nice prose. Loss, change, religion, corruption, environmentalism are central themes. Again, things I was really curious about.

Unfortunately, if the basics reaaly drew me in, I quickly lost interest. The story felt like it dragged too much, and I couldn't really see where it was supposed to go. The title put the Bloddless Queen at the centre, and yes she does play a role. But no as central as I expected. I lacked important information to be really invested in the story but also the characters.

Speaking of the characters. They are well enough made, with layers, far from perfect but lovable. But here, too, I lacked a sense of direction, of motivation. I know what they care about and what their mission is, but not enough about what drives them. They felt a bit like they were thrown into a role and followed what they were supposed to do. Since I am a very character focused reader, needing to care about them, my interest fizzled out and I ended up skipping a bit.

So, a really good concept, but a lack of direction in the end, at least for me. I can still say that this was a good book, and it might appeal to readers who like to be a bit at a loss about the story they are reading.

I love a good urban fantasy, history story as much as the next gal. And I thoroughly enjoyed how heartfelt this book was!

It did take me some time to get through it, as I find long chapters quite jarring. But I’m glad I pushed through and finished!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book!

In 1987, the world was changed. In a strange effort to save the natural world, leaders across the globe designated huge swathes of land as preserved Harbors — and in that decision, things that were unnatural became terribly real and fae descended on humanity. Every autumnal equinox since, anyone that dies on that fateful day is transformed into a monstrous, mischievous, unexplainable fae creature. Just as suddenly reality and death are altered, so too is the math that defines the universe... somehow, prime numbers hold a previously unknown great power. Those humans (called fencers) who find prime numbers etched onto their skin become almost-superheroes, gifted unique and magical abilities that make them the only ones able to face the fae and the strange Harbors each equinox. Two somewhat lowly midwestern fencers, Cal and Evangeline, live a life stretched between normality, and love, and the growing eeriness of what the fae reality is doing to the world. And in that dilemma, they must face the unthinkable. 

It is a gripping and intriguing concept. I could see this novel played out as a thriller movie, with a twist on superhero stories and on fairytales of old — the horrifying and wily fae folk. It is a story of mundane and gentle life tied inextricably with an awful reality. And it asks what that does to a person, to their reality, their morals, their choices. 

Some things throughout the novel, however, left me feeling just a little bit baffled. There were moments throughout the book that felt like jarring genre shifts... sometimes, the writing had the cerebral grittiness of a speculative adult novel... and sometimes, it seemed to spell out the morals of a children's novel. I had a hard time deciding who the book was actually catering to. And there was a lot of repetition that filled up the first 80% of the novel. I had several moments when I thought, yes, this was already explained, and not that long ago. Repetition often signifies importance, and I understand that, but this felt like lingering, like pointing with a quirked eyebrow. I wanted to say at points, trust us readers. Despite it revolving around action and horror, the book often felt quiet and unmoving (not a bad thing, just unexpected). And then, VERY VAGUE SPOILERS INSIDE THE FOLLOWING PARENTHESES... (the ending! Let me just say, there was a dog there. A dog! And no guilt lingering? Anyways.) 

In the end, this was a somewhat conflicted read for me. Sometimes I was thinking, where was the editor? And sometimes I was thinking how fascinating and heartfelt this novel was. A strange, disturbing, thought-provoking, quiet, doting tale. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC Review: The Bloodless Queen by Joshua Phillip Johnson

Joshua Phillip Johnson’s The Bloodless Queen is an atmospheric and gripping tale that blends political intrigue, dark magic, and richly detailed worldbuilding into a compelling fantasy narrative. From the opening pages, Johnson immerses readers in a world teeming with tension, where power is as much a tool of survival as it is a force of destruction.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its intricate storytelling. Johnson masterfully builds a world that feels lived-in, where every city, every political maneuver, and every whispered secret carries weight. The characters—whether rulers, revolutionaries, or those caught in between—are layered and complex, making it easy to become invested in their fates. The writing is evocative, painting vivid images of the novel’s landscapes while maintaining an undercurrent of unease that keeps the pages turning.

The titular Bloodless Queen herself is a fascinating enigma, a figure who looms large over the story in ways that are both terrifying and mesmerizing. Her presence is felt even when she isn’t on the page, making her an especially effective focal point for the novel’s themes of power, control, and sacrifice.

If there’s one challenge in The Bloodless Queen, it’s the sheer density of its worldbuilding. The novel doesn’t spoon-feed information, which is rewarding for readers who enjoy deep, immersive storytelling, but it may be overwhelming for those looking for a more straightforward narrative. Some plotlines take time to fully develop, and while the payoff is worth it, patience is required.

Overall, The Bloodless Queen is a rich, ambitious fantasy that delivers a darkly compelling story of power and its consequences. With its sharp prose, layered characters, and intricate world, Johnson has crafted a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Fans of politically charged fantasy with a touch of the macabre will find much to love here.

The Bloodless Queen is set on Earth, where monstrosities called Fae live in dedicated areas (Harbours). The only humans who can step into the Harbours are Fencers - superhuman beings who have unique powers that allow them to eliminate the Fae. Much of how the Fae and fencers came to be is still a mystery. Each year on the fall equinox a supernatural phenomenon takes places where humans who die on this day, are turned Fae and must migrate from the human land to the Harbours. The Fae are such monstrosities that all humans, except the Fencers, flee to their homes and remain in lockdown, in hopes of surviving. The story centres around a group of fencers as they prepare to defend the human land on the upcoming equinox, and wrestle with the conspiracies and oddities of those in power.

The concept of this book is awesome, and the setting, history, science and magic foundational elements drew me in quickly. The combination of fantasy and sci-fi is was interesting. The familiar elements mixed with such a novel concept had me hooked right away. The story plays with themes of environmentalism, corruption, religion, faith and humanity. All in ways that fit so well with the nature of the story, creating depth. I enjoyed the writing style, it made the world and story feel approachable. There are also emotional layers developed throughout the story alongside the development of likeable characters like Cal, Evangeline, Winnie and even Sister Marla.

My primary criticisms have to do with pacing and world building. The first part of the book was really strong on both of these aspects. But the middle half of the book, I found myself waiting for critical information connected to the environment, history, magic and overall world building that had begun in part one. The focus shifted to the characters in a way that felt abrupt and a bit confusing. Large portions of the book were spent on low impact events rather than providing clarity on the magic, origins, history and even the science. I found myself questioning what the book was really about, and unfortunately many of those gaps were never clarified. Strong concept, great starting point but the world building and aspects that actually made it sci-fi/fantasy fizzled out. I think the title is misleading and this contributed to my disappointment. The Queen was such a small part of the story and I found myself waiting to understand her and the fae. There were a number of events in the last section that seemed convenient. These "exceptions" weren't grounded in the background that was given to the reader at any point in the book so they didn't add up.

I applaud the author for a very unique and compelling concept. I think if the story was more science or emotional/character forward from beginning to end, rather than trying to achieve both, it would have been more enjoyable. I would have loved more details around the magic, history, conspiracy earlier on, and particularly details that could make all the events in the last third more plausible.

5⭐️
I am speechless.
The beginning of this book was super slow but I never felt like it was without purpose. The world building was magnificent and I was on the edge of my seat every second. I’ve never read anything like this. It was creative, beautifully written, engaging, and heart wrenching.

*⚠️*
I’m NOT a book cryer traditionally but I’ve NEVER cried harder at a book. I was sobbing.

There were lots of things I loved about this book! Firstly, the concept was so unique in its blend of sci-fi/dystopian/fantasy, which really appealed to me as an avid reader of these kinds of books. I also thought the writing style felt really accomplished and enjoyed the reading experience. I suppose my main criticism as someone who likes reading a lot of high-action books is that it took an awful long time for things to actually get going. I didn’t feel like we were getting to the heart of the action until around the 70% mark which I have to say I struggled with. I also felt that the resolution could have been drawn out much more as this part conversely felt very rushed!

Came for the cover, stayed for the impressive plot. I liked a lot of what this author had going on and look forward to future titles.

A poignant and moving tale about grief, loss, and the sacrifices we make for everyday life set in a world with mysterious powers and twisted fae magics.

Urban fantasy my favourite. I loved this book, intricate, complex with fae and magic and super heroes. A nuclear family at the centre. I really enjoyed the depth of the narrative and the twists and turns of action. I do hope there is a sequel. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC