Review: The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King

Published: June 2017

Pages: 300

Synopsis: “As an orphan ward of the Sisterhood, eighteen-year-old Kalinda is destined for nothing more than a life of seclusion and prayer. Plagued by fevers, she’s an unlikely candidate for even a servant’s position, let alone a courtesan or wife. Her sole dream is to continue living in peace in the Sisterhood’s mountain temple.

But a visit from the tyrant Rajah Tarek disrupts Kalinda’s life. Within hours, she is ripped from the comfort of her home, set on a desert trek, and ordered to fight for her place among the rajah’s ninety-nine wives and numerous courtesans. Her only solace comes in the company of her guard, the stoic but kind Captain Deven Naik.

Faced with the danger of a tournament to the death—and her growing affection for Deven—Kalinda has only one hope for escape, and it lies in an arcane, forbidden power buried within her.

In Emily R. King’s thrilling fantasy debut, an orphan girl blossoms into a warrior, summoning courage and confidence in her fearless quest to upend tradition, overthrow an empire, and reclaim her life as her own.”

Rating: ****

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The Hundredth Queen started with friend Jaya and Kalinda practising their fighting skills when they hear wagons approaching. They go against the rules of their temple and sneak outside of the temple walls to watch the arrivals (who will undoubtedly contain men). From the look of one of the carriages, the friends quickly determine that an important individual has arrived for a Claiming. Something I assumed would not be a welcomed event. I was amazed how much I picked up within a few short pages, which immediately demonstrated the author’s skill at being able to convey so much information and back story so subtly and with so little effort.

Aspects were VERY predictable, such as Kalinda’s love interest who happens to be the first man she ever meets and who also happens to be a captain in the army of her soon-to-be husband.

Very well written with some amazing world building for a debut novel. Emily R. King is DEFINITELY an author to watch!