A Queen's Game

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!

What worked: The Buccaneers meets Gossip Girls where British royalty's quest for a husband collides with the heart. Readers meet Alix of Hesse, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria with a secret; Helene D'Orleans, daughter of the exiled King of France whose indiscretions might cause her to lose the one person she wants; and May of Teck, who has lived her life on the fringes of royal society but doesn't let that stop her quest to marry a prince. All these characters come together and find obstacles in their way of true romance.

I'm a huge fan of McGee's novels; this one had me on page one. I also love a good royalty story and this one doesn't disappoint.

Fast-paced with action and romance. Queen Victoria plays a pivotal role in trying to secure matches for her many grandchildren, including Prince Eddie, the future king of England. There's American heiress Agnes who worms her way into May's life. Not all her intentions are what they seem. Her storyline reminds me of the Apple + TV series The Buccaneers with an American teen heiress coming to England with the main objective of landing a titled royal figure. There's plotting and not-too-subtle attempts to use someone's vulnerability to their purpose.

There's a second book in this highly enjoyable series that is sure to appeal to fans of McGee's novels and anyone who loves a good romance with Victorian royalty.