"It was funny how one bad decision could bring the clarity you lacked before you made it, but it was always too late."

This is not my first book by Victoria McCombs and she never fails to surprise, delight, and amaze me with the depth of her fantasy worlds, the beauty of her characters, and the intricate nature of her plots. The fae world she has created for this book is incredibly detailed with so many layers to peel back. I loved entering the fae world with Thea and seeing it through her eyes. I loved sharing with Thea the wonder of a world so beautiful and different and felt her confusion, pain, and determination as she discovered that this world is not as it seems. I was sometimes frustrated with Thea because she was still only seventeen - with all the rash, impulsive, grandiose nature of a teenager - but her generous heart, compassion, and kindness made her easy to love. Her first person voice was honest, raw and endearing. The political climate of the fae world was mind-boggling at first. And just when I thought I had grasped it - bam! The author threw in tons of curveballs to the plot that had me reeling. There has to be another book, perhaps two, to complete this series. If there isn't, I would be utterly lost because the book ends on a cliff-hanger.

Oh my word, if you're a YA fantasy lover, you absolutely need to pick up this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Enclave Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Wowza! My first fantasy read in a long time....and probably my first story that involves the fae realm. Initially, I wasn't quite sure of my response, hesitant to dip my toes into this new genre. I am so glad I gave this book and author a try. Ms. McCombs is a gifted storyteller, artfully penning a fictional world that will capture the imagination. A world filled with beauty, but also one that is not as it seems.

Newly crowned as mortal queen to the fae realm, Althea discovers a world filled with trickery.She finds a hidden agenda behind each offer of friendship. Her discovery of the fate of the previous mortal queens leads her to sharpen her wits, willing to take on the entire realm. Fans of fantasy will love this new heroine, filled with grit and determination. With a plot that builds slowly, ending with a magnificent cliffhanger, readers will question "What is she willing to sacrifice in order to save the mortal queens?" I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.

When I read the blurb for Mortal Queens I knew it would be good. Victoria McCombs is a new-to-me author and this first Fae Dynasty novel sounded just too intriguing to pass up. I was totally right on both counts. Yes, it was good. Yes, it was intriguing.

I was totally immersed in Victoria McCombs' Fae Dynasty world right from the start. Mortal Queens had just the right amount of vivid description to make you feel like you were right there while not bogging down the reader's attention span. The stark contrast between landscapes - hot dry island and starry palatial opulence - was quite well done.

The story itself was well written and everything that I've come to expect from an Enclave-published book. Victoria McCombs kept me interested throughout Mortal Queens and even managed to deliver a few surprises. The only downside is that it ended on something of a cliffhanger and now I have to wait the interminable amount of time before the next Fae Dynasty tale releases and I get to find out what happens next to the intrepid Althea and her allies...

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

I LOVED this book! It has just the right amount of world building, you don't get bored because she has it spread out well throughout the whole story. The main character is relatable in attitude and appearance, I enjoyed that she was described as an average woman and not a crazy beautiful one. I read this very quickly, I couldn't put it down many times because there were so many twists and turns! The last 6 chapters floored me, I cannot wait to read the sequel... I'm still thinking about it and wishing I could just keep on reading!

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. I am not required to leave a review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

3.5 Stars

MORTAL QUEENS is a story about a girl's dream coming true and how that dream turns into a nightmare when she finds out not all is as she assumed. It's about friendship, family, romance, deception and truth all set in a vivid fantasy world of the fae. Fans of young adult fantasy and fae stories will find much to love about this book.

I liked these characters as well as the premise from the start. Althea is someone who has had to fight for her family's survival ever since losing her mom years ago, even though her dad remains. She has grown up with fanciful stories of the fae from her mom and an equal amount of stories of warning from her dad, but just like all maidens on her island, she hopes to one day be chosen as a mortal queen of the fae. I liked how she cared for her brothers and how she bravely accepted her fate at the beginning. Of course things change when she realizes everything isn't as she thought and the tricks, traps, and games begin in the fae world. The other characters were interesting as well. I really loved the fae world that the author created and how there is an underlying reason for these mortal queens. I liked the constant back and forth with the fae as they aren't human and aren't generally trustworthy. The magic, hierarchy and fantasy world were all interesting as well. There is plenty of mystery as readers follow Althea on her journey to self discovery and to find answers as she navigates this new world. There is also a bit of romance that is a bit of a slowly drawn out instantaneous love.

There were a few things I would have liked developed more. The characters and the fae especially as a people weren't consistent. The author portrays them a certain way and then contradicts that at several points, so it was a bit confusing as a reader to be told something and see them act one way and then in the next breath be completely vulnerable which didn't fit. The heroine is also said to have been prepared by her dad with specific skills but somehow doesn't use any of them nor is prepared for what she faces. I felt like a lot of that needed to be worked through and developed so that things were consistent. I also was frustrated by answers and reasoning never being given. Some things were alluded to and then never visited again. She's told all sorts of incorrect stories and lies, but also told that certain people wouldn't lie who tell her those things, so none of it is reliable. Other things were constantly hinted at but when the heroine was given an opportunity to be aided, she was answered with more questions and teasing instead of straight answers. It's a pet peeve of mine when stories won't answer questions even if it makes logical or genuine sense to do so just to push forward a plot and take up a whole book. Kind of like when a mom has a magical daughter but won't tell her she's magical or prepare her for an enemy that hunts her just so that the main character is kept in the dark and so that the story can be stretched. It has never made sense to me, especially as I am a parent and would never see that as benefiting my child.

In the end, was it what I wished for? I am a fan of stories with fae and this one intrigued me. I enjoyed the overall idea, the fantasy world, and generally liked the characters. I wanted more development in certain areas, but am still planning on finding out what happens in book two.

Content: Some innuendo and violence, but clean.

Source: I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley through Celebrate Lit, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.