I don’t know what to say after reading this story besides wow. This tale was based upon the short story of A Lady, or the Tiger and I feel that Annie Sullivan has done the story justice by creating a world in which a princess learns that life is meant to be filled with family, love, and the strength that comes from the spirit as well as the body.
This tale is phenomenal and I would definitely recommend it. The author lives up to her first book by continuing the creation of wonderful stories based upon previous works.

This book surprised me quite a bit. I went in thinking I would love it. I mean, a strong female lead, story based around a fairytale/myth, a unique world...how could I not love it? But at first, I just couldn't get into the story. I still wanted to finish the book, but I wasn't dying to pick it up every spare second. It took me three chapters before something clicked. Then, to my surprise, I suddenly couldn't put the book down. I devoured the rest and was so sad when I read the last page.

I mentioned before that this was a unique world. It was so interesting to read about a city who's society is impacted so heavily on water, or lack there of. I had so much fun learning about the people and the history.

I think what hung me up at first was the characters. It was hard for me to really get a read on them at first. They were all interesting, but I just didn't feel like I had any connection to them. But once I began to feel that connection, I couldn't wait to see what would happen with them.

So, all in all, I'd recommend giving this one a read. It's a somewhat short book, and a standalone! I had so much

All the heart eyes for this book. I first requested to review this book because of Sullivan's first novel, which I loved. This one was no different. I read it in one sitting and adored it.
The character growth was amazing to see in Kateri. She changed from a spoiled princess to a confident queen. She learned what friendship means and that strong has more than one meaning.
As for the setting, it was easy to understand and the descriptions painted an image in the reader's mind. The world-building was not too complicated, nor was it lacking.
I found the 'bad guy' quite villain like, but I kept on wanting to know how he turned out the way he did. (No names here!)
This book is one that will eventually take a place of honor on my shelves when I'm not rereading it.

Rating: 5 Stars
Content: 3 Stars

*I received a complementary copy of this novel from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

I really loved the idea of taking The Lady or the Tiger and turning it into this grand YA story! Kateri was a really great protagonist and I loved the twists and darkness in this story, and her journey to discovering right from wrong and learning what she needed to do for her people.

Cion was the greatest and I really adored the Desert Boys (and they low key reminded me of the Lost Boys for some reason?) and everything they were doing to help the people of Achra, how they were willing to risk themselves for everyone else.

The desert world in this story was really fantastically built and i loved how Cion and the Desert Boys knew how to navigate things that the Achrans did not.

This was a magnificent story and I loved Kateri and Cion <3

Loved the story and the world and the characters. I could not stop reading and did so in one sitting. I loved the whole desert setting and the Desert Boys were some of my favorite characters and scenes. They reminded me so much of the Lost Boys. Definitely a new favorite and will be recommending.

I really enjoyed Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan. I was intrigued by the synopsis, and the story didn't disappoint.

The pages seemed to fly by; the book kept a steady pace with no lulls or dull moments that I can recall.

I especially liked the band of Desert Boys, and the time Kateri spent with them and Cion was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I also enjoyed the desert sayings that were spoken as blessings and well wishes.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me an opportunity to give a review to Tiger Queen. This book was a signed giveaway from the author herself at BookCon. The copies disappeared very quickly. I imagine the same occurred at the ALAAC 2019. Reading some of the reviews, I had come to learn that this was a re-telling of a short story. I never heard of it and, in a way, I was thankful so as not to re-read a story whose ending I would already have been aware of. The setting is a city in an arid/ desert portion of the world. Think of Arabian Nights run amuck. You have Princess Kateri, who is heir to the throne and her father that is preparing her to be the ruler he feels she needs to be. In order to gain the throne, she needs to show her people that she is capable of defending the town and therefore must show her fighting skills by beating in combat all the men her father picks to fight against her. Should she lose, she must marry the victor and then he becomes the new ruler. From the beginning you clearly get the sense that Kateri’s dad is not going to get any Father of the Year awards anytime soon. He is an uber control freak ruling a city in times of severe drought and the need for rationing precious water. So what is a child to when the father elects Kateri’s combat instructor to be the next contestant (a person who clearly has an ulterior motive to steal the throne away from her)? The best choice is to seek help from the unlikeliest of people. From there it becomes a story of understanding, learning, knowing all the people you meet in life both good and bad and, in turn, learning some life lessons and truths about one’s own self as well as one’s own family. Things may not appear to be what they seem. Oh, and yes, let’s not forget, there are tigers.

I received a copy of Tiger Queen from Blink through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Admittedly, the first part I had some trouble getting through because I found the main character, Kateri, to be really unsympathetic.

As the book went on I found myself actively cheering her on.

The world building was fantastic in this one and I would definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed reading this! I was quickly pulled in, and loved seeing the story unfold as I read! While it is a stand-alone, I'd love to see more stories similar to this from the author!

Hello, I will be posting this review on my Instagram, blog, and Goodreads on September 2nd, 2019. I will be adding links to here when they are live. Thank you!

Title: Tiger Queen
Author: Annie Sullivan
Genre: YA Fantasy/Retelling
Publication Date: September 10th, 2019
eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.



Synopsis: "In the mythical desert kingdom of Achra, an ancient law forces sixteen-year-old Princess Kateri to fight in the arena to prove her right to rule. For Kateri, winning also means fulfilling a promise to her late mother that she would protect her people, who are struggling through windstorms and drought. The situation is worsened by the gang of Desert Boys that frequently raids the city wells, forcing the king to ration what little water is left. The punishment for stealing water is a choice between two doors: behind one lies freedom, and behind the other is a tiger.

But when Kateri’s final opponent is announced, she knows she cannot win. In desperation, she turns to the desert and the one person she never thought she’d side with. What Kateri discovers twists her world—and her heart—upside down. Her future is now behind two doors—only she’s not sure which holds the key to keeping her kingdom and which releases the tiger." (Goodreads)



My Review:
I don't know why I pushed this book off for so long but I am glad I decided to read it finally because I really liked the story and the characters that were involved!

"There was only one piece of jewelry I did want. My Mother's crown."

Kateri is a very strong willed girl. She has grown up with family issues and most of the time being looked over because of her gender. Which was a topic that was discussed quite a bit. The generations before her have always fought for the crown because to them the desert chooses. She knows what she wants and she fights for it with everything in her body. I just loved everything about her. Even though she is strong, that doesn't mean everything comes easy and she must make decisions that not only put her life at risk but also her people if she becomes queen.

The minor characters were intriguing and some didn't feel minor at all. I loved learning about Cion and his past as well as Dimic. Of course, this wouldn't be a good story without its villains and let me tell you, they were quite villainous. They made me hate them and that's what I like!

The romance that was included was my favorite trope, enemies to lovers. I was here for it! It wasn't insta-love and it built up throughout the book. I may have saw it coming but I don't care, I loved every moment of it!

The plot was thrilling and kept me engaged. It was hard for me to step away. I loved the details of their culture when it came to the desert and even the details that involved jewelry when it came to marriage. The pacing was great and didn't leave me wanting more. It was perfect!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be reading her other book soon!

I must admit, I never heard of “The Lady, or the Tiger?” before reading Tiger Queen, which is based off the short story. After doing some research and learning more about "The Lady, or the Tiger?" I was really excited to see where Annie Sullivan was going to take Tiger Queen. A fierce desert princess who is hell bent on saving her kingdom? Sign me up!

By ancient law in the kingdom of Achra, Kateri must battle competitors to the throne in the arena each month up until her birthday. If Kateri looses, the throne becomes her competitor's and she in return becomes their wife. Luckily for Kateri she has beaten every one of them. When the competitor for her last battle is revealed and Kateri knows she doesn’t stand a chance at winning, but she knows that if this person was to rule, he would destroy the kingdom she swore to her mother she would protect. Achra has been plagued by drought and awful sandstorms making the kingdom dry and arid. The water is rationed and the people are the furthest thing from content but Kateri has hope that if she can win the throne she could restore Achra to what it once was. Kateri, desperate to win does something she never thought to do, she seeks out the Desert Boys a gang that steals water from the wells around the kingdom, to help her defeat her rival. But soon Kateri learns secrets that break her world in half, leaving her behind two doors. One with a tiger and one with a future.

I really did enjoy Kateri’s character and the trials she faced through out the novel. She starts Tiger Queen as the naive princess who “fights” for her people. But really she is only fighting to keep the promise she made to her mother before she died. As a reader you watch Kateri grown through out Tiger Queen. Her eyes are opened and through out the pages you see as her world is flipped upside down and she longs to do what will make things right. In the last pages of Tiger Queen you can’t help but cheer for Kateri and for the battle she is fighting.

I really enjoyed Annie’s writing style and how she described the kingdom of Achra. The poor and dreadful conditions came to life in front of my eyes. In flash backs you could see the kingdom for what it was and for what it could be if Kateri manages to take the throne.

The only problem I had with Tiger Queen was that I felt like some of that characters could be used a bit more time being fleshed out. I wanted to know more about them, what drove them and the circumstances but I feel like it was only brushed over, giving you a taste but not leaving you satisfied. I think if I didn’t find Cion, the leader of the Desert Boys to be underdeveloped I would have falling in love with the romance aspect of Tiger Queen more. I still enjoyed the romance aspect and routed for Kateri and Cion but, I didn’t love it. Where I felt like they lacked, Kateri didn’t. She was developed and relatable. You were able to feel her internal struggles and see that events that made her who she is and will be.

Overall Tiger Queen was a quick enjoyable read that is perfect for fantasy lovers. This is also a standalone which means there was no cliffhanger! I think Annie did an amazing job at wrapping up Kateri’s journey and tying up the loose ends of the last several chapters. Annie Sullivan will be an author I look out for in the future of YA Fantasy and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Blink Publishing! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Princess Kateri of the desert city Archra is a warrior, fighting for her right to rule inside of an arena surrounded by blood thirsty spectators and even hungrier tigers. But more deep seated than her need to win is her hatred for the infamous Desert Boys - a group of rebels with a reputation of greed and destruction.

When Kateri is unfairly forced up against an opponent she knows she can't beat (and risking her future in the process), she has no choice but to turn to the one person she's been told to hate her whole life - Cion - leader of the Desert Boys.

With neither trusting the other, a tenuous relationship forms as Kateri is trained, conditioned, taught the skills and knowledge to take her foe down once and for all. But in the darkness within the cave walls and under the heat of the desert sun, revelations are made and secrets are revealed that cuts Kateri deeper than the sharpest tiger claw ever could.

I really loved Tiger Queen! While I'm familiar with the original story 'The Lady or the Tiger", I haven't read any retellings of it so I was super excited going in!

Kateri is a solid female lead - she's fierce, brave, steadfast and you just really root for her to put the pieces together and go handle her business. Her story especially was heartbreaking.

Cion! Cion is achingly reserved, patient, and of course frustrating in the beginning and then as you get deeper into the story, he starts to not only open up to Kateri but the reader as well - and he is awesome!

The relationship between Cion and Kateri is strained at best, but eventually it unravels into this deep understanding. The romance is one of the slowest slow burns ever to the point that I thought it wasn't going to even happen. I mean, dang! But it gets there - so just stay with it!

The secondary characters are pretty great too - the Desert Boys were especially fun - and the baddies were just plain despicable. I could not wait for Kateri to get her hands on them.

All in all there wasn't one thing I disliked to the point that it ruined the story for me. Not one! If you're in need of a thrilling, fast paced, action in your face fantasy with a sprinkle of romance, this is definitely for you!

This is the first standalone YA fantasy I've read in a long time. It was nice not having a huge cliffhanger at the end, although, I would love to revisit the Kingdom of Achra in a future installment. I really liked the characters, Cion, Princess Kateri and the Desert Boys. They made you want to root for their survival and bring them some water. I enjoyed the desert setting and the world building too. I felt like I could feel the unforgiving sand and the nagging thirst right along with them.

The Tiger Queen was an enthralling read that sucked me into the dangers of the desert! Fast-paced and steamy, I was turning pages as quick as a I could go see what would happen next. I loved Kateri, a fierce warrior finding herself amongst new revelations, and the mysterious leader of the Desert Boys - Cion. Their adventures to defeat a tryannious captain of the guard and King and return water to the people had me on the edge of my seat. Definitely a fun and enjoyable read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this YA fantasy book from Annie Sullivan. The content flowed nice, and the characters were well developed. The story wasn't too predictable and had plenty of WOW moments in the beginning, middle, and end.

I found the message of people higher up with influence and power and how they often think they know what life is like or what's best for the people they rule interesting. The main character in this story, a princess who has been brought up and trained as a warrior, sees the people of her city in a new light after making a decision to flee the palace (for reasons you'll have to read) and experiencing the other side of life in the desert.

I look forward to reading more work by Annie Sullivan.

brief summary
There's a wicked king with a wicked second-in-command who wants to rule by marrying the daughter, who doesn't want to marry him, and runs away, only to meet up with the rebels who she's been raised to believe killed her mother and are stealing water from their drought-stricken land. The rebel leader is a young and handsome swordmaster who agrees to teach her to defeat her father's henchman and avoid marrying him. They fall in love. Tigers are slaughtered.

full review
This was a disappointing, oh-so-predictable young adult fantasy romance placed in a lazily-constructed quasi-desert setting which shied away from every opportunity to do something interesting with its characters or plot.

Kateri is the fierce daughter of a hard king who must win a monthly fight for the right to inherit the throne after him. If she loses, she must wed the man who defeated her. When her father's evil henchman maneuvers himself into the running, Kateri runs away to seek out the only man (besides the henchman) who's ever defeated her with a sword to ask for his help training to defeat the henchman so she won't have to marry him. She is willing to overlook the fact that he's the leader of the rebel group her father blames for her mother's death and which is responsible for stealing water from their drought-stricken country. Maybe it's because the rebel leader is young and handsome in addition to inexplicably being a weapons master. Of course, she learns that everything she thought she knew was wrong, wrong, wrong, and her father is the one causing the drought and the rebels didn't kill her mother, etc. If you have read a young adult novel that has royalty and rebel groups, you know how this goes. Author Annie Sullivan takes no chances with the plot here.

The most frustrating thing about this book is that it is very obviously based on the story "The Lady or the Tiger," which is one of my favorites, and turns it into a mediocre young adult novel. But the next most frustrating thing is the way it does so: it teases so many more interesting ways the story could be told (like with Latia, who I saw coming from a mile away but who is definitely the biggest let-down of the book). Instead of having Latia the obvious spy be Cion's cousin, which is a total cop-out, she really should have been his lover, as in the original story. It would have made for a much more interesting story and would have required the deletion of about five lines of text.

There were other things that bothered me about this book, like how old Rodric (the henchman) is, because the more we learn about him the harder it is to tell. At first he seemed like he might be in his twenties or thirties, but when we learn about his origins and how he was trained, it seems like he must be younger, which makes his closeness to Kateri's father sort of baffling. Equally baffling was the proof of Kateri's father's villainy and manipulation of his people: how in the world was the construction of an aquifer and plumbing system connected to every well in the city concealed? It had to have happened within living memory, and even if the architect and all the workers were killed to preserve its secrecy, how is it no one remembers these things were built?

Because this book is based on the story "The Lady or the Tiger," there are tigers. They are introduced as potential outcomes of trials wherein the accused must choose to open one of two doors, one of which conceals a wagon of supplies and a straight shot to freedom, the other a tiger. Obviously the accused has no idea which door hides which outcome. Equally obviously, the king cheats at this in every instance we see it. Nevertheless, because there are tigers used to kill people, I kept waiting for something awful to happen to them, beyond being chained up and kept hungry so that they'll eat any human they're faced with (which was awful enough). What happened to them took up entirely too many pages and was painful to read if you like animals.

Please know: the book was not universally unfortunate. Sullivan has potential as a writer, despite her unwillingness to take narrative risks. Additionally, while the desert culture and setting tended to feel half-formed and unbelievable, I was impressed with her discussion of food. Mostly people eat reptiles and arachnids, because those are what are available in a desert. This was probably the most realistic part of the book, and I read it with relief before sighing at the inconsistent naming conventions and abandoned threads . Like the sand dancers: are they like the Bedouin or are they more like a traveling troupe of dancers or are they some fakir-like group? Who knows?! But connecting to them is very important to Kateri (except when it isn't).

This is really neither a good book nor a bad book. It's mediocre and the extremity of my disappointment in it mainly stems from the fact that it's an adaptation of a better story that it couldn't live up to. There's no reason not to read the book, but there's no real reason to read it, either. There are plenty of books just like it everywhere.

In the mythical desert kingdom of Achra, an ancient law forces sixteen-year-old Princess Kateri to fight in the arena to prove her right to rule. For Kateri, winning also means fulfilling a promise to her late mother that she would protect her people, who are struggling through windstorms and drought. The situation is worsened by the gang of Desert Boys that frequently raids the city wells, forcing the king to ration what little water is left. The punishment for stealing water is a choice between two doors: behind one lies freedom, and behind the other is a tiger.
First let me start by saying I did not think I was going to love this book as much as I do. The premise intrigued me, it sounded interesting something original. From the very beginning we are drawn into the world of Achra where we are faced with the decision of which door to open which door holds the tiger.
I didn’t know what to expect coming into this book. I quickly learned after the first couple of pages. I quickly devoured this book there was intrigue, mystery and romance.

I received a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, and guess what? I loved it! The story is as brutal, fierce, and strong as the warrior princess Kateri is herself. The story kept building and building in a way that keeps you engaged, and the world building is astounding. This tale is a beautiful story of love, survival, challenging your inherited ideals and beliefs, and standing up for what is right no matter the cost. Cion is a very swoon worthy male lead, and there are some of my favorite tropes at work in here that made my heart melt and break at the same time. TIGER QUEEN is a job well done.

I’ve been over ya adult fantasy lately because everything has been sounding the same but this was a nice fresh taste. I always loved the lady and the tiger so I like how they took that idea and expanded it into a new and exciting world.

A fascinating retelling. The short story does not give much to the reader other than leaving the reader with the question of whether or not the main character loves her beloved enough to keep him alive or if she is selfish enough to see him die. That is a very superficial way of looking at the original tale, admittedly but, but here Sullivan has taken the story, and she has adapted and expanded upon it in a brilliant way. Princess Kateri is a fierce female character who has to fight for her right to rule her people; it is tradition, but also the way her father wants it. He does not want weakness shown in his kingdom and want’s to make sure that his heir, whether it be his daughter or the man who ultimately defeats her, is a strong man who could destroy their enemies.

There is much tension between Kateri and her father that serves as an underlying part of the story’s tension. Kateri both sees him and does not see him at the same time. She loves her father and believes him, and through a rose-colored lens, she watches his moves. The change in her perspective lends much to her personal growth as those lenses begin to crack slowly and she can see the reality of the worlds around her, the truth behind all the lies that have governed her life.

It is a journey of personal growth for Kateri, which makes for an exciting read because already she starts as this formidable female character, she is a gladiator. Moreover, yet there is a frailty about her that makes her relatable, an understanding and connection to the past that pushes her to be a better person. Her resilience, her strength, and her ability to learn all make her a strong female character. Moreover, the development that goes into that is exceptionally well-done on Sullivan’s part.

As for the story, it has come a long way from the short story. Yes, there is a woman, yes there are some tigers, and yes, there are two doors that an accused must choose from, but that is where the similarities end. Sullivan took those ideas, and she was able to craft a tension driven story from those elements to draw the reader into a new narrative. There are classic tropes in the story regarding the villains, but it is the journey the story takes, the progression and pace that keep it unique and entertaining for the reader.

Tiger Queen is, ultimately, a riveting read. The landscape and detail of the world built here are both beautiful and deadly and has a vibrant aesthetic to it as it tells this story.