A CURSE OF QUEENS

After her queen in cursed by the gods, a healer embarks on a magical quest to Circe’s island.

Jocasta was born to a family of commoners but became a princess after her brother’s unlikely rise to the throne, a story told in the first three books of Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles series. Jocasta’s healing talent makes her feel like a lesser member of the newly minted royal family, which needs powerful warriors and politicians to stay in power—men like Flynn, her brother’s most trusted friend and captain of the guard. Years ago, Jocasta thought she was in love with Flynn, but she has been steering clear of him ever since he cruelly rejected the romantic overture she made on her 18th birthday. Flynn is afraid to love again, having lost his entire family to various illnesses and tragedies. He never intended to hurt Jocasta but only wanted to protect himself from further loss. When the queen is cursed by a stasis spell—not only will she never change or grow old, but she’ll stay 8 months pregnant forever without ever giving birth—it’s clear she is being used as a pawn in a battle between the gods of Mount Olympus. Jocasta realizes the only possible cure lies in the fabled gardens of Circe. Flynn and three others volunteer to go with Jocasta on her quest, which involves traversing the perilous route of Odysseus. When Flynn and Jocasta become temporarily separated from the rest of their party, they discover they can no longer deny their feelings for each other. Readers looking for a rip-roaring adventure will find it here, but the romance arc is tightly compressed and almost perfunctory compared to the long, complex fighting and action sequences. Uneven pacing makes the final round trip push to Circe’s island feel rushed.

Action packed but romance-light.