Lady Everleigh Saffira Winter Blair is seventeenth in line to the royal crown of Bellona, but she never expects to do more than dance to the whims of her cousin, the current queen. After all, her parents are deceased and her magical powers are considered minimal, so it is only Queen Cordelia's goodwill that allows her to remain in the household. However, she has found friends who are like family, such as Isobel and Alvis. Unfortunately, a royal massacre is about to change anything, and Lady Everleigh must disappear and become Evie if she hopes to survive in the aftermath.

Evie is my new favorite heroine! I absolutely adore her determination to stand on her own two feet even when she's offered an easier route. Evie is a survivor, even if initially she considers herself powerless. She was likable enough as Lady Everleigh as her inner snark kept me laughing, but her transformation to Evie after joining the Black Swan gladiator troupe elevates her to one of my favorite heroines.

The secondary characters are also fascinating. Whether it's the vile Princess Vasilia Victoria Summer Blair or the mysterious Serilda Swanson or even the cranky ogre morph Lady Xenia, each one is well developed and distinctive. However, it is Lucas Sullivan and Paloma who captured my heart. Both have intriguing back histories and I'm curious to see where Jennifer Estep will take their stories in future books.

KILL THE QUEEN is the first book in the Crown of Shards series and oh wow, I may have a new favorite series! Jennifer Estep has crafted a phenomenal world with an excellent mixture of very likable characters and conniving villains. Some books in series leave too many unanswered questions but Jennifer Estep answers just enough questions to leave readers thoroughly satisfied at the conclusion while leaving some issues dangling to whet our appetite for the next book. I can't wait to see what Jennifer Estep has in store for us next! If you love fantasy novels, don't hesitate to give KILL THE QUEEN a try as you may find a new favorite just like I have.

Book Summary

Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

Read an Excerpt

Author Note

Dear Readers,

I started reading epic fantasy in high school, and I quickly devoured every single epic fantasy book that I could get my hands on. In fact, the very first (unpublished) book that I ever wrote back in college was an epic fantasy. That’s why I’m so thrilled to finally be writing my own epic fantasy series.

KILL THE QUEEN is book #1 in my Crown of Shards series. KILL THE QUEEN focuses on Everleigh Blair, a royal who is distantly in line for the throne of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. But when the unthinkable happens, Evie finds herself fighting for her life—both inside and outside the gladiator arena.

So the book is sort of like Gladiator meets Game of Thrones with a kick-butt heroine. If you are looking for a fantasy book with a strong heroine, plus lots of action, adventure, magic, and a healthy dose of romance, then you should check out KILL THE QUEEN.

You can read the first chapter of KILL THE QUEEN on my website

I hope that everyone enjoys getting to know Evie and all the other characters in KILL THE QUEEN. Happy reading! :-)

New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep