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  • Kill the Queen

  • Crown of Shards Series, Book 1
  • By: Jennifer Estep
  • Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
  • Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (147 ratings)
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Kill the Queen cover art

Kill the Queen

By: Jennifer Estep
Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
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Summary

Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the Elemental Assassin series - an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future - or if she even has one - Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself...and kill the queen.

©2018 Jennifer Estep (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Kill the Queen

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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glad I stuck to it

I almost stopped listening as the start didn't spark my interest. it took a while to get into the story but I'm glad I did and I can't wait for the next book.

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4 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

okay story but bad writing skills

the idea was good but poor writing. I found myself feeling irritated by the main character alot of the time and too much unnecessary repetition

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Couldn't stop listening

Started listening to this book yesterday whilst decorating my daughter's house. Finished it tonight whilst cleaning my own! Really enjoyed following the feisty heroine and her friends. Highly recommended.

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not a Bad Start

Set in a fantasy world of magic, gargoyles and shapeshifters, Evie is the daughter of a king and queen who were murdered and is now relegated to a minor royal, no better than a servant. However, what no-one knows is that she has the ability to smell out magic and can make herself immune to it. When her cousin Vasilia stages a coup and murders everyone in the royal family, Evie manages to escape and hide herself away in a troupe of gladiators. Let the games begin

This first book is a promising start to a series which, hopefully, will grow, if all the soul searching does not get in the way!

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Good

Really enjoyed this story even if the H got on my nerves a little bit half way through - will look for next book in the series

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable but predictable

I totally enjoyed reading this book despite the fact that the plot was very predictable: Nothing happened that I didn't easily predict in advance.  I kept going with it as it was well written and I liked the lead character.  The start was very slow.  It didn't get going until chapter 8 (1/4 of the way through!).  I thought a lot more could have been made of the romance between Evie and Lucas, but maybe that's reserved for book 2, which I will still read when it comes out as I do still want to see how the story progresses. 

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I loved this powered through it fast! Addictive!

I loved this so much! One of the best books I've listened to in ages. Captivating world and characters woven in to a story I couldn't wait for the end of but so so sad when it finished because it means I have to wait for the next book to be published. Great narrator essay to listen to.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another brilliant book.

I loved it, I can't wait to see what happens in book two, bring it on.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

Brilliant first novel to kick off a great new series. if you love the spider books then the characters and story do not disappoint. Cannot wait for the second instalment. Do not make us wait too long!

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Well thought of world

I like the world that the author created, very different to any other Fantasy novels I’ve read. The female MC is age 28 but I wished she was aged down, the way she’s written is very much 19-23. I love that story takes you on a journey. It’s a good and interesting storyline though. Genuinely likeable characters, even the villains

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