I received this book for free from Netgalley, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Conquer the Kingdom by Jennifer EstepSeries: Gargoyle Queen #3
Published by HarperCollins on March 7, 2023
Genres: Action & Adventure, Epic, fantasy, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 432
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley, Publisher
Buy on Bookshop
Magic reigns, plots abound, and a new love might not conquer all, in this must-read finale to the epic Gargoyle Queen trilogy by international bestselling author Jennifer Estep.
Time is running out for crown princess Gemma Ripley. Despite being a cunning spy and a powerful mind magier, Gemma hasn’t been able to track down the most dangerous enemy her kingdom of Andvari has ever seen. Adding to her worries is the Sword and Shield tournament. With gladiators flocking to the capital city of Glanzen, Gemma can’t tell who is friend—or foe.
Determined to protect Andvari at any cost, Gemma hatches a bold plan, but things aren’t what they seem. Soon, everything she holds dear is being threatened, including her burgeoning relationship with Prince Leonidas Morricone.
With the kingdom she holds dear slipping through her fingers, Gemma will have to conquer her fear and unlock the true secret of her magic—or watch her friends and family die and her beloved Andvari fall . . .
I regret that I had to hold this review due to the HarperCollins Strike, however, it seems that they’ve reached a tentative agreement with the union, and I feel badly that the author was caught in the middle of this, so I’m going to go ahead and allow this review to post.
This books is a conclusion to a trilogy, so if you haven’t read the previous two books this review may contain spoilers. [See my reviews of the first and second books in the series.] This series essentially triggered me into reading just about everything Estep has ever written, and I’ve enjoyed all of it. Her Elemental Assassin series is classic urban fantasy, and while I haven’t read it yet, her Mythos Academy series seems to be a nice YA alternative to The-Boy-Wizard-Books-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named (and don’t we need alternatives to that one these days!)
Gemma’s story is immensely enjoyable and this ending is tense and satisfying. I identified more closely with Everleigh from the Crown of Shards series, and I like her better as a protagonist. Gemma’s uncertainty and her girly facade can be irritating in the first couple of books, but it fades as she matures into her power. It’s character growth, I understand that. Gemma starts the series closer to the emotional level of a teenager or new adult, even though if I recall she’s in her late twenties. It was a relief to finally see her letting go of the insecurities that were surely a response to the trauma she endured as a child.
Well? If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re surely late. Hurry up and get started. I’m waiting.
