Nameless Queen
By Mandie Caroll,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Clever heroine drives appealing fantasy of politics, magic.
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What's the Story?
NAMELESS QUEEN begins with a crisis in the kingdom of Seriden: A girl known as "Coin," a member of the lowest class, the Nameless, has been magically branded with the crown tattoo, meaning she is next queen, but the only way this could have happened is if the dying king said her name before he died, and she doesn’t have a name. As the country tries to adjust to their "Impossible Queen," she initially agrees with the Royal Council that she should abdicate the crown to someone who wants it. Yet, as she learns how to use the magic that only monarchs can wield, and uncovers a villain's plans, she realizes she might just be able to make a difference for the Nameless, and everyone else. With her loyal bodyguard Glenquartz, Esther, the dead King's daughter, and her old Nameless friend, Hat, Coin strives to do right with the power she's been given.
Is It Any Good?
There's much to recommend this story -- an interesting magic system, a familiarly divided country, and compelling characters. Nameless Queen's Coin and Esther, in particular, are smart, complicated women whose uneasy alliance blossoms into a lovely relationship. The other primary characters are likable and admirable. The focus on the chosen family that Coin pulls together, rather than on a romance, is refreshing. There are surprising plot twists that are hard to predict and will keep readers engaged.
However, the worldbuilding is lackluster -- it feels as though this might be set in any country at any time before the modern era, and readers will be hard-pressed to describe what Seriden actually looks like. The villain is so purely bad that she's not all that interesting. Several instances of trite turns of phrase, predictable dialogue, and one glaring timing glitch are likely to jar readers out of what is otherwise a well-written and fast-paced book. All that said, it's still an entertaining read, and with its attractive blend of magic and politics, this fantasy with a social consciousness will appeal to many teen readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the social class system in Nameless Queen. What are the consequences for society of having an underclass (the Nameless)? How is the class system in this story like and unlike our own?
How does Coin grows as the story progresses? What people or events help her open up to friendship and family? Do you relate to Coin? In what ways?
What does the term "chosen family" mean to you? Do you know anyone who isn't related to you but feels like family? What sets them apart from friends?
Book Details
- Author: Rebecca McLaughlin
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: January 7, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
- Number of pages: 352
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: August 2, 2021
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