Series: None
Author: Rhiannon Thomas
Published February 21st 2017 by HarperTeen
Goodreads Synopsis
Freya was never meant be queen. Twenty third in line to the throne, she never dreamed of a life in the palace, and would much rather research in her laboratory than participate in the intrigues of court. However, when an extravagant banquet turns deadly and the king and those closest to him are poisoned, Freya suddenly finds herself on the throne.
Freya may have escaped the massacre, but she is far from safe. The nobles don’t respect her, her councillors want to control her, and with the mystery of who killed the king still unsolved, Freya knows that a single mistake could cost her the kingdom – and her life.
Freya is determined to survive, and that means uncovering the murderers herself. Until then, she can’t trust anyone. Not her advisors. Not the king’s dashing and enigmatic illegitimate son. Not even her own father, who always wanted the best for her, but also wanted more power for himself.
As Freya’s enemies close in and her loyalties are tested, she must decide if she is ready to rule and, if so, how far she is willing to go to keep the crown.
Goodreads
Review
As you probably know already, I love any book that has royalty in it, and this one was no different. As soon as I heard about Long May She Reign, I knew I needed to get a copy as soon as, and when my order arrived, I immediately dove in. Following Freya as she tries to navigate the poisonous court, we see how poisonous isn’t just a good adjective to describe the place, but what actually happens. Initially only 23rd in line to the throne, a fluke which meant she didn’t attend a banquet - rather, she was in her laboratory working - led to her being the sole survivor of a horrific massacre, and the new queen. Though the massacre may be over, she is still a target for whoever it was who wanted rid of the entire royal family, and Freya just doesn’t know who she can turn to or trust. None of the nobles left respect her - she’s just the weird scientist girl who they had to tolerate due to her being royalty - and nothing is working out. The only person who is willing to give her a chance is the illegitimate son of the old king, Fitzroy, but he’s the main suspect for the poisoning. As more comes to light about the deaths of over 400 people, Freya learns how to cope with her new found power, and more about herself. The
Even though Freya is in the most important role of her life, Queen of Epria, it’s a role she never asked for, and, quite frankly, one she so could’ve done without. Freya is a shy and socially awkward character, and because of her anxiety, she’s mainly at home in her laboratory, alone. Being thrust before the whole country, where the court is filled with gossip and backstabbing, she struggles, and because of those struggles, she endeared herself to the audience more and more. Over time her character grew, and she became more confident in herself, and in her new role.
Though not a large part to the plot, there was a bit of romance between Freya and Fitzroy. He may have been one of the main suspects for the murders, but he was about the only person who believed in Freya, and everything he did was to try and help her cope with the pressure, and not undermine her from the inside. I really enjoyed these two together, and thought that they helped each other grow, rather than take away anything.
I might have loved the book, and give it 5 stars, if not for the ending. It just seemed rushed, and a bit disjointed, if I’m being honest. The big reveal about the murderer, and why they had done it, was far too rushed, and the punishment was ridiculous. Because of all of this, I could only give the book 4 stars, but I did still really enjoy it, and would recommend it for the most part.
Dates Read:
April 27-May 1, 2017
Rating
4 Stars
April 27-May 1, 2017
Rating
4 Stars
