Mortal Queens - by Victoria McCombs

 My Review

As an avid reader, I recently had the pleasure of reading "Mortal Queens" by the talented author Victoria McCombs, and I must say, it was a truly captivating read that left me wanting more.

The story takes place on a center island where every year, one lucky girl is chosen to become the next Mortal Queen of the fae, a group of mythical creatures known for their beauty and trickery. While the mortals celebrate the chosen girl, their daughters are never seen again, leaving behind a dark mystery that the fae seem to guard closely.

The fae realm is shrouded in eternal night, and their disputes are settled through chess matches, with power being acquired through the most cunning and devious kinds of trickery. Seven elusive kings roam the fae realm, each hiding their faces behind ornate masks and guarding their glass hearts to keep them from shattering. However, beyond the veil of this luxurious paradise, a dark secret simmers, for their Queens have disappeared without a trace.

The protagonist of the story, Althea, is a gifted artist who is selected to become the next Mortal Queen. Fearing the same fate as her predecessors, she is forced to trust no one and must rely on her wits to survive. In her desperation, she conceals messages in her paintings and receives anonymous replies from a mysterious stranger who slowly reveals the tale of a girl who outwitted the fae. Althea realizes that only if she is clever enough will she avoid the same fate as the Mortal Queens. However, she must be careful as the king who cannot love might claim her first.

Overall, this book was a wonderful read that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were incredibly well-written, and the plot was beautifully thought out. As someone who loves fantasy, I found this book to be an excellent addition to the genre. I am eagerly looking forward to reading more books by McCombs soon. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Celebrate Lit for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

 

About the Book

Book: Mortal Queens

Author: Victoria McCombs

Genre: YA Fae Fantasy

Release Date: February 6, 2023

They vanish without a trace, disappear into the night…

Each year on the center island, one girl is chosen to be the next Mortal Queen of the idolized fae. The mortals praise these lucky girls, but their daughters are never seen again.

The fae realm is eternal night, where disputes are settled by chess matches, power is acquired through the most devious kinds of trickery, and seven illusive kings roam. The fae hide their faces behind masks and guard their glass hearts to keep them from shattering. But beyond the veil of this luxurious paradise, a dark secret simmers, for their Queens have disappeared.

When aspiring artist Althea is selected, she is desperate to avoid the same mysterious fate. With no one to trust, she conceals messages in paintings and receives anonymous replies from a stranger who slowly reveals the tale of a girl who outwitted the fae. Only if she is clever enough will Althea survive the fate of the Mortal Queens. As long as the king who cannot love does not claim her first.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Victoria McCombs is the author of YA fantasy books such as The Storyteller’s Daughter and The Royal Rose Chronicles. She lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband and three children. Her days are filled with coffee, reading, golfing, board games, and homeschooling the littles.

 

 

 

 

More from Victoria

There are several parties thrown in the fae realm, so today I’ll be sharing a party favorite recipe! I’ve had strangers reach out years after a party to ask for this recipe, and it’s so simple to make!

Cucumber Party Sandwiches

Ingredients:   One French loaf (the thinner, the better. It will be topped with a cucumber.)

1-2 cucumbers

8 oz cream cheese

½ cup mayo

1 package dry Italian dressing

We’d always buy the French loaf in a roll that you bake like crescent rolls, however I’ve struggled to find them recently, so I just buy the premade bread. However you acquire your bread, you’ll want it cooked and sliced into inch thick pieces.

Cut medium-thick slices of cucumber

Combine the cream cheese, mayo, and dry Italian dressing.

Spread the mixture over the bread, then top with cucumber. May garnish with pepper if desired. Done!

Blog Stops

The Lofty Pages, February 24

Texas Book-aholic, February 25

Wishful Endings, February 26

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 27

Book Looks by lisa, February 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 29

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, March 1

Blogging With Carol, March 2

For Him and My Family, March 3

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 4

Hannahbandanarama, March 5

Fiction Book Lover, March 6 (Spotlight)

Exploring the Written Word, March 6

Simple Harvest Reads, March 7 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Guild Master, March 8 (Spotlight)

Inspired by Fiction, March 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Victoria is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a259/mortal-queens-celebration-tour-giveaway

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