March 2018 Debut of the Month | In a Nutshell: High Fantasy | Hidden Heritage | Political plotting |
This exuberantly ambitious fantasy debut set in an alternate 16th century sees seventeen-year-old Brienna embroiled in treasonous plots and passionate encounters galore.
With her mother dead and a father whose identity is unknown to her, Brienna’s grandfather’s sends her to an esteemed boarding house at which students study the passions (art, music, dramatics, wit and knowledge). Brienna is aware that this is not the kind of place a girl like her usually attends – “it wasn’t designed for girls who were lacking, for girls who were illegitimate, and certainly not for girls who defied kings” - but here she finds herself desperate to discover and perfect her passion in order to be selected by a wealthy patron.
She struggles to see her true passion emerge, and so winds up choosing knowledge. She also winds up without a patron, and left with little choice but to accept a belated offer from a disgraced mysterious lord. It’s not long before Brienna discovers that the lord sought her out for a very specific reason and she’s faced with high-stakes dilemmas that threaten the very stability of two lands.
Brienna’s first-person voice is lively and engaging, as is the highly visual writing, fascinating magic system, compelling court intrigues and dashes of romance. Fans of Sarah J. Maas and Cassandra Clare will surely welcome this tantalising trilogy opener.

In this epic debut fantasy, inspired by Renaissance France, an outcast finds herself bound to a disgraced lord and entangled in his plot to overthrow the king. Perfect for fans of Grave Mercy and Red Queen!
| Reading age: | 12+ |
| Primary Genre | Young Adult Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
In this epic debut fantasy, inspired by Renaissance France, an outcast finds herself bound to a disgraced lord and entangled in his plot to overthrow the king. Perfect for fans of Grave Mercy and Red Queen!Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron.
The Queen's Rising is aimed at readers aged 12 and over.
The Queen's Rising features in the following genres: Young Adult Fiction, Debut Books of the Month, Debuts, eBooks of the Month, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Recommendations
Paperback. Not Available.
The Queen's Rising was written by Rebecca Ross and published by Quill Tree Books an imprint of HarperCollins
The Queen's Rising has 480 pages
Yes it is part of Queen's Rising series