The Queen Underneath

March 1, 2018
In this debut novel, the fate of a land rests on two young rulers with little in common.In Yigris, there is Above and there is Under. Above are the nobles, ruled by a king. Under is home to thieves, assassins, and the queen who leads them. But the balance shifts when both rulers are assassinated and their heirs, Gemma and Tollan, must work together to save their people and Yigris. Gemma has spent most of her life preparing to be queen of Under, but nothing could have truly prepared her for this monumental task. Now she must rely on her training, a trusted band of friends, and a sheltered prince to stop a devastating war. Filak plays with interesting concepts of female empowerment: While Above is inherently patriarchal and misogynistic, Under is liberated and led by women. Although Gemma and the world of Under come vividly to life, other aspects of the novel fall flat. Readers will appreciate Gemma's strength and wit, but Tollan is frustratingly ineffectual and ends up feeling more like a plot device than a central character. Gemma is white, and Tollan is dark-skinned as well as being gay and exploring his sexuality.While a glorious celebration of female power, this novel doesn't quite fulfill its immense potential. (Fantasy. 16-adult)

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March 15, 2018
Grades 10-1 The world of Yigris is split in half: the aristocratic Above is full of luxury and manners, while the darker Under shelters thieves, criminals, and sex workers. When the respective monarchs of the two halves of the world die in the same mysterious manner, their chosen successors must find the truth. Gemma, a thief and the new Queen of Under, takes Tollan, who would be King of Above if he wasn't accused of murder, under her wing in this exciting fantasy adventure. Seeing both sides of Yigris confuses and disturbs the noble Tollan, while Gemma shines as she grows more powerful. What they discover about their different worlds will throw them for a loop and push them toward each other. Readers will root for Gemma in her new role as a powerful woman at the head of a powerful group that others see as criminal. This is a fast-paced and fun first novel that gives readers an exciting new world to explore. An easy, gripping read for older readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)