— 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.)

I recieved an Arc through netgalley for an honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

"Kick anything long and hard enough and it will bite back. The meanest among us still have teeth"

Bel is apart of the royal line... far far down the royal line. All she wants to do is fly her wasp and command her own wing just like her mother did. When she is shot down from the sky by invading Gravians she discovers that the entire royal line has been attacked, and she is now the only princess of their world. Bel is then sent to the planet Anthaues to wed their king and forge an alliance, with her royal guards who used to be her friends, but she is conflicted between the boy she always loved and her duty to her world. And her husband to be has secrets, as bel is exposed to the new world she must accept her new fate and try not to be killed in the process.

✅Wonderful writting!
✅Warrior princess, intergalactic alliances, mecas, spaceships, a world under attack, an ancient race, love and loss... It's an epic story
✅Love is Love
✅Beautiful world building
✅Love triangle(s)
✅Sci-fi/Fantasy

❌I have nothing bad to say here!!

This book took me completely by suprise. I thought I was getting a princes who marrys a far away king and loves to fly (magic?). What i got was aliens, wars, battle ships, assassination attempts, a badass wasnt-supposed-to-be-a-princess princess, a little love is Love, a king who actually has some skills, love triangle(s) and a whole lot of epicness. It's safe to say I loved this book. I loved the story, i loved the writting style, i loved the plot twists, the only thing i didn't like is now it's over and I have to wait until the next book is out! Well done Jessica on your Debut novel. It was outstanding! I dont put my books in order but it is deffinatly in my top 5 of 2018!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I want to start out by saying I’m not really a sci-fi / space fan. That being said this book is AMAZING!!!
I kept wondering what was going to happen next. The story appears to be a typical princess is married off to a stranger to build an alliance but it’s just so much more than that. I feel this story could have been two books with everything inside. The plot is so unexpected at times and the characters are some of my new favorites. Bel is such a great heroine and the way the author builds her up so perfectly. I’m even happier that it will have a second book.
This novel is worth the read and should not be over looked. And I HIGHLY recommend it even if it’s not your usual genre.
I received an advance copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very first book written by Ms. Thorne and I can say that she did a GREAT job! This reading was o enjoyable and intriguing.
Characters were growing and for sure I had so much fun following events thru Bel's eyes as her character was strong and knew her ground to the core. Secondary characters were full-blooded and iI also was able to feel them.
Events (with sci-fi background) worked so so good) and I had not expected that as I'm not sci-fi fun (as much), but here I am beaming at this book and NEEDING next book right now!
Great characters, fascinating world, and events that will grip you in the middle!

The Queen's Wing is rare as it is a complete sci-fi/fantasy book so it was fast paced, unique and full of questions and answers. Excellent characterisation, good plot with action, romance and suspense.
I've already preordered the sequel!

A new world, princesses, and an ancient race. Who wouldn't love that? Princess Belangaria just wanted to be free... Free to fly, free to live her own life, and free to love. With one swoop, everything Bel knows is taken from her and she must learn to live in a world not her own.
I loved Bel's strength. Through it all, she never gives up. She's taken from everything she knows and forced into a diplomatic marriage. Attempts are made on her life, and she never stops fighting. When the threat follows her to this new land, she is the only one who can lead her people to victory.
The descriptions were remarkable. I could see everything through Bel's eyes. It was all fresh and new and slightly terrifying. Emotions ran high through the entire book with barely a chance to breathe between events. I would not have it any other way in a book. It's been a while since I loved a fantasy book as much as I did this one.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Link to blog: https://thatreadhead1.wordpress.com/2018/12/06/review-the-queens-wing-by-jessica-thorne/
I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley
This was such an awesome book! It started off so good, and then the sci-fi aspect of it evolved, and it really blossomed! I adored the writing style, the characters, the relationships, all of the original things that this story brought to the table. It isn't often I read a sci-fi story set in space, I'm more into fantasy, but this just really gave me hope XD Blended sci-fi and fantasy together perfectly.
I cannot believe how much I need #2 right now! This book was so gripping and entertaining, and the story just flew by! To be honest the cover really doesn't do it justice. One of the best books I've read in such a long time!! I need more!

The Queen's Wing surprised me - because I went in this book with very wrong expectations.
From the synopsis that I read and remembered I expected court politics, assasination attempts, and intrigue in a magical fantasy world. A strong female character that has a love for flying (and I thought the "flyer" was something magical) and has to leave her home for politics, struggling with finding her place. Thats my jam.
What I received was a SciFi (+) romance (-), full on with a love triangle trope (--), with some aliens sprinkled on top. If done right and how it hits me in the right spot, I love a good alien story.
So this book took me by surprise. I do not know if I might have loved this book if I knew I was getting a romance triangle with a storyline including aliens and mechanical creatures.

Overall the worldbuilding starts out nice but I think it could have gone a lot deeper, taken me in a lot more. The writing style was okay, I liked it enough to enjoy the story, but it did not grip me and draw me in.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters but they still felt a little flat and one dimensional. I did not care much for the romance/triangle but how the triangle trope was stopped still broke my heart.
There is a lot of potential in this wonderful world and with these characters. I would love to see more development and more insight into some of the side characters like Elara.

I think a lot of people might really love this book who would be into the type of book this actually is, not what it is advertised at. I really hope that it will reach them and not turned down due to this almost false advertising.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an eARC of The Queen's Wing by Jessica Thorne

I absolutely enjoyed this book. The trials and tragedies of war. The strength of character newly found along with bravery. Bel (Belengaria) went from soldier/pilot to Queen in a matter of weeks because of an arrangement between worlds. She manages to save her world, earn her new people's love and adoration, and the love of the man whom she was arranged to marry. Can't wait for the next book.

I ended up DNF-ing this one. I really liked the steampunk aspects, but the writing style wasn't flowing for me. I was beginning to get confused with the world building and it ended up boring me a few chapters through. I think I just wasn't in the mood for reading this, so I may be returning to it at some point in the future.

I couldn't get myself invested in the fantasy world from the get go. I loved the cover and thought the description was interesting but I couldn't get hooked.

I’m not usually one for aliens and space ships, preferring dragons and magic to advanced technology, but I loved this book.
Bel is a typical Vairian citizen- she was born and raised to be a warrior, to fight and fly in defense of the vast galactic empire. All Bel wants is to be a pilot like her mother before her, and she is close to achieving her goal when a bomb is dropped on her plans. Literally. With one attack, the enemy wipes out the leaders of the Vairian people and as the last of the ruling bloodline, no matter how far-flung the connection, Bel becomes royalty. Bartered off in marriage to cement a strategic alliance, Bel travels to the plant Anthaeus to marry it’s king, Conleith. Accompanied by a small troop of soldiers from home and her childhood friend and crush Shae, Bel must learn how to navigate foreign politics and somehow bond with the man she is supposed to marry. Then Anthaeus is attacked, and Bel must use all of her training to keep herself and her people free.
I loved the slow-burn romance in this book. It was woven into the plot and seemed to naturally unfold. I found Bel a sympathetic character. She is a realist and a fighter thrust into the role of a politician and a diplomat. Her learning curve is steep, and I enjoyed watching her fill her new role. Bel holds onto duty even in the face of misery- ahh, I mean marriage- and I appreciated the frank discussions she has with supporting characters when they simply tell her to suck it up- they are raised to join the military, after all. That kind of dialogue is refreshing when a lot of these books have a tendency to be overly broody. I won’t spoil the ending, but my inner romance reader was almost completely satisfied with it. I will definitely be picking up the next book.
I would recommend the Queen’s Wing for fans who enjoyed The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski, Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, The Winter King by C.L. Wilson and Graceling by Kristin Cashore.

While The Queen’s Wing seems like a steampunk fantasy from its cover and synopsis, I feel it is more accurate to call it science fiction or space opera. The worlds in this novel are planetary kingdoms, and our protagonist, Bel is a recently-crowned princess of a military kingdom that has been given in marriage to a planetary kingdom outside the Empire’s zone, in hopes of making an alliance. Bel’s travel to this mysterious planet with a mystical king-like is fraught with assassinations, and a threat in the form of another planet that wants to steal resources. While Bel is initially reluctant to leave her own kingdom to marry a stranger, and moreover give up on her love, her childhood friend and now bodyguard, Shae, she grows into her role slowly as she comes to admire, respect and eventually love her fiance, Con.

The Queen’s Wing alternates between being sci-fi with its space travel and all, with a touch of steampunk, as is the technology on Anthaeum, and being a political drama in the vein of Jupiter Ascending (movie) or The Diabolic (book). Bel’s introduction to her new subjects is tinged with the prejudice most of the galaxy has regarding her kingdom, that they are barbarians who love war. Bel herself has been raised like a soldier and a lady, which makes her place her duty above her feelings most of the time, and leads to most of the conflict in her personal development. She knows she is the anchor of the alliance, but in her heart also wants to just run away with Shae to some distant part of the galaxy, away from the Empress’ schemes. (Actually, I am hoping we get to see the Empress and her capital at some point during the series because court intrigue is what I am looking forward to) Con’s attachment to his planet develops the fantasy element of the novel, though that could also be argued to be sci-fi; it is both in a way.

The writing of the book was good, and I loved the extent of world building it provided – just enough to not overwhelm you, but also rich enough to fill the necessary background. Only Con’s first marriage was much of a mystery during a significant part of the novel, mostly because I was fretting over his age (it never mentions how long he was married, only that he was very young) but it is explained later on what the nature of the relationship was. Still, with the love triangle, I was worried about more angst coming from Con’s side due to that, that didn’t really need to be there. As for Shae, I was not interested in his relationship with Bel because I am tired of first loves who suddenly vocalize their feelings right when it is most inconvenient for the protagonist.

Overall, an interesting and engaging scifi novel, which I hope to see more of.