Nameless Queen

Great debut novel. I really enjoyed this story. The social constructs were intriguing. The magical elements add a lot of depth to the story. Great characters and plot progression. It flows well and is an easy read.

A name can be an identity, a future, and power.

Coin has made a living on the streets, a Nameless in a caste system of Royals, Legals and Nameless. She doesn’t know her real name, but when she is impossibly named the heir to the throne, she must fight for her life and for the lives of her people.

A engaging young adult read from debut author Rebecca McLaughlin, set in a well constructed world, with surprising twists and allies along the way.

Coin is a clever heroine, having survived on the streets by her own wits for years when suddenly a new destiny is thrust upon her. She is emotionally distant from others, and doesn’t trust anyone, but over the course of the book we see her long held standards challenged. I admired her determination, fighter’s spirit, she doesn’t back down, and isn’t afraid to play the long game.

There were many fantastic characters, especially strong females. I really liked Esther, Devil, and Hat, with her child-like innocence and enthusiasm. But of course Glenquartz was a fantastic character, and rather unexpected.

Well written, engaging, with great world building, and characters, with a compelling concept and subsequent consequences. I also really liked how this book proved that you don’t need a romantic storyline to tell a killer story, instead focusing on strong themes of friendship, family, power, and identity. Lots of action, and political intrigue, with a satisfying ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Funny, well written, action packed, and thought provoking are just a few of they many ways I would describe this book.
I loved the world building and the political and social aspects of this story. From the treaty and magic to the class based divisions of the society, all of it intrigued and awed me.
The characters and their development is truly the brightest and most fascinating part of this book and I was completely blown away by their depth and variation.
I love Coin. She is one of my all time favorite characters. She is strong, determined, kind, compassionate, clever, and oh so witty. She is a survivor. I could not get enough of her and her introspection and growth throughout was my favorite part of the story.
The rest of the cast was also supremely enjoyable. Hat who shined with optimism and warmth. Glenquartz with his sincerity and kindness. Ester with her determination and moral compass. And Devil with her quirkiness and no nonsense ways. Even the villains of the story are complex and not without merit and I found them fascinating.
The plot was great and had my utterly entranced.
I could not get enough of this story and can’t wait for the sequel. This is a inspiring debut and I am now a lifelong fan of Rebecca McLaughlin’s.

I received an ARC from Netgallery for an honest review.

The Nameless Queen is filled with so much depth. The story takes place in the city of Seriden and follows a young homeless girl with no name except the self designation, Coin. In Seriden the title of King or Queen is passed on just before death with the current ruler saying the name of the future ruler. At that time a crown tattoo as well as certain magical gifts pass to the named heir.

The first layer encountered is the socio-economic divide between the three classes of Seriden. You have the Royals. These people come from families who have passed the crown back and forth throughout the years. For the most part they make up the Council that leads the city. Next you have the Legals. These people would be considered middle class by our standards. They have jobs, homes, and food but things are not always what they seem. Not all Legals are created equal but all Legals are considered citizens of Seriden. Lastly you have the Nameless. The Nameless have no home, no job, they must steal or con for the food and clothing they have, they are not considered citizens, and they have no names other then the ones they give themselves. So, without a name how does a Nameless girl end up the next heir and with the crown tattoo?

Being Nameless is a lonely existence. You can only rely on yourself. You need to fight and work hard for every little thing you obtain. It can be risky to develop relationships or friendships with others. The slightest infraction can get you arrested and the Royals would rather execute you then waste time caring for a prisoner. Despite this, Coin forms an alliance with a younger girl called Hat. Throughout the story you can see the way Coin constantly keeps Hat at arms length while at the same time going to great lengths to ensure Hat’s safety. It is during one such instance that Coin’s crown tattoo is revealed and she is outed as the heir apparent.

The final layer is an understanding of what Shakespeare himself made so famous, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Basically a name is merely a label. It does not define us. We are defined by our actions, who we are, and how we present ourselves. Coin had a chance to learn her real name but learning that name would not change where she came from, how she had lived her life, or the person she chose to become.

Rebecca McLaughlin tells an engaging story. She built a wonderful world with enchanting characters. These contracts are presented in a manner to make the reader think hard about their own life without getting in the way of the story being told. I enjoyed the Nameless Queen and highly recommend it.