I have no idea why I requested this on Netgalley, considering it is labeled as a romantic fantasy. But I did and it wasn’t too bad. Bel is a lower level noble with her heart set on being a pilot like her mother. But an attack on the royal family leaves Bel’s father on the throne and her being swept into a political marriage on a world far away. We follow her as she navigates a new court, her feelings for her guard/friend and soon-to-be husband and the threat of another nation that wants to take over the galaxy. I enjoyed Bel’s character, even though she rubbed me the wrong way when she was all “I’m a terrible person blah blah blah.” Now, I get having bad feelings about yourself, but Bel took it to the extreme at times. Throw in a love triangle that makes her pretty much feel all those bad feelings, and I get annoyed. But, the world building is fascinating and the combination of technology and magic is pretty fantastic.

An absolute incredible beginning to a world of fantasy and magic. The Queen's Wing was great and I cannot wait to read more!

I was not able to get to this book in time. I had some family issues arise and now it feels too late to add anything new to the conversation.

Thank you for the opportunity to review. I greatly appreciate the chance to review any advanced copies that I receive.

Hi
Sorry but I did not get to read this one before it was withdrawn. I am in college now and have less time than I previously did.

This book was amazing. A blend of The Selection and Skyward. I loved every single minute. I went through all the emotions right alongside Bel. I felt I was right here with her. Another fictional friend to add to my list.

A well written book, a great narrative and wonderfully thought out and life like characters! Can’t wait for the next.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. It is a very engaging fantasy novel. The characters are very amazing and the setting is marvelously detailed. I felt like I was long for the ride with Bel through it all. She has to make a lot of decisions between loyalty to her heart, her homeland and the alliance that she has been sent to form. It takes a close call with death to make her rethink what she has to do. If you want to know what she decides or how it goes grab a copy for yourself. I am waiting for book 2.

I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Steampunk space opera is how I’d describe this book. It was a coming of age book for the strong female heroine who suddenly finds herself in a position of power and is being used as pawn to secure relationships between planets. It’s action packed right off the start. There’s murder, mayhem, romance, fantasy, political agendas, mystery....it’s got a bit of everything for everyone.

I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read the next one!

This book was okay. The world building was great, but so much happened in the first chapter it was a little much. I had a hard time to connect to the main character and when he came into the story, the love interest. He was not so interesting in my opinion. And everyone who knows me knows I loathe love triangles... This book does attempt this and it's bad...

I can see other's liking this book, it is space operatic with a lot of plot. I just prefer my story's a bit more slow paced and my characters more nuanced. I hope this happens more in book 2.

"The world building was a strong part of the story which I found to be an original concept but it would have been much more if more description went into the world. The book mentions the places and the names with a tidbit of information. The characters are the part of the story which held much of my interest. Bel's character gives off an inspirational and badass vibe but that vibe feigned in and out throughout the story. There were times where she became boring to read.

I did not have a problem with the love triangle, but I just wished if the book did not lean so heavily on that romance. Its nice and all but I would have much preferred to read a little more about Bel schooling her male peers in piloting. The writing is simple and easy to read. The pacing is fair except with Bel's character which I mentioned above. Overall, this is will not be the first, of the top of my head, book that I will recommend to others but it will be in my lingering thoughts."

Ditto.

Wonderfully original, a vivid, visceral setting and immersive characterization. My only problem is that all but one twist in the book I was able to anticipate from the moment the author introduced the setup. This did not detract from my enjoyment of the tale, but it did make the book feel somewhat predictable. That having been said, I very much look forward to the sequel.

Bel becomes the only Vairian princess after an attack on her homeland's capital, and she is sent to a far-away planet to marry its king in order to secure an alliance. But Bel never wanted to be royalty; in fact, she wanted her royal ties forgotten so she could fly her Wasp and have the chance to be with Shae, the boy she's had a crush on since childhood. But upon arriving on Anthaeus, the king (called the Anthaem) is not anything like she expected, and she finds her heart torn between her new love for the land and its people and the life she desperately wanted. Con and Bel are two kids who had too much responsibility thrust on them at a young age, and they do what they can to shoulder the burden. I loved their reservations and insecurities, and the way they learned to rely on each other. I liked that it was slow-burn and not insta-love, and that they had to be diligent in making their relationship work. I loved the Rondet and the way their interactions worked. I haven't read much sci-fi but I definitely enjoyed this mix of it with fantasy. I can't wait to read the next book!

I loved this so much, from page one I was hooked. I loved Bel so much, at the beginning when she gave into demands and didn't fight back I didn't think it sat well with her character but she holds her own and fights in her own way, feisty and stubborn I loved her. Love triangle wasn't too bad as it sorts itself out and isn't too drawn out, but I loved Shae dammit !! Damn you ! Cannot wait for the sequel.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest review

— I received an eARC via Netgally in exchange for a honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this opportunity. —

A fun, entertaining read for intellectually lazy days.
Before I started reading, I was a bit torn about whether I’d like the book or not. But once I did start, I was pleasantly surprised by the gripping story and multi-faceted characters!
I only wish the ‘villains’ would’ve had more motivation for their attacks, rather than just being portrayed as the evil ones - on the ground, everyone had their motivations and aims, which made a lot more sense.
All in all, this was a great read for a lazy day.

I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review, so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
The cover and title is what originally drew me to this book.
‘I was born to fly,’ I told my brothers. But it isn’t true. I was born to be a pawn in the great game of royal houses, married to someone – anyone – my family deems suitable. If I’m lucky, he’ll be my own age and bearable. If I’m very lucky, he’ll be someone who understands my need to fight, and to fly...

Bel, born to nobility, would do anything to spend her days alongside her brothers – soaring through the heavens in her beloved flyer. She’s faster than any of them, but she knows her days in the skies are numbered.

When a surprise attack on the palace lands Bel’s father on the throne, her life is forever changed. In order to secure her father’s empire, Bel must travel to a distant land to marry the recently widowed young ruler, Conleith.

But Bel’s new home is less than welcoming: compared to the refined ladies at court, Bel seems like a wild woman, and assassination attempts, treason and mystery threaten her at every turn. With a growing attraction to Con, her life is further complicated by the attentive leader of her bodyguards – a warrior called Shae whom she has loved since childhood…
This was my first book by this author. It was alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a
4.5 star rating!

Have you read one of those books where a bunch of things happen since the first chapter? This is one of those and that was the first problem I had with this book because I like getting to know the characters better before anything happens since that way I feel more connected to them and actually care if something happens.

At the beginning I was also confused because I was expecting Bel to have wings like a dragon or fae since the title of the book is "The Queen's Wing" but then she starts talking about sort of planes. I spent five pages thinking all the people around there were flying on their own and that everyone had wings but once the "planes" were mentioned I had to rethink all the scenery which was super unfortunate but I guess it's my fault for interpreting the title differently.

Then we have the repetitions, this book has a lot of them. I usually don't pay attention to things like this but with this book I found it really distracting because I couldn't stop noticing them and thinking "I get it! You don't have to keep telling me the same thing."

Also there were two times where I felt the events on the story didn't make sense at all. One thing was happening since the beginning and then our MC just completely changed her mind out of nowhere and the other one it was a "revelation" she had but without reasons like she just thought it and it became real.

And lastly, I didn't like who she ended up with. I already explained a bit in the spoiler section but it truly didn't make sense to me, I think everything would have been better if she simply hadn't been in any relationship. I honestly don't see the appeal in the love interest, I would have made the other choice but that was impossible too, unluckily.

To leave this review on a positive note I have to say that I really enjoyed tha characters, especially Bel our MC. She was truly a fighter that didn't want anything else apart from being a good soldier, she was truly a sweetheart and I couldn't help but feel all her pain at having her destiny chosen for her.

Moreover, the different worlds in the setting sounded super interesting to me, I think that would be the reason for me to read the second book if we get to see the other worlds but I guess the second one will take place on the same setting as this one.

All in all, this book had it's great qualities like the characters and the world but the story on itself lacked a lot of sense and the writing has room to improve.

I got what I had expected from this book plus some. I didn’t know much about the book going into it, but I knew enough to be thoroughly intrigued. This book is definitely so,etching out of the ordinary and unlike anything I’ve read in a while. I can’t say much without spoiling anything, but Bel was an interesting and dedicated main character. Even more interesting was Con. He was easily my favorite character, someone so young who has been through such grief and isn’t your average ruler. Jondar was also quite the surprise character. Bel, while I did like her part in the story and her background as a pilot, did read like any average YA heroine. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but she was not the character that stood out to me. I felt like the romance was moving kind of fast, and we didn’t get to see nearly enough of Con and Shae. Not to mention the rest of the empire. Hopefully some of that will be remedied in the sequel. Otherwise, this was a fascinating story with some very interesting elements. I would say more but I guess you’ll just have to read it if you want to find out for yourself. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh science fiction story with a brewing romance.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book was one that took forever for me to start, but once I did I was hooked. Bel was a heroine that I loved from the start and Con was a hero that I came to love quickly. Some of the minor characters did feel a little flat, but Bel, Con, and Shae all felt like they could just jump off the pages. This was a wild ride going places I didn't expect until I looked back to see the clues that were left. All in all, this was a book that I enjoyed from start to finish and kept me reading even on Christmas Day.

This book is really one of a kind. I am especially partial to strong heroines and Bel didn't disappoint.
A girl who just wants her life to be like a smooth ride on her flying machine finds her life turned upside down when she is dispatched to a far off planet to be a pawn in a bloody political game along with her husband-to-be who seems aloof and masks his emotions. There are enemies around every corner and a marriage proposal that was meant to usher in peace goes horribly wrong, plunging planets into an apocalyptic war where the enemies stop at nothing ( even employing Mechas) to destroy, plunder and conquer.
A thrilling read, further accentuated with fluid writing and dialogue, populated with numerous characters integral to the storyline who grow on you as the plot progresses and you begin wishing for a happily ever after even as the plot winds steadily towards a thrilling climax.

I really liked this book even though it broke my heart!

The Queen's Wing hooked me from the start. It was very entertaining and as soon as I started it, I knew I was probably going to enjoy it. I didn't expect it to have a love triangle but it's not something I'm really against. However, something important happened in this book (I'd say in the middle of it?) and I'm not going to spoil you but man, it hurt to the point where I was crying. It also means I was attached to the characters so there's that.

This book was action-packed and I'd recommend it if you enjoy your fantasy with some sci-fi in it!

(I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my review)

Title: The Queen’s Wing
Author: Jessica Thorne
Genre: YA, scifi
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

All Bel wants is to fly. She’d love to spend her days in freedom in her Wasp, preferably with her childhood friend and crush, Shae, but instead she spends her days being trained as a daughter of the aristocracy. Until a surprise attack by the Gravians, longtime enemies of her people, destroys the entire royal family, and Bel finds herself the daughter of the king—and a valuable royal commodity about to be married to the ruler of Anthaeus, a distant planet.

Soon Bel is on a ship headed to meet her future husband, with Shae at her side, as always. But now he’s no longer her friend, he’s the commander of her guards. An attempt to kill her is followed by a thwarted attempt to blow up the ship, and Bel meets her future husband, Conleith, in the furor.

She realizes everything is not okay on Anthaeus when she meets the Gravian representative there, and Con refuses to believe her about the danger the Gravians represent. Soon her worst fears are realized when the Gravians attack and destroy much of Anthaeus and its people, but Bel and Con aren’t ready to surrender yet—and they have a secret weapon on their side.

If I had realized this was a “space opera,” I probably would have skipped it. I enjoyed Bel’s character arc, but the entire plot line felt far too rushed, with very little transition or, sometimes, reason. Frankly, at times this felt like a B-rate scifi movie, although Bel and Con were both interesting characters.

Jessica Thorne lives and works in Ireland. The Queen’s Wing is her newest novel.

(Galley provided by Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.)