Today I am reviewing Queens Catacombs a YA Fantasy novel from Jordan H. Bartlett. It is book 2 in The Frean Chronicles and follows a new Queen through some interesting struggles!
Jordan H. Bartlett is a new to me author and I was beyond intrigued to read this book upon seeing the amazing cover; as I’ve said before, covers can make people buy books, so invest in good ones!
This book really made me stop and think. It wasn’t what I had anticipated, and I found that to be a good thing.
It was unique for several reasons, most of which I can’t really say without revealing key plot points. However, I will say that the characters are very well done and that it is a a story told from a very different view than I have had the pleasure of reading before.
The PG rating on this book is accurate, there is violence, but not more than any marvel movie.
While I didn’t read the first book (A problem I am going to rectify soon!) I didn’t have very much trouble following this book after the first few chapters, though I am sure after I go read the first book I will have several ah ha moments when I connect the dots.
Overall, I really enjoyed the perspective Jordan H. Bartlett gave Jacs, and I enjoyed how she portrayed the characters. Plus, those twists she put in…. my goodness. As I’ve said above this story was told very uniquely, and was very much a thrilling story.
4 Stars.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback.
Book Title: Queen’s Catacombs (The Frean Chronicles #2) by Jordan H. Bartlett
Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 416 pages
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: CamCat Books
Release date: Mar 2023
Content Rating: PG. Very clean, but there is some brief violence.
Synopsis:
Winning the crown was only the beginning.
Jacs, now the rightful Queen of Frea, seems to be Queen in title alone. She scrambles to learn the customs and traditions of a Realm she had only read about in books. The Council of Four have her firmly under their thumb, and their ideas for the Queendom are oppressive and outdated. Their knowledge of her mother and Master Leschi’s whereabouts is the only leverage they need to make the new Queen dance to their tune.
Jacs is determined to find those who were taken from her and do what’s right for her Queendom. But in her search for answers, Jacs uncovers a much darker truth from the Queendom’s past that will forever change its future.
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About Author 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
