So, I really wanted to love this book. And for the first half, I did. But then it started to drop off pretty quickly. I’m not sure exactly what it was but the first half of the story almost didn’t seem connected to the second half.

I think my biggest struggle with this book is that while I loved the space fantasy feel to it, and the world the author is trying to have us imagine seems really cool, I struggled to actually imagine it. In the beginning the writing was phenomenal, and the author has skill describing places and atmosphere with a poetic elegance. I could picture the landscapes, the planets, the starships and buildings but when it came to the people, they were much more one-dimensional. If the whole book had just been about the world, that would have been great. With the exception of the Rondet, because to be perfectly honest I think that whole aspect of the book ruined it for me. I know they’re supposed to be the ancestors of the whole society but it was just creepy and weird. *spoiler* Trying to imagine large, flying crystal dragonflies that aren’t supposed to look silly, are super powerful but somehow get blown-up by one grenade, just felt like too much of a stretch to me…*spoiler* I think the author could’ve been just fine without the Rondet, or just maybe a different version of them.

As far as the characters being one-dimensional, by the end of the book I still felt like I hadn’t connected to any of them. Bel was a hard heroine to really like sometimes, her changing personality made her difficult to relate to. She was so unwilling to emotionally attach to anyone except for her clinginess with Shae that it made me as a reader distant from all the other characters too. Plus, she acted like she was this big warrior the entire book even though she kept having to be rescued by other people. Con was one of my favorites but even he seemed to change personality from kind and eccentric to crazed and mercurial throughout the book. Shae was just annoying with his gruffness and he was supposed to be this amazing warrior but we never really got to see any of that demonstrated. The whole side plot with Jondar was just unnecessary politically correct filler, it didn’t seem to actually fit to me. I would’ve liked to see his character utilized some other way. Like with his swordsmanship abilities, it could have been interesting to see him teach Bel how to use older weaponry. A character that suprised me was Elara. Ironically I think I started liking her more than Bel there for a little bit, so I was disappointed to see where her story went at the end of the book.

The romance between Bel and Con was good, but it came across as undeveloped. I’m a sucker for political marriage turned romance, but this one never really lived up to its immense potential. There were some great moments between the two characters, like the ballroom scene (it would’ve been great to push off the reveal of Con being the lion to a later point in the book, that way it could’ve been more romantic when she found it was him and not so bleh), that could’ve really made their relationship more believable, but in the end their moments were just too brief and moments that might’ve been great never happened, like Con saying he would take Bel to see the mechanical horses. He had an entire kingdom and they never explored it, they were hardly even together and then when they were they were either arguing, with the Rondet or in peril so there just isn’t enough time in the book for what moments they do have to breathe. Too much explanation not enough of them just interacting. By the end I was still questioning if she actually loved Con, which I don’t think I was supposed to be. Plus the old flames between them did just make things awkward, and not in a way that created better resolution.

There’s a lot of potential in this series. I just came away from this book feeling like I had been dropped into a world that, while interesting, was pieced together and not completely finished. Maybe it’s supposed to be that way and we’re learning more of the world’s history with Bel as she goes along, but that’s more difficult if you can’t even identify with the heroine herself. I just feel like the promise I started out with in the first half is not what I ended up with. There was more drama, romance and intrigue in the first half where the second felt rushed and disconnected. I’m hoping maybe the second will be better. I hope that with the way the book ended romance-wise for Con and Bel that things can only go up from here but you never know. Overall the writing in this book was captivating even if it did seem like it didn’t flow together sometimes. I enjoyed the world, I wish I knew the characters better because I feel like if I did this series would be a real knockout.

I have to admit, this book was so much more than what I was expecting! Jessica Thorne has given us some new and unique characters and experiences for Bel that I have not ever read about before and I have read lots of books! The characters are well developed and draw you in to the story from the very beginning. Bel is not your typical princess girly, girl. I think that is what I liked about her most of all.

Belengaria (Bel) of Vairian is a pilot and thinks that that is her calling in life, to fly her wasp and do it to the best of her ability. While Bel is out one day flying, the unimaginable happens and the whole royal family that is in charge at the time is whipped out by the Gravians (the enemy). Bel ends up having some trouble with her wasp and crashes. When Shea comes to help Bel, he informs her that she is now a princess. Her father who is the grandson of the Vairian King is now in charge as well. This is so hard for Bel to wrap her mind around, but she has to quickly do so in order to give orders that need to be followed. Bel giving orders?? This is insane!

Once things sort of settle down, Bel learns that she is going to be betrothed to Conleith of Anthaem. There is nothing Bel can do to change this situation, so she just hopes that he is someone that she can get along with. Bel has had a crush on Shae forever, which now is her in charge bodyguard.

Bel has a lot to learn about Anthaem and the people there are not fond of her because she is an outsider. As time goes on and Con and Bel get to know each other a little more, Bel also falls in love with Anthaem. Bel is determined to do her part and make everyone proud of her. This story was really well thought out and put together. I am excited for the next book in the series and to see what all is next for Bel. Great read!

An intriguing and promising concept, but the writing style was too dry and the author shared lots of background and history of the different warring planets all at once in the beginning. There is action and a forbidden romance, but they seem to hide between large sections of info-dumps.

I loved that story, the setting was really well done and once i started it i couldn't put it down !
The pacing was great and the book touched different subjects. The characters were well made and i really want to know what happens next in the story !

When I first read the synopsis for the book I had a different idea of what this book was going to be. Instead it surprised me by being different from the Selection. While I enjoyed Con and Bell I did not enjoy the long drawn out awkward romance with Shae. It felt like she was saying she loved him while not showing it.
All in all this was very different than what I was expecting but that made it into it's own story. Perfect for anyone who enjoys a love triangle that turns into true love.
Received an egalley from Netgalley.

This books is awesome.. is that kind of book you wish you can erase your memory so you can read it again and again.. And I have to be honest, when I pick it up, I imagined the book will be different, that maybe she flies, that she has some kind of power, well I find out that actually she flies a plane, a machine. So anyway I give it a chance..

And I completely love the book, you really get into the story.. At the beginning, I thought was a little bit similar with The Selection, with Shae and Bel, but then you keep reading and you realize that The Selection and The Queen´s Wing, don´t have anything in common.

The characters are awesome, Con is so sweet, so handsome, smart, mysterious and almost so perfect, I really love him. Then we have Bel, she is the princess, the future queen, but she is a warrior, she is brave, she doesn´t walk away of a battle field, just because she is the princess, she is loyal, strong, fearless. And in the secondary characters I love her bodyguards, omg they are so funny!! The bodyguards are the ones that make the book funny.

The way the author develops the book is perfect, she gives you the necessary info to keep you questioning and intrigued. She just knows the correct way to keep your attention. Also the idea of The Rondet, I love it, is unique. At the beginning I was like.. What in the World is that?? But oh, I love them!! And I´m really really want to see them again in the next book.

There are just one thing that I don´t like about the book, all the book, we read about, Bel being in love with Shae, we read that again and again, but it doesn´t look in that way. For example Bel was so willing to spend time with Con, also she said once something about never been alone with Con. And if she really is in love with Shae she will be happy that she doesn´t have to spend time with a man that she doesn´t love. So to be honest I really don´t buy the story about she been in love with him.

So because of that I will give to The Queen´s Wing a 4.5 stars, and by the way, I really really love when the name of the book connects with the story, and in this book, that part was so so epic!!

I got and Arc from netgalley in change of and honest review, everything in my review is my own opinion.

#TheQueensWing #NetGalley
I was born to fly,’ I told my brothers. But it isn’t true. I was born to be a pawn in the great game of royal houses, married to someone – anyone – my family deems suitable. If I’m lucky, he’ll be my own age and bearable. If I’m very lucky, he’ll be someone who understands my need to fight, and to fly...

Bel, born to nobility, would do anything to spend her days alongside her brothers – soaring through the heavens in her beloved flyer. She’s faster than any of them, but she knows her days in the skies are numbered.

When a surprise attack on the palace lands Bel’s father on the throne, her life is forever changed. In order to secure her father’s empire, Bel must travel to a distant land to marry the recently widowed young ruler, Conleith.

But Bel’s new home is less than welcoming: compared to the refined ladies at court, Bel seems like a wild woman, and assassination attempts, treason and mystery threaten her at every turn. With a growing attraction to Con, her life is further complicated by the attentive leader of her bodyguards – a warrior called Shae whom she has loved since childhood…

A heart-stoppingly magical new novel that will keep you turning the pages. Perfect for fans of The Selection, Bella Forrest and Sarah J. Maas.

This book was oh so hard to put down. Bel spent the book making Conleith, and his people and even the readers fall in love with her character. She was courageous, brave, strong, weak, loving, so many wonderful traits. I can't wait to read more in the series.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this wonderful book as an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I requested this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up loving this book so much. Jessica Thorne does a wonderful job of creating a world and characters that you can't help but fall in love with. There is so great tension between Bel and her male counterparts, Shae and Con. Shae is someone she has known forever and longed for that long too. However, when Con comes into her life in an unexpected way, she's surprised by the feelings she develops for him as well. While her emotions are struggling to find their path, alliances are waiting to be created...or destroyed.

This story is very Star Wars meets Avatar in a slight way. I also love that the main character, Bel, is a strong, fierce woman.

Great story, can't wait for the next one!

WOW! Thorne delivers a captivating, audacious, epically written fantasy novel. I could not put this book down for so many reasons. A true flyer since she was young, Bel takes on many qualities of her late mother who died in a Gravian battle for her planet long ago. Bel is in the midst of her invasion pretty quickly in the book which shatters her current path forward on her planet and in love. The intricacies of love, lust, lost, and determination for Bel are laced into every page of this novel. After an invasion, her father is pronounced King and Bel is sent to the Anthaese to marry their King, Con. I pictured Con as a Targaryen from Game of Thrones. The complexity of the relationship between Shae, Bel, Con, and even Jondar leave you wondering who will triumph at the end of this book. There was absolutely nothing that I did not like about this book. The plot moved quickly in the beginning to make for an exciting read. Thorne has a gift for creating a deep sense of feeling for each of her characters. I was devastated for some of the losses in this book, one in particular that left me crushed for Bel. Bel's feelings felt raw, real, and I could feel the lump in my throat every time she experienced them herself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-arc copy of this novel.
I enjoyed this novel it is wonderful series for young ladies who enjoy adventure and flying. The book is a good start to a interesting series about a young woman who wants to be a pilot and fly, but has obligations to her family. I liked the take on the this novel and hope to see the second book continue the story.

This book is so much more that described in the blurb. It touches the skies in a booming explosion, there is thrill, there is exhilaration, there is vengeance against the evil. There is romance, there is friendship, there is a commander, a strategist, and there is a Queen who loves to fly.

There are the ancients hidden deep below the earth, waiting for the right time to awaken. There is evil flying around the skies, hoping to annihilate the resources of the planet. There are those who are ready to defend, the Vairians. Then there is the Empire with its own alliances.

The story starts with Bel, a young 17 year old, with dreams in her eyes of flying her Wasp and with her best friend, Shae in her heart. An innocent girl starting her life. When suddenly evil Gravians attack, and her entire royal family is just vaporized. Her father becomes the King, and to maintain the powers, Bel becomes a pawn and is betrothed to Con, the Anthaem of a distant planet, Anthaeus. Soon on Anthaeus, Bel discovers more, a lot more, including herself and what she is meant to be.

This book by Jessica Thorne, is nothing but a joy to read, a celebration of a girl who metamorphoses into the Queen, who can lead the people to fight against the evil.

I love Bel, she is honest, she is clear, and she is daring. She is the perfect kickass heroine, who can fly and fight with the best of them. She is the heart and the soul of the book. Her sense of justice and her loyalty are a sight to behold. Jessica Thorne has portrayed her so lovingly, taking care that Bel is worthy of the respect. Every emotion is carefully written, without it overpowering the plot. Romance is subtly threaded, the pace is rocking, the battle lines are cutting, the entire book is breath taking. Literally

It took me some time to warm up to Bel, to understand the various political alignments, and the different characters. But once the initial foundation is laid, the pages virtually fly in turbulent air currents of a fabulous plot which made me long for book 2.

The start of a strong series in the fantasy genre.

I liked the characters they had so much to offer but I still think they need time to properly grow. Once the series has more to it I think this will become one of the best fantasy books around.

This book was amazing! It was original. It was exciting! It was full of adventure! I just loved Bel! She’s so courageous. I can’t wait to read more of this series!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This book started out slowly, but it gathered speed very quickly. I loved the characters and how Bel slowly grew into the leader her people, old and new, needed. A couple of twists took me by surprise, which I always love. I'll be watching out for more in this series or by this author. I'd love to know what happens next.

Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.

I lost count at how many times I teared up or straight up cried while reading this book, but I loved every second of those moments. Jessica Thorne knows how to tear my heart open in a wonderful way and make me want more, which is always a plus.

Bel was a wonderful main character, one who had many flaws but made you feel for her struggles. From being forced away from her home and from what she loves doing to being victim of countless assassination attempts, she really had no breaks from pain. And Con, oh my God, Con was just a sweetheart. A walking bonbon who is too good for this world.

I don't normally enjoy love triangles at all, and although I didn't like all parts of this one, some moments were just so perfect and it played such a huge part in the angst factor that I actually somewhat enjoyed it.

The excerpt for book two at the end left me wanting more, so I can't wait for it!

If you love the idea of romance blooming in a surprising and natural way, along with beautiful imagery and a sci-fi mix this book is perfect! I enjoyed this book so much I couldn't stop until I finished reading it! It was such a rush and now I feel sad I have to wait for the next in the series, which I will definitely get. This is one of the best book I've read in a while. It has a great mix of sci -fi and fantasy and a romance that develops first out of circumstances and later it develops int0 something more. I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series to find out what will happen between Bel and Con. I've all ready started recommending this book to my friends and I cant wait for next book in the series, I’m sure it will be fantastic.

I found the plot exciting and the setting familiar but still refreshing. The Queen's wing is written in Bel's-our protagonist-point of view entirely. We first encounter Bel in Vairia where she describes her love for flying. Sooner than later, chaos rains down in her life when her distant royal cousins are assassinated, and her family is crowned as the new royal family.

As a princess, Bel is arranged to be married with the leader of a distant planer, Anatheus. There is a love triangle here, which I found very frustrating. After a few chapters, I wound up getting confused. I found Bel very likable-a true feminist heroine.; but, there were times when Bel couldn't make a decision, and the back and forth was eating me up.

I enjoyed it somewhat, but the characters weren't memorable enough for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hands down this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I started it before bed and almost stayed up all night to finish it, but managed to make myself sleep and then I snuck in bits of reading during the day at work and crammed the rest in the second I got home. It is fabulous. Right up there with Sarah J Mass's Throne of Glass series in my book. A mix of fantasy, a sort of magic, Star Wars/space wars and travel with a badass warrior pilot who unexpectedly becomes a princess and is sent to another planet to marry for an alliance and then has to fight to save the planet. It's breathtaking and special and legitimately made me laugh and cheer out loud and yes, cry. Must read. Must buy. Must share with everyone you know. Promise.

I was given this book free by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I will be BUYING this the second it's out!

In all honesty, the first half of this book was not working for me. It was really hard for me to picture this universe, to begin with, with the multiple worlds/planets (if I understood correctly?), the palaces and gowns and the high-tech air/war-crafts.

Also, the multiple love angles were not working either. Actually, they were infuriating. The Bel-Shae angle is the trope I despise the most and right from the start I knew this was going to happen, it was maddening and infuriating. Jondar was the one character I liked from the second he made his appearance and tbh, I had felt some chemistry between him and Bel but haha, my bad. It made me sad though that he never stood a chance with the person he was in love with but glad something else worked out for him. As for Con, I could not trust him one bit for that first half, I almost despised him, I was just waiting for him to turn his coat or go crazy.

BUT then, the major turning point hit. And I mean, by then I had constructed a sort of image of the places and settings so it was becoming increasingly easier to imagine, the storyline picked up and there was so much happening. It wasn't confusing at all, on the contrary, it became so much more interesting and gripping, I was literally unable to put the book down!

I LOVED IT. The story progressed and culminated very nicely. I was able to find more affection for Con and even though the chemistry between Bel and him wasn't crackling, I was starting to feel it.

All in all, I think this book (and series? I hope it becomes a series, I ended up liking this universe and these characters a lot) has a lot of potential. I can't wait for it to be released so it gets all the appreciation it deserves. I am really very glad to have stuck with it through that first half or I would have missed out on an amazing book.

Cheers and best of luck to the author!!

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this via Net Galley and was blown away. A fast paced entertaining story that keeps you guessing right to the very end. A fantastic new edition to the Space Opera genre. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy to Read it again.