A Queen in Hiding

October 14, 2019
Spanning the course of 12 years, Kozloff’s sweeping debut fantasy, the first in the Nine Realms series, introduces a vast cast and an intricate universe. After a political betrayal, Queen Cressa of Weirandale is exiled. She joins her husband on the high seas, working to wipe out the threat of piracy as part of her long-term plan to retake the throne, and sends her eight-year-old daughter, Cerulia, into hiding with a common family who know the child as Wren. As the years pass, Wren develops the ability to communicate with animals and Cressa’s quest takes a tragic turn. Meanwhile, Weirandale’s regent, Matwyck, searches for the missing princess, seeing her as a threat. Elsewhere, a group of zealots from the kingdom of Oromondo invade their neighboring countries, leading to a guerilla war. This series opener is literary, ambitious, and epic in scope, but it is unclear how the disparate plot threads will connect, and the novel ends just as the story picks up. Readers will be left hooked but unsatisfied. Agent: Nell Pierce, Sterling Lord Literary.

Narrator Imogen Church's rich voice pilots listeners through Queen Cressa and Princess C�rulia's quest to lead their kingdom through political turmoil and war. Church capably meets the challenge of a diverse group of characters, embodying them and pivoting from one point of view to another from chapter to chapter. In doing so, she ensures that listeners remain fully immersed in the story. As C�rulia's unique talents manifest, Church dynamically increases the bravery and commitment in her voice. Magic, politics, and war are smoothly traversed, leaving listeners feeling this story even after it ends. J.O. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine