I have mixed feelings on this book, and I am sure I will be in the minority. Several people already love it and I am sure many more will too

Princess Victoria, who would later become Queen Victoria, is one of my favorite historical figures. I love learning about her and thought a mystery with her as a Princess solving it would be a good story.

Parts of it are good, and parts of it really seemed to drag on. There is some language included which didn’t feel appropriate given the time period, but that is my opinion

It’s well known that Victoire and Conroy were absolutely awful to the Princess and that fact is driven home more times than I can count.

I do think this could be the start of a good series and I might even read the next one, but this one was not for me. The drama went a little overboard and I often found myself skipping ahead to see what was happening.

I did enjoy seeing Victoria and Jane becoming more bold in their actions as the story progressed. In fact, those were my favorite parts. A definite indication of the Queen that would later rule England.

Thank you to Kensington Books for the copy of this book. All views are my own.

The Heir by Darcie Wilde is a great historical mystery that is the first in a new series: A Young Queen Victoria Mystery. I really liked this one.

I love anything involving Queen Victoria, but I do not think I have read anything that incorporates the historic Queen into a fictional narrative, and also including a murder mystery. It was so cute to read her thoughts and interactions with her family, staff, and navigating her constraints and strengths for a successful investigation.

I really feel that the author did a good job blending fact and fiction to create a realistic fiction narrative. Jane and Victoria are great sleuthing partners and I really am excited about where this series can go.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/26/25.

I loved this book it was a delightful tale with wonderful characters and settings. I received a review copy from NetGalley but the views and opinions expressed herein are my own.

An exciting first in a new series featuring a young Queen Victoria as a sleuth. Histfic fans will cheer and wait as breathlessly as I am for her next adventure. Huzzah!

This book is everything I love about historical romances. The romance is subtle but brimming with tension, woven into Victoria’s journey of defiance and discovery. The dynamic between her and Jane crackles with suspicion and reluctant trust, adding another layer of complexity to an already gripping story. I love how the book doesn’t just explore the mystery but also Victoria’s fierce determination to carve out her own destiny. It is a historical romance with a bite, a heroine with a mind sharper than any courtly scheme, and a story that keeps you utterly enthralled.