Reluctant Queen

Betrayal, Book One

De: Tony Jaehrling

Narrado por: Daniel Byshenk

Lorynthia: From the Western Sea to the Badlands, and from the Dragon Mountains to the Red Desert live a diverse people who, for thirty years, have enjoyed a tentative peace. King Rhyman Thimpor united them, holding them together by sheer force of will.

But Rhyman is dead, felled by an unknown malady, and the throne stands empty. Lorynthia holds its collective breath. Who will rule them now? Will the peace Rhyman crafted survive his passing? They look to the capital city, Cyrinth, and await the coronation of the next monarch.

However, Lorynthia's past misleads them, the future draws them into devastating war, and their enemies approach through the shadows to finish them. Their only chance of survival? A young woman who is both citizen and outcast.

Tamyr Thimpor has it in her power to salvage both the past and the future. But, never having aspired to the throne, Tamyr does not want to lead these people. Worse, she does not know who she truly is and has no inkling of the power she may someday wield. Yet, if she does not accept and unleash the power that resides within her, all is lost.

Tamyr, the Reluctant Queen, is Lorynthia's only hope.

©2024 Peter Anthony Jaehrling (P)2025 Peter Anthony Jaehrling

Complex intrigue

It is a complicated book for me to review, since it is totally goes outside my usual readings. It is a dense book with a lot of intrigue and a lot of courtly procedures, making it a read that requires a lot attention to understand the role of each player (except the witches). It is fascinating how the author describes the intrigue and the motivation of each Lord and Clan Chief that participate in the struggle for power and the levels of governance each covers. I can recommend that book definetly for someone who is looking for a lot of procedures in a fantasy world. Sadly, the VA in this case is not up to the task for the variety of characters and the tone of his voice is much the same throughout all priceedings and even to happenings outside the court. A read for those who love intrigue!

Badass FMC!

This is an awesome book for readers who enjoyed TOG! The FMC is awesome and the plot is unique and different! The narrator is easy to listen to as well! I’m stoked for the next book when it comes out!

Abrupt Ending

Reluctant Queen is a difficult audiobook to review.

Some parts are great. Others not so much. It starts off very rough and you are bombarded with characters and information about the world. Then in the second half of the book it improves drastically and just as it gets really good, it ends. I don't think I've ever read a book where the ending is so misplaced. Sure, it continues in the second book but with other fantasy novels I've read, every book has some kind of conclusion, some kind of end to the story, even if it continues in the next one.

The narration is pretty good. Daniel doesn't give you different voices for the characters unfortunately but I've heard a lot worse.

The world building is great and you can see a lot of thought has gone into it. But because of all the lore (excuse the pun, need to read the book to get it), the book is very slow. If that sounds like your kind of thing and you are prepared to listen to all of them, then go ahead and get it.

Interesting New Fantasy Series

Tony 's first fantasy novel overall is a good read. The tale's pacing is awkward for the first half or so (I will be honest here and say that early on I had to sometimes force myself to keep listening), but the reader is rewarded for sticking with it. Once the story does really get going, it does so with startling revelations and an interesting plot.

The narrator is a good one, while he does "emote" for character dialogue, he does not give "voices" for each character which may be disappointing to some. In spite of this "flatness", he does not sound robotic or artificial and tells the story clearly.

I look forward to the next book in this series!

Easy to follow and a joy to read

I found this to be an easy read, and the narrator was excellent. It took no time to immersive myself in the story and the narration. This book definitely builds as it goes. It doesn’t start as the typical, out there, action packed fantasy. It basis itself in a world that feels grounded in reality. It then builds into more of a fantasy, but does it in a believable way. I really like how the book was structured and i’m anxious to start reading book 2. Very well done.