Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action-filled fantasy series off to a violent start.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As the eldest of two daughters with an extensive education and training in weaponry and combat, THE GIRL KING was a nickname Princess Lu grudgingly accepted. Lu had every expectation that her father the emperor would name her as his successor, even though their kingdom had never had a female ruler before. Instead, the emperor announced that Lu would marry her disgraced cousin Set, and that Set would be emperor. Lu's whole world and all her hopes for the future came crumbling down in that moment. Princess Lu's fight to regain her rightful place will take her to the far reaches of the empire, and she'll have to confront, outwit, defeat, or recruit forces of darkness and power beyond her wildest imaginings.
Is It Any Good?
First-time author Mimi Yu's Asian-inspired magical fantasy has lots of action, adventure, and violence. Yu's world-building and character development in The Girl King are solid and believable. Action scenes are exciting and easy to follow. Descriptions of places paint adequate pictures but don't quite have enough spark to be truly vivid. Genuine surprises in the plot are few, but the actoin and adventure keep the pages turning.
Teens will relate to Lu and Nok as they each deal with losing all their hopes and expectations for the future, and have to learn how to make their futures happen on their own. Fantasy fans of action and magical powers will enjoy the large-scale adventure with a distinctive Asian flair. The hefty dose of violence with some descriptions and light gore make it best for high-schoolers and up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Girl King. Is it too much? Is violence in the fantasy realm have a different impact on you than real-world violence? Why, or why not?
Why is it important to have diverse characters represented in books, TV, movies, and games? Have you read any other fantasies with main characters of color? What are your favorites?
Why are fantasy series so popular? What do we love about them? Where do you think this story will go?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury YA
- Publication date : January 8, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 496
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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