The Queen's Wing

The Queen's Wing Series, Book 1

By: Jessica Thorne

Narrated by: Heather Costa

Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

A completely gripping fantasy romance

"I was born to fly," I told my brothers. But it isn’t true. I was born to be a pawn in the great game of royal houses, married to someone - anyone - my family deems suitable. If I’m lucky, he’ll be my own age and bearable. If I’m very lucky, he’ll be someone who understands my need to fight, and to fly....

Bel, born to nobility, would do anything to spend her days alongside her brothers - soaring through the heavens in her beloved flyer. She’s faster than any of them, but she knows her days in the skies are numbered.

When a surprise attack on the palace lands Bel’s father on the throne, her life is forever changed. In order to secure her father’s empire, Bel must travel to a distant land to marry Conleith, the recently widowed young ruler.

But Bel’s new home is less than welcoming. Compared to the refined ladies at court, Bel seems like a wild woman, and assassination attempts, treason, and mystery threaten her at every turn. With a growing attraction to Con, her life is further complicated by the attentive leader of her bodyguard - a warrior called Shae whom she has loved since childhood....

A heart-stoppingly magical new novel that will keep you up late at night. Perfect for fans of The Selection, Bella Forrest, and Sarah J. Maas.

©2018 Jessica Thorne (P)2018 Bookouture

Too predictable, too descriptive, and too PC

There was too much of the main characters thoughts and not enough actual speaking. She spent way too much time thinking about how strong women were constantly being minimized in their roles in society and the next breath she would be crying, and making irrational emotional decisions. I had to speed through a lot of the "thought dialog". I'm not even remotely interested in getting the next book in the series.

Narration.. Yuck.

It’s really hard to get past this narrator. Unless she’s “speaking” as a character, she ends almost every sentence the same way. Lifting her voice at the ending word. It’s annoying. And I’m struggling to get thru this audiobook.

Ahhhhhh!!!!!! Soooooo goood!!!!!!!!!!

Ok. Ok. Ok. Just finished it. Composing thoughts. Ahhhh!!!!! Fantastic world building, strong female protagonist, perfectly wrought romance. This rear of this review contains spoilers!!!!!









Pros: strong female protagonist (I don’t want to spoil anything so skip this next sentence - she’s does quite a bit of the reaching herself. So really really enjoyed the strong female lead. No helpless damsels in distress here!
Super well developed characters (mostly) and incredibly lovable main character.

Romance is exquisite and just right not overwrought or outlandish.

World building is fantastic! Spoilers: kind of reminds me of a super feminine version of Enders Game in terms of the universe but add court intrigue and dresses instead of war games. Really really really great world building.

Agh!!! Can not wait for the next one. Super super loved this. Actually, even if there wasn’t another book, the ending was super well tied and I could leave the world here happily.

Cons: towards the end, there is a lot of telling not showing. And honestly, I understand why. But I would have rather the book was longer and actually seen those portions of the book than just be told they happened. I wouldn’t have minded going with Bell on raids instead of just being told they happened. I would have wanted to spend more time under ground, learning more about ancient antheis. Maybe dug down more into that mystery.

But other than that I JUST LOVED IT! And the narrator was great too. Sometimes she pronounces a few words real funny but I do love her voice. It’s different and soothing and mesmerizing. Grade A stuff!!!

Below average

The narrators' monotonous inflection and cadence is grating and annoying.
Sentences are disjointed.
Plot is good and uncommon.

so different, so goood

not what I normally read,. had my head spinning!!
I now need closure and can't wait for the next book!!

Phenomenal story! Wretched performance...

The story was fantastic, but every character sounded the same. Male or female, same voice.

Would make a wonderful action adventure movie.

This is a clean action adventure romance (some kissing only), with good world-building, romantic tension, coming of age, and claiming one’s destiny. It’s about integrity, loyalty, compassion, relationships with your peers, family, those you owe a duty of care to, time and patience and overcoming adversity. It’s about never giving up. Fighting for freedom and what’s right. It’s about enduring love. Positive messages abound.

My recommendation is that if you read the blurb for this book and you are interested in it, you should take a chance and read it or listen to it. I made the mistake of reading negative reviews that criticised heroine Bel’s character as an immature complainer. So I was hesitant going in. I need not have been.

Bel is only 17, described as a child (by her father) on the one hand, and at the same time required to fulfil womanly duties such as marry a king on another planet to secure a political alliance. In order to do that, she must leave everything (her planet) and everyone (her family, people and culture) to go to a place culturally backward regarding women’s roles, and start a new life with a king she hasn’t met yet. All this while grieving for slaughtered family, and giving up the love of her life (who does an excellent smoulder I felt to my toes). In my view, Bel is entitled to be bewildered as she gives up her youthful dreams and steps up to fulfil a new destiny.

The blurb hints at a love triangle but the story is pure class and readers jittery about such notions need not worry. Yes, there is teen confusion and some mistakes are made on the road to learning what really matters. But loyalties are settled and brave decisions made.

This novel was compelling and I highly recommend it.

Heather Costa’s narration took a bit of getting used to because of the way she speaks and reads/acts. When I became accustomed to her (in time), the quality of her voice added to the drama and intensity.

Book Review

I really was excited to listen to this book but it wasn't that great. I thought that it would had been exciting later on but it just wasn't for me.

Worth it

Enjoyed the story. I definitely recommend this series. Loved the narrator as well. I recommend both the author and narrator.

Good story, performance lacking

The story was a good one, with unpredictable twists and turns. The narrator fell a little short for me.

Amazing

I cannot wait until the next book.. this book transports you to another world... you get lost in the story so easily that I finished it within two days... I loved how the author gave detailed descriptions so that you can easily imagine the majestic buildings, scenery .. etc, this book has something for everyone... fierce heroine, love story, epic battles.. different worlds and creatures ... love it

Unfinished and returned

Sorry! I really hate your voice and couldn't even listen through chapter 1. I have the story on Kindle - I'll read it myself.

Loved this book

Well Written and great characters . Loved listening to it also and it made the whole story more interesting .

Sorry didn’t enjoy it at all!

Sorry this book did not keep attention at all... found the wording quite repetitive... and didn’t feel anything for the characters!

Brilliant book

I Enjoyed this audio book very much from start to finish great story line too

Not what I thought it was going to be, but great!

I really wasn't sure about this story at the start. I couldn't see where it was going and I couldn't see how it was going to last as long as the time said it would. And then it kicked in. The slow setup worked perfectly allowing the characters time to show themselves, for the lay of the land and the customs to be explained. And then, crikey! I ended up really enjoying the story and especially the characters. I just loved the way it progressed. So enjoyable.

Heather Costa does a brilliant job with the narration. I could tell who was who without being told. Great stuff.

I can't listen to her voice!!

This reader is just impossible to listen to. She simply does not have the ability to make her own voice fade behind the story. Awful