The Queen Will Betray You by Sarah Henning
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: July 6, 2021
Genres: Young Adult Fantasy
Book Review
The Queen Will Betray You is the sequel to The Princess Will Save You. My review contains context that will be a spoiler for the first book in the series. Please do not read further if you have not read The Princess Will Save You!
Picking up where The Princess Will Save You left off, The Queen Will Betray You finds Princess Amarande and her stableboy, best friend, and lover, Luca, on the run. Their goal is to return to the Torrent, find the rebellion, and have Luca take his rightful place as the leader of the Kingdom of Torrence. After killing Prince Renard during their wedding, Amarande finds herself the target of Queen Ines and the country of Basilica. As the rulers in the kingdom make moves to consolidate power, Amarande and Luca are unsure who they can trust or what to believe as the fate of the entire kingdom is at stake.
The Queen Will Betray You has heart-pounding action from beginning to end. There are so many twists and turns, it is impossible to trust anyone. It alternates between a few different perspectives: Amarande, Luca, the palace of Ardenia, and Queen Ines of Pyrenee. This book is very reminiscent of Game of Thrones. It is styled after The Princess Bride, but I don’t see that as much with the sequel. Meanwhile, there are so many nods to Game of Thrones, from the warring kingdoms vying for rule over the entire continents to each country to the ruling families being represented by animals.
When I started this book I thought it was the end of the series. I was so sad to say goodbye to characters I’ve come to care about so much! But, the story didn’t completely wrap up. There were quite a few plot lines that needed answers. Upon some additional research, I discovered that there will in fact be a third book in the series called The King Will Kill You! Unfortunately, that is unlikely to be released until at least 2022. Until then I will be impatiently waiting for the final book!
Thank you Tor Teen and Netgalley for the review copy! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis from Goodreads
To stay together forever, Princess Amarande and her stableboy love, Luca, must part: Amarande to reclaim her kingdom from usurpers, and Luca to raise a rebellion and find his destiny. Arrayed against them are all the players in the game of thrones for control over the continent of The Sand and Sky. Facing unspeakable betrayals, enemies hidden in the shadows, and insurmountable odds, their only hope is the power of true love…
About the Author
Sarah Henning is a recovering journalist who has worked for the Palm Beach Post, Kansas City Star and Associated Press, among others. While in South Florida, Sarah lived and worked through five hurricanes, which gave her an extreme respect for the ocean. When not writing, she runs ultramarathons, hits the playground with her two kids and hangs out with her husband Justin, who doubles as her long-suffering IT department. Sarah lives in Lawrence, Kansas, which, despite being extremely far from the beach, happens to be pretty cool.
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Erin Evelyn Reads 