Wow. This final installment in The Shadow Game trilogy did not disappoint. It was fast paced, moody, dark and humourous in equal measure. The characters continue their journey in the City of Sin armed only with the (questionable) their ability to make morally grey decisions and poor relationship choices (sometimes at the same time) and yet, they emerge on the other side like a moth after a close encounter with a flame. A bit singed around the edges and feeling sorry for themselves but just about alive, and not likely to play with fire again. Unless it's really bright and glowy ...ooh look at that flame....

Queen of Volts picks up a few days after the previous book, told through various perspectives of those involved in the final game, it deals with the game and the players.

I actually do not remember much from the previous books however the way the book is written, it takes place a few days after the second book, it was easy to remember the events of the previous books as they are mentioned a lot.

The book is very messy but in a good way, so much is happening, and it is told through the perspectives of various characters each who are going through a lot. I really enjoyed the writing style and the tone of the book, the build up and tension to the end of the game was done very well. I liked the characters in the book, there were a lot of them, and each character was written in a way that they did not blend into each other. This is the last book and the characters have already been through so much and it was portrayed really well, the first half of the book really portrayed how hopeless and out-of-depth the characters were feeling.

The book revolves around a final game that involves 22 players and the purpose is to create chaos, each player has a card and they are also each given a target whose card they need to take. I liked the premise of the game although I did want more focus on the actual game, the first half introduces the game, but it is hardly mentioned again till later on.

I liked the premise of the game and the writing style/character’s perspectives however I did not like the first half of the book. Nothing interesting happens and a lot of the first half feels like filler chapters, the book did drag on in the first half. It felt a bit repetitive, back and forth of the characters emotions which was fine at first but it did get boring because it was constantly being bought up. Although I liked the perspectives in the books, I did not think their stories connected and flowed together that well – it was only until the book picked up and the action started that they did, but that was not until the second half.

I think I expected the book to be more dramatic/bloodthirsty and although there is a lot of loss and the character’s go through a lot, I expected more as it is the final book in the series. Maybe because the characters are constantly in a position of danger that the final game, the villain and the reveals were not as dramatic as I thought it would be. I liked the second half a lot more, the action and the plot and the strength and emotions the character’s showed however I am unsure if I like the ending.

3/5

I don't even know where to start without spoilers, so let me at first say that I love this world, all the characters (yeah, I love to hate the evil and creepy ones) and their talents, and of course all the twists and turns 🙌♥.

I love everything about this world - the mafia families, the casinos, the cabarets, gangs, all the little details as names of newspapers and drinks and streets. The world is was magical, dangerous, and dark. Amanda Foody has created a dangerous and dark city, where secrets have more power than money and where you can lose a life faster than you realize.

While the first book has 2 POVs, the second 3, Queen of Volts has 5 POVs: Enne, Levi, Sophia, Lola, and Harvey. I was a little bit afraid of what if I won´t like all the POVs but the opposite is the truth. I enjoyed all of them... every word, every sentence, every paragraph. I love the journeys the characters take and all their thoughts and emotions. I really like them all.

We entered New Reyes as visitors and we became gangsters together with Enne. She went through a lot and she changed. I love the development of this character. You don´t want me to get started on how much I love Levi and how much I rooted for him and Enne throughout the whole series.

Yet again, I was fascinated by the plot, the characters, the city itself, and of course the game! Let´s not forget about the next Shadow Game that is played in this book. There are 22 players, well known and powerful people, and each of them has one of the tarot cards from The Major Arcana and one target. I kind of expected it to be more brutal... with more deaths. I guess I am just cruel 😅😇.

Overall, the Queen of Volts is excellent. It gave me all the feels ❤💔😊😄😢😮😦🤔. It has got it all... heartbreak, hope, intrigue, mystery, tension, lies, passion, angst, action, danger, power plays and more. Muck, I was scared a lot and it kind of broke my heart several times but then the story put it back together. I am very satisfied with the ending and how it all came together, everything fell into the right places. It is really the perfect book to wrap up this amazing trilogy. The last page... could not get any better 👍❤👌🙌. It's a cherry on the top!

Get ready for this!!! I wish you to enjoy this ride as much as I did.

***I received an eARC of this book from HQ (HarperCollins UK) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!***

‘Queen of Volts’ is the final book in the Shadow Game trilogy, a YA urban fantasy trilogy set in the fictional city of New Reynes – the city of sin. It’s a taut, high-stakes, fast-paced conclusion to an action-packed trilogy, filled with unpredictable twists and heartbreaking losses. The ending fits the trilogy perfectly and, despite the tragedies, made me grin with delight. The Shadow Game trilogy is horrendously underrated – hopefully with this book it’ll finally get the attention it deserves.

New Reynes is a town of street lords and casinos, conmen and gangs. Everything is a game, and everyone a player. Enne and Levi have come a long way from who they were in Ace of Shades – the uptight girl from finishing school and the egoistical crime lord packed away like ill-fitting suits – but they remain compelling, intriguing characters. Queen of Volts has five main point-of-view characters – Enne, Levi, Sophia, Lola, and Harvey – and alternates between them in chapters grouped by tarot cards (or shadow cards), a lovely touch. Initially, I cared about some perspectives more than others – but by the end, I appreciated them all and the different angles they offered. Harvey especially is a peripheral character in previous books but adds a different flavour here, complementing the others perfectly. His relationship with Bryce is brilliantly depicted and dissected, and his character arc is probably the strongest. Lola also has an exceptional arc – very different to the arc I expected, but cleverly done.

It’s difficult to discuss the plot without spoiling Ace of Shades or King of Fools, but the stakes have definitely been raised. Courtesy of King of Fools, no character feels safe, so the entire book is fraught with tension. It’s entirely implausible, but this is YA fantasy – plausibility isn’t the point.

The biggest strengths of this series have always been the creativity of the worldbuilding and the relationships between the characters. By the third book in the trilogy, the worldbuilding is established – but ‘Queen of Volts’ goes further than its predecessors in testing those relationships and really shines for it. As the characters are tested, their relationships entangle and fray in complex ways, and Foody absolutely nails the feelings and changes. While the plot might be farfetched, the relationships aren’t, and that makes the entire book relatable. I especially liked the family dynamics (although I won’t spoil the story by revealing whose).

Overall, this is a brilliant conclusion to a solid YA fantasy trilogy. I don’t understand why this series isn’t shouted about more – with a finale as good as this, I hope it gains its place on people’s shelves. Recommended for all fans of YA fantasy, urban fantasy, morally grey characters, and complex character dynamics.

I was so damn hyped for this book. Though I only really enjoyed the first half of the second book, I knew my fave was back and was excited to see what would happen this time. The moment I was able to request it on NetGalley I did and I started reading it the day I was granted it.

However…

I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped I would.

Queen of Volts is the final book in the Shadow Game trilogy. We follow Enne, Levi, Lola and Sophia once again as they try to figure out Bryce’s new game with a new narrator in Harvey.

The world building was just as good as always. You find out some new things about the history of New Reynes and a lot more about the magic and characters too. That was probably my favourite aspect of this book and the series in general. The City of Sin is dark and fascinating. There’s so many shady corners that I wanted to explore and I find I’m loving this sort of mafia and vegas inspired fantasy. The talents were an interesting way to take magic and the whole use of omertas and shades as part of the magic system in this book? So good.

The characters are another strong aspect. Mostly. I didn’t really like Harvey. I found him a bit of a wet blanket if I’m honest and the fact Narinder was basically just there for him? I didn’t like it. I didn’t think they worked well together and it was just really meh to me that this was what Narinder being back and the new fun ship was. Maybe I am a little bias. I shipped Levi and Narinder so hard. But I knew it wasn’t going to be endgame and I was so excited to see Narinder again. I guess this left me a little disappointed.

I was also disappointed with the route Lola’s plot took. But I’m in two minds about it. The thing is, it was interesting and I liked meeting her brother and the use of the Bargainer. But the other thing I was excited for was her romance with Tock. And because of the way the plot went? Didn’t really get much of that. Which meant that the romance we mostly saw in this book was lacklustre stuff that I didn’t really care for. Sigh.

When it comes down to it though, I am glad I read this and I was lucky to get granted the ARC.

It just wasn’t what I really wanted from it in the end.

But I know the ending will be one that many people will love and adore so pick it up as soon as you can. Provided you’re a massive Enne/Levi shipper.

The final book in The Shadow Game series and it did not disappoint. It was well written and didn't feel rushed like some other end of series books usually do. I felt content with how everything played out and the ending was great and I didn't feel let down in the slightest. Well done a great job Amanda

This was a conclusion I’ve been waiting for so long and I still don’t think I’ve completely processed everything that happened within the pages of this book, especially because I read it so quickly.

I’ve said from my introduction into the series, that this is one of the most complex and incredibly written YA fantasy series out there. The magic system is so unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I love these characters so much and this story so much.

This book was so intense, a lot happened pretty quickly. There were a lot of reveals sprinkled throughout the book but the start especially seemed to have a lot that left my head spinning. I think it’s really clever how the real enemy of the series hasn’t been revealed until book 2 which is kind of a Kingdom hearts approach where in Kingdom hearts one we believed that maleficent was the real villain of the series and in Kingdom hearts two they actually revealed to the real enemy was and I think that’s what Amanda Foody has done so well in this series is that in book one we thought we knew who the enemy was but now in book three we have these links back to book one and it must have taken so much planning to make all of these threads actually come together and in such a clever way.

I was so shocked by so many of the things that happened in this book. My head was spinning, my heart was pounding and I loved that. Even if some of the pacing was slightly off in some places.

These characters are ones I’ve come to care about and be frustrated by so much and this was no different. There were so many stupid decisions made throughout this book but also, they were so in line with who these characters are and I loved that because even though it was frustrating it all made sense even though I wanted to shake Levi and Enne especially. My only gripe with characters was Lola, what she did was so unbelievably stupid and so selfish that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to say I like her as a character. Honestly, I’d die for Harvey.

Overall, this was an incredible end to an incredible series. Was it perfect? No but it was so close to being there. Will I read every single thing Amanda Foody writes? Yes. Am I disappointed? No. Is this in my top ten series of all time? ABSOLUTELY.

((Although I am really sad that the one thing I so desperately wanted to happen didn’t happen even though I knew it wouldn’t, it still hurt.))