Details/Synopsis

• My rating: 4 Stars
• Goodreads
• Amazon
• Pages: 110 Pages
• Publisher: Poetose Press
• Spoiler-free review

When her mother and father pass away, the little queen must figure out how to be a little queen. And so she begins her adventures, journeying away from her palace and into the world to determine how she should go about going on. The little queen soon encounters numerous folks who teach her a thing or two: the book sniffer, the dream writer, and the architect of silence are just a few. Along the way, the little queen finds friendship, love, and meaning in being a leader in her world. The Little Queen is a magical exploration of self-discovery, vocation, community, and home

My Review

I received this ARC courtesy of Net Galley. Make sure to get your copy when it comes out tomorrow, August 1st!

The Little Queen was a lovely, unique bit of  lyrical prose. The plot was simplistic but powerful–it was reminiscent of a childhood fairy tale in the best possible way. Although it was almost too adorable to handle at times, the theme of self-discovery was quite mature and thought-provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed the Little Queen’s journey and the cast of diverse characters she interacted with along the way.

The reason I give this four instead of five stars is that even though the book was short and sweet and simple, there were parts that seemed meandering and unnecessary, or where the prose fell short. I would have liked to see a bit more consistency in the eloquence of the novel. Other than the few lapses, though, the writing style was gorgeous. Some of my favorite lines included:

• “The little queen had the frighteningly ecstatic realization that she was there for herself”
• “The rain fell against the tent in a rough rhythm that made her heart feel like resting”

I would compare this to the game to Monument Valley (if you haven’t played it, go check it out and you’ll see what I mean)–it is minimalist, elegant, and, for lack of a better word, aesthetic. I’d definitely recommend The Little Queen for those looking for a light, nostalgic, and heart-warming read.