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rjradic's review
3.0
the plot was so good and so much potential...but needed further editing towards the end. In Chapter 20, the timeline until the duels went from 1 week to 6 days to tomorrow, all in the same scene. The ending was too rushed and two major plotlines weren't dealt with head on (the nameless army and Marcher). I loved the book but where it could've been great it didn't quite make it.
dia_arca_mina's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
mizzlroy's review
4.0
This book was really fun to read and I think fans of Red Queen will love it. I really enjoyed that it is a one and done. Sometimes I hesitate to start a fantasy book because I know it is a three book (minimum) commitment. My students will enjoy this one and I will definitely be recommending it!
sappyfire28's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
secondhandpages's review
4.0
Maybe the best things are nameless....
Ugh. My heart! Is this a stand alone? I need to know - I need to know what happens to Hat! PLEASE TELL ME!
Ya'll this book was SO GOOD! I literally did everything I could to continue reading. It took me longer than an audiobook usually takes me, but that was a me issue - not a book issue.
Coin, Hat, and Ester are perfection, and the villians are delightfully easy to hate!
Full review to come - but I tell you this - GO READ IT and come and gossip with me!
Ugh. My heart! Is this a stand alone? I need to know - I need to know what happens to Hat! PLEASE TELL ME!
Ya'll this book was SO GOOD! I literally did everything I could to continue reading. It took me longer than an audiobook usually takes me, but that was a me issue - not a book issue.
Coin, Hat, and Ester are perfection, and the villians are delightfully easy to hate!
Full review to come - but I tell you this - GO READ IT and come and gossip with me!
thewrittenadventure's review
3.0
Just a generic run of the mill YA fantasy with no real world building that established firm rules about magic.
The story was ok, the characters, except for Coin, were all pretty forgettable.
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy in exchange for my review!
The story was ok, the characters, except for Coin, were all pretty forgettable.
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy in exchange for my review!
worldsunlikeourown's review
3.0
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
3.5 stars
“Some of the best things are Nameless.”
The city of Seriden consists of three classes: the Royals, who are like the aristocracy, the Legals, who make up the working class, and the Nameless, who basically don’t have names, and hence no legal rights. When the ruler of the city dies, they speak the name of their successor out loud and hence transfer the crown tattoo, which grants magical abilities to the heir. But when the tattoo shows up on the arm of a Nameless girl, who goes by Coin, people are outraged, and things quickly get dangerous for her. She understands soon enough that there is no way the Royal Council is actually going to let her reign, much less do something about the Nameless who have been disappearing off the streets of late, but Coin must figure out the secret of how she, a Nameless girl, could have possibly been Named by the late King as heir.
Generally speaking, I enjoyed the story. It was nice to see one of those rare YA fantasy novels with no element of romance in it, choosing instead to focus on the politics of the situation at hand and the disparity between the three social classes. I also really liked the way strong friendships were depicted in this story, and how the Nameless, despite having nothing and nobody of their own still stand by each other and choose their own families, signifying that family is not necessarily just what you are born into.
Sure, there were some new concepts to this tale, but in general it felt like a rinse-repeat scenario of learning to rule while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the kingdom – so not all that original. Then there is the magic system and world-building where it felt like the story was just making up things as it went along. I also felt like the characters were very hard to connect to, even Coin. For someone who has such an interesting background, having grown up on the streets, thieving for a living, her arc in this story was rather bland, and none of her skills ever come into play. Then there’s Glenquartz, a guard at the court, who helps Coin and protects her, but unless I missed it, there’s really no reason given for it except for maybe that as a Legal, he can never rise above a certain rank.
Overall, Nameless Queen was fast paced and enjoyable – a solid debut, and a standalone that was a very satisfying read. As a pretty straightforward book, it also made for a good break since the next few books I have lined up on my TBR are all heavy fantasy or very highly anticipated novels. I’m looking forward to reading more of Rebecca McLaughlin’s works in the future.
3.5 stars
“Some of the best things are Nameless.”
The city of Seriden consists of three classes: the Royals, who are like the aristocracy, the Legals, who make up the working class, and the Nameless, who basically don’t have names, and hence no legal rights. When the ruler of the city dies, they speak the name of their successor out loud and hence transfer the crown tattoo, which grants magical abilities to the heir. But when the tattoo shows up on the arm of a Nameless girl, who goes by Coin, people are outraged, and things quickly get dangerous for her. She understands soon enough that there is no way the Royal Council is actually going to let her reign, much less do something about the Nameless who have been disappearing off the streets of late, but Coin must figure out the secret of how she, a Nameless girl, could have possibly been Named by the late King as heir.
Generally speaking, I enjoyed the story. It was nice to see one of those rare YA fantasy novels with no element of romance in it, choosing instead to focus on the politics of the situation at hand and the disparity between the three social classes. I also really liked the way strong friendships were depicted in this story, and how the Nameless, despite having nothing and nobody of their own still stand by each other and choose their own families, signifying that family is not necessarily just what you are born into.
Sure, there were some new concepts to this tale, but in general it felt like a rinse-repeat scenario of learning to rule while uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the kingdom – so not all that original. Then there is the magic system and world-building where it felt like the story was just making up things as it went along. I also felt like the characters were very hard to connect to, even Coin. For someone who has such an interesting background, having grown up on the streets, thieving for a living, her arc in this story was rather bland, and none of her skills ever come into play. Then there’s Glenquartz, a guard at the court, who helps Coin and protects her, but unless I missed it, there’s really no reason given for it except for maybe that as a Legal, he can never rise above a certain rank.
Overall, Nameless Queen was fast paced and enjoyable – a solid debut, and a standalone that was a very satisfying read. As a pretty straightforward book, it also made for a good break since the next few books I have lined up on my TBR are all heavy fantasy or very highly anticipated novels. I’m looking forward to reading more of Rebecca McLaughlin’s works in the future.
sherwoodreads's review
This is a fast-paced street-urchin-to queen wish fulfillment fantasy that should really please the teen audience it's intended for. First person present tense has become the new fashion in YA, but McLaughlin handles it more naturally than many, with verve, grace and sheer fun.
It's the voice that carries this story. Here's the opening line: I wake up the same way I fell asleep, knife in hand, boots for a pillow, and Nameless.
The Nameless thing is somewhat confusing as actually everyone has a name, it's just that the Nameless (the poor downtrodden peasants or commons) don't have family names. (Which is, if you look at human history, a fairly modern concept in many cultures.) There's a lot about law concerning names, in which magic is bound, and sumptuary laws, that adds to the confusion.
The worldbuilding is pretty much fairy-tale kingdom with a dose of Hollywood backdrop, but that's going to be just fine for the audience the book is aimed at, because it keeps the focus on the action, with lots of daring escapades and duels.
Coin is smart, and it's fun to watch her get All The Powers, but at the heart this book is about family, which I found a refreshing contrast to some of the "angry girls gotta kill" dystopias out there.
McLaughlin is definitely a talent to watch.
Copy provided by NetGalley
It's the voice that carries this story. Here's the opening line: I wake up the same way I fell asleep, knife in hand, boots for a pillow, and Nameless.
The Nameless thing is somewhat confusing as actually everyone has a name, it's just that the Nameless (the poor downtrodden peasants or commons) don't have family names. (Which is, if you look at human history, a fairly modern concept in many cultures.) There's a lot about law concerning names, in which magic is bound, and sumptuary laws, that adds to the confusion.
The worldbuilding is pretty much fairy-tale kingdom with a dose of Hollywood backdrop, but that's going to be just fine for the audience the book is aimed at, because it keeps the focus on the action, with lots of daring escapades and duels.
Coin is smart, and it's fun to watch her get All The Powers, but at the heart this book is about family, which I found a refreshing contrast to some of the "angry girls gotta kill" dystopias out there.
McLaughlin is definitely a talent to watch.
Copy provided by NetGalley