It has been a while since I read a new YA fantasy but it used to be a genre I read all the time. My tastes have since broadened and I’ve found a deeper affinity with other genres as I’ve got older but I was really looking forward to picking up a new release and perhaps dipping my toes back into it.

In Timbuktu, Mali, Amie is the youngest daughter of a wealthy merchant who was once promised to her handsome lover, Kader. But since vicious rumours about her were spread, her life has fallen apart and she is now a serving girl to Princess Mariama and forbidden from seeing Kader. The princess’ father sets trials for her suitors and when they inevitably fail, he publicly boils them alive but Mariama is determined to stop this brutal ritual. Then Kader shows up with a plan for he and Amie to escape Timbuktu and be together but Amie is drawn to Mariama and as much as she wants to run away to a life with Kader, she also wants to help her friend’s cause.

The stories of Mariama’s mother and her father’s mistress are the perfect examples of how women are treated in this society. Any deviation from what is expected or defiance against their men sees them severely punished, in some cases permanently. This comes up often in the narrative and illustrates the stakes that these women are truly up against and that so many women in certain parts of the world still face.

Mariama gets a sudden surge of self-confidence and maturity when she becomes determined to end the trials. It’s almost as if the pain and death that she has witnessed has hardened her and her real, sensitive self simply can’t take it anymore. I know that this is a real trauma response and Mariama has definitely seen plenty of dark, disgusting deaths, so it makes sense. That and the fact that she has finally found the courage and means to put an end to the horrors of the trials. I believe that the story of Mariama’s suitors and the trials is inspired by a Malian folktale. I don’t know how that story ends but I imagine that the author has given it a happier, feminist rewriting, which obviously I’m all for.

In one of the early chapters, Amie sees a scorpion on the windowsill of her bedroom just as she’s drifting off the sleep. This was the first reference to scorpions in the book and although I didn’t know the significance of them yet, I really felt convinced that Amie was right in her assumption that it was a bad omen. I really wanted this strand and the scorpion motif to be a stronger feature. We do find out the meaning of the scorpion but a lot of this information doesn’t come until quite close to the end. It obviously is going to be a series though, so I’d imagine this knowledge will build in future instalments.

The Scorpion Queen is a very easy read and there were some genuinely scary scenes. The magic is subtle and I really enjoyed the relationships between Amie and the other serving girls, Penda and Jeneba. I’m not completely sure why this first book has the title it has, as I’m still not quite sure who the title refers to but the beginnings of that are there, so I’m sure that will be developed. Its simple sentences and sparse world-building might not appeal to regular fantasy readers but for someone who is either new to it or just getting back into it like me, it’s highly enjoyable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC Review

This was a really unique and interesting fantasy story; I am yet to come across another based in Africa.

Amie’s character is fresh and her journey is really engrossing - packed with political and magical intrigue.

There is great character development alongside an exciting story, based on a Malian fairytale.

The changing environments of palace/ court life to the deserts and then onwards were fascinating and I really enjoyed the read.

Themes/Tropes:
Mid Fantasy, YA, Mythology, Magical Artifact, Survival, Trials, Coming of Age, Damsel in Distress, Tragic Backstory, Emotional Scars, Forbidden Love, Arranged Marriage, Gods & Magic.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

0/5 🌶️

This book had a lot of potential but sadly I struggled quite a bit with it.

Its very slow paced and I found myself losing interest in it.

The story was a great premise and the world building was quite interesting.

I would read more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Books for providing me with this arc

This is not typically what I'd grab off the shelf, but something about it kept me turning pages. Let me break it down for you.
First off, the world-building is absolutely fantastic! The author really knocked it out of the park creating this rich, detailed historical setting that feels like you could step right into it. I found myself getting lost in all the little details and atmosphere - definitely the book's strongest point.

But fair warning: this one moves at a GLACIAL pace. Like, seriously slow. If you're the type who enjoys savouring every little detail and doesn't mind a story that takes its sweet time getting where it's going, you might love this approach. For me? There were definitely moments when I was thinking "come onnnn, let's get moving!"

Also, I had this weird disconnect with the main female character for most of the book. Kept waiting to really root for her or feel invested in what happened to her, but that connection just never fully clicked.

The ending though? THAT CLIFFHANGER! Totally didn't see it coming and now I'm sitting here like "wait, you can't just end it THERE!" Despite my mixed feelings about other parts of the book, I'm genuinely curious if there's going to be a sequel because they left us hanging in a major way.

An interesting plot and not one that I’m particularly use to, I like how it’s a historical fiction. I loved the world building within this book however is a slow pace book. I didn’t find myself rooting for the FMC most of the time. I am intrigued if there will be another book as it was left on a pretty big cliffhanger!

This was a slow paced story, that I ultimately enjoyed in the end, it just took a while to get there.

3.5 Star Review of The Scorpion Queen by Mina Fears

Mina Fears delivers a captivating tale of betrayal, mythology, and self-discovery in The Scorpion Queen. Exploring Amie’s world—her culture, gods, and journey from servant to something greater—was both refreshing and immersive. Amie is a complex heroine; her tragic backstory makes you root for her, but her choices can be frustrating, adding depth to her character. The romantic dynamics are compelling, with love interests that tug her in different emotional directions, leaving readers just as torn as she is.

While the story’s pacing stumbles in places, especially during the quest’s buildup and pivotal moments, it still manages to keep you hooked with its sharp twists and turns. The travel sequences avoid dragging, but the destination could’ve used more intensity to match the stakes. As the first in a series, this debut sets up plenty of intrigue for what’s to come. If you’re into mythology, morally gray characters, and a touch of romance, this is worth a read!

Thank you for letting me read this book.

I enjoyed the story and the plot. It was very different from what I have read before, and I am looking forward to the next installment in the series. The pacing of the story was mostly steady, with only a few moments where it slowed down. I appreciated the flow of the book and the development of the characters.

If you like fantasy with a epic plot you should read this book. I will never like at a kettle the same again!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an arc of this book. Unfortunately this was not a complete win for me. So the positives I did enjoy the culture and the vibes it gave of Aladdin mixed with the hunger games so that was something a little bit different and I didn’t mind the writing style it was easy to read. However the plot for me did feel a little bit flat for me and the characters for me didn’t really stand out so couldn’t really root for any of the characters. I would try something else form the author but this one didn’t really work for me which is a shame. 3 stars

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Great idea, subpar execution. I enjoyed the worldbuilding, but was let down by the plot and characters. The interactions between them were superficial, and the plot was really predictable.

The Scorpion Queen is sadly a disappointing take on what could be a very exciting YA fantasy inspired by Malian folklore.

This is an interesting concept, but the delivery fell flat. I loved the setting and even with the minimal world building I was still immersed in the story. I adored the folklore and the gods. I wish we could have explored that further and liked the stories within the story aspect.

Unfortunately, the characterisations were poor; all of the characters lacked depth and the growth of the FMC was very superficial. This element really impacted my ability to enjoy the book and meant that I wasn’t invested in any of the characters.

Overall, I think this will still appeal to a YA audience who are new to the low fantasy genre.

At first glance, Princess Mariama lives a charmed life at the imperial palace in Timbuktu with servants catering for her every need. But deep within the palace walls, a terrible trial takes place for the princess’s hand in marriage. Ninety-nine suitors have died and the princess is determined to end the carnage before another life is lost.

Framed for a crime she didn’t commit, Amie has lost everything. Her family, her status, her love. Forced into service for the emperor’s daughter she dreams of nothing but escape and a chance to be reunited with her childhood sweetheart.

unfortunately this book didn’t leave much of an impression on me. the bi love triangle was breath of fresh air but overall i just found that the characters lack the strength to hold the story up. i was left more frustrated rather than invested in them, especially with mariama. amie did grow on me toward the end though — a small victory for this book.

The Scorpion Queen by Mina Fears completely swept me off my feet. As someone who doesn't read a lot of books with minimal romance, I was surprised—and delighted—by how much this book gripped me. Mina Fears’ writing was wonderful with descriptions so vivid that I could feel the desert’s heat and hear the rustle of silk in the Emperor’s halls. The pacing was perfect, delivering just the right mix of intrigue, emotion, and magic to keep me turning pages late into the night.

Amie’s loss from the privileged daughter of a wealthy salt merchant to a servant in the palace immediately hooked me. Her fall from grace felt so real, I couldn’t help but root for her as she dealt with her new reality. Amie was navigating a world full of secrets, danger, and forbidden magic. The way magic had been woven into this world was subtle but so exciting— I couldn't help but wanting more.

What truly hooked me, though, was Amie’s internal battle: the clash between her longing for the life she lost and her growing sense of purpose in the one she’s building. It made her such a good character, one I couldn’t stop thinking about even after I closed the book. Her encounters with the Emperor’s daughter and the other richly developed characters added layers of complexity to her journey. Each relationship felt authentic with the right amount of communication and feeling, no matter how big or small those interactions were.

The ending left me both satisfied and desperate for more. Amie’s story is one of courage, loss, and self-discovery, and I can’t wait to see where her path leads next. If you’re looking for a book with stunning world-building, a strong and relatable heroine, and just the right touch of magic, The Scorpion Queen is an absolute must-read.

The world building was amazing, unfortunately, the characters fell flat in comparison - annoying, boring, and just dull! I DNF'd at around 20%

Although I quite liked the world building in this book, the characters were all pretty annoying! The plot was slow to start but picked up later on, and I did think the ending was good. Not sure I'll ever reread this one though!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

DNF at 7%

Maybe I'll give it another chance before the release date but I'm not holding my breath. The writing is basic. The MC is a bore. The story is tired. This is not what I expect fromy YA fantasy.

Wow, this was such a great read - full of far more twists and turns than I had anticipated. I felt for Amie throughout this book, betrayed, hurt and used, over and over again by people who could only think of themselves. Even Jeneba turned out to be better for her than almost anyone she encountered! A truly great read, and it was so good to read a novel based on a Malian fairytale with Gods and magic. A little bit of a queer-baity blurb, as there was no hints of anything approaching a love triangle until the final chapter, but a strong read nonetheless.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

This book was decently paced and I enjoyed that the protagonist was queer which bumped up the book a little.

I feel like we were told so much information instead of it being shown to us when it comes to why something was happening.

At the beginning we find out very quickly why she is in the position she’s in and then later in the book all is forgiven very quickly.

The main character was likeable but she wasn’t my favourite because we didn’t see any progression in her because we were told and not shown barely any developments in the characters

An interesting plot that starts slow but really picks up the pace, that features lots of twists and turns centred around a deadly competition. We also have a FMC who I would describe as morally grey but some may see as someone they can't root for.