MORTAL QUEENS

A teenage girl made high queen of the fae flails against time to save herself from the death sentenced imposed on every Mortal Queen.

Each year, ambassadors from the mysterious fae realm come to the five islands to select a human girl to serve as their queen. Bronze-skinned Althea, who’s in her final year of eligibility, is shocked when her name is drawn. Sad to leave her twin, Cal, and younger brother, Malcom, but eager for the adventures and luxuries that await, Thea arrives at the fae court unprepared for the dangers ahead. Upon discovering that her fate is to live only two more years, Thea is determined to survive by tricking the six fae kings into granting her favors. With the help of newfound fae friends Talen and Odette, Thea attempts to outmaneuver the wily fae, uncover the truth about her missing mother, and escape before her time is up. Without substantial worldbuilding, McCombs’ efforts to create drama through court intrigue and alliances fall flat, with conflicts arising and quickly being resolved without furthering the plot. The uneven and at times baffling narrative pacing results in a slow slog for readers. A lukewarm insta-romance with Bastian, a fae king who’s supposedly “incapable of love,” does little to heat up the story. Human and fae characters are diverse in appearance.

An underdeveloped high fantasy that fails to deliver.