The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
Published by Harper Collins on March 10, 2015
Genres: Action & Adventure, Fantasy & Magic, Love & Romance, Young Adult
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book • Goodreads
I received this book for free from ARC from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.
She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.
She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.
She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others
Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world.
One thing I love about fantasy novels is that almost every story we’re introduced to is unique and so unlike those that have come before. Magic can make characters go beyond typical mortal reaches and we are allowed to explore fantastical lands and creatures that have never before existed. THE ORPHAN QUEEN by Jodi Meadows is a wholly original and unparalleled world with a magic that is both curious and forbidden.
Much like the world of Game of Thrones and (oddly enough) our own, war runs rampant within the kingdoms. It is an endless cycle in which the kingdoms battle for power and for land, often at the cost of the lives of the innocent. In addition, there exists a darkness that creeps (literally, as a mist) and stretches far and wide… While humans fight each other, something even bigger is on the prowl – and it may destroy the very world they are fighting to control. I’ll admit, the dark side of the magic in this novel had me intrigued – almost more than the actual use of the magic itself.
The book is centered around the character Wilhelmina (or ‘Wil’ for short) – who is the orphaned princess of a long-ago conquered kingdom. Wil and her motley crew of orphaned nobles hope to one day reclaim the land that is rightfully theirs. But the Indigo Kingdom – and the (annoyingly ever-present) vigilant, Black Knife – stand in their way. So how to they intend to reclaim their land? Why by infiltrating the enemy’s own castle, of course! The Ospreys, as the orphans like to call themselves, decide to implant spies who will gain intel and build their army from within. Who better to��carry out this plan than the stealthy “Orphan Queen” herself, Wil?
The two main characters, Wil and Black Knife, are among the best in fantasy. They are much like Batman and Catwoman a la the 19th Century. Seeing Wil move, in both the darkness and the light, is a treat to behold. And Black Knife is quite the catch, as well, if you ask me. I love their love-to-hate-to-love you banter and the dance-like way they work together and yet are endlessly at odds with each other. If you like the slow-burn type of relationship filled with plenty of battles wit and charm, the Wil/Black Knife interactions will have you clutching the book and rolling around with glee.
The Osprey’s plan will force Wil to cross paths with the ghosts of her past and the truth about her kingdom’s downfall. She will travel to distant lands to find out the truth about the dark magic that may unravel the world as she knows it. She will make friends of her enemies, and enemies of those she had long thought her friends. Among the unfamiliar royal engagements and midnight trysts among the rooftops, she may even find some time to fall in love – as well as become a vigilante for the very kingdom she had always sought to destroy…
Needless to say, The Orphan Queen is without a doubt one of my favorite YA fantasies EVER. After that killer of a cliffhanger ending, I am not sure how patient I will be while waiting for the finale in this duology, The Mirror King, to be released. Thank goodness we have four prequel novellas to look forward to in the meantime. Even still, I highly recommend that you add this book to your collection ASAP.
Be still my heart… The Orphan Queen wins the ultimate cliffhanger award.
Five little Black Knife emojis!
As a treat for Jodi Meadows and her fans, we have decided to create a bookiemoji just for The Orphan Queen and exclusively available as part of this blog tour. It features a character that many will quickly come to know and love.
So without further adieu…
Download for:
desktop
1280 x 800 | 1440 x 900 | 1680 x 1050 | 1920 x 1200 | 2560 x 1400
iphone
1-3 | 4/4s | 5 | 6/6+
ipad/ipod
mini/1-2 | 3-4 | touch
samsung
s4/s5/note3
About Jodi Meadows
Jodi Meadows lives and writes in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, with her husband, a Kippy*, and an alarming number of ferrets. She is a confessed book addict, and has wanted to be a writer ever since she decided against becoming an astronaut. She is the author of the INCARNATE Trilogy and the forthcoming ORPHAN QUEEN Duology (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen).
*A Kippy is a cat.
of The Orphan Queen for us to give away on our blog!
Void where prohibited.
‘Fan Creations’ Blog Tour Schedule
3/2 – Andi’s ABCs
3/3 – Hello, Chelly
3/4 – Bookiemoji
3/5 – So Obsessed With
3/6 – Tune into Books
3/9 – Ticket to Anywhere
3/10 – Disquietus Reads
3/11 – A Backwards Story
3/12 – Writer of Wrongs
3/13 – Alexa Loves Books
Share your excitement about The Orphan Queen in the comments below!
What do you think about our Black Knife bookiemoji?
Yesss. <3 Gorgeous review Jenna
I am SO HAPPY that you loved this book so much. Sigh. I have only heard amazing things about this book 
But so jealous, hih, been waiting forever for it. <3 Almost out now 
I can't wait to finally get to read it too. <3 You make it sound all kinds of amazing 
Thank you for sharing sweetie. <3
This looks like something I would love to read. Thanks for sharing!
I can’t wait for this book! Except, if the cliffhanger really is that intense, maybe I should wait until right before the next one comes out…
LOVELY review! Love the world and the complexity of the characters
I have a US address but rafflecopter might show my location outside US because I’m doing a semester abroad
thank you so very much
I’ve heard such great things about this book! And Jodi in general! Super excited to read it!
This book is getting such great reviews from bloggers that it is making me even more excited to read it!
Brilliant review!!! I’ve only seen a ton of love for this book, I can’t wait to read it!!! Thank you for this giveaway!!
Been seeing great things about this book lately! Getting more excited about this one…moving it up on my list!
That Black Knife emoji is SO adorable Jenna! -stares at it some more-
I’m starting my borrowed copy of The Orphan Queen soon and I hope I’ll love it as much as you and Crystal does!
Just 5 more days until I can read it, I’m so excited! Also the emojis you used are so adorable, aw.
Ah, I am SO excited. AND YES! FINALLY SOMEONE MENTIONS GAME OF THRONES. You totally got Daenerys’ vibes, didn’t you? You did!
I totally forgot that there’s also magic involved in The Orphan Queen, that’s definitely going to be interesting to read about.
I am so ready for a freaking revolution. SO READY. I apologize for the caps, I am just….ready. I love slow burning relationships and battles. I ADORE battles.
I’m so excited. And ah, I’m scared of the cliffhanger.
Awesome emojis though! 
This is such an amazing opportunity!!! The Orphan Queen sounds amazing!
Great review! I have really been looking forward to this book! I’m so excited for it’s release!
This book sounds amazing! The magic, the characters and the slow romance! I hadn’t heard there was a cliffhanger though, that’s sad.
You already know that I love this one!! The Black Knife emojis are amazing and your review is on point. LOVE it.
I ’have heard such good things about this book! TFS.
nice review
Great Review! I look forwar on reading this awesome book! thanks for the giveawaay :)))))
Your blog is ADORABLE SO SO SO ADORABLE! I am so glad I found it
Thank you for the giveaway!
I cant believe im just seeing this wall paper now!! I am making it my back ground immediately!! LOVE IT!!
<3 Britt
I’ve seen so many great reviews for this book and I absolutely can’t wait to read it
Ah I haven’t even read the book and I love that little Black Knife emoji!
I’ve heard so many good things about this one and I’m super excited to see that you enjoyed it so much!
Thank you for this amazing chance. I’m really looking forward to reading The Orphan Queen!
I haven’t read a book by Jodi Meadows even though I do own the first two books in her Newsoul series but I’ve read all the amazing reviews of The Orphan Queen and can’t wait to read it.