5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have been waiting for a good retelling of Tam Lin and this one is fantastic! I never thought I would read a version of this story that left me slightly sympathetic to the fae queen but the way Kimberly Bea shows a human side to a changeling queen has done just that.

What I loved in particular:
- the family relationships that Bess/Fia has with Mairi Grieve and Jamie give the story a real emotional heart.
- the mythology is masterfully intertwined with a historical depiction of the village of Carterhaugh which pulled me into the story and kept me there.
- The bittersweet love story between Bess and Tom Shepherd was beautifully done.

I can’t believe this was Kimberly Bea’s first novel, I’ll be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

My attention was caught by the premise of a retelling of the Scottish Ballad of Tam Lin. I'm a sucker for a good traditional lore twisted into something more modern.

This book was wonderful. It was a bit slow, with wonderous beauty and darker pieces not hidden behind any shiny rose glasses. Unbiased.

We really get to delve into the faeries side of the folk story rather than the mortal side which was a nice change of pace! It isn't a super high stakes tale, and while it isn't a heart pounding, fast paced read, it was a wonderful read

I really enjoyed the retelling. The characters were well written and the plot kept your attention the whole time. I loved the feminist empowerment in the story.

What happens when the myth belongs not to the hero but to the so-called villain? The Changeling Queen spins a rich, moonlit web around that very question, daring to pry open the “Ballad of Tam Lin” and give the stage, for once, to the Faery Queen herself—a figure usually cast in shadows and vengeance. But in this retelling, she isn’t just a queen. She is Bess: changeling, healer’s daughter, mortal-born and fae-raised, an outsider in two worlds who becomes their reluctant bridge.

Told as a story-within-a-story—one long, magical night on Samhain as Bess faces down Janet, the mortal girl who would reclaim Tam Lin—this book pulls off something rare. It’s not quite a romance, not quite a feminist manifesto, and not quite a hero’s journey. Instead, it’s a reclamation. A reckoning. A whispered spell from the other side of the veil.

What makes this tale stand out is its refusal to romanticize the usual tropes. The relationship with Thomas Shepherd is not a sweeping, sensual saga but a pivot point in Bess’s journey—tender, yes, but ultimately transient. Likewise, the feminist themes are subtle, rooted in the quiet authority of a mortal healer’s knowledge, and how easily that power is dismissed or consumed by the otherworldly. Yet this is less a book about defying gender roles than one about finding identity in a world that splits you down the middle.

There is much more fae magic here than midwifery or herb lore. That may disappoint readers looking for a grounded, earthy heroine battling against patriarchal constraints. But approach it as a tale of liminality—between fae and human, lover and ruler, captive and queen—and The Changeling Queen delivers enchantment and grief in equal measure.

Bess’s voice is the true enchantment here: sharp, sly, wounded, and wise. Her memories unravel like a ballad sung by firelight—haunted, half-truthful, never quite linear. She is not always likable. She is not trying to be. But she is utterly compelling. And in the end, it’s not Tam Lin’s fate that keeps us turning pages—it’s hers.

Verdict:
Don’t come to The Changeling Queen expecting a love story with a tidy bow or a heroine out to smash the patriarchy. Come for something older, sadder, and far more spellbinding: the story of a woman who was born between worlds and who dares, in her own quiet fury, to claim both.

I gave this book 3 stars because while it's written well, I just could not get into it. The story being told mostly in the past and then going back and forth just couldn't keep my attention. It's written very well, with very descriptive scenes, so some may enjoy it. I do wish that there was more to the story but it is based on a legend.

Spooky? Gothic? Fantasy? Yes, please! The world building and characters in this novel were amazing. It took a little bit to get into but once you get there, you will be immersed into the world. I can't wait to read more by this author.

A romantic feminist retelling of the Scottish Ballad Of Tam Lin. I really enjoyed this book and thought the author did a phenomenal job with this retelling. The characters and plot were well written and really grabs your attention.

The Changeling Queen has the dark and seductive feel of a folk tale reborn. Kimberly Bea seems to go beyond simply retelling the ballad "Tam Lin" and delve into the complex psychology of her female characters caught between two worlds. The strongest feeling I had was about the pain of not belonging - Bess with her mixed blood, Janet with her fight for love. This work raises profound questions about whether we can hold on to love and fulfill our destiny or whether we must ultimately choose and sacrifice.

The world building in this book was good, I did struggle a little bit to get into it as I haven’t read many books like this, but it was a good read.

I like retellings of folklore and myths so the description of a retelling of the Scottish “Ballad of Tam Lin” sounded like just what I was looking for and this is, in essence, a retelling of that narrative however it is not told from the perspective of the mortals. It is instead the story of the fairy queen from whom he escapes. In fact, it is more her story that she recounts to the mortals for she was a changeling child, and half-mortal one too, that was the heir to the fae crown. She tells of her upbringing with a mortal mother who was midwife and healer and taught her the craft and she tells of her first love and how it led her to the path that returned her to the fae. I don't think it is particularly sensually romantic, or feminist; yes, there was a relationship with the shepherd but the outcome fell short of "sensually romantic" , and yes, female healers of that era were a challenge to the male physicians, but the story seemed to show off more fae magic power than non-magical healing. However, with expectations reset to frame this as the story of a changeling growing up in the mortal world and returning to rule fairies bookended by the fable of Tam Lin, this was an enjoyable book.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Publishing - Erewhon Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

This was such a good fantasy read! The concept of it was so fun and the changeling queen was amazing! I am really excited for when this book comes out!

Well-researched with lovely prose - but I wouldn't describe it as "sensual and feminist" like the blurb.

We spend a lot of time with Bess-the-not-quite-human. Almost exactly 50% - which, given Bess' half-human half-fae shtick, makes me think it was intentional?

Bess and her life is... fine to read about, if you're a fan of historical fiction. She certainly dabbles with the fae, including tussling with the Dark Fool and a sweet friendship with a house Brownie. The Dark Fool hints at Bess' true heritage - but maddeningly all Bess seemingly cares about is her relationship with a human shepherd. Like, girl, he ain't worth it.

I won't spoil what leads her to becoming the Faerie Queen, but we finally get there. There are gorgeous descriptions of Faery - both the land and its inhabitants - but it all felt disjointed. Things kind of just happened and I couldn't keep the timeline right in my head. The Wild Hunt makes several appearances, and the Unseelie Court, which was very cool!

All this story takes place as a "flashback" that the queen is narrating to Janet and Tam Lin, and we get chapters throughout where they argue about sacrifice. This was my least favourite part of the book - like, can't you just stab him and be done with this shit?

I didn't like the ending... but it must follow the OG Tam Lin folklore, so whatever. Maybe I need to be more familiar with that to appreciate it more.


Look, overall, if you're a fan of fae folklore, it's worth reading. And the cover is gorgeous.

Still wondering where the sensual and feminist part come in, though!


Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.