Book Details:
Book Title: Contest of Queens (The Frean Chronicles #1) by Jordan H. Bartlett
Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 464 pages
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: CamCat Books
Release date: Jan 2022
Content Rating: PG. Very clean, but there is some brief violence.
Book Description:
In a Queendom divided, can one girl unite the realms?
Jacs, an inventor’s apprentice from the Lower Realm, has only ever dreamed of what the land among the clouds holds. That is until she finds a letter from Connor, an Upperite boy hoping to learn more about the land below. Little does Jacs know, Connor is actually Prince Cornelius of the Queendom of Frea. With wooden boats and hot air balloons, the two begin a secret correspondence. But their friendship is divided by a heavily-guarded bridge and an inescapable prejudice.
The strength of their bond was thought to transcend distance and time, but when the royal family visits the Lower Realm, the Queendom’s feud is reignited.
To save her people, Jacs must infiltrate the Upper Realm and earn her place to compete in the Contest of Queens. In a story about friendship, love, bravery, and defying gravity, Jacs will strive to prove that a Queendom is strongest when united.
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My thoughts on Contest of Queens
This book drew my in by the cover I’ll be honest. I am a sucker for a good book cover!
I was excited to read Contest of Queens by Jordan H. Bartlett when I got it, and it probably won’t surprise you that it jumped to the top of my tbr pile.
As I started reading, I was intrigued by the way Jordan H. Bartlett laid out this story. It was a very different vibe than I initially expected. It had a very strong feminist agenda but also seemed to contradict itself a bit.
Jordan H. Bartlett did a good job with her characters. They were very strong, committed, and well-balanced, I did enjoy getting to know them and I thought the overarching theme of not giving up and fighting for what you believe in was fitting!
Overall, this book flowed nicely, I enjoyed the adventure of it, and the characters were very enjoyable to get to know.
3.5 Stars Rounded to 4.
* I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Read my Review of book 2 Queen’s Catacombs
About Jordan H. Bartlett
Jordan H. Bartlett is a New Zealand-born Canadian with a love for children’s literature and female empowerment. She grew up reading books about boys for boys and found it hard to find a strong female heroine she could relate to. Bartlett wrote Contest of Queens to give young readers that character she so longed for in a world where gender norms are reversed. Bartlett currently resides in Banff, Alberta where she works as a Speech Language Pathologist and is a certified yoga instructor.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
