We all love to read the stories of the heroic protagonists that go on a daring adventure to save their world. But even more interesting are the stories of the villainous antagonists who don’t see themselves as evil. The Queen’s Rise is a three-book omnibus that tells the story of Jezebel, a young Jinni girl who finds herself traveling down a dark, twisting path… and it’s difficult to turn back. Let’s dive into this review of this special edition omnibus that includes all three books in The Queen’s Rise series.
What if the evil queen in your favorite fairy tale wasn’t born wicked…
Jezebel is just an innocent girl harboring a dangerous shape-shifting ability. If anyone discovers her secret, they’ll sever her gift… and a severance always ends in death.
But when a portal to the human world offers the perfect opportunity to slip away unseen, she seizes her chance to explore her power.
Until someone sees. Someone Jezebel thought she could trust.
Exploiting her power for his own gain, small demands turn into ruthless blackmail until Jezebel’s caught between two impossible choices: keeping her freedom or her innocence.
In a gripping tale of betrayal and self-discovery, The Queen’s Rise brings a captivating twist to classic fairy tales like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast… showing how even the darkest queens aren’t the villains in their own story. This omnibus includes three novels—The Secret Gift, The Secret Shadow, and The Secret Curse—along with two exclusive bonus scenes. Set in the same universe of The Stolen Kingdom series, it unveils an origin story of a minor character. You do not need to read one series before the other; both series stand on their own.
World, Characters, and Plot
The entire series takes place in the world of the Jinn. The worldbuilding surrounding the culture of the Jinni is fascinating and often is reminiscent of Persian/Arab culture, which is very unique. It’s common to see fantasy books like this set in the classic medieval England setting, but I loved the incorporation of a completely different kind of setting. Even more interesting, the world of Jinn has portals to the human world, where Jinni can visit normal people (and a tribe of nomads called the Khaanevaade). Although the story often uses concepts and items familiar to us (like apartment buildings), I found that they did not take me out of the world.
Jezebel is a complex character, and although I was aware of her ultimate destiny to become a villain, I found myself rooting for her and finding a level of understanding with her choices and decisions. She fell into the trap of the slippery slope; each poor decision led to another, progressively getting worse and worse. Although this did make her life more difficult, it certainly added some suspense to the story (and a lot of “no, don’t do that!” screams).
The plot itself is fast-paced and exciting, with little to no pause in the action. I read the first book in one night, and the other two books in less than three days. Although I definitely have a favorite story, each individual book is essential to developing Jezebel’s character and world. I’m always left wishing there was just a little bit more.
I’ve reviewed all of the books in this series individually (going more in-depth on each one), so you should definitely go check those out if you want to know more:
The Queen’s Rise
In addition to these three books, The Queen’s Rise features two additional bonus scenes. And those two scenes may be some of my favorite bonus content ever! Both are so special for so many reasons. Koda’s POV for a certain scene (if you know, you know) is just *chef’s kiss*. And seeing Jezebel in the future really ties this series to The Stolen Kingdom. I told myself that I would pause between the bonus scenes when I was at the end, because it was so late. Spoiler alert: I didn’t pause. I couldn’t! They were just so much fun!
PAGED IN: This book has no profanity, no innuendo, and mild fantasy violence.
Conclusion
I funded this omnibus of The Queen’s Rise series on Kickstarter, and I’ve never regretted it. This edition, which includes all three books in the series, has a fast-paced plot, a complex and relatable main character, and rich worldbuilding. I highly recommend checking out this entire series if you love fairy tale retellings and villain origin stories… and, of course, heart-wrenching betrayal! Bethany Atazadeh has built a great world, and you’re missing out if you haven’t experienced it yet!
You can buy The Queen’s Rise here.
Marie